Research progress in lumboperitoneal shunt for post-traumatic hydrocephalus / 中华创伤杂志

Post-traumatic hydrocephalus (PTH) is one of the common secondary lesions after severe craniocerebral injury.Shunt surgery is the most important surgical treatment in clinic.There are many kinds of shunt methods,but there is no uniform standard for method selection.Lumboperitoneal shunt (LP),as an important alternative operation,has gradually become one of the mainstream shunt operations.This article reviews the new operative indications of LP,the advantages of LP over traditional ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VP),the latest preoperative evaluation system and preoperative evaluation score of Huaxi LP,the technical points of LP operation,follow-up key points,common postoperative complications and management,so as to provide reference for exploring better technical routes and operative concepts of LP.

Lumboperitoneal shunts for the treatment of post-traumatic hydrocephalus

Objective:To assess the effectiveness and safety of lumboperitoneal shunt for treatment of post-traumatic hydrocephalus (PTH).Methods:A retrospective analysis of medical records of patients with lumboperitoneal shunts admitted in Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital from January 2014 to March 2017 was done. Experience with lumboperitoneal shunt placement for PTH was reviewed. The diagnosis of PTH was based on ventricular enlargement with the Evans’ index (EI>0.3) before shunt implantation. Patients were evaluated for improvements in Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), and EI after shunt placement.Results:Totally, the study included 34 PTH patients with the average age of 49.32 years (range: 9-67 years). The average follow-up period was (3.9±3.5) months. Before lumboperitoneal shunt, the GOS score was (4±1), the GCS score was (8.53±3.38), and the EI score was (0.40±0.08). After shunt implantation, the GOS score was (3±1), the GCS score was (10.29±3.15), and the EI score was (0.34±0.13), respectively (P2 and 8 patients GCS improvement=1), 21 (61.76%) patients had EI improvement (18 patients with EI<0.3). There was no complication in this study.Conclusion:Lumboperitoneal shunt placement is safe and effective for PTH, and serious complications are not observed.

Lumboperitoneal shunts for the treatment of post-traumatic hydrocephalus

Objective: To assess the effectiveness and safety of lumboperitoneal shunt for treatment of post-traumatic hydrocephalus (PTH). Methods: A retrospective analysis of medical records of patients with lumboperitoneal shunts admitted in Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital from January 2014 to March 2017 was done. Experience with lumboperitoneal shunt placement for PTH was reviewed. The diagnosis of PTH was based on ventricular enlargement with the Evans' index (EI>0.3) before shunt implantation. Patients were evaluated for improvements in Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), and EI after shunt placement. Results: Totally, the study included 34 PTH patients with the average age of 49.32 years (range: 9-67 years). The average follow-up period was (3.9±3.5) months. Before lumboperitoneal shunt, the GOS score was (4±1), the GCS score was (8.53±3.38), and the EI score was (0.40±0.08). After shunt implantation, the GOS score was (3±1), the GCS score was (10.29±3.15), and the EI score was (0.34±0.13), respectively (P2 and 8 patients GCS improvement=1), 21 (61.76%) patients had EI improvement (18 patients with EI<0.3). There was no complication in this study. Conclusion: Lumboperitoneal shunt placement is safe and effective for PTH, and serious complications are not observed.

Application of lumboperitoneal shunt and ventriculoperitoneal shunt in treatment of patients with communicating hydrocephalus :a Meta analysis / 重庆医学

Objective To investigate the effect of lumboperitoneal (L-P) shunt and ventriculoperitoneal(V-P) shunt for trea-ting the patients with communicating hydrocephalus .Methods The databases of PubMed ,Web of Science ,Scopuss ,Karge , EBSCO+MEDLINE ,OVID ,EMBASE ,CNKI ,CBM disc databases ,Wanfang databases ,Weipu databases were retrieved by com-puter .The relevant literatures about L-P shunt and V-P shunt for treating communicating hydrocephalus included in these databases during 1990-2016 were collected and performed the meta analysis by using the STATA 12 .0 software .Results The success rate of L-P shunt in treating communicating hydrocephalus was apparently higher than that of V-P shunt(P<0 .05) .Moreover ,postopera-tive infection rate ,obstruction rate of shunt system and total postoperative complications rate in L-P shunt were apparently lower than those of V-P shunt(P<0 .05) ,However ,there was no statistical difference in shunt poor rate between L-P shunt and V-P shunt(P>0 .05) .Conclusion L-P shunt is worth recommending .But due to lower quality of the evidences ,it is needed more high quality primary studies to remedy the insufficiency of the study .

Effects of lumboperitoneal shunt and ventriculoperitoneal shunt in the treatment of post?traumatic hydrocephalus / 中国综合临床

Objective To compare the effects and complications of lumboperitoneal shunt ( LP ) and ventriculoperitoneal shunt ( VP ) in the treatment of post?traumatic hydrocephalus. Methods Eighty patients with post?traumatic hydrocephalus treated in the neurosurgery department of Zhangjiagang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from March 2014 to March 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were randomly divided into two groups,40 patients treated with LP were assigned into the LP group and 40 patients undergone VP treatment were seen as the VP group. All patients were followed up for 1 year to investigate and compare the symptom improvement rate,neurological deficit score and the incidence of complication of the two groups. Results The total effective rate of hydrocephalus disappearance in the LP group was 41. 50% ( 37/40) and 87. 50%( 35/40) in the VP group. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (χ2=0. 556,P=0. 456);the neurological deficit scores before treatment in the LP group and VP group were (28. 35±8. 64) points and (29. 13±7. 98) points,there was no significant difference between the two groups (t=0. 419,P=0. 676) . The difference in the scores of neurological deficit after treatment in the LP and VP group was not statistically significant ( (19. 32±5. 34) points vs. (21. 62±4. 86) points,t=1. 480,P=0. 143),the average scores of neurological deficits in the two groups were significantly better than those before treatment ( t=5. 623, 5. 084,P0. 05) ,the average score of urinary incontinence improvement after treatment in both groups were better than those before treatment ( t=4. 891,5. 370,P<0. 001) . In the LP group,the incidence of bleeding,infection,shunt related complications and shunt abnormality were all 2. 50% ( 1/40 ) , the overall complication rate was 10. 00%, the incidence of bleeding,infection,shunt related complications and shunt abnormality in the VP group were 7. 50% (3/40), 10% ( 4/40 ) , 5% ( 2/40 ) 10%, ( 4/40 ) , the overall complication rate was 32. 50%, there was significant difference between the two groups (χ2=6. 050,P=0. 014) . Conclusion LP and VP have significant curative effect on the treatment of post?traumatic hydrocephalus,but the overall incidence of LP complication after 1 year is significantly lower than that of VP,and is worth popularizing widely in clinical practice

Curative effect and complication analysis of different shunt procedures for treatment of posttraumatic hydrocephalus / 中华创伤杂志

Objective To compare the effect and complications of lumboperitoneal shunt (LP) and ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VP) in treatment of posttraumatic hydrocephalus (PTH).Methods A retrospective study was made on 150 cases of posttraumatic communicating hydrocephalus managed with LP or VP from June 2013 to June 2015.There were 65 cases [36 males, 29 females;(47.2 ±8.2) years of age] in LP group and 85 cases [53 males, 32 females;(44.6 ± 7.3) years of age] in VP group.Therapeutic effect and complications were analyzed postoperatively.Results Period of follow-up was 3-27 months, which shoued Total effective rate of 97％ in LP group and 94％ in VP group (P ＞0.05).Postoperative complications were mainly hematoma, infection, shunt obstruction, shunt exposure, excessive shunt and inadequate shunt.At the follow-up, there were 3 subdural hematoma, 4 intracranial infection, 2 shunt obstruction, 3 excessive shunt and 1 inadequate shunt in VP group, but 1 subdural hematoma, 1 intracranial infection, 1 shunt exposure and l excessive shunt in LP group.Good results were achieved in the two groups after regulation of the shunt pressure or reoperation.In comparison, incidence of complications was 6％ in LP group versus 15％ in VP group (P ＜ 0.05).Rate of shunt removal and reoperation in LP group were both 2％, but were 7％ and 8％ respectively in VP group (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Both shunt procedures are effective for posttraumatic hydrocephalus, while LP is a better choice in clinical application for the lower complication incidence, shunt removal rate and reoperation rate.

Spinal Intradural Hematoma and Permanent Paraparesis after a Lumboperitoneal Shunt Operation: An Unusual Complication

Pseudotumor cerebri is a condition of increased intracranial pressure in the absence of clinical, laboratory or radiological pathology. Spinal intradural hematoma formation after lumboperitoneal shunt (LPS) implantation is very rare, but it can cause sudden and serious deterioration. In this report, we present a patient who developed an intradural hematoma following LPS operation. A 27-year-old male patient suffering from headaches and progressive vision loss was diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri. He underwent LPS operation in January 2009. Four hours after the operation, he developed urinary and fecal incontinence with paraparesis (1/5). Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging identified an intradural hematoma at the level of L2-L3, and he was reoperated. The intradural hematoma was removed. Physical therapy was started because of paraparesis. Two months later, the patient's muscle strength had increased to 3/5. Surgeons must remember that, LPS implantation can cause a spinal intradural hematoma in a small percentage of patients, with catastrophic results.

Spinal Intradural Hematoma and Permanent Paraparesis after a Lumboperitoneal Shunt Operation: An Unusual Complication

Pseudotumor cerebri is a condition of increased intracranial pressure in the absence of clinical, laboratory or radiological pathology. Spinal intradural hematoma formation after lumboperitoneal shunt (LPS) implantation is very rare, but it can cause sudden and serious deterioration. In this report, we present a patient who developed an intradural hematoma following LPS operation. A 27-year-old male patient suffering from headaches and progressive vision loss was diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri. He underwent LPS operation in January 2009. Four hours after the operation, he developed urinary and fecal incontinence with paraparesis (1/5). Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging identified an intradural hematoma at the level of L2-L3, and he was reoperated. The intradural hematoma was removed. Physical therapy was started because of paraparesis. Two months later, the patient's muscle strength had increased to 3/5. Surgeons must remember that, LPS implantation can cause a spinal intradural hematoma in a small percentage of patients, with catastrophic results.

Derivación lumboperitoneal como tratamiento de quistes de Tarlov sintomáticos / Lumboperitoneal shunt for treatment of symptomatic lumbar Tarlov cysts

La Lumbalgia es una causa frecuente de discapacidad y de limitación funcional en nuestra sociedad, con un costo financiero, social y laboral muy alto. Es un problema común que afecta a ambos sexos y la mayoría de las edades, para las que aproximadamente uno de cada cuatro adultos busca atención al cabo de seis meses. En los EE.UU., para las personas de 45 años o menos, el dolor lumbar es la causa más frecuente de limitación de actividad. Hay diferentes causas de lumbalgia siendo la enfermedad degenerativa lumbar la causa más común. Dentro de la causas menos frecuente de lumbalgia, se encuentra las asociadas quistes perineurales, llamados también quistes de Tarlov. La gran mayoría de los quistes de Tarlov son asintomáticos, su ubicación más frecuente es la región sacra. Algunos de ellos se tornan sintomáticos y requieren tratamiento. Se han descrito varias formas de manejo entre las cuales se encuentra la resección quirúrgica, la punción percutánea del quiste y las derivaciones quiste peritoneal o Lumboperitoneal. Hasta el momento, no hay consenso sobre cuál es la mejor forma de tratar éstas lesiones. En este artículo pretendemos mostrar una serie de 3 casos donde los pacientes fueron tratados con derivación lumboperitoneal con mejoría clínica completa. Se ha realizado una revisión de la literatura acerca del tratamiento de esta patología que es poco frecuente.

Lumbar pain is one of the causes of incapacity and limitation in our society. There are different causes of lumbar pain, having the degenerative cause being the most frequently found. Perineural cysts are a rare cause of incapacitating lumbar pain and the majority of these cysts are asymptomatic. There is a little information about the treatment of symptomatic perineural cysts. There has been described different treatment options which varies from surgical excision, cyst drainage and lumbar o cyst shunt to the peritoneal cavity. Till this moment there is no consensus on the optimal treatment of these lesions. In this article we want to show a small case series of 3 cases where these patients were treated with lumbo-peritoneal Shunt. This entire patient showed clinical improvement after the treatment. We will also review the literature regarding these rare lesions.

Dementia Caused by Post-traumatic Hydrocephalus Showing Marked Improvement After a Shunt Operation

A few cases of dementia caused by posttraumatic hydrocephalus have been reported. A 75-year-old man was admitted to hospital for the evaluation of cognitive impairment and gait disturbance of 2 weeks duration. The patient had been involved in a car accident 50 days prior to his admission. A brain MRI revealed significant hydrocephalus. His score on the Korean version of the Mini Mental State Examination was 14/30, and a neuropsychological assessment revealed severe impairments in all domains. A lumboperitoneal shunt operation was performed. His global cognitive functions and daily activities were fully recovered after the procedure.

Prognostic Factors of Lumboperitoneal Shunt in Communicating Hydrocephalus

OBJECTIVE: A 10-year retrospective lumboperitoneal(LP) shunt surgery was reviewed in order to verify the several prognostic factors including the etiology, the findings of brain computed tomography(CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), and the effect of lumbar drainage which have been implicated in the result of LP shunt. PATIENTS AND MEHTODS: A series of 32 patients who underwent LP shunt surgery between March 1988 and May 1998 for the management of communicating hydrocephalus was reviewed. RESULTS: The etiology of communicating hydrocephalus was subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH) in 19 cases(59.4%), head trauma in 10 cases(31.2%), intracerebral hemorrhage in 2 cases(6.3%), meningitis in 1 case(3.1%), tumor in 1 case(3.1%), and idiopathic in 2 cases(6.3%). The mean follow-up period was 1.2 years(range, 2 week to 8.5 year). Among them, twenty four patients(75%) were clinically improved after shunt operation. The result of LP shunt was not related to the etiologies and many findings of brain CT/MRI such as ventricular index, Evan's index, periventricular low density, obliteration of cerebral sulci and cortical atrophy. However, the result of LP shunt was significantly related to the effect of preoperative lumbar drainage(p=0.0184). CONCLUSION: This result suggests that the effect of preoperative lumbar drainage has a significant role in predicting the result of LP shunt in patients with communicating hydrocephalus.

Posterior Fossa Migration of the Lumboperitoneal Shunt Catheter: A Case Report

Spontaneous migration of the shunt catheter into the posterior cranial fossa is very rare complication of lumboperitoneal shunt operation. The authors report a case with communicating hydrocephalus following ruptured intracranial aneurysm for which a lumboperitoneal shunt was placed. Four years later, she was presented with low back pain after the slip-down in jury, and radiologic studies revealed compression fracture at T12 and intracranial migration of shunt catether into the posterior fossa. From our knowledge, there is only one other such case reported in the literature.

Spontaneous Fracture of a Lumboperitoneal Shunt Catheter: A Case Report

Spontaneous fracture of the Silastic shunt catheter is a rare complication of lumboperitoneal shunt. A review of the literature revealed only one case in which spontaneous fracture occurred after this procedure. The authors report a case in which fracture of a lumboperitoneal shunt catheter occurred within the interspinous ligament probably due to repeated tension caused by flexion and extension during lumbar motion. The fractured proximal catheter was located entirely within the intrathecal space exclusively from the level of L1 to S1, and caused incomplete cauda equina syndrome.

Analysis of the Effect of Lumboperitoneal Shunt and the Prognostic Factors in Communicating Hydrocephalus

The effect of lumboperitoneal(LP) shunt and the prognostic factors of 40 cases of communicating hydrocephalus confirmed by brain computerized tomography(CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and radioisotope cisternography(RI) were analyzed. Possible prognostic factors such as disease entity, CT or MRI findings, and the type of radioisotope cisternography were compared to improvement of clinical status after LP shunt. The etiology of communicating hydrocephalus in the analyzed 40 cases included trauma in 13 cases(32.5%), subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH) in 12 cases(30%), intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH) in 10 cases(25%), and idiopathic in 5 cases(12.5%). An overall clinical improvement after LP shunt was seen in 22 cases(55%). However, in 17 cases of SAH and idiopathic group, improvement after LP shunt was seen in 13 cases(75%), indicating that LP shunt is more effective in SAH/idiopathic group than trauma/ICH group(p<0.05). Many findings of brain CT/MRI such as Evan's index, periventricular low density, 3rd ventricular width, obliteration of cerebral sulci, rounding of frontal horn, and cortical atrophy were analyzed as prognostic factors. Except for the absence of cortical atrophy(p<0.05), none of the factors were related to the patient's outcome. The type of abnormal RI cisternography findings(Typ I, II, III) also did not show any relationship with the effectiveness of LP shunt. These findings suggest that SAH/idiopathic group were more favorable candidates for LP shunt than trauma/ICH group, and that there are no reliable brain CT/MRI findings indicating a good prognosis after LP shunt except for the absence of cortical atrophy. RI cisternography findings are also not a reliable diagnostic tool in evaluating the indication of LP shunt in communicating hydrocephalus.

Subdural Fluid Collection after Intracranial Aneurysmal Surgery

The clinical course of subdural fluid collection(SDGC) was studied in 32 cases of patients which underwent craniotomy for intracranial aneurysm and analysed regard to patients' age, sex, degree of initial subarachnid hemorrhage, the operating time of aneurysm, duration to appearance of SDFC from craniotomy, changes of clinical state, disappearance time, site, maximal thickness and changes of SDFC, management and prognosis. The results were summarized as followings. 1) SDFC was found in 33 of 85 patients(38.8%). 2) The older age group had higher incidence of SDFC than the younger age group. 3) The older age grop had thicker SDFC than the younger age group in the maximal thickness of SDFC, and that was statistically significant. 4) The early surgery group of aneurysm had lower incidence of SDFC compared with the delayed surgery group. 5) There were minimal changes of clinical states when SDFC was diagnosed by brain CT. 6) The frontal area was involved in all cases and bilateral involvement was noted in 15 cases(45.5%). 7) Surgical procedures were needed in 8 cases(24.2%) of SDFC, including 2 cases of chronic subdural hematoma. 8) Ventricular dilatation with spontaneous improvement of SDFC were noted in 8 cases(24.2%) and lumboperitoneal shunt for hydrocephalus was needed in only 2 cases of them.

Cardiac Arrest in the Hyperkalemic Patient - A case report / 대한마취과학회지

A 69 year-old male patient was admitted for lumboperitoneal shunt operation due to normotensive hydrocephalus. There was not significant laboratory findings except slightly increased serum potassium(5.0 mEq/1). But we ignored this hyperkalemia probably due to hemolysis because ECG at word and operation room did not reveal any evidence of hyperkalemia. Following induction of an anesthesia with fentanyl 100 ug thiopental(2.5%) 100 mg injection, succinylcholine 60 mg was administered intravenously, and endotracheal intubation was performed. Vecuronium 5 mg was administered intravenously for neuromscular blook. Anesthesia was maintained with nitrous oxide, oxygen and enflurane. During the course of operative procedure, his vital signs were stable(blood pressure 120/70 mmHg, pulse 60/min). After lumboperitoneal shunt was completed without problem, neostigmine 5 mg and glycopyrrolate 0.2 mg was administered for reversal of vecuronium. About 10 minutes after arrival in recovery room, his general condition deteriorated suddenly and radial arterial pulse could not be palpated. Radial arteiial blood pressure wave did not appear and ECG showed asystole and stand-still. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) was started with Ambu-bagging, sodium bicarbonate and epinephrine injection with external cardiac massage, but the immediate response was not so good. We re-examined the patients chart and found the past history of chronic renal function impairment. CPR was directed for hyperkalemia including calcium chloride, sodium bicar-bonate and 10% dextrose with insulin. At 5 minutes after CPR, ECG showed regular sinus rhythm with stable vital signs. But ECG still showed hyperkalemic pattern(high tented T wave and prolonged P-R interval). After vigorous and continous treatment for hyperkalemia in recovery room, he regained consciousness and he was transfered to the neurosurgical intensive care unit for further evaluation and treatment. Postoperative course was relatively good and he was discharged on 25th postoperative day without any sequale of cardiac arrest.

Cardiac Arrest in the Hyperkalemic Patient - A case report / 대한마취과학회지

A 69 year-old male patient was admitted for lumboperitoneal shunt operation due to normotensive hydrocephalus. There was not significant laboratory findings except slightly increased serum potassium(5.0 mEq/1). But we ignored this hyperkalemia probably due to hemolysis because ECG at word and operation room did not reveal any evidence of hyperkalemia. Following induction of an anesthesia with fentanyl 100 ug thiopental(2.5%) 100 mg injection, succinylcholine 60 mg was administered intravenously, and endotracheal intubation was performed. Vecuronium 5 mg was administered intravenously for neuromscular blook. Anesthesia was maintained with nitrous oxide, oxygen and enflurane. During the course of operative procedure, his vital signs were stable(blood pressure 120/70 mmHg, pulse 60/min). After lumboperitoneal shunt was completed without problem, neostigmine 5 mg and glycopyrrolate 0.2 mg was administered for reversal of vecuronium. About 10 minutes after arrival in recovery room, his general condition deteriorated suddenly and radial arterial pulse could not be palpated. Radial arteiial blood pressure wave did not appear and ECG showed asystole and stand-still. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) was started with Ambu-bagging, sodium bicarbonate and epinephrine injection with external cardiac massage, but the immediate response was not so good. We re-examined the patients chart and found the past history of chronic renal function impairment. CPR was directed for hyperkalemia including calcium chloride, sodium bicar-bonate and 10% dextrose with insulin. At 5 minutes after CPR, ECG showed regular sinus rhythm with stable vital signs. But ECG still showed hyperkalemic pattern(high tented T wave and prolonged P-R interval). After vigorous and continous treatment for hyperkalemia in recovery room, he regained consciousness and he was transfered to the neurosurgical intensive care unit for further evaluation and treatment. Postoperative course was relatively good and he was discharged on 25th postoperative day without any sequale of cardiac arrest.

Hydrocephalus in Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysms

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and the management of hydrocephalus following ruptured intracranial aneurysms. The authors analyzed 223 patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH) during the last two years retrospectively. The results are summarized as follows. Eighty patients(35.9%) showed ventricular dilatation on a brain CT scan. Twenty-five patients(11.2%) required shunt surgery. Hydrocephalus was closely related to the amount of hemorrhage and the location of the ruptured aneurysm. Two of 9 patients with acute hydrocephalus, who were managed by extraventricular drainage(EVD) before definite aneurysm surgery. The shunt surgery was done before aneurysm surgery in 16 patients and rebleeding occurred in 3 patients. Radioactive isotope(RI) cisternography diagnosed communicating hydrocephalus in 11 patients and the lumboperitoneal shunt was performed in those cases. It is concluded that hydrocephalus following aneurysmal SAH is the communicating type, an indication for shunt surgery could be determined by RI cisternography, and lumboperitoneal shunting seems to be the best treatment of choice to avoid rapid decompression of the ventricles and to protect the already compromised cerebral hemisphere. Decompression of the ventricles before aneurysmal surgery should be avoided whenever possible.

A Case of Post-Traumatic Pseudomeningocele Treated by Lumboperitoneal Shunt

A 27-year-old woman with a clavicular fracture and post-traumatic hydrocephalus developed a subclavicular pseudomeningocele which was successfully treated by lumboperitoneal shunt. A brief review of the neurosurgical literature on the management of pseudomeningocele is presented.

Clinical Analysis on Lumboperitoneal Shunt

A series of 70 lumboperitoneal shunt performed at Yonsei university Severance hospital was reviewed. The clinical indications for this procdures were communicating hydrocephalus, CSF fistulas, benign intracranial hypertension and bulging craniectomy site. There were several complications such as shunt migration, obstruction, infection and nonfunctioning. Wound dehiscence, epidural hematoma and ingumal hernia were also observed after shunting. This procedure is completely extracranial and diminished intracranial complications, thereby significantly reducing morbidity and mortality. Good results were reported due to easy insertion, short operation time and reduced complications. This report documented the efficacy of lumbopertoneal shunt and literatures were reviewed.