[Discuss Many to Benefit More - Five-Year Analysis of a Multidisciplinary Aortic Board].

Background: Multidisciplinary aortic boards (mAB) are a valuable tool for decision making in patients with aortic pathologies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mAB of a maximum care hospital with regards to total patient volume and discipline-specific presentations. Furthermore, the indications for conservative/surgical treatment and the patients' allocation were reviewed.

Effectiveness Evaluation of Additional Risk Minimization Measures for Adolescent Use of Aripiprazole in the European Union: Results from a Post-Authorization Safety Study.

Introduction: Two risk minimization (RM) tools-a healthcare professional frequently asked questions (HCP-FAQs) brochure and a patient/caregiver information brochure (PCIB)-were developed for HCPs and for adolescents (aged ≥ 13 years) receiving aripiprazole for bipolar I mania and their caregivers.

Objectives: This study evaluated the effectiveness of these RM tools in improving the awareness and education of HCPs and patients/caregivers.

Method: The RM tools were distributed to HCPs (identified in agreement with the marketing authorization holder [MAH] and local regulatory authorities), who in turn distributed the PCIBs to patients/caregivers.

[Hybrid operating rooms versus conventional operating rooms : Economic comparisons in vascular surgery using the example of endovascular aneurysm repair].

Background: With changing treatment modalities in vascular surgery towards incorporating more endovascular solutions, increased numbers of hybrid operating theatres are being introduced to meet the sterility and imaging quality requirements. These cost-intensive acquisitions however have never been evaluated from an economic perspective. In this study we evaluated cost-relevant parameters before and after the introduction of a hybrid operating room using the example of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) performed in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA).

Newly diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Clinical features and distribution of the novel stages of the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease.

Background: The new guidelines of the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) propose a novel staging system for COPD. This study describes the frequency distribution of GOLD stages in newly diagnosed COPD patients in a large city pulmonary practice.

Methods: All patients newly admitted between 1995 and 1996 were analyzed retrospectively.