Aortic stenosis is a life-threatening valvular heart disease. At the onset of symptoms, a patient’s prognosis becomes poor and the risk of death rapidly increases. Aortic valve replacement surgery remains the gold standard in treatment for aortic stenosis. However, in the total population of patients with severe aortic stenosis, about one third are deemed inoperable due to their high surgical risk. In recent years, the development of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), a non-invasive heart valve replacement procedure brought hope for the elderly, high-risk and inoperable aortic stenosis patient population pool. A literature review was performed to examine the safety, efficacy and effectiveness evidence for transcatheter aortic valve treatment option. The results showed that TAVI is a safe treatment option, however the effectiveness for the whole patient population is unknown. The adoption of this alternative treatment option is certainly coupled with multiple dimension of impact from a public health perspective. It remains inconclusive whether TAVI is an effective treatment option to be adopted. / published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

Bibliography: leaves 231-266. / 271 leaves : col. ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Indicates that injections under the ureteric orifice can cure VUR and that the tissue response to the plastics becomes quiescent. Research into embolisation from solid implants from intravenous tubing and the possibility of antibody formation to implanted plastics is also included. A model for fetal VUR has been developed to clarify focus of the uncertainity about reflux disease. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Paediatrics, 1999

Bibliography: leaves 231-266. / 271 leaves : col. ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Indicates that injections under the ureteric orifice can cure VUR and that the tissue response to the plastics becomes quiescent. Research into embolisation from solid implants from intravenous tubing and the possibility of antibody formation to implanted plastics is also included. A model for fetal VUR has been developed to clarify focus of the uncertainity about reflux disease. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Paediatrics, 1999

[Truncated abstract] Previous research has found that full recovery of knee function following arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM) is often not achieved, and in the long-term, over 50% of these patients will develop knee osteoarthritis (OA). Mechanical factors are believed to contribute largely to the development of knee OA. High frequency loading has been shown to lead to degenerative joint changes in animal models. In human gait, the knee adduction moment during stance phase, which tends to load the medial articular surface of the tibiofemoral joint, has been associated with the presence, severity and progression of knee OA. Quadriceps weakness, which is common in people with knee pathology, has been associated with abnormal sagittal plane knee moments during gait, yet no studies have investigated the effect of knee strength on frontal plane kinetics. This work aimed to investigate gait mechanics in a post-APM population, determine the influence of neuromuscular factors on gait, and assess recovery of function over 12 months while examining factors associated with recovery. One hundred and six APM subjects were examined between one and three months postsurgery. Data were compared to an age-matched control group of 49 healthy adults. Subjects were aged 20 to 50 years and had been screened for: clinical and radiographic evidence of knee OA; previous or current knee joint disease or injury (other than the current meniscus pathology); or any other previous or existing disease or injury that may have an effect on gait, or predispose to joint disease. Three-dimensional gait analysis was performed at a freely-chosen walking velocity, using a 50 Hz VICON three-dimensional motion analysis system, instrumented with two force platforms and 10-channel electromyography system. Subjects also underwent knee strength testing on a Biodex isokinetic dynamometer. Information was collected regarding subject’s physical activity levels, general health and knee function, as well as patient’s surgery specifics and rehabilitation regime.

BACKGROUND: Delayed symptomatic hyponatremia (DSH) is among the most common reasons for readmission following transsphenoidal surgery. Patients can present with a large range of symptoms, requiring immediate attention and prolonging hospital stay. In rare and severe cases, DSH can result in death. While various risk factors for DSH have been investigated, there is still a need for better understanding in order to identify patients who are at risk. Clinicians can then take preventative measures to improve patient outcomes. A systematic review was performed to determine both predictors and rates of DSH after both endoscopic (eTSS) and microscopic transsphenoidal surgery (mTSS). METHODS: We conducted a systematic search through databases MEDLINE/PUBMED, MEBASE, and The Cochrane Library. Included studies were selected with the following criteria: (i) case series with at least 10 cases reported, (ii) adult patients who underwent eTSS or mTSS for pituitary adenomas, and (iii) reported occurrence of DSH (hyponatremia defined as blood sodium level <135 mEq/L) three days post-operatively. Data were analyzed using CMA V.3 Statistical Software (2014). RESULTS: We identified 10 case series that satisfied the inclusion criteria consisting of 2,947 patients with pituitary adenomas. The following were investigated as potential predictors of DSH: age, CSF leak, gender, and tumor size. Rates of DSH were found to be between 4 and 12 percent for both mTSS and eTSS. CONCLUSIONS: Age, gender, tumor size, rate of blood sodium level decline between post-operative day (POD) 4 and 7, and Cushing’s disease are potential predictors of DSH. A better understanding of these predictors can help clinicians identify patients at risk for DSH so preventative measures can be taken to reduce the deleterious effects of hyponatremia after transsphenoidal surgery.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Minimal invasive surgery (MIS) enables surgeons to operate through a few small incisions made in the patient’s body. Through these incisions, long rigid instruments are inserted into the body and manipulated to perform the necessary surgical tasks. Conventional instruments, however, are constrained by having only five degrees of freedom (DOF), as well as having scaled and mirrored movements, thereby limiting the surgeon’s dexterity. Surgeons are also deprived of depth perception and hand-eye coordination due to only having two-dimensional visual feedback. Surgical robotics attempt to alleviate these drawbacks by increasing dexterity, eliminating the fulcrum effect and providing the surgeon with three-dimensional visualisation. This reduces the risks to the patient as well as to the surgeon. However, existing MIS systems are extremely expensive and bulky in operating rooms, preventing their more widespread adoption. In this thesis, a new, inexpensive seven-DOF primary slave manipulator (PSM) is presented. The four-DOF wrist is actuated through a tendon mechanism driven by five 12 VDC motors. A repeatability study on the wrist’s joint position was done and showed a standard deviation of 0.38 degrees. A strength test was also done and demonstrated that the manipulator is able to resist a 10 N opposing tip force and is capable of a theoretical gripping force of 15 N. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Minimale indringende chirurgie (MIC) maak dit vir chirurge moontlik om operasies uit te voer deur ’n paar klein insnydings wat op die pasiënt se liggaam gemaak word. Deur hierdie insnydings word lang onbuigsame instrumente in die liggaam ingesit en gemanipuleer om die nodige chirurgiese take uit te voer. Konvensionele instrumente is egter beperk vanweë die feit dat hulle net vyf vryheidsgrade het, asook afgeskaalde bewegings en spieëlbewegings, en gevolglik die chirurg se handvaardigheid beperk. Chirurge word ook ontneem van dieptewaarneming en hand-oog-koördinasie, want hulle is beperk tot tweedimensionele visuele terugvoer. Chirurgiese robotika poog om hierdie nadele aan te spreek deur handvaardigheid te vermeerder, die hefboomeffek uit te skakel en die chirurg driedimensionele visualisering te bied. Dit verminder die risiko’s vir die pasiënt én vir die chirurg. Bestaande MIC-stelsels is egter uiters duur en neem baie plek op in teaters, wat verhoed dat hulle op ’n groter skaal gebruik word. In hierdie tesis word ’n nuwe, goedkoop sewevryheidsgrade- primêre slaafmanipuleerder (PSM) voorgelê. Die viervryheidsgrade-pols word beweeg deur ’n tendonmeganisme wat aangedryf word deur vyf 12 VDC-motors. ’n Herhaalbaarheidstudie is op die pols se gewrigsposisie gedoen, wat ’n standaardafwyking van 0.38 grade aangetoon het. ’n Sterktetoets is ook gedoen en het gewys dat die manipuleerder in staat is om ’n 10 N-teenkantelkrag te weerstaan en dat dit oor ’n teoretiese greepsterkte van 15 N beskik.

Introduction: Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is at present the gold standard therapeutic modality for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) resistant to medical therapy. Whilst results from ESS for CRS are generally good, postoperative bleeding and impaired wound healing with adhesion formation remains a concern. Due to patient discomfort and the detrimental effects on wound healing caused by most packing materials, many surgeons no longer routinely use nasal packing. Surgeons have in the past sought agents which would provide post-operative haemostasis without detrimentally affecting wound healing. Antifibrinolytics have been available for many years, however, their topical application has only been explored in the last few years. Recently different forms of chitosan have separately shown significant promise as powerful haemostatic and anti-adhesion agents. The aim of this thesis was to explore the progressive understanding of the interaction between haemostasis and wound healing with possible development of a novel agent. Methods: The first step to scientifically assess bleeding after sinus surgery was to develop a standardised method of video endoscopy and grading the surgical field during ESS. This was done as a multinational collaborative trial. Once this assessment tool was validated a randomised controlled trial evaluating the effect of two antifibrinolytics (epsilon aminocaproic acid and tranexamic acid) was conducted. Further evaluation was then conducted on other possible hemostatic and antiadhesion substances. This included various combinations of a novel chitosan gel. These gels were trialled in vitro to determine their effect on human nasal fibroblasts derived from CRS patients. Fibroblast adhesion and proliferation as well as closure of standardised wounds were studied. The most promising of these gels was then used in an in vivo sheep model. Once effectiveness of the chitosan-dextran gel was shown in the laboratory, this was evaluated against a number of currently available hemostatic and anti-adhesion substances in a standardised model of wound healing in sheep with CRS. This model had been previously extensively validated in our department. Full thickness mucosal injuries were created on the lateral nasal wall and ethmoids of twenty sheep and recombinant tissue factor (rTF), SprayGel or Chitosan-Dextran derivative gel applied topically in a randomized fashion. Adhesion formation and severity as well as microscopic wound healing and ciliary function were analysed at day 28, 56, 84 and 112 post initial surgery. A further sheep study was conducted applying chitosan dextran gel to standardised mucosal injuries and comparing its effect on the control of bleeding to control. Bleeding time and grade were recorded and wound healing monitored via serial videoendoscopy over two weeks and objectively measured. Results: a) Assessment of the bleeding scales showed that inter and intra observer reliability for both scales tested were significantly improved by employing a standardized video-endoscopy technique. The Wormald scale proved to be more reliable and sensitive to changes in the most common surgical fields encountered in ESS. b) Tranexamic acid showed a modest but clinically significant improvement in the surgical field at 2, 4 and 6 minutes after application. Epsilon aminocaproic acid did not effectively improve the surgical field. c) Nasal fibroblast adhesion and proliferation were significantly impaired with dextran and chitosan. The most effective ratio that delayed but did not prevent wound closure were 5 % chitosan: 5 % dextran gel. d) In a standardised sheep model of mucosal wound healing the chitosan gel significantly decreased lateral nasal wall and ethmoidal adhesions at all time points. The chitosan group had a significantly greater percentage of re-epithelialisation and reciliation than control and rTF. In addition the mean cilial grade in the chitosan group was significantly better than control. e) The chitosan dextran gel was significantly more haemostatic at 2,4, and 6 minutes after injury with no significant difference noted in wound healing. Conclusions: Standardised methods of videoendoscopy and grading the surgical field in ESS are valuable tools for further research. Tranexamic acid significantly improved the surgical field to a moderate degree in ESS compared to control. Chitosan gel is a promising new powerful haemostatic bio-polymer which has a mild inhibitory effect on fibroblast attachment and proliferation. This may partially explain the significant improvement in microscopic wound healing and reduction in adhesion formation seen in a sheep model of chronic sinusitis. Future work evaluating this gel in the setting of a human trial is currently underway. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1375402 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Medicine, 2009

Introduction: Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is at present the gold standard therapeutic modality for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) resistant to medical therapy. Whilst results from ESS for CRS are generally good, postoperative bleeding and impaired wound healing with adhesion formation remains a concern. Due to patient discomfort and the detrimental effects on wound healing caused by most packing materials, many surgeons no longer routinely use nasal packing. Surgeons have in the past sought agents which would provide post-operative haemostasis without detrimentally affecting wound healing. Antifibrinolytics have been available for many years, however, their topical application has only been explored in the last few years. Recently different forms of chitosan have separately shown significant promise as powerful haemostatic and anti-adhesion agents. The aim of this thesis was to explore the progressive understanding of the interaction between haemostasis and wound healing with possible development of a novel agent. Methods: The first step to scientifically assess bleeding after sinus surgery was to develop a standardised method of video endoscopy and grading the surgical field during ESS. This was done as a multinational collaborative trial. Once this assessment tool was validated a randomised controlled trial evaluating the effect of two antifibrinolytics (epsilon aminocaproic acid and tranexamic acid) was conducted. Further evaluation was then conducted on other possible hemostatic and antiadhesion substances. This included various combinations of a novel chitosan gel. These gels were trialled in vitro to determine their effect on human nasal fibroblasts derived from CRS patients. Fibroblast adhesion and proliferation as well as closure of standardised wounds were studied. The most promising of these gels was then used in an in vivo sheep model. Once effectiveness of the chitosan-dextran gel was shown in the laboratory, this was evaluated against a number of currently available hemostatic and anti-adhesion substances in a standardised model of wound healing in sheep with CRS. This model had been previously extensively validated in our department. Full thickness mucosal injuries were created on the lateral nasal wall and ethmoids of twenty sheep and recombinant tissue factor (rTF), SprayGel or Chitosan-Dextran derivative gel applied topically in a randomized fashion. Adhesion formation and severity as well as microscopic wound healing and ciliary function were analysed at day 28, 56, 84 and 112 post initial surgery. A further sheep study was conducted applying chitosan dextran gel to standardised mucosal injuries and comparing its effect on the control of bleeding to control. Bleeding time and grade were recorded and wound healing monitored via serial videoendoscopy over two weeks and objectively measured. Results: a) Assessment of the bleeding scales showed that inter and intra observer reliability for both scales tested were significantly improved by employing a standardized video-endoscopy technique. The Wormald scale proved to be more reliable and sensitive to changes in the most common surgical fields encountered in ESS. b) Tranexamic acid showed a modest but clinically significant improvement in the surgical field at 2, 4 and 6 minutes after application. Epsilon aminocaproic acid did not effectively improve the surgical field. c) Nasal fibroblast adhesion and proliferation were significantly impaired with dextran and chitosan. The most effective ratio that delayed but did not prevent wound closure were 5 % chitosan: 5 % dextran gel. d) In a standardised sheep model of mucosal wound healing the chitosan gel significantly decreased lateral nasal wall and ethmoidal adhesions at all time points. The chitosan group had a significantly greater percentage of re-epithelialisation and reciliation than control and rTF. In addition the mean cilial grade in the chitosan group was significantly better than control. e) The chitosan dextran gel was significantly more haemostatic at 2,4, and 6 minutes after injury with no significant difference noted in wound healing. Conclusions: Standardised methods of videoendoscopy and grading the surgical field in ESS are valuable tools for further research. Tranexamic acid significantly improved the surgical field to a moderate degree in ESS compared to control. Chitosan gel is a promising new powerful haemostatic bio-polymer which has a mild inhibitory effect on fibroblast attachment and proliferation. This may partially explain the significant improvement in microscopic wound healing and reduction in adhesion formation seen in a sheep model of chronic sinusitis. Future work evaluating this gel in the setting of a human trial is currently underway. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1375402 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Medicine, 2009

A cirurgia geral tem experimentado após a década de noventa, com o desenvolvimento da laparoscopia, espetacular melhoria em todos os resultados. Uma menor morbimortalidade se deve ao menor trauma cirúrgico causado pelas cirurgias feitas por pequenos orifícios. O desenvolvimento tecnológico de endoscópios rígidos e flexíveis, propiciou aos médicos um acesso direto às patologias abdominais sem a necessidade de grandes aberturas da cavidade celômica. Assim, houve grande melhoria não somente dos resultados estéticos, mas principalmente na redução de morbidade. Nas cirurgias das vias biliares isso não foi diferente. Com o aprimoramento da técnica cirúrgica laparoscópica, a via de acesso cirúrgico endoscópica passou a ser preferida. Entretanto, a realidade da laparoscopia em muitos locais não se faz presente no tratamento da coledocolitíase, principalmente quando tal patologia é tratada em centros com menor aporte de recursos financeiros. A retirada de cálculos da via biliar principal exige o uso de fibroscópios de alto custo, bem como dispositivos descartáveis de alto valor, forçando o cirurgião desprovido de tais recursos muitas vezes a realizar a cirurgia de maneira convencional ou, no mínimo, aumentado a dificuldade do procedimento por via laparoscópica. Com o intuito de equacionar tal dificuldade, propõe-se com este dispositivo, mais um conceito de abordagem para este problema, inédito, testado em macroambiente, com utilização de cateter contendo balão com polímero autoexpansivo capaz de apreender os cálculos da via biliar principal por meio de inclusão. Utilizando os preceitos da colangiografia per operatória, o novo método propõe a retirada dos cálculos da via biliar principal de maneira indireta com auxílio de métodos de imagem comuns à maioria dos hospitais de média complexidade. / General surgery has experienced after the nineties, with the development of laparoscopy, spectacular improvement in outcomes. Lower morbidity and mortality is due to less surgical trauma caused by surgeries performed by small orifices. The technological development of rigid and flexible endoscopes gave doctors direct access to abdominal pathologies without the need for large openings in the coelomic cavity. Thus, there was a great improvement not only in the aesthetic results, but mainly in the reduction of morbidity. In biliary surgeries this was not different. With the improvement of the laparoscopic surgical technique, the endoscopic cirurgical approach was favored. However, the reality of laparoscopy in many places is not present in the treatment of choledocholithiasis, especially when such pathology is treated in centers with lower financial resources. Removal of stones from the main biliary tract requires the use of high-cost fibroscopes as well as high-value disposable devices, forcing the surgeon devoid of such resources, many times undergoing conventional surgery or at a minimum, increasing the difficulty of the procedure by laparoscopic approach. With the purpose of equating this difficulty, it is proposed with this device, another concept of approach to this problem, novel, tested in macro environment, with the use of balloon catheter containing self expanding polymer capable of grasping the calculi of the common bile duct by inclusion. Using the trans-operative cholangiography precepts, the new method proposes to extract the principal biliary tract calculi indirectly with the help of imaging methods common to the most hospitals.

Introdução: As doenças que envolvem a órbita representam um complexo problema cirúrgico, principalmente as localizadas no ápice orbitário, por onde passam estruturas críticas e um espaço pequeno. O uso do endoscópio por via endonasal para abordagem cirúrgica das lesões do ápice orbitário é uma técnica recente, com poucas citações na literatura. É necessário o estudo de referências anatômicas objetivas que tornem a cirurgia mais segura. Objetivo: Descrever os parâmetros anatômicos utilizados na abordagem cirúrgica endonasal endoscópica, assim como avaliar a concordância entre os hemicrânios do mesmo cadáver e as diferenças conforme o gênero. Casuística e métodos: Estudo anatômico em 30 cadáveres adultos, ambas as fossas nasais foram dissecadas (n=60 hemicrânios). Sob visibilização endoscópica endonasal, realizou-se a dissecção do ápice orbitário. Mensuramos a distância entre a crista etmoidal e o arco coanal para o forame óptico e para a fissura orbitária superior. Os resultados foram registrados na ficha de protocolo do estudo. Resultados: Foram dissecados 30 cadáveres, 60 hemicrânios ou lados. O sexo masculino foi mais prevalente, representando 63,3% dos cadáveres (19/30), enquanto o sexo feminino representou 36,7% (11/30). 43,3% dos cadáveres eram da raça branca (13/30), 20%, pardos (6/30), e 36,7%, negros (11/30). A correlação entre os valores conforme o lado nas seguintes aferições foi observada: Crista etmoidal - Forame óptico, (r=0,748, p=0.0001); Crista etmoidal - Fissura Orbitária Superior (r=0.785, p=0.0001), Arco coanal - Forame óptico (r=0,835, p=0.0001); Arco coanal - Fissura orbitária superior (r=0.820, p=0.0001). Foi obtido um Kappa de 0,444 na avaliação da concordância entre os lados em relação ao posicionamento da artéria etmoidal anterior no forame óptico. Conclusões: A sistematização da abordagem do ápice orbitário facilita seu acesso cirúrgico e a compreensão da anatomia. A crista etmoidal e o arco coanal se mostraram estruturas relevantes e com medidas constantes nos cadáveres estudados. Os valores do coeficiente de correlação de Spearman (r) foram maiores que 0,7, o que revela uma boa correlação entre as medidas dos hemicrânios do mesmo indivíduo. Ao analisarmos a concordância do posicionamento da artéria oftálmica entre os hemicrânios de um mesmo cadáver, podemos observar que a concordância foi moderada, o que representa assimetria e variação de localização da artéria. Ao compararmos as medidas aferidas entre os lados, observou-se que os valores são semelhantes e não houve diferença estatística das distâncias em nenhuma das referências anatômicas propostas para o estudo / Introduction: Diseases that affect the orbit pose a complex surgical challenge, particularly those involving the orbital apex, a small space through which critically important structures course. Endoscopic endonasal approaches to the surgical treatment of orbital apex lesions are a recent technique, with few citations in the literature. Research is still needed into objective anatomic landmarks that can improve surgical safety. Objective: To describe the anatomic landmarks used in endoscopic endonasal surgical approaches and assess agreement between placement of these landmarks in midsagittal sections of cadaver skulls and potential gender differences. Materials and methods: In this anatomic study, the nasal fossae of 30 adult cadavers were dissected (n=60 half-skulls). The orbital apex was dissected under endoscopic endonasal visualization. The distances between the ethmoidal crest and choanal arch to the optic foramen and to the superior orbital fissure were measured and recorded. Results: Overall, 30 cadavers were dissected for a total of 60 half-skulls or sides. The sample was predominantly male (63.3%, 19/30 cadavers); females accounted for the remaining 36.7% (11/30). Regarding skin color, 43.3% of cadavers were white (13/30), 20% were brown (6/30), and 36.7% were black (11/30). The following correlations between measurements according to side were observed: ethmoidal crest to optic foramen, r=0.748 (p=0.0001); ethmoidal crest to superior orbital fissure, r=0.785 (p=0.0001); choanal arch to optic foramen, r=0.835 (p=0.0001); choanal arch to superior orbital fissure, r=0.820 (p=0.0001). Analysis of the agreement of ophthalmic artery location within the optic foramen between skull halves revealed a kappa of 0.444. Conclusions: The approach systematization to the orbital apex will facilitate surgical access and improve understanding of the anatomy. In the cadavers studied in this sample, the ethmoidal crest and choanal arch were relevant structures and exhibited consistent measurements. Spearman correlation coefficients (r) were greater than 0.7, which is indicative of good correlation between measurements obtained in the skull halves of each cadaver. Analysis of the position of the ophthalmic artery in each skull half of the same cadaver revealed moderate agreement, which indicates asymmetry and variation in the location of this artery. Comparison of the measurements obtained in different sides showed similar values, with no statistically significant differences in the distances between any of the proposed anatomic landmarks