Perioperative transfusion and long-term mortality after cardiac surgery: a meta-analysis.

Objectives: Cardiac surgical procedures are associated with a high incidence of periprocedural blood loss and blood transfusion. Although both may be associated with a range of postoperative complications there is disagreement on the impact of blood transfusion on long-term mortality. This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of the published outcomes of perioperative blood transfusion, examined as a whole and by index procedure.

Risk Factors for Musculoskeletal Complaints in Female Musicians: A Systematic Review and Exploration for Future Studies.

Background: Female musicians are prone to the development of musculoskeletal complaints (MSC). The etiology of this increased risk is poorly understood. As the number of professional female musicians increases, so does the importance of understanding female-specific risk factors for MSC in musicians.

Genees & Kunst 21, 3rd Lustrum--Annual Symposium on Medical Problems of Dancers & Musicians, Ede, The Netherlands, March 26, 2021.

On Friday, March 26, 2021, the Dutch Performing Arts Medicine Association (NVDMG) organized a scientific and artistic symposium "Genees & Kunst 21" for its 21st member assembly, at Akoesticum in Ede, The Netherlands. It was also the 3rd lustrum symposium, because in 2020 the NVDMG had its 15th anniversary and due to COVID-19 we had to postpone the symposium 1 year. The symposium was held digitally for the first time in the existence of the NVDMG.

Quality and usability of clinical assessments of static standing and sitting posture: A systematic review.

Background: A validated method to assess sitting and standing posture in a clinical setting is needed to guide diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of these postures. At present, no systematic overview of assessment methods, their clinimetric properties, and usability is available.

Objective: The objective of this study was to provide such an overview and to interpret the results for clinical practice.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) Versus Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement for Aortic Stenosis (SAVR): A Cost-Comparison Study.

Background: Comparative costing studies using real-world data stratified by patient case-mix, are valuable to decision makers for making reimbursement decisions of new interventions. This study evaluated real-world hospital admissions and short-term costs of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and isolated surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for patients with aortic stenosis, stratified by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) risk scores.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with a principal diagnosis of aortic stenosis who underwent isolated valve replacement at a single tertiary hospital, January 2012-December 2017.

Contemporary outcomes of continuous-flow biventricular assist devices.

Background: Significant right ventricular failure (RVF) complicating left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement has been reported at 10-30%. Although primarily indicated for left ventricular failure, ventricular assist devices (VADs) have become utilized in a biventricular setup to combat right ventricular failure (RVF) following LVAD implantation. With the advent of continuous-flow LVADs (CF-LVADs) superseding their pulsatile predecessors, the shift towards CF-biventricular assist devices (CF-BiVADs) come with the prospect of improved outcomes over previous pulsatile BiVADs.

Minimally-invasive versus transcatheter aortic valve implantation: systematic review with meta-analysis of propensity-matched studies.

Background: Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (MiAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) provide aortic valve replacement (AVR) by less invasive methods than conventional surgical AVR, by avoiding complete sternotomy. This study directly compares and analyses the available evidence for early outcomes between these two AVR methods.

Methods: Electronic databases were searched from inception until August 2019 for studies comparing MiAVR to TAVI, according to predefined search criteria.

Silent brain infarcts and early cognitive outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Silent brain infarcts (SBIs) are frequently identified after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), when patients are screened with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI). Outside the cardiac literature, SBIs have been correlated with progressive cognitive dysfunction; however, their prognostic utility after TAVI remains uncertain. This study's main goals were to explore (i) the incidence of and potential risk factors for SBI after TAVI; and (ii) the effect of SBI on early post-procedural cognitive dysfunction (PCD).

Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is common after cardiac surgery and linked to poorer short-term and long-term outcomes; however, conflicting evidence exists on stroke risk and how the index procedure affects outcomes. This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of the published outcomes of POAF after cardiac surgery, examined as a whole and by index procedure.

Methods: A systematic review of POAF after cardiac surgery was conducted.

Aortic valve replacement using stented or sutureless/rapid deployment prosthesis via either full-sternotomy or a minimally invasive approach: a network meta-analysis.

Background: New technologies such as sutureless or rapid deployment prosthetic valves and access via minimally invasive incisions offer alternatives to traditional full-sternotomy aortic valve replacement (SAVR). However, a comprehensive comparison of these surgical techniques along with alternative valve prosthesis has not been completed.

Methods: Electronic databases were searched for studies comparing outcomes for SAVR, minimally invasive AVR (MiAVR), sutureless/rapid-deployment AVR (SuAVR) via full-sternotomy, or minimally invasive SuAVR (MiSuAVR) from their inception until September 2018.

Novel Oral Anticoagulants Compared to Warfarin for Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is common after cardiac surgery and contributes to short- and long-term morbidity, particularly thromboembolism. Anticoagulation for sustained or recurrent POAF is suggested to reduce thromboembolism. Novel oral anticoagulants may present a safe alternative to warfarin with further benefits including shorter hospital length of stay and better patient convenience.

Evaluation of aortic stenosis using cardiovascular magnetic resonance: a systematic review & meta-analysis.

Background: As the average age of patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) who receive procedural intervention continue to age, the need for non-invasive modalities that provide accurate diagnosis and operative planning is increasingly important. Advances in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) over the past two decades mean it is able to provide haemodynamic data at the aortic valve, along with high fidelity anatomical imaging.

Methods: Electronic databases were searched for studies comparing CMR to transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the diagnosis of AS.

Appraisals and coping mediate the relationship between resilience and distress among significant others of persons with spinal cord injury or acquired brain injury: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Many significant others of persons with serious conditions like spinal cord injury (SCI) and acquired brain injury (ABI) report high levels of psychological distress. In line with the stress-coping model, the aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between personal resource resilience and psychological distress, and whether appraisals of threat and loss, and passive coping mediate this relationship.

Methods: Significant others (n = 228) of persons with SCI or ABI completed questionnaires shortly after admission to first inpatient rehabilitation after onset of the condition.

New Onset Atrial Fibrillation Following Transcatheter and Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: New-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) is a well-recognised, although variably reported complication following surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Rates of NOAF following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) seem to be notably less than SAVR, even though this population is typically older and of higher risk. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of NOAF in both these populations and associated postoperative outcomes.

Subclinical valve thrombosis in transcatheter aortic valve implantation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Recent high-resolution computed tomography studies after transcatheter aortic valve insertion (TAVI) have reported a high prevalence of subclinical valve thrombosis (SCVT), potentially contributing to increased risk of late stroke. We aimed to investigate SCVT in patients after TAVI, with a focus on prevalence, predisposing factors, management, and potential sequelae.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review of patients with SCVT after TAVI was carried out on all published studies in 3 major electronic databases from their inception until October 2019.

Minimally invasive surgical approaches to left main and left anterior descending coronary artery revascularization are superior compared to first- and second-generation drug-eluting stents: a network meta-analysis.

Objectives: There are a number of minimally invasive approaches to revascularization of coronary artery disease that involve the left main or proximal left anterior descending artery; however, studies to date provide mixed results.

Methods: A Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed to compare early and late postoperative outcomes between percutaneous coronary intervention with first- and second-generation drug-eluting stents (DESs), off-pump coronary artery bypass and minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) in patients with involvement of left main or left anterior descending disease.

Results: A total of 37 studies with 31 728 patients were included in the analysis.

Silent Brain Infarcts Following Cardiac Procedures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background Silent brain infarcts ( SBI ) are increasingly being recognized as an important complication of cardiac procedures as well as a potential surrogate marker for studies on brain injury. The extent of subclinical brain injury is poorly defined. Methods and Results We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis utilizing studies of SBI s and focal neurologic deficits following cardiac procedures.

Towards Consensus on Clinical Assessment of Embouchure in Brass Players: A Delphi Study.

Aims: The objective of this study was to determine the content validity of an assessment instrument for embouchure (the "CODE of Embouchure") which covers the main aspects of the construct of embouchure in brass players.

Methods: The study design followed the Delphi technique. A select panel of 35 international experts gave their opinion via a three-round digital Delphi survey as to whether the instrument as a whole, and its items, adequately measure the construct of embouchure.

Reliability of an instrument for screening hand profiles: The Practical Hand Evaluation.

Study Design: Psychometric study with 2-week interval.

Introduction: Musculoskeletal hand complaints are common among manual workers. Mismatch between anthropometric hand features and tasks can affect the ability to perform hand activities, with an increased risk of complaints.

Variation in occupational exposure associated with musculoskeletal complaints: a cross-sectional study among professional bassists.

Background: Variation in occupational exposure is assumed to have a protective effect against the development of musculoskeletal complaints (MSC), but this common assumption is not strongly supported by the literature. Among musicians, who have a high prevalence of MSC, many play more than one type of instrument (multi-instrumentalism) for many hours a day. Since multi-instrumentalism implies greater variation in ergonomic load of specific musculoskeletal areas than mono-instrumentalism, musicians are a suitable study population to test whether the above assumption is true.

Fundamentals of Embouchure in Brass Players: Towards a Definition and Clinical Assessment.

Unlabelled: Brass players may experience problems producing an optimal sound (or range of sounds) in their instrument. Assessing and treating dysfunctional embouchure requires knowledge of functional embouchure, but peer-reviewed literature on dysfunctional and functional embouchure is scarce.

Objective: This study aimed to provide a narrative overview of embouchure based on information from different scientific and clinical fields.

No association between posture and musculoskeletal complaints in a professional bassist sample.

Background: Professional musicians receive little attention in pain medicine despite reports of high prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints. This study aims to investigate the association between work-related postures and musculoskeletal complaints of professional bass players.

Method: Participants were 141 professional and professional student double bassists and bass guitarists.

Replacement of the aortic root with a composite valve-graft conduit: risk factor analysis in 246 consecutive patients.

Background: Composite valve-graft (CVG) replacement of the aortic root is a well-studied and recognised treatment for various aortic root conditions, including valvular disease with associated aortopathy. There have been few previous studies of the procedure in large numbers in an Australian setting.

Method: From January 2006 to June 2013, 246 successive patients underwent CVG root replacements at our institution.