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Brazilian Journal of Cardiovascular... Feb 2024This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of respiratory muscle training during the immediate postoperative period of cardiac surgery on respiratory muscle strength,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
INTRODUCTION
This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of respiratory muscle training during the immediate postoperative period of cardiac surgery on respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary function, functional capacity, and length of hospital stay.
METHODS
This is a systematic review and meta-analysis. A comprehensive search on PubMed®, Excerpta Medica Database (or Embase), Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (or CINAHL), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (or LILACS), Scientific Electronic Library Online (or SciELO), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (or PEDro), and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases was performed. A combination of free-text words and indexed terms referring to cardiac surgery, coronary artery bypass grafting, respiratory muscle training, and clinical trials was used. A total of 792 studies were identified; after careful selection, six studies were evaluated.
RESULTS
The studies found significant improvement after inspiratory muscle training (IMT) (n = 165, 95% confidence interval [CI] 9.68, 21.99) and expiratory muscle training (EMT) (n = 135, 95% CI 8.59, 27.07) of maximal inspiratory pressure and maximal expiratory pressure, respectively. Also, IMT increased significantly (95% CI 19.59, 349.82, n = 85) the tidal volume. However, no differences were found in the peak expiratory flow, functional capacity, and length of hospital stay after EMT and IMT.
CONCLUSION
IMT and EMT demonstrated efficacy in improving respiratory muscle strength during the immediate postoperative period of cardiac surgery. There was no evidence indicating the efficacy of IMT for pulmonary function and length of hospital stay and the efficacy of EMT for functional capacity.
Topics: Humans; Cardiac Surgical Procedures; Breathing Exercises; Lung; Coronary Artery Bypass; Respiratory Muscles; Muscle Strength
PubMed: 38315040
DOI: 10.21470/1678-9741-2022-0165 -
Heart Views : the Official Journal of... 2023Although respiratory support is necessary to maintain hemodynamic stability in patients undergoing major surgeries, prolonging the time of mechanical ventilation is... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Although respiratory support is necessary to maintain hemodynamic stability in patients undergoing major surgeries, prolonging the time of mechanical ventilation is considered a major complication following these procedures. The identification of potential factors related to this phenomenon should be identified. In the present systematic review, we first assess the pooled prevalence of prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery and also determine the main predictors for PMV by deeply reviewing the literature.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The manuscript databases including Medline, Web of Knowledge, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Cochrane were deeply searched by the two blinded investigators for all eligible studies based on the relevant keywords. Based on the titles and abstracts, 88 records were initially included and of those, 15 articles were eligible for the final analysis.
RESULTS
The pooled prevalence of PMV in the studies that defined PMV as ventilation >24 h was 6.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.1%-10.2%) and in the studies, PMV as ventilation >48 h was 2.8% (95% CI: 1.7%-4.7%). Demographics (gender and advanced age), obesity, underlying comorbidities (hypertension, chronic kidney disease, cerebrovascular accident, high New York Heart Association class, history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and history of acute coronary syndrome), emergency surgery, intraoperative characteristics (needing intra-aortic balloon pump, increased peak airway pressure, using cardiopulmonary bypass, the type of dose of anesthetics, cross-clamp time, increased units of blood transfusion, occurring cardiac ischemic events within an operation, fluid imbalance, and some anastomoses), and some postoperative outcome such as lowering O saturation, sequential organ failure assessment score, inotrope use, pleural effusion, delirium, and prolonged intensive care unit stay were found to be the main determinants for PMV.
CONCLUSION
Depending on the definition of PMV, the prevalence of PMV varied from 1.7% to 10.2%. Various factors before, during, and after surgery are the predictors of PMV in these patients, which can be used to design new scoring systems to predict it.
PubMed: 38188710
DOI: 10.4103/heartviews.heartviews_71_23 -
Journal of Cardiovascular Development... Dec 2023Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-associated pulmonary hypertension (PH-COPD) results in a significant impact on symptoms, quality of life, and survival. There is... (Review)
Review
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-associated pulmonary hypertension (PH-COPD) results in a significant impact on symptoms, quality of life, and survival. There is scant and conflicting evidence about the use of pulmonary hypertension (PH) specific therapy in patients with PH-COPD. PubMed, OVID, CINAHL, Cochrane, Embase, and Web of Science were searched using various MESH terms to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or observational studies investigating PH-specific therapies in patients with severe PH-COPD, defined by mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) of more than 35 mm Hg or pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) of more than 5 woods units on right heart catheterization. The primary outcome was a change in mPAP and PVR. Secondary outcomes were changes in six-minute walk distance (6MWD), changes in the brain-natriuretic peptide (BNP), New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, oxygenation, and survival. Thirteen studies satisfied the inclusion criteria, including a total of 328 patients with severe PH-COPD. Out of these, 308 patients received some type of specific therapy for PH. There was a significant reduction in mPAP (mean difference (MD) -3.68, 95% CI [-2.03, -5.32], < 0.0001) and PVR (MD -1.40 Wood units, 95% CI [-1.97, -0.82], < 0.00001). There was a significant increase in the cardiac index as well (MD 0.26 L/min/m, 95% CI [0.14, 0.39], < 0.0001). There were fewer patients who had NYHA class III/lV symptoms, with an odds ratio of 0.55 (95% CI [0.30, 1.01], = 0.05). There was no significant difference in the 6MWD (12.62 m, 95% CI [-8.55, 33.79], = 0.24), PaO (MD -2.20 mm Hg, 95% CI [-4.62, 0.22], = 0.08), or BNP or NT-proBNP therapy (MD -0.15, 95% CI [-0.46, 0.17], = 0.36). The use of PH-specific therapies in severe PH-COPD resulted in a significant reduction in mPAP and PVR and increased CI, with fewer patients remaining in NYHA functional class III/IV. However, no significant difference in the 6MWD, biomarkers of right ventricular dysfunction, or oxygenation was identified, demonstrating a lack of hypoxemia worsening with treatment. Further studies are needed to investigate the use of PH medications in patients with severe PH-COPD.
PubMed: 38132665
DOI: 10.3390/jcdd10120498 -
Diseases (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2023Istaroxime, an intravenous inotropic agent with a dual mechanism-increasing both cardiomyocyte contractility and relaxation-is a novel treatment for acute heart failure... (Review)
Review
Istaroxime, an intravenous inotropic agent with a dual mechanism-increasing both cardiomyocyte contractility and relaxation-is a novel treatment for acute heart failure (AHF), the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in heart failure. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis that synthesized randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which were retrieved by systematically searching PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and Cochrane until 24 April 2023. We used a fixed-effect or random-effect model-according to heterogeneity-to pool dichotomous data using the risk ratio (RR) and continuous data using the mean difference (MD), with a 95% confidence interval (CI). We included three RCTs with a total of 300 patients. Istaroxime was significantly associated with an increased left ventricular ejection fraction (mL) (MD: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.29, 1.82; = 0.007), stroke volume index (MD: 3.04, 95% CI: 2.41, 3.67; = 0.00001), and cardiac index (L/min/m) (MD: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.11, 025; = 0.00001). Also, istaroxime was significantly associated with a decreased E/A ratio (MD: -0.39, 95% CI: -0.58, -0.19; = 0.0001) and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (mmHg) (MD: 2.30, 95% CI: 3.20, 1.40; = 0.00001). Istaroxime was significantly associated with increased systolic blood pressure (mmHg) (MD: 5.32, 95% CI: 2.28, 8.37; = 0.0006) and decreased heart rate (bpm) (MD: -3.05, 95% CI: -5.27, -0.82; = 0.007). Since istaroxime improved hemodynamic and echocardiographic parameters, it constitutes a promising strategy for AHF management. However, the current literature is limited to a small number of RCTs, warranting further large-scale phase III trials before clinical endorsement.
PubMed: 38131989
DOI: 10.3390/diseases11040183 -
Scientific Reports Dec 2023Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a severe condition that leads to premature mortality and places a significant financial burden on healthcare systems. An... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a severe condition that leads to premature mortality and places a significant financial burden on healthcare systems. An adjunctive therapy in COPD includes the simultaneous administration of astragalus injection and ambroxol hydrochloride. Despite its widespread use, the effectiveness of this combined approach in COPD treatment has not been systematically evaluated. Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of combining astragalus injection with ambroxol hydrochloride as an adjuvant treatment for COPD. Six electronic databases were used to search for relevant randomized controlled trials, and data analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.4. A total of 14 randomized controlled trials were included, involving 1070 patients who met the criteria. The results of the meta-analysis indicated that the combination of astragalus injection with ambroxol hydrochloride as an adjuvant treatment can improve various clinical parameters in patients with COPD compared to conventional treatment alone. These parameters include the clinical effective rate (OR = 5.44, 95% CI 3.51-8.43, I = 0%), partial pressure of oxygen in artery (MD = 1.12, 95% CI 0.87-1.36, I = 5%), partial pressure of carbon dioxide in artery (MD = - 1.43, 95% CI - 1.65 to - 1.21, I = 0%), forced expiratory volume in one second (MD = 0.30, 95% CI 0.18-0.42, I = 0%), percentage of forced expiratory volume in one second (MD = 16.18, 95% CI 12.60-19.76, I = 82%), forced vital capacity (MD = 0.33, 95% CI 0.21-0.45, I = 36%), hemoglobin (MD = - 16.17, 95% CI - 20.84 to - 11.51, I = 29%), and the ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity (MD = 2.51, 95% CI - 0.05 to 5.06, I = 0%). The combination of astragalus injection and ambroxol hydrochloride could be a selection of COPD patients as an adjuvant treatment. However, further validation is required to evaluate the effectiveness of combining astragalus injection and ambroxol hydrochloride as an adjunctive treatment for patients with COPD.
Topics: Humans; Ambroxol; Quality of Life; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
PubMed: 38087032
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49421-6 -
Le Infezioni in Medicina 2023Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a progressive, debilitating clinical condition associated with significant morbidity. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for...
Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a progressive, debilitating clinical condition associated with significant morbidity. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for life-threatening hemoptysis in symptomatic patients with simple aspergillomas. However, in patients with chronic cavitary pulmonary aspergillosis, surgical removal of aspergillomas is fraught with difficulty due to debilitating nature of the illness. Here we present a case showcasing the utility of intrabronchial voriconazole instillation in controlling hemoptysis in a patient unfit for surgery followed by systematic review of literature involving 11 clinical studies after screening a total of 5572 studies from PubMed and Google Scholar database. Data gathered from these studies addresses the concerns regarding the efficacy, safety of the procedure as well as draws attention regarding several lacunae in our existing knowledge. A 53-year-old male with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis who had recurrent episodes of hemoptysis despite bronchial artery embolization and was unfit for surgery due to limited lung reserve, patient underwent single session of intrabronchial voriconazole instillation which resulted in dramatic symptomatic and radiological improvement. Intrabronchial antifungal instillation may be a safe and effective option for hemoptysis control in patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis.
PubMed: 38075417
DOI: 10.53854/liim-3104-17 -
The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine Jan 2024There may be many predictors of anticoagulation-related gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB), but until now, systematic reviews and assessments of the certainty of the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND/AIMS
There may be many predictors of anticoagulation-related gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB), but until now, systematic reviews and assessments of the certainty of the evidence have not been published. We conducted a systematic review to identify all risk factors for anticoagulant-associated GIB to inform risk prediction in the management of anticoagulation- related GIB.
METHODS
A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to search PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases (from inception through January 21, 2022) using the following search terms: anticoagulants, heparin, warfarin, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, DOACs, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, risk factors. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria, studies of risk factors for anticoagulation-related GIB were identified. Risk factors for anticoagulant-associated GIB were used as the outcome index of this review.
RESULTS
We included 34 studies in our analysis. For anticoagulant-associated GIB, moderate-certainty evidence showed a probable association with older age, kidney disease, concomitant use of aspirin, concomitant use of the antiplatelet agent, heart failure, myocardial infarction, hematochezia, renal failure, coronary artery disease, helicobacter pylori infection, social risk factors, alcohol use, smoking, anemia, history of sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, international normalized ratio (INR), obesity et al. Some of these factors are not included in current GIB risk prediction models. such as anemia, co-administration of gemfibrozil, co-administration of verapamil or diltiazem, INR, heart failure, myocardial infarction, etc.
CONCLUSION
The study found that anemia, co-administration of gemfibrozil, co-administration of verapamil or diltiazem, INR, heart failure, myocardial infarction et al. were associated with anticoagulation-related GIB, and these factors were not in the existing prediction models. This study informs risk prediction for anticoagulant-associated GIB, it also informs guidelines for GIB prevention and future research.
Topics: Humans; Anemia; Anticoagulants; Diltiazem; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Gemfibrozil; Heart Failure; Helicobacter Infections; Helicobacter pylori; Myocardial Infarction; Risk Factors; Verapamil
PubMed: 38062723
DOI: 10.3904/kjim.2023.098 -
International Wound Journal Nov 2023We aimed to quantitatively and systematically elucidate the rationality of the examined variables as independent risk factors for sternal wound infection. We searched... (Review)
Review
We aimed to quantitatively and systematically elucidate the rationality of the examined variables as independent risk factors for sternal wound infection. We searched databases to screen studies, ascertained the variables to be analysed, extracted the data and applied meta-analysis to each qualified variable. Odds ratios and mean differences were considered to be the effect sizes for binary and continuous variables, respectively. A random-effects model was used for these procedures. The source of heterogeneity was evaluated using a meta-regression. Publication bias was tested by funnel plot and Egger's test, the significant results of which were then calculated using trim and fill analysis. We used a sensitivity analysis and bubble chart to describe their robustness. After screening all variables in the eligible literature, we excluded 55 because only one or no research found them significant after multivariate analysis, leaving 33 variables for synthesis. Two binary variables (age over 65 years, NYHA class >2) and a continuous variable (preoperative stay) were not significant after the meta-analysis. The most robust independent risk factors in our study were diabetes mellitus, obesity, use of bilateral internal thoracic arteries, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, prolonged surgery time, prolonged ventilation and critical preoperative state, followed by congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, renal insufficiency, stroke, peripheral vascular disease and use of an intra-aortic balloon pump. Relatively low-risk factors were emergent/urgent surgery, smoking, myocardial infarction, combined surgery and coronary artery bypass grafting. Sternal wound infection after open-heart surgery is a multifactorial disease. The detected risk factors significantly affected the wound healing process, but some were different in strength. Anything that affects wound healing and antibacterial ability, such as lack of oxygen, local haemodynamic disorders, malnutrition condition and compromised immune system will increase the risk, and this reminds us of comprehensive treatment during the perioperative period.
PubMed: 37909266
DOI: 10.1111/iwj.14457 -
Global Heart 2023This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the efficacy of macitentan in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the efficacy of macitentan in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH).
METHODS
A systematic search was made of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.gov, without language restrictions. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on treatment of PH with macitentan, compared with placebo or blank, were reviewed. Studies were pooled to weighted mean differences (WMDs) and risk ratios (RRs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
RESULTS
Six RCTs (enrolling 1,003 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Macitentan showed significant effects on 6-min walk distance (6MWD) (WMD 12.06 m, 95% CI 2.12 to 21.99 m), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) (WMD -186.51 dyn·s/cm, 95% CI -232.72 to -140.29 dyn·s/cm), mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) (WMD -3.20 mmHg, 95% CI -5.93 to -0.47 mmHg), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (WMD -232.47 ng/L, 95% wCI -318.22 to -146.72 ng/L), and cardiac index (WMD 0.39 L/min/m, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.58 L/min/m).
CONCLUSION
Macitentan significantly improved 6MWD, PVR, mPAP, NT-proBNP, and cardiac index in patients with PH. Macitentan should be further validated in patients with PH.
Topics: Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Treatment Outcome; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Pyrimidines
PubMed: 37901601
DOI: 10.5334/gh.1274 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Sep 2023Various studies have demonstrated that low-Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) living-donor liver transplant (LDLT) recipients have better outcomes with improved... (Review)
Review
Comparing High- and Low-Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Living-Donor Liver Transplantation to Determine Clinical Efficacy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (CHALICE Study).
INTRODUCTION
Various studies have demonstrated that low-Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) living-donor liver transplant (LDLT) recipients have better outcomes with improved patient survival than deceased-donor liver transplantation (DDLT) recipients. LDLT recipients gain the most from being transplanted at MELD <25-30; however, some existing data have outlined that LDLT may provide equivalent outcomes in high-MELD and low-MELD patients, although the term "high" MELD is arbitrarily defined in the literature and various cut-off scores are outlined between 20 and 30, although most commonly, the dividing threshold is 25. The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare LDLT in high-MELD with that in low-MELD recipients to determine patient survival and graft survival, as well as perioperative and postoperative complications.
METHODS
Following PROSPERO registration CRD-42021261501, a systematic database search was conducted for the published literature between 1990 and 2021 and yielded a total of 10 studies with 2183 LT recipients; 490 were HM-LDLT recipients and 1693 were LM-LDLT recipients.
RESULTS
Both groups had comparable mortality at 1, 3 and 5 years post-transplant (5-year HR 1.19; 95% CI 0.79-1.79; -value 0.40) and graft survival (HR 1.08; 95% CI 0.72, 1.63; -value 0.71). No differences were observed in the rates of major morbidity, hepatic artery thrombosis, biliary complications, intra-abdominal bleeding, wound infection and rejection; however, the HM-LDLT group had higher risk for pulmonary infection, abdominal fluid collection and prolonged ICU stay.
CONCLUSIONS
The high-MELD LDLT group had similar patient and graft survival and morbidities to the low-MELD LDLT group, despite being at higher risk for pulmonary infection, abdominal fluid collection and prolonged ICU stay. The data, primarily sourced from high-volume Asian centers, underscore the feasibility of living donations for liver allografts in high-MELD patients. Given the rising demand for liver allografts, it is sensible to incorporate these insights into U.S. transplant practices.
PubMed: 37762738
DOI: 10.3390/jcm12185795