Identification of heparin-binding amino acid residues in antibody HS4C3 with the potential to design antibodies against heparan sulfate domains.

Heparan sulfate (HS) is a linear polysaccharide with high structural and functional diversity. Detection and localization of HS in tissues can be performed using single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies. Although several anti-HS antibodies recognizing different sulfation motifs have been identified, little is known about their interaction with HS.

Design and In Vitro Validation of an Orthopaedic Drill Guide for Femoral Stem Revision in Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Objective: Cemented total hip arthroplasty (THA) demonstrates superior survival rates compared to uncemented procedures. Nevertheless, most younger patients opt for uncemented THA, as removing well-fixed bone cement in the femur during revisions is complex, particularly the distal cement plug. This removal procedure often increases the risk of femoral fracture or perforation, haemorrhage and weakening bone due to poor drill control and positioning.

Reprocessing Zamak laryngoscope blades into new instrument parts; an 'all-in-one' experimental study.

Introduction: Disposable instruments in healthcare have led to a significant increase of medical waste. The aim of this study is to validate the recycling of disposable Zamak laryngoscope blades into new medical components by using a new 'all-in-one' affordable reprocessing setup as alternative for die-casting.

Methods: A n "all-in-one" casting set-up was designed and built.

Implementation of music in colorectal perioperative standard care-barriers and facilitators among patients and healthcare professionals.

Aim: Perioperative anxiety and pain are still prevalent among patients undergoing surgery. Inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer patients are known to have higher anxiety rates than the general population. Perioperatively applied music intervention has been proven to be effective in reducing perioperative anxiety and pain, resulting in a decrease of intra-operative sedative use, postoperative opioid requirement and neurohormonal stress response.

Diagnostic performance of echocardiography to predict cardiac tamponade after cardiac surgery.

Objectives: Cardiac tamponade is a life-threatening complication after cardiac surgery. Echocardiography, both transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal (TEE), may help to identify cardiac tamponade after surgery, but its diagnostic value remains unverified after cardiac surgery.

Methods: This retrospective single-centre cohort study used the electronic medical record and echocardiography database of the Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, a tertiary referral cardiothoracic centre, to identify patients who received echocardiography because they were clinically suspected of having cardiac tamponade within the 4 weeks after cardiac surgery.

Sex Difference in Long-Term Survival After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Is Age-Dependent.

Objectives: Women undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) demonstrate higher rates of postoperative morbidity and mortality than men. The aim of this study was to compare the patient profile and long-term outcomes of men and women undergoing isolated CABG.

Design: A retrospective patient record study and propensity score-matched analysis.

Can sterilization of disposable face masks be an alternative for imported face masks? A nationwide field study including 19 sterilization departments and 471 imported brand types during COVID-19 shortages.

Background: Face masks, also referred to as half masks, are essential to protect healthcare professionals working in close contact with patients with COVID-19-related symptoms. Because of the Corona material shortages, healthcare institutions sought an approach to reuse face masks or to purchase new, imported masks. The filter quality of these masks remained unclear.

A life cycle assessment of reprocessing face masks during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Covid-19 pandemic led to threatening shortages in healthcare of medical products such as face masks. Due to this major impact on our healthcare society an initiative was conducted between March and July 2020 for reprocessing of face masks from 19 different hospitals. This exceptional opportunity was used to study the costs impact and the carbon footprint of reprocessed face masks relative to new disposable face masks.

Report on outcomes of valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve implantation and redo surgical aortic valve replacement in the Netherlands.

Objective: We sought to investigate real-world outcomes of patients with degenerated biological aortic valve prostheses who had undergone valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve implantation (ViV-TAVI) or reoperative surgical aortic valve replacement (redo-SAVR) in the Netherlands.

Methods: Patients who had undergone ViV-TAVI or redo-SAVR for a degenerated biological aortic valve prosthesis in the Netherlands between January 2014 and December 2018 were eligible for this retrospective study. Patients with a prior homograft, active endocarditis or mechanical aortic valve prosthesis were excluded.

A novel Veress needle mechanism that reduces overshooting after puncturing the abdominal wall.

Background: Complications that occur in laparoscopic surgery are often associated with the initial entry into the peritoneal cavity. The literature reported incidences of Veress needle (VN) injuries of e.g.

Is there an adequate alternative to commercially manufactured face masks? A comparison of various materials and forms.

Background: There is a worldwide shortage of medical-grade face masks. Donning masks can play an important role in curbing the spread of SARS-CoV-2.

Aim: To conclude whether there is an effective mask for the population to wear in public that could easily be made during a medical face mask shortage using readily available materials.

Reprocessing filtering facepiece respirators in primary care using medical autoclave: prospective, bench-to-bedside, single-centre study.

Objective: There are widespread shortages of personal protective equipment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reprocessing filtering facepiece particle (FFP)-type respirators may provide an alternative solution in keeping healthcare professionals safe.

Design: Prospective, bench-to-bedside.

Predictive value of great saphenous vein mapping prior to endoscopic harvesting in coronary artery bypass surgery.

Objectives: The use of endoscopic vein harvesting in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting is increasing, often using bedside mapping. However, data on the predictive value of great saphenous vein (GSV) mapping are scarce. This study assessed whether preoperative mapping could predict final conduit diameter.

The impact of surgical aortic valve replacement on quality of life-a multicenter study.

Objectives: To explore the effect of surgical aortic valve replacement on quality of life and the variance with age, particularly in patients at risk of deterioration.

Methods: In an observational, multicenter, cohort study of routinely collected health data, patients undergoing and electively operated between January 2011 and January 2015 with pre- and postoperative quality of life data were included. Patients were classified into 3 age groups: <65, 65-79, and ≥80 years.

Preventing spasm of the radial artery conduit during coronary artery bypass grafting: Nicardipine versus verapamil.

Background And Aim Of The Study: In vitro studies have shown a reduction in radial artery spasm with the use of calcium antagonists. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of topical treatment of the radial artery conduit using either verapamil or nicardipine before the anastomoses.

Methods: This prospective randomized study included 131 patients, who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting surgery with the use of the radial artery as a conduit.

Quality of life after coronary bypass: a multicentre study of routinely collected health data in the Netherlands†.

Objectives: In this study, our aim was to explore how coronary artery bypass grafting affects quality of life, and how this varies with age, particularly with patients at risk of deterioration.

Methods: In a retrospective, multicentre cohort study, patients with isolated coronary artery bypass grafting and electively operated between January 2011 and January 2015 with pre- and postoperative quality-of-life data were included. Patients were classified into 3 age groups: <65, 65-79 and ≥80 years.

The influence of oxygen delivery during cardiopulmonary bypass on the incidence of delirium in CABG patients; a retrospective study.

Introduction: Postoperative delirium is the most common neurological complication of cardiac surgery. Hypoxia has been shown to increase the risk of postoperative delirium. The possibility to continuously monitor oxygen delivery (DO) during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) offers an adequate approximation of the oxygen status in a patient.

Management of right ventricular injury after localization of the left anterior descending coronary artery.

During coronary artery bypass surgery an intramyocardial or intracavitary left anterior descending coronary artery can be difficult to locate and pose problems of inadvertent entry into the right ventricle. We present a literature review of the management of this injury. We report an additional aid to prevent injury to the left anterior descending coronary artery during closure of the right ventriculotomy.

Antithrombotic therapy after bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement: ACTION Registry survey results.

Aims: A variety of antithrombotic regimens have been described for the early postoperative period after bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement (AVR). This study reviews antithrombotic practice for patients undergoing bioprosthetic AVR with or without coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) amongst the centers participating in the ACTION (Anticoagulation Treatment Influence on Postoperative Patients) Registry.

Methods And Results: An antithrombotic therapy questionnaire was answered by the 49 centers participating in the ACTION Registry located in Europe, Middle East, Canada and Asia.