Early Follow-up Research Articles

Analysis of the Effect of Early Intensified Follow-Up on the Treatment of Pediatric Flatfoot With Subtalar Arthroereisis.

As children are a special group, the optimal management approach for pediatric patients with flatfoot after subtalar arthroereisis remains unclear. This study aims to explore the clinical effects of early intensified follow-up compared to conventional follow-up for such patients. We conducted a prospective study on 83 pediatric flatfoot patients from January 2019 to June 2022. Patients were divided into early intensive follow-up and routine follow-up groups. The study compared preoperative, 3 months postoperative, and 1-year postoperative Maryland Foot Function Scores, American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores, etc. At 3 months postoperatively, the early intensified follow-up group showed significantly higher Maryland Foot Score and surgery satisfaction compared to the conventional follow-up group. There were no statistical differences in other indicators at 3 months postoperatively, and all observed indicators at 1 year postoperatively. In conclusion, early intensive follow-up can accelerate the functional recovery process of pediatric flatfoot patients undergoing subtalar arthroereisis and improve surgical satisfaction. Increasing medical resource investment for enhanced postoperative management is valuable for such patients.

Requesting Relatives' Consent for Intensive Care for Organ Donation: An Empirical Analysis of Spanish Transplant Coordinators' Practices.

Intensive care to facilitate organ donation (ICOD) involves the initiation or continuation of intensive care for patients with devastating brain injury for donation purposes. In the Spanish system, relatives undergo an early interview to request consent for this procedure. If they consent, a waiting time is agreed upon in the expectation that death by neurological criteria occurs and donation after brain death takes place. Otherwise, relatives can decide on donation after circulatory determination of death or withdrawal of life support. This study analyzes how Spanish transplant coordinators interact with relatives in early interviews and follow-ups on potential donation pathways. Semistructured interviews were conducted with a random stratified sample of 23 Spanish transplant coordination teams to explore strategies, practices, and perceptions of ICOD consent requests. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using content analysis. Previous coordination with other units and information retrieval regarding patient and relatives' situations is crucial. The development of early interviews includes an introduction to the family, identification of decision makers, empathizing with relatives and offering condolences, reaffirming the fatal prognosis, explaining the possibility of donating based on the patient's will, confirming the family's understanding and resolving doubts, and ensuring comfort and assessing family needs. Approaching families to obtain ICOD consent is a regular practice for Spanish coordination teams. It involves a highly professional and diversified set of strategies based on establishing a support relationship for relatives. Our study provides strategies that serve as a reference for obtaining ICOD consent from families in other settings.

The role of vitreous cortex remnants in secondary macular hole formation and spontaneous closure following vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

BackgroundMacular hole (MH) formation after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) surgery is rare, and in most cases, additional surgical procedures are required to repair MH. Spontaneous closure of the MH is even rarer. In this study, we aimed to report a series of cases of spontaneous closure of the secondary MH and provide a review of the literature. MethodsWe retrospectively collected the cases of secondary MH formation following vitrectomy in RRD patients followed by spontaneous closure. Ophthalmological data at presentation and during follow-up were collected and analyzed. ResultsWe reported a total of three RRD patients aged 31,67,12 years, including two females and one male. The three patients underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with either silicone oil tamponade or air tamponade. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed a second full-thickness MH formation with remnant vitreous cortex bridging in the macular region during early follow-up. Observations of the cases revealed subsequent remnant vitreous cortex traction remission and spontaneous closure of MH during follow-up, although with subsequent thin macular and abnormal macular structure. ConclusionThe progression of secondary MH formation in the cases may be related to vitreomacular traction (VMT) by the posterior vitreous cortex remnant after PPV, and the release of VMT may help the spontaneous closure of the MH after PPV for RRD.

6955 A Rare Case of Rapidly Enlarging High Grade Follicular-Derived Carcinoma in a Young Patient - Formerly Known as Insular Thyroid Carcinoma with good response to Radioactive iodine ablation- A New Name, Same Aggressive Features

Abstract Disclosure: R. Abdelmasih: None. N. Prasad: None. N. Shah: None. Introduction: Follicular-derived thyroid carcinomas, formerly known as insular thyroid carcinomas, are an albeit rare but highly lethal thyroid carcinoma subtype with an incidence of 1-10% worldwide. It is known for its aggressive nature and comprises the majority of deaths from non-anaplastic follicular thyroid cancers. Case Presentation: A 30-year-old male presented with 2-year history of progressively enlarging painless right neck mass. Physical exam revealed 6x3 cm right well-circumscribed mobile mass not displacing the trachea. Head and neck CT showed 6.5 cm right thyroid mass with level 2A lymph node. Neck Ultrasound showed a 6.4 cm right thyroid nodule. Fine needle aspiration of the mass showed atypia of undetermined significance. Patient returned to clinic 1 year later with progressively enlarging right neck mass, now associated with dysphagia measuring 10 cm in physical exam deviating the trachea to the left. Repeat CT H&N showed 10 cm right thyroid mass with moderate tracheal deviation and US showed 11 cm right heterogenous thyroid mass with regular margins and negative LNs. Patient underwent right thyroid lobectomy with surgical pathology showed 11.4 cm tumor with vascular invasion and no extrathyroidal extension. Pathology showed high grade follicular-derived Thyroid Carcinoma. Patient underwent completion thyroidectomy with benign pathology followed by radioactive iodine ablation 107.8 mCi I131 with successful targeting of residual thyroid tissue and no evidence of iodine avid distant metastasis. Patient has been followed closely for 2 years now with regular US, thyroglobulin level with recurrence. Discussion: Insular thyroid carcinomas are aggressive malignancies predominantly seen in females within the age of 55-65 though cases of young patients and children have been reported. Patients often present with enlarging goiter, dysphagia, and dyspnea however, metastatic disease to lymph nodes, lung and bone has also been reported as primary presentation in 20% of cases. Per literature review, recurrence and mortality rates have very wide range of 36-83% and 9-75% respectively which could be explained by a variety of prognostic factors including Patient age, tumor size, Macroscopic evident extrathyroidal extension, distant metastasis, or tumor necrosis. Often times insular thyroid carcinomas are mistaken for anaplastic carcinoma and thus fine needle aspiration is a helpful diagnostic tool to differentiate insular carcinoma. Pathology typically demonstrates well-defined insulae of thyroglobulin-filled follicles, necrotic foci, and high random mitotic activity. Treatment includes total thyroidectomy followed by high-dose radiotherapy. We Present this case to shed light on such a rare aggressive entity that requires early detection, belligerent management, and close follow-up for promising outcomes. Presentation: 6/3/2024

Management of acute kidney disease in type 2 diabetes: the potential role of GLP-1 RAs and SGLT2-Is.

Acute kidney disease (AKD) is defined as subacute damage and/or loss of kidney function occurring 7 to 90days after acute kidney injury (AKI), and bearing a high risk of progression to chronic kidney disease. Current management of AKD is non-specific and includes prevention of repeated AKI, early and regular follow-up by a nephrologist, resumption and dose adjustment of statins and renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, optimization of blood pressure control, nutrition management, and nephrotoxin avoidance. Recently, SGLT2i and GLP1- RAs have emerged as potential therapeutic tools preventing the transition from acute to chronic kidney disease due to their efficacy in preserving renal function.

Technical and clinical success analysis of transarterial embolization therapy in type II endoleaks following endovascular aortic repair.

This single-center study investigated the safety and efficacy of transarterial embolization of type II endoleaks for expanding aneurysm sacs following endovascular aortic repair (EVAR).36 patients (33 men, 75.9±6.6 years) underwent a total of 50 endovascular procedures for type II endoleak embolization between 2008 and 2023. Analyses included the assessment of patient risk profiles, aneurysm morphology, and endoleak characteristics. Outcome parameters comprised the technical success (i.e., complete lack of blood flow in the previously perfused aneurysm sac) and complication rates, while clinical success was defined as the absence of endoleak persistence or recurrence and freedom from aneurysm enlargement > 0.5 cm over the follow-up period.Transarterial embolization was technically successful in 84% of procedures with a complication rate of 2%. Most interventions were coil-based (72%), while a small number relied solely on liquid embolic agents (14%). Absence of a persisting endoleak in the earliest follow-up could be demonstrated in 75.6% of cases, whereas the absence rate for endoleak recurrence was substantially lower (46.3%). No aneurysm enlargement > 0.5 cm during follow-up was ascertained after 73.2% of interventions.Transarterial embolization represents a safe treatment for type II endoleaks after EVAR. While embolization was moderately effective in preventing further expansion of aneurysms due to endoleak recurrence, most procedures were successful in permanently eliminating the targeted feeder vessels. · Transarterial embolization of type II endoleaks has a high technical success rate.. · The emergence of new feeder vessels may necessitate multiple procedures over time.. · Patient risk profiles did not factor into the clinical outcome.. · Krompaß K, Grunz JP, Augustin AM et al. Technical and clinical success analysis of transarterial embolization therapy in type II endoleaks following endovascular aortic repair. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2024; DOI 10.1055/a-2384-4601.

Early ward discharge clinic: facilitating discharges and prompt follow-up for medical inpatients in a district general hospital

Early discharge and follow-up for medical admissions could facilitate reduced length of stay and improve patient satisfaction. However, evidence to confirm this is lacking. Peterborough City Hospital (PCH) designed an...

Early and Unplanned Readmission of Patients After Thoracic Surgery Operations.

Background Thoracic surgery patients face unique postoperative challenges, particularly those undergoing lung resections. This study aimed to identify common complications and their management within the 30-day postoperative period, as well as investigate the relationship between early postoperative complications and unplanned outpatient follow-ups. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 947 patients who underwent thoracic surgery between January 2020 and December 2023. Of these, 168 patients who had unscheduled follow-ups were included in the final analysis. Results The most common surgical procedure was pulmonary resection (68.5%), with prolonged air leaks (19.6%) being the most frequent postoperative complication. Unplanned outpatient visits were primarily due to dyspnea (38.1%) and surgical site complications (33.9%). While the rate of readmission did not significantly differ between complication-free and complicated patients (p=0.070), patients with complications were 2.117 times more likely to be readmitted (p=0.044). Surgical technique impacted postoperative outcomes, with minimally invasive surgery associated with fewer complications and shorter hospital stays compared to open thoracotomy. Conclusion Our findings emphasize the need for tailored postoperative care and diligent follow-up, especially for patients at higher risk of readmission due to complications such as pneumothorax, empyema, and prolonged air leaks.

Impact of vaginism on mode of delivery and obstetrical outcomes

IntroductionAccording to ICD 10, vaginism is defined as the presence of spasm of the pelvic floor muscles surrounding the vagina, causing occlusion of the vaginal opening. Intromission is impossible or painful. Vaginism, whose prevalence is estimated at 1%, is often diagnosed during pregnancy follow-up, when clinical examination is difficult or impossible. However, few studies report obstetrical complications and pregnancy outcomes associated with this pathology. ObjectiveEvaluate the impact of vaginism on mode of delivery and obstetrical complications. Materials and methodsComparative, monocentric, retrospective study at the Montreuil maternity hospital between January 2019 and January 2024 that included all singleton deliveries in cephalic presentation at term. Vaginism was defined as an involuntary contraction of the pelvic muscles that made clinical examination during pregnancy impossible. Mode of delivery (caesarean section during labour, operative delivery, spontaneous vaginal delivery) and obstetric complications (episiotomy, OASIS, complex tear, Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) due to tear) were compared between patients with vaginism and a control group, in univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression with adjustment for maternal age, BMI, maternal origin, gestational age, high obstetrical and medical risk level, diabetes with or without insulin use, pregnancy complications, Robson group and birthweight. A propensity score adjustment with matching 1 case to 3 controls was conducted. ResultsDuring the study period, 13,469 patients were included, among which 440 patients had vaginism. In univariate analysis, patients with vaginism had a higher rate of caesarean section (16,8% versus 9,4%, p < 0.001), operative delivery (29,3% versus 13,3%, p < 0.001), episiotomy (12,5% versus 5.3 %, p < 0.001), OASIS (3.4 % versus 1.0 %, p < 0.001), complex tear (17,5% versus 7,7%) and PPH due to tear (2,5% versus 1,1%, p = 0,009).After adjustment, vaginism appeared to be an independant risk factor for cesarean section with a psaOR of 1.38 [1.02–1.85], operative delivery psaOR 2.39 [1.83–3,10], OASIS psaOR 2,19 [1.10–4,27], and complex tear psaOR 1,39 [1,02–1,87] ConclusionVaginism appears to be an independent risk factor for cesarean section, operative delivery, OASIS, and complex tear. Further studies should evaluate the impact of early and appropriate follow-up during pregnancy on adverse obstetrical outcomes.

Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes of Cervical Disc Replacement Versus Posterior Endoscopic Cervical Decompression: A Matched-Pair Comparison Analysis.

To compare clinical and radiographic outcomes between 2 motion preservation surgeries, cervical disc replacement (CDR) and posterior endoscopic cervical decompression (PECD), for unilateral cervical radiculopathy. Between February 2018 and December 2020, 60 patients with unilateral cervical radiculopathy who underwent either CDR or PECD were retrospectively recruited as matched pairs. Clinical outcomes included visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for neck and arm pain, Neck Disability Index (NDI), and satisfaction rates. The radiographic outcome was index level motion. Intraoperative data, complications, and hospital stay were collected. Preoperative and postoperative outcomes were compared. Patients undergoing CDR or PECD were included, with 30 cases in each group. Matched pairs were compared in terms of demographic data and preoperative measurements. CDR was associated with shorter operative times, whereas PECD resulted in less intraoperative blood loss. The total complication rate was 5%. NDI and VAS for neck and arm were significantly improved in both groups, with no significant differences between the 2 groups. Satisfaction rates of good and excellent exceeded 87% in both groups. CDR was superior to PECD in the restoration of disc height. Early postoperative follow-up showed no significant difference in terms of index level motion. PECD demonstrated significantly shorter hospital stays and quicker return-to-work times (p<0.05). PECD achieved equivalent clinical and radiologic outcomes compared with CDR when the certain criteria for surgery were met. Both techniques demonstrated the potential to maintain index level motion. Additionally, PECD resulted in less blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and faster return-to-work times. Conversely, CDR offered shorter operative times and better restoration of disc height.

Strategizing early detection and follow-up for type 1 diabetes: The EDENT1FI project

Strategizing early detection and follow-up for type 1 diabetes: The EDENT1FI project

Posterior Cruciate Ligament Preservation versus Posterior Cruciate Ligament Sacrifice: Comparing Patient Outcomes in Medial Congruent Total Knee Arthroplasty.

This study aimed to compare outcomes and complication rates between posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) retention and excision utilizing a medial congruent (MC) polyethylene insert in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in a specialized ambulatory surgery center (ASC) dedicated to hip and knee arthroplasty. A retrospective review was performed between May 2023 and October 2023 analyzing 398 patients who underwent primary MC TKA by high-volume joint arthroplasty surgeons (n = 9) with either PCL preservation (n = 264) or sacrifice (n = 134) in a single free-standing ASC. Patients were matched chronologically on a 2:1 basis. Demographics, baseline function, 90-day complications, and patient-reported outcomes were recorded for each patient. There were no differences in preoperative baseline function or patient-reported outcome measures, Charlson Comorbidity Index, or American Society of Anesthesiologists class among patient groups. The PCL-preserve and PCL-sacrifice cohorts showed significant variation in 12-week postoperative Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome, Junior (KOOS, JR.) scores. Specifically, the number of patients who achieved the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in KOOS, JR. scores was higher in the PCL-sacrifice group (p < 0.05). Yet, no complications within the 90-day period were associated with PCL status and other patient-reported outcomes. This study comparing outcomes between MC TKAs with PCL retention and sacrifice suggests that both techniques are viable options with similar functional outcomes, pain scores, and complication rates, which may have benefits in an ASC setting. The PCL-sacrifice group exhibited a statistically significant increase in patients who achieved the MCID in KOOS, JR. score compared with the PCL-preserving at early follow-up. Future research should employ prospective, randomized designs to further validate these findings and explore long-term implications.

Early follow-up of outpatients with oral anticancer therapy in the ONCORAL multidisciplinary community-hospital program.

Healthcare professionals are faced with the new challenges of preventing and managing drug-related problems (DRPs) with oral anticancer therapy (OAT): side-effects, drug-drug interactions (DDIs), non-adherence, or medication errors. This study aims to assess the impact of ONCORAL, a real-life multidisciplinary care plan for cancer patients based on community and hospital follow-up, for the first OAT cycle. A prospective cohort study was conducted between October 1, 2021 and October 1, 2022 including all outpatients starting OAT treatment. During the first OAT cycle, the program consists of 6 weekly scheduled face-to-face or phone consultations to prevent and manage DRPs. Nurse and pharmacist interventions (NPIs) are realized to optimize treatments (primary outcomes). Secondary outcomes included the relative dose intensity (RDI) of the first cycle. A total of 562 NPIs were performed by the ONCORAL team: that is, 87.1% of the 209 patients included, for a mean of 3.1 ± 2.2 NPIs/patient. NPIs-concerned DRPs detected by the nurse and pharmacist (346, 61.6%), symptoms and/or adverse effects reported as PROs by the patient or family (138, 24.6%), or pathway issues (78, 13.9%). Seventy-three DDIs were detected and managed during medication review, in a quarter of patients (n = 54/209), leading to the discontinuation of a daily concomitant medication in 30 cases. The mean RDI at the end of the first cycle, calculated for 209 patients, was 83.1 ± 23.9% (17.56-144.23). In these ambulatory cancer patients, the interest in tailored monitoring of DRPs as a whole, including the prevention and management of drug interactions in addition to symptoms and adverse effects, is highlighted.

Guidelines for peri-discharge management and follow-up of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(2024 edition)

Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are important events in the course of COPD, and its diagnosis, treatment and prevention are the focus of disease management. Optimizing the peri-discharge management of AECOPD will help improve care continuity, prevent recurrence of acute events in short time, and improve long-term prognosis. In recent years, the evidence on the peri-discharge period and the cluster management of AECOPD has been accumulating, and the benefit of early follow-up and management after discharge has been confirmed. By reviewing available evidence, this guideline aims to standardize discharge management and follow-up pathways for AECOPD patients. This guideline applies to physicians and nursing staff involved in the clinical practice of COPD.

Neurofibromatosis type1 adult surveillance form for Austria.

Neurofibromatosis type1 (NF1) is arare autosomal dominant tumor predisposition syndrome with abirth prevalence of approximately 1in 2000-3000 individuals. Management of both benign and malignant tumors arising in individuals with NF1 is demanding and tumors may be difficult to treat. Both standardized and individual surveillance programs are therefore highly important to prevent morbidity and mortality in patients with NF1. The guidelines for the clinical management of NF1 recently proposed by the European Reference Network for Genetic Tumor Risk Syndromes provide the cornerstone of the present surveillance form and were discussed through three rounds of voting and afinal consensus meeting involving experts from five Austrian and one German clinical NF1 centers for adults and one patient organization representative. Subsequently, 31items within 4categories were integrated into the proposed surveillance form for Austria. All recommendations, unless otherwise specified, pertain to primarily asymptomatic patients in routine follow-up. At healthcare transition from pediatric to adult surveillance or the initial visit in adulthood, we suggest athorough clinical, laboratory and radiological examination to obtain abaseline for future diagnostics. To comply with the general screening recommendations in Austria, we suggest extending the frequency of clinical visits from annual to biennial at 50years of age. In cases of clinical dynamics, early follow-up is recommended to facilitate early detection of potential complications. Particular emphasis should be placed on preventive patient education.

Adding Evidence to an Evidence-Based Classification for Recurrent Weight Gain after Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery from a Norwegian National Registry.

In 2023, the first evidence-based classification for recurrent weight gain (RWG) after metabolic and bariatric surgery was introduced. It uses early and late follow-up weight loss benchmarks based on standard deviations (SD) of percentage total weight loss(%TWL) results from the large Dutch Audit for Treatment of Obesity (DATO) registry (n > 18,000). We aimed to validate this classification and confirm its clinical relevance with an external cohort. The DATO-based classification defines all RWG as grade 1, as long as weight-loss does not drop below DATO's late-follow-up minus one SD benchmark (20%TWL). Grade 3 represents clear outliers whose RWG evolves below DATO's late follow-up minus two SD benchmark (10%TWL), with grade 2 in-between. Grades 2a/3a represent initial suboptimal clinical response, with nadir %TWL never exceeding DATO's early-follow-up minus one SD benchmark (25%TWL). Grades 2b/3b represent late clinical deterioration from nadir weight loss ≥ 25%TWL. We compared baseline characteristics, SD based benchmarks, RWG and comorbidities from the Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Registry Norway (SOReg-N) with these DATO-derived grades. The SOReg-N population (n = 3064) was comparable at baseline, with more sleeve gastrectomies (54% versus DATO 22.5%). The SD benchmarks were at early follow-up minus one SD 25.8%TWL, at 5years minus one SD/minus two-SD 17.2%TWL/7.0%TWL (DATO 25%TWL/20%TWL/10%TWL). Percentage of patients and amount of RWG were similar to DATO. In line with DATO, comorbidities were predominant in grades 2a/3a, with least improvement in grade 3a. Also, grade 3b showed more favorable characteristics at baseline. The SOReg-N cohort confirmed the weight-loss benchmarks defining the DATO-derived grades, the distribution of patients and their RWG across the grades, and correlations between grades and comorbidities. Male gender, older age and comorbidities were predominant among patients with initial suboptimal clinical response (RWG grades 2a/3a), but not for late clinical deterioration (RWG grades 2b/3b). This classification can be used for populations with diverse weight loss trajectories and offers an evidence-based guide for clinical decision-making and standardization.

The association of acute and chronic phase cerebrovascular reactivity with patient reported quality of life following moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury

Global outcomes have been reported to be associated with cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) in the acute phase following moderate and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). The association of CVR in the acute and chronic phase of injury with patient-reported health-related quality of life metrics (HRQOL) metrics has never been explored. The aim of this study is to examine the association of CVR, as measured by the cerebral oxygen indices (COx and COx_a), in the acute and chronic phase following moderate and severe TBI, with patient reported HRQOL. In this prospective cohort study, performed in a Canadian quaternary care center, the association between continuous acute and chronic phase CVR with patient reported HRQOL outcomes following moderate and severe TBI was examined. The main outcomes of interest of this study were validated measures of patient-reported HRQOL over various domains as measured by both the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) and a Quality of Life after Brain Injury (QOLIBRI) questionnaire. In the 29 subjects of this cohort, acute phase CVR was found to be significantly more active in those with a favorable Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores of the SF-12 at early follow-up when measured by COx (-0.015 [IQR: -0.067 to 0.032] vs 0.040 [IQR: 0.019 to 0.137] for Favorable first MCS vs Unfavorable respectively; Mann–Whitney U test p-value = 0.046) and COx_a (0.038 [IQR: 0.009 to 0.062] vs 0.112 [IQR: 0.065 to 0.167] for Favorable first MCS vs Unfavorable respectively; Mann–Whitney U test p-value = 0.014). Further, multivariable logistic regression analysis found acute phase COx and COx_a to improve model performance when predicting favorable versus unfavorable early MCS scores over established parameters such as age and measures of injury severity. Associations between outcomes and chronic phase CVR were limited, potentially due to short recording periods. This is the first ever pilot study to identify a relationship between acute phase CVR following moderate-to-severe TBI with mental and cognitive outcomes as experienced by patients. Given the small cohort, these findings will need to be confirmed in a larger multicenter study. This highlights the need for additional examination of the role dysfunctional CVR may play in mental and cognitive outcomes, as well as patient-reported outcomes more generally following TBI.

Factors Affecting CPAP Adherence in an OSA Population during the First Two Years of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder associated with major cardiovascular and neurocognitive sequelae. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the standard treatment for OSA. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and associations of long-term CPAP adherence in newly diagnosed OSA patients. Methods: We enrolled patients who were diagnosed with OSA during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adherence was defined as CPAP use ≥4 h per night on ≥70% of nights over 30 consecutive days. Patient demographics were retrieved from medical records, and CPAP adherence at 6 months and 1 year after initiation was monitored. Results: Overall, 107 patients were included in the analysis. A number of 73 (68%) and 63 (59%) patients were adherent to CPAP treatment at 6 months and 12 months accordingly. Among the factors examined and analyzed (age, gender, BMI, Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI)), no significant correlation was found. Further analysis revealed the potential role of comorbidities. CPAP compliance at 6 months was shown to be associated with better CPAP adherence at 12 months. Conclusions: CPAP adherence at 6 months is correlated to long-term adherence to treatment. Therefore, early close follow-up is important. Further prospective studies are needed to identify other potential predictors.

Prognostic implications of residual mild coarctation gradient after interventional repair.

There is limited data on the prognostic implications of residual mild coarctation (RMC) in patients with repaired native coarctation of the aorta (CoA). To explore the association of RMC with mid-term comorbidities in post-interventional patients, and the predictive value of the residual pressure gradient. The authors retrospectively analyzed 79 native CoA patients who received successful intervention at our hospital between October 2010 and June 2023. The outcomes of the study were late arterial hypertension (either raised blood pressure or commencement of hypotensive medications) only in normotensive patients at early follow-up and the composite mid-term comorbidities including new-onset aortic injury, re-stenosis, and re-intervention. At a median follow-up of 60months, late hypertension and mid-term comorbidities occurred in 16 (28.1%) and nine (11.4%) patients, respectively. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis identified invasive peak systolic CoA pressure gradient (PSPG) as the best independent predictor of both outcomes. The maximally selected rank statistics indicated 10mm Hg as the best PSPG cut-off value for predicting late hypertension. Compared to patients with PSPG<11mm Hg, the cumulative event rates of both outcomes were higher in those with PSPG≥11mm Hg (log-rank test, p<.001 for both endpoints). PSPG≥11mmHg was proved to be the independent predictor of late hypertension with a significantly increased risk. In patients with non-surgical CoA repair, the post-interventional RMC and PSPG ≥11mm Hg are important predictors of clinical comorbidities at mid-term follow-up.

The early and medium-term results of the Ross procedure in pediatric patients

Introduction and objectivesThe Ross method is the preferred surgical treatment for pediatric aortic valve diseases, and its long-term outcomes have been extensively documented. This article presents the results of the Ross and Ross–Konno procedures performed on pediatric patients in our center. MethodsRoss and Ross–Konno procedures were performed on 20 patients in our center between January 2015 and January 2019. ResultsThe patients’ mean age was 10.6 years (range: 23 days to 18 years) and mean weight was 37.6 kg (range: 3–63 kg). Thirteen had aortic valve stenosis, four had aortic valve insufficiency, and three had a mixed disease. The Ross–Konno procedure was used for four patients. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 184.68±60.1 min and the mean cross time was 149±67.8 min. One neonatal patient died in the early postoperative phase due to low cardiac output. The mean follow-up time was 60.15±24.45 months. One patient later underwent reoperation due to conduit stenosis. One patient is being monitored for moderately serious conduit stenosis. At present, of those who underwent the procedure, one has moderate aortic regurgitation, two have mild or moderate aortic regurgitation, and others have minimal aortic regurgitation. No patients required intervention for left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and mortality was not observed in the long term. Conclusion(s)The reintervention rates for autograft and conduit-related cases were low in early and medium-term follow-up, and no significant autograft insufficiency was observed. Ross or Ross–Konno surgery is preferred for aortic diseases in pediatric patients due to its low mortality and satisfactory long-term results.