Thromboembolic Disease and Cardiac Thrombotic Complication in COVID-19: A Systematic Review.

The coronavirus 2019 pandemic has affected many healthcare systems worldwide. While acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been well-documented in COVID-19, there are several cardiovascular complications, such as myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke, and pulmonary embolism, leading to disability and death. The link between COVID-19 and increasing thrombogenicity potentially occurs due to numerous different metabolic mechanisms, ranging from endothelial damage for direct virus infection, associated excessive formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), pathogenic activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), direct myocardial injury, and ischemia induced by respiratory failure, all of which have measurable biomarkers.

Fasting Serum IGFBP-1 as a Marker of Insulin Resistance in Diverse School Age Groups.

Introduction: The known markers of insulin resistance in obese children are well studied. However, they require serial measurements and complicated calculations. The objective is to study IGFBP-1 and its relation with other known risk measures.

Devices for esophageal function testing.

Background And Aims: Esophageal function testing is an integral component of the evaluation of refractory GERD and esophageal motility disorders. This review summarizes the current technologies available for esophageal function testing, including the functional luminal imaging probe (FLIP), high-resolution esophageal manometry (HRM), and multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII) and pH monitoring.

Methods: We performed a MEDLINE, PubMed, and MAUDE database literature search to identify pertinent clinical studies through March 2021 using the following key words: esophageal manometry, HRM, esophageal impedance, FLIP, MII, and esophageal pH testing.

Devices and techniques for flexible endoscopic management of Zenker's diverticulum (with videos).

Background And Aims: Zenker's diverticulum (ZD) has traditionally been treated with open surgery or rigid endoscopy. With the advances in endoscopy, alternative flexible endoscopic treatments have been developed.

Methods: This document reviews current endoscopic techniques and devices used to treat ZD.

Staged Endovascular Repair of Aortic Coarctation followed by Double Valve Surgery.

We present a unique case of late diagnosis of coarctation of the aorta in an adult, presenting with congestive heart failure associated with severe aortic and mitral valve insufficiency. To minimize operative risk, staged endovascular repair of the coarctation was initially performed, followed by aortic valve replacement and mitral valve repair. Six months postoperatively, the 41-year-old patient remains completely asymptomatic.

Enhanced EUS imaging (with videos).

Background And Aims: EUS remains a primary diagnostic tool for the evaluation of pancreaticobiliary disease. Although EUS combined with FNA or biopsy sampling is highly sensitive for the diagnosis of neoplasia within the pancreaticobiliary tract, limitations exist in specific clinical settings such as chronic pancreatitis. Enhanced EUS imaging technologies aim to aid in the detection and diagnosis of lesions that are commonly evaluated with EUS.

Techniques and devices for the endoscopic treatment of gastroparesis (with video).

Background And Aims: Gastroparesis is a symptomatic chronic disorder of the stomach characterized by delayed gastric emptying in the absence of mechanical obstruction. Several endoscopic treatment modalities have been described that aim to improve gastric emptying and/or symptoms associated with gastroparesis refractory to dietary and pharmacologic management.

Methods: In this report we review devices and techniques for endoscopic treatment of gastroparesis, the evidence regarding their efficacy and safety, and the financial considerations for their use.

COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome: is a different approach to management warranted?

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a surge of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in intensive care units across the globe. As experience of managing patients with COVID-19-associated ARDS has grown, so too have efforts to classify patients according to respiratory system mechanics, with a view to optimising ventilatory management. Personalised lung-protective mechanical ventilation reduces mortality and has become the mainstay of treatment in ARDS.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Respiratory Failure.

This review focuses on the use of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for respiratory failure across all blood flow ranges. Starting with a short overview of historical development, aspects of the physiology of gas exchange (i.e.

Anesthetic Management of Posterior Sternoclavicular Joint Dislocations: A Report of 2 Cases.

Posterior sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) dislocation is a rare cause of shoulder injury that can present with life-threatening mediastinal complications. This injury most commonly occurs in adolescents and young adults, and there is a lack of anesthesia literature addressing its anesthetic implications. We present 2 cases of posterior SCJ dislocations and discuss the anesthetic management and the potential for mediastinal injuries.

Correction to: Demographic, clinical, and treatment characteristics of the juvenile primary fibromyalgia syndrome cohort enrolled in the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Legacy Registry.

Following publication of the original article [1], we have been notified that the corresponding author's given name is spelled incorrectly.

Gastric peroral endoscopic pyloromyotomy for refractory gastroparesis: a systematic review of early outcomes with pooled analysis.

Background And Aims: Gastroparesis (GP) is a chronic debilitating condition. Prior pyloric-targeted procedures are either invasive or have questionable efficacy. Gastric peroral pyloromyotomy (G-POEM) has been proposed as a minimally invasive approach.

Demographic, clinical, and treatment characteristics of the juvenile primary fibromyalgia syndrome cohort enrolled in the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Legacy Registry.

Background: To describe the demographic, clinical, and treatment characteristics of youth diagnosed with juvenile primary fibromyalgia syndrome (JPFS) who are seen in pediatric rheumatology clinics.

Methods: Information on demographics, symptoms, functioning, and treatments recommended and tried were obtained on patients with JPFS as part of a multi-site patient registry (the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Legacy Registry). Data were summarized using descriptive statistics.

Endoscopic biliary self-expandable metallic stent in malignant biliary obstruction with or without sphincterotomy: systematic review and meta-analysis.

 To assess the rate of adverse events and the technical success rate of biliary stenting with or without EBS.   A literature search up to February 2017 was performed. Studies assessing adverse events (AEs) and technical success rates of stenting with or without EBS were considered.

The Evolution of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Adult Respiratory Failure.

The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to support patients with cardiac and respiratory failure has increased substantially in the last decade. Although the evidence base for its use in adults with respiratory failure is growing, many questions remain to be answered. Ongoing research is aimed at clarifying the role of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, as well as extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal, in various forms of hypoxemic and hypercapnic respiratory failure, and at defining the optimal techniques for its use.

Reproducibility of Left Ventricular Dimension Versus Area Versus Volume Measurements in Pediatric Patients With Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Multiple echocardiographic methods are used to measure left ventricular size and function. Clinical management is based on individual evaluations and longitudinal trends. The Pediatric Heart Network VVV study (Ventricular Volume Variability) in pediatric patients with dilated cardiomyopathy has reported reproducibility of several of these measures, and how disease state and number of beats impact their reproducibility.

Cardiac Tumors in Pediatric Patients: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review sought to investigate the current evidence regarding surgical management of primary cardiac tumors in children and adolescents. Twenty-eight studies were deemed eligible, reporting on 745 pediatric patients. Rhabdomyoma was the most prevalent histologic type and echocardiography was the most common diagnostic tool.

Differentiating I Radiation Sialadenitis From Autoimmune (Sjögren Syndrome) Sialadenitis: Case Report.

Radioactive iodine (I) is used effectively for the treatment of differentiated thyroid cancers. Because it is actively secreted by the salivary glands, radiation damage to these glands can occur. Obstructive swellings after mealtime salivary stimulation are common occurrences.

Delivery of Quality Oncology Care in a Large, Urban Practice: A Primer.

A comprehensive quality improvement program is critically important for participation in value-based reimbursement models. Seven essential characteristics must be addressed in the development of a cancer-focused quality program. These include leadership, environment, engagement, ethos, metrics, accountability, and sustainability (Q=LEMAS).