Citations

Abstract Aortic valvar atresia is a congenital cardiovascular malformation in which there is no patency of the aortic valve, and thus no communication between aorta and either ventricle. A hypoplastic ascending aorta is a constant feature, usually in the context of a small left ventricle and mitral valve. A subset of this group is aortic atresia with a ventricular septal defect with well-developed mitral valve and balanced ventricles. This morphological variant is often misdiagnosed as common arterial trunk on echocardiography and computerised tomography. In the absence of coarctation or focal narrowing of the aortic arch, one can misdiagnose this entity as common arterial trunk with a single coronary artery from the brachiocephalic artery. Patients with this variant may have hypoplastic left heart physiology, but can potentially undergo a biventricular repair. Herein, we describe aortic valvar atresia with a large pulmonary trunk and ventricular septal defect, with balanced ventricles and a well-developed mitral valve. The patient was originally misdiagnosed as having a common arterial trunk. We emphasise the morphological differences, as well as the surgical importance, including technical considerations, conduction of cardiopulmonary bypass, and myocardial protection.

Abstract Mohs Surgery from 2016 to 2022: Declining Medicaid Reimbursement and ACA Expansion Impact Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is the standard of care for many nonmelanoma skin cancers, yet access remains highly variable due to low reimbursement rates. Only 39.5% of Mohs surgeons nationally accept Medicaid. While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion improved coverage for low-income adults, its effects on dermatologic reimbursement remain unclear. This study provides the first comprehensive analysis of inflation-adjusted Medicaid reimbursement trends for MMS and determines whether ACA Medicaid expansion translated into improved payment rates. Average physician reimbursement per patient for MMS procedures (CPT codes 17311–17314) from 2016 to 2022 was extracted from a large insurance claims database and adjusted for inflation to 2022 U.S. dollars. States were categorized by Medicaid expansion status, and linear regression assessed reimbursement trends. Between 2016 and 2022, national weighted average reimbursement for MMS first stage (CPT 17311) declined 18.33%, while MMS additional stages (CPT 17312) decreased 25.52% (p = 0.0182). When stratified by expansion status, CPT 17311 reimbursement declined − 5.71% in expansion states versus increasing + 5.80% in non-expansion states (p = 0.00121). Reimbursement for non-high-risk anatomic areas declined 26.10% and 32.6%, respectively. Inflation-adjusted Medicaid payments for MMS declined substantially from 2016 to 2022, with greater reductions in Medicaid expansion states. While ACA expansion increased coverage, it introduced financial pressures through lower fee schedules, potentially threatening physician participation and access to essential dermatologic surgery for vulnerable populations.

Background Burnout arises from prolonged, unresolved work-related stress and adversely affects professional performance and overall well-being. Resident doctors and medical students are particularly vulnerable because of the demands of balancing clinical, academic and related responsibilities. Aims This study aimed to assess self-reported burnout and related stressors among UK resident doctors and medical students, and estimate the economic impact of burnout-related absenteeism among resident doctors. Method Self-report questionnaires assessing burnout and related stressors were distributed to UK resident doctors and medical students. A total of 2793 responses were received: 1439 (51.5%) from resident doctors and 1354 (48.5%) from medical students. Economic losses from absenteeism were calculated with a human capital approach. Results Burnout was reported by 70% ( n = 1008) of resident doctors and 65.7% ( n = 889) of medical students. Notably, 56.8% ( n = 573) and 79.3% ( n = 705) of resident doctors and medical students affected by burnout, respectively, were unaware of available support services. Relocation stress (85.1% of residents and 62.6% of students), financial stress (53.9% of residents and 57.8% of students) and poor work–life balance (32.1% of residents and 20.7% of students) were commonly reported. The annual economic burden of absenteeism related to burnout among resident doctors was estimated to reach £251.5 million. Conclusions Burnout among UK resident doctors and medical students may reflect a combination of underlying factors, including financial strain, relocation stress and difficulties with work–life balance. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions that support well-being and address financial and relocation challenges, which may, in turn, help prevent burnout and improve retention within the medical workforce. Reducing burnout and associated stressors may also help lessen its economic impact, allowing resources to be redirected towards patient care.

Aim Incorporating patient-reported outcomes (PROs) into clinical practice and real-world research is essential to enable a more holistic assessment of treatment effectiveness, beyond migraine frequency alone. Given the number of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-targeted treatments available, switching between CGRP-targeted preventive therapies is a common practice. Real-world evidence on switching to intravenous eptinezumab in adults with migraine for whom prior subcutaneous or oral CGRP-targeted preventive therapies failed is limited. The ongoing INFUSE study was designed to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of switching to eptinezumab in US clinical practice among adults with migraine for whom ≥1 prior CGRP-targeted preventive therapy had failed. Methods INFUSE, a real-world, non-interventional study evaluating the effectiveness of eptinezumab in US clinical practice, included adults with migraine for whom ≥1 prior CGRP-targeted preventive therapy had failed and who were newly initiating eptinezumab treatment. PROs were collected electronically. To provide an overall assessment of the change in migraine disease, Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) was utilized. Other outcomes allowed for the evaluation of novel end points, such as brain fog and participant-defined good days. Results The baseline population included 190 participants (female, 88.9%; 35–54 years of age, 53.7%). At month 6, 44.1% (95% confidence interval (CI): 35.3–53.4%) of participants reported “much/very much improved” on PGIC, and 75.7% (95% CI: 66.9–82.7%) reported any improvement. Mean good days increased by 6.3 per month at month 6 ( P < 0.001). Among participants reporting brain fog at baseline (93.7%), 55.8% (95% CI: 46.2–64.9%) reported improvement at month 6. Conclusion This research provides insights into capturing the broader migraine burden and the holistic impact of preventive treatment and highlights the potential for achieving ambitious goals. In this population for whom ≥1 prior CGRP-targeted preventive therapy had failed, switching to eptinezumab was associated with participant-reported, clinically meaningful improvements in PROs, including frequency, disability, disease status, and brain fog.

Abstract Aims We aimed to compare procedural, echocardiographic, and clinical outcomes within the first year after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) among inhospital and subacute patients to elective patients in the COMPARE-TAVI 1 cohort. Methods and results Among 1030 patients treated with TAVI, 927 (90%) had an elective procedure, 63 (6.1%) had a subacute procedure, and 40 (3.9%) had an inhospital procedure. Procedural characteristics and outcomes were comparable. Among elective, subacute, and inhospital patients, mortality at 30 days was 15 (1.6%), 0 (0%), and 0 (0%) and at 1 year 54 (5.8%), 4 (6.3%), and 2 (5.0%). Stroke at 30 days was 28 (3.0%), 0 (0%), and 3 (7.5%) and at 1 year 42 (4.5%), 5 (7.9%), and 3 (7.5%). New pacemaker at 30 days was 119 (14%), 12 (21%), and 6 (17%) and at 1 year 130 (16%), 14 (25%), and 7 (19%). Elective, subacute, and inhospital patients with LVEF ≤40%, improved their LVEF from 33% (28–37), 33% (27–37), and 28% (22–33) before TAVI to 46% (35–60), 43% (33–52), and 42% (33–55) at 30-days, and 54% (45–62), 53% (43–61), and 49% (39–63) at 1-year. Differences between the groups were not statistically significant. Conclusion After transfemoral TAVI with balloon-expandable valves in COMPARE-TAVI 1, procedural, echocardiographic, and clinical outcomes were comparable among elective, subacute, and inhospital patients within the first year.

Cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with malignancy, yet its imaging manifestations extend far beyond the conventional diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. This comprehensive review examines the full spectrum of CAT as encountered by radiologists, from routine venous thromboembolism to unusual-site thromboses, arterial thromboembolic events, catheter-related complications, and endovascular management strategies. Patients with cancer face a four- to seven-fold increased risk of venous thromboembolism compared with the general population, and arterial thromboembolism occurs at more than twice the expected rate, particularly within the first six months following cancer diagnosis. The radiologist’s role spans detection, characterization, and therapeutic guidance across multiple vascular territories. Key diagnostic challenges addressed include the distinction between bland and tumor thrombus—a determination with direct implications for TNM staging, surgical planning, and systemic therapy selection—and the recognition of incidental thromboembolism, which carries prognostic weight equivalent to symptomatic events and warrants similar clinical management. Emerging applications of diffusion-weighted MRI, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, and FDG-PET/CT provide a multiparametric toolkit for thrombus characterization, while artificial intelligence and machine learning show promise for improving patient selection and reducing unnecessary imaging. The expanding recognition of cancer-associated arterial disease, including cerebrovascular, coronary, and peripheral arterial events, requires that cardiovascular structures receive systematic attention on routine oncologic imaging. Interventional radiology contributes actively to CAT management through inferior vena cava filtration, catheter-directed thrombolysis, and thrombolytic-sparing mechanical thrombectomy, the latter being particularly relevant in oncology patients with elevated bleeding risk. Conclusions: Realizing the full potential of imaging in CAT requires not only technical proficiency with individual modalities but a synthesized, oncology-informed interpretive approach that incorporates the patient’s treatment history, biomarker status, and thrombotic risk profile at the time of image interpretation, positioning the radiologist as a central rather than peripheral figure in oncologic care.

Introduction Obesity and related cardiometabolic comorbidities, including hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, are increasingly prevalent among individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These conditions influence disease activity, therapeutic response, surgical outcomes and overall quality of life, yet evidence remains fragmented. The M odulate O besity and relate D metabolic compl I cations F or Y ielding improvements in IBD outcomes (MODIFY-IBD) initiative aims to synthesise evidence and generate consensus recommendations to guide practice and future research in this area. This study describes a protocol for a structured evidence synthesis and Research ANd Development/University of California, Los Angeles (RAND/UCLA) Appropriateness Method (RUAM) consensus process. Methods and analysis We will conduct three systematic reviews and a structured evidence synthesis organised into three domains: (1) the impact of obesity on IBD outcomes, (2) the burden of cardiometabolic complications in IBD and (3) the management of overweight, obesity and cardiometabolic comorbidities in IBD. A multidisciplinary international panel of gastroenterologists, surgeons, endocrinologists, hepatologists, cardiologists and dietitians will assess each statement using the RAND/UCLA appropriateness method. Panellists will rate the appropriateness of each statement (only those that fall within their area of expertise) on a 1–9 scale (1–3=inappropriate, 4–6=uncertain and 7–9=appropriate), with medians rounded up (eg, 6.5=appropriate). Agreement will be assessed using the RAND Disagreement Index (DI<1.0=agreement). Ethics and dissemination This study will not involve direct patient participation, as it is based on evidence synthesis and expert consensus; therefore, formal research ethics committee approval will not be required. Patient representatives will contribute to the consensus process to provide contextual perspectives but no identifiable data will be collected. Findings will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals, presentation at major gastroenterology and IBD conferences and communication with professional societies. A lay summary and patient-friendly infographic will also be developed to facilitate translation of recommendations into clinical practice. PROSPERO registration numbers CRD420251178843: a systematic review of the impact of obesity on inflammatory bowel disease outcomes. CRD420251178799: a systematic review of cardiometabolic complications in inflammatory bowel disease. CRD420251174653: management of overweight, obesity and cardiometabolic comorbidities in inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review.

Introduction Geriatric distal femur fractures are associated with mortality rates exceeding 20%, comparable to hip fractures. Traditional single implant fixation often requires weight-bearing restrictions that delay recovery. This pilot study aims to assess the feasibility of conducting a multicentre randomised controlled trial comparing dual vs single implant fixation for geriatric distal femur fractures. Methods and analysis This multicentre, prospective, randomised controlled pilot trial will enrol 80 participants aged 60 years or older with displaced distal femur fractures at five US level 1 trauma centres. Patients will be randomly allocated 1:1 to receive either single implant (lateral plate or retrograde nail) or dual implant (nail-plate or dual plate) fixation. All patients will be permitted immediate weight-bearing. The primary outcome is feasibility assessed through enrolment rate (80 patients in 12 months), protocol adherence (≥90%) and follow-up retention (≥85% at 12 months). Secondary outcomes include post-surgical mobility (AM-PAC, TUG), patient-reported outcomes (PROMIS-PF, PROMIS-29), mortality (90-day and 1 year) and complication rates. Analyses will be on an intention-to-treat basis. Ethics and dissemination The protocol was approved by the University of Utah Institutional Review Board (IRB_00149119) and IRBs at all participating centres. Written informed consent will be obtained from participants or legally authorised representatives. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. Trial registration number NCT05292313 .

ABSTRACT Background/Objectives Prospective applicants for pediatric dermatology fellowships often use program websites as a source of information. This study evaluated the content of pediatric dermatology fellowship websites to identify potential areas of improvement including website accessibility and information found on websites. In addition, this study also surveyed current pediatric dermatology fellows and program directors (PDs) to determine priorities in website content across different stakeholders. Methods Using the Society for Pediatric Dermatology's (SPD) list of fellowship programs, two independent evaluators assessed the same 40 total programs, with 29 of the same websites included for analysis, against 27 criteria across four domains. In addition, an electronic survey was disseminated via the SPD's mailing list to current pediatric dermatology fellows and fellowship PDs. Results On average between both evaluators, of the 29 included fellowship websites, 9 educational criteria were included 47.8% of the time across the websites, compared to 46.0% of 10 recruitment criteria, 30.7% of 5 social criteria, and 31.6% of 3 other criteria. Fellows were significantly more likely than PDs to consider several website components as highly valuable. Conclusions These findings reveal variable and incomplete content across pediatric dermatology fellowship websites, as well as differing expectations for fellowship websites between pediatric dermatology fellowship applicants and PDs, which may help provide suggestions to optimize future website development to enhance applicant engagement.