Publications by authors named "Petra Opic"
BackgroundWomen are overrepresented among individuals with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). Biological (sex) as well as sociocultural (gender) differences between women and men might account for this imbalance, yet their impact on PASC is unknown.AimWe assessed the impact of sex and gender on PASC in a Swiss population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: A systematic literature search has been performed to identify potential confounders for outcome prediction using pupillary light reflex in adult critically ill patients, as measured by handheld automated pupillometry devices.
Methods: Three digital databases (PubMed, EmBase, Cochrane) were systematically searched. Articles published between 1990 and 2019 in adult patients using monocular automated handheld devices were considered.
The Unease When Using Anesthetics for Treatment-Refractory Status Epilepticus: Still Far Too Many Questions.
J Clin Neurophysiol
September 2020
Status epilepticus (SE), treatment-refractory status epilepticus (RSE), and super-treatment-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) are associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and high socioeconomic burden and pose significant treatment challenges for intensivists and neurologists. To optimize and streamline emergency treatment, current practice guidelines recommend the use of continuously delivered intravenous anesthetic drugs such as midazolam, propofol, or barbiturates as the third-line therapy after first-line and second-line treatments have failed. Although the rationale for these third-line drugs seems intuitive at first glance, there is a clear paucity of evidence-based data on risks, benefits, and even on the choice of a third-line agent.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To quantify the quality of physicians' emergency first response to status epilepticus (SE) and to identify risk factors for nonadherence to treatment guidelines in a standardized simulated scenario.
Methods: In this prospective trial, 58 physicians (of different background) of the University Hospital Basel, a Swiss academic medical care center, were confronted with a simulated SE. Primary outcomes were time to (1) airway protection, (2) supplementary oxygen, and (3) administration of antiseizure drugs (ASDs).
Objective: To uncover clinical characteristics leading to false outcome prediction of the Status Epilepticus Severity Score (STESS), a validated and broadly used clinical scoring system for outcome prediction in status epilepticus (SE).
Methods: From 2005 to 2016, adult patients with SE treated at the University Hospital Basel, Switzerland, were included. To assess independent associations of variables differing between patients with false and correct prediction of death (STESS ≥ 3), multivariable logistic regression models were computed using automated selection.
Objectives: Early identification of patients who are at risk of prolonged status epilepticus (SE) and patients with high chances of full recovery despite prolonged SE may urge clinicians to intensify treatment rather than to withdraw care. We aimed to develop prediction models based on readily available clinical parameters to predict prolonged SE at seizure onset and to identify patients with high chances for full recovery.
Methods: From 2005 to 2016, all adult SE patients treated at the University Hospital Basel, a Swiss medical care center, were included.
Objective: To provide prospective information on long-term outcome after surgical correction of valvular pulmonary stenosis (PS).
Methods: Fifty-three consecutive patients operated for PS during childhood between 1968 and 1980 in one centre are followed longitudinally for 37±3.4 years, including extensive in-hospital examination every 10 years.
Pregnancy mitigates cardiac pathology in a mouse model of left ventricular pressure overload.
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol
September 2016
In Western countries heart disease is the leading cause of maternal death during pregnancy. The effect of pregnancy on the heart is difficult to study in patients with preexisting heart disease. Since experimental studies are scarce, we investigated the effect of pressure overload, produced by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in mice, on the ability to conceive, pregnancy outcome, and maternal cardiac structure and function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To determine longitudinal changes in psychopathology in a cohort of patients 30-43 years after their first cardiac surgery for Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) in childhood, to compare outcomes of the 30- to 43-year follow-up with normative data, and to identify medical predictors for psychopathology.
Methods: This study is the third follow-up of this cohort. The first and second follow-ups of this same cohort were conducted in 1990 and 2001, respectively.
Background: Few prospective data are available regarding long-term outcomes after surgical closure of a ventricular septal defect (VSD).
Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate clinical outcomes>30 years after surgical VSD closure.
Methods: Patients who underwent surgical VSD closure during childhood between 1968 and 1980 were reexamined every 10 years.
Background: It is unclear whether sports participation in adults with repaired congenital heart disease is safe and has benefits.
Methods: Congenital heart disease (ConHD) patients who underwent corrective surgery for Atrial Septal Defect, Ventricular Septal Defect, Pulmonary Stenosis, Tetralogy of Fallot or Transposition of the Great Arteries in our center between 1968 and 1980 were included, and participated in our longitudinal follow-up study with serial evaluations in 2001 and 2011. At both time points patients filled in questionnaires on sports participation, subjective physical functioning and quality of life.
Objective: Investigating long-term psychosocial and emotional outcomes, 30-43 years after cardiothoracic surgery during childhood.
Methods: Adult patients (N = 252, aged 33-55 years) all operated between 1968 and 1980 for atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, pulmonary stenosis, tetralogy of Fallot or transposition of the great arteries (TGA, all Mustard) were evaluated in the Erasmus MC. Psychosocial and emotional functioning were measured using standardized, validated questionnaires.
Background: Prospective data on long-term survival and clinical outcome beyond 30 years after surgical correction of tetralogy of Fallot are nonexistent.
Methods And Results: This longitudinal cohort study consists of the 144 patients with tetralogy of Fallot who underwent surgical repair at <15 years of age between 1968 and 1980 in our center. They are investigated every 10 years.
Aims: To describe long-term survival, clinical outcome and ventricular systolic function in a longitudinally followed cohort of patients after Mustard repair for transposition of the great arteries (TGA). There is serious concern about the long-term outcome after Mustard repair.
Methods And Results: This longitudinal single-centre study consisted of 91 consecutive patients, who underwent Mustard repair before 1980, at age <15 years, and were evaluated in-hospital every 10 years.
Aims: Advances in medical treatment have resulted in increased life expectancy in congenital heart disease. Consequently, the focus of management has shifted from reducing mortality to reducing long-term morbidity with the goal of improving quality of life. A predictor of quality of life might be N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, a well-established marker for heart failure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: The aim of this study was to determine the value of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) and investigate its relationship with ventricular function and exercise capacity.
Background: NT-proBNP may detect early deterioration in cardiac function.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, extensive echocardiography, exercise testing, and NT-proBNP measurements were performed on the same day in consecutive adult patients with CHD.
Objective: To describe the very long-term outcome after surgical closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD).
Design: Longitudinal cohort study of 135 consecutive patients who underwent surgical ASD repair at age <15 years between 1968 and 1980. The study protocol included ECG, echocardiography, exercise testing, N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic hormone, Holter monitoring and cardiac MRI.
Background: To investigate the overall sexual functioning and disease specific sexual problems in congenital heart disease (ConHD) patients, for both genders and different cardiac diagnostic groups, and compare these with Dutch normative data. Also disease specific sexual problems were investigated.
Methods: From a longitudinal cohort of patients, operated for ConHD between 1968 and 1980, 254 patients (median age: 40, 53.
Aims: To determine whether atrial-based pacing prevents atrial arrhythmias in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) compared with ventricular pacing.
Methods And Results: All adult CHD patients from four participating centres with a permanent pacemaker were identified. Patients with permanent atrial arrhythmias at pacemaker implantation and patients who received a pacemaker for treatment of drug-refractory atrial arrhythmias were excluded.
Objective: To make a historical comparison on the long-term psychosocial outcome of cardiothoracic surgery during childhood.
Methods: Adult patients operated for tetralogy of Fallot or transposition of the great arteries between 1980 and 1990 (recent sample) were compared with patients who underwent surgery and were investigated 10 years earlier (historical sample). In addition, atrial switch and arterial switch patients within the recent sample were compared.
Background: This study aims to investigate indications and complications of permanent cardiac pacing in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD).
Methods And Results: Two-hundred and seventy-four CHD patients were identified who underwent permanent pacemaker implantation between 1972 and 2009. The indication for pacing was acquired sinus node or AV node conduction disease (63%), sinus node or AV node conduction disease after cardiac surgery (28%), and drug/arrhythmia-related indications (9%).
Objective: To investigate the psychosocial impact of having an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in adults with Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF).
Methods: Included were 26 ToF-patients with an ICD (age 44 ± 12 years), and two control groups consisting of 28 ToF-patients without an ICD (age 40 ± 10 years) and a group of 35 ICD-patients of older age without ToF (age 72.0 ± 8 years).