In-Vivo Validation of a Novel Robotic Platform for Endovascular Intervention.

Objective: In-vivo validation on animal setting of a pneumatically propelled robot for endovascular intervention, to determine safety and clinical advantage of robotic cannulations compared to manual operation.

Methods: Robotic assistance and image-guided intervention are increasingly used for improving endovascular procedures with enhanced navigation dexterity and accuracy. However, most platforms developed in the past decade still present inherent limitations in terms of altered clinical workflow, counterintuitive human-robot interaction, and a lack of versatility.

An MR-Safe Endovascular Robotic Platform: Design, Control, and Ex-Vivo Evaluation.

Objective: Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of global death. Endovascular interventions, in combination with advanced imaging technologies, are promising approaches for minimally invasive diagnosis and therapy. More recently, teleoperated robotic platforms target improved manipulation accuracy, stabilisation of instruments in the vasculature, and reduction of patient recovery times.

Utility of Culturing Marginal Bone in Patients Undergoing Lower Limb Amputation for Infection.

Guidelines suggest culturing clinically uninfected bone at the margin after surgical resection for osteomyelitis, but little published evidence supports this procedure. To investigate whether culturing marginal bone after completing resection of infected bone affected antibiotic use or further surgical intervention, we collected data on sequential patients undergoing amputation for a foot infection at our tertiary care hospital between January 2014 and May 2015. We recorded patient age, sex, presence of diabetes mellitus, level of amputation, whether marginal bone was sent for culture, microbiology of any marginal bone specimens, type and duration of antibiotic therapy, and any further surgical resection.

Medium-term outcomes of fenestrated endovascular repair of juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysms pose a substantial clinical burden, and a significant proportion are not anatomically suitable for open repair or standard endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), instead requiring fenestrated EVAR (fEVAR). We sought to compare clinical outcomes and trends over time in patients undergoing fEVAR in Australia.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing fEVAR at a tertiary referral centre between 2010 and 2015, including outcomes and complications, both as inpatients and after discharge.

YouTube as a source of patient information for varicose vein treatment options.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the quality of content and potential sources of bias in videos available on YouTube pertaining to interventional treatment for varicose veins.

Methods: Searches were performed on YouTube to identify videos pertaining to interventional treatment for varicose veins. Videos that met eligibility criteria were analyzed and rated according to predetermined criteria by two independent assessors, with a third independent assessor to resolve any discrepancy.

Pseudoaneurysm of the thoracic aorta following botulinum toxin injection to the esophagus.

Aortic pseudoaneurysms are uncommon and are usually secondary to penetrating trauma. We describe the presentation and management of an elderly woman who suffered a pseudoaneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta several days after receiving botulinum toxin injection to the esophagus. Urgent thoracic endovascular aortic repair was performed, and long-term antibiotic therapy was commenced.

A simple technique to prevent torsion and other obstructions of autogenous vein conduits.

During a bypass or a transposed fistula, there is a risk of twisting or torsion of the vein within the tunnel, which may not be easily apparent when incomplete. When valvulotomes are used some nonobstructing leaflets or flaps may remain. These mechanical problems may go undetected at the time and may cause hemodynamic changes, act as a nucleus for thrombosis, or obstruction postoperatively.

The influence of crowds on consumer health decisions: an online prospective study.

This paper presents an online prospective study investigating whether the strength of social feedback, i.e. the proportion of persons who concur or do not concur with one's own answer to a question, influences the way one answers health-related questions.