Background And Objectives: In thoracic epidural anesthesia, the "loss of resistance" technique is the standard technique for the identification of the epidural space (EDS), the feedback to the operator is often solely tactile. Our aim was to establish ultrasonography for the prepuncture demonstration of the anatomic structures surrounding the thoracic EDS and to evaluate its precision and imaging quality.
Methods: We examined 20 volunteers. In each participant, the extradural space and the neighboring anatomic landmarks in the intervertebral space Th 5-6 were identified using 2 imaging techniques: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography. We compared corresponding images regarding distance measurements and the visibility of anatomic landmarks.
Results: The capacity of ultrasound imaging (US) to depict the thoracic EDS was limited. Due to the better overview, MR images were easier to interpret. However, US proved to be of better value than MRI in the depiction of the dura mater. All important landmarks for the puncture of the thoracic EDS could be identified with both techniques. The overall correlation was satisfactory. US depicted the different structures of the thoracic EDS with an acceptable precision (confidence interval, 4.6 to 8.7 mm).
Conclusions: US showed good correlation with MRI, which is a standard imaging technique for the depiction of the spine. We anticipate that prepuncture ultrasonography may facilitate thoracic epidural anesthesia by needle placement.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/rapm.2002.29239 | DOI Listing |
Orphanet J Rare Dis
January 2025
Department of Social Work, Child Welfare and Social Policy, Faculty of Social Science, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway.
Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions and opinions on what constitutes determinants for quality of life (QoL) in individuals with syndromic Heritable Aortic Disease (sHTAD), utilizing a qualitative study approach. Further to discuss clinical implications and direction for research.
Method: A qualitative focus group interview study was conducted of 47 adults (Marfan syndrome (MFS) = 14, Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) = 11, vascular Ehlers Danlos syndrome (EDS) = 11, relatives = 11).
Mol Cell Biochem
December 2024
Department of Surgery I-Clinic of Surgical Semiotics & Thoracic Surgery, Center for Hepato-Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, "Victor Babeș" University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timișoara, Eftimie Murgu Sq., No.2, 300041, Timișoara, Romania.
Obesity, diabetes, and their cardiovascular and hepatic comorbidities are alarming public health issues of the twenty-first century, which share mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation as common pathophysiological mechanisms. An increasing body of evidence links the combined exposure to multiple environmental toxicants with the occurrence and severity of metabolic diseases. Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are ubiquitous chemicals or mixtures with persistent deleterious effects on the living organisms beyond the endocrine system impairment; in particular, those known as metabolism-disrupting chemicals (MDCs), increase the risk of the metabolic pathologies in adult organism or its progeny.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Epworth Sleepiness Scale(ESS) is widely used in the assessment of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) despite certain deficiencies. It was aimed to evaluate the factors associated with low ESS scores in subjects investigated for OSA.
Methods: In this cross sectional study, we recorded the ESS and Pittsburg sleep quality index (PSQI) scores of patients undergoing polysomnography in our sleep center between November 2022-January 2023.
Healthcare (Basel)
December 2024
Innovation, Research and Teaching Service (SABES-ASDAA), Teaching Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical Private University (PMU), 39100 Bolzano, Italy.
Background: Over the past few decades, emergency departments (EDs) have experienced an increasing workload. However, the variation in the types of patient accesses to these departments remains poorly understood.
Objective: To evaluate the 5-year temporal trend in the volume of patients attending EDs based on the urgency of their conditions.
BMJ Open
November 2024
Subaquatic and Hyperbaric Medicine Unit, Emergency Service, Acute Medicine Department, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
Introduction: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common genetic diseases in the world, annually affecting approximately 310 000 births and causing >100 000 deaths. Vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) is the most frequent complication of SCD, leading to bone pain, thoracic pain (acute chest syndrome) and/or abdominal spasms. It is the main cause of mortality in patients with SCD, reducing life expectancy.
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