Narrow Results

Virtual reality (VR) has applications in cardiology to create enhancement, thereby improving the quality of associated planning, treatment and surgery. The need is to study different applications of this technology in the field of cardiology. We have studied research papers on VR and its applications in cardiology through a detailed bibliometric analysis. The study identified five significant steps for proper implementation of this technology in cardiology. Some challenges are to be undertaken by using this technology, and they can provide some benefits; thus, authors contemplate extensive research and development. This study also identifies 10 major VR technology applications in cardiology and provided a brief description. This innovative technology helps a heart surgeon to perform complex heart surgery effectively. Thus, VR applications have the potential for improving decision-making, which helps save human life. VR plays a significant role in the development of a surgical procedure. This technology undertakes 3D heart model information in full colour, which helps to analyze the overall heart vane, blockage and blood flow. With the help of this digital technology, a surgeon can improve the accuracy of heart surgery, and he can simulate the surgery. A surgeon can undertake surgery in a virtual environment on a virtual patient. The unique purpose of this technology is to practice pre-operatively on the specific circumstance. A cardiologist can also check the proper status of inner and outer heart wall layer. Thus, by using this 3D information, the surgeon can now interact with heart data/information without any physical touch. This technology opens a new opportunity to improve the heart surgery and development in cardiovascular treatment to improve patient outcome.

Background: Ovarian endometriomas have been shown to have a negative effect on fertility. There is a dilemma on the timing for surgery either before or after the fertility treatment. By delaying surgical treatment for infertile patients with endometriomas, medical treatment has become an important choice for these patients. The objectives of this review were to compare the efficacy of medical treatment on endometrioma size and endometriosis-associated pelvic pain (EAPP).

Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis examining women who have endometrioma and underwent medical therapy for endometrioma size reduction. The primary outcome measure was endometrioma size reduction. Secondary outcome measures EAPP.

Results: We included 14 studies for the meta-analysis. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis examining women with endometrioma who underwent medical therapy for endometrioma size reduction. The primary outcome measure was endometrioma size reduction. Secondary outcome measure is EAPP. The majority of the studies were non-randomized controlled trials (RCTs; 9/14), and five were RCTs. Women who received medical treatment have a significant endometrioma size reduction in diameter compared to women not receiving any medical treatment or placebo (MD −9.66mm; 95% CI [−13.85, −5.46], three studies, 467 women, $I^2=96$%) and a reduction in visual analog scale (VAS) for EAPP (MD −2.64; 95% CI [−3.31, −1.97], two studies, 338 women, $I^2=0$%). Women who received dienogest (DNG) treatment have a significant endometrioma size reduction in diameter (MD −4.61mm; 95% CI [−9.08, −0.15], three studies, 220 women, $I^2=96$%). Compared to women receiving other medical treatments, women receiving DNG treatment had more VAS reduction of EAPP (MD −0.46; 95% CI [−0.62, −0.31], four studies, 451 women, $I^2=85$%).

Conclusions: The use of medical therapy is associated with endometrioma size reduction and a reduction in endometriosis-related pain when compared with no medical treatment given. With the availability of various medical options, surgery can thus be avoided to minimize the risk of damage to the ovarian reserves.