OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of ballon dilation of the eustachian tube (BDET) in adult population suffering from Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD).
METHODS: Following PRISMA criteria, a systematic review was conducted by searching PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases from January 2015 to March 2024. The primary outcomes included Eustachian Tube Score (ETS), tympanometry, and Valsalva maneuver. The quality of studies was assessed using the Quality in Prognostic Studies (QUIPS) instrument.
RESULTS: Overall, 11 studies were incorporated into the systematic review: two RCTs, three prospective investigations, and six retrospective studies. The balloon dilation in all investigations was performed using either Spiggle & Theis or Acclarent catheters for balloon dilation. There was heterogeneity across studies examining the effect of BDET on persistent ETD in terms of patient selection, period of follow-up, administration of conservative or surgical therapies, and use of assessment methods. Overall, the treatment yielded alleviation of symptoms, which either exhibited stability over time or demonstrated further improvement after an average duration of follow-up. Moreover, the incidence of complications was categorized as low and resolving spontaneously. The majority of the studies exhibited a high risk of bias related to confounding variables, and consequently, the overall risk of bias across most studies was considered high.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest BDET holds promise for ETD treatment, reducing symptom severity with minimal complications. Nonetheless, there is a need for improved studies that adhere to established indications, methodologies, and outcomes to establish a more robust body of evidence.

Venipuncture is a common invasive clinical procedure, and pain management during puncture has been of interest to healthcare professionals. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Valsalva maneuver (VM) for the relief of venipuncture pain in children and adults. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP database, and CBM were searched from inception to December 2023 for all available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the impact of VM on venipuncture. Two reviewers independently performed study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment. Continuous variables were analyzed by mean differences (MD) or standardized mean differences (SMD), whereas dichotomous variables were analyzed by risk ratios (RR). A total of 22 studies involving 1740 participants were included. The pooled results showed that VM relieved pain intensity during venipuncture in children (SMD = -0.89, 95% CI = -1.47 to -0.30, p = 0.003) and adults (SMD = -1.11, 95% CI = -1.46 to -0.77, p < 0.00001), reduced anxiety intensity (SMD = -1.07, 95% CI = -1.68 to -0.47, p = 0.0005), and shortened puncture time (MD = -13.52, 95% CI = -21.14 to -5.90, p = 0.0005). There was no significant difference in the success rate of venous cannulation, MAP, HR, or incidence of adverse events in subjects who performed VM compared to controls. VM was an effective and safe method of pain management that reduced pain intensity during venipuncture in children and adults without significant adverse effects. The results of this meta-analysis need to be further validated by more rigorous and larger RCTs.

Venous aneurysms of the head and neck, and in particular the facial vein, are rare lesions that present as soft, compressible masses. We describe a case of an idiopathic aneurysm of the facial vein. A comprehensive literature review of this entity was conducted to better understand the disease process. A 51-year-old female presented with a one-year history of a prominent but painless right submandibular mass that was more noticeable with maneuvers such as straining. An exam showed a painless, soft, compressible, right level 1b neck mass that enlarged with Valsalva. A computed tomography scan of the neck revealed a 2.7 cm enhancing mass adjacent to the right submandibular gland. Further workup included a direct puncture venography, which demonstrated an unruptured 3 cm venous aneurysm involving the right facial vein. Surgical excision was offered to the patient, which was completed without complications. Histopathology of the mass was consistent with a facial vein aneurysm and confirmed the suspected diagnosis. The patient was seen postoperatively in follow-up and was healing well. While facial vein aneurysms are rare, it is important to recognize, work up, and treat them appropriately. A painless compressible mass that enlarges with Valsalva is suggestive of the diagnosis. Management may vary on a case-by-case basis with surgical resection being the definitive treatment of choice.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the randomized clinical trial studies regarding the effects of Valsalva maneuver on the severity of short peripheral cannula insertion pain and hemodynamic status in adults. A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus databases, Cochrane, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Google Scholar Search Engine using keywords extracted from Medical Subject Headings, such as \"Valsalva Maneuver,\" \"Valsalva\'s Maneuver,\" \"Forced Expiratory,\" \"Balloon Inflation,\" \"Pain,\" \"Ache,\" \"Cannulation,\" \"Peripheral Intravenous Cannulation,\" \"Peripheral Catheterization,\" \"Vascular Access,\" \"Venous Cannulation,\" \"Venous Catheterization,\" and \"Catheterization,\" from the inception to January 1, 2022. Finally, 12 and 11 articles were included in the qualitative and quantitative analysis of this systematic review and meta-analysis, respectively. Overall, pain intensity based on both the Numeric Rating Scale and Visual Analog Scale resulted in a large clinical effect (Effect Size: -1.20, 95% Confidence Interval: -1.69 to -0.71, p < 0.001). A large clinical effect was observed in a separate study of both scales because clinical effect has been determined in studies based on the Numeric Rating Scale (Effect Size: -1.26, 95% Confidence Interval: -1.90 to -0.62, p < 0.001 (and Visual Analog Scale (Effect Size: -1.09, 95% Confidence Interval: -1.98 to -0.20, p = 0.016). Valsalva maneuver significantly increased the mean heart rate (Weighted Mean Difference: 1.90, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.56-2.24, p < 0.001), decreased the mean arterial pressure (Weighted Mean Difference: 0.73, 95% Confidence Interval: -0.13 to 1.60, p = 0.096), and caused a non-significant decrease in anxiety (Weighted Mean Difference: -1.95, 95% Confidence Interval: -5.24 to 1.34, p = 0.25). The results showed that Valsalva maneuver significantly reduced pain intensity. Therefore, it is recommended that nurses use it as a convenient and low-cost non-pharmacological intervention to alleviate the severity of pain in non-cardiac patients. Also, it is suggested to conduct the studies with a strong methodological design and consider its effects on hemodynamic parameters in future investigations.

BACKGROUND: Retinal artery macroaneurysms (RAMs) are focal dilations of the large retinal arteries. Most RAMs are asymptomatic, however, when hemorrhage or exudation caused by a RAM involves the macula, patients can experience marked vision loss. This article reported a rare case of a ruptured RAM due to the Valsalva maneuver in an elderly female with constipation and offered a review of the relevant literature.
METHODS: A 78-year-old woman with several risk factors presented with multi-level retinal hemorrhages following a Valsalva maneuver during constipation. Due to the poor coagulation and heavy bleeding in this case, the blood broke through the internal limiting membrane and drained \"on its own\" into the vitreous cavity. First, we observed the patient and controlled for her risk factors. After the blood was completely drained into the vitreous cavity, the root cause of the bleeding was found to be a RAM rupture. After laser photocoagulation, the patient\'s vision recovered significantly and remained stable for a long time despite the presence of an epiretinal membrane and a lamellar macular hole.
CONCLUSIONS: This is the first reported case of a RAM rupture by Valsalva maneuver during constipation. For multi-level hemorrhages caused by RAM, measures should be taken to drain out the sub-internal limiting membrane hemorrhage and simultaneously control for risk factors. After the RAM is exposed, laser photocoagulation can be performed.

External jugular venous aneurysms are a rare clinical occurrence. Clinical symptoms such as painless neck swelling that worsens with the Valsalva maneuver, coughing, or straining may point to the diagnosis. Doppler ultrasonography is frequently used to confirm the diagnosis. We report a case of a 43-year-old woman who presented with a one-year history of painless right supraclavicular swelling. She noticed the swelling increases in size with the Valsalva maneuver. Neck ultrasound with color Doppler revealed a vascular structure containing turbulent blood flow; it measured 2.9 x 1.2 cm and appeared partially thrombosed. During further evaluation at our hospital, the patient underwent a computed tomography scan of the neck with intravenous contrast, which revealed a right supraclavicular mass measuring 2.3 x 3.5 cm and likely representing an external jugular vein saccular aneurysm. The patient underwent surgical excision. Histopathological examination of the external jugular vein aneurysm revealed vascular tissue with blood clots, hemosiderin-laden macrophages, and attached benign fibroadipose tissue. The postoperative recovery was uneventful, and the patient was discharged home with regular follow-up in the last one year in our outpatient clinic. Venous aneurysms are an uncommon clinical phenomenon. Saccular venous aneurysms, which mostly affect adults and involve the external jugular venous and internal jugular vein, have degenerative histology and are more prone to thrombosis. Asymptomatic and uncomplicated jugular venous aneurysms should be treated conservatively with regular follow-up. Enlarging, disfiguring, symptomatic, and complicated jugular venous aneurysms, on the other hand, almost always necessitate surgical exclusion and bypass. In comparison to arterial aneurysms, true venous aneurysms are relatively uncommon. For saccular jugular venous aneurysms, surgical excision is the gold standard and is indicated to reduce the risk of aneurysmal rupture and pulmonary embolism.

Directed pushing while using the Valsalva maneuver is shown to lead to bladder neck descent, especially in women with urinary incontinence (UI). There is insufficient evidence about the benefits or adverse effects between the pushing technique during the second stage of labor and urinary incontinence postpartum. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the pushing technique for women during labor on postpartum UI and birth outcomes.
Scientific databases were searched for studies relating to postpartum urinary incontinence and birth outcomes when the pushing technique was used from 1986 until 2020. RCTs that assessed healthy primiparas who used the pushing technique in the second stage of labor were included. In accordance with Cochrane Handbook guidelines, risk of bias was assessed and meta-analyzed. Certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach.
Seventeen RCTs (4606 primiparas) were included. The change in UI scores from baseline to postpartum was significantly lower as a result of spontaneous pushing (two studies; 867 primiparas; standardized mean difference: SMD -0.18, 95% CI -0.31 to -0.04). Although women were in the recumbent position during the second stage, directed pushing group showed a significantly shorter labor by 21.39 min compared with the spontaneous pushing group: there was no significant difference in the duration of the second stage of labor between groups.
Primiparas who were in the upright position and who experienced spontaneous pushing during the second stage of labor could reduce their UI score from baseline to postpartum.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac arrhythmia, specifically paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), accounts for a substantial proportion of emergency medical services resources utilisation. Reconversion requires increasing the atrioventricular node\'s refractoriness, which can be achieved by vagal manoeuvres, pharmacological agents or electrical cardioversion. There are multiple variants of vagal manoeuvres, including the Valsalva manoeuvre (VM). While the effectiveness of the standard VM has already been systematically reviewed, there has been no such analysis for the modified VM.
OBJECTIVE: Compare the effectiveness of the modified VM versus the standard VM in restoring the normal sinus rhythm in adult patients with supraventricular tachycardia.
METHODS: Systematic review with meta-analysis of published randomised controlled trials.
METHODS: The primary outcome was the reconversion to a sinus rhythm. Secondary outcomes included: medication use, adverse events, length of stay in the emergency department and hospital admission.
RESULTS: Five randomised controlled trials were included, with a combined total of 1181 participants. The meta-analysis demonstrated a significantly higher success rate for reconversion to sinus rhythm when using the modified VM compared to the standard VM in patients with an SVT (odds ratio = 4.36; 95% confidence interval, 3.30-5.76; P < 0.001). More adverse events were reported in the modified VM group, although this difference is NS (risk ratio = 1.48; 95% confidence interval, 0.91-2.42; P = 0.11). The available evidence suggests that medication use was lower in the modified VM group than the standard VM group. However, medication use could not be generalised across the different studies. None of the included studies showed a significant difference in length of stay in the emergency department. Only one study reported on hospital admission, with no significant difference between the two groups.
CONCLUSIONS: The available evidence is highly suggestive to support the use of the modified VM compared to the standard VM in the treatment of adult patients with SVT. Meta-analysis showed a higher success rate, required less medication use, and resulted in an equal number of adverse events. However, these results cannot be regarded as definitive in the absence of higher-quality studies.

BACKGROUND: Aneurysms of the jugular vein system are rare and high clinical suspicion is needed for diagnosis. External jugular vein aneurysms (EJVA) are considered innocent lesions that need treatment mainly for aesthetic reasons. The aim of this systematic review was to present current literature regarding diagnosis and management of EJVAs.
METHODS: A literature review was conducted through the Pubmed/Medline and Scopus regarding articles referring on EJVA from 2000 to 2020. Using the PRISMA guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses), 30 articles were identified, according to inclusion criteria. Demographics, clinical characteristics, etiology, diagnostic imaging, complications, treatment, and histopathological findings were recorded and analyzed.
RESULTS: Twenty-seven case reports and one case series were identified, including 30 patients and 31 EJVAs. One-third of patients (30.3%) were < 18 years old (mean age 32 years, range 1-72 years) and 54% of them were females. In 51% of the cases, the lesion was characterized as a true aneurysm after histological evaluation. The presence of a soft cervical mass was the most common clinical symptom, while Valsalva maneuver pointed out the presence of an EJVA in 66.7% of patients. Diagnosis was achieved using ultrasonography, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging. Forty-three percent of the patients underwent more than one radiological examination. Twenty patients underwent surgical management. The primary indication of surgical treatment was aesthetic reasons (11/20, 55%). Thrombosis was the most common EJVA complication (11/30, 36.3%).
CONCLUSIONS: Differential diagnosis of neck mass should include EJVA. High clinical suspicion and adequate imaging are important for diagnosis. Open surgical approach is the more commonly applied therapeutic strategy.

OBJECTIVE: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a very common and distressing problem that affects women\'s quality of life. This systematic review aimed to investigate the association of the dimensions of the genital hiatus and levator hiatus at rest and Valsalva with POP.
METHODS: The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Web of Science were searched on 25 April 2020. All data were analyzed using Review Manager 5.3.
RESULTS: Of the 1288 papers reviewed, 21 (n = 5145: 2909 women with POP and 2236 controls) were considered for meta-analysis. Compared with the normal pelvic floor group, the urogenital hiatus size in the POP group was significantly higher at rest (mean difference: 0.49; 95% CI: [0.43, 0.55], P < 0.00001) and at Valsalva (mean difference: 0.79; 95% CI: [0.70, 0.89], P < 0.00001). Also, the levator ani hiatus size in the POP group was significantly higher at rest (mean difference: 0.52, 95% CI: [0.25, 0.78], P < 0.0001) and at Valsalva (mean difference: 1.01; 95% CI: [0.73,1.28], P < 0.00001) compared with that in the normal pelvic floor group.
CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review showed that the sizes of the urogenital hiatus and levator ani hiatus and area of the levator hiatus in the POP group were significantly higher than those in the normal pelvic floor groups in both positions (rest or Valsalva maneuver). Also, in the POP group, the levator hiatus length at rest was significantly lower than that in the Valsalva maneuver.