Plastic bronchitis (PB) is a poorly understood disease that can complicate any underlying pulmonary disease. However, it appears to most often occur in patients with surgically palliated congenital heart disease, particularly after the Fontan procedure. Few data exist about the prevalence and etiology of PB in this population. In an effort to establish data about prevalence, we conducted a retrospective study of an existing Fontan surgery database (n = 654) comprised of data, including sex, age at date of surgery, alive/dead status, New York Heart Association classification at last follow-up, right-ventricular end-diastolic pressure and pulmonary artery pressure before Fontan surgery, and the presence of a Fontan fenestration. An initial medical record review of 173 patients in the database who were followed at the University of Michigan identified seven patients with PB resulting in an estimated prevalence of 4 %. Subsequently, 14 % of 211 surveyed patients reported that they presently expectorate mucus or fibrin plugs (casts). Demographic and clinical variables did not differ between patients with or without possible PB. Collectively, these findings suggest that Fontan patients presently with PB may range from 4 to 14 %, indicating potential under-diagnosis of the disease. There were no remarkable physical or hemodynamic indicators that differentiated patients with or without possible PB. These data also highlight the need for more elaborate, prospective studies to improve our understanding of PB pathogenesis so that more definitive diagnostic criteria for this devastating disease can be established and its prevalence more accurately determined.

A major cause of preventable ocular injuries in Malaysia was work-related trauma. Ocular injuries can be reduced by the use of eye protection devices and the implementation of appropriate preventive strategies to address each risk factor. Effective training is an integral part of occupational safety and health, which should be made mandatory at the workplace. In addition, there should be a continual assessment of safety and health issues at the workplace. A long-term database of all ocular injuries in Malaysia is recommended, to aid research on a larger scale and the development of new preventive strategies for ocular injuries.

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Purpose To assess the outcome of patients who underwent instantaneous pars plana vitrectomy for dislocated lens fragments during cataract surgery. Methods The medical records of 29 patients who underwent immediate pars plana vitrectomy for dislocated lens fragments at the same sitting of phacoemulsification surgery were reviewed. Data including patients' demographics, preoperative and postoperative vision, risk factors for lens fragment dislocation, and intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded. Results The mean follow-up period of the patients was 12.3 months (range, 3-47 months). The median preoperative visual acuity was 6/90 (range, LP to 6/15). The median final postoperative visual acuity was 6/18 (range, NLP to 6/9) and the mean improvement in vision after the operation was 4.5 lines. The commonest risk factors for dislocation of lens fragment were late detection of posterior capsule tear, splitting of anterior capsulorrhexis, and hard nucleus. After excluding nine eyes with other pre-existing ocular comorbidities, 10 (50%) eyes had a final visual acuity of 6/12 or better. Complications after surgery included three (10%) cases of retinal detachment and one (3%) patient developed epiretinal membrane. None of the patients in the study developed secondary glaucoma or cystoid macular oedema following surgery. Conclusion Immediate vitrectomy in the same sitting of the cataract surgery is a surgical option in the management of dislocated intravitreal lens fragments when vitreoretinal support is available. Most patients achieve a good visual outcome with reduced risk of secondary glaucoma and cystoid macular oedema after surgery.

The geometric mean of Hcy concentration in the blood plasma, vitreous and aqueous of the PDR group was significantly higher than control. The Hcy levels in the blood plasma and vitreous were also significantly associated in both groups. However, the blood plasma and aqueous were significantly associated only in the PDR group.