BACKGROUND: Gastric banding remains a common procedure worldwide. Improving health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has become a major goal in the treatment of patients with chronic diseases, yet there are few comprehensive data regarding the effect of gastric banding on HRQOL. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ...

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effect of pedal arch quality on the amputation-free survival and patency rates of distal bypass grafts and its direct impact on the rate of healing and time to healing of tissue loss after direct angiosome revascularization in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI). METHODS: Between ...

PURPOSE: There is controversy about performing reduction mammaplasty in younger patients. Although no studies show poor surgical outcomes, a paucity of data exists on long-term outcomes and satisfaction. METHODS: A single center mixed-mode mail and telephone surveyed 203 women who underwent reduction mammaplasty for symptomatic macromastia between 1985 and 2005, ...

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic skull-base surgery (ESBS) is a minimal access approach to cranial base pathology; however, it significantly disrupts the intranasal mucosa and intranasal structures, the long-term effects of which are still being studied. We prospectively assessed postoperative changes in sinonasal QOL symptoms following ESBS. METHODS: Eighty-five patients were prospectively assessed ...

BACKGROUND: Urinary incontinence (UI) secondary to a neurogenic pathology, including spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis, is termed neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO). Patients with NDO experience decreased quality of life and are at risk for upper urinary tract damage. Two recent trials demonstrated that onabotulinumtoxinA significantly reduced UI, improved urodynamic ...

BACKGROUND: Modern semiconstrained reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) has shown a great improvement in function and range of motion (ROM) in different etiologies, including revision surgery, sequelae of fractures, or tumors. Few studies have evaluated RSA for primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis, massive rotator cuff tear, or cuff tear arthropathy excluding any other ...

Outcome is best assessed with both generic and disease-specific instruments, but using many, lengthy questionnaires increases the burden, quality, and cost of data collection.We evaluated a short, hip-oriented Core Outcome Measures Index (COMI-hip), comprising six items (pain, function, symptom-specific well-being, quality of life, and disability) extracted from established full-length questionnaires; ...

Summary For Salmo salar, there is a lack of information on the morphology of the first blastomeres formed during embryonic development and which could be used as a diagnostic tool for the first stages of development. The purpose of this investigation, therefore, was to characterize morphometrically the first blastomeres of ...

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in bowel preparation methods, the quality of bowel preparation in some patients undergoing colonoscopy remains unsatisfactory. The effect of telephone re-education (TRE) on the day before colonoscopy on the quality of bowel preparation and other outcome measures had not been studied. METHODS: A prospective colonoscopist-blinded study was ...

BACKGROUND: It is currently unclear as to whether there is a difference in the clinical effectiveness of an arthroscopic capsular release compared to a manipulation under anaesthesia (MUA) in patients with recalcitrant idiopathic adhesive capsulitis. METHODS: A systematic review was performed using computerized keyword searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, the ...

To compare the quality and tolerance of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)-assisted and conventional split-dose polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution for inpatient colonoscopy. The study was a randomized controlled trial in hospitalized patients. Hospitalized patients undergoing colonoscopy the day following EGD for evaluation of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding or other symptoms. Patients randomized to either ...

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether patient quality of life and sexual function are improved after the tension-free vaginal tape SECUR (TVT-S) procedure (H-type). DESIGN: Prospective study (Canadian Task Force classification II-3). SETTING: Single-center hospital. PATIENTS: Thirty-three women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) (high urethral mobility) and no concomitant pelvic floor ...

The purpose was to investigate risk factors for postoperative stiffness and long-term outcome following manipulation under anaesthesia (MUA). In one of the five Danish regions, all patients in a 4-year period who received MUA following total knee arthroplasty (N=36) were included in two case-control studies. Data on potential risk factors ...

Objective: Only few comparative reports about different urethroplasties have been published, addressing success rate (SR), adverse events (AE) and quality of life (QoL). Purpose: To evaluate SR, AE, and QoL in a contemporary cohort of patients undergoing urethroplasty in the short-term follow-up (FU). Material and methods: Between 12/2008 and 06/2010, ...

Endoscopic laser medial arytenoidectomy for bilateral vocal fold paralysis has the advantage of preserving the structure and the position of the vocal fold, contrary to a transverse cordotomy or total arytenoidectomy. Our objective was to evaluate the functional results of this procedure. This is a prospective non-randomized study. Twenty patients ...

BACKGROUND: Anecdotal evidence from second-look hip arthroscopies and animal studies has suggested spontaneous labral regrowth may occur after débridement. However, these observations have not been systematically confirmed. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We (1) determined whether labral regrowth occurs after débridement in human hips; (2) if so, described the characteristics of the reconstituted labrum; ...

BACKGROUND: <0.001]; n=6 studies; I(2)=0.0%; P for heterogeneity=0.9). Likewise, survivors were significantly more likely to have received chest compression rates closer to 85 to 100 compressions per minute (cpm) than nonsurvivors (absolute mean difference from 85 cpm, -4.81 cpm; 95% confidence interval, -8.19 to -1.43 [P=0.005]; from 100 cpm, -5.04 ...

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to compare early and long-term results of pectoralis muscle flap reconstruction with those of sternal rewiring following failed sternal closure. Primary outcomes of the study were survival and failure rate. Respiratory function, chronic pain and quality of life were also evaluated. METHODS: In ...

Sialendoscopy is an established, minimally invasive technique to diagnose and treat obstructive disorders of major salivary glands. Knowledge about patient satisfaction and quality of life is limited. All patients who underwent sialendoscopy were prospectively followed and evaluated. To determine the quality of life after sialendoscopy, an established questionnaire was evaluated ...

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the potential advantages and outcomes of the new Harmonic Focus™ (Focus) device compared to the Harmonic Scalpel™ ACS-14C in benign thyroid surgery. METHODS: A controlled randomised study was conducted in which the Focus was compared to former ACS-14C device in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy for multinodular goitre. ...

BACKGROUND: Scarce literature exists describing the patterns of readmission after continuous flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) implantation. These carry significant cost and quality of life implications. We sought to describe the etiology and pattern of readmission among patients receiving CF-LVADs. METHODS: Frequency, reason, urgency, and duration of readmission as ...

ObjectiveTo assess quality-of-life outcomes in patients undergoing nasal tip surgery with the vertical dome division technique using validated instruments (Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation [ROE] and Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation [NOSE]).Study DesignCase series with planned data collection.SettingTertiary university center.Subject and MethodsPatients undergoing primary cosmetic and functional rhinoseptoplasty using vertical dome division were ...

BACKGROUND:Superiority of the modified Brice interview over quality assurance techniques in detecting intraoperative awareness with explicit recall has not been demonstrated definitively.METHODS:We studied a single patient cohort to compare the detection of definite awareness using a single modified Brice interview (postoperative day 28-30) versus quality assurance data (postoperative day 1).RESULTS:The ...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility in terms of safety and quality of life in a sample of Italian patients affected by advanced ovarian cancer and submitted to either extensive upper abdomen or standard surgery, through validated questionnaires. From January 2006 to November 2011, a prospective, ...

To investigate the long-term outcomes of supracricoid partial laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy (CHEP) and its modified version, in which we reserve the poster inferior borders of both thyroid cartilage laminas to protect swallowing function. This retrospective survival analysis was performed in 86 patients, wherein 46 undergoing CHEP and 40 undergoing modified ...

A study was performed to evaluate use of quality improvement techniques to decrease the variability in turnaround time (TAT) for radiology reports on emergency department (ED) radiographs. An interdepartmental improvement team applied multiple interventions. Statistical process control charts were used to evaluate for improvement in mean TAT for ED radiographs, ...

We evaluated the voice and vocal fold pliability outcomes of European Laryngological Society (ELS) deep type I (subepithelial) and type II (subligamentous) cordectomies for early glottic cancer. We reviewed the medical records of patients with glottic carcinoma at a tertiary care medical center between 2005 and 2011. Their procedures were ...

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of the Elevate Anterior/Apical transvaginal mesh procedure in pelvic organ prolapse (POP) repair at 12-months follow-up. METHODS: This prospective, multicenter, multinational study enrolled 142 patients experiencing anterior vaginal prolapse with or without apical descent (POP-Q ≥ stage II). Each patient ...

: Technical feasibility of perineal antropyloric valve transposition to reconstruct a severely damaged incontinent anal sphincter or to replace an excised anorectal sphincter has been reported previously. : This study aimed to document the follow-up results of patients who underwent successful perineal antropyloric valve transposition for end-stage fecal incontinence. : ...

Prolotherapy, the rehabilitation of ligaments or tendons by induced proliferation of cells by using dextrose, is a noninvasive and effective method for the treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dislocation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of prolotherapy method for the management of acute or chronic dislocation ...

BACKGROUND: The construction of colostomy is associated with decreased physical and psychological well-being as well as decreased quality of life. Cecostomy is the creation of an opening in the cecum to provide colonic decompression. Objective:This work was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of tube cecostomy as an alternative to colostomy ...

Warfarin is widely used in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) because it is effective in reducing thromboembolic complications. However, it has a narrow safe therapeutic window. We aimed to examine the frequency of maintaining this therapeutic window in daily practice. We enrolled consecutive patients with non-valvular AF presenting to ...

Background:Although etanercept is well tolerated and effective in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, data are limited in Canadian practice settings.Objective:To assess the effectiveness and safety of etanercept in Canadian patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (Physician Global Assessment [PGA] ≥ 3) in routine practice.Methods:A 1-year, multicenter, open-label trial of 246 patients enrolled from ...

The objective of this study was to describe the evolution of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a cohort of breast cancer patients over 1 year after surgery and to analyse the predictive ability of HRQOL measurement instruments. Observational, multicenter and prospective study of a cohort of breast cancer patients, ...

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) results in an extremely poor quality of life and substantially increases health care utilization. Few data exist regarding the cost-effectiveness of surgical treatment for CP. This article examined the cost-effectiveness of total pancreatectomy (TP) with islet cell autotransplantation (IAT) for CP. Sixty patients undergoing TP + IAT ...

BACKGROUND: Loss of motion of the elbow joint is a common finding after elbow trauma. It has been shown that arthroscopic treatment leads to excellent restoration of elbow motion, although it is still a demanding procedure. The aim of our cohort study was to assess clinical outcomes following treatment of ...

AIMS: To evaluate the feasibility of using smart phones plus free instant messaging software for remote monitoring of videourodynamics. METHODS: From November 2011 to October 2012, 85 females with voiding disorders were enrolled for videourodynamic tests. The patients were assigned to videourodynamics remotely monitored by the attending physician by using ...

BACKGROUND: The PROTECT AF trial demonstrated that in patients with non-valvular AF and CHADS2 ≥ 1, a LAA closure device is non-inferior to long-term warfarin for stroke prevention. Given this equivalency, quality of life (QOL) indicators are an important metric for evaluating these two different strategies. METHODS: QOL using the ...

We aim to compare cool excimer laser-assisted angioplasty (CELA) versus tibial balloon angioplasty (TBA) in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) with tibial artery occlusive disease. The primary end point is sustained clinical improvement (SCI) and amputation-free survival (AFS). The secondary end points are binary restenosis, target extremity revascularization (TER), ...

BACKGROUND: Surgical removal of impacted lower third molar is still the most frequent procedure done by Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons and is often associated with pain, swelling and trismus. These postoperative sequelae can cause distress to the patient as a result of tissue trauma and affect the patient's quality of ...

PURPOSE: The aim was to evaluate the effects of anterior sphincter repair on faecal incontinence and quality of life. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-six patients who underwent anterior anal sphincteroplasty between January 2003 and December 2005 were asked to complete questionnaires containing the Wexner Incontinence Score (a score of 0 corresponds ...

BACKGROUND: Surgery is the only validated means of treating overt rectal prolapses, but both patients and physicians may decline or postpone the surgical approach. However, little is known on the functional outcome of nonoperated rectal prolapse. The aim of the present study was to highlight the natural history of overt ...

OBJECTIVESGuidelines recommend surgical mitral valve repair in selected patients with asymptomatic severe mitral valve regurgitation (MR), but the role of repair remains a matter of debate. Survival analyses of operated asymptomatic patients have been reported, but long-term haemodynamics and quality of life are not well defined. The aim of this ...

BACKGROUND: Our objective is to evaluate the effect of gastric electrical stimulation (GES) on symptoms and quality of life for pediatric patients with functional dyspepsia (FD). METHODS: Twenty-four patients (16 female, median 15 years) were treated with GES for FD after a median of 24 months of symptoms (3 months-14 years). At baseline, 46% ...

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac rhythm disturbance encountered in clinical practice and is associated with impaired quality of life. Data from the previous studies have shown that sleep quality (SQ), as a component of life quality, may also deteriorate in patients with AF. However, it ...

OBJECTIVES:: First, to conduct a literature review on the long-term mortality of ICU patients and its determinants. Second, to assess the influence of the found determinants on the 3, 6, and 12 months mortality after hospital discharge in the Dutch ICU population. DESIGN:: Combination of a literature review to evaluate ...

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to demonstrate the noninferiority of polyacrylamide hydrogel (PH) vs. polylactic acid (PLA) for the treatment of facial lipoatrophy in HIV-infected adults. METHODS: A randomized, blinded, multicentre, noninferiority 96-week study was carried out. Patients with facial lipoatrophy were randomly assigned to receive intradermal injections ...

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: This study is to analyze prospectively the anatomical and functional outcomes of transvaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery using the Prolift™ system for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) with hysterectomy. METHODS: A prospective, observational, noncomparative study was conducted in 80 patients with prolapse ≥2. Postoperative pelvic organ prolapse quantification stage ...

OBJECTIVE: Treatment to target (T2T) leads to improved clinical outcomes in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The question is whether these results sustain in the long-term. The objective was to investigate the three year results of a protocolized T2T strategy in daily clinical practice. METHODS: In the Dutch Rheumatoid Arthritis Monitoring ...

Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease who have a partial response to proton-pump inhibitors often seek alternative therapy. We evaluated the safety and effectiveness of a new magnetic device to augment the lower esophageal sphincter. We prospectively assessed 100 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease before and after sphincter augmentation. The study ...