Impact of Biomedical Engineering on Human & social Dynamics: A Review on Recent Approaches Through Bioengineering from Recent Past to Post-Covid-19

INTRODUCTION: The paper aims to discuss the various issues/ problems that people face in day to day life. Using diverse scenarios ranging from mental health issues to common grafting procedures, the author here strives to link these issues to bioengineering and how they are being impacted by modern technology. Most methods and procedures discussed attempt to utilize day-to-day activities and ease of access. The paper has adopted rapid review method. For literature collection, Google scholar database has been used with a scope of specific keywords and time frame of 5 weeks to complete the study © COPYRIGHT RED FLOWER PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD

Telemedicine for Optimizing Secondary Prevention in Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Patients during COVID-19 Pandemic.

(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced a major disruption to the delivery of secondary prevention measures in patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). It required a rapid and widespread adoption of new medical services, including the use of telemedicine. This study aimed to examine the impact of COVID-19 on secondary prevention in patients with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and to evaluate the effectiveness of the telemedicine application for the implementation of lifestyle change measures, remote monitoring, and treatment regimen adjustment; (2) Methods: This prospective study on 194 CABG patients evaluated three consecutive years between 2019 and 2022 in the pre-pandemic period by face-to-face visits and during the pandemic by teleconsultations or hybrid follow-up. Variables of interest were compared between four periods: pre-pandemic-pre-P (1 March 2019-29 February 2020), lockdown-Lock (1 March-31 August 2020), restrictive-pandemic-Restr-P (1 September 2020-28 February 2021), and relaxed-pandemic-Rel-P (1 March 2021-1 March 2022). (3) Results: The average values of the lipidogram, blood sugar, and uric acid increased during Lock and Restr-P, but, through the use of teleprevention, they returned to the pre-pandemic level or even below this level. The exception was blood sugar, which remained high in Rel-P. The number of newly diagnosed patients with diabetes also increased, with most of them having moderate forms of COVID. During Lock and Res-P, the percentage of obese, smoking, or hypertensive patients increased, but, through the use of teleprevention, we managed to reduce it, although it remained slightly higher than the pre-pandemic level. Physical activity decreased in the first year of the pandemic, but, in Rel-P, CABG patients became more active than before the pandemic (4) Conclusions: The use of telemedicine for cardiovascular secondary prevention allowed us to not only continue seeing CABG patients but, also, to adjust their medication and to expand cardiovascular preventive counseling and testing with favorable results, especially during the second year of the pandemic.

Epidemiological and pathogenetic mechanisms of atrial fibrillation depending on concomitant pathology, coronary bypass grafting and post-new coronavirus infection

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication of cardiac surgery, including coronary artery bypass grafting, which has great clinical and economic importance for the healthcare system. Despite the improvement of surgical tactics, anesthetic and care benefits, POAF incidence has been increasing over the past decade. The mechanisms of POAF are different. Chronic coronary artery disease and its frequent comorbidities such as arterial hypertension, obesity, diabetes mellitus and heart failure, - are associated with various structural and functional changes in the heart, contributing to electrical atrial remodeling. Today, such risk factors for POAF as age, enlarged left atrium, post heart valve surgery, and obesity are well known. A new coronovirus infection that occurred in the early postoperative period can also be a trigger for atrial fibrillation. Postoperative arrhythmias can worsen both hospital and long-term results of treatment, increase the length of the patient's stay in the hospital, and the risk of complications. This review updates the data on the pathogenesis, incidence and complications of POAF, taking into account the current epidemiological situation.Copyright © 2022 Authors. All rights reserved.

Purtscher-like retinopathy following coronary artery bypass grafting in an antiphospholipid syndrome patient: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Purtscher retinopathy is a rare occlusive microangiopathy comprising a constellation of retinal signs including cotton wool spots, retinal hemorrhages and Purtscher flecken. While classical Purtscher must be antedated by a traumatic incident, Purtscher-like retinopathy is used to refer to the same clinical syndrome in the absence of trauma. Various non-traumatic conditions have been associated with Purtscher-like retinopathy e.g. acute pancreatitis, preeclampsia, parturition, renal failure and multiple connective tissue disorders. In this case study, we report the occurrence of Purtscher-like retinopathy following coronary artery bypass grafting in a female patient with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). CASE PRESENTATION: A 48-year-old Caucasian female patient presented with a complaint of acute painless diminution of vision in the left eye (OS) that occurred approximately two months earlier. Clinical history revealed that the patient underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) two months earlier and that visual symptoms started 4 days thereafter. Furthermore, the patient reported undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) one year before for another myocardial ischemic event. Ophthalmological examination revealed multiple yellowish-white superficial retinal lesions i.e. cotton-wool spots, exclusively in the posterior pole and predominantly macular within the temporal vascular arcades only OS. Fundus examination of the right eye (OD) was normal and the anterior segment examination of both eyes (OU) was unremarkable. A diagnosis of Purtscher-like retinopathy was made based on clinical signs, suggestive history and consolidated by fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) of macula, optic nerve head (ONH) according to the diagnostic guidelines of Miguel. The patient was referred to a rheumatologist to identify the underlying systemic cause and was diagnosed with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). CONCLUSIONS: We report a case of Purtscher-like retinopathy complicating primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) following coronary artery bypass grafting. This conveys a message to clinicians that patients presenting with Purtscher-like retinopathy should undergo meticulous systemic work-up in order to identify potentially life-threatening underlying systemic diseases.

Coronary artery bypass grafting after iatrogenic coronary artery dissection: A single center eight years' experience

Background: Iatrogenic coronary artery dissection during diagnostic or therapeutic catheterization is a rare and mortal complication that may result in a newly developed myocardial infarction. In this study, we aimed to share the results of CABG treatment of patients with iatrogenic coronary artery dissection after coronary angiography (CAG) in our clinic. Method(s): All patients who underwent CAG or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in our hospital between January 2014 and December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively and patients who underwent CABG after iatrogenic coronary artery dissection were included in the study. The dissection classification was achived according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) classification. Result(s): During the eight years, CAG was applied to 20,398 patients and PCI to 9583 patients. Needed to treat CABG in iatrogenic coronary artery dissection developed in 17 of the patients (0.06%). LMCA was dissected in 6 (35.3%) patients and LAD in 6 (35.3%), CX in 2 (11.8%) and RCA dissection in 3 (17.6%). 3 patients (17.6%) had an intubation time longer than 48 hours. One of them has recently had a COVID infection. Another was suffering from pulmonary edema. The other patient died on the 4th postoperative day due to low cardiac output. The length of stay in the intensive care unit was 2 (min: 1 - max: 13) days. The hospital stay was 6 (min: 4 - max: 20) days. Conclusion(s): The development of a critical clinical condition prior to surgery is strongly associated with a higher probability of early and late postoperative death. For this reason, it is clear that the treatments applied at every stage of the pre-, per-, and postoperative period are the most important determinants of the results.Copyright © 2023, CKS.

Is the retroauricular region a suitable donor site for full-thickness skin grafting in the era of mask wearing?

BACKGROUND: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the everyday use of face masks massively increased to prevent the spread of infection. Many people complain of ear pain and erosion when wearing a mask for extended periods of time. If prolonged mask usage is uncomfortable for ordinary people, a question arises-how much more inconvenient must mask wearing be for patients with a full-thickness skin graft (FTSG) donor site in the retroauricular region? Herein, we evaluated complications related to face mask use in 27 patients with a retroauricular FTSG donor site, with the goal of clarifying whether the retroauricular region is still an appropriate FTSG donor site in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Complications in 27 patients treated by FTSGs harvested from the retroauricular region from 2019 to 2021 were investigated. A questionnaire comparing the normal and the operated sides was administered. Pain, itching, soreness, deformity, and symmetry were further investigated. RESULTS: Pain and itching were the only observed complications. The operated side was slightly more painful than the normal side in four patients (14.8%), and four patients (14.8%) reported itching on the operated side. However, all patients who experienced complications stated that the pain or itching did not interfere with mask wearing. Most symptomatic patients were older than 60 years of age (23.8%, p=0.185) and wore masks for longer periods of time (28.5%, p=0.326). CONCLUSION: Few retroauricular donor site-related complications occurred, and none of these complications caused inconvenience in daily life. Therefore, in the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of the retroauricular region as an FTSG donor site remains appropriate.

Mobile health vs. standard care after cardiac surgery: results of The Box 2.0 study.

AIMS: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication of cardiac surgery, yet difficult to detect in ambulatory patients. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a mobile health (mHealth) intervention on POAF detection after cardiac surgery. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed an observational cohort study among 730 adult patients who underwent cardiac surgery at a tertiary care hospital in The Netherlands. Of these patients, 365 patients received standard care and were included as a historical control group, undergoing surgery between December 2017 and September 2018, and 365 patients were prospectively included from November 2018 and November 2020, undergoing an mHealth intervention which consisted of blood pressure, temperature, weight, and electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring. One physical outpatient follow-up moment was replaced by an electronic visit. All patients were requested to fill out a satisfaction and quality of life questionnaire. Mean age in the intervention group was 62 years, 275 (70.4%) patients were males. A total of 4136 12-lead ECGs were registered. In the intervention group, 61 (16.7%) patients were diagnosed with POAF vs. 25 (6.8%) patients in the control group [adjusted risk ratio (RR) of POAF detection: 2.15; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.55-3.97]. De novo atrial fibrillation was found in 13 patients using mHealth (6.5%) vs. 4 control group patients (1.8%; adjusted RR 3.94, 95% CI: 1.50-11.27). CONCLUSION: Scheduled self-measurements with mHealth devices could increase the probability of detecting POAF within 3 months after cardiac surgery. The effect of an increase in POAF detection on clinical outcomes needs to be addressed in future research.

Study of coronary artery bypass grafting admission in Covid-19 era: A bicentric study

The Covid-19 pandemic that began in December 2019 and is still underway in 2022 has changed many habits and protocols in different economic industries including healthcare. In the specific case, the change in protocols and management of work activities also affected the health sector. Among the sectors in which the pandemic has influenced the flow of events is the cardiology sector. In the specific case, the present work will present how coronary bypass interventions have been influenced in their different aspects by the Covid-19 pandemic. The work will be based on a comparison between the 2019 data in the period prior to the pandemic and in 2020 in the post-pandemic period for two major public hospitals in the Campania region: The university hospital of Salerno (Italy) "San Giovanni di Dio and Ruggi D'Aragona"and AORN "A. Cardarelli "of Naples (Italy). Both the structures considered have an Emergency Department and First Aid Acceptance for surgical pathologies. © 2022 ACM.

Epidemiological and pathogenetic mechanisms of atrial fibrillation depending on concomitant pathology, coronary bypass grafting and post-new coronavirus infection

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication of cardiac surgery, including coronary artery bypass grafting, which has great clinical and economic importance for the healthcare system. Despite the improvement of surgical tactics, anesthetic and care benefits, POAF incidence has been increasing over the past decade. The mechanisms of POAF are different. Chronic coronary artery disease and its frequent comorbidities such as arterial hypertension, obesity, diabetes mellitus and heart failure, - are associated with various structural and functional changes in the heart, contributing to electrical atrial remodeling. Today, such risk factors for POAF as age, enlarged left atrium, post heart valve surgery, and obesity are well known. A new coronovirus infection that occurred in the early postoperative period can also be a trigger for atrial fibrillation. Postoperative arrhythmias can worsen both hospital and long-term results of treatment, increase the length of the patient's stay in the hospital, and the risk of complications. This review updates the data on the pathogenesis, incidence and complications of POAF, taking into account the current epidemiological situation. © 2022 Authors. All rights reserved.

The effects of computerised cognitive training on post-CABG delirium and cognitive change: A prospective randomised controlled trial.

Background: Cognitive impairments, including delirium, are common after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Improving cognition pre- and post-operatively using computerised cognitive training (CCT) may be an effective approach to improve cognitive outcomes in CABG patients. Objectives: Investigate the effect of remotely supervised CCT on cognitive outcomes, including delirium, in older adults undergoing CABG surgery. Methods: Thirty-six participants, were analysed in a single-blinded randomised controlled trial (CCT Intervention: n = 18, Control: n = 18). CCT was completed by the intervention group pre-operatively (every other day, 45-60-minute sessions until surgery) and post-operatively, beginning 1-month post-CABG (3 x 45-60-minute sessions/week for 12-weeks), while the control group maintained usual care plus weekly phone calls. Cognitive assessments were conducted pre- and post-operatively at multiple follow-ups (discharge, 4-months and 6-months). Post-operative delirium incidence was assessed daily until discharge. Cognitive change data were calculated at each follow-up for each cognitive test (Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III and CANTAB; z-scored). Results: Adherence to the CCT intervention (completion of three pre-operative or 66% of post-operative sessions) was achieved in 68% of pre-CABG and 59% of post-CABG participants. There were no statistically significant effects of CCT on any cognitive outcome, including delirium incidence. Conclusion: Adherence to the CCT program was comparatively higher than previous feasibility studies, possibly due to the level of supervision and support provided (blend of face-to-face and home-based training, with support phone calls). Implementing CCT interventions both pre- and post-operatively is feasible in those undergoing CABG. No statistically significant benefits from the CCT interventions were identified for delirium or cognitive function post-CABG, likely due to the sample size available (study recruitment greatly impacted by COVID-19). It also may be the case that multimodal intervention would be more effective.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Cardiac Procedural Care.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate whether the COVID-19 pandemic altered the racial and ethnic composition of patients receiving cardiac procedural care. DESIGN: This was a retrospective observational study. SETTING: This study was conducted at a single tertiary-care university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1,704 adult patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) (n = 413), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) (n = 506), or atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation (n = 785) from March 2019 through March 2022 were included in this study. INTERVENTIONS: No interventions were performed as this was a retrospective observational study. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients were grouped based on the date of their procedure: pre-COVID (March 2019 to February 2020), COVID Year 1 (March 2020 to February 2021), and COVID Year 2 (March 2021 to March 2022). Population-adjusted procedural incidence rates during each period were examined and stratified based on race and ethnicity. The procedural incidence rate was higher for White patients versus Black, and non-Hispanic patients versus Hispanic patients for every procedure and every period. For TAVR, the difference in procedural rates between White patients versus Black patients decreased between the pre-COVID and COVID Year 1 (12.05-6.34 per 1,000,000 persons). For CABG, the difference in procedural rates between White patients versus Black, and non-Hispanic patients versus Hispanic patients did not change significantly. For AF ablations, the difference in procedural rates between White patients versus Black patients increased over time (13.06 to 21.55 to 29.64 per 1,000,000 persons in the pre-COVID, COVID Year 1, and COVID Year 2, respectively). CONCLUSION: Racial and ethnic disparities in access to cardiac procedural care were present throughout all study time periods at the authors' institution. Their findings reinforce the continuing need for initiatives to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare. Further studies are needed to fully elucidate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare access and delivery.

Coronary artery bypass grafting in active or recent COVID-19 infection: a systematic review.

Introduction: Even though there have been few studies on coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), data on patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection show that cardiac surgery has poor outcomes in this subset. From the available studies in the literature, we conducted a systematic review with the aim of determining the outcome of COVID-19 patients who underwent CABG. Methods: Between December 2019 and October 2022, searches were conducted in PubMed, the Directory of Open Access Journals, and Google Scholar to find studies reporting results of COVID-19 patients undergoing CABG. We extracted data on the clinical profile and outcomes of the patients from the eligible studies. The quality of the studies was assessed using a standardised tool. Results: The total sample size across the 12 included studies was 99 patients who underwent CABG in active disease or within 30 days of COVID-19 infection. The median and interquartile range (IQR) for the length of time spent on a mechanical ventilator, stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), and the total hospital stay were 0.9 (0.47-2), 4.5 (2.5-8), and 12.5 (8.5-22.5) days respectively. Seventy-six patients developed postoperative complications, and there were eleven deaths. Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicate that mortality risk goes down when the time between COVID-19 diagnosis and surgery increases. When compared to data from other high-risk urgent or emergent CABG patients around the world who were not infected with COVID-19, patients who underwent CABG in the COVID-19 subgroup had similar postoperative outcomes. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12055-023-01495-7.

Polymer modification of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein impacts its ability to bind key receptor.

The global spread of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2) has caused the loss of many human lives and severe economic losses. SARS-CoV-2 mediates its infection in humans via the spike glycoprotein. The receptor binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binds to its cognate receptor, angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) to initiate viral entry. In this study, we examine how polymer modification of the spike protein receptor binding domain impacts binding to ACE2. The horseradish peroxidase conjugated receptor binding domain was modified with a range of polymers including hydrophilic N,N-dimethylacrylamide, hydrophobic N-isopropylacrylamide, cationic 3-(N,N-dimethylamino)propylacrylamide, and anionic 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid polymers. The effect of polymer chain length was observed using N,N-dimethylacrylamide polymers with degrees of polymerization of 5, 10 and 25. Polymer conjugation of the receptor binding domain significantly reduced the interaction with ACE2 protein, as determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Stability analysis showed that these conjugates remained highly stable even after seven days incubation at physiological temperature. Hence, this study provides a detailed view of the effect specific type of modification using a library of polymers with different functionalities in interrupting RBD-ACE2 interaction.

Surgical coronary revascularization in patients with COVID-19; complications and outcomes: A retrospective cohort study.

Background and Aims: Coronary artery disease is high-risk comorbidity of COVID-19 infection. Nonelective coronary artery revascularization in COVID-19 patients carries substantial risk. Therefore, it is essential to understand the risk factors and outcomes fully. This study aims to evaluate the prognosis of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery in patients with COVID-19. Methods: This retrospective cohort study assesses 171 patients who underwent urgent and emergent CABG in Tehran Heart Center from March 2020 to September 2021. The patients were allocated to cases and controls based on COVID-19 infection status. Demographic and clinical features, alongside the complications and outcomes, were compared between the two groups. Results: According to diagnostic criteria, 62 patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 (Case) and 109 patients had no COVID diagnosis (Control). Regarding the demographics and risk factors, hypertension was more prevalent among patients with COVID-19 (64.5% compared to 43.1% p= 0.007). Length of hospital stay, ventilation time, and intensive care unit (ICU) stay time were significantly higher in patients infected with COVID-19. Postoperative complications, including stroke, atrial fibrillation, pleural effusion, blood transfusion, and Inotrope use, were significantly higher in the case group. Mortality rates were also higher in COVID-19 patients with an odds ratio of 1.53; however, this difference is not statistically significant (p: 0.44, 95% CI = 0.50-4.01). Conclusion: COVID-19 is associated with a significantly higher hospital stay, ventilation time, and ICU stay. Mortality rates are also higher, albeit insignificantly. Various postoperative complications are also higher with COVID-19.

Parsimonious machine learning models to predict resource use in cardiac surgery across a statewide collaborative.

Objective: We sought to several develop parsimonious machine learning models to predict resource utilization and clinical outcomes following cardiac operations using only preoperative factors. Methods: All patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and/or valve operations were identified in the 2015-2021 University of California Cardiac Surgery Consortium repository. The primary end point of the study was length of stay (LOS). Secondary endpoints included 30-day mortality, acute kidney injury, reoperation, postoperative blood transfusion and duration of intensive care unit admission (ICU LOS). Linear regression, gradient boosted machines, random forest, extreme gradient boosting predictive models were developed. The coefficient of determination and area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) were used to compare models. Important predictors of increased resource use were identified using SHapley summary plots. Results: Compared with all other modeling strategies, gradient boosted machines demonstrated the greatest performance in the prediction of LOS (coefficient of determination, 0.42), ICU LOS (coefficient of determination, 0.23) and 30-day mortality (AUC, 0.69). Advancing age, reduced hematocrit, and multiple-valve procedures were associated with increased LOS and ICU LOS. Furthermore, the gradient boosted machine model best predicted acute kidney injury (AUC, 0.76), whereas random forest exhibited greatest discrimination in the prediction of postoperative transfusion (AUC, 0.73). We observed no difference in performance between modeling strategies for reoperation (AUC, 0.80). Conclusions: Our findings affirm the utility of machine learning in the estimation of resource use and clinical outcomes following cardiac operations. We identified several risk factors associated with increased resource use, which may be used to guide case scheduling in times of limited hospital capacity.

The Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a regional Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery Service in the United Kingdom;A review of case-load prioritisation and lessons learned

Background/Purpose: Cleft Surgery in our centre is delivered by a single specialist surgeon in a regional Burns and Plastic service. We see 35-45 cleft-affected births per annum and, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, ran 6 theatre lists per month, conducting 170-180 cleft procedures annually. The pandemic severely hindered elective operating in even tertiary centres, due to the redeployment of theatre staff and resources to manage the emergency care load. Cleft surgery was suspended entirely during the first wave (March-June 2020), before efforts in collaboration with the RCPCH (UK) to conserve the cleft pathway restored it as a priority. Primary palatine reconstruction is recommended at 6-9 months of age to optimise velopharyngeal function and speech proficiency by 5 years (Slater et al 2019). Our service was restarted at 1-2 ad hoc lists a month, which was both insufficient to manage ongoing demands and deal with rising outstanding cases. We faced a major challenge in safely distributing scarce surgical time and capacity across the entire cleft surgical burden. Therefore, we aim to examine our response to these limitations in the face of rising cases and time pressures, illustrating our methods in prioritising cleft procedures. Methods/Description: We reviewed the current literature to determine which of the main cleft procedures were most time critical, and compiled a cleft priority document with a broad evidence basis. Babies with palate involvement were top priority, in light of the strong evidence advocating primary palate repair by 13 months of age (CRANE 2020), after which there is a risk of speech delay (Shaffer et al 2020). Primary lip +/- alveolar involvement were prioritised lower and performed later (∼1 year), as cosmesis during infancy was deemed less detrimental, although there remained the psychological impact on the parent (Grollemund et al 2020). Secondary speech surgery was next, the lack of which can inhibit education and require intensive speech therapy to support patients (Baillie and Sell 2020). This was followed by alveolar bone grafting, ideally performed prior to canine eruption at ∼8-9 years to limit further dental reconstructions (Vandersluis et al 2020). As per national consensus, all adult cleft surgery was suspended to accommodate higher priorities. Focusing on early palate repair helped restart the cleft pathway and prevent functional delay as well as further interventions and schoolage support. However, late lip repair saw a rise in complications - two cases of dehiscence were associated with self-inflicted toddler trauma. This is in addition to the psychosocial implications of cosmesis, including early maternal interactions (Montirosso et al 2011), stigmatisation by peers (Bous et al 2021), and parental anxiety (Bous et al 2020). We recommend isolated lip reconstructions are also undertaken within 9 months. Long-term physical and psychosocial impacts of delay in surgery should guide resource allocation in the event of future operating limitations.

COVID Cleft: A national evaluation of cleft care operating through the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United Kingdom

Background/Purpose: COVID-19 fundamentally changed cleft teams' ability to care for their patients. This study aims to study;1) the effect of COVID-19 on elective surgery timings and outcomes;2) preoperative screening and isolation protocols;3) the impact of operating with personal protective equipment (PPE). Methods/Description: Between the start of the first UK lockdown in March 2020 and April 2021 operative details from 651 cleft procedures performed in eight UK centres were entered into a secure REDCap database. Results: 651 records were entered (59% male, 41% female). 9% patients had a known syndrome. Operations were as follows: cleft palate repair (40%), unilateral cleft lip repair +/- vomer flap (23%), alveolar bone grafting (16%), secondary speech surgery (10%), fistula repair (3.7%), lip revision (1%) and rhinoplasty (1%). 39% of surgical cases were deemed delayed compared to normal protocol timings, with 80% of the delays attributable to COVID. Mean age at initial cleft lip repair was 230 days exceeding a previous representative mean of 137 days as well as breaching the UK national standards for upper age limit of 183 days. Mean age at cleft palate repair was 387 days compared to the UK national standard for upper age limit of 396 days, and previous representative mean of 320 days. 81% of patients undertook some form of pre-operative isolation;47% isolated for two weeks. COVID screening was performed in the 72 hrs prior to surgery in 89% of patients and 13% of parents/carers. Only one patient had a positive test. 69% surgeons wore an FFP3 (N99) mask to operate, and 64% of cases involved difficulty during the operation as a result of the PPE;most commonly communication difficulties (45%). No patients developed COVID in the early post-operative period. Conclusions: This data demonstrates that initial cleft lip and palate repair in the UK has been delayed as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondary surgery has been significantly affected and efforts will need to be made at national level to provide capacity to catch up. Isolation and testing protocols for COVID-19 vary from unit to unit, but appear safe. Routine cleft surgery can safely continuing through the pandemic, as long as appropriate infection control measures are followed and resources allow.

Application of Safety Protocols for International Cleft Outreach Programs During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Global Smile Foundation Precaution Guidelines and Implications

Background/Purpose: Since COVID-19 was declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March of 2020, foundation-based cleft outreach programs to Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) were halted considering global public health challenges, scarcity of capacity and resources, and travel restrictions. This led to an increase in the backlog of untreated patients with cleft lip and/or palate, with new challenges to providing comprehensive care in those regions. Resumption of international outreach programs requires an updated course of action to incorporate necessary safety measures in the face of the ongoing pandemic. In this manuscript, we outline safety protocols, guidelines, and recommendations implemented in Global Smile Foundation's (GSF) most recent outreach trip to Beirut, Lebanon. Methods/Description: COVID-19 safety protocols for outreach cleft care and an Action Response Plan were developed by the GSF team based on the published literature and recommendations from leading international organizations. Results: GSF conducted a 1-week surgical outreach program in Beirut, Lebanon, performing 13 primary cleft lip repairs, 7 cleft palate repairs, and 1 alveolar bone grafting procedure. Safety protocols were implemented at all stages of the outreach program, including patient pre-selection and education, hospital admission and screening, intraoperative care, and post-operative monitoring and follow-up. Conclusions: Organizing outreach programs in the setting of infectious diseases outbreaks should prioritize the safety and welfare of patients and team members within the program's local community. The COVID-19 protocols and guidelines described may represent a reproducible framework for planning future similar outreach initiatives in high risk conditions.

Comorbidities in Patients before Surgical Myocardial Revascularization: Current State of the Problem. Part I

Every year we see an increase in the number of patients with indications for surgical treatment of coronary artery disease. In addition to the difficulties of the cardiac surgery process, no less important is the therapeutic support of patients, which in addition to cardiac subtleties requires guidance in concomitant nosologies. As the age of patients increases, there is a higher comorbidity which is associated with difficult management of patients, extensive prescription of drugs and higher cost of medical care. The aim. To analyze the current literature data on comorbidity in patients hospitalized for coronary artery bypass grafting. Results. According to the literature data, there is a high Charlson comorbidity index, in average 5.7 ± 1.7, in the baseline status of patients with coronary artery disease. High comorbidity index is known for its negative effect on the functioning of grafts in the long-term period after surgical myocardial revascularization. Among patients who underwent surgical revascularization of the myocardium, 22.8-46.9% had diabetes mellitus, 37.5% had obesity, 1.1% had rheumatoid arthritis and 10-12% suffered from chronic kidney disease. There is no statistical data on preoperative status of gastrointestinal tract, but the main complications and predictors of death were identified. Due to the increase in the occurrence of autoimmune diseases on the background of the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in the number patients with connective tissue diseases in cardiac surgery is predicted, and perioperative management of such patients has its own characteristics and requires further in-depth study. Conclusions. Searching for comorbidity in cardiac surgery patients with coronary artery disease is an important component of their preoperative preparation and risk stratification. The influence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, autoimmune diseases, chronic kidney disease on the occurrence of postoperative complications and the result of surgical myocardial revascularization has been proven. SARS-CoV-2 infection in the surgical treatment of coronary artery disease is another challenge of today that requires further observation and research to help address prognosis, complications, and mortality. © 2021 The Authors.

Surface Modification of Lipid-Based Nanoparticles.

There is a growing interest in the development of lipid-based nanocarriers for multiple purposes, including the recent increase of these nanocarriers as vaccine components during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of studies that involve the surface modification of nanocarriers to improve their performance (increase the delivery of a therapeutic to its target site with less off-site accumulation) is enormous. The present review aims to provide an overview of various methods associated with lipid nanoparticle grafting, including techniques used to separate grafted nanoparticles from unbound ligands or to characterize grafted nanoparticles. We also provide a critical perspective on the usefulness and true impact of these modifications on overcoming different biological barriers, with our prediction on what to expect in the near future in this field.