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ABSTRACT Background With increasing use of donation after circulatory death (DCD) donor grafts, the need for accurate risk‐stratification tools in liver transplantation has become critical. Machine perfusion has been shown to improve both graft and patient survival. However, existing prediction models were developed in the static cold storage (SCS) era and their accuracy when using machine perfusion remains unknown. Our study aims to study if current scoring systems can predict graft and patient survival for DCD livers preserved using normothermic machine perfusion (NMP). Methods This was a retrospective study of patient and graft survival in a two‐center U.S. DCD NMP cohort ( n = 532) between January 2022 and December 2024. Predicted graft and patient survival rates were obtained from established risk scoring systems, including the United Kingdom DCD risk score (UK‐DCD), Early Allograft Dysfunction (EAD) Olthoff score, Liver Graft Assessment Following Transplantation (L‐GrAFT 7 ) score, Donor Risk Index (DRI), Balance of Risk (BAR) score, and Survival Outcomes Following Liver Transplant (SOFT) score. Model discrimination was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (C‐statistics). Survival outcomes across risk strata were estimated and compared using Kaplan‐Meier (KM) analysis. Results Across scoring systems, predicted survival consistently underestimated actual graft and patient survival in the NMP DCD cohort. The DRI, SOFT, EAD and L‐GrAFT 7 did not demonstrate predictive value. UK‐DCD predicted ≤85% and <40% 1‐year graft survival for its high‐risk and “futile” groups, whereas observed rates were 93.7% and 86.8%. BAR low‐risk predicted >60% 5‐year survival but 94.2% was observed; the high‐risk group predicted <60% and observed was 53.3%. Despite underestimations and generally poor C‐statistics, in KM stratification, high‐risk groups still showed statistical differences in the UK‐DCD categories ( p = 0.007), and in SOFT score groups ( p < 0.001). No statistical difference was seen in BAR ( p = 0.36), DRI ( p = 0.36), EAD ( p = 0.12), or L‐GrAFT 7 ( p = 0.75). Conclusion Existing liver transplant risk scores show limited predictive value for donor‐related risk factors in the NMP era, whereas recipient‐related factors remain somewhat predictive, despite overestimating risk. Early allograft dysfunction metrics were not reliable predictors of short or long‐term outcomes. Future risk models should integrate machine‐perfusion parameters and refined donor variables to reflect outcomes more accurately in contemporary DCD liver transplantation.

Low diagnostic yield of presurgical genetic testing in adult patients with epilepsy Jünemann C, Stuart A, Kaur N, Wiebe S, Jette N, Singh S, Borlot F, Knake S; Calgary Comprehensive Epilepsy Program Collaborators; Billie Au PY, Klein KM. Epilepsia . 2026 May 20. doi: 10.1002/epi.70291. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42157695. Objective: To determine the diagnostic yield of genetic testing in patients undergoing presurgical evaluation for epilepsy. Methods: We conducted a cohort study including 115 adult patients who underwent presurgical evaluation in the Calgary Epilepsy Program between 2019 and 2023 and who had undergone research exome sequencing. A curated epilepsy gene panel comprising 765 Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM)-listed epilepsy-associated genes was applied. Variants were classified according to American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines and assessed for clinical relevance and association with postsurgical outcomes. Results: Pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in DEPDC5, NPRL2, KCNT2, and PRRT2 were identified, respectively, in 4 individuals (3.5%, 4/115). All variants met stringent quality criteria with high pathogenicity scores (Combined Annotation Dependent Depletion (CADD) 34–37) and absent or extremely low population frequencies in gnomAD v4.1. None of these patients had intellectual disability, and only 1 patient (PRRT2) had a positive family history. The patient with the KCNT2 variant underwent epilepsy surgery with good outcome (Engel class ID). Significance: This presurgical cohort demonstrates a low diagnostic yield of genetic testing in adult epilepsy surgery candidates. However, 3 of 4 patients with (likely) pathogenic variants did not have features that would have prompted clinical genetic testing, indicating that their genetic diagnosis would have been missed based on typical clinical genetic testing criteria in many jurisdictions.

Zorevunersen in Children and Adolescents with Dravet Syndrome. Laux L, Sullivan J, Perry MS, Brunklaus A, Desurkar A, Schreiber JM, Roberts CM, Knupp KG, Wheless JW, Wirrell EC, Ventola P, Wang F, Meena, Lynch J, Parkerson KA, Ticho B, Cross JH; MONARCH, ADMIRAL, SWALLOWTAIL, and LONGWING Study Groups. N Engl J Med. 2026 Mar 5;394(10):969–982. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2506295. PMID: 41780062. Background: Dravet syndrome is a severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy caused primarily by SCN1A haploinsufficiency. Risks of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy and cognitive deficits are higher among patients with this syndrome than in the general population with epilepsy. The effects of zorevunersen, an antisense oligonucleotide designed to up-regulate Na V 1.1 sodium channels, in patients with Dravet syndrome are not known. Methods: We enrolled patients 2 to 18 years of age with Dravet syndrome who were receiving standard antiseizure medications in two phase 1–2a, open-label, multicenter studies (MONARCH and ADMIRAL). Patients were included in either a single-ascending-dose cohort, in which zorevunersen (10 to 70 mg) was administered on day 1 only, or a multiple-ascending-dose cohort, in which zorevunersen (20 to 70 mg) was administered two or three times in a 3-month period. Patients eligible for rollover to the two open-label extension studies (SWALLOWTAIL and LONGWING) continued to receive zorevunersen (≤45 mg) every 4 months. The safety and pharmacokinetics of zorevunersen were assessed in the primary analysis; clinical effects were also evaluated. Results: A total of 81 patients were enrolled in the phase 1–2a studies. As of May 30, 2025, a total of 75 patients had entered the extension studies. Most adverse events were mild or moderate. The most common adverse event was post-lumbar puncture syndrome (in 25% of patients) in the phase 1–2a studies and was an elevated protein level in cerebrospinal fluid (in 45%) in the extension studies. One patient had suspected unexpected serious adverse reactions, 1 had an adverse event that led to study withdrawal, 2 died from sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, and 1 died from malnutrition. Patients who received 70 mg of zorevunersen (one, two, or three doses) in the phase 1–2a studies, followed by up to 45 mg in the extension studies, had a median change from baseline in convulsive-seizure frequency ranging from −58.82% to −90.91% across 1-month intervals during the first 20 months of the extension studies. The data supported improvements in overall clinical status, quality of life, and adaptive behavior with continued treatment for up to 36 months in the extension studies. Conclusions: The safety profile and initial clinical improvement support the continued development of zorevunersen as a potential disease-modifying treatment for Dravet syndrome. (Supported by Stoke Therapeutics; MONARCH and SWALLOWTAIL ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT04442295 and NCT04740476, respectively; ADMIRAL and LONGWING ISRCTN Registry numbers, ISRCTN99651026 and ISRCTN12811235, respectively.).

Purpose To prospectively investigate subjective anterior groin pain, patient‐reported outcome measures, complications, reoperation rates, and hip flexion strength after arthroscopic iliopsoas fractional lengthening. Methods From 2023 to 2025, patients with persistent groin pain after total hip arthroplasty refractory to conservative management undergoing arthroscopic iliopsoas fractional lengthening were prospectively identified at 2 tertiary referral centers. Pre‐ and postoperative outcomes at a minimum 6‐month follow‐up including the Visual Analog Scale, Tegner activity scale, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation, and subjective anterior groin pain and hip flexion strength were analyzed. Results Fifty‐nine hips in 56 patients were included (age: 64.9 ± 9.8 years, 59% women, body mass index: 30.0 ± 5.8 kg/m 2 ) and followed for 10.0 ± 6.9 months postoperatively (range: 4‐25 months). Patients experienced significant ( P < .001) postoperative improvements in the Visual Analog Scale at rest (1.4 ± 2.2 vs 2.8 ± 2.1), Visual Analog Scale with use (3.0 ± 2.9 vs 7.8 ± 1.8), Tegner activity scale (2.8 ± 1.2 vs 2.0 ± 1.0), and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation score (73.8 ± 22.5 vs 47.7 ± 22.2). Postoperative surgical satisfaction was 8.0 ± 2.7 (scale: 0‐10). Nearly 90% of patients reported feeling much or slightly better regarding their anterior groin pain postoperatively at 2‐week (91%), 6‐week (88%), 3‐month (91%), and final follow‐up (92%). Regarding hip flexion strength, ≥66% reported feeling much or slightly better at 2‐week (73%), 6‐week (95%), 3‐month (89%), and final follow‐up (66%). Three hips (6%) underwent reoperation at the final follow‐up (1 acetabular screw removal with open revision release, 1 revision total hip arthroplasty for loosening, and 1 two‐stage exchange for nonacute periprosthetic joint infection). Conclusions Nearly 90% of patients who underwent arthroscopic iliopsoas fractional lengthening after primary total hip arthroplasty reported improved anterior groin pain, whereas two‐thirds reported increased subjective hip flexion strength throughout the follow‐up. Of note, clinically meaningful improvement in pain at rest was achieved by 50% of patients based on cohort‐specific minimal clinically important difference criteria. Level of Evidence Level IV, retrospective therapeutic case series.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Neonatal tracheal intubation is a high-risk procedure, and multiple attempts are associated with adverse events. At our tertiary neonatal intensive care unit, the baseline first-attempt success rate was 45%, which we aimed to increase to over 55% through a quality improvement (QI) initiative. METHODS A multidisciplinary team conducted a QI project using the define-measure-analyze-improve-control framework. Root cause analysis identified poor glottic visualization and patient instability as primary drivers of failure. Plan-do-study-act cycles were carried out (April 2023–July 2024), followed by a sustainability phase (August 2024–May 2025). Key interventions included the phased implementation of video laryngoscopy (VL) as the primary intubation device and the standardization of oxygenation during laryngoscopy using nasal high flow. First-attempt success was tracked using statistical process control, and bimonthly VL use was monitored as a process measure. RESULTS A total of 642 intubations were analyzed. By control chart analysis, the first-attempt success rate increased from a baseline of 45% to a sustained process mean of 61% during the intervention and sustainability phases. VL use increased from 0% at baseline to 70% to 90% during the sustainability phase. Success rates improved across all clinician types and locations. Notably, first-attempt success in infants weighing less than 1000 g increased from 38% at baseline to 62% during the intervention phase. CONCLUSION A systematic QI initiative focused on VL and standardized oxygenation improved and sustained neonatal intubation success rates, exceeding the project aim. The maintenance of high-success rates confirms the durability of these safety improvements.

Abstract Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is defined as elevated intra-abdominal pressure resulting in dysfunction of at least one thoracoabdominal organ. Diagnosing ACS is particularly challenging in critically ill patients. This study aimed to identify specific CT imaging findings predictive of ACS by comparing cohorts with a clinical diagnosis of ACS and critically ill patients without this diagnosis. A retrospective case–control study identified patients with a clinical diagnosis of ACS. A matched control cohort consisted of critically ill patients without a diagnosis of ACS. Three radiologists, blinded to the patients' diagnosis and clinical course, reviewed CT scans for 19 different signs. Univariate analysis, logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed. Thirty-one patients with ACS and 36 without ACS were enrolled. On univariate analysis, abdominal anteroposterior-to-transverse dimension ratio (AR; p = 0.0002), peritoneal to abdominal height ratio (PAR) (p = 0.007), contour changes of solid organs (CCSO) (p = 0.005), and retroperitoneal collections (p = 0.02) were significant. On logistic regression analysis, only PAR was significant (p = 0.01). The presence of at least one of PAR >0.52 or AR >0.75 had sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 81% for predicting ACS. The presence of both of these signs had a specificity of 100% for ACS. Radiologists should consider ACS in critically ill patients when CT shows increased AR or PAR. CCSO and large retroperitoneal collections are secondary signs. Recognition of these imaging findings may aid in the timely and accurate diagnosis of ACS in clinical practice.

Abstract Distal radius fracture (DRF) open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) is a common procedure performed across inpatient and outpatient settings. This study compared postoperative complications and healthcare utilization between these settings using a large national claims database. Patients aged 18 years and older who underwent DRF ORIF were identified in the PearlDiver Mariner database using International Classification of Diseases and Current Procedural Terminology codes. Service location determined surgical setting. Patients with pathological fractures, malignancy, or polytrauma were excluded. Cohorts were propensity matched 1:1 based on age, sex, Charlson and Elixhauser comorbidity indices, and relevant comorbidities. The matched cohort included 9,697 inpatient and 9,697 outpatient DRF ORIF cases. Serious postoperative complications occurred in 16.8% of inpatient procedures versus 5.0% of outpatient procedures. Inpatient surgery was associated with higher odds of surgical site infection (OR 2.23, 95% CI: 1.78–2.79), wound dehiscence (OR 2.57, 95% CI: 1.07–6.17), and deep vein thrombosis (OR 7.75, 95% CI: 3.53–17.04). Inpatients also had greater odds of emergency department visits (OR 1.17, 95% CI: 1.05–1.31), readmissions (OR 3.64, 95% CI: 2.91–4.54), reoperations (OR 2.15, 95% CI: 1.70–2.73), and higher 90-day reimbursements. Inpatient DRF ORIF was associated with significantly higher complication rates and increased postoperative healthcare utilization compared with outpatient procedures, with the largest absolute differences seen in readmissions, reoperations, and 90-day reimbursements. These associations are unlikely to be causal, as inpatient admission typically reflects greater medical necessity and clinical complexity not fully captured by administrative data. Nonetheless, because admission status is readily available at the point of care, it may serve as a practical flag to identify patients who warrant closer post-discharge surveillance and individualized follow-up planning. III.