scholarly journals Long-term survival rates of gravity-assisted, adjustable differential pressure valves in infants with hydrocephalus

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 544-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna-Felicitas Gebert ◽  
Matthias Schulz ◽  
Karin Schwarz ◽  
Ulrich-Wilhelm Thomale

OBJECTIVE The use of adjustable differential pressure valves with gravity-assisted units in shunt therapy of children with hydrocephalus was reported to be feasible and promising as a way to avoid chronic overdrainage. In this single-center study, the authors' experiences in infants, who have higher rates of shunt complications, are presented. METHODS All data were collected from a cohort of infants (93 patients [37 girls and 56 boys], less than 1 year of age [mean age 4.1 ± 3.1 months]) who received their first adjustable pressure hydrocephalus shunt as either a primary or secondary implant between May 2007 and April 2012. Rates of valve and shunt failure were recorded for a total of 85 months until the end of the observation period in May 2014. RESULTS During a follow-up of 54.2 ± 15.9 months (range 26–85 months), the Kaplan-Meier rate of shunt survival was 69.2% at 1 year and 34.1% at 85 months; the Kaplan-Meier rate of valve survival was 77.8% at 1 year and 56% at 85 months. Survival rates of the shunt were significantly inferior if the patients had previous shunt surgery. During follow-up, 44 valves were exchanged in cases of infection (n = 19), occlusion (n = 14), dysfunction of the adjustment unit (n = 10), or to change the gravitational unit (n = 1). CONCLUSIONS Although a higher shunt complication rate is observed in infant populations compared with older children, reasonable survival rates demonstrate the feasibility of using this sophisticated valve technology. The gravitational unit of this valve is well tolerated and its adjustability offers the flexible application of opening pressure in an unpredictable cohort of patients. This may adequately address overdrainage-related complications from early in treatment.

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farhad Farzaliyev ◽  
Hans-Ulrich Steinau ◽  
Halil-Ibrahim Karadag ◽  
Alexander Touma ◽  
Lars Erik Podleska

In this retrospective study, we analysed the long-term oncological and functional results after extended ray resection for sarcoma of the hand. Recurrence-free and overall survivals were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method. The function of the operated hand was assessed with the Michigan Hand Questionnaire and compared with the contralateral side. Extended ray resection was performed in 25 out of 168 consecutive patients with soft-tissue and bony sarcomas of the hand. The overall 5- and 10-year, disease-specific survival rates were 86% and 81%, respectively. Local recurrences were observed in two patients. The Michigan Hand Questionnaire score for the affected hand at follow-up in nine patients was 82 points versus 95 for the healthy contralateral hands. We conclude that extended ray resection of osseous sarcomas breaking through the bone into the soft tissue or for soft tissue sarcomas invading bone is a preferable alternative to hand ablation when excision can be achieved with tumour-free margins. Level of evidence: III


1989 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 310-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
M J Coppes ◽  
J de Kraker ◽  
P J van Dijken ◽  
H J Perry ◽  
J F Delemarre ◽  
...  

Sixty-seven children with a bilateral Wilms' tumor (BWT) who were registered to the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) nephroblastoma trial and studies 1, 2, and 5, conducted between 1971 and 1980, were analyzed. The overall 10-year survival was 64%. While most deaths due to tumor occurred within 3 years after diagnosis of bilateral disease, five patients died after 3 years (20%), three with synchronous and two with metachronous BWT. The survival rates for the 42 children with synchronous BWT (follow-up time, 6 1/2 to 14 years) and the 25 children with metachronous BWT (follow-up time, 5 to 13 years) were 69% and 56%, respectively. Due to an improvement in the synchronous group, overall survival improved over the years: 47%, 72%, and 70%, in SIOP 1, 2, and 5, respectively. Age at diagnosis and most advanced tumor stage affected prognosis. Children presenting a tumor manifestation before the age of 2 years had better prognosis than older children. This difference is significant in synchronous BWT. Prognosis for children with local stage 1 or 2 was better than for those with local stage 3. Median age at initial presentation in BWT was lower than in unilateral nephroblastoma and lower in metachronous BWT than in synchronous BWT. Young children presenting with unilateral nephroblastoma should have a careful follow-up of the contralateral kidney for at least the next 3 1/2 years, as most contralateral tumors will develop during this period.


2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Holzhey ◽  
William Shi ◽  
A. Rastan ◽  
Michael A. Borger ◽  
Martin H�nsig ◽  
...  

<p><b>Introduction:</b> The goal of this study was to compare the short- and long-term outcomes after aortic valve (AV) surgery carried out via standard sternotomy/partial sternotomy versus transapical transcatheter AV implantation (taTAVI).</p><p><b>Patients and Methods:</b> All 336 patients who underwent taTAVI between 2006 and 2010 were compared with 4533 patients who underwent conventional AV replacement (AVR) operations between 2001 and 2010. Using propensity score matching, we identified and consecutively compared 2 very similar groups of 167 patients each. The focus was on periprocedural complications and long-term survival.</p><p><b>Results:</b> The 30-day mortality rate was 10.8% and 8.4% (<i>P</i> = .56) for the conventional AVR patients and the TAVI patients, respectively. The percentages of postoperative pacemaker implantations (15.0% versus 6.0%, <i>P</i> = .017) and cases of renal failure requiring dialysis (25.7% versus 12.6%, <i>P</i> = .004) were higher in the TAVI group. Kaplan-Meier curves diverged after half a year in favor of conventional surgery. The estimated 3-year survival rates were 53.5% � 5.7% (TAVI) and 66.7% � 0.2% (conventional AVR).</p><p><b>Conclusion:</b> Our study shows that even with all the latest successes in catheter-based AV implantation, the conventional surgical approach is still a very good treatment option with excellent long-term results, even for older, high-risk patients.</p>


Neurosurgery ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 905-911 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Sheehan ◽  
Douglas Kondziolka ◽  
John Flickinger ◽  
L. Dade Lunsford

Abstract OBJECTIVE Hemangiopericytomas are highly aggressive meningeal tumors with tendencies for recurrence and metastasis. The purpose of this retrospective, single-institution review was to evaluate the efficacy and role of stereotactic radiosurgery in the management of recurrent hemangiopericytomas. METHODS We reviewed data for patients who underwent stereotactic radiosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh between 1987 and 2001. Fourteen patients underwent radiosurgery for 15 discrete tumors. Prior treatments included transsphenoidal resection (n = 1), craniotomy and resection (n = 27), embolization (n = 1), and conventional radiotherapy (n = 7). Clinical and radiological responses were evaluated. Follow-up periods varied from 5 to 76 months (mean, 31.3 mo; median, 21 mo). The mean radiation dose to the tumor margin was 15 Gy. RESULTS Seventy-nine percent of patients (11 of 14 patients) with recurrent hemangiopericytomas demonstrated local tumor control after radiosurgery. Twelve of 15 tumors (i.e., 80%) dramatically decreased in size on follow-up imaging scans. Regional intracranial recurrences were retreated with radiosurgery for two patients (i.e., 15%); neither of those two patients experienced long-term tumor control. Local recurrences occurred 12 to 75 months (median, 21 mo) after radiosurgery. Local tumor control and survival rates at 5 years after radiosurgery were 76 and 100%, respectively (Kaplan-Meier method). We could not correlate prior irradiation or tumor size with tumor control. Twenty-nine percent of the patients (4 of 14 patients) developed remote metastases. Radiosurgery did not seem to offer protection against the development of intra- or extracranial metastases. CONCLUSION Gamma knife radiosurgery provided local tumor control for 80% of recurrent hemangiopericytomas. When residual tumor is identified after resection or radiotherapy, early radiosurgery should be considered as a feasible treatment modality. Despite local tumor control, patients are still at risk for distant metastasis. Diligent clinical and radiological follow-up monitoring is necessary.


Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeong-Hoon Kim ◽  
Duk-Hyun Kang ◽  
Jong-Young Lee ◽  
Jong-Min Song ◽  
Tae-Jin Yun ◽  
...  

The benefits of surgical closure has been unclear in adult atrial septal defect (ASD) with severe pulmonary hypertension (PHT), and we tried to evaluate improvement of PHT and long-term survival after surgical closure compared to medical follow-up. Methods: From 1996 to 2006, we included a total of 71 adult ASD patients (age; 43±15 years) with severe PHT documented by echocardiography. The inclusion criteria were defined as ASD diameter > 15 mm, enlarged right ventricle, and the baseline peak velocity of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) ≥ 4.0 m/sec. We excluded 5 patients with Eisenmenger syndrome documented by cardiac catheterization. Surgical closure was performed on 55 patients (OP group) and the remaining 16 patients were followed up medically (MED group). The improvement of PHT was defined as TR velocity ≤ 3.5 m/sec on follow-up echo. Results: Baseline characteristics and clinical results were compared between the two groups in table . There were no significant differences in terms of gender, ASD diameter, cardiac rhythm, and TR velocity, but the MED group was significantly older. During follow-up of 46±33 months, there were 5 deaths in the MED group and no operative or late death in the OP group, and the 5-year actuarial survival rate of the OP group was significantly higher than the MED group (58±15%, p<0.05). On subgroup analysis according to age, the OP group showed significantly better survival rates than the MED group (p<0.05) in elderly patients (age > 50). In the OP group, TR velocity was significantly decreased from 4.5±0.4 to 3.0±0.7 m/sec on follow-up echo, and improvement of PHT was observed in 47 (85%) patients. On multivariate analysis, female gender and lower baseline TR velocity were the significant independent predictors of improved PHT after surgery. Conclusions: In adult ASD with severe PHT, surgical closure can be safely performed and improve PHT effectively. Especially in elderly patients, ASD closure is significantly related with the better survival rates.


2017 ◽  
Vol 07 (01) ◽  
pp. e38-e41
Author(s):  
P. Dahlem ◽  
P. Biggar

AbstractMortality in newborn infants and children with sepsis is high with survival rates of generally more than 50% in recent studies. Longitudinal follow-up studies have the potential to reveal short-term and lifelong physical, mental, and psychological sequelae. Although no comprehensive follow-up research has yet been performed, a small number of follow-up studies have shown that there is a considerable impact on the patients' lives and their families after hospital discharge. Health-related quality of life also seems to be affected; however, it does not correlate with severity of sepsis or handicap per se. Prematurely born infants, who can develop sequelae directly attributable to prematurity and its consequences, suffer differently from sepsis-related lifelong sequelae compared with older children. Fortunately, time may heal some wounds due to the effect of growth in children. In future, large centers should establish structural follow-up programs for clinical and research purposes to learn more about the needs of affected children and their families.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Graziamaria Corbi ◽  
Francesco Cacciatore ◽  
Klara Komici ◽  
Giuseppe Rengo ◽  
Dino Franco Vitale ◽  
...  

AbstractAim of the present study was to assess the impact of gender on the relationship between long-term mortality and clinical frailty. In an observational, longitudinal study on 10-year mortality, we examined 1284 subjects. The Frailty Staging System was used to assess frailty. The Cox model was employed to assess variables independently associated with survival using a backward stepwise algorithm. To investigate the possible interactions between gender and the selected variables, an extension of the multivariable fractional polynomial algorithm was adopted. Women were more likely to be older, have a higher disability, present with more comorbidities, consume more drugs, be frail and have a higher rate of survival at the follow-up than were men. At the Cox multivariate analysis only age (HR 2.26), female gender (HR 0.43), and number of drugs (HR 1.57) were significant and independent factors associated with all-cause mortality. In the survival analyses, only frailty (vs no frailty) showed significant interaction with gender (p < 0.001, HR = 1.92). While the presence of frailty reduced the survival rate in women, no effect was observed in men. Importantly, frail women showed higher survival rates than did both frail and no frail men. The main finding of the present study is that gender shapes up the association between frailty and long-term survival rates.


2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Francis Fullon Chan ◽  
Ma. Dominga B. Padilla

PURPOSE: There are currently no published studies on the outcomes of keratoplasty in the Philippines.  This study aimed to report graft survival rates at years 1, 3, and 5 after surgery, visual outcomes, and causes of graft failure among private patients of corneal surgeons in Metropolitan Manila receiving tissue from a single local eye bank in the period 2008-2012.  DESIGN: Retrospective cohort, multicenter study. METHODS: POPULATION: Private patients of Metro Manila corneal surgeons, receiving tissue from the Santa Lucia International Eye Bank of Manila in 2008-2012.  241 of 593 yielded sufficiently complete data sets. PROCEDURE: Donor and tissue characteristics, pre-op and latest follow-up characteristics/clinical findings were retrieved and processed. Data from the eye bank was merged with follow-up data from surgeons submitted March-October 2014. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years; best-corrected visual acuity as of latest follow-up; causes of failure. RESULTS:  1-year survival: 90.4%, 3-year: 71.5%, 5-year: ~52.7%. Overall, 43.5% had VA of 20/50 or better, and 25% counting fingers or worse, with variations across diagnoses. CONCLUSION: Though small in sample size and response rate, survival trends parallel studies with larger populations elsewhere. Specific trends like favorable survival in keratoconus were consistent. Indications for surgery have changed little since 2005, but regraft has become the most common indication. Further data collection and completion are required for multivariate analysis on factors regarding survival.  Inflammation, infection, trauma, poor adherence are among the identified reasons for failure.  


Author(s):  
Romualdo Silva Corrêa ◽  
Luciana Ayres de Oliveira Lima ◽  
Isa Maryana Araújo Bezerra de Macedo ◽  
Amália Cinhtia Meneses Rêgo ◽  
Irami Araújo-Filho

Colon cancer is a curable disease when restricted to the bowel and colectomy, the primary treatment. However, the presence and number of resected lymph nodes influence the therapeutic approach and prognosis of the patient. To evaluate the impact of the number of resected lymph nodes on the overall survival of patients treated for colon cancer at the League of Cancer Hospital - Natal - State of Rio Grande do Norte (RN) - Northeast Brazil. A retrospective observational study of 80 patients with colon cancer from Dr. Luiz Antônio Hospital (Natal-RN / Brazil), considering the period 2007-2014. Data were collected through medical records review. Survival rates were calculated and compared using the non-parametric Kaplan-Meier and Wilcoxon tests, respectively. All patients underwent radical surgical treatment associated or not with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy treatment. The median survival time for the group of patients who had 12 or more resected lymph nodes was 9.4 years, in contrast to the 3.3 years of those who had less than 12 lymph nodes. Conclusion: It was concluded that a total of 12 or more resected lymph nodes confirmed by histopathology is associated with increased long-term survival in patients with colon cancer undergoing radical colectomy with or without chemotherapy and radiotherapy.


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