Conventional versus task-based package organization for out-of-hospital emergency kits: an emergency medical services simulation study.

Background: Emergency Medical Service crews are equipped with comprehensive emergency kits for routine care and to provide life-saving interventions in severely ill patients. While guidelines on contents and packing strategies of emergency kits for specific tasks and specialized situations exist, data for the design of out-of-hospital emergency kits in a general urban population is lacking. It may be possible to transfer the promising results of modern in-hospital packing strategies such as task-based package organization (TPO) to an Emergency Medical Service setting.

The utility of temporal trends of blood biomarkers as predictors for bloodstream infections in left ventricular assist device recipients.

Background: Temporal trends of routinely obtained parameters may provide valuable information for predicting BSIs, but this association has not yet been established in LVAD patients.

Methods: This retrospective analysis included data from 347 consecutive recipients of three rotary LVAD types. Study endpoints included the incidence of BSI, the association of temporal trends of routinely obtained blood biomarkers with the development of BSIs, the incidence of BSIs, and survival on LVAD support.

Direct comparison of the diagnostic performance of growth differentiation factor 8 in pediatric versus adult heart failure.

Introduction: Growth differentiation factor 8 (GDF-8, myostatin) has been proposed for the management of adult heart failure (HF). Its potential role in pediatric HF patients is unknown. We sought to investigate its diagnostic performance in adult versus pediatric HF.

The influence of explainable vs non-explainable clinical decision support systems on rapid triage decisions: a mixed methods study.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a variety of clinical decision support systems (CDSS) were developed to aid patient triage. However, research focusing on the interaction between decision support systems and human experts is lacking.

Methods: Thirty-two physicians were recruited to rate the survival probability of 59 critically ill patients by means of chart review.

Evaluation of national institute for health and care excellence guidance for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms by emulating a hypothetical target trial.

Objective: This retrospective study evaluates the performance of UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidelines on management of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms in a "real world setting" by emulating a hypothetical target trial with data from two European Aortic Centers.

Methods: Clinical data was retrospectively collected for all patients who had undergone ruptured endovascular aneurysm repair (rEVAR) and ruptured open surgical repair (rOSR). Survival analysis was performed comparing NICE compliance to usual care strategy.

Risk factors for future bleeding in patients with mild bleeding disorders: longitudinal data from the Vienna Bleeding Biobank.

Background: The future bleeding risk, especially after hemostatic challenges, and thus the requirement for hemostatic treatment in patients with mild-to-moderate bleeding disorders (MBDs) is largely unknown.

Objectives: This study aimed to prospectively examine the recurrence of bleeding symptoms and clinical risk factors for future bleeding in patients with MBD, including patients with bleeding disorder of unknown cause (BDUC).

Methods: Bleeding symptoms of patients with MBD included in the Vienna Bleeding Biobank were re-evaluated at in-person follow-up visits or by mail.

Platelet function and soluble P-selectin in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia.

Background: The bleeding phenotype in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is heterogeneous, but usually mild and only partly dependent on the severity of thrombocytopenia. Platelet reactivity has previously been suggested to underly the mild phenotype.

Methods: Platelet function was assessed as basal and agonist-induced surface expression of P-selectin and activation of GPIIb/IIIa via flow cytometry, and soluble (s)P-selectin levels were assessed in plasma of 77 patients with primary ITP, 19 hemato-oncologic thrombocytopenic controls (TC) and 20 healthy controls (HC).

A systematic evaluation of human expert agreement on optical coherence tomography biomarkers using multiple devices.

Objectives: To assess the agreement in evaluating optical coherence tomography (OCT) variables in the leading macular diseases such as neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), diabetic macular oedema (DMO) and retinal vein occlusion (RVO) among OCT-certified graders.

Methods: SD-OCT volume scans of 356 eyes were graded by seven graders. The grading included presence of intra- and subretinal fluid (IRF, SRF), pigment epithelial detachment (PED), epiretinal membrane (ERM), conditions of the vitreomacular interface (VMI), central retinal thickness (CRT) at the foveal centre-point (CP) and central millimetre (CMM), as well as height and location of IRF/SRF/PED.

Dynamic electrophysiological mechanism in patients with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation.

Background: Improved understanding of the mechanisms that sustain persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (LSpAF) is essential for providing better ablation solutions. The findings of traditional catheter-based electrophysiological studies can be impacted by the sedation required for these procedures. This is not required in non-invasive body-surface mapping (ECGI).

Absolute Lymphocyte Count as a Marker for Cytomegalovirus Infection After Heart Transplantation.

Background: Previous studies indicate an association between reduced absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after solid organ transplantation and have therefore highlighted the potential of ALC as a simple tool to predict CMV infection in transplant patients. This study aimed to examine the utility of ALC as a valuable marker for CMV infection in heart transplant patients.

Methods: Clinical information and ALC data of all adult patients who received orthotopic heart transplantation at the Medical University of Vienna between January 2004 and May 2019 were collected.

The effect of occlusive polytetrafluoroethylene outflow graft protectors in left ventricular assist device recipients.

Background: The use of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) material as a protective cover for left ventricular assist device (LVAD) outflow grafts (OG) is a common practice. However, it has descriptively been linked to the development of blood flow obstruction (BFO).

Methods: Patient data from 194 consecutive HVAD (Medtronic Inc; Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) recipients implanted between March 2006 and January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.

The Effect of Pulse Shape and Interphase Gaps on Speech Perception and Perceived Sound Quality in Electrical Hearing.

Background: Stimulation with triphasic pulses has been shown to reduce the occurrence of unwanted facial nerve stimulation (FNS) with cochlear implants (CIs). However, there is little data available on how different pulse shapes affect the hearing outcome with electrical hearing in general. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of different stimulation pulse shapes on speech perception in noise, as well as loudness perception and subjective sound quality.

Obesity and outcomes after left ventricular assist device implantation: insights from the EUROMACS Registry.

Objectives: The objective was to analyse associations between obesity and outcomes after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of the EUROMACS Registry was performed. Adult patients undergoing primary implantation of a continuous-flow LVAD between 2006 and 2019 were included (Medtronic HeartWare® HVAD®, Abbott HeartMate II®, Abbott HeartMate 3™).

Aortic Valve Repair in Pediatric Patients: 30 Years Single Center Experience.

Background: Valve repair is the procedure of choice for congenital aortic valve disease. With increasing experience, the surgical armamentarium broadened from simple commissurotomy to more complex techniques. We report our 30-year experience with pediatric aortic valve repair.

Indications, Complications, and Outcomes of Cardiac Surgery After Heart Transplantation: Results From the Cash Study.

Background: Allograft pathologies, such as valvular, coronary artery, or aortic disease, may occur early and late after cardiac transplantation. Cardiac surgery after heart transplantation (CASH) may be an option to improve quality of life and allograft function and prolong survival. Experience with CASH, however, has been limited to single-center reports.

Long Term Results of the Modified Bentall Procedure With Mechanical and Biological Composite Valve Grafts.

Objectives: Despite the evident shift toward biological prostheses, the optimal choice of valve remains controversial in composite valve graft (CVG) replacement. We investigated long-term morbidity and mortality after CVG implantation in an all-comer cohort with a subgroup analysis of patients aged 50-70 years stratified after valve type.

Methods: A total of 507 patients underwent the Bentall procedure with either a mechanical (MCVG, = 299) or a biological (BCVG = 208) CVG replacement between 2000 and 2020.

Impact of diabetes on clinical outcome in severely burned patients.

Introduction: According to the International Diabetes Federation, approximately 425 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes mellitus, a figure that will double in the next 20 years. Data on the ratio of treated diabetics in burn intensive care units remain scarce and the effects on the mortality rate are poorly defined.

Methods: Our retrospective, single-centre study aimed to evaluate differences in the risk factors due to diabetes mellitus, the clinical outcome and the patient population of diabetic patients after severe burn injuries over a time period of 21 years.

Rapid-deployment aortic valve replacement for patients with bicuspid aortic valve: a single-centre experience.

Objectives: The benefit of rapid-deployment aortic valve replacement (RD-AVR) in patients with a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is controversial due to aortic root asymmetry and potential increased risk for valve dislocation and paravalvular leak. This study aimed to analyse the outcomes of surgical aortic valve replacement with a rapid-deployment bioprosthesis in patients with a BAV.

Methods: Between May 2010 and December 2020, all consecutive patients who underwent RD-AVR at the Medical University of Vienna were included in our institutional database.

Evaluation of Levels of Triamcinolone Acetonide in Human Perilymph and Plasma After Intratympanic Application in Patients Receiving Cochlear Implants: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The use of intratympanically applied steroids is of increasing interest. Consequently, research has focused on finding an ideal drug that diffuses through the round window membrane and can be retained in the perilymph.

Objective: To compare levels of triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) in perilymph and plasma after intratympanic injection.

Incidence, clinical relevance and therapeutic options for outflow graft stenosis in patients with left ventricular assist devices.

Objectives: We reviewed our institutional experience with outflow graft stenosis (OGS) in 3 contemporary left ventricular assist devices (LVAD).

Methods: Data from 347 consecutive adult recipients of LVAD [Medtronic HVAD (n = 184, 53.0%), Abbott HeartMate II (n = 62, 17.

Titanium and Platinum-Fluoroplastic Stapes Prostheses Visualization on Cone Beam Computed Tomography and High-Resolution Computed Tomography.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether stapes prostheses can be visualized with less metal artifacts and therefore more accurately on cone beam computed tomography in comparison to computed tomography imaging. Recent studies have shown that cone beam computed tomography has advantages when imaging metal artifacts. Patients with hearing loss or vertigo, who have undergone stapedotomy, often present a challenge for otologic surgeons.

The adapted Heart Donor Score.

The Heart Donor Score (HDS) predicts donor organ discard for medical reasons and survival after heart transplantation (HTX) in the Eurotransplant allocation system. Our aim was to adapt the HDS for application in the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) registry. To adjust for differences between the Eurotransplant and UNOS registries, the "adapted HDS" was created (aHDS) by exclusion of the covariates "valve function," "left-ventricular hypertrophy," and exclusion of "drug abuse" from the variable "compromised history.

Performance With an Adhesive Bone Conduction Device in Active Transcutaneous Bone Conduction Implant Users.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance and limits of an adhesive bone conduction hearing aid in patients implanted with an active transcutaneous bone conduction implant. Therefore, hearing performance and subjective benefit of patients with mixed and conductive hearing loss were assessed with both bone conduction devices.

Study Design And Patients: This cohort study was conducted at a tertiary care center.