Functional assessment of the native retinal pigment epithelium after the surgical excision of subfoveal choroidal neovascular membranes type II: preliminary results.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Kychenthal.
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PURPOSE: To test the feasibility of a new surgical technique, and to assess visual function over the translocated retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in patients operated upon for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six patients presenting previously untreated exudative AMD underwent surgical excision of the subfoveal CNV with RPE translocation and were followed from 1 to 10.5 months. The surgery consisted of a standard three port pars plana vitrectomy (TPPPV), excision of the CNV and RPE translocation. Pre and post-operative ocular examination included best-corrected visual acuity measurement, fundus color stereo photography and fundus fluorescein angiography. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and confocal laser scanning ophthalmoscopy (cLSO) were performed post-operatively. A cross fixation target and a single-point flashing light were projected on different areas of the posterior pole using a cLSO. Photopic 10-2 perimetry, photopic fine matrix mapping, cLSO microperimetry were also performed pre and post-operatively in four patients. OCT cross-sectional scans and cLSO RPE autofluorescence were recorded to detect the presence of viable translocated RPE. Visual acuity, fixation, photopic 10-2 perimetry, photopic fine matrix mapping and cLSO microperimetry were tested for the presence of central visual function. RESULTS: RPE could be effectively translocated at the time of CNV removal from the edge of the RPE defect to a subfoveal location. OCT showed the translocated RPE as an area of increased optical reflectivity with optical shadowing external to it. cLSO showed autofluorescence of the translocated RPE. The cross fixation target was seen when projected on the translocated RPE. During eccentric fixation, the patients could see a flashing point-target projected on the translocated RPE. Photopic 10-2 perimetry, photopic fine matrix mapping and cLSO microperimetry showed presence of central visual function. CONCLUSIONS: The authors propose that translocation of RPE at the time of CNV removal, from the edge of the RPE defect to a subfoveal location, may have a role in the surgical management of AMD.
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INTRODUCTION: Patients with zone I retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) have poor outcomes despite treatment. We analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment outcome of patients with zone I disease and compare them with patients with zone II disease. METHODS: Preterm infants weighing less than 1500 g at birth were screened by the authors at age 4 to 6 weeks (group A). Group B was composed of referral patients that had been screened elsewhere. Findings were recorded according to the International Classification of Retinopathy of Prematurity. We classified all patients as either zone I, zone II, or zone III disease. If a retinopathy spanned 2 zones in one eye, it was classified in the most posterior zone as indicated by the International Classification of Retinopathy of Prematurity. Threshold was defined as in the Cryotherapy for Retinopathy of Prematurity study. Indirect diode-laser treatment was used to ablate the avascular retina. At the 3-month follow-up, outcome was judged according to Cryotherapy for Retinopathy of Prematurity criteria. Differences between eyes with zone I or zone II ROP were analyzed. RESULTS: Group A was composed of 222 infants; 2 presented with zone I ROP. Of 63 patients comprising group B, 9 had zone I ROP: a total of 11 infants with zone I ROP, 22 eyes. At 3 months, 8 of 20 eyes with zone I ROP that were included in follow-up had an unfavorable outcome (40%). Mean birth weight and gestational age were similar in zone I and zone II cases, but mean gestational age at treatment was significantly different (35.2 weeks in zone I cases vs 37.2 weeks in zone II cases, P =.006). Unusual signs such as a demarcation vessel between vascular and avascular retina and excessive intraretinal neovascularization were observed in zone I eyes but not observed in eyes with zone II or zone III ROP. DISCUSSION: Zone I ROP appears to be different from zone II ROP. Earlier treatment age suggests either an early start, faster progression, or both. Special attention should be given to atypical morphology present in zone I ROP.
Syncope is a common and particularly troublesome problem in the elderly population. In a series of 146 patients admitted for syncope to an acute care hospital in Chile during a 4-year period, 2/3 (68%) were aged 65 years and older. A specific etiology could be established in 62%, and 3/4 of these were cardiovascular in origin. Diagnosis was established entirely on history, physical examination, resting ECG, and 24-hour cardiac monitoring in most cases but in some, more sophisticated measures (i.e., echocardiography, electrophysiologic studies, blood tests, EEG) were needed, and mostly to confirm clinically suspected problems. In-hospital mortality was 2.1% and mortality at the end of the approximately 2-year follow-up period was 18.1%. Mortality was higher for persons over age 65 than for younger persons (23.9% vs 2.3%), and for persons with cardiovascular syncope than for persons with other kinds of syncope (28.3% vs 8.9%). This study confirms the particular lethality of syncope in the elderly population and outlines a relatively simple strategy with which most syncope patients can be diagnosed without resorting to expensive procedures.
We followed up 143 patients that had been admitted to intensive care units of a general hospital with syncope. 127 patients (89%) remained in follow up for a mean of 24 months (range 3 to 54 months). There were 70 men and 57 women and the mean age was 71.5 years. Recurrences were observed in 21 patients (17%) and were similar for patients whose syncope had a cardiovascular origin (10%), non cardiovascular origin (25%) or an undetermined cause (18%). Mortality from cardiac or vascular causes was 20% in the cardiovascular origin group, and 5 and 4.2% in the other groups, respectively (p less than 0.005). Recurrence did not influence mortality. A history of hypertension, cerebrovascular accidents and ventricular arrhythmias was associated to higher mortality risk (p less than 0.05).
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We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 146 patients admitted to a general hospital with the diagnosis of syncope. A definite or highly likely cause was identified in 91 patients (62%). These were of cardiovascular origin in 78%: conduction defects (31), sinus node disease (9), obstructive causes (8), ventricular arrhythmia (8), ischemia (5) and miscellaneous (14). A non cardiovascular origin was present in 22% of patients: intoxication (7), hysteria (5), hypoxemia (3), vasovagal (2), gastrointestinal bleeding (2) and 2 others. The final diagnosis in patients with a known cause was established by the history and physical examination in 16, the ECG in 42, Holter 9, ECG monitoring in ICU 8 and echocardiogram 6. No difference in the distribution of causes was present between patients below or above 65 years of age. In hospital mortality was 2%.