Velopharyngeal dysfunction and speech-related characteristics in craniofacial microsomia:a retrospective analysis of 223 patients

This study aimed to document the prevalence, severity, and risk factors of velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) in craniofacial microsomia (CFM) and to analyse differences in VPD-related speech characteristics between CFM patients without cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P), CFM patients with CL/P, and CL/P patients without CFM (control). A total of 223 patients with CFM were included, of whom 59 had a CL/P. Thirty-four CFM patients had VPD, including 20 with a CL/P. VPD was significantly more prevalent in CFM with CL/P than in CFM without CL/P (odds ratio (OR) 4.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9–8.7; P &lt; 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression showed a significant association between CL/P and VPD in CFM patients (OR 7.4, 95% CI 2.1–26.3; P = 0.002). The presence of VPD was not associated with sex, the laterality or severity of CFM. Speech problems related to VPD appeared to be similar among the different groups (CFM without CL/P, CFM with CL/P, CL/P without CFM). As 15.2% of all CFM patients and 8.5% of CFM patients without CL/P had VPD, it is proposed that all patients with CFM, with or without CL/P, should be assessed by a speech and language therapist for the potential risk of VPD.</p

The effects of beta-blockers on dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography: early protocol versus standard protocol

BACKGROUND: To study the effects of Beta-blockers during Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography (DSE) comparing the hemodynamic benefits of an early administration of atropine in patients taking or not Beta-blockers. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-one patients were submitted to dobutamine stress echocardiography for the investigation of myocardial ischemia. The administration of atropine was randomized into two groups: A or B (early protocol when atropine was administered at 10 and 20 mcg/kg/min of dobutamine, respectively) and C (standard protocol with atropine at 40 mcg/kg/min of dobutamine). Analysis of the effects of Beta-blockers was done regarding the behavior pattern of heart rate and blood pressure, test time, number of conclusive and inconclusive (negative sub-maximum test) results, total doses of atropine and dobutamine, and general complications. RESULTS: Beta-blocked patients who received early atropine (Group A&B) had a significantly lower double product (p = 0.008), a higher mean test time (p = 0.010) and required a higher dose of atropine (p = 0.0005) when compared to the patients in this group who were not Beta-blocked. The same findings occurred in the standard protocol (Group C), however the early administration of atropine reduced test time both in the presence and absence of this therapy (p = 0.0001). The patients with Beta-blockers in Group A&B had a lower rate of inconclusive tests (26%) compared to those in Group C (40%). Complications were similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: The chronotropic response during dobutamine stress echocardiography was significantly reduced with the use of Beta-blockers. The early administration of atropine optimized the hemodynamic response, reduced test time in patients with or without Beta-blockers and reduced the number of inconclusive tests in the early protocol

Wartość diagnostyczna echokardiografii obciążeniowej z dobutaminą u chorych na cukrzycę

INTRODUCTION. The aim of this study was to assess the incremental value of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) for the risk stratification of diabetic patients who are unable to perform an adequate exercise stress test. Exercise capacity is frequently impaired in patients with diabetes. The role of pharmacologic stress echocardiography in the risk stratification of diabetic patients has not been well defined. MATERIAL AND METHODS. We studied 396 diabetic patients (mean age 61 &plusmn; 11 years, 252 men [64%]) with limited exercise capacity who underwent DSE for evaluation of known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). End points were hard cardiac events (cardiac death and nonfatal myocardial infarction) and all causes of mortality. RESULTS. During a median follow-up of 3 years, 97 patients (24%) died (55 cardiac deaths), and 27 patients had nonfatal myocardial infarction. In an incremental multivariate analysis model, clinical predictors of hard cardiac events were history of congestive heart failure, previous myocardial infarction, hypercholesterolemia, and ejection fraction at rest. The percentage of ischemic segments was incremental to the clinical model in the prediction of hard cardiac events (c2 = 37 vs. 18, P < 0.05). Clinical predictors of all causes of mortality were history of congestive heart failure, age, hypercholesterolemia, and ejection fraction at rest. Wall motion score index at peak stress was incremental to the clinical model in the prediction of mortality (c2 = 52 vs. 43, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS. DSE provides incremental data for the prediction of mortality and hard cardiac events in patients with diabetes who are unable to perform an adequate exercise stress test.WSTĘP. Celem badania była ocena rosnącej wartości echokardiografii obciążeniowej z dobutaminą (DSE, dobutamine stress echocardiography) dla stratyfikacji ryzyka chorych na cukrzycę, którzy nie są w stanie wykonać odpowiedniego, wysiłkowego testu obciążeniowego. Wydolność fizyczna chorych na cukrzycę jest często zmniejszona. Dotychczas nie określono dobrze roli farmakologicznej echokardiografii obciążeniowej w stratyfikacji ryzyka u chorych na cukrzycę. MATERIAŁ I METODY. Przebadano 396 chorych na cukrzycę (średnia wieku 61 &plusmn; 11 lat, 252 mężczyzn &#8212; 64%) z ograniczoną wydolnością wysiłkową, u których wykonano DSE, by ocenić rozpoznaną lub podejrzewaną chorobę wieńcową (CAD, coronary artery disease). Kryteriami oceny badania były ciężkie epizody kardiologiczne (śmierć sercowa i zawał serca niezakończony zgonem) oraz zgon bez względu na przyczynę. WYNIKI. Podczas badania trwającego średnio 3 lata zmarło 97 pacjentów (24%) (55 zgonów z powodu śmierci sercowej), a u 27 chorych stwierdzono zawał serca niezakończony zgonem. W analizowanym, przyrostowym, wielozmiennym modelu, predyktorami klinicznymi ciężkich epizodów sercowych były: zastoinowa niewydolność serca w wywiadzie, wcześniejszy zawał serca, hipercholesterolemia oraz frakcja wyrzutowa w spoczynku. Odsetek niedokrwionych odcinków serca przyrastał w stosunku do modelu klinicznego w prognozowaniu ciężkich epizodów sercowych (c2 = 37 vs. 18, p < 0,05). Klinicznymi predyktorami zgonów bez względu na przyczynę były: zastoinowa niewydolność serca w przeszłości, wiek, hipercholesterolemia oraz frakcja wyrzutowa w spoczynku. Wskaźnik punktowy ruchomości ściany serca na szczycie obciążenia przyrastał w stosunku do modelu klinicznego w prognozowaniu umieralności (c2 = 52 vs. 43, p < 0,05). WNIOSKI. Echokardiografia obciążeniowa z dobutaminą dostarcza istotnych danych dotyczących prognozowania umieralności oraz ciężkich epizodów sercowych u chorych na cukrzycę, u których nie można przeprowadzić odpowiedniego testu stresowego

Prognostic value of dobutamine stress echocardiography in patients with diabetes

WSTĘP. Celem badania była ocena rosnącej wartości echokardiografii obciążeniowej z dobutaminą (DSE, dobutamine stress echocardiography) dla stratyfikacji ryzyka chorych na cukrzycę, którzy nie są w stanie wykonać odpowiedniego, wysiłkowego testu obciążeniowego. Wydolność fizyczna chorych na cukrzycę jest często zmniejszona. Dotychczas nie określono dobrze roli farmakologicznej echokardiografii obciążeniowej w stratyfikacji ryzyka u chorych na cukrzycę. MATERIAŁ I METODY. Przebadano 396 chorych na cukrzycę (średnia wieku 61 &plusmn; 11 lat, 252 mężczyzn &#8212; 64%) z ograniczoną wydolnością wysiłkową, u których wykonano DSE, by ocenić rozpoznaną lub podejrzewaną chorobę wieńcową (CAD, coronary artery disease). Kryteriami oceny badania były ciężkie epizody kardiologiczne (śmierć sercowa i zawał serca niezakończony zgonem) oraz zgon bez względu na przyczynę. WYNIKI. Podczas badania trwającego średnio 3 lata zmarło 97 pacjentów (24%) (55 zgonów z powodu śmierci sercowej), a u 27 chorych stwierdzono zawał serca niezakończony zgonem. W analizowanym, przyrostowym, wielozmiennym modelu, predyktorami klinicznymi ciężkich epizodów sercowych były: zastoinowa niewydolność serca w wywiadzie, wcześniejszy zawał serca, hipercholesterolemia oraz frakcja wyrzutowa w spoczynku. Odsetek niedokrwionych odcinków serca przyrastał w stosunku do modelu klinicznego w prognozowaniu ciężkich epizodów sercowych (c2 = 37 vs. 18, p < 0,05). Klinicznymi predyktorami zgonów bez względu na przyczynę były: zastoinowa niewydolność serca w przeszłości, wiek, hipercholesterolemia oraz frakcja wyrzutowa w spoczynku. Wskaźnik punktowy ruchomości ściany serca na szczycie obciążenia przyrastał w stosunku do modelu klinicznego w prognozowaniu umieralności (c2 = 52 vs. 43, p < 0,05). WNIOSKI. Echokardiografia obciążeniowa z dobutaminą dostarcza istotnych danych dotyczących prognozowania umieralności oraz ciężkich epizodów sercowych u chorych na cukrzycę, u których nie można przeprowadzić odpowiedniego testu stresowego.INTRODUCTION. The aim of this study was to assess the incremental value of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) for the risk stratification of diabetic patients who are unable to perform an adequate exercise stress test. Exercise capacity is frequently impaired in patients with diabetes. The role of pharmacologic stress echocardiography in the risk stratification of diabetic patients has not been well defined. MATERIAL AND METHODS. We studied 396 diabetic patients (mean age 61 &plusmn; 11 years, 252 men [64%]) with limited exercise capacity who underwent DSE for evaluation of known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). End points were hard cardiac events (cardiac death and nonfatal myocardial infarction) and all causes of mortality. RESULTS. During a median follow-up of 3 years, 97 patients (24%) died (55 cardiac deaths), and 27 patients had nonfatal myocardial infarction. In an incremental multivariate analysis model, clinical predictors of hard cardiac events were history of congestive heart failure, previous myocardial infarction, hypercholesterolemia, and ejection fraction at rest. The percentage of ischemic segments was incremental to the clinical model in the prediction of hard cardiac events (c2 = 37 vs. 18, P < 0.05). Clinical predictors of all causes of mortality were history of congestive heart failure, age, hypercholesterolemia, and ejection fraction at rest. Wall motion score index at peak stress was incremental to the clinical model in the prediction of mortality (c2 = 52 vs. 43, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS. DSE provides incremental data for the prediction of mortality and hard cardiac events in patients with diabetes who are unable to perform an adequate exercise stress test

The Development of a European Registry for Facial Dysostosis Syndromes:A Delphi-Guided Approach

Facial dysostosis syndromes (FDS) are rare congenital conditions that significantly impact facial function and appearance. At the time of this writing, standardised monitoring protocols for FDS are lacking, hampering research, and evidence-based care. Thus, a comprehensive dataset was developed within the European Reference Network for Rare and Complex Craniofacial Anomalies (ERN CRANIO). Candidate data elements were identified through a systematic literature review (1985-2024) and supplemented with elements from existing ERN CRANIO datasets and expert panel suggestions. A Delphi survey was then conducted among 61 clinicians and 3 patient representatives to assess each element's relevance and reliability using a 9-point Likert scale. A subsequent hybrid consensus meeting with the expert panel shaped the final dataset, ensuring comprehensive coverage, avoiding overlap, and determining the appropriate timing for data collection. Of 200 data elements that entered the Delphi voting, 98 were strongly recommended, 102 scored neutral, and none were strongly discouraged. Ultimately, 110 elements were included, organised into 2 levels: Level 1, comprising exclusively patient-reported and parent-reported outcome measures; and Level 2, encompassing patient characteristics, treatment information, clinical outcomes, and imaging/diagnostics. This newly developed dataset marks the first international registry for FDS, offering considerable potential for collaborative research, cross-centre comparisons, and substantial improvements in care for patients with FDS worldwide. Real-world implementation will be essential to evaluate its feasibility and guide further refinements.</p

Early and long-term outcome of elective stenting of the infarct-related artery in patients with viability in the infarct-area: Rationale and design of the Viability-guided Angioplasty after acute Myocardial Infarction-trial (The VIAMI-trial)

BACKGROUND: Although percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is becoming the standard therapy in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), to date most patients, even in developed countries, are reperfused with intravenous thrombolysis or do not receive a reperfusion therapy at all. In the post-lysis period these patients are at high risk for recurrent ischemic events. Early identification of these patients is mandatory as this subgroup could possibly benefit from an angioplasty of the infarct-related artery. Since viability seems to be related to ischemic adverse events, we initiated a clinical trial to investigate the benefits of PCI with stenting of the infarct-related artery in patients with viability detected early after acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: The VIAMI-study is designed as a prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Patients who are hospitalized with an acute myocardial infarction and who did not have primary or rescue PCI, undergo viability testing by low-dose dobutamine echocardiography (LDDE) within 3 days of admission. Consequently, patients with demonstrated viability are randomized to an invasive or conservative strategy. In the invasive strategy patients undergo coronary angiography with the intention to perform PCI with stenting of the infarct-related coronary artery and concomitant use of abciximab. In the conservative group an ischemia-guided approach is adopted (standard optimal care). The primary end point is the composite of death from any cause, reinfarction and unstable angina during a follow-up period of three years. CONCLUSION: The primary objective of the VIAMI-trial is to demonstrate that angioplasty of the infarct-related coronary artery with stenting and concomitant use of abciximab results in a clinically important risk reduction of future cardiac events in patients with viability in the infarct-area, detected early after myocardial infarction

ESC Guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes in patients presenting without persistent ST-segment elevation: The Task Force for the management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in patients presenting without persistent ST-segment elevation of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)

peer reviewe

Standard perioperative management in gastrointestinal surgery

The outcome of patients who are scheduled for gastrointestinal surgery is influenced by various factors, the most important being the age and comorbidities of the patient, the complexity of the surgical procedure and the management of postoperative recovery. To improve patient outcome, close cooperation between surgeons and anaesthesiologists (joint risk assessment) is critical. This cooperation has become increasingly important because more and more patients are being referred to surgery at an advanced age and with multiple comorbidities and because surgical procedures and multimodal treatment modalities are becoming more and more complex. The aim of this review is to provide clinicians with practical recommendations for day-to-day decision-making from a joint surgical and anaesthesiological point of view. The discussion centres on gastrointestinal surgery specifically