PURPOSE: To evaluate the change in sensory status and quality-of-life measures in adults with long-standing childhood-onset constant strabismus. METHODS: Consecutive patients with childhood-onset, long-term constant strabismus were enrolled. Sensory status was examined with Bagolini striated glasses test and Worth 4-dot test. Stereopsis was tested with the Lang and TNO stereopsis ...

Purpose:This article describes the Self-Expanding Endobronchial Occluder (SEEO) as utilized in Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction (BLVR) with a 36 month follow-up procedure.Methods:23 Patients with severe emphysema were recruited and underwent flexible bronchoscopic placement of the SEEOs. Outcomes were assessed at 1 week, 1-month, 3-, 6-, 12-, 24- and 36-month intervals ...

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic ventral rectopexy for rectal prolapse combines the advantages of a minimally invasive approach with the low recurrence rate observed after abdominal procedures. To date, only a few long-term functional studies and no quality of life assessment are available. The aim of this study was to assess long-term functional ...

Background In this study, cardiac surgery with minimally invasive reversed C sternotomy was compared with conventional sternotomy in patients undergoing valve replacement or septal defect repair.Methods In this prospective randomized study, 35 patients were assigned into one of two groups for elective cardiac surgery under general anesthesia: Group A (reversed C sternotomy ...

To prospectively record the clinical consequences of R1 resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma compared to patients with locally advanced tumours not undergoing surgery. Surgery is the only potentially curative treatment of pancreatic cancer, and postoperative safety is increasing. The rate of R1 resections might also increase unintentionally as surgical procedures with ...

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the long-term cost-effectiveness of 12-months treatment with prasugrel versus clopidogrel from four European healthcare systems' perspectives (Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Turkey). Methods: In the TRITON-TIMI 38 trial, patients with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were treated with prasugrel or clopidogrel. ...

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to analyze the differences in quality of life (QOL) in head and neck stage IV squamous cell cancer patients treated with surgery and reconstruction versus radical radiotherapy.The QOL was analyzed in 2 groups of patients. All patients had the same demographic and oncologic features but were ...

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic condition most common in middle-aged and elderly women, with prevalence rates in the general population ranging from 0.5% to 5%. Defined by the International Headache Society as "an intraoral burning sensation for which no medical or dental cause can be found," BMS is ...

Background and aim: This Guideline is an official statement of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE). It addresses the choice amongst regimens available for cleansing the colon in preparation for colonoscopy. Methods: This Guideline is based on a targeted literature search to evaluate the evidence supporting the use of ...

Background: The therapeutic efficacy of CP/CPPS is not very satisfactory and the impact on young male's quality of life is considerable. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy of pollen extract associated with vitamins (DEPROX 500®) in order to improve the quality of life of young ...

BACKGROUND:This study aimed to assess factors which predict good tolerance of noninvasive ventilation (NIV), in order to improve survival and quality of life in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients.METHODS:We conducted a prospective study on ALS patients requiring NIV. The study's primary endpoint was NIV tolerance at one month. Patients, several ...

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is reduced after a burn, and is affected by coexisting conditions. The aims of the investigation were to examine and describe effects of coexisting disease on HRQoL, and to quantify the proportion of burned people whose HRQoL was below that of a reference group ...

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this retrospective investigation was to evaluate the postoperative quality of life after endodontic surgery in maxillary molars when a sinus membrane perforation occurred and platelet concentrates were used. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Included patients were treated by microsurgical endodontic treatment in molar and premolar maxillary regions between ...

BackgroundThe presence of glomerular filtration in dialysis patients is associated with improved survival and quality of life. This study explores the time course of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) between 1 year before and 1 year after the start of haemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD).MethodsThis study included 1861 incident ...

BACKGROUND: The main outcome parameters in oesophageal surgery have traditionally been morbidity and mortality, but quality of life (QL) has become an important consideration in view of the severity and persistence of postoperative symptoms. The aim of this study was to analyse QL before and after oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer ...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate factors influencing the deterioration of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in trauma patients admitted to an ICU. DESIGN: A prospective observational study was carried out. SETTING: The combined medical/surgical ICU in a university secondary hospital with 24-hour neurosurgery service. PATIENTS: Trauma patients admitted to the ICU during ...

Context:No relationship has been found between improvement in quality of life (QOL) and total IGF-I during GH therapy.Aim:Our aim was to investigate the relationship between IGF-I bioactivity and QOL in GH-deficient (GHD) patients receiving GH for 12 months.Methods:Of 106 GHD patients, 84 on GH treatment discontinued therapy 4 weeks before ...

BACKGROUND: . Patients in a vegetative state pose problems in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Currently, no prognostic markers predict the chance of recovery, which has serious consequences, especially in end-of-life decision making. OBJECTIVE: . We aimed to assess an objective measurement of prognosis using advanced electroencephalography (EEG). METHODS: . EEG ...

PURPOSE: Lower urinary tract dysfunction is common in multiple sclerosis (MS). The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the impact of intermittent catheterization (IC) on the quality of life of patients affected by MS. METHODS: Between 2007 and 2009, we admitted 23 patients to teach them the technique ...

OBJECTIVE: To study objective or subjective preoperative factors predicting improvement in listening capabilities and patient satisfaction after stapes surgery in otosclerosis. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, multicenter study. SETTING: Two tertiary referral centers. PATIENTS: Fifty-four consecutive adult patients with otosclerosis. INTERVENTIONS: Stapedotomy, stapedectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pure tone and speech audiometry and ...

BACKGROUND: Mortality and morbidity are considerable after treatment for perforated peptic ulcer (PPU). Since 2003, a Danish nationwide quality-of-care (QOC) improvement initiative has focused on reducing preoperative delay, and improving perioperative monitoring and care for patients with PPU. The present study reports the results of this initiative. METHODS: This was ...

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of resident involvement on laser prostate surgery outcomes within a urology group in a private practice setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with ≥6 months of follow-up data who had undergone holmium laser ablation of the prostate by a single surgeon (R.L.Y.) within a private urology group ...

We evaluate the safety, efficacy, and oncological outcomes of early palliative photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) by GreenLight high-performance system (HPS) 120-W laser in patients with acute urinary retention (AUR) induced by advanced prostate cancer (PCa). A total of 39 advanced PCa patients with AUR who underwent PVP were ...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the visual outcome and self-reported vision-targeted health status in patients treated with intravitreal ranibizumab for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A total of 51 eyes from 50 patients aged 76 ± 7 years, with wet AMD not previously treated, were included in ...

Pre- and post-Frey procedure data assessing quality of life in South African patients with painful chronic pancreatitis were compared using two instruments of measure. The objective was to evaluate the post-Frey procedure quality of life and to evaluate which of the two instruments was most appropriate in such patients. A ...

This study compared the use of two commonly utilized dural closure techniques used in augmentation duraplasty for Chiari malformation I (CM I) and evaluated their efficacy and outcome in terms of quality of life assessments. This prospective randomized study compared sutureless (DuraGen) and suturable (Dura-Guard) techniques in CM I decompression. ...

To report the short-term outcome of transurethral bladder neck incision with 2-micron continuous wave laser (RevoLix) in the management of bladder outlet stricture in women. In a prospective study, between January 2011 and February 2012, a total of 14 patients with the complaint of difficulty in voiding underwent transurethral bladder ...

Autoantibodies against β1-adrenoreceptor (AR) are considered by many authors to be the most significant in autoimmune process during DCM. Immunoadsorption (IA) of immunoglobulins (Ig apheresis) is a logic approach to remove autoantibodies against β1-AR and other antibodies. The effect of Ig apheresis and the role of anti-β1-AR in DCM are still ...

Objective To evaluate the image quality (IQ) and radiation dose of 128-slice dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) coronary angiography using prospectively electrocardiogram (ECG)-triggered sequential scan mode compared with ECG-gated spiral scan mode in a population with atrial fibrillation. Methods Thirty-two patients with suspected coronary artery disease and permanent atrial fibrillation referred ...

Recovery after stroke correlates with non-active (stunned) brain regions, which may persist for years. The current study aimed to evaluate whether increasing the level of dissolved oxygen by Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) could activate neuroplasticity in patients with chronic neurologic deficiencies due to stroke. A prospective, randomized, controlled trial including ...

To evaluate the effect of nitroglycerine (NTG) on sensory and motor block onset and recovery time as well as the quality of tourniquet pain relief, when added to lidocaine (LID) for intravenous regional anesthesia in elective forearm and hand surgery. A randomized double-blinded clinical trial was performed on 40 patients ...

To evaluate the health related quality of life (HRQOL) after endoscopic injection treatment for vesico ureteral reflux (VUR) in children. Fifty four children received treatment and were prospectively evaluated for their quality of life scores, according to resolution of reflux on cystograms and status of renal scars. Of the 81 ...

A 25-year-old male patient underwent restorative proctocolectomy and ileoanal anastomosis in 1991 for refractory ulcerative colitis. In February 2001, he presented with pneumaturia, faecaluria, pelvic 'pressure' and watery diarrhoea caused by passage of urine through the anal canal. A fistula between the pouch and the membranous urethra was demonstrated by ...

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the results of vascular operations based on the RaK prostheses, with a particular attention paid to their long-term patency. The study included 105 patients who were operated on in the period from 1992 to 1996. Vascular surgery was performed in the ...

The tendency towards sphincter preserving for low rectal cancers with low anterior resection, has led to the technique of straight coloanal anastomosis (SCAA) or colonic J-pouch anal anastomosis (CPAA). The aim of our study was to compare functional outcomes, complication rates and quality of life (QoL) after LAR with either ...

Most studies that follow up hepatectomy cases are limited in scope to an investigation of mortality and morbidity rates or the costs and length of hospital stay. In this study the authors aimed to characterize the quality of life and to evaluate mortality and its determinants after hepatectomy. This ...

Although symptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis have a high disease burden and guidelines recommend aortic valve replacement, many are treated conservatively. This study describes to what extent quality of life is changed by aortic valve replacement relative to conservative treatment. This observational study followed 132 symptomatic patients with severe ...

Background: Frey's procedure might be a good alternative to pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD) for patients with an inflammatory mass of the head of the pancreas, because it is technically easy and associated with low morbidity and good pain relief. Purpose: To analyze the short-term and long-term outcomes of Frey's procedure in ...

Introduction. Internal nasal valve incompetence (INVI) has been treated with various surgical methods. Large, single surgeon case series are lacking, meaning that the evidence supporting a particular technique has been deficient. We present a case series using alar batten grafts to reconstruct the internal nasal valve, all performed by the ...

Background Voice disorders resulting from glottic insufficiency are a significant clinical problem in everyday phoniatric practice. One method of treatment is injection laryngoplasty. Our study aimed to assess the voice quality of patients treated with hyaluronic acid injection into the vocal fold. Material and Methods We studied 25 patients suffering ...

Intravesical protrusion of the prostate (IPP) can affect voiding. We evaluated the improvement in lower urinary tract symptoms and patient satisfaction after laser prostate photovaporization in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients with or without IPP. This prospective study included 134 patients who underwent GreenLight HPS laser photoselective vaporization prostatectomy (PVP) ...

The authors sought to assess long-term efficacy, surgical morbidity, and postoperative quality of life in patients who have undergone dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) lesioning. We utilized the electronic chart system at our institution to identify patients who underwent DREZ lesioning since 1986. Of the patients that were able to ...

We used the Short Form (SF)-36® Health Survey scale to assess the effect of pelvic floor muscle exercise (PFE) on aging males who received transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P). From April 2010 to December 2010, a total of 66 patients who underwent TUR-P were enrolled in this study. They ...

BACKGROUND: Studies from the balloon angioplasty and bare metal stent eras have demonstrated that CABG is cost-effective compared with PCI for patients undergoing multivessel coronary revascularization-particularly among patients with complex CAD or diabetes. Whether these results apply in the drug-eluting stent (DES) era is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between 2005 ...

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term results in patients treated for diverticular disease (DD), mainly considering indication for surgery, outcome of the treatment modalities and quality of life. All consecutive patients who underwent treatment for diverticular disease since January 2003 to June 2007 were analyzed. ...

Varicose veins are a major problem worldwide and improvement in quality of life (QoL) is the ultimate goal after treatment of this benign disease. However QoL is highly dependent on personal and social factors. This study compares high ligation and stripping (HS) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in terms of QoL ...

INTRODUCTION: Despite the high prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases, in Spain there are few data about how these conditions affect the quality of life of individuals. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) of patients candidate for orthopedic surgical treatment using an age-gender adjusted method ...

BACKGROUND AND GOALS:: Endoscopic stent insertion is considered the method of choice for palliation of malignant bile duct obstruction (MBDO). However, it can cause complications and requires periodic stent exchanges. Although endoscopic stenting is clearly indicated for relief of cholangitis or refractory pruritus, its role in patients with jaundice alone ...

OBJECTIVE: Surgery in octogenarians with acute type A aortic dissection is commonly avoided or denied because of the high surgical morbidity and mortality reported in elderly patients. We sought to compare clinical and quality of life outcomes between octogenarians and those aged less than 80 years who underwent surgical repair ...

Intraoperative goal directed fluid therapy (GDT) guided by an arterial pressure-based cardiac output system has been reported to improve gastrointestinal (GI) recovery in high-risk patients. This study evaluates the impact of this approach on GI recovery in low to moderate risk patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. IRB approved randomized controlled ...