Gamma-knife-based stereotactic radiosurgery for medium- and large-sized posterior uveal melanoma

This study investigated the use of gamma-knife-based stereotactic radiosurgery (GKRS) for medium- and large-sized posterior uveal melanoma treatment

A Novel Surgical Technique to Prevent Postoperative Ahmed Valve (TM) Tube Exposure Through Conjunctiva: Tenon Advancement and Duplication

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To present and evaluate a novel surgical technique to prevent exposure of the Ahmed valve implant tube (New World Medical, Rancho Cucamonga, CA) through conjunctiva in congenital glaucoma called "combined short scleral tunnel technique with Tenon advancement and duplication.

Effect of Fasting on Corneal Biomechanical and Structural Parameters

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of hunger and thirst on corneal biomechanical and structural parameters during Ramadan fasting.Materials and Methods: Corneal biomechanical properties and intraocular pressures of 29 eyes of 29 healthy subjects were evaluated by Reichert ocular response analyzer; and structural and anatomical properties of cornea and anterior eye chamber of same eyes were scanned with Oculus Pentacam anterior segment analyzer. Each eye has been evaluated at 8 am and 4 pm both during and 1 month after Ramadan. Changes of subjects' weight were calculated and their relationship with corneal biomechanical and structural parameters was assessed.Results: Intraday changes in horizontal corneal astigmatism (p = 0.02), anterior chamber volume (p = 0.01), intraocular pressure associated with the Goldmann IOPg (p = 0.02) and corneal resistance factor (CRF) (p = 0.04) were significantly different when measured during the fasting period in Ramadan and 1 month thereafter. Moreover, when we compared 8 am measurements taken during and after Ramadan, we observed significant differences for anterior chamber volume (p = 0.04) and anterior chamber angle values (p = 0.03). Similarly, for 4 pm measurements, there were significant differences for IOPg (p = 0.01) and CRF values (p = 0.00).Conclusions: Fasting lasting for more than 12 h during Ramadan creates an important window of opportunity to investigate the response of anterior chamber of eye to hunger and thirst. The current study contributes to the existing literature on the effects of dietary habits and water intake on corneal and anterior chamber properties

Corneal Viscoelastic Differences Between Pseudoexfoliative Glaucoma and Primary Open-angle Glaucoma

Purpose:The aims of this study were to assess the biomechanical properties of corneas with pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PEXG) and to compare them with those of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).Methods:This prospective, comparative case series consisted of 73 eyes of 73 patients, 35 eyes with PEXG (PEXG group) and 38 eyes with POAG (POAG group). Corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), corneal-compensated intraocular pressure (IOPCC), and Goldmann-correlated intraocular pressure (IOPG) were determined by using ocular response analyzer (ORA). IOP using Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT) and ultrasonic central corneal thickness (CCT) were also measured for each eye. Exclusion criteria included refractive error/astigmatism of >3.00 D, history of intraocular surgery, corneal disease, angle-closure glaucoma, and secondary glaucoma other than PEXG. In cases where both eyes were eligible, the right eye was preferred for analysis. The main outcome measures were CH, CRF, IOPCC, IOPG, and GAT. The results were statistically analyzed by using t test, general linear model, and the Pearson correlation test.Results:The mean CH was found to be significantly lower in patients with PEXG (8.81.4 mm Hg) than those with primary open-angle glaucoma (9.9 +/- 1.2 mm Hg; P=0.0007). The mean CRF was found to be significantly lower in patients with PEXG (9.5 +/- 1.8 mm Hg) than those with POAG (11.1 +/- 1.3 mm Hg; P<0.0001). IOPCC was not significantly different between the groups (PEXG, 16.7 +/- 2.5 mm Hg; POAG, 16.9 +/- 2.4 mm Hg; P=0.72). IOPG was significantly lower in PEXG group (14.7 +/- 2.7 mm Hg) compared with the POAG group (16.5 +/- 2.5 mm Hg; P=0.004). GAT was significantly lower in the PEXG group (14.6 +/- 2.7 mm Hg) compared with the POAG group (16.4 +/- 2.8 mm Hg; P=0.007). There was no significant difference between the groups regarding mean CCT (PEXG, 546.1 +/- 34.9 ; POAG, 549.1 +/- 25 ; P=0.66) and mean age (PEXG, 70.3 +/- 8.2; POAG, 67.6 +/- 8.8; P=0.17). The difference between the IOPCC and the GAT was 2.1 and 0.5 mm Hg in both PEXG and POAG groups, respectively.Conclusions:Patients with PEXG had lower CH and CRF values than those with POAG. These findings require further investigation to assess the role of differing corneal biomechanical properties between the 2 groups and its association with poor prognosis among patients with PEXG

Global variation in postoperative mortality and complications after cancer surgery: a multicentre, prospective cohort study in 82 countries

© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licenseBackground: 80% of individuals with cancer will require a surgical procedure, yet little comparative data exist on early outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared postoperative outcomes in breast, colorectal, and gastric cancer surgery in hospitals worldwide, focusing on the effect of disease stage and complications on postoperative mortality. Methods: This was a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of consecutive adult patients undergoing surgery for primary breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer requiring a skin incision done under general or neuraxial anaesthesia. The primary outcome was death or major complication within 30 days of surgery. Multilevel logistic regression determined relationships within three-level nested models of patients within hospitals and countries. Hospital-level infrastructure effects were explored with three-way mediation analyses. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03471494. Findings: Between April 1, 2018, and Jan 31, 2019, we enrolled 15 958 patients from 428 hospitals in 82 countries (high income 9106 patients, 31 countries; upper-middle income 2721 patients, 23 countries; or lower-middle income 4131 patients, 28 countries). Patients in LMICs presented with more advanced disease compared with patients in high-income countries. 30-day mortality was higher for gastric cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (adjusted odds ratio 3·72, 95% CI 1·70–8·16) and for colorectal cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (4·59, 2·39–8·80) and upper-middle-income countries (2·06, 1·11–3·83). No difference in 30-day mortality was seen in breast cancer. The proportion of patients who died after a major complication was greatest in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (6·15, 3·26–11·59) and upper-middle-income countries (3·89, 2·08–7·29). Postoperative death after complications was partly explained by patient factors (60%) and partly by hospital or country (40%). The absence of consistently available postoperative care facilities was associated with seven to 10 more deaths per 100 major complications in LMICs. Cancer stage alone explained little of the early variation in mortality or postoperative complications. Interpretation: Higher levels of mortality after cancer surgery in LMICs was not fully explained by later presentation of disease. The capacity to rescue patients from surgical complications is a tangible opportunity for meaningful intervention. Early death after cancer surgery might be reduced by policies focusing on strengthening perioperative care systems to detect and intervene in common complications. Funding: National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licenseBackground: Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide. Methods: A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study—a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital. Findings: Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3·85 [95% CI 2·58–5·75]; p<0·0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63·0% vs 82·7%; OR 0·35 [0·23–0·53]; p<0·0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer. Interpretation: Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised. Funding: National Institute for Health and Care Research