76 research outputs found

    Mid-term Fixation Stability of the EndoVascular Technologies Endograft

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    AbstractAim of the study to determine the positional stability of the EndoVascular Technologies (EVT) endograft after endovascular aneurysm repair during morphologic changes of the abdominal aorta during follow-up. Patients and methods all patients treated worldwide with an EVT endograft with an adequate postoperative and at least 12 months postoperative CT scan were included (n=125). Endograft migration was investigated by recording the position of the endograft attachment systems relative to the renal arteries and the aortic or iliac bifurcations. The vertical body axis served as a scale to quantify migration. Aortic cross-sectional areas were measured in the suprarenal aorta and in the proximal and distal aneurysm necks. Length changes of the infrarenal aorta during follow-up were measured, comparing the distance between the left renal artery and the aortic bifurcation. Results the median follow-up was 24 months (range 12–48 months). Graft migration was identified in 4 out of 125 patients (3%). Significant infrarenal aortic dilation was observed at the proximal and distal aneurysm neck during follow-up. However, aortic neck dilation was not associated with endograft migration. The length of the infrarenal aorta did not change significantly after endovascular repair. Conclusion fixation by stents containing hooks of the EVT design appear to be effective in preventing migration of endografts with an unsupported trunk for up to four years. A stable position was maintained in spite of changes in cross-sectional areas of the aneurysm neck

    Predictive value of lymphocytopenia and the neutrophil-lymphocyte count ratio for severe imported malaria

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    Background: Lymphocytopenia has frequently been described in patients with malaria, but studies on its association with disease severity have yielded conflicting results. The neutrophil/lymphocyte count ratio (NLCR) has been introduced as a parameter for systemic inflammation in critically ill patients and was found, together with lymphocytopenia, to be a better predictor of bacteraemia than routine parameters like C-reactive protein and total leukocyte count. In the present study, the predictive value of the NLCR and lymphocytopenia for severe disease was evaluated in patients with imported malaria. Methods. All patients diagnosed with malaria at the Harbour Hospital between January 1§ssup§st§esup§ 1999 and January 1§ssup§st§esup§ 2012 with differential white cell counts determined within the first 24 hours after admission were included in this retrospective study. Severe malaria was defined according to the WHO criteria. The performance of the NLCR and lymphocytopenia as a marker of severe malarial disease was compared back-to-back with that of C-reactive protein as a reference biomarker. Results: A total of 440 patients (severe falciparum malaria n = 61, non-severe falciparum malaria n = 259, non-falciparum malaria n=120) were included in the study. Lymphocytopenia was present in 52% of all patients and the median NLCR of all patients was 3.2. Total lymphocyte counts and NLCR did not differ significantly between groups. A significant correlation of total leukocyte count and NLCR, but not lymphocyte count, with parasitaemia was found. ROC analysis revealed a good negative predictive value but a poor positive predictive value of both lymphocytopenia and NLCR and performance was inferior to that of C-reactive protein. After complete parasite clearance a significant rise in total leukocyte count and lymphocyte count and a significant decrease in NLCR was observed. Conclusion: The NLCR was found to correlate with parasitaemia, but b

    The transverse aortic constriction heart failure animal model: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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    The transverse aortic constriction (TAC) model is frequently used to study adverse cardiac remodeling upon pressure overload. We set out to define the most important characteristics that define the degree of cardiac remodeling in this model. A systematic review and meta-analyses were performed on studies using the TAC mouse/rat model and reporting echocardiographic outcome parameters. We included all animal studies in which a constriction around the transverse aorta and at least one of the predefined echocardiography or MRI outcome parameters were assessed. A total of 502 articles and > 3000 wild-type, untreated animals undergoing TAC were included in this study and referenced to a control group. The duration of aortic constriction correlated to the degree of adverse remodeling. However, the mouse data is strongly biased by the preferential use of male C57Bl/6 mice (66% of studies). Furthermore, mostly ketamine/xylazine anesthetics, 27G needle constriction, and silk sutures are used. Nonetheless, despite the homogeneity in experimental design, the model contained a substantial degree of heterogeneity in the functional outcome measures. When looking at study quality, only 12% reported randomization, 23% mentioned any sort of blinding, 25% adequately addressed the outcomes, and an amazingly low percentage (2%) showed sample size calculation. Meta-analyses did not detect specific study characteristics that explained the heterogeneity in the reported outcome measures, however this might be related to the strong bias towards the use of specific mouse lines, sex as well as age or to poor reporting of characteristics of study quality

    Outcomes in octogenarians and the effect of comorbidities after intact abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in the Netherlands: a nationwide cohort study

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    Objective: Age is an independent risk factor for mortality after both elective open surgical repair (OSR) and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). As a result of an ageing population, and the less invasive nature of EVAR, the number of patients over 80 years (octogenarians) being treated is increasing. The mortality and morbidity following aneurysm surgery are increased for octogenarians. However, the mortality for octogenarians who have either low or high peri-operative risks remains unclear. The aim of this study was to provide peri-operative outcomes of octogenarians vs. non-octogenarians after OSR and EVAR for intact aneurysms, including separate subanalyses for elective and urgent intact repair, based on a nationwide cohort. Furthermore, the influence of comorbidities on peri-operative mortality was examined.Methods: All patients registered in the Dutch Surgical Aneurysm Audit (DSAA) undergoing intact AAA repair between 2013 and 2018, were included. Patient characteristics and peri-operative outcomes (peri-operative mortality, and major complications) of octogenarians vs. non-octogenarians for both OSR and EVAR were compared using descriptive statistics. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine whether age and the presence of cardiac, pulmonary, or renal comorbidities were associated with mortality.Results: This study included 12 054 EVAR patients (3 015 octogenarians), and 3 815 OSR patients (425 octogenarians). Octogenarians in both the EVAR and OSR treatment groups were more often female and had more comorbidities. In both treatment groups, octogenarians had significantly higher mortality rates following intact repair as well as higher major complication rates. Mortality rates of octogenarians were 1.9% after EVAR and 11.8% after OSR. Age >= 80 and presence of cardiac, pulmonary, and renal comorbidities were associated with mortality after EVAR and OSR.Conclusion: Because of the high peri-operative mortality rates of octogenarians, awareness of the presence of comorbidities is essential in the decision making process before offering aneurysm repair to this cohort, especially when OSR is considered.Development and application of statistical models for medical scientific researc

    Chronic Q fever diagnosis—consensus guideline versus expert opinion

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    Chronic Q fever, caused by Coxiella burnetii, has high mortality and morbidity rates if left untreated. Controversy about the diagnosis of this complex disease has emerged recently. We applied the guideline from the Dutch Q Fe­ver Consensus Group and a set of diagnostic criteria pro­posed by Didier Raoult to all 284 chronic Q fever patients included in the Dutch National Chronic Q Fever Database during 2006–2012. Of the patients who had proven cas­es of chronic Q fever by the Dutch guideline, 46 (30.5%) would not have received a diagnosis by the alternative cri­teria designed by Raoult, and 14 (4.9%) would have been considered to have possible chronic Q fever. Six patients with proven chronic Q fever died of related causes. Until results from future studies are available, by which current guidelines can be modified, we believe that the Dutch lit­erature-based consensus guideline is more sensitive and easier to use in clinical practice

    Centre de soins de santé européen d'excellence. Déclaration commune

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    Antibiotic prophylaxis for high-risk patients with acute Q Fever: no definitive answers yet

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    Statines en perioperatieve cardiovasculaire complicaties.

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