Case study: Asphyxia caused by inspissated oral and nasopharyngeal secretions.

An institutionalized man with severe mental disability and cerebral palsy, admitted from the ED with suspected aspiration pneumonia, died after a long struggle with respiratory difficulties. The cause of death was determined to be asphyxia resulting from a complete obstruction of the posterior pharynx and upper larynx by thickened oral and nasopharyngeal secretions. Although airway obstruction is common in people with motor or neurologic disorders and in those who are chronically debilitated or institutionalized, food and foreign matter are not the only culprits.

Acceptable differences in sensory and motor latencies between the median and ulnar nerves.

The median and ulnar nerves are often studied during the same electrodiagnostic examination. The sensory and motor latencies of these nerves have been compared to detect a common electrodiagnostic entity: median neuropathy at the wrist. However, this comparison could also be used to diagnose less common ulnar pathology.

An antidromic study of the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve, with a comparison of the differences between medial and lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve latencies.

Electrodiagnostic study of the medial antebrachial cutaneous (MAC) and lateral antebrachial cutaneous (LAC) nerves is not routinely undertaken. Pathology of either nerve or of the brachial plexus may occur from a variety of causes. Iatrogenic injury of these nerves has been rarely reported, but potential exists for nerve damage with a number of medical procedures, implants, or surgeries in the flexor forearm.

Ulnar nerve motor conduction to the first dorsal interosseous muscle.

The ulnar motor study to the abductor digiti minimi (ADM) is commonly performed, but does not test the terminal deep palmar branch of the ulnar nerve. Although damage to the ulnar nerve most often occurs at the elbow, the damage may occur elsewhere along the course of the nerve, including damage to the deep palmar branch. Ulnar conduction studies of the deep branch have been performed with recording from the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle.

An introduction to electromyography: an invited review.

Electromyography is a complex diagnostic test that is useful in diagnosing many neuromuscular and musculoskeletal conditions. Physiatrists and neurologists become familiar with this test during their training, while other physicians have minimal or no exposure, outside of perhaps some basic physiology lectures. A review of the anatomy, physiology, and physics upon which electrodiagnostic testing is based and of the various techniques used during a study provides the necessary foundation for understanding and using study results.