Malik, Preeti

Introduction: Redo-Surgical valve replacement (Redo-SAVR) is the gold standard treatment for failed degenerated bioprosthetic valves. Recently approved less invasive Valve-In-Valve Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (ViV-TAVI) procedure is becoming more popular but with limited evidence of its safety and efficacy compared to redo-SAVR. Hypothesis: We aimed to conduct the meta-meta analysis to evaluate the outcomes of ViV-TAVI compared to redo-SAVR. Methods: We conducted a systematic search of meta-analysis studies assessing outcomes of ViV-TAVR vs redo-SAVR using PubMed search engine and following PRISMA guidelines from inception to May 2021. A meta-meta-analysis was performed by obtaining a pooled odds ratio, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) using random-effects models to analyze outcomes of 30-day all-cause mortality and procedural mortality. Results: Nine meta-analysis studies were included. We found that there was a significantly lower odds of 30-day all-cause mortality (pooled OR:0.60; 95%CI:0.53-0.68; p<0.00001) with 0% heterogeneity (I2= 0%;p=0.53) in the ViV-TAVI compared to redo-SAVR. We also found a reduced risk of procedural mortality with ViV-TAVI compared to redo-SAVR (pooled OR:0.52; 95%CI:0.27-0.98; p=0.04) with 0% heterogeneity (I2= 0%;p=0.69) (Figure). Conclusions: ViV-TAVI is significantly associated with reduced risk of 30-day all-cause mortality, and procedural mortality compared to redo-SAVR. Our meta-meta-analysis supports that minimally invasive ViV-TAVI is a safe and better procedure for degenerated bioprosthetic valves in high-risk candidates.

Background/objective Nummular headache (NH) is a primary headache disorder characterised by intermittent or continuous scalp pain, affecting a small circumscribed area of the scalp. As there are limited data in the literature on NH, we conducted this review to evaluate demographic characteristics and factors associated with complete resolution of the headache, and effectiveness of treatment options. Methods We performed a systematic review of cases reported through PubMed database, using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol and ‘nummular headache’, ‘coin-shaped headache’ and ‘coin-shaped cephalalgia’ keywords. Analysis was performed by using χ2 test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test. For individual interventions, the response rate (RR%) of the treatment was calculated. Results We analysed a total of 110 NH cases, with median age 47 years and age of pain onset 42 years. Median duration to make correct diagnosis was 18 months after first attack. The median intensity of each attack was 5/10 on verbal rating scale over 4 cm diameter with duration of attack <30 min. Patients with NH had median three attacks per day with frequency of 9.5 days per month. 40 (57.97%) patients had complete resolution of the headache after treatment. Patients with complete resolution were younger, more likely to be female, and were more likely to have diagnosis within year. Patients with complete resolution more likely to have received treatment with onabotulinum toxin A (botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A)), and gabapentin compared with patients without complete resolution. Most effective interventions were gabapentin (n=34; RR=67.7%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (n=32; RR=65.6%), BoNT-A (n=12; RR=100%) and tricyclic antidepressant (n=9; RR=44.4%). Conclusion Younger patients, female sex and early diagnosis were associated with complete resolution. NSAIDs, gabapentin and BoNT-A were most commonly used medications, with significant RRs.

Background Pediatric stroke is a debilitating disease. There are several risk factors predisposing children to this life-threatening disease. Although, published literature estimates a relatively high incidence of pediatric stroke, treatment guidelines on intravenous tissue plasminogen activator and endovascular thrombectomy utilization remain a dilemma. There is a lack of large population-based studies and clinical trials evaluating the efficacy and safety outcomes associated with these treatments in this unique population. Aim We sought to determine the prevalence of risk factors, concurrent utilization of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator and endovascular thrombectomy, and associated outcomes in pediatric stroke hospitalizations. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample data (2003–2014) in pediatric (1–21 years of age) acute ischemic stroke hospitalizations using ICD-9-CM codes. The multivariable survey logistic regression model was weighted to account for sampling strategy, evaluate predictors of hemorrhagic conversion, and treatment outcomes (mortality, morbidity, and discharge disposition) amongst pediatric stroke hospitalizations. Results In this analysis, 9109 patients between 1 and 21 years of age were admitted during 2003–2014 for acute ischemic stroke. Of these 9109 patients, 119 (1.30%) received endovascular thrombectomy alone, 256 (2.82%) intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, and 69 (0.75%) both endovascular thrombectomy and intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator. We found overall high prevalence of conditions like epilepsy (19.59%), atrial septal defect (11.76%), sickle cell disease (8.63%), and moyamoya disease (5.41%) in pediatric acute ischemic stroke patients. Unadjusted analysis showed high prevalence of all-cause in-hospital mortality in combined endovascular thrombectomy and intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator utilization group, and higher prevalence of hemorrhagic conversion and morbidity in endovascular thrombectomy utilization group compared to other groups ( p < 0.0001). Multivariate adjusted analysis showed that children with endovascular thrombectomy utilization (aOR: 19.19; 95% CI: 2.50–147.29, p = 0.005), intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator utilization (aOR: 8.85; 95% CI: 1.92–40.76, p = 0.005), and both (endovascular thrombectomy and intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator) utilization (aOR: 7.55; 95% CI: 1.16–49.31, p = 0.035) had higher odds of hemorrhagic conversion compared to no-treatment group. Conclusion We found various risk factors associated with pediatric stroke. The early identification can be useful to formulate preventive strategies and influence the incidence of pediatric stroke. Our study results showed that use of intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and endovascular thrombectomy increase risk of mortality and hemorrhagic conversion, but we suggest to have more clinical studies to evaluate the idea candidates for utilization of intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and endovascular thrombectomy based on risk: benefit ratio.