Hemostasis and sealing of air leaks in the lung using high-intensity focused ultrasound.

Background: Operative management of parenchymal lung injury can be complicated by persistent hemorrhage and air leak, which might require resection. Techniques that preserve parenchyma are associated with improved survival. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has been demonstrated as a useful method for hemostasis in experimental solid organ injuries.

Gastrostomy and jejunostomy placement: the urban hospital perspective pertinent to nursing home care.

Objectives: In nursing home settings, providers often think that most percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes are placed in older people, some perhaps inappropriately. We sought to describe the relationships between patient age and the indications for, the decision making behind, and the outcomes of gastrostomy and jejunostomy placement in an urban hospital to give perspective to those of us working in long-term care settings.

Design: Retrospective, observational study.

Evaluation of the necessity of clinical observation of high-energy trauma patients without significant injury after standardized emergency room stabilization.

Background: Patients involved in a high-energy trauma (HET) are usually admitted for clinical observation, even when no significant injury is found after standard care in the emergency room (ER). The necessity of this observation period is not evidence based. The goal of this study was to identify patients who revealed an initially undiagnosed injury during the observation period.

Intra-operative acoustic hemostasis of liver: production of a homogenate for effective treatment.

Objective: We have shown that High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) can effectively control bleeding from injuries to solid organs such as liver, spleen, and lung. Achievement of hemostasis was augmented when a homogenate of tissue and blood was formed. The objective of this study was to investigate quantitatively the effect of homogenate production on HIFU application time for hemostasis.

High-intensity ultrasound treatment of blunt abdominal solid organ injury: an animal model.

Background: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is effective in producing hemostasis in injuries from organ lacerations and punctures in animals but has not been evaluated in impact injuries.

Method: High-energy blows were applied to 11 heparinized and anesthetized pigs, resulting in solid organ injury. HIFU was applied to injuries via laparotomy.

Liver hemostasis with high-intensity ultrasound: repair and healing.

Objective: Previous studies have shown that high-intensity focused ultrasound can effectively control bleeding from injuries of liver, spleen, and blood vessels. This study investigated long-term hemostasis and tissue repair after high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment in liver.

Methods: A total of 21 rabbits were randomly assigned to 2 groups: high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment (n = 14) and sham treatment (n = 7).

Spleen hemostasis using high-intensity ultrasound: survival and healing.

Background: Previous studies have shown that high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) can effectively control bleeding of incised livers and spleens and punctured vessels. This current study investigated the long-term safety of HIFU in splenic hemostasis.

Methods: A total of 21 rabbits were randomly assigned to two groups: HIFU treatment (n = 14), and sham treatment (n = 7).

Pericarditis after trauma resulting in delayed cardiac tamponade.

Pericarditis complicating cardiac trauma and resulting in tamponade is uncommon. Possible causes include an autoimmune reaction or an inflammatory response to blood entering the pericardium. We present two patients, one with effusive and one with constrictive pericarditis occurring within 2 weeks of a penetrating trauma close to but not directly involving the heart.