Small bowel obstruction following computed tomography and magnetic resonance enterography using psyllium seed husk as an oral contrast agent.

The authors report a case series describing four patients who developed small bowel obstruction following the use of psyllium seed husk as an oral contrast agent for computed tomography or magnetic resonance enterography. Radiologists who oversee computed tomography and magnetic resonance enterography should be aware of this potential complication when using psyllium seed husk and other bulking agents, particularly when imaging patients with known or suspected small bowel strictures or active inflammation.

A simple method to estimate renal volume from computed tomography.

Introduction: Renal parenchymal volume can be used clinically to estimate differential renal function. Unfortunately, conventional methods to determine renal volume from computed tomography (CT) are time-consuming or difficult due to software limitations. We evaluated the accuracy of simple renal measurements to estimate renal volume as compared with estimates made using specialized CT volumetric software.

Carotid Doppler ultrasound findings in patients with left ventricular assist devices.

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have been used to treat advanced heart failure refractory to medical management, as bridge therapy to myocardial recovery, as bridge therapy to cardiac transplantation, or as destination therapy for patients with unfavorable transplant candidacy. Neurologic complications are some of the most common and devastating complications in these patients. Preoperative carotid ultrasound is, therefore, a standard evaluation in patients at risk for cerebrovascular disease.

Incidence of infectious complications after an ultrasound-guided intervention.

Objective: The objective of our study was to determine the incidence of infectious complications of common ultrasound-guided procedures including fine-needle aspiration (FNA), drain placement, biopsy, pseudoaneurysm thrombin injection, thoracentesis, and paracentesis.

Subjects And Methods: The infection prevention and control (IPAC) committee at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, conducts surveillance of selected infections including radiology procedures. When a positive culture, hospital admission, or operating room visit for infection is identified, the patient's electronic records are thoroughly reviewed by an infection control practitioner looking for information about prior interventions.

Radiology resident interpretation of on-call CT pulmonary angiograms.

Rationale And Objectives: To evaluate the interpretation of computed tomographic pulmonary angiograms performed outside of regular reporting hours, comparing the initial interpretation by the radiology resident to the attending radiologist.

Materials And Methods: Records for 840 consecutive computed tomographic pulmonary angiograms (CTPA) performed outside of regular reporting hours at two tertiary referral centers from January 1, 2004-December 31, 2005 were reviewed. The preliminary interpretation by the on-call radiology resident was compared to the subsequent final report issued by a subspecialty trained chest radiologist.

Brief report: needlestick injury and inadequate post-exposure practice in medical students.

Background: Medical students are at a particularly high risk for needlestick injury and its consequences because of their relative inexperience and lack of disability insurance.

Objective: To determine the risk of needlestick injury and the use of post-exposure prophylaxis among medical students.

Design: Internet-based survey.

Endometriosis in the canal of Nuck: Atypical manifestations in an unusual location.

The canal of Nuck is an embryological remnant of the processus vaginalis and has been described as a site for endometriosis seeding. Endometriosis localized to the canal of Nuck is exceedingly rare with three cases reported. The case of a 31-year-old woman with an endometrioma in the canal of Nuck, made diagnostically challenging by atypical imaging and clinical findings, is described.

Folie à deux: an old diagnosis with a new technology.

The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is the treatment of choice for life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Despite this, indications for explantation have been described. Psychiatric complications have been considered in the decision to not re-implant a previously explanted device but never as a primary indication for explantation.