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Biomedical subjects

C Drews

Publications and source records attributed to C Drews.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Inadequacy of a polyester (Mersilene) suture for the reduction of astigmatism after penetrating keratoplasty.

Through two prospective studies, we evaluated the use of polyester (Mersilene) sutures in penetrating keratoplasty. Study 1 was a randomized comparison of combined running and interrupted Mersilene and nylon sutures (n = 45). Study 2 was a case series of single running Mersilene with postoperative adjustment of suture tension to manage astigmatism (n = 23). Study 1 demonstrated that Mersilene interrupted sutures were 5.5 times more likely to have handling-related complications compared to nylon (P = 0.01); in addition, they were 3 times as likely to have tissue-related complications as nylon interrupted sutures (P = 0.16). Study 2 demonstrated a complication rate of 69% when Mersilene was used as a single adjustable running suture. At 6 months postoperatively, the median refractive astigmatism for the adjustable cases was 3.37 D (mean, 4.03 +/- 2.37 D). Eyes in Study 2 with significant suture-related complications were 2.85 times more likely to have greater than 4 D of refractive astigmatism than were eyes without suture-related complications. We concluded that Mersilene is an undesirable suture for use in penetrating keratoplasty.

Adult↗

Reported satisfaction, fluctuation of vision, and glare among patients one year after surgery in the Prospective Evaluation of Radial Keratotomy (PERK) Study.

We studied satisfaction with the results of radial keratotomy one year after surgery on one eye as reported by 354 patients in the Prospective Evaluation of Radial Keratotomy (PERK) Study. We measured satisfaction using an index based on ten questions that were part of a longer psychometric questionnaire. Patients were generally satisfied with the results of radial keratotomy-48% were very satisfied, 42% were moderately satisfied, and 10% were dissatisfied. A lot of trouble with fluctuating vision was reported by 12% of patients before surgery and by 34% one year after surgery; 17% reported a lot of trouble with glare both before surgery and one year after surgery. The three major factors that influenced satisfaction were uncorrected visual acuity, residual refractive error, and subjective daily fluctuation in vision. A multiple regression equation that incorporated these three variables, glare, and patient sex was able to predict only 46% of the variance in patient satisfaction.

Adult↗

Factors associated with inadequate prenatal care during the second pregnancies among African-American women.

A longitudinally linked data set for Georgia was used to identify characteristics, including previous prenatal care use and complications at the first birth, associated with prenatal care use in the second pregnancy among 8,224 African-American women. More than 70% of the women who were < 25 years of age at their first birth (younger women) and almost 40% of women who were > or = 25 years at their first birth received inadequate care with at least one of their first two births. Women who received inadequate care in their first pregnancy were more likely to receive inadequate care in their second pregnancy than women who received adequate care in their first pregnancy. Younger women with a history of a stillbirth, neonatal death, or vacuum extraction were less likely to receive inadequate care in their subsequent pregnancy. Although this study was not able to evaluate the content of prenatal care, it suggested that many African-American women may not receive sufficient care to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes. Women who receive inadequate care in their first pregnancy must be targeted for interventions that help them overcome economic, situational, or attitudinal barriers to receiving adequate care in their next pregnancy.

Adolescent↗