Effect of different reperfusion strategies on recovery of ventricular function after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: A longitudinal single-center study.

Background and Aims: Although the clinical benefit of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on cardiovascular outcomes has been widely investigated, the impact of this revascularization strategy compared to other alternatives on the degree of left ventricular function recovery is poorly demonstrated. In this regard, we investigated whether time delays between the presentation of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and PCI in reperfusion strategies have different impacts on left ventricular function recovery. Methods: In this single-center study, all the patients who presented with STEMI and a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≤ 40%) were enrolled. Included patients were subjected to four different treatment groups of primary, rescue (immediate transfer for angioplasty due to failed fibrinolytic therapy), facilitated (fibrinolytic therapy followed by angioplasty within 24 h), and deferred (successful fibrinolytic therapy and PCI after 24 h) PCI based on hospital facilities. Echocardiography was performed for all the patients at the time of hospitalization and 6 months later. Results: A total of 128 patients were included in this study. The LVEF improved by 15.3 ± 6.3%, 11.5 ± 3.61%, 4.0 ± 1.0%, and -1.3 ± 7.0% in primary, rescue, facilitated, and deferred PCI groups, respectively (p < 0.001). Patients undergoing deferred PCI experienced a significantly lower improvement in LVEF compared with primary and rescue PCI (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Primary PCI demonstrated the most promising recovery in left ventricular function following STEMI compared to other alternative strategies. Performing PCI as soon as possible provides better recovery of LVEF.

Inflammatory biomarkers in cardiac syndrome X: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: In the current systematic review and meta-analysis, we aim to analyze the existing literature to evaluate the role of inflammatory biomarkers, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) among individuals with cardiac syndrome X (CSX) compared to healthy controls. METHODS: We used PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, and Embase to systematically search relevant publications published before April 2, 2023. We performed the meta-analysis using Stata 11.2 software (Stata Corp, College Station, TX). So, we used standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) to compare the biomarker level between patients and healthy controls. The I2 and Cochran's Q tests were adopted to determine the heterogeneity of the included studies. RESULTS: Overall, 29 articles with 3480 participants (1855 with CSX and 1625 healthy controls) were included in the analysis. There was a significantly higher level of NLR (SMD = 0.85, 95%CI = 0.55-1.15, I2 = 89.0 %), CRP (SMD = 0.69, 95%CI = 0.38 to 1.02, p < 0.0001), IL-6 (SMD = 5.70, 95%CI = 1.91 to 9.50, p = 0.003), TNF-a (SMD = 3.78, 95%CI = 0.63 to 6.92, p = 0.019), and PLR (SMD = 1.38, 95%CI = 0.50 to 2.28, p = 0.02) in the CSX group in comparison with healthy controls. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that CSX leads to a significant increase in inflammatory biomarkers, including NLR, CRP, IL-6, TNF-a, and PLR.

Impact of treadmill running on distal femoral cartilage thickness: a cross-sectional study of professional athletes and healthy controls.

PURPOSE: This present study aimed to assess the impact of treadmill running on distal femoral cartilage thickness. METHODS: Professional athletes aged 20 to 40 years with a history of treadmill running (minimum 75 min per week for the past three months or more) and age-, sex-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy controls were recruited. Demographics and clinical features of participants were recorded. Athletes were divided into subgroup 1 with less than 12 months of treadmill running and subgroup 2 with 12 months or more of treadmill running. Distal femoral cartilage thicknesses were measured at the midpoints of the right medial condyle (RMC), right intercondylar area (RIA), right lateral condyle (RLC), left medial condyle (LMC), left intercondylar area (LIA), and left lateral condyle (LLC) via ultrasonography. RESULT: A total of 72 athletes (mean age: 29.6 ± 6.6 years) and 72 controls (mean age: 31.9 ± 6.7 years) were enrolled. Athletes had significantly thinner cartilages in the RLC (2.21 ± 0.38 vs. 2.39 ± 0.31 cm, p = 0.002), LLC (2.28 ± 0.37 vs. 2.46 ± 0.35 cm, p = 0.004), and LMC (2.28 ± 0.42 vs. 2.42 ± 0.36 cm, p = 0.039) compared with the control group. Furthermore, cartilage thickness was significantly thinner in subgroup 2 athletes compared with the control group in the RLC (2.13 ± 0.34 vs. 2.39 ± 0.31 cm, p = 0.001), LLC (2.22 ± 0.31 vs. 2.46 ± 0.35 cm, p = 0.005), and LMC (2.21 ± 0.46 vs. 2.42 ± 0.36 cm, p = 0.027); however, subgroup 1 athletes did not have such differences. There was a weak negative correlation between total months of treadmill running and cartilage thickness in the RLC (r = - 0.0236, p = 0.046) and LLC (r = - 0.0233, p = 0.049). No significant correlation was found between the distal femoral cartilage thickness at different sites and the patients' demographic features, including age, BMI, speed and incline of treadmill running, and minutes of running per session and week (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with healthy controls, professional athletes with a history of long-term high-intensity treadmill running had thinner femoral cartilages. The duration (months) of treadmill running was weakly negatively correlated with distal femoral cartilage thickness. Longitudinal studies with prolonged follow-ups are needed to clarify how treadmill running affects femoral cartilage thickness in athletes.

Evaluation of blood pressure variation in recovered COVID-19 patients at one-year follow-up: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has various sequelae, one of which might be hypertension. We aimed to evaluate COVID-19's impact on blood pressure (BP) in non-hospitalized patients at one-year follow-up. METHOD: A total of 7,950 consecutive COVID-19 patients regularly visiting our cardiology clinic were retrospectively screened. Patients' electronic medical records including demographics, comorbidities, vital signs, treatments, and outcomes, were reviewed by two physicians. Individuals with at least one BP measurement in the three months preceding COVID-19 and one measurement in 12 months or more following recovery were included. BP levels before and after COVID-19 were compared using the paired t-test. RESULTS: 5,355 confirmed COVID-19 patients (mean age 55.51 ± 15.38 years) were included. Hypertension (56.9%) and diabetes mellitus (34%) were the predominant comorbidities, and 44.3% had prior major adverse cardiovascular events. Both systolic (126.90 ± 20.91 vs. 139.99 ± 23.94 mmHg, P < 0.001) and diastolic BP (80.54 ± 13.94 vs. 86.49 ± 14.40 mmHg, P < 0.001) were significantly higher post-COVID-19 vs. pre-COVID-19. Notably, 456 (14%) hypertensive patients experienced exacerbated hypertension, while 408 (17%) patients developed new-onset hypertension, overall 864 (16%) of patients had exacerbation or new hypertension. Linear regression analysis revealed that advanced age, smoking, previous cardiovascular events, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus predict increased BP following COVID-19 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 raised systolic and diastolic BP in the long term in non-hospitalized patients, with over one-sixth developing new-onset or exacerbated hypertension. All patients should be evaluated regarding BP, following COVID-19 recovery, particularly those with the mentioned predictive factors. (clinicaltrial.gov: NCT05798208).

Efficacy of exercise training-based cardiac rehabilitation programmes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The beneficial effects of exercise training-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in different cardiac conditions have been previously studied. In this meta-analysis, we focused on the potential impact of CR on patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Methods: Multiple databases were searched in a systematic approach to find the eligible studies. All the studies investigating the potential impact of exercise training-based CR programmes on exercise capacity and health-related quality of life in patients undergoing TAVI were retrieved. The primary endpoint of interest was 6-min walk test (6MWT). The pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) were measured to compare the improvement or worsening the endpoints using a random- or fixed-effects model, as appropriate. Results: A total of eleven studies (685 patients) were considered eligible for quantitative synthesis. The results showed that performing exercise training-based CR after TAVI is associated with significant improvement in 6MWT (SMD 0.59, 95 % CI (0.48; 0.71), p < 0.01), Barthel index (SMD 0.73, 95 % CI (0.57; 0.89), p < 0.01), 12-item Short Form (SF-12) physical (SMD 0.30, 95 % CI (0.08; 0.52), p < 0.01) and mental (SMD 0.27, 95 % CI (0.05; 0.49), p = 0.02) survey scores, and hospital anxiety and depression scale - depression (HADS-D) score (SMD -0.26, 95 % CI (-0.42; -0.10), p < 0.01). Conclusion: Performing exercise training-based CR following TAVI has significant benefits regarding physical capacity and health-related quality of life irrespective of the programme duration.

Clinical outcomes of optical coherence tomography versus conventional angiography guided percutaneous coronary intervention: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Performing optical coherence tomography (OCT) as a guide for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared to conventional coronary angiography has been the subject of the recent cohorts and randomized trials. However, clear evidence demonstrating its superiority is still controversial. METHODS: We performed a thorough search in digital databases to find the relevant observational studies and randomized trials comparing OCT and angiography in patients undergoing PCI. A random-effects meta-analysis was undertaken comparing clinical outcomes to generate an odds ratio (OR) with a corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). Subgroup analyzes were performed based on study design, underlying cardiac condition, and complexity of cases. RESULTS: A total of 21 studies (10 RCTs and 11 observational studies) with 11,163 participants (5319: OCT and 5844: angiography group) were included for quantitative synthesis. Performing OCT was associated with lower odds of all-cause (OR (95% CI) = 0.56 (0.48; 0.67)) and cardiac mortality (OR (95% CI) = 0.47 (0.35; 0.63)), major adverse cardiovascular events (OR (95% CI) = 0.60 (0.48; 0.76)), myocardial infarction (OR (95% CI) = 0.79 (0.64; 0.97)), and stent thrombosis (OR (95% CI) = 0.61 (0.39; 0.96)) compared to the angiography group. Other clinical outcomes were similar between the studied groups. The outperformance of OCT was more evident in observational studies and the ones with PCI on complex lesions. CONCLUSION: Performing OCT prior to PCI is associated with better clinical outcomes compared to angiography alone based on contemporary evidence. Future well-designed randomized trials are needed to confirm the findings of this meta-analysis.

Prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its antibiotic resistance in patients who have received Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation; A globally Systematic Review.

Gram-negative bacteria are infectious and life-threatening agents after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). So, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its antibiotic resistance in patients who have received Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation through a systematic review. The systematic search was done with key words; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from 2000 to the end of July 2023 in Google Scholar and PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science. Twelve studies were able to include our study. Quality assessment of studies was done by Appraisal tool for Cross-Sectional Studies. The most of the included studies were conducted as allo-HSCT. Infections such as respiratory infection, urinary infection and bacteremia have occurred. The rate of prevalence with P. aeruginosa has varied between 3 and 100%. The average age of the participants was between 1 and 74 years. The rate of prevalence of P. aeruginosa resistant to several drugs has been reported to be variable, ranging from 20 to 100%. The highest antibiotic resistance was reported against cefotetan (100%), and the lowest was related to tobramycin (1.8%) followed by amikacin, levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin with the prevalence of 16.6%. Our findings showed a high prevalence and antibiotic resistance rate of P. aeruginosa in Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Therefore, more serious health measures should be taken in patients after transplantation.

Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization with Liquid Embolic Agents for Chronic Subdural Hematoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and safety of middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization with liquid embolic agents and the outcomes of patients following this procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of the literature was conducted to identify studies investigating the efficacy and safety of MMA embolization with liquid embolic agents in patients with chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science. The keywords "liquid embolic agent," "middle meningeal artery," "cSDH," and "embolization" as well as their synonyms were used to build up the search strategy. The R statistical software and random-effects model were used for analysis. Heterogeneity was reported as I2, and publication bias was calculated using the Egger test. RESULTS: Of 628 articles retrieved, 14 studies were eligible to be included in this study. Data of 276 patients were analyzed. n-Butyl cyanoacrylate and ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer were the most commonly used embolic agents. This study revealed a pooled mortality rate of 0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.00%-100%), recurrence and failure rate of 3% (95% CI, 1%-10%), reoperation/reintervention rate of 4% (95% CI, 2%-12%), rate of size decrease of 94% (95% CI, 79%-98%), technical success rate of 100% (95% CI, 76%-100%), and adverse event rate of 1% (95% CI, 0.00%-4%). CONCLUSIONS: With low mortality, recurrence, reoperation, and adverse event rates and a remarkable decrease in the size of hematomas, MMA embolization with liquid embolic agents may be considered a safe and effective treatment option in patients in whom surgical intervention has previously failed and as an alternative to conventional treatments.

Civilian penetrating traumatic brain injury: A 5-year single-center experience.

Background: The aim of this study was to report the demographics and clinical features of patients with penetrating traumatic brain injury (PTBI) during the past 5 years in Rajaee Hospital, a tertiary referral trauma center in Shiraz, southern Iran. Methods: We conducted a 5-year retrospective evaluation of all patients diagnosed with PTBI who were referred to Rajaee Hospital. We retrieved the following items from the hospital's database and PACS system: patients' demographics, on-admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), presence of trauma to other organs, duration of the hospital and ICU stay, the neurosurgical interventions, any necessity of tracheostomy, duration of ventilator dependency, the entrance point of the trauma in the skull, type of assault, length of trajectory in the brain parenchyma, the number of remaining objects in the brain, the occurrence of any hemorrhagic phenomenon, the cross of the bullet from the midline or coronal suture, and the presence of the pneumocephalus. Results: A total of 59 patients with a mean age of 28.75 ± 9.40 had PTBI over the 5 years. The mortality rate was 8.5%. Stab wounds, shotguns, gunshots, and airguns were the cause of injury in 33 (56%), 14 (23.7%), 10 (17%), and 2 (3.4%) patients, respectively. The median initial GCS of patients was 15 (3-15). Intracranial hemorrhage was observed in 33 cases, subdural hematoma in 18 cases, intraventricular hemorrhage in eight cases, and subarachnoid hemorrhage in four cases. The mean duration of hospitalization was 10.05 ± 10.75 (ranging from 1 to 62 days). Furthermore, 43 patients experienced ICU admission with mean days of 6.5 ± 5.62 (1-23). The temporal and frontal regions were the most common entrance points, in 23 and 19 patients, respectively. Conclusion: The incidence of PTBI is relatively low in our center, possibly due to the prohibition of possession or using warm weapons in Iran. Further, multicenter studies with larger sample sizes are needed to determine prognostic factors associated with worse clinical outcomes after PTBI.

Premature Death, Underlying Reasons, and Preventive Experiences in Iran: A Narrative Review.

Premature mortality (PM) has emerged as a global health challenge. This is of eminent importance in low- and middle-income countries, where nearly three fourths of the deaths occur. The concerning issue is the early occurrence of fatal events in productive age. Fatal events before the age of 70 are called PM, which mainly result from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Iran as a middle- income country greatly suffers from the cardiovascular burden, which accounts for almost 50% of all PM. Despite substantial success in reducing mortality due to communicable diseases across different age ranges, urbanization and pervasiveness of cardiovascular risk factors have increased the death rate in adults in recent years. Undoubtedly, such lifestyles have imposed heavy costs on the healthcare system; it is possible that PM reduction, as one of the fundamental elements of sustainable development goals defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), would not be reached by the due date. Recently, researchers have introduced a cost-effective fixed-dose drug combination, the so-called polypill, in order to attenuate the detrimental effects of hypertension and hyperlipidemia, as two strong cardiovascular risk factors. PolyIran and PolyIran-Liver studies are two pivotal clinical trials that revealed the feasibility of primary and secondary prevention of premature cardiovascular mortality, both in an urban and a rural population. In the present narrative review, we tried to present a comprehensive appraisal on PM status, its underlying reasons, and the impact of polypill strategy on PM prevention in Iran.

Effect of a Boswellia and Ginger Mixture on the Memory Dysfunction of the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind Controlled Trial.

Objective: To study a Boswellia and ginger mixture on the memory dysfunction of the mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) patients. Methods: Patients with mTBI were asked about memory impairment following the injury. One hundred mTBI patients were visited and assessed using an auditory-visual learning test (AVLT) questionnaire. By using random permuted blocks, patients were given the Memoral (a mixture of 360 mg of Boswellia and 36 mg of ginger) or placebo and were asked to consume it for a month. Patients were assessed one and three months afterward using the second and third steps of AVLT, respectively. Results: One hundred patients were included in the study and divided into control and intervention groups. The mean age of the patients was 36.83±14.71, and there were no significant differences between the two groups (p=0.41). There were no statistically significant differences in the baseline scores of different AVLT parameters between the two groups. All patients had improvements in different parameters after three months. But some factors include the scores' change in total learning, retroactive interference score, forgetting rate, and net positive score were significantly higher in treatment groups at one-month and three-month follow-ups compared to the placebo group. In contrast, word span and hit parameters had the same pattern of improvement in both groups. Conclusion: The herbal medication can have a satisfactory effect on eliminating post-mTBI memory dysfunction while having no considerable adverse effects. The effect of these components can also be sustained after a two-month timeframe. These results may assist patients to have less mental involvement.

Management of Optic Pathway Glioma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: OPG accounts for 3−5% of childhood central nervous system (CNS) tumors and about 2% of pediatric glial lesions. Methods: Article selection was performed by searching PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases. Results: The pooled mortality rate was 0.12 (95%CI 0.09−0.14). Due to the unrepresentative data, improved and not changed outcomes were classified as favorable outcomes and worsened as unfavorable. Meta-analyses were performed to determine the rate of clinical and radiological favorable outcomes. In terms of visual assessment, the pooled rate of a favorable outcome in chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery was 0.74, 0.81, and 0.65, respectively, and the overall pooled rate of the favorable outcome was 0.75 (95%CI 0.70−0.80). In terms of radiological assessment, the rate of a favorable outcome following chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery was 0.71, 0.74, and 0.67, respectively, and the overall pooled rate of the favorable outcome is 0.71 (95%CI 0.65−0.77). The subgroup analysis revealed no significant difference in the rate of clinical and radiological favorable outcomes between the different treatment modalities (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Our analyses showed that each therapeutic modality represents viable treatment options to achieve remission for these patients.

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio as a Biomarker for Predicting the Coronary Artery Abnormality in Kawasaki Disease: A Meta-Analysis.

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the relationship between the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and coronary artery abnormalities (CAA) in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD), according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statements. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, TRIP, Google Scholar, and ProQuest up to the 8th of August 2022. This was done to retrieve eligible studies. No date or language limitations were considered in this study. Methodology quality assessment was conducted according to the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS). Standard mean difference (SMD) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to depict the pooled continuous variables. Finally, 17 articles with 6334 KD patients, of whom 1328 developed CAA, were enrolled in this meta-analysis. NLR level was significantly higher in KD patients with CAA compared to those without CAA (SMD =0.81; 95% CI =0.05-1.57, P = 0.03). In addition, NLR level was significantly higher in patients with coronary artery aneurysms than those without coronary artery aneurysms (SMD =2.29; 95% CI =0.18-4.41, P = 0.03). However, no significant association between NLR and coronary artery dilation was observed in this meta-analysis (SMD =0.56; 95% CI = -0.86-1.99). There was no publication bias for the pooled SMD of NLR for coronary artery abnormality in KD (Egger's test P = 0.82; Begg's test P = 0.32). The NLR may be useful in monitoring CAA development in these patients and may further imply a mechanistic role in potential inflammation that mediates this process.

Particle embolic agents for embolization of middle meningeal artery in the treatment of chronic subdural hematoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we investigated the efficacy and safety of middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) using particle embolic agents to treat cSDH. METHODS: To retrieve articles investigating outcomes of patients following MMAE with particle agents and to compare their outcome with conventional treatment, Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched using relevant keywords. Original articles with more than 10 cases were included. The meta-analysis was carried out using the R studio and the random-effects model. Publication bias was assessed using Peter's test and quality assessment using NIH tools. RESULTS: Eleven studies with 359 patients were included. The analysis revealed a pooled recurrence rate of 5% (CI: 3-8%), a need for reoperation rate of 5% (3-9%), and a peri-procedural complication rate of 4% (CI:2-9%) following MMAE with particle embolic agents. The pooled rates of decrease in size or resolution of the hematoma were 85% (CI:66-94%) and 66% (39-86%), respectively. Comparing MMAE using particulate embolysate with conventional treatments, risk ratio (RR) of 0.10 (CI:0.04-0.27) was achieved for recurrence, 0.25(CI:0.13-0.49) for reoperation, and 0.34 (CI:0.16-0.27) for peri-procedural complications. 91% of cSDH cases responded to MMAE with particles in the way they showed either down-sizing or complete resolution of the hematoma on follow-up imaging. In comparison, this rate was found to be 63% following conventional treatment. CONCLUSION: Middle meningeal artery embolization using particle embolysates is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of cSDH, whether as a standalone intervention or in combination with conventional treatments.

Role of the Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio in Guillain Barré Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

In this study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis regarding the role of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS). The most recent update to the search was on July 18, 2022, through the databases of Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Scopus. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used for quality assessment of included studies. Finally, 14 studies were included in the review, and among them, ten studies were included in the meta-analysis. Our results showed that NLR levels were significantly increased in the patients with GBS compared with healthy controls (SMD = 1.05; 95%CI = 0.59 to 1.50, P < 0.001). After treatment, NLR levels were decreased to the extent that they became similar to healthy controls (SMD = -0.03, 95%CI = -0.29 to 0.22, P = 0.204). Moreover, NLR was a stable predictor of outcome or response to treatment in such patients (SMD = 1.01, 95%CI = 0.65 to 1.37, P < 0.001); the higher the NLR, the worse the outcome. In addition, patients who underwent mechanical ventilation had higher levels of NLR compared to those who did not (SMD = 0.93, 95%CI = 0.05 to 1.82, P = 0.03). However, NLR levels were not different among distinct GBS subtypes, so it could not distinguish among them. In conclusion, our analysis indicates that the NLR levels are highly elevated in patients with GBS. Therefore, the NLR has the potential to be used as a biomarker to inform diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment responses in GBS, and future studies are warranted.

Trigonocephaly: Quantitative Comparison of the Complete Vault Reconstruction and Minimally Invasive Suturectomy.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to present and compare outcomes and complications of conventional open reconstruction and minimally invasive correction of metopic synostosis in patients who underwent treatment of trigonocephaly in our center between 2015 and 2019. METHODS: The hospital database was searched for hospitalization and surgical information, as well as imaging of individuals with trigonocephaly. Postoperative evaluation of the patients was performed during the follow-up sessions. The radiological evaluation was based on brain computed tomography scans taken 2 years following the operation. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients (19 females and 45 males) had their trigonocephaly corrected surgically. Thirty-five patients (9 females and 26 males) had complete vault reconstruction surgery, while 29 patients (10 females and 19 males) had minimally invasive suturectomy (MIS). The postoperative cephalic width/intercoronal distance ratio and interpupillary distance/interfrontozygomatic distance ratio assessment showed no differences in the outcome of both groups (P value > 0.05). Minimally invasive techniques resulted in less intraoperative bleeding, a shorter stay in the intensive care unit and hospital, and a shorter surgery and anesthesia duration (P value < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of trigonocephaly can result in a satisfactory correction of the deformity. MIS delivers a comparable result to complete vault reconstruction with less invasiveness and hospitalization and can be considered a reasonable option for patients in their early months of life. Patients must, however, undergo long-term cosmetic, behavioral, and developmental evaluations.

Results of Surgical Treatment in Patients with Intracranial Arachnoid Cyst During Last 5 Years in a Referral Center in a Developing Country: Shiraz, Iran.

OBJECTIVE: To report the outcome of surgical intervention in patients diagnosed with arachnoid cyst (AC) during the last 5 years in Namazi Hospital, a tertiary center in Southern Iran. METHODS: Hospitalization records of patients who had undergone surgical treatment of symptomatic intracranial AC in our center were surveyed retrospectively. Radiologic imaging was extracted from the picture archiving and communication system and analyzed. Postoperative evaluation of patients was conducted in neurosurgery clinic during their routine follow-up. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients (11 female, 18 male) with an age range of 13 days to 35 years were enrolled in this study. Most (62%) of all ACs were in the temporal area, 12% in the suprasellar region, 6% in the quadrigeminal region, 6% in the cerebellopontine angle, and 3% in the anterior frontal area. Twenty-six endoscopic intervention, 2 microsurgical resection, and 1 cystoperitoneal shunt were performed. All of the patients showed complete resolution or improvement in symptoms. Eighty-nine percent of patients also showed reduction in the cyst size. Ten patients had transient postoperative complications, which were resolved at the time of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis and appropriate surgical treatment of AC can alleviate the symptoms in patients who fulfill the criteria for surgery. Neuroendoscopy can provide a satisfactory result in symptomatic patients, whilst having less invasiveness and long-term complications. Reoperation should also be considered in situations where medical therapy fails to manage the complications.