Chest wall perforator flap reconstruction in breast conserving surgery: quality of life and limited complications in outpatient treatment.

Background: Breast conserving surgery (BCS) with partial breast reconstruction (PBR) results in less morbidity, better cosmetic outcomes, and improved patient satisfaction compared to mastectomy. Perforator flap reconstruction can attenuate defects prone to breast deformity after BCS. Usually, postoperative drains and inpatient admission are part of this treatment.

Increasing opportunities for breast-conserving therapy in multiple ipsilateral breast cancer: Dutch nationwide study.

Introduction: An increasing number of breast cancer patients undergo breast-conserving surgery (BCS), but multiple ipsilateral breast cancer (MIBC) is still considered a relative contraindication for breast conservation. This study provides an update on trends in the surgical management for MIBC over a 10-year period.

Methods: Nationwide data from the Netherlands Cancer Registration of all patients diagnosed with breast cancer between 2011 and 2021 were analysed.

The QUILT study: quilting sutures in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery: a stepped wedge cluster randomized trial study.

Background: Seroma is the most common complication following breast cancer surgery, with reported incidence up to 90%. Seroma causes patient discomfort, is associated with surgical site infections (SSI), often requires treatment and increases healthcare consumption. The quilting suture technique, in which the skin flaps are sutured to the pectoralis muscle, leads to a significant reduction of seroma with a decrease in the number of aspirations and surgical site infections.

Observed-over-Expected analysis as additional method for pharmacovigilance signal detection in large-scaled spontaneous adverse event reporting.

Background: The large-scale COVID-19 vaccination campaigns in 2021 and 2022 led to a rapid increase in numbers of received adverse event reports in spontaneous reporting systems. As background incidences of naturally occurring medical events became increasingly relevant for causality assessment of potential associations with the vaccines, a novel approach for signal detection was warranted.

Objectives: This article illustrates the Observed-over-Expected (O/E) analysis as an additional method for signal detection and risk assessment in large-scaled spontaneous reporting systems.

Radiofrequency ablation for symptomatic, non-functioning, thyroid nodules: a single-center learning curve.

Objective: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is increasingly considered the prime option for treating symptomatic, benign, non-functioning thyroid nodules (NFTN). However, little is known about the degree of operator experience required to achieve optimal results. This study describes the RFA learning curve of a single-center team.

Quilting following mastectomy reduces seroma, associated complications and health care consumption without impairing patient comfort.

Background: An important complication following mastectomy is seroma formation. Quilting, in which skin flaps are sutured to the underlying muscle, is reported to reduce seroma incidence, but might induce pain and impair shoulder function. Main objective is to compare quilting with conventional wound closure, regarding seroma incidence, health care consumption, and patient discomfort.

The potential of training specialist oncology nurses in real-life reporting of adverse drug reactions.

Specialist oncology nurses (SONs) have the potential to play a major role in monitoring and reporting adverse drug reactions (ADRs); and reduce the level of underreporting by current healthcare professionals. The aim of this study was to investigate the long term clinical and educational effects of real-life pharmacovigilance education intervention for SONs on ADR reporting. This prospective cohort study, with a 2-year follow-up, was carried out in the three postgraduate schools in the Netherlands.

Validating a generic cancer consumer quality index in eight European countries, patient reported experiences and the influence of cultural differences.

Background: Taking patient centeredness into account is important in healthcare. The European Cancer Consumer Quality Index (ECCQI) is a validated tool for international benchmarking of patient experiences and satisfaction. This study aimed to further validate the ECCQI in larger and more uniform groups of high volume tumours such as breast and prostate cancer.

Development and testing of a tailored online fertility preservation decision aid for female cancer patients.

Background: Decision making regarding future fertility can be very difficult for female cancer patients. To support patients in decision making, fertility preservation decision aids (DAs) are being developed. However, to make a well-informed decision, patients need personalized information tailored to their cancer type and treatment.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis and β-blocking agents: Is there an association?

Aims: Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is a rare chronic fibro-inflammatory disorder that may be secondary to certain drugs, including β-blocking agents (BBAs). However, their causative role is unclear. We aimed to investigate this association.

Outcomes of Stenting as a Bridge to Surgery in Malignant Colonic Obstruction, With Emphasis on Perforation Rate and Clinical Success.

Background: Colonic stent placement in acute malignant obstruction has proven to be an alternative for emergency surgery. It has been associated with reduced stoma creation and postoperative morbidity. Concerns have risen that manipulation of the tumor and risk of perforation might result in lower disease-free survival.

Two-year results of a multicenter randomized controlled trial comparing Mechanochemical endovenous Ablation to RADiOfrequeNcy Ablation in the treatment of primary great saphenous vein incompetence (MARADONA trial).

Objective: Endothermal techniques have proved to be effective for treatment of incompetent truncal veins. The tumescentless mechanochemical ablation (MOCA) technique has become an alternative treatment modality, but its outcome with regard to endothermal techniques is still unclear.

Methods: A multicenter prospective randomized controlled trial was designed comparing MOCA with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to treat great saphenous vein incompetence with the hypothesis that MOCA is associated with less postprocedural pain and a comparable anatomic and clinical success rate at 1-year follow-up.

What Future Healthcare Professionals Need to Know About Pharmacovigilance: Introduction of the WHO PV Core Curriculum for University Teaching with Focus on Clinical Aspects.

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) can cause serious health problems, as shown in studies about drug-related hospitalizations. To build knowledge of and raise awareness about ADRs among healthcare professionals, more education in the field of ADRs and pharmacovigilance (PV) is needed. No standard exists for teaching PV at universities for medical, pharmacy, dentistry and nursing students, so a core curriculum needs to be developed to teach important aspects of PV to students.

The adverse drug reaction reporting assignment for specialist oncology nurses: a preliminary evaluation of quality, relevance and educational value in a prospective cohort study.

In a new prescribing qualification course for specialist oncology nurses, we thought that it is important to emphasize pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting. We aimed to develop and evaluate an ADR reporting assignment for specialist oncology nurses. The quality of report documentation was assessed with the "Clinical Documentation tool to assess Individual Case Safety Reports" (ClinDoc).

Feasibility and Educational Value of a Student-Run Pharmacovigilance Programme: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: Pharmacovigilance, the monitoring of drug safety after marketing approval, highly depends on the adequate reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). To improve pharmacovigilance awareness and future ADR reporting among medical students, we developed and evaluated a student-run pharmacovigilance programme.

Methods: In this project, teams of medical students (first- to fifth-year) assessed real ADR reports, as submitted to the national pharmacovigilance centre.

Macroscopic and Histologic Analysis of Vessel Wall Reaction After Mechanochemical Endovenous Ablation Using the ClariVein OC Device in an Animal Model.

Objective/background: Mechanochemical endovenous ablation (MOCA) has been developed as a tumescentless technique to ablate saphenous veins and to avoid heat induced complications and post-procedural pain. The mechanism of action of MOCA is poorly understood. The present experiments were conducted to determine the effect of MOCA on vein wall injury and sclerosis in an animal model.

Pharmacovigilance Skills, Knowledge and Attitudes in our Future Doctors - A Nationwide Study in the Netherlands.

Pharmacovigilance centres monitor the safety of drugs, based on adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reported by doctors, pharmacists and pharmaceutical companies. However, the under-reporting of ADRs remains a major problem. Our aim was to investigate preparedness of future doctors for their role in pharmacovigilance, by assessing their pharmacovigilance awareness, skills and knowledge.

Midterm Outcome of Mechanochemical Endovenous Ablation for the Treatment of Great Saphenous Vein Insufficiency.

Purpose: To report the midterm results of mechanochemical ablation (MOCA) for treating great saphenous vein (GSV) insufficiency.

Methods: In a 1-year period, 85 consecutive patients (median age 51.4 years; 71 women) undergoing MOCA with polidocanol in 104 limbs were enrolled in a prospective registry.

Treatment Modalities for Small Saphenous Vein Insufficiency: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Purpose: To investigate and compare the anatomical success rates and complications of the treatment modalities for small saphenous vein (SSV) incompetence.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library on the following therapies for incompetence of SSVs: surgery, endovenous laser ablation (EVLA), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS), steam ablation, and mechanochemical endovenous ablation (MOCA). The search found 49 articles (5 randomized controlled trials, 44 cohort studies) reporting on the different treatment modalities: surgery (n=9), EVLA (n=28), RFA (n=9), UGFS (n=6), and MOCA (n=1).

Update of endovenous treatment modalities for insufficient saphenous veins--a review of literature.

Lower-limb venous insufficiency resulting from saphenous vein incompetence is a common disorder, increasing with age. For decades, surgical stripping of the great saphenous vein has been the gold standard in varicose vein treatment. The desire to optimize outcomes of treatment and reduce surgical trauma has led to the development of endovenous techniques.

Mechanochemical endovenous ablation versus radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of primary small saphenous vein insufficiency (MESSI trial): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Minimally invasive endothermal techniques, for example, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), have revolutionized the treatment of insufficient truncal veins and are associated with an excellent outcome. The use of thermal energy requires the instillation of tumescent anesthesia around the vein. Mechanochemical endovenous ablation (MOCA™) combines mechanical endothelial damage, using a rotating wire, with simultaneous infusion of a liquid sclerosans.

Mechanochemical endovenous ablation for the treatment of great saphenous vein insufficiency.

Objective: This study evaluated the feasibility, safety, and 1-year results of mechanochemical endovenous ablation (MOCA) of great saphenous vein (GSV) insufficiency.

Methods: A consecutive 106 patients were treated for primary GSV insufficiency with MOCA by the ClariVein device and polidocanol. The primary outcome measures were technical success, clinical success, and anatomic success after 1 year of follow-up.