Effects of pericardiocentesis on renal function and cardiac hemodynamics.

Background: Previous case studies have reported reversal of acute renal failure after pericardiocentesis in pericardial effusion. This study examines the effects of pericardiocentesis on preprocedural low cardiac output and acute renal dysfunction in patients with pericardial effusion.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of 95 patients undergoing pericardiocentesis between 2015 and 2020.

Left ventricular morphologic progression in apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) morphologic progression in apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (AHC) has not been well studied. We evaluated serial echocardiographic changes in LV morphology.

Methods: Serial echocardiograms in AHC patients were assessed.

Left ventricular global longitudinal strain in identifying subclinical myocardial dysfunction among patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Background: The incidence of acute cardiac injury in COVID-19 patients is very often subclinical and can be detected by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. The aim of this study was to assess if subclinical myocardial dysfunction could be identified using left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Methods: We performed a search of COVID-19 patients admitted to our institution from January 1st, 2020 to June 8th, 2020, which revealed 589 patients (mean age = 66 ± 18, male = 56%).

Do Patient Expectations Influence Patient-Reported Outcomes and Satisfaction in Total Hip Arthroplasty? A Prospective, Multicenter Study.

Background: The relationship between patient expectations and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients is controversial. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of preoperative patient expectations on postoperative PROs and patient satisfaction.

Methods: This was a prospective multicenter observational cohort study of primary THA patients.

Higher Patient Expectations Predict Higher Patient-Reported Outcomes, But Not Satisfaction, in Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients: A Prospective Multicenter Study.

Background: The relationship between patient expectations, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and satisfaction in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients is not well understood.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated patients who underwent primary TKA at 4 institutions. Demographics were collected.

Impact of Smoking Cessation Counseling Prior to Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Perioperative smoking has been linked to surgical complications including poor wound healing, infection, myocardial infarction, prolonged length of stay, need for mechanical ventilation, and death. This study evaluated the effectiveness of preoperative counseling on smoking cessation for patients undergoing elective total joint arthroplasty. Thirty smokers with hip or knee osteoarthritis seeking hip or knee replacement surgery were enrolled prospectively.

Preoperative Reduction of Opioid Use Before Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess whether weaning of opioid use in the preoperative period improved total joint arthroplasty (TJA) outcomes.

Methods: Forty-one patients who regularly used opioids and successfully weaned (defined as a 50% reduction in morphine-equivalent dose) before a primary total knee or hip arthroplasty were matched with a group of TJA patients who did not wean and a matched control group of TJA patients who did not use opioids preoperatively. The difference between preoperative and postoperative (at 6-12 months follow-up) patient-reported outcomes were assessed using the change in University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) activity score, SF12v2, and The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC).

Trends in total knee arthroplasty implant utilization.

The incidence of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has increased alongside our knowledge of knee physiology, kinematics, and technology resulting in an evolution of TKA implants. This study examines the trends in TKA implant utilization. Data was extracted from The Orthopedic Research Network to evaluate trends in level of constraint, fixed vs.