Radiation exposure in endovascular infra-renal aortic aneurysm repair and factors that influence it

Abstract Objective: The endovascular repair of aortic abdominal aneurysms exposes the patients and surgical team to ionizing radiation with risk of direct tissue damage and induction of gene mutation. This study aims to describe our standard of radiation exposure in endovascular aortic aneurysm repair and the factors that influence it. Methods: Retrospective analysis of a prospective database of patients with abdominal infra-renal aortic aneurysms submitted to endovascular repair. This study evaluated the radiation doses (dose area product (DAP)), fluoroscopy durations and their relationships to the patients, aneurysms, and stent-graft characteristics. Results: This study included 127 patients with a mean age of 73 years. The mean DAP was 4.8 mGy.m2, and the fluoroscopy time was 21.8 minutes. Aortic bilateral iliac aneurysms, higher body mass index, aneurysms with diameters larger than 60 mm, necks with diameters larger than 28 mm, common iliac arteries with diameters larger than 20 mm, and neck angulations superior to 50 degrees were associated with an increased radiation dose. The number of anatomic risk factors present was associated with increased radiation exposure and fluoroscopy time, regardless of the anatomical risk factors. Conclusion: The radiation exposure during endovascular aortic aneurysm repair is significant (mean DAP 4.8 mGy.m2) with potential hazards to the surgical team and the patients. The anatomical characteristics of the aneurysm, patient characteristics, and the procedure's technical difficulty were all related to increased radiation exposure during endovascular aortic aneurysm repair procedures. Approximately 40% of radiation exposure can be explained by body mass index, neck angulation, aneurysm diameter, neck diameter, and aneurysm type.

Endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair in women: what are the differences between the genders?

ABSTRACT Introduction: Abdominal aortic aneurysm has a lower incidence in the female population, but a higher complication rate. It was been hypothesized that some anatomical differences of abdominal aortic aneurysm in women could be responsible for that. We proposed to analyze our data to understand the differences in the clinical and anatomical characteristics and the outcomes of patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair, according to gender. Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair between 2001-2013 was performed. Patients were divided according gender and evaluated regarding age, atherosclerotic risk factors, aneurysm anatomic features, endograft type, anesthesic risk classification, length of stay, reinterventions and mortality. Two statistical studies were performed, first comparing women and men (Group A) and a second one comparing women and men, adjusted by age (Group B). Results: Of the 171 patients, only 5.8% (n=10) were females. Women were older (P<0.05) and the number of women with no atherosclerotic risk factor was significantly higher. The comparison adjusted by age revealed women with statistically less smoking history, less cerebrovascular disease and ischemic heart disease. Women had a trend to more complex anatomy, with more iliac intern artery aneurysms, larger aneurysm diameter and neck angulations statistically more elevated. No other variables were statistically different between age groups, neither reintervention nor mortality rates. Conclusion: Our study showed a clear difference in the clinical characteristics of women. The female population was statistically older, and when compared with men adjusted by age, had less atherosclerotic risk factors and less target organ disease. Women showed a more complex anatomy but with the same outcomes.

Is age a determinant factor in evar as a predictor of outcomes or in the selection procedure? our experience

Abstract Introduction: Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is the therapy of choice in high risk patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm. The good results described are leading to the broadening of clinical indications to younger patients. However, reintervention rates seem higher and even with successful treatment sometimes there is growth of the aneurysm sac and rupture, meaning a failure of the therapeutic goal. This study proposes to analyse the impact of age in patients' selection and post-EVAR results. Methods: The clinical records of consecutive patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair, between 2001 and 2013, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided according to age groups (<70, 70-80 and >80 years). Gender, body mass index, aneurysm anatomic features, neck characteristics, iliac morphology, surgical indication, endograft type, anesthesic risk classification, length of stay, reinterventions and mortality were analysed and compared. Results: The study included 171 patients, 161 (94.1%) men, and mean age 74.1±8.9 years. The age group under 70 had 32% of the patients. Only three characteristics were found different among age groups: 1) body mass index was higher in younger patients, with a considerable trend toward significance (P=0.06); 2) surgical indication, in the younger group, surgeon's and the patient's option were more proeminent (P<0.05); 3) erectile dysfunction was higher in elderly group (P<0.05). No other clinical and anatomical characteristics or final outcomes were found statisticaly different among age groups. Conclusion: The absence of statistically differences in mortality and reinterventions among age groups suggests that age by itself is not a relevant factor in endovascular aneurysm repair. Indeed, the three characteristics different in younger (obesity, sexual function and patient's choice) favor endovascular aneurysm repair.

Estigma em estudantes de enfermagem: antes e depois do contacto com pessoas com transtornos mentais / Stigma among nursing students before and after contact with people with mental disorders / Estigma en estudiantes de enfermería: antes y después del contacto con personas con trastornos mentales

Objetivo: analisar as crenças e atitudes dos estudantes de enfermagem acerca dos doentes e doenças mentais e o efeito do ensino clínico nessas crenças e atitudes. Método: estudo de cariz pré-experimental que compara o estigma discente antes e após o ensino clínico. A amostra é constituída por 89 estudantes que frequentavam o Curso de Licenciatura em Enfermagem, em Portugal, em 2010. Como instrumento de coleta de dados, foi utilizado o Inventário de Crenças acerca das Doenças Mentais e a versão portuguesa traduzida e adaptada da Escala de Opiniões sobre a Doença Mental. Resultados: os resultados relacionados às crenças e atitudes, antes e após o ensino clínico, revelam um efeito estatisticamente significativo mais patente na crença na incurabilidade e atitude de restrição social. Conclusão: o ensino clínico contribui para uma perspetiva mais positiva em relação às crenças e atitudes dos estudantes de enfermagem.

Objective: to examine nursing students' attitudes and beliefs about mental illness and the mentally ill and the effect of clinical training on these beliefs and attitudes by comparing stigma before and after clinical teaching. Method: this is a pre-experimental study and the sample comprised 89 students on an undergraduate Nursing course, in Portugal, in 2010. Data were collected using a Mental Illness Beliefs Inventory and the translated and adapted Portuguese version of the Opinions about Mental Illness Scale. Results: the results related to beliefs and attitudes before and after clinical training reveal a statistically significant effect on the belief in incurability and the attitude towards social restriction. Conclusion: the clinical training contributes to a more positive outlook in nursing students' beliefs and attitudes.

Objetivo: analizar las actitudes y creencias de los estudiantes de enfermería sobre los pacientes y las enfermedades mentales y el efecto de la enseñanza clínica en estas creencias y actitudes. Método: estudio de cariz pre experimental que compara el estigma de los estudiantes antes y después de la enseñanza clínica. La muestra se constituye de 89 estudiantes que asisten al curso de Licenciatura en Enfermería, en Portugal, en 2010. Como instrumentos de recolección de datos se utilizó el Inventario de Creencias sobre las Enfermedades Mentales y la versión portuguesa traducida y adaptada de la Escala de Opiniones sobre Enfermedades Mentales. Resultados: los resultados sobre las creencias y actitudes, antes y después de la enseñanza clínica, revelan un efecto estadísticamente significativo más patente en la creencia en la incurabilidad y también una actitud de restricción social. Conclusión: la enseñanza clínica contribuye a una perspectiva más positiva respeto a las creencias y actitudes de los estudiantes de enfermería.

Literacia em saude mental de adolescentes e jovens portugueses sobre abuso de alcool / Instruccion en salud mental de adolescentes y jovenes portugueses sobre el abuso del alcohol / Mental health literacy of portuguese adolescents and youth about alcohol abuse

OBJETIVO: Caracterizar a literacia em saúde mental de adolescentes e jovens relativamente ao consumo abusivo de álcool, nas diversas componentes do conceito de literacia. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo-exploratório, em que foi aplicado o QuALiSMental a uma amostra representativa de 4.938 adolescentes e jovens, com idades compreendidas entre os 14 e os 24 anos, que frequentam escolas do 3º ciclo do ensino básico e do ensino secundário da região centro de Portugal. RESULTADOS: O reconhecimento da vinheta do consumo abusivo de álcool pelos participantes é elevado (72,4%), ainda que seja também identificado como alcoolismo (70,3%), o que no entanto indica a percepção do problema como grave. Os participantes apresentam níveis modestos de literacia nas restantes componentes, preferindo as fontes informais de ajuda. CONCLUSÃO: Conclui-se que há necessidade de implementação de programas nas escolas que promovam a literacia em saúde mental, para adoção de comportamentos saudáveis nos jovens, que os transferem para a idade adulta. .

OBJETIVO: Caracterizar la instrucción en salud mental de adolescente y jóvenes con respecto al abuso del alcohol, en los diversos componentes del concepto de instrucción. MÉTODOS: Estudio exploratorio-descriptivo, con aplicación del instrumento QuALiSMental a partir de la muestra representativa de 4938 adolescentes y jóvenes adultos, con edades entre 14 y 24 años, que frecuentan escuelas del tercer ciclo de enseñanza básica y de educación secundaria en la región central de Portugal. RESULTADOS: El reconocimiento de la viñeta del abuso de alcohol por los participantes es alto (72,4%), aunque se identifica también como alcoholismo (70,3%), que sin embargo, indica la percepción del problema como siendo grave. Los participantes tienen modestos niveles de instrucción en los componentes restantes, prefiriendo las fuentes informales de ayuda. CONCLUSIÓN: Se concluye, así, que la necesidad de implementar en las escuelas programas que promueven la instrucción en salud mental para la adopción de conductas saludables en los jóvenes, que los transfieren hacia la edad adulta. .

Characterize the mental health literacy of adolescents and young people about alcohol abuse, in the various components of the concept. Exploratory descriptive study, through the application of the instrument QuALiSMental to a representative sample of 4938 adolescents and young adults aged between 14 and 24 years, attending schools in the 3rd cycle of basic and secondary education of the central region of Portugal. The recognition of the vignette of alcohol abuse by the participants is high (72.4%), although it is also identified as alcoholism (70.3%), which indicates the perception of the problem as serious. Participants have modest levels of literacy in the remaining components, preferring informal sources of help. Therefore, we conclude that there is a need to implement school programs that promote mental health literacy, to promote the adoption of healthy behaviors in young people, which transfer them into adulthood.