"Patient participation" and related concepts: A scoping review on their dimensional composition.

OBJECTIVES: Several concepts on collaboration between patients and healthcare systems have emerged in the literature but there is little consensus on their meanings and differences. In this study, "patient participation" and related concepts were studied by focusing on the dimensions that compose them. This review follows two objectives: (1) to produce a detailed and comprehensive overview of the "patient participation" dimensions; (2) to identify differences and similarities between the related concepts. METHODS: A scoping review was performed to synthesize knowledge into a conceptual framework. An electronic protocol driven search was conducted in two bibliographic databases and a thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: The search process returned 39 articles after exclusion for full data extraction and analysis. Through the thematic analysis, the dimensions, influencing factors and expected outcomes of "patient participation" were determined. Finally, differences between the included concepts were identified. CONCLUSION: This global vision of "patient participation" allows us to go beyond the distinctions between the existing concepts and reveals their common goal to include the patient in the healthcare system. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This scoping review provides useful information to propose a conceptual model of "patient participation", which could impact clinical practice and medical training programs.

Left cardiac sympathetic denervation in the Netherlands for the treatment of inherited arrhythmia syndromes.

INTRODUCTION: Treating therapy-resistant patients with inherited arrhythmia syndromes can be difficult and left cardiac sympathetic denervation (LCSD) might be a viable alternative treatment option. We provide an overview of the indications and outcomes of LCSD in patients with inherited arrhythmia syndromes in the only tertiary referral centre in the Netherlands where LCSD is conducted in these patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective study, including all patients with inherited arrhythmia syndromes who underwent LCSD in our institution between 2005 and 2013. LCSD involved ablation of the lower part of the left stellate ganglion and the first four thoracic ganglia. RESULTS: Seventeen patients, 12 long-QT syndrome (LQTS) patients (71 %) and 5 catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) patients (29 %), underwent LCSD. Most patients (94 %) were referred because of therapy-refractory cardiac events. In 87 % the annual cardiac event rate decreased. However, after 2 years the probability of complete cardiac event-free survival was 59 % in LQTS and 60 % in CPVT patients. Two patients (12 %) had major non-reversible LCSD-related complications: one patient suffered from a Harlequin face post-procedure and one severely affected LQT8 patient died the day after LCSD due to complications secondary to an arrhythmic storm during the procedure. CONCLUSION: LSCD for inherited arrhythmia syndromes, which is applied on a relatively small scale in the Netherlands, reduced the cardiac event rate in 87 % of the high-risk patients who had therapy-refractory cardiac events, while the rate of major complications was low. Therefore, LSCD seems a viable treatment for patients with inherited arrhythmia syndromes without other options for therapy.

Endovascular treatment of acute haemoptysis secondary to aortobronchial fistula.

INTRODUCTION: Aortobronchial fistula is a rare but potentially fatal condition. We report our experience in the endovascular treatment of acute haemoptysis in high risk patients with aortobronchial fistula. REPORT: Between May 2002 and December 2004 five patients presenting with acute haemoptysys due to aortobronchial fistula were treated by endovascular stent grafting of the descending thoracic aorta. We did not observe intraoperative or perioperative mortality, stent-graft infection or paraplegia. In one case endoleak occurred. CONCLUSION: Endovascular stent-grafting represents an effective therapeutic option for the management of aortobronchial fistula. Careful follow up of the patients is mandatory.

Aortic graft infections: treatment with arterial allograft.

Since its reintroduction by Kieffer in 1991, many authors have used arterial allografts for surgical management of vascular prosthetic graft infection. During a decade, 25 patients with aortic graft infection were treated using in situ revascularization with arterial allograft. There were 23 male and 2 female patients of mean age of 65.7 +/- 8.8 years (range, 43-78). Antibiotic therapy was administered for a mean time of 26 +/- 5 days (range, 21-45) in the postoperative period. The mean follow-up time was 2.3 +/- 3 years (range, 22 days-8.7 years). The mean in-hospital postoperative stay was 29.6 +/- 14 days (range, 9-68). An aorto-enteric fistula (AEF) was present in 11 patients (44%), producing gastrointestinal bleeding. The overall mortality rate was 13 of 23 (56.5%) patients. The allograft-related mortality rate was 5 of 23 (22%). The overall allograft-complicated patient rate was 15 of 23 (65%); we observed 18 allograft ruptures in 12 patients and 8 allograft thromboses in 6 patients. The overall amputation rate was 8.7% (2 of 23). Age of the recipient older than 69 years (P = .02), positive preoperative marked-leukocyte scanning (P = .04), and persistent postoperative leukocytosis (P = .03) were significant variables associated with an increased risk of allograft-related complications. The use of arterial allografts for aortic graft infections represents an interesting alternative for the treatment of graft infection. Nevertheless, there are some problems related to the durability of this type of graft, which can still be considered as a "bridge transplant."

[Proximal abdominal aortic aneurysms after infrarenal aortic reconstruction]. / Gli aneurismi sovraanastomotici secondari alla sostituzione dell'aorta sottorenale.

The failure of infrarenal aortic open reconstruction due to sterile sovranastomotic abdominal aortic aneurysm (SS-AAA) is a rare and complex long-term complication. Even if they undergo the same treatment, is necessary to distinguish between true aneurysmal degeneration of proximal aorta and chronic proximal aortic anastomosis sterile rupture with consequent false aneurysm formation: we call proximal para-anastomotic abdominal aortic aneurysm (PPA-AAA) the first and proximal anastomotic false abdominal aortic aneurysm (PAF-AAA) the latter. The etiology of this complication is exclusively degenerative and it occurs in the absence of infection, which has totally different features. SS-AAA have been reported in 1 to 4% patients, but the available studies differ about patient selection and diagnostic methods. According to these considerations we can suppose the real incidence greater and near to 25% in over 10 years follow-up patients. Clinical findings of PPA and PAF-AAA before rupture are poor and this consideration emphasizes the necessity of a long term ultrasound follow-up. Best diagnostic tools after echographic detection of SS-AAA are spiral TC scan and MR imaging. Due to image accuracy, the short time necessary to take the images and availability spiral TC has taken the place of standard TC and arteriography. Scar tissue field and visceral vessels involvement with consequent proximal clamping are the main problems in open repair of SS-AAA. Elective open repair mortality rate varies from 0 to 17% and increases dramatically after rupture. Endovascular repair at the present is suitable only for hardly selected cases, because of frequent visceral involvement. We report our 17 patients series (8 PPA and 9 PAF-AAA), which we have observed friom 1991 to 2003 in a total amount of 1363 abdominal aortic aneurysms treated. All the patients have been treated with elective open repair with a global perioperative mortality of 6% (1/17).

Near infrared spectroscopy monitoring during carotid endarterectomy: which threshold value is critical?

OBJECTIVES: Retrospectively to verify which decreasing percentage in regional oxygen saturation (rSO(2)) identified patients with good collateralisation during carotid artery cross clamp. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During 594 endarterectomies under general anaesthesia the decreasing percentage from preclamp value to value detected in the first 2 min after clamping the CCA and/or ICA was calculated in real time. No temporary shunt was placed in any case. ROC analysis was performed to determine the optimal cut-off for rSO(2) decrease to identify the occurrence of neurological complications. RESULTS: A cut-off of 11.7% was identified as optimal. Sensitivity and specificity were 75% (95% CI 71-78) and 77% (95% CI 74-80), respectively. The cut-off of 20% had a lower sensitivity (30%) and a higher specificity (98%) to identify patients with complications, with positive and negative predictive value of 37 and 98%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggest that a relative decrease in rSO(2) of <20% from preclamp to early cross clamp value has a high negative predictive value, i.e. if rSO(2) does non decrease more than 20%, ischemia by hypoperfusion is unlikely and a shunt should not be necessary. Moreover, a relative decrease >20% may not always indicate intraoperative neurological complications.

Vascular prosthetic graft infection: epidemiology, bacteriology, pathogenesis and treatment.

UNLABELLED: Vascular prosthetic graft infection remains a major surgical challenge. Prevention of risk factors and antibiotic therapy can reduced but not eradicate it. Management of infected vascular grafts depends on several factors, including the location of the infected prosthesis, the extent of infection, and the underlying micro-organism. Classic treatment consists of extra-anatomic bypass grafting. The disappointing results due to the high mortality and amputation rate have kindled interest in alternative approaches, such as in situ reconstruction with antibiotic-bonded prostheses, autogenous veins or arterial allografts. PURPOSE: We focused on the treatment of aortic graft infection by means of both fresh and cryopreserved arterial allograft. Here, the experience of the Italian Collaborative Vascular Homograft Group is reported. METHODS: Between March 1994 and December 2000 seventy-nine patients with aortic graft infection were treated. The results of 68 patients are analysed. Eleven patients were treated with fresh, and 57 with cryopreserved homograft. Emergency surgical procedures were performed in 12 patients (17%). Aortoenteric fistula was diagnosed in 22 patients. The mean interval between the first procedure and the insertion of a homograft for patients with infected aortic graft was 3 years (range 1-15). The mean duration of follow-up was 30 months (range 1-68). Clinical and duplex scanning evaluation were routinely performed. Computer tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR), or arteriography were performed on the basis of duplex scanning results. RESULTS: The analysis was performed on 68 cases for which there were sufficient reliable data. Eleven deaths occurred during the early postoperative period (30 days), a mortality rate of 16%. There were also seventeen late deaths, a mortality rate of 25%. Eleven patients had graft occlusion; six cases were successfully treated with thrombectomy. In three cases leg amputation was necessary. The results of fresh and cryopreserved homografts were compared. No significant differences of early postoperative mortality, late mortality, homograft-related mortality, graft failure were observed. The presence of aortoenteric fistula is a negative predicting factor of perioperative early mortality, which causes a rapid decline in the survival curve. Thirty-six months after the surgery the actuarial survival of the patients was 57% and the actuarial patency of the allograft was 41%. CONCLUSION: No significant difference in terms of clinical outcome was observed when using fresh, rather than cryopreserved homografts. The only factor that significantly influenced the survival rate appeared to be the aorto-enteric fistula.

Treatment of Buerger's disease with electrical spinal cord stimulation--review of three cases.

Buerger's disease or obliterating thromboangiitis is an inflammatory pathologic condition affecting the distal vascular segments; it strikes young adults, especially males and heavy smokers. Medical and surgical treatment often fail to heal these patients, especially considering the frequent relapse of this disease linked with tobacco abuse--definitive healing often involves limb amputation. Electrical spinal cord stimulation is evaluated in this study with an analgesic aim and for improvement in skin microcirculation, with the goal of long-term healing of diseased limbs.

[Indications for the use of vascular homografts]. / Indicazioni all'impiego degli omoinnesti vascolari.

Homografts were first mentioned in scientific literature at the beginning of the 1900s in articles by Yamanouchi and Carrel who were the first to demonstrate the possibility of substituting segments of artery by transplanted homologous segments of vein. Since then homografts have been considered a possible surgical treatment for stenotic and aneurysmal diseases of the aortic-iliac-femoral vasculature. Meanwhile much research has been carried out in an attempt to perfect the treatment that the biological prothesis undergoes once explanted. This treatment is aimed at providing the best possible conservation of the biological and mechanical characteristics of the graft while eliminating the highly antigenic components. The introduction in the 1950s of synthetic prostheses and their immediately encouraging short-term and long-term results, clearly better than those of the homografts, led to the use of these latter being temporarily abandoned. They came back into the spotlight some years later with completely different indications from those for which they had originally been proposed. The natural resistance to bacterial colonization makes the homograft an ideal candidate for treatment of infected prostheses or of patients at high risk of infection (immunosuppressed patients). Furthermore the low thrombogenicity and the case with which they can be sutured are important advantages for use in pediatric heart surgery and oncologic surgery in the treatment of associated vascular lesions. Nevertheless, large scale use of homografts cannot be recommended for a variety of reasons: 1) the need for ministerial authority; 2) the need for a tissue bank where the certification and cryopreservation of the homografts could be carried out; 3) the still unsettled doubts about immunological aspects associated with homografts.

A rapid D-dimer assay in patients presenting at the emergency room with suspected acute venous thrombosis: accuracy and relation to clinical variables.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The measurement of D-dimer is claimed to have potential value in excluding deep vein thrombosis (DVT). New rapid methods have been proposed, but few clinical trials have assessed their performance in an emergency context. The different accuracies found between the D-dimer assays have been related to the test used (latex or ELISA), but other variables (such as population investigated, thrombus extension, duration of symptoms or concomitant heparin treatment) may be important, even if not sufficiently investigated. DESIGN AND METHODS: We evaluated the accuracy of a rapid semi-quantitative D-dimer test (Dimertest, Dade Behring), with reference to: a) its use at an emergency unit; b) concomitant heparin administration; c) location of venous thrombosis (VT) (in the deep or superficial venous system limited to the great saphenous vein) and d) symptoms older than 14 days. RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety-eight patients suspected of having DVT and 116 suspected of thrombosis of the great saphenous vein (GSV) were investigated. In the DVT patients, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 77.4% (95% CI 68.9-85.9), 81.4% (95% CI 76.1-86.7), 65.4% (95% CI 56.5-74.3) and 88.8% (95% CI 84.2-93.4), respectively. Excluding patients receiving heparin and those with symptoms older than 15 days, the sensitivity and negative predictive value increased to 86.3% (95% CI 78.4-94.2) and 92.8% (95% CI 88.4-97.2), respectively. In patients with GSV thrombosis, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 48% (95% CI 34.5-61.5), 90.6% (95% CI 83.2-97.9), 80.6% (95% CI 66.6-94.6) and 68.2% (95% CI 57.8-78.6), respectively. Excluding patients receiving heparin and those with symptoms older than 15 days, did not change the sensitivity or negative predictive value significantly. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that previous or concomitant heparin administration, non-acute symptoms and thrombosis localized to superficial veins reduce the clinical usefulness of the D-dimer test as the rate of false negative results is increased.

Brain involvement in extracranial internal carotid artery aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: No prospective study of extracranial internal carotid artery aneurysms (EICAA) has been reported to date. The aim of this study was to evaluate central nervous system complications associated with surgical intervention for EICAA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of seven patients, representing all cases observed at our institution from December 1997 to December 1998, were entered in this prospective study. Three patients had bilateral involvement. The aneurysms were both atherosclerotic and dysplastic. All patients were males, with mean age of 70 years (range 65 to 74). Internal or common carotid artery to EICAAs diameter ratios were calculated on the angiograms. The transverse diameter as well as the craniocaudal extension of the lesions were accurately measured intraoperatively. Follow-up evaluations were performed at three, six and twelve months postoperatively, and consisted of a clinical evaluation by both a neurologist and a vascular surgeon who were not part of the primary surgical team. RESULTS: Six patients presented with neurological symptoms ranging from non-hemispheric TIAs to hemispheric stroke. One patient was asymptomatic. The severity of symptoms was correlated with the size of the aneurysm. Preoperative symptoms were more severe in EICAAs of > or = 3 cm in transverse diameter. One case had a postoperative stroke, no perioperative deaths occurred. All the internal carotid arteries operated on were patent during follow-up evaluations. No new neurologic event was observed during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The severity of central neurologic symptoms seems to depend on the size of the aneurysmatic lesion. Prompt surgical management of small EICAAs may reduce the occurrence of severe CNS complications, both preoperatively and postoperatively, due to the lower risk of embolization associated with small aneurysms compared to larger lesions.

Fresh and cryopreserved arterial homografts in the treatment of prosthetic graft infections: experience of the Italian Collaborative Vascular Homograft Group.

Following the experience of cardiac surgeons with homografts in the treatment of infective aortic valve endocarditis, cardiovascular surgeons have investigated in situ revascularization by means of homografts in the management of vascular prosthetic graft infections. Preliminary results are encouraging, but their late fate in long-term follow-up and the influence of preservation techniques are still under investigation. This article reports the experience of the Italian Collaborative Vascular Homograft Group, with the use of fresh and cryopreserved arterial homografts for the treatment of prosthetic graft infections. Between March 1994 and December 1996, 44 patients with prosthetic graft infection were treated with homografts (13 preserved at 4 degrees C, 31 cryopreserved). The mean age of the patients was 65 years. Emergency surgical procedures were performed in eight patients (18%). Sepsis was diagnosed in 11 patients, aortoenteric fistula in 13, and false aneurysms in 10. Staphylococcus was the main cause of infection. The types of vascular reconstruction with homograft were: 32 aortobifemoral, 3 aortoaortic, 2 iliofemoral, 4 peripheral, and 3 axillobifemoral. Human lymphocyte antigen (HLA) and antibody (ABO) blood group system compatibility between donors and recipients was not respected. The mean duration of follow-up was 15 months (range 1-33). Clinical and duplex scanning evaluations were routinely performed. Computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) scanning or arteriography were performed on the basis of duplex scanning results. There were six deaths during the early postoperative period (30 days) with a mortality rate of 13.6%. During the follow-up there were five late deaths with a mortality rate of 11.4%. Eight patients had graft occlusion. Three cases were successfully treated with thrombectomy. Two cases were successfully treated with femoropopliteal bypass with autologous vein. In three cases leg amputation was necessary. The results of fresh and cryopreserved homograft were compared. No significative differences of early postoperative mortality, late mortality, homograft related mortality, and graft occlusion were observed. We have evaluated the actuarial survival of the patients and the actuarial patency of the homografts on the aortoiliac reconstructions. Twelve months after the surgery the actuarial survival of the patients was 73% and the actuarial patency of the homografts was 56%. In our preliminary experience, we have not observed any significant difference in terms of clinical outcome by using fresh rather than cryopreserved homografts. In the near future it will be our policy to employ only cryopreserved homografts. Moreover, we will extend vessel harvesting to nonheart-beating donors, thus maximizing retrieval. The aforementioned solutions will supply the best graft availability to obtain dimensional and ABO compatibility between donors and recipients.

Ultrasonic endarterectomy: experimental and initial clinical results in carotid stenosis.

PURPOSE: The effects of ultrasonic endarterectomy, evaluated experimentally and clinically, were compared with the results obtained with controversial endarterectomy. EXPERIMENTAL: An ultrasonic vascular dissector with a frequency of 29 kHz was used for ultrasonic endarterectomy. Gross and histologic observation was made on 22 fresh human cadaver atherosclerotic vessels, of which 16 were treated with ultrasound endarterectomy and 6 conventionally. Clinical: Twenty-eight patients requiring carotid endarterectomy were chosen at random. Seven patients underwent ultrasonic endarterectomy after traditional access surgery, while 21 patients were treated with conventional endarterectomy. In the clinical study, an intraoperative gross observation of the endarterectomized surfaces was made, followed by duplex scanning after 18 and 24 months. RESULTS: Histologic observation of the cadaveric revealed particularly smooth surfaces in 87.5%; there was no debris, flaps, or vessel damage in any of the ultrasonically treated samples. In contrast, the traditional technique produced regular surfaces without residual debris in only 50% of the experimental cases. Favorable results were also seen in the clinical carotid experience, in which there was no need to surgically correct the ultrasonically endarterectomized surface in any case. In fact, achieving a satisfactory outcome was greatly facilitated by the use of ultrasound. In the conventionally treated patients, however, only 19% (4) demonstrated a smooth luminal surface on gross observation even after surgical correction. No postoperative complications were encountered in either group, and no restenosis has occurred in ultrasonic endarterectomy-treated patients after 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: Favorable experimental results using ultrasonic endarterectomy prompted the successful clinical application of this new technique in carotid stenosis treatment. Whether or not ultrasonic endarterectomy can reduce postoperative morbidity and restenosis is still under study.

Aplasia of the radial artery.

A 2-year-old girl with asymmetrical upper limbs and underdevelopment of the bones of the left forearm, wrist and hand with associated muscular and osteal hypoplasia is described. Doppler ultrasonography of the arterial trunks of the upper limb suggested a normal ulnar trunk in the left upper arm, an arterial vessel extending from the bend of the elbow to the distal third of the forearm, and the absence of any other arterial trunks in the radial region. Angiography confirmed that vascularization of the forearm was sustained by the ulnar artery, which supported the dorsal arch of the carpus and digital arteries arising from it. The interosseal artery was morphologically normal but there was aplasia of the radial artery. It is suggested that this malformation is the result of suppressed development of the vascular system of the left radial segment as other pathologies normally associated with the condition were absent.

Neoplastic thrombosis of the inferior vena cava and right atrium due to kidney cancer. Three surgically treated cases.

Extension into vena cava and right atrium of tumor thrombus from a renal cell carcinoma presents a surgical challenge. The use of cardiopulmonary by-pass, hypothermia and cardiac arrest with temporary exsanguination has allowed the successful surgical excision of this tumor. During 1986 and 1987 3 patients with cancer of kidney invading the vena cava were operated on with this surgical technique. No deaths occurred. The possibility of curing this type of cancer with minimal operative risk and good results is discussed.

Myocardial hydatid cyst ruptured into the pericardium: cross-sectional echocardiographic study and surgical treatment.

We describe a patient with a large intramyocardial hydatid cyst lying in the postero-lateral segment of the left ventricle near the atrioventricular groove level which ruptured into the pericardial sac, resulting in cardiac tamponade. Cross-sectional echocardiographic examination from a modified four-chamber apical view showed the multiloculated cyst and the breach connecting it to the pericardial sac, allowing for the definitive diagnosis and indication for emergency cardiac surgery. The risks of pericardiocentesis and invasive diagnostic procedures could thus be avoided.

Surgical treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms. Personal experience.

A series of 262 observed cases of aneurysm of the thoracic aorta is examined in which 216 cases of surgical correction were performed between 1974 and 1987. Dissecting aneurysms and post-traumatic pseudoaneurysms, although of different aetiology and morbid anatomy, are also included since the surgical technique adopted is similar in all groups. Clinically different aspects of acute and chronic lesions are analyzed. Of all preoperative examinations, angiography is preferred as it gives the most precise definition of the aortic lesion. This is especially necessary in the case of acute dissection or rupture of thoracic aorta although the role of CAT scan is becoming progressively more important. In cases of aortic dissection with massive aortic valve insufficiency, the substitution of the ascending aorta and aortic valve with reimplantation of coronary arteries, in accordance with Bentall's technique is also indicated. The improvement in surgical results is emphasized, since surgical mortality has decreased from 30.6% to 22% in the last eight years. This is due to improvement in surgical technique, to extra corporeal circulation and myocardial protection.

Acute aortic dissection. Personal experience.

Aortic dissection is a catastrophic event with a high mortality rate for untreated patients. One hundred and thirteen patients with acute aortic dissection were observed in the IInd Surgical Department of Milan University from 1974 to 1985; 55 had type I and II aortic dissection and 58 had type III aortic dissection. All patients with type I and II and about 50% of patients with type III aortic dissection underwent surgical correction. In the second type III group the aortic lesion was surgically corrected only when visceral ischaemia or ischaemia of the lower limb was recognized. In the other type III cases, medical treatment was preferred. The mortality rate was lower after medical treatment (15%) than after surgical treatment (37%). Follow-up was performed for the majority of patients and was recently completed with non-invasive techniques like Magnetic Resonance. It accurately shows the residual dissection and follows, the development of occlusion of the false lumen without any risk to the patients.