Is magnetic anal sphincter augmentation still an option in fecal incontinence treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Magnetic anal sphincter (MAS) augmentation is a novel surgical option for the treatment of fecal incontinence. Current clinical evidence is conflicting. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to report the safety profile, potential benefits, and the functional efficacy of this device.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Atrial Fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia, increasing with age and comorbidities. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic sleep disorder more common in older men. It has been shown that OSA is linked to AF.

Patient survival in severe low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis after aortic valve replacement or conservative management.

Background And Aim: Classical and paradoxical low-flow, low-gradient (LFLG) aortic stenosis (AS) are the most challenging subtypes of AS. The current therapeutic options are aortic valve replacement (AVR) and conservative management: AVR promotes long-term survival but is invasive, while conservative management yields a poor prognosis but is noninvasive since it uses no aortic valve replacement (noAVR). The present meta-analysis investigated the rate of survival of patients with LFLG AS undergoing either AVR or noAVR interventions.

Quantification of Death Risk in Relation to Sex, Pre-Existing Cardiovascular Diseases and Risk Factors in COVID-19 Patients: Let's Take Stock and See Where We Are.

Patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease (CVD) might be more susceptible to infection from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and have higher mortality rates. Nevertheless, the risk of mortality has not been previously quantified. The aim of this meta-analysis is to quantify the risk of mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.

Are recurrence of ischemic mitral regurgitation and left ventricular reverse remodeling after restrictive annuloplasty ring dependent?

Objective: This meta-analysis investigates MR recurrence and degree of left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR) in CIMR patients in mitral annuloplasty employing different ring designs.

Background: The deeper understanding of complex changes caused by chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation (CIMR) have led to new generations of rings that, by maintaining normal 3D annular geometry are supposed to enhance long-term repair durability.

Methods: A meta-analysis of all available reports in literature of MV repair through different ring design was conducted.

Is Peripheral Artery Disease an Independent Predictor of Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Outcome?

Aim: The aim was to use a propensity score-based analysis to determine the impact of peripheral artery disease (PAD) on early outcomes after coronary artery bypass surgery grafting (CABG) in patients with PAD.

Method: We conducted a multicentre retrospective analysis of 11,311 consecutive patients who underwent CABG between 1997 and 2017. Patients with previous or concomitant vascular surgery were excluded.

Early outcomes following isolated coronary artery bypass surgery: Influence of peripheral artery disease.

Background: We carried out a propensity score-based analysis on early outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with and without peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Materials And Methods: A total of 11 311 patients undergoing isolated CABG between 1997 and 2017 were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether they were affected (n = 1961) or not affected (n = 9350) by PAD.

Clinical outcomes of automated anastomotic devices: A metanalysis.

Background And Aims: We investigated neurological events, graft patency, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), and mortality at 1 year following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery using automated proximal anastomotic devices (APADs) and compared the overall rates with the current literature.

Methods: A systematic review of all available reports of APADs use in the literature was conducted. Cumulative incidence and 95% confidence interval (CI) were the main statistical indexes.

Association between atrial fibrillation and Helicobacter pylori.

The connection between atrial fibrillation (AF) and H. pylori (HP) infection is still matter of debate. We performed a systematic review and metanalysis of studies reporting the association between AF and HF.