Mitral annular disjunction distance is associated with adverse outcomes in children and young adults with connective tissue disorders.

Introduction: Mitral annular disjunction (MAD) is a pathologic fibrous separation of the mitral valve hinge point from the ventricular myocardium. The aims of this study were to describe the range of MAD distance by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in children and young adults with connective tissue disorders (CTDs) versus a healthy control sample, and to assess the MAD distance as a predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

Methods: This was a retrospective, single-center study of healthy subjects and patients with Marfan syndrome, Loeys-Dietz syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, or nonspecific CTD who underwent CMR between 01/01/2000 and 01/01/2020.

tumor imaging of pre-clinical models via reflection-mode measurements of circular degree of polarization.

Significance: Tumor tissues exhibit contrast with healthy tissue in circular degree of polarization (DOP) images via higher magnitude circular DOP values and increased helicity-flipping. This phenomenon may enable polarimetric tumor detection and surgical/procedural guidance applications.

Aim: Depolarization metrics have been shown to exhibit differential responses to healthy and cancer tissue, whereby tumor tissues tend to induce less depolarization; however, the understanding of this depolarization-based contrast remains limited.

Aortic endograft infections have worse outcomes compared to aortic surgical grafts or primary mycotic aortic infections.

Background: Aortic infection is associated with high morbidity and mortality, but the outcomes of prosthetic (surgical or endovascular) grafts compared with primary aortic infections are poorly defined. This large single-center retrospective study aims to compare the outcomes of primary and prosthetic aortic graft infections.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with primary or infected aortic grafts between January 2000 and December 2022 were included.

Acute Effects of Enhanced External Counterpulsation in Adults With Fontan Circulation.

Background: Patients with Fontan circulation exhibit reduced cardiac output.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to study the safety and acute hemodynamic effects of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) in a cohort of Fontan patients.

Methods: This was a pilot study of ambulatory adults with Fontan circulation at a single, large-volume adult congenital heart disease center.

An enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway for laparoscopic gastrostomy insertion facilitates 23-h discharge.

Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways has become well established for operations as diverse as hip replacement and coronary artery bypass. We designed an ERAS gastrostomy pathway in children based on best practice to facilitate 23-h discharge.

Methods: An ERAS pathway for laparoscopic Seldinger gastrostomy insertion was developed in 2018 with standardisation of all phases from first pre-operative visit to discharge.

The natural history of portal venous system aneurysms.

Background: Portal venous system aneurysms (PVAs) are increasingly diagnosed on cross-sectional computed tomography imaging. However, the natural history of these aneurysms is poorly understood, and reports are limited to small case series.

Methods: Terms relevant to PVAs were searched in radiology reports (2010-2022), with PVA presence confirmed by manual review.

The Epidemiology of Skateboarding Injuries: A 10-Year Review at a Major Australian Centre.

Aims The purpose of this study was to attempt to quantify the impact of skateboarding-related injuries on our local orthopaedic service. Method Every presentation to the emergency departments of Gold Coast health public hospitals was retrospectively reviewed to determine whether these were skateboarding-related injuries. Between 2008 and 2018, 5,026 injuries were identified.

The Impact of Pregnancy in Patients with Thoracic Aortic Disease: Epidemiology, Risk Assessment, and Management Considerations.

Thoracic aortic disease (TAD) poses substantial risks during pregnancy, particularly for women with genetic conditions such as Marfan syndrome, Loeys-Dietz syndrome, and vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. This review examines the epidemiology, risk assessment, and management of TAD in pregnancy. Preconception counseling is vital considering the hereditary nature of TAD and potential pregnancy-related complications.

Five Year Results of Endovascular versus Medical Therapy in Acute Type B Aortic Intramural Haematoma: Meta-Analysis of Reconstructed Time to Event Data.

Objective: To evaluate outcomes in the follow up of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) vs. medical therapy in patients with acute type B aortic intramural haematoma (IMH).

Data Sources: The following sources were searched for articles meeting the inclusion criteria and published by July 2023: PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL/CCTR (Cochrane Controlled Trials Register).

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair for hyperacute, acute, subacute and chronic type B aortic dissection: Meta-analysis of reconstructed time-to-event data.

Since the optimal timing for thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in the context of type B aortic dissections (TBAD) remains an open question, we performed a systematic review with meta-analysis to evaluate outcomes of TEVAR according to the phases of TBAD - hyperacute, acute, subacute and chronic. We carried out a pooled meta-analysis of time-to-event data extracted from studies published by June 2023 for the following outcomes: all-cause mortality, aortic-related mortality, and late aortic reinterventions. Thirteen studies met our eligibility criteria, comprising 4,793 patients (10.

Genetic syndromes associated with congenital heart disease.

Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect, affecting 1% of live births. The underlying cause of congenital heart disease is frequently unknown. However, advances in human genetics and genome technologies have helped expand congenital heart disease pathogenesis knowledge during the last few decades.

Spatial analysis of polarimetric images to enhance near-surface sampling sensitivity: feasibility in demineralized teeth and other tissue-like media.

Significance: Early tooth demineralization may be detectable through spatial analysis of polarized light images as demonstrated in this study. This may also prove useful in the early detection of epithelial tumors that comprise the majority of the cancer burden worldwide.

Aim: The spatial properties of polarized light images have not been greatly exploited in biomedicine to improve sensitivity to superficial tissue regions; therefore, we investigate the optical sampling depth effects as a function of location in the backscattered polarimetric images.

The 2023 Society for Vascular Surgery, American Venous Forum, and American Vein and Lymphatic Society clinical practice guidelines for the management of varicose veins of the lower extremities. Part II: Endorsed by the Society of Interventional Radiology and the Society for Vascular Medicine.

The Society for Vascular Surgery, the American Venous Forum, and the American Vein and Lymphatic Society recently published Part I of the 2022 clinical practice guidelines on varicose veins. Recommendations were based on the latest scientific evidence researched following an independent systematic review and meta-analysis of five critical issues affecting the management of patients with lower extremity varicose veins, using the patients, interventions, comparators, and outcome system to answer critical questions. Part I discussed the role of duplex ultrasound scanning in the evaluation of varicose veins and treatment of superficial truncal reflux.

Midterm Outcomes of Endovascular vs. Medical Therapy for Uncomplicated Type B Aortic Dissection: Meta-Analysis of Reconstructed Time to Event Data.

Objective: To evaluate outcomes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) vs. medical therapy in uncomplicated type B aortic dissections (TBAD).

Data Sources: PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, SciELO, LILACS, CENTRAL/CCTR, Google Scholar, and reference lists of relevant articles.

Long-Term Outcomes of Patients With Carotid and Aortic Body Tumors.

Chemodectomas are tumors derived from parasympathetic nonchromaffin cells and are often found in the aortic and carotid bodies. They are generally benign but can cause mass-effect symptoms and have local or distant spread. Surgical excision has been the main curative treatment strategy.

Genetically Triggered Thoracic Aortic Disease: Who Should be Tested?

Up to 25% of patients with thoracic aortic disease have an underlying Mendelian pathogenic variant. This is a heterogeneous group of disorders known as heritable thoracic aortic diseases (HTAD). Diagnosing associated pathogenic gene variants and syndromes is critical, as the underlying genetics have an implication in medical management, surveillance, thresholds for surgical intervention, surgical risk, pregnancy risk, and risk of inheritance by the offspring.

Spatial helicity response metric to quantify particle size and turbidity of heterogeneous media through circular polarization imaging.

Backscattered circularly polarized light from turbid media consists of helicity-flipped and helicity-preserved photon sub-populations (i.e., photons of perpendicular and parallel circular handedness).

Results of the North American Complex Abdominal Aortic Debranching (NACAAD) Registry.

Background: Hybrid debranching repair of pararenal and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms was initially designed as a better alternative to standard open repair, addressing the limitations of endovascular repair involving the visceral aorta. We reviewed the collective outcomes of hybrid debranching repairs using extra-anatomic, open surgical debranching of the renal-mesenteric arteries, followed by endovascular aortic stenting.

Methods: Data from patients who underwent hybrid repair in 14 North American institutions during 10 years were retrospectively reviewed.

The Management of Asymptomatic Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformation: Results of a European Delphi Survey.

Consensus on the optimal management of asymptomatic congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) is lacking, and comparison between studies remains difficult due to a large variety in outcome measures. We aimed to define a core outcome set (COS) for pediatric patients with an asymptomatic CPAM. An online, three-round Delphi survey was conducted in two stakeholder groups of specialized caregivers (surgeons and non-surgeons) in various European centers.