: Gastrectomy remains a major operation with potential for significant deterioration in patients' health-related quality of life (QOL). This study assessed differences in QOL among patients after distal (DG), proximal (PG), or total (TG) gastrectomy. : We prospectively enrolled patients undergoing gastrectomy at our institution between 2002 and 2007. Participants ...

Aim: The aim of this paper was to assess the feasibility and utility of adding a preventive trans obturatory tape (TOT) during the same intervention for anterior prolapse repair, in patients with masked urinary incontinence and massive cystocele. Methods: A retrospective trial was conducted in a Tertiary care University Hospital. ...

Background: Dexmedetomidine is a highly selective α2 agonist with analgesic, anxiolytic, and antiinflammatory properties. We investigated the effect of a single dose of dexmedetomidine on patient-perceived quality of recovery and clinical recovery variables after modified radical mastectomy under general anaesthesia in this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Methods: After Institutional Review ...

Neutral-pH peritoneal dialysates, with reduced glucose degradation products (GDPs), have been developed to reduce peritoneal membrane damage. Here our review evaluated the impact of these solutions on clinical outcomes using data from The Cochrane CENTRAL Registry, MEDLINE, Embase, and reference lists for randomized trials of biocompatible solutions. Summary estimates of ...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Neydharting mud-pack therapy on the clinical parameters and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis. In this double-blind, randomized, follow-up study on 53 patients with knee osteoarthritis, one group received hot mud-pack therapy, whereas the other (control) group ...

OBJECTIVES: Although the shortened dental arch (SDA) concept is a widely accepted strategy to avoid overtreatment, little is known on its impact on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). This multicenter randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the OHRQoL for removable partial dental prostheses (RPDP) with molar replacement versus the ...

The structure of the chin determines facial attractiveness and is directly linked to quality of life (QoL). In patients with prognathism and maxillary hypoplasia, bimaxillary osteotomy (BIMAX) with mandibular setback does not always lead to a more slender chin or improved aesthetics. The aim of the present study was to ...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Synechiae are one of the most common unwanted outcomes after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, there has been scant investigation into the true significance of synechiae formation after ESS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of synechiae formation on health-related quality ...

OBJECTIVE: The predominant mode of bare nitinol stent failure is diffuse in-stent restenosis, and failure rates correlate to the length and complexity of the treated lesion. Addition of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene lining to a nitinol stent frame, as found in the VIABAHN endoprosthesis, mitigates the ingrowth of intimal hyperplasia. We ...

Complete denture fabrication involves a series of complex technical procedures. Nevertheless, simplified methods may be as effective as conventional ones albeit the lesser use of time and resources, without disadvantage for the patient. This study compared a simplified method for complete denture fabrication to a conventional protocol in terms of ...

Technical advancements and development of endoscopic equipment in thoracoscopic surgery have resulted in increase in the popularity of minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE). However, advantages with regard to short-term outcome and oncological feasibility of MIE have not been adequately established. To date, a number of single-institution studies and several meta-analyses have ...

PURPOSE: Fibrin sealant for mesh fixation has significant positive effects on early outcome after laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) compared with titanium tacks. Whether fibrin sealant fixation also results in better long-term outcome is unknown. METHODS: We performed a randomized controlled trial including patients with umbilical hernia defects from 1.5 ...

Endoscopic evaluation after chemoradiotherapy (CR) is impossible with an esophageal stent in place. The main study objective was to evaluate self-expanding plastic stent (SEPS) removal post-CR. Secondary end-points were the improvement of dysphagia and patients' quality of life. From October 2008 to March 2011, 20 dysphagic patients who suffered from ...

Background:Most patients presenting with advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) eventually relapse. Symptom palliation, maintenance of quality of life (QoL) and prolongation of life are primary therapeutic goals.Methods:Sixty-six UK oncologists completed an online survey about AOC management. Two hundred and two patients were interviewed about care, treatment experiences and expectations.Results:Prior to diagnosis, ...

BACKGROUND: Anticoagulation is recommended in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) to prevent strokes. Vitamin K antagonists, such as warfarin, are associated with numerous practical limitations - frequent anticoagulation monitoring, lifestyle and dietary restrictions - that complicate patient management and may impact health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study derived HRQoL ...

Introduction: Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment for lower limb varicose veins in the short and midterm results. This study reports the 5-year outcomes of EVLA technique at different power settings. Methods: Patients with primary symptomatic, unilateral varicose veins secondary to saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) ...

Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the mandible is a severe complication of radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. In this case series, the authors analyzed their treatment and quality of life outcomes over the past 6 years. A retrospective chart review of 42 patients treated surgically for advanced ORN was conducted. ...

: To estimate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency volumetric thermal ablation of uterine myomas in symptomatic women. : A cohort of 135 premenopausal symptomatic women with uterine myomas, uteri 14 weeks of gestation-sized or less with no single myoma exceeding 7 cm, and objectively confirmed heavy menstrual ...

Ramadan fasting is an Islamic obligation for healthy Muslims after the age of puberty. Persons with an acute or chronic disease may be excused from this obligation; the degree of the disease is an important parameter for not fasting. Little is known about the effect of fasting on persons with ...

Osteoid osteoma is a benign bone tumor with a male predominance occurring mainly in children and young adults. The most common symptom is intermittent pain that worsens at night and is at least partially relieved by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term effectiveness of ...

IMPORTANCE Transvaginal cholecystectomy (TVC) is the leading natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery to date and has the potential to offer improved cosmesis, less pain, and shorter recovery times for female patients. OBJECTIVE To investigate quality of life and female sexual function in our patients undergoing TVC. DESIGN A prospective cohort ...

BACKGROUND: The aim of a rapid response system (RRS) is to improve the timely recognition and treatment of ward patients with deteriorating vital signs The system is based on a set of clinical criteria that are used to assess patient's vital signs on a general ward. Once a patient is ...

BACKGROUND: Central line catheter insertion is a complex procedure with a high cognitive load for novices. Providing a prepackaged all-inclusive kit is a simple measure that may reduce the cognitive load. We assessed whether the use of prepackaged all-inclusive central line insertion kits reduces procedural mistakes during central line catheter ...

BACKGROUND: Nutrition supplements enriched with immune function enhancing nutrients have been developed to aid wound-healing, although evidence regarding their effectiveness is limited and systematic reviews have lead to inconsistent recommendations. The present pragmatic, randomised, prospective open trial evaluated a wound-specific oral nutrition supplement enriched with arginine, vitamin C and zinc ...

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy and safety of transvaginal trocar-guided polypropylene mesh insertion with traditional colporrhaphy for treatment of anterior vaginal wall prolapse. METHODS: This is a randomized controlled trial in which women with advanced anterior vaginal wall prolapse, at least stage ...

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate our experience in managing high anal fistulas with a simple modification of the cutting seton. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of standardized patient charts and of prospectively collected scores and questionnaires. Surgical outcomes of 128 consecutive, well-documented patients with high ...

INTRODUCTION: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the treatment options in patients with cerebral palsy (CP) with painful osteoarthritis of the hip. However, the risk of dislocation of the prosthesis is higher in patients with CP when compared with physically normal patients. In this retrospective study of ten consecutive ...

PURPOSE: Percutaneous interspinous stand-alone spacers offer a simple and effective technique to treat lumbar spinal stenosis with neurogenic claudication. Nonetheless, open decompressive surgery remains the standard of care. This study compares the effectiveness of both techniques and the validity of percutaneous interspinous spacer use. METHODS: Forty-five patients were included in ...

BACKGROUND: Faecal incontinence (FI) is a complex and multifactorial health problem. Treatment has to be individualised, analysing the aetiology and gravity in every case. Sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) has been shown to effectively improve treatment of FI. METHODS: Fifty patients with severe FI treated with SNS between March 2002 and ...

Alternative anticoagulants to warfarin (dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban) are becoming available for the prevention of thromboembolic stroke in atrial fibrillation, but there is a lack of information on their comparative effectiveness. We evaluated this using a discrete event simulation with a lifetime horizon of analysis, based on an indirect comparison ...

Background The rising prevalence of multimorbid patients undergoing cardiac surgery often leads to prolonged postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) treatment. The fate of these patients after discharge is poorly investigated. This study is aimed to assess survival, functional outcome, and quality of life (QOL) in patients after an ICU stay ...

Our objective was to evaluate whether the severity of vestibular loss and old-age (>65) affect a patient's ability to benefit from training using head-position based, tongue-placed electrotactile feedback. Seventy-one chronic dizzy patients, who had reached a plateau with their conventional rehabilitation, followed six 1-h training sessions during 4 consecutive days ...

BACKGROUND:: Although the introduction of flow diverter devices (FDD) has aroused great enthusiasm, the level of evidence supporting its use has not been systematically evaluated. OBJECTIVE:: To report a systematic review of medical literature up to May 2012 on FDD in order to assess the morbidity, case fatality rate and ...

BACKGROUND: There are concerns about the extent of impaired endocrine and exocrine pancreatic function and poor quality of life (QoL) after pancreatectomy, but there is little information from large prospective follow-up studies. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy or distal pancreatectomy between 2007 and 2011 were included. Relative bodyweight (RBW), triceps ...

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopy has been widely used for surgical repair of large paraesophageal hernias (PEHs). The technique, however, entails substantial technical difficulties, such as repositioning the stomach in the abdominal cavity, sac excision, closure of the hiatal gap, and fundoplication. Knowledge of the long-term outcome (>10 years) is scarce. The aim of ...

Duodenal levodopa infusion represents an effective strategy to manage motor and non-motor complications in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). However, most published clinical series regard small numbers of patients and do not exceed 1 year follow-up. In this multi-national observational cohort study conducted in seven specialised PD clinics and university ...

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively evaluate perioperative results and 12-month follow-up after plasmakinetic enucleation of the prostate (PKEP) and transvesical open prostatectomy (OP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) >80 mL. METHODS: A total of 83 patients with a prostate >80 mL were randomized to either PKEP or OP. Perioperative and postoperative outcome ...

PURPOSE: The aim of this retrospective study was to report clinical results of a selective population undergone to arthroscopic functional repair of massive, contracted, immobile rotator cuff tears. METHODS: From 2005 to 2009, 311 patients with rotator cuff tears were treated at our institution. Of them, 26 shoulders in 25 ...

INTRODUCTION: Severe sepsis is associated with high levels of morbidity and mortality placing a high burden on healthcare resources. We aimed to study outcomes in the 5 years after severe sepsis. METHODS: A cohort study using data from a prospective audit in 26 adult ICUs in Scotland. Mortality was measured ...

BACKGROUND: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) has evolved over the years to be a reliable, reproducible, and successful orthopedic procedure. Nowadays, THA is increasingly performed on patients using less invasive, tissue-preserving techniques. Accordingly, the use of computer navigation in total joint arthroplasty has become more prevalent. However, there is still lack ...

OBJECTIVE: Although clinically relevant, there is paucity of literature regarding the characteristic findings and outcome in isolated pontine infarction (IPI). In this study, we examined and analyzed the association between neurological findings, imaging features, and outcome at different time periods in patients with acute IPI. METHODS: A total of 101 ...

BACKGROUND: Botulinum toxin injections and suction-curettage have been separately shown to be effective in treating axillary hyperhidrosis but have not been compared in the same patients. OBJECTIVE: We sought to compare effectiveness of suction-curettage versus neurotoxin for the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis. METHODS: Each of 20 patients was randomized to ...

BACKGROUND: The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health demanded a nationwide HTA-registry for cervical total disc arthroplasty (TDA), to decide about its reimbursement. The goal of the SWISSspine registry is to generate evidence about the safety and efficiency of cervical TDA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred thirty-two cases treated between ...

PURPOSE: This study was designed to describe the clinical, laboratorial, and urodynamic findings of prostatic artery embolization (PAE) in patients with urinary retention due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: A prospective study of 11 patients with urinary retention due to BPH was conducted. Patients underwent physical examination, prostate specific ...

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of remote magnetic navigation (RMN) with open-irrigated catheter vs. manual catheter navigation (MCN) in performing atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. We searched in PubMed (1948-2013) and EMBASE (1974-2013) studies comparing RMN with MCN. Outcomes considered were AF recurrence (primary ...

PURPOSE: Intermittent self catheterization (ISC) is the recommended standard treatment for patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction. However standard intermittent catheters can be unwieldy, difficult to use and carry discreetly; this can influence the patient's ability to perform catheterization efficiently, discretely and in privacy, and therefore affect the patient's quality of ...

IMPORTANCE Because treatment for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), especially in patients of older age, is associated with decreased patient quality of life (QOL) after surgery, demonstration of a less QOL-impairing treatment technique would improve patient satisfaction substantially. OBJECTIVE To determine swallowing, speech, and QOL outcomes following transoral robotic surgery ...

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of an external pancreatic duct stent for reduction of the pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy remains controversial. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Reviews of each trial were conducted and data were extracted. ...

BACKGROUND: This study examined the impact of different ablation strategies on AF recurrence and quality of life (QoL) in coexistent atrial fibrillation (AF) and flutter (AFL). METHODS AND RESULTS: Three-hundred sixty enrolled patients with documented AF and AFL were blinded and randomized to group 1: AF±AFL ablation (n=182) or Group ...

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported data, including effects on patient satisfaction and quality of life, have not been rigorously studied in women treated with mastopexy and augmentation/mastopexy. This prospective outcome study evaluates and compares mastopexy (n = 36), augmentation/mastopexy (n = 47), and reduction (n = 20) from the patient's perspective. METHODS: Over a 5-year period, 125 consecutive women ...