Diagnosis and surgical management of pericardial effusion due to paragonimiasis.

OBJECTIVES: The pericardial effusion (PE) caused by paragonimiasis is rarely reported. This study aims to present experience in the diagnosis and surgical management of PE due to paragonimiasis. METHODS: Medical records of 57 children who were diagnosed with PE due to paragonimiasis and underwent surgery at Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between January 2012 and August 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The average age of this group was 7.6 ± 3.0 years. Patients were mainly from Chongqing and Sichuan areas. ELISA for Paragonimus skrjabini in all 57 patients showed positive results. Moderate or large PE were identified in 12 and 45 patients, respectively. All patients underwent surgery either by pericardectomy or thoracoscopic surgery. Pathological exams indicated massive eosinophil infiltration in all 57 specimens. After 3-4 courses of praziquantel therapy, the clinical outcomes were satisfactory. CONCLUSIONS: Typical endemic history, eosinophilia and multiple serous effusion raise suspicions of paragonimiasis. Once moderate to large PE is identified in patients with paragonimiasis, surgical treatment is necessary.

Is Sutureless Technique Beneficial in the Primary Repair of Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

A meta-analysis was performed for a comparison of outcomes between sutureless technique and conventional surgery for primary repair for total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). Electronic databases including PubMed, EMbase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library were searched systematically for the single-arm studies regarding sutureless repair or conventional surgery, and two-arm studies compared the outcomes of sutureless repair and conventional surgery for TAPVC. Corresponding data were extracted and the methodological quality was assessed by two reviewers independently. 26 studies were included, involving a total of 2702 patients. It was observed that compared with conventional surgery, sutureless technique was associated with a lower occurrence rate of post-operative pulmonary veins obstruction (PVO) (4.6% vs. 13.5%, OR 0.54 in favor of sutureless technique) and re-operations due to PVO (3.4% vs. 12.4%, 0.25 in favor of sutureless technique). However, meta-analyses of post-operative early (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.27-1.19; P = 0.13), late (OR 0.37; 95% CI 0.13-1.06; P = 0.13), and overall (OR 0.61; 95% CI 0.36-1.03; P = 0.07) mortality showed no significant difference between sutureless technique and conventional surgery. Compared with conventional surgery, sutureless technique was associated with a lower occurrence rate of post-operative PVO and re-operations due to PVO. Meanwhile, post-operative early, late, and overall mortality were not statistically different between two surgical approaches. Sutureless technique is beneficial in the primary repair of TAPVC regarding post-operative PVO and re-operations due to PVO. However, the level of evidence was low and randomized controlled trials should be designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of sutureless technique for TAPVC.

Is balloon angioplasty superior to surgery in the treatment of paediatric native coarctation of the aorta: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

A meta-analysis was performed to compare the outcomes between surgery and balloon angioplasty (BA) for native coarctation of the aorta in paediatric patients. Electronic databases, including PubMed, EMbase, Medline and Cochrane Library were searched systematically for literature aimed mainly at comparing the therapeutic effects for native coarctation of the aorta administered by surgery or BA. Corresponding data sets were extracted and 2 reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality. Ten studies meeting the inclusive criteria were identified involving a total of 723 subjects. Eventually, it was observed that compared with BA, surgery was significantly associated with a lower incidence of recoarctation, repeat intervention due to recoarctation and residual transcoarctation gradient in mid- to long-term follow-up. However, BA was significantly associated with a shorter hospitalization time. Incidence of aneurysm formation, perioperative mortality, complications and immediate transcoarctation residual gradient were not statistically different between surgery and BA. The overall level of evidence for our study was low and randomized controlled trials should be designed to evaluate and compare the safety and effectiveness of both approaches for native coarctation of the aorta.

Sutureless technique versus conventional surgery in the primary treatment of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUD: A meta-analysis was performed to compare the differences in outcomes between sutureless technique and conventional surgery for primary repair of Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection(TAPVC). METHODS: Electronic databases, including PubMed, EMbase, Medline, CNKI, Wanfang Data and Weipu Data were searched systematically for the literature aimed mainly at comparing the therapeutic effects for primary repair of TAPVC administered by sutureless technique and conventional surgery. Corresponding data sets were extracted and two reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality. RESULTS: Seven studies meeting the inclusion criteria were included, involving a total of 1293 subjects. It was observed that sutureless technique entailed a lower occurrence rate of post-operative Pulmonary Veins Obstruction (PVO) (OR, 0.52 95%CI, 0.32-0.86; P = 0.01) and re-operation due to PVO (OR, 0.28;95%CI, 0.09-0.87; P = 0.03). However, meta-analyses of hospitalization time (WMD, 5.92; 95%CI, - 7.97-19.80; P = 0.40) and post-operative mortality (OR, 0.65; 95%CI, 0.41-1.04; P = 0.07) showed no significant differences between sutureless technique and conventional surgery. Meta-analysis of Cardiopulmonary Bypass (CPB) time and aortic cross-clamp time also showed no significant differences between the two surgical approaches (WMD, 5.07; 95%CI, - 9.29-19.42; P = 0.49); (WMD, 5.73; 95%CI, - 7.76-19.23; P = 0.40), but the result remained inconclusive due to pooling result changes after sensitivity analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with conventional surgery, a lower occurrence rate of post-operative PVO and re-operation due to PVO were associated with sutureless technique. Meanwhile, hospitalization time and post-operative mortality were not statistically different between the two surgical approaches. Pooling result of CPB and aortic cross-clamp time between the two groups remained inconclusive.