Amyloid PET ordering practices in a memory disorders clinic.

Introduction: This study assessed the ordering of amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) scans in a Veterans Affairs (VA) memory disorders clinic as part of routine clinical care, with possible implications for the extent to which ordering may occur outside of the VA in the future if covered by insurance.

Methods: Clinical features predictive of ordering amyloid PET scans were retrospectively assessed; the percentage of patients who met appropriate use criteria were evaluated.

Results: Among 565 veterans, 34.

Neuroimaging Spectrum of Severe Hypernatremia in Infants with Neurological Manifestations.

Background: Variable neurological manifestations and imaging findings have been described in children with severe hypernatremia. We aimed to describe the spectrum of neuroimaging changes in infants with severe hypernatremia.

Methods: This retrospective study included infants with severe hypernatremia (serum sodium >160 mEq/L), abnormal neurological examination, and an abnormal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain over a period of 2 years in a tertiary care hospital.

Reducing Wait Time Between Admission and Chemotherapy Initiation.

Purpose: Reducing the length of stay is a high-priority objective for all health care institutions. Delays in chemotherapy initiation for planned preadmissions lead to patient dissatisfaction and prolonged length of stay.

Patients And Methods: A multidisciplinary team was formed as part of the ASCO Quality Training Program.

Use of Computer Imaging in Rhinoplasty: A Survey of the Practices of Facial Plastic Surgeons.

Objective: The objective of this study was to quantify the use of computer imaging by facial plastic surgeons.

Methods: AAFPRS Facial plastic surgeons were surveyed about their use of computer imaging during rhinoplasty consultations. The survey collected information about surgeon demographics, practice settings, practice patterns, and rates of computer imaging (CI) for primary and revision rhinoplasty.

Gray matter volume and executive functioning correlate with time since injury following mild traumatic brain injury.

Most people who sustain a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) will recover to baseline functioning within a period of several days to weeks. A substantial minority of patients, however, will show persistent symptoms and mild cognitive complaints for much longer. To more clearly delineate how the duration of time since injury (TSI) is associated with neuroplastic cortical volume changes and cognitive recovery, we employed voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and select neuropsychological measures in a cross-sectional sample of 26 patients with mTBI assessed at either two-weeks, one-month, three-months, six-months, or one-year post injury, and a sample of 12 healthy controls.

Multiportal Combined Transorbital and Transnasal Endoscopic Resection of Fibrous Dysplasia.

Introduction Historically, access to the anterior skull base was achieved with open procedures. The paradigms to this approach were challenged with the advent of minimally disruptive endoscopic surgical techniques and supporting technology. The next step in the evolution of minimally disruptive surgery was the combination of multiportal endoscopic surgery.

Probable Immunoglobulin Subtype-G4-Related Disease in the Head and Neck from Foreign Body Injection: A Case Report.

Introduction Immunoglobulin subtype G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a fibroinflammatory disease of unknown etiology, with manifestations involving nearly every organ system. Its association with foreign bodies is not established. Here, we present a novel case of IgG4-RD in response to foreign body injection.

Static Facial Slings: Approaches to Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed Face.

Facial paralysis results from a variety of different causes. Patients with facial paralysis have cosmetic and functional defects that significantly affect quality of life. Surgical intervention has the potential to help improve cosmetic and functional outcomes.

Total glossectomy with laryngeal preservation and free flap reconstruction: objective functional outcomes and systematic review of the literature.

Objective: Advanced tongue cancer is a devastating diagnosis with potential for significant morbidity after treatment. This is especially true for patients undergoing total glossectomy with laryngeal preservation (TGLP), free flap reconstruction and adjuvant radiotherapy. The goals of this study were to: 1) determine long-term objective functional and quality of life outcomes, 2) investigate the influence of rehabilitation on functional recovery and 3) determine swallowing ability in patients with TGLP.

Effect of intraoperative dopamine on free flap survival in a rat model: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.

Background: The classic teaching is that free flaps have unique postsurgical transfer physiology that renders them highly sensitive to vasoactive drugs owing to the complete denervation of the tissue. There are no basic or animal studies on this phenomenon, and expert opinion is against the use of vasoactive substances in free flap surgeries. It has been our general impression that judicial use of ionotropes to support perfusion does not affect free flap survival.

Primary total laryngectomy versus organ preservation for T3/T4a laryngeal cancer: a population-based analysis of survival.

Background: For 20 years, laryngeal cancer survival has been decreasing. Moreover, the use of radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy-radiotherapy (CRT) has risen and the use of total laryngectomy plus radio/chemotherapy (TL-R/CT) for advanced disease has declined.

Objective: To assess the survival outcomes of TL-R/CT, RT, and CRT in patients with T3 and T4a laryngeal cancers in Alberta, Canada.

Medication safety of five oral chemotherapies: a proactive risk assessment.

Purpose: Oral chemotherapies represent an emerging risk area in ambulatory oncology practice. To examine the hazards associated with five oral chemotherapies, we performed a proactive risk assessment.

Methods: WE CONVENED INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAMS AND CONDUCTED FAILURE MODE AND EFFECTS ANALYSES (FMEAS) FOR FIVE ORAL CHEMOTHERAPY AGENTS: capecitabine, imatinib, temozolomide, 6-mercaptopurine, and an investigational agent.

Three-dimensional biomodeling in complex mandibular reconstruction and surgical simulation: prospective trial.

Background: Mandibular reconstruction is challenging for experienced and resident surgeons. Three-dimensional (3D) biomodeling creates accurate physical models of patients' craniofacial skeletons, which can potentially assist reconstruction. However, this capacity has not been objectively examined.

Heparin versus tirofiban in microvascular anastomosis: randomized controlled trial in a rat model.

Objective: Free flaps have become the mainstay of reconstruction after resection of head and neck cancer. Thrombosis after microvascular reanastamosis is a common reason for free flap failure. Various anticoagulants have been used topically and systemically to prevent thrombosis.

LigaSure versus conventional hemostasis in thyroid surgery: prospective randomized controlled trial.

Background: Meticulous hemostasis is a critical and often time-consuming step of safe thyroid surgery. The LigaSure system (Valleylab, Boulder, CO) is a diathermy hemostasis method that fuses vessel walls to form a collagen seal. Previous studies have shown reduced operative times in thyroidectomy using the LS system.

The effectiveness of pressure garment therapy for the prevention of abnormal scarring after burn injury: a meta-analysis.

Objectives: This study had three objectives. First, to conduct a systematic review to identify the available evidence for the use of pressure garment therapy (PGT); second, to assess the quality of the available evidence; and third, to conduct a meta-analysis to quantify the effectiveness of PGT for the prevention of abnormal scarring after burn injury.

Background: Standard care for the prevention of abnormal scarring after burn injury includes pressure garment therapy (PGT); however, it is associated with potential patient morbidity and high costs.

Continuing medical education in emergency plastic surgery for referring physicians: a prospective assessment of educational needs.

Background: Continuing medical education for referring physicians is an essential part of raising the profile of plastic surgery and improving patient care. The authors conducted a prospective cohort study to assess the educational needs of emergency and primary care physicians who refer patients to the on-call plastic surgeon.

Methods: The following information was collected for telephone referrals from emergency and primary care physicians over a 1-year period: date, location of referral center, population of referral center, distance between referral center and tertiary care hospital, patient age, presenting problem, anatomical location of the problem, and treatment plan proposed by the plastic surgeon.