Exercise Capacity and Reoperation Late After Transatrial Fallot Repair.

BACKGROUND: The exercise capacity long after repair of tetralogy of Fallot, when performed exclusively with a transatrial repair, is unclear. It is also unknown whether echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing can predict the risk of reoperation in this patient group. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 59 patients who underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing after transatrial Fallot repair at a single centre. Patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing at a mean age of 16.6±4.4 years, and at 15.3±4.1 years after Fallot repair. RESULTS: At testing, the volume of oxygen consumption at maximal exercise (VO2 max) was 71%±13% and the oxygen pulse was 80%±17% of predicted values. Seventeen (17) patients (29%) had a VO2 max superior to 80% of the predicted value. Thirty-two (32) patients (56%) had severe pulmonary regurgitation, three (5%) had moderate pulmonary regurgitation, and 12 (21%) had mild pulmonary regurgitation. After a mean of 7.8±3.9 years following cardiopulmonary exercise testing (23±5.3 years after the repair), 21 (40%) patients underwent reoperation. Right ventricular dilation and systolic function on echocardiography were both significantly associated with subsequent reoperation rates. Patients who had severe right ventricular dilation were eight times more likely to undergo subsequent reoperation (hazard ratio 8.67; 1.82-41.3; p=0.007). No cardiopulmonary exercise testing variable independently predicted reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: The exercise capacity at adolescence following transatrial repair of tetralogy of Fallot is maintained at around 70% of predicted values. Only the patients with normal right ventricular size and normal right ventricular function seemed to be protected from reoperation over the subsequent decade. We found no exercise variables which predicted reoperation.

Managing female stress urinary incontinence in a post mesh era: What to do and when to refer.

BACKGROUND: Urinary incontinence is a common presentation in general practice and can significantly affect a patient's quality of life. Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is defined by the International Continence Society as 'the complaint of any involuntary loss of urine on effort or physical exertion (eg sporting activities), or on sneezing or coughing'. There is a key role for primary care providers in the assessment and management of female SUI. OBJECTIVE: To highlight the key diagnostic and management principles of female SUI in general practice and discuss management options. DISCUSSION: SUI can usually be diagnosed based upon clinical history and targeted physical examination. Pelvic floor physiotherapy and lifestyle interventions, including weight modification and management of co-morbidities, are important first-line therapies. Surgical options for both persistent or complex SUI include urethral bulking agents, Burch colposuspension and pubovaginal fascial slings. Synthetic (mesh) mid-urethral slings remain a viable surgical option for women suffering SUI.

Systemic therapy in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The landscape of metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) has evolved rapidly in recent years with new data from landmark trials supporting upfront treatment intensification. The developments come not only on the fronts of systemic agents but also in area of therapy to primary tumour and metastases. RECENT FINDINGS: More recently, the ARASENS and PEACE trials have taken the concept of treatment intensification further by demonstrating survival benefit from combination of chemotherapy (docetaxel) and androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (abiraterone and darolutamide) in addition to backbone therapy of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Intensification of treatment has also seen evidence supporting local therapy to the primary tumour with overall survival and biochemical recurrence-free survival although only evident in low volume synchronous metastases. There is emerging evidence for metastases-directed therapy as well with pooled data suggesting improved biochemical-free and ADT-free survival. SUMMARY: Robust clinical data has demonstrated survival benefits with treatment intensification and this should be the new standard of care. Subgroup analysis has highlighted the importance of tailoring mHSPC treatment for patients with high- and low-volume metastatic disease. However, defining the volume of disease is becoming increasingly controversial due to heterogeneity of trial patient populations and next generation molecular imaging.

Active surveillance versus nonradical treatment for low-risk men with prostate cancer: a review.

Low-risk prostate cancer has traditionally seen a preference towards avoiding treatment-related harms with active surveillance (AS) and multimodal monitoring protocols utilized to assess for disease progression. Large trials have shown variations in mortality and cancer survival benefit between AS and radical treatment, which has prompted further trials into the management of low-risk disease. Nonradical treatments for men on AS have been an emerging field and yet to enter mainstream guidelines or practice. These include pharmacological treatments, focal therapy, nutraceuticals, immunotherapy, and exercise. We present a review of all current major randomized clinical trials for nonradical treatment of men on AS and summarize their findings.