Excellent Outcomes Research Articles

Safety and efficacy of intravenous thrombolytic therapy in the extended window up to 24 hours: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

About 25% of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) present within the intravenous thrombolytic (IVT) therapeutic window of <4.5 h. This study is to elucidate the safety and efficacy of IVT in the extended therapeutic window (ETW) in patients with AIS. Using PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Embase, and Scopus. A rigorous risk of bias assessment was conducted using the RoB2 tool. Rates of excellent and good functional outcome (mRS 0-1 and mRS 0-2) at 90 days, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), and mortality at 90 days were pooled using generalized linear mixed model and compared with controls. Meta-analyses were conducted employing random-effect models with risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analysis was performed to assess the effect of imaging modalities used for patient selection. Eight randomized controlled trials (n = 2221, 59% male) were included. At 90 days IVT showed higher rates of functional recovery: mRS 0-1: RR 1.21 95% CI 1.1-1.34, p < 0.001, and mRS 0-2: RR 1.11 95% CI 1.03-1.18, p = 0.004. Rate of mortality at 90 day was not different between groups: RR 1.17 95% CI 0.93-1.48, p = 0.17. However, the rate of sICH was higher among IVT group: RR 2.93 95% CI 1.53-5.6, p = 0.001. Subgroup analysis showed higher mRS 0-1 among patients who were selected based on perfusion imaging (p < 0.05). The use of IVT in AIS in ETW is beneficial especially with the use of perfusion imaging for patients' selection.

Structured and prompt treatment of early arthritis in clinical practice leverages window of opportunity and leads to excellent clinical outcomes: an innovativeretrospective cohort study.

With this work, we evaluated the impact of the Lisbon Early ARthritis cliNic (LEARN) on untreated inflammatory arthritis clinical and patient-reported outcomes. A retrospective cohort study enrolled patients in LEARN since its inception. Patients were followed for 12months and treated to achieve disease remission. Clinical, structural, and quality of life outcomes were assessed. The early arthritis module of the Portuguese Rheumatic Diseases Registry (Reuma.pt) is described. We assessed 292 patients between 2015 and 2022. Mean symptom duration and DAS-28-4V-ESR at baseline were 6.2 ± 3.5months and 5.6 ± 1.3, respectively. Rheumatoid arthritis (56.4%; 40.1% seropositive) and psoriatic arthritis (12.4%) were the most common diagnoses. Most patients were treated with methotrexate (75.3%) combined with low-dose oral prednisolone (88.1%). At 12months, a mean ΔDAS28-4V-ESR improvement of 2.3 ± 0.4 was registered, with 29.5% and 48.9% of patients achieving remission (DAS28-4V-ESR < 2.6) or low disease activity (DAS28-4V-ESR < 3.2), respectively. Among RA patients only, these figures were 20.6% and 46.6%, respectively. A clinically meaningful functional improvement was observed in 72.1% of the patients. Structural progression was limited, affecting only 16.1% of the patients. Fatigue, anxiety, depression, and quality of life also improved substantially, translated by improvements in FACIT, HADS, EQ5D, and SF-36 scores. A structured, dedicated approach to patients with early arthritis resulted in good clinical, structural, and functional outcomes. Furthermore, our findings suggest the window of opportunity for early intervention may have implications for mental health and global well-being. Key Points • Patient assessment is facilitated by reliable electronic clinical records, such as the early arthritis module of the Rheumatic Diseases Portuguese Register (Reuma.pt) which we describe here for the first time. • Inflammatory arthritis was confirmed in the majority of patients observed, but the time to first appointment was above the recommended. • Prompt start of conventional therapy allowed significant disease activity improvement and remission to be achieved in about one-third of the patients. • Key patient-reported outcomes elucidate disease impact and confirm the benefit of early treatment initiation, suggesting a window of opportunity also for mental health and global well-being.

Colon Cancer With Bladder Invasion: A Single Center Experience.

The aim of our study was to investigate the outcome of colon cancer with bladder invasion after surgical intervention. Between 2011 and 2022, a total of 41 patients diagnosed with colon cancer and bladder invasion underwent surgical procedures at Taichung Veterans General Hospital. The impact of various risk factors on overall survival (OS) was assessed using Kaplan-Meier analyses and Cox proportional hazards models. Among the enrolled patients, 21 underwent radical cystectomy, while 20 underwent partial cystectomy. Twelve had tumors located in the rectum, 19 in the sigmoid colon, and 10 in both the rectum and sigmoid colon. The median OS was 71.8 months in stage 2, 50.8 months in stage 3, and 11.2 months in stage 4 (p=0.061). Median OS was 71.8 months in patients with negative surgical margins and 10.5 months in those with positive surgical margins (p=0.003). In multivariate regression analysis, positive surgical margins [hazard ratio (HR)=3.64, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.28-10.34, p=0.015] and emergency operations (HR=4.57, 95%CI=1.34-15.55, p=0.015) significantly impacted OS. Complete resection of colon cancer with bladder invasion can yield excellent oncologic outcomes. The decision between partial and radical cystectomy should balance surgical margin clearance and the preservation of quality of life. Both surgical margin involvement and emergency operations are independent risk factors for OS.

Impact of age on health status after TAVI or SAVR in low risk patients with severe aortic stenosis: results from the PARTNER 3 Trial

Abstract Background Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) results in similar 5-year survival and quality of life compared with surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and low surgical risk. Whether participants’ age at the time of intervention influences the health status benefit of TAVI vs. SAVR is unknown. Purpose To assess the relationship between age and both the short- and long-term health status outcomes of TAVI vs. SAVR among patients enrolled in the PARTNER 3 trial. Methods We used data from the PARTNER 3 randomized trial to compare health status outcomes between TAVI and SAVR, stratified by age (&amp;lt;70, 70-74, 75-79, ≥80 years). Health status was assessed at baseline, 1 month, 6 months, 12 months and annually through 5 years using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ). The primary endpoint was the KCCQ overall summary score (KCCQ-OS) over the 5-year follow-up period (range 0-100; higher=better). The key secondary endpoint was an excellent outcome, defined as a KCCQ-OS&amp;gt;75 at 5-year follow-up without a decline of &amp;gt;10 points from baseline. Results Between March 2016 and October 2017, 1000 low-risk patients with severe AS were randomized in a 1:1 fashion to transfemoral TAVR using the balloon-expandable Sapien 3 valve or surgery in the PARTNER 3 trial. Among patients who underwent TAVI or SAVR (and had baseline health status available; TAVI: 494, SAVR: 449), 228 (24%) were &amp;lt;70, 284 (30%) were 70-74, 287 (31%) were 75-79, and 144 (15%) were ≥80 years old. Baseline health status was similar between the TAVI and SAVR groups as well as across age strata. At 30-day follow-up, health status was substantially better with TAVI than SAVR with similar differences across age strata (mean difference 13-18 points; Figure 1). At all other timepoints, there were no significant differences between TAVI and SAVR in any age group. The proportion of TAVI patients with an excellent outcome at 5-year follow-up ranged from 86% in the youngest subgroup to 73% in the oldest subgroup, with no significant differences compared with SAVR. Conclusions Among patients with severe AS at low surgical risk, TAVI using the SAPIEN 3 balloon-expandable valve resulted in substantially better health status in the early post-procedure period compared with SAVR across all age strata. Beyond the early recovery period, intermediate- and longer-term health status outcomes were similar with TAVI and SAVR, with no evidence of heterogeneity by age. Although longer term follow-up is necessary (and ongoing), these 5-year outcomes suggest that over the age range included in the PARTNER 3 trial, age alone should not play a dominant role in determining treatment recommendations for patients with severe AS.Health status by treatment and age group

Comparative Outcomes of Unilateral vs Bilateral Revascularization in Moyamoya Disease: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is characterized by progressive steno-occlusion of the internal carotid arteries, leading to compensatory collateral vessel formation. The optimal surgical approach for MMD remains debated, with bilateral revascularization potentially offering more comprehensive protection but involving more extensive surgery compared to unilateral revascularization. This study aims to compare bilateral revascularization and unilateral revascularization short-term safety profile in the treatment of MMD. This multicenter retrospective study included patients with MMD who underwent surgical revascularization at 13 academic institutions. Patients were categorized into unilateral and bilateral revascularization groups. Data collected included demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes. Propensity score matching was used to balance baseline characteristics. Statistical analyses were conducted using Stata (V.17.0; StataCorp). A total of 497 patients were included, including 90 who had bilateral revascularization and 407 who had unilateral revascularization. Bilateral revascularization was associated with more perioperative asymptomatic strokes (10% vs 2.4%; odds ratio [OR] 4.41, 95% CI 1.73 to 11.19, P = .002) and higher rates of excellent functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale 0-1) at discharge (92.2% vs 79.1%; OR 3.12, 95% CI 1.39 to 7, P = .006). After propensity score matching, 57 matched pairs were analyzed. There was a higher rate, though not statistically significant difference, of perioperative stroke in the bilateral revascularization group (15.7% vs 8.7%; OR 1.95, 95% CI 0.61 to 6.22, P = .26). No significant differences were noted in modified Rankin scale 0 to 1 and 0 to 2 scores at discharge, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale at discharge, intraoperative complications, or length of hospital stay. The follow-up stroke rates were also not significantly different (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.11 to 1.39, P = .15). This study found no significant differences between bilateral and unilateral revascularization in MMD. Patients who had bilateral revascularization had higher tendency of perioperative stroke, though not statistically significant. Further prospective studies are needed to validate these results.

Favorable impact of FFRCT on myocardial revascularization outcomes: results from an observational real-world registry

Abstract Background Based on excellent clinical outcomes data, coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA)-derived fractional flow reserve (FFRCT) is endorsed by guidelines to diagnose obstructive coronary artery disease (OCAD)(1). Dedicated outcome analyses in revascularized patients are essential to assess the additional value of FFRCT in revascularization. Purpose To assess the impact of FFRCT use on the postprocedural myocardial injury (PMI) and long-term outcomes of patients with OCAD undergoing myocardial revascularization. Methods Patients with suspected OCAD on CCTA (at least one stenosis of &amp;gt;50% in any vessel) were included from a 2013-2021 tertiary hospital registry. Propensity score adjusted Cox- regression and logistic regression analysis were used to assess the impact of FFRCT on the outcomes of OCAD patients post-revascularization. PMI was defined as cardiac troponin (cTn)&amp;gt;5 times the 99th percentile URL for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and cTn&amp;gt;10 times the 99th percentile URL for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) (2). Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) comprised all – cause mortality, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), stroke, hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) and new revascularization. Results From a registry of 7541 patients, suspected CCTA - derived OCAD was reported in 1601 cases. 559 OCAD patients were revascularized: 386(69.05%) by PCI, 166(29.7%) by CABG and 7(1.25%) by PCI and CABG. FFRCT was performed in 252(45.1%) patients. During a follow-up of 4.4±2.2 years, MACE occurred in 137(24.5%) patients: 43(7.7%) died, 21(3.8%) patients were hospitalized for AMI, 14(2.5%) patients had a stroke, 12 (2.1%) patients had HHF and 77(13.8%) patients had a new revascularization. Survival analysis indicated significant differences in MACE and all-cause mortality–rates between FFRCT use and no FFRCT use (log- rank p = 0.033 and 0.004, Fig 1). Multivariable propensity–adjusted Cox–regression analysis showed a non–significant trend towards reduced MACE risk by using FFRCT (HR 0.736, 95% CI 0.513-1.055, P=0.095) and a significant reduction in all-cause mortality risk (HR 0.476, 95% CI 0.230–0.985, P=0.046). Sub-analysis in the PCI and CABG groups showed no significant association between FFRCT and MACE. Among the 477 patients with available cTn values, 203 (42.5%) had PMI. In the CABG group, FFRCT use correlated with low PMI incidence (5.3% vs. 15.6%, p=0.044). However, multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed no significant association between FFRCT use and PMI(Fig 2). Conclusion This observational designed study reveals for the first time that FFRCT reduces post-myocardial revascularization MACE, primarily driven by reduced all-cause mortality. No clear reduction of PMI was observed suggesting that FFRCT value extends beyond procedural enhancements. Although derived from a large real-world registry, these promising observations need to be confirmed by randomized studies.Figure 1Figure 2

Safe transition home after transcatheter aortic valve implantation feasibility (START-F) study: Very early self-reported function and recovery status after early discharge

Abstract Background Despite significant excellent outcomes and significant improvements in rapid recovery protocols and early discharge, rates of 30-day readmission after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) remain stubbornly high. There can be numerous drivers for readmission in older people with valvular heart disease; the time of transition home is the period of greatest risk when patients are most vulnerable to repeat hospitalization. We sought to assess patients’ early recovery (&amp;lt; post-procedure day 3) to inform the evaluation of a nurse-led telephone intervention to mitigate the risks of 30-day readmission after early (1 day) discharge TAVI. Methods We conducted a prospective observational cohort feasibility study in five Canadian TAVI programs to ascertain acceptability, compliance, delivery of the intervention, recruitment and retention. In this preliminary report, we assessed key indicators of patients’ status at the time of discharge and functional status in their early recovery. Results We recruited 188 participants, mean age 81.6 years (SD=7.0), 41.5% women with baseline mean KKCQ 53.4 (SD=20.1). Patients were admitted on the day of the procedure, and underwent TAVI with a balloon-expandable (n=146, 77.6%) or self-expanding (n=30, 16.0%) device, with local anaesthesia +/- light sedation (n=171, 90.1%) or general anaesthesia (n=17, 9.0%). There was 1 in-hospital death (0.5%) and 182 (97.4%) were discharged home. At the time of the 3-day telephone follow-up, 168 (95.5%) reported that an individual had stayed with them during the first 24 hours [spouse: 85 (48.9%); friend: 77 (44.3%)], and 165 (93.3%; missing: 11) were able to complete all activities of daily living, including cooking their own meals (n=80, 45.5%). Self-reported energy was low/very low for 49 participants (26.1%), moderate for 93 (52.8%), and high/very high for 34 (18.1%), with 104 (55.3%) describing feeling somewhat or quite a bit better than before TAVI, and 24 (12.8%) somewhat or quite a bit worse. Bruising was present in 120 participants (68.6%) and 137 (78.8%) had removed their bandage as instructed. 18 participants were readmitted within 30 days, including 14 cardiac-related events. Conclusion This is one of the first reports of TAVI patients’ self-reported function following next-day discharge, providing novel evidence that most patients describe safe self-care and very early improved functional status. Research is needed to identify and support patients who are at higher risk of poorer trajectories of recovery and readmission, and report the feasibility of a nurse-led intervention to mitigate these risks.

High-Dose Chemotherapy and Autologous or Allogeneic Transplantation in Aggressive B-Cell Lymphoma-Is There Still a Role?

Novel therapies such as CAR-T, BTK inhibitors and PD-1 inhibitors have changed the management of aggressive B-cell lymphomas. Nonetheless, these novel therapies have their own risk of late toxicities including second malignancies. They also create a subgroup of patients with relapse, treatment failure, or indefinite maintenance. We discuss the current role of autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation in this context. In patients with recurrent diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, CAR-T cell treatment has largely replaced autologous transplant. Autologous transplant should be considered in patients with late relapses and in selected patients with T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma, where CAR-T cell therapy may be less effective. It also remains the treatment of choice for consolidation of patients with primary CNS lymphoma. In mantle cell lymphoma, intensive chemotherapy combined with BTK inhibitors and rituximab results in excellent outcomes, and the role of autologous transplantation is declining. In Hodgkin's lymphoma, autologous transplant consolidation remains the standard of care for patients who failed initial chemotherapy. Allogeneic transplantation has lower relapse rates but more complications and higher non-relapse mortality than autologous transplantation. It is usually reserved for patients who fail autologous transplantation or in whom autologous stem cells cannot be collected. It may also have an important role in patients who fail CAR-T therapies. The increasing complexity of care and evolving sequencing of therapies for patients with aggressive B-cell lymphomas only emphasizes the importance of appropriate patient selection and optimal timing of stem cell transplantation.

Full Endoscopic Decompression for Single Level Lumbar Stenosis: A Clinical Evaluation

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of full endoscopic decompression for single level lumbar spinal canal stenosis. Methods:This observational study was conducted on a total of 370 patients selected by purposive sampling from January 2022 and December 2023, presenting with symptoms more than 3 months and non-responding to conservative treatment. The procedure was performed by placing the patient on a radiolucent Wilson frame with single-shot epidural analgesia. Outcome was measured in terms of pain reduction using Visual analog scale (VAS) before and after surgery, at 3rd, 6th month, and functional outcome was assessed using the Modified MacNab criteria at 6th month, Results: The mean age of the patients was 56.1 years, with 63% male. The most common stenosis level was L4-L5 (36.5%). The mean operation duration was 53 minutes, and the postoperative complications were minimal. Significant improvement in pain levels was observed, with back pain reduced from a preoperative mean of 3.2 to 1.1 at six months, and leg pain from 7.2 to 1.0 (p &lt; 0.001). According to the Modified MacNab criteria, 91.1% of patients reported excellent outcomes at six months, and 8.4% reported good outcomes. Conclusion: Full endoscopic decompression is a highly effective and safe method for treating lumbar spinal stenosis, providing substantial pain relief and excellent functional outcomes with minimal complications. J Shaheed Suhrawardy Med Coll 2023; 15(1): 3-7

Comparative study of the outcomes of one-stage versus two-stage reconstruction of chronic multiligament knee injury

BackgroundMulti-ligament knee injury (MLKI) is a complex orthopaedic knee problem, usually following traumatic knee dislocation. Surgical management is preferred and has resulted in better clinical outcomes. However, the optimal surgical treatment protocol is continuously evolving. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of one-stage versus two-stage reconstruction of MLKI. Materials and methodsThis retrospective comparative study was conducted between July 2020 and December 2023 at a government orthopaedic hospital in Nigeria. The inclusion criteria include males and females between 18 and 45 years of age who had one- or two staged knee reconstructions for MLKI and were followed up for a minimum of 12 months. The exclusion criteria were patients below 18 and above 45 years of age, those with previous knee surgery, those associated with femoral or tibia fractures, those with radiological evidence of osteoarthritis, and those with follow-ups less than 12 months. Clinical outcomes using the Lysholm scoring system and complication rate were recorded. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 23. ResultsFifty-one patients (26 in the OS group and 25 in the TS group) were studied. There was a significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative Lysholm scores in the two groups (p = 0.86 and 0.57 for OS and TS, respectively). However, there was no significant difference between the postoperative Lysholm scores in the two groups (p = 0.918). ConclusionOne-stage and two-stage reconstruction of chronic MLKI give similar excellent clinical outcomes.

Intravenous thrombolysis or antiplatelet therapy for acute nondisabling ischemic stroke: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Uncertainties remain on the optimal treatment for acute minor stroke with nondisabling symptoms. The two most common therapeutic approaches are intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and antiplatelet therapy, notably dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). We synthesized data from the literature to compare IVT to DAPT and identify the best treatment for this population. We systematically searched Pubmed, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library for randomized trials and observational studies comparing IVT, aspirin, and/or DAPT, started within 24 h of symptom onset in patients with minor stroke (NIHSS ⩽ 5) and nondisabling symptoms. Random-effects Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted. The primary outcome was excellent functional outcome at 3 months (mRS 0-1). Secondary outcomes included mRS 0-2, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, mortality, and recurrent stroke. Four randomized trials and 2 observational studies (5897 patients for the analysis of the primary outcome) were included. Compared with IVT (alteplase), DAPT (clopidogrel + aspirin) was significantly associated with higher odds of mRS 0-1 (OR = 1.52, 95% CrI, 1.09-2.35), but aspirin alone was not (OR = 1.36, 95% CrI, 0.87-2.30). DAPT was also associated with lower odds of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage than alteplase (OR = 0.14, 95% CrI, 0.03-0.91). There were no significant differences between treatment groups regarding the other outcomes. For each outcome, the ranking for the best treatment was DAPT, then aspirin, and then IVT. This network meta-analysis suggests that DAPT may be the optimal treatment for acute nondisabling stroke, with higher odds of excellent functional outcome compared with IVT.Registration: PROSPERO ID: CRD42024522038.

Combined microscopic transoral and endoscopic endonasal approach for a clival chordoma: A case report and literature review

Background: Chordomas are primary bone tumors derived from the embryonic notochord. They represent 1–4% of all malignant bone tumors. They have a predominantly extra-axial location, arising in the clival region in 35% of reported cases. The prognosis is generally poor, and radical resection remains the first-line treatment. This study aims to describe a case of a clival chordoma that was resected through a combined microscopic transoral and endoscopic endonasal approach, with excellent clinical outcomes. Case Description: A 24-year-old woman with low cranial nerve symptomatology was admitted for a two-stage surgical approach. An occipital-cervical fixation was performed in the first stage, while a combined endonasaltransoral resection was performed later for tumor resection. Conclusion: Microscopic transoral and endoscopic endonasal approaches offer advantages for treating clival chordomas, with careful consideration of anatomical constraints and potential for postoperative recurrence being essential in approach selection.

Clinical efficacy of single-channel percutaneous endoscopic nucleotomy with annulus fibrosus suturing for lumbar disc herniation: A retrospective study.

This retrospective study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy of single-channel percutaneous endoscopic nucleotomy combined with annulus fibrosus suturing for treating lumbar disc herniation (LDH). The study included 86 patients with LDH treated in our spinal department from August 2020 to January 2022. The suture group consisted of 26 males and 18 females, while the control group (nucleotomy alone) included 25 males and 17 females. All patients were followed for at least 1 year, with follow-up points at 3 days, 3 months, and 12 months postoperatively. Various clinical and radiological indicators were used to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of the 2 procedures. No statistically significant differences were observed in age, sex, BMI, surgical segments, degree of disc degeneration, or postoperative length of hospital stay. However, the suture group had a longer operative time (63.28 ± 4.17 minutes vs 54.71 ± 4.89 minutes, t = 8.759, P < .05). At 12 months postoperatively, neither group showed aggravated disc degeneration. There was also no significant difference in excellent rates between the 2 groups (95.45% vs 92.86%, X2=0.265, P = .607). However, the suture group had a lower intervertebral disc height loss rate compared to the control group (22.3% ± 4.6% vs 29.8% ± 6.2%, X2=6.390, P < .001). In conclusion, single-channel percutaneous endoscopic nucleotomy combined with annulus fibrosus suturing is a safe and reliable treatment for LDH. It effectively reduces the recurrence rate, slows disc degeneration and loss of disc height, and achieves excellent early outcomes.

Ectopic Mediastinal Thyroid: A Crossroad Between a Multi-Layered Endocrine Perspective and a Contemporary Approach in Thoracic Surgery

An ectopic thyroid (ET) involves numerous scenarios of detection and outcomes, while its current management is not standardised. A mediastinal ET (MET) represents a low index of suspicion. In this paper, we introduce a 47-year-old female who was accidentally identified with an MET, and a modern surgical approach was provided. An anterior mediastinal mass of 3.2 cm was found at CT upon a prior COVID-19 infection. Previous to the infection, she experienced non-specific complaints for a few months (intermittent night sweats, facial erythema, chest pressure, and dyspnoea). Also, CT identified a thymus-like mass and a left adrenal incidentaloma of 3 cm. The endocrine panel was normal, and the subject declined further investigations. She was re-admitted 12 months later: the MET had increased +1 cm (+45% volume) and was confirmed at a 99mTc pertechnetate scintigraphy. Noting the symptoms, mediastinal anatomy, and size change, the MET was removed via a minimally invasive trans-cervical approach (eutopic gland preservation) with the help of a Cooper thymectomy retractor (which also allowed for a synchronous thymus mass resection). No post-operatory complications were registered, the thyroid function remained normal, and the mentioned symptoms were remitted. A histological exam confirmed a benign MET and thymus hyperplasia, respectively. To conclude, this case pinpoints important aspects, such as the clinical picture became clear only upon thoracic surgery due to the complete remission of the complaints that initially seemed widely non-specific. The incidental MET finding was associated with a second (adrenal) incidentaloma, a scenario that might not be so rare, following multiple imaging scans amid the COVID-19 era (no common pathogenic traits have been identified so far). The co-presence of a thymus mass represented one more argument for surgery. Minimally invasive cervicotomy associated with eutopic gland conservation and the use of a Cooper thymectomy retractor highlight modern aspects in video-assisted thoracic surgery, which provided an excellent outcome, involving one of the lowest mediastinal thyroids to be removed by this specific procedure. Awareness of such unusual entities helps inform individualised, multidisciplinary decisions for optimum prognoses.

Surgical Outcomes of Patients with Benign Spinal Tumors: Insights from A Prospective Quasi Experimental Study

Background: Spinal tumor is one of the causes of back pain, sensory motor deficit and bowel bladder dysfunction. Evaluation of postoperative mortality, morbidity and outcomes after resection of spinal cord tumors is critical to the practice of evidencebased medicine. Hence, it is important to carefully examine surgical outcomes at an institutional level. Objectives: The aim of the study was to describe the results of benign spinal tumor after surgical treatment according to location. Materials &amp; Method: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in the Department of Neurosurgery, Chittagong Medical College and Hospital for a period of 12 months. Twenty eight cases of benign spinal tumor underwent surgical treatment were enrolled in the study. Average hospital stay from surgery to discharge was 12-15 days. Postoperative neurological outcome in Frankel’s grade and bowel bladder involvement were assessed from 1st POD to 3rd month after surgery and data were recorded at 7th POD, 1st month and 3rd month after surgery. Collected data were analyzed by using SPSS-23. Results: Among the 28 cases, 15 were men and 13 were women. The mean age was 36.19 (±14.29) years and age range was 15 to 62 years. Twenty three (82.14%) patients improved by at least one Frankel grade and remaining five (17.86%) patients maintained their preoperative Frankel grade. Out of eight (28.6%) cases with absent bowel bladder dysfunction before surgery six (75%) recovered within three months. Postoperative deterioration was not observed in any of the included case. Ten (35.7%) patients had excellent outcome (having Frankel grade E with normal bowel bladder control) and 18 patients (64.3%) had good/fair outcome (partial recovery or clinically insignificant recovery) after 3 months. Age, gender and location (axial and sagittal) of benign spinal tumor were not found to have significant variation of neurological outcome. Conclusion: Majority of patients irrespective of the location (axial/sagittal) of the tumor had a favorable clinical outcome three months after the operation. Bang. J Neurosurgery 2024; 13(2): 130-139

Management of Neglected Pediatric Monteggia Fracture-Dislocation: A Case Report and Literature Review

Background: Missed or neglected Monteggia lesions are defined as classical fracture-dislocation presenting at least four weeks after injury. This injury in children is often challenging to treat and requires complex methods to achieve optimal results. Case Report: We report a 6-year-old girl with a 2-month-old neglected Bado type-I Monteggia fracture-dislocation. Our patient underwent ulnar osteotomy, bone grafting, and fixation with a semi-tubular plate along with open radial head reduction. Although the patient experienced wound complications at the bone graft harvest site, she achieved an excellent outcome with restored functionality and range of motion (ROM). Conclusion: Neglected Monteggia injuries in pediatric patients demand multifaceted treatment approaches due to their complexity and potential for long-term functional impairment. The absence of a consensus on definitive treatment underscores the importance of early diagnosis and open reduction to enhance long-term outcomes. This case report highlights the effectiveness of ulnar osteotomy, plate fixation, and open radial head reduction in achieving favorable results.

Short-term functional outcome of total hip arthroplasty for avascular necrosis of femoral head and influence of patient-related factors

Introduction Avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) is a phenomenon vascular supply disruption lead to death of bone cells around the femoral head. The disease is a severe health issue all over the world. Within 2 years about 80 % to 85 % of symptomatic cases will result in collapse of the femoral head. Recovery of hip function after total hip arthroplasty (THA) may be influenced by many factors that vary among different racial/ethnic groups. Most findings in this field have been from Western developed nations, and not much information from developing Asian countries is available.This study aimed to determine the six-month functional outcome and patient–related factors that predict functional recovery in patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) undertaking total hip arthroplasty (THA).Methods Between January 2022 and December 2023 there were 143 patients participating in this prospective study. Demographic, medical history and clinical findings were collected from their medical records. The six-month functional outcome was evaluated using the Harris hip score (HHS). The mean age of the participants was 55.90 ± 11.49 years, and the majority (86.7 %) were male. Most patients had excellent (43.4 %) or good outcome (51.7 %).Discussion Our study had some limitations: the length of the follow-up after surgery is short (6 months), that hospital-related factors like the type and volume of the hospital have not been analyzed. Nonetheless, previous observations suggest that most of the improvement in physical function occurs during the first six months following surgery and remains the same for a long time. However, our sample has typical demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with THA for ANFH, suggesting that determinants of the 6-month functional outcome in the current study could apply to other patients undergoing this surgery.Results The determinants of excellent outcome were a higher preoperative HHS (odds ratio (OR): 4.369, 95 % confidence interval (CI) =1.854 – 10.299; p &lt; 0.001) and absence of comorbidity (OR: 2.440, 95 % CI = 1.071 – 5.557, p = 0.034). No demographic (age, gender, body mass index), medical history (using of steroids, alcohol consumption or smoking), or any other clinical parameter (stage or side of the affected hip, time until surgery) had a significant influence on functional outcome.Conclusion Earlier surgery during functional decline and better management of comorbidity may help improve THA outcomes for patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

Early and Midterm Outcomes of Chimney Endovascular Aortic Repair for Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

To compare the outcomes of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair using a chimney technique (ch-EVAR) with those of the standard EVAR (st-EVAR) for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (RAAA). We implemented ch-EVAR for juxtarenal RAAA based on obvious anatomical indications after converting the strategy for RAAA from open repair to EVAR. A retrospective, cohort-based study was conducted on patients with RAAA who were treated using EVAR in our hospital between July 2011 and March 2022. EVAR cases were extracted, and outcomes were compared between ch-EVAR and st-EVAR. Patient clinical status, anatomical variables, treatment, and follow-up data were evaluated. A total of 56 (82%) and 12 (18%) patients were treated by st-EVAR and ch-EVAR, respectively. Thirty-day mortality rates were comparable between the 2 groups [8.9% in st-EVAR vs 8.3% in ch-EVAR (p= 0.95)]. Short-term outcomes showed that no type Ia endoleak occurred in either group. Midterm outcomes, including sac enlargement [7.5% in st-EVAR vs 0% in ch-EVAR (p= 0.37)], shrinkage [77.5% in st-EVAR vs 80.0% in ch-EVAR (p= 0.86)], and overall survival and freedom from aneurysm-related reintervention at 3 years [64.7% and 96.4% in the EVAR group vs 91.7% and 100% in the ch-EVAR group, respectively (p= 0.30 and 0.52)], were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Ch-EVAR for RAAA showed remarkably excellent outcomes, comparable to those of st-EVAR. Ch-EVAR is considered technically feasible in experienced centers. The indications for EVAR for RAAA may be further expanded using the chimney technique, resulting in overall improved outcomes for RAAA. This is a retrospective, single-center analysis of 68 patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (RAAAs) treated by endovascular repair (EVAR) to investigate the efficacy of the chimney technique for juxtarenal RAAA. Thirty-day mortality rate was 8.3% for the chimney EVAR group, which was equivalent to that in the standard EVAR group. Mid-term outcomes including sac enlargement/shrinkage, overall survival, and freedom from aneurysm-related reintervention were comparable between the two groups. This report suggests the possibility of broadening the selection criteria of the current endovascular strategy using the chimney technique.

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in combination with deep regional hyperthermia followed by surgery for rectal cancer: asystematic review and meta-analysis.

Combining chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with deep regional hyperthermia (HT) shows promise for enhancing clinical outcomes in selected rectal cancer patients. This study aimed to integrate the evidence and evaluate the efficacy of this combined treatment approach. Asystematic search of the PubMed, Scopus, and Mendeley databases was performed. This review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. The quality of studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS). Random-effects meta-analyses (DerSimonian and Laird) were performed. The primary outcome was pathological complete response (pCR), and secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), and toxicity. In total, 12studies were included, mostly of moderate quality. Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC; n = 760) and locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC; n = 22) were eligible. The pooled pCR rate was 19% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 16-22%) among all 782 patients and 19% (95%CI:16-23%) among 760 LARC patients. Due to significant study heterogeneity, survival outcomes were pooled by excluding LRRC patients. The pooled 5‑year OS rate among 433 LARC patients was 87% (95%CI: 83-90%). The pooled 5‑year DFS and LRFS in LARC patients were 75% (95%CI: 70-80%) and 95% (95%CI: 92-97%), respectively. There was alack of consistent reporting of HT treatment parameters and toxicity symptoms among the studies. The collective clinical evidence showed that neoadjuvant CRT combined with HT in rectal cancer patients is feasible, with a19% pCR rate and excellent survival outcomes in long term follow-up.

Good cochlear implantation outcomes in subjects with mono-allelic WFS1-associated sensorineural hearing loss – a case series

Objective This study aimed to evaluate long-term cochlear implant (CI) outcomes in individuals with mono-allelic pathogenic variants in WFS1, which is associated with both Wolfram-like syndrome and DFNA6/14/38. Design Retrospective case series. Study sample Seven CI recipients, ranging from eight months to 58 years of age, were included in the study, including four with Wolfram-like syndrome and three with DFNA6/14/38. A total of ten cochlear implantations were performed among these subjects. Results At one-year post-implantation, a mean phoneme score of 90 ± 9% at 65 dB SPL in quiet was found, which remained stable up to ten years post-implantation with a mean phoneme score of 94 ± 6%. Despite these excellent outcomes, one subject achieved no speech recognition with CI and eventually became a non-user. This individual had a prolonged absence of auditory stimulation prior to implantation and encountered multiple challenges during rehabilitation. Conclusion Individuals with Wolfram-like syndrome or DFNA6/14/38 demonstrate consistently good outcomes following implantation, which remain stable over time. These findings affirm cochlear implantation as an effective rehabilitation option for these individuals. Furthermore, the stable and good CI outcomes contradict the suggested link between WFS1-associated sensorineural hearing loss and auditory neuropathy.