Constipation is a complicated condition. Chronic constipation is diagnosed when constipation occurs for more than 3 months. Chronic constipation is classified using patient symptoms and the pathophysiology. New therapeutic agents to treat chronic constipation have recently been approved in Japan. However, treatments for constipation that is refractory to traditional laxatives have been approved, an algorithm for the treatment of chronic constipation has not yet been developed. The accumulation of knowledge and data is necessary to develop a new algorithm.

We encountered a-27-year-old female patient who developed refractory severe headache and photophobia after the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Despite her prior history of migraine, we diagnosed COVID-19 vaccine-induced aseptic meningitis. Symptoms were significantly resolved after methylprednisolone therapy. On reviewing the literature, we could find only nine similar cases, with over half of them affecting women aged 20–40 years. Although uncommon, aseptic meningitis should be suspected in patients with persistent or delayed onset of headache following COVID-19 vaccination.

Virtual reality (VR) is emerging as a groundbreaking tool in the treatment of congenital heart diseases. This innovative technology offers a transformative approach by creating immersive, interactive, and personalized environments for both patients and healthcare professionals. In the pediatric cardiology institute in Safra Children’s hospital in Sheba Medical Center in Israel, VR is being utilized for patient education, pre-operative planning, and intraoperative guidance. Patients can explore 3D visualizations of their own hearts, gaining a better understanding of their condition and proposed treatments. Surgeons and medical teams benefit from VR simulations that enhance their surgical planning and decision-making processes observing complex cases and evaluating printed models. Furthermore, Augmented reality AR can be employed in the operating room for observing the rib cage and reviewing the patient anatomy. The 3D visualization program is led by the Engineering in Medicine (EiM) tech-lab which cooperates with different specialties in the hospital including plastic surgery, ENT, ObGyn and more. The most critical topic addressed by the lab, cooperating with engineers from the Israeli Institute of technology deals with registration of the holographic image on the real patient body allowing intra-operative guidance.

(Presented at the 2008th Meeting, September 27, 2023)

Patients with spinal deformities, both adolescents and adults, often experience pulmonary symptoms such as shortness of breath during physical exertion and reduced exercise tolerance. These symptoms significantly affect their daily functioning, and recent research by Van Kempen et al. (2022) involving 8,723 AIS patients found that declines in pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were linked to the severity of their spinal deformities.

However, these clinically relevant pulmonary symptoms are not routinely monitored, which could have health implications as patients age, given the gradual deterioration of pulmonary function associated with the severity of their spinal deformities. PFTs have been used to quantify these symptoms, but a discrepancy exists between these objective measurements and the subjective experiences of patients, reducing their clinical value. To address this gap, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) capturing the patient’s perspective are needed but are currently lacking.

The presentation outlines ongoing efforts to rectify this situation, with a focus on measuring pulmonary function and exercise tolerance through structured patient interviews, the use of smart vests with sensors, and the development of a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM). These endeavors aim to improve the monitoring and management of pulmonary symptoms in spinal deformity patients, ultimately enhancing their quality of life and long-term health.

(Presented at the 2009st Meeting, November 8, 2023)