Temporal changes in extra-axial brain hematoma's signal intensity in magnetic resonance images of trauma patients: A preliminary,technical study

IntroductionDating the exact or estimated time of trauma is an important issue facing forensic medicine. Several clinical and radiological methods were used to achieve this purpose. In the recent study, we aimed to track the changes in the signal intensity of the extra-axial brain hematoma using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) conventional sequences as well as diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC).Materials and methodsConsidering inclusion and exclusion criteria, all patients with blunt head trauma were involved. After proper management., stabilization, and resuscitation, the participants were assessed using conventional sequences of MRI and DWI twenty-four hours, forty-eight hours, and three weeks after the injury. Temporal changes of signal intensity were compared by Wilcoxon ranged test.ResultsSixteen patients sustaining blunt head trauma were included in this study. The study showed that during the time, diffusion restriction could be seen in an extraaxial hematoma. At the first 24 hours, the signal of hematoma was void in 87.5% of DWI and 100% of ADC. On the second day, they were hypo-signal in 75% of DWI and 100% 0f ADCs, and after three weeks, 100% of cases were hyper-signal in DWI and hypo-signal ADCs.ConclusionThis preliminary study has shown that the DWI can be used to detect and track the extra-axial hematoma. The signal intensity was void during the first twentyfour hours, although it became hypo-signal after 48 hours. Of note, the diffusion restriction is noted after three weeks.     

Short-Term Left Ventricular Reverse Remodeling after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Children

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Patients' expectations,experience and acceptability of postoperative analgesia: a nested qualitative study within a randomised controlled trial comparing rectus sheath catheter and thoracic epidural analgesia

Adequate postoperative analgesia is a key element of enhanced recovery programmes. Thoracic epidural analgesia is associated with superior postoperative analgesia but can lead to complications. Rectus sheath catheter analgesia may provide an alternative. In a nested qualitative study (within a two-year randomised controlled trial) focussing on the acceptability, expectations and experiences of receiving the interventions, participants (n = 20) were interviewed 4 weeks post-intervention using a grounded theory approach. Constant comparative analysis, with patient and public involvement, enabled emerging findings to be pursued through subsequent data collection. We found no notable differences regarding postoperative acceptability or the experience of pain management. Pre-operatively, however, thoracic epidural analgesia was a source of anticipatory fear and anxiety. Both interventions resulted in some experienced adverse events (proportionately more with thoracic epidural analgesia). Participants had negative experiences of the insertion of thoracic epidural analgesia; others receiving the rectus sheath catheter lacked confidence in staff members' ability to manage the local anaesthetic infusion pump. The anticipation of the technique of thoracic epidural analgesia, and concerns about its impact on mobility, represented an additional, unpleasant experience for patients already managing an illness experience, anticipating a life-changing operation and dealing with concerns about the future. The anticipation of rectus sheath catheter analgesia was not associated with such anxieties. Patients' experiences start far earlier than the experience of the intervention itself through anticipatory anxieties and fears about receiving a technique and its potential implications. Complex pain packages can take on greater meaning than their actual efficacy in relieving postoperative pain. Future research into patient acceptability and experience should not focus solely on efficacy of pain relief but should include anticipatory fears, anxieties and experiences.     

Successful treatment of a recurrent post-dural puncture headache with an epidural blood patch 18 months after the initial dural puncture

Inadvertent dural puncture is a recognised complication of epidural insertion. Parturients are at increased risk of developing a post-dural puncture headache, which can be debilitating for a mother caring for a newborn infant. Epidural blood patch is an effective treatment in patients presenting acutely with post-dural puncture headaches but its efficacy in those with delayed presentation or with late recurrent post-dural puncture headache is less clear. We present the case of a woman with a recurrent post-dural puncture headache who was successfully treated with an epidural blood patch 18 months after the initial dural puncture. Patients who develop post-dural puncture headaches may remain symptomatic for some time and an epidural blood patch may be beneficial, following appropriate investigation.     

Identifying the emergence of the superficial peroneal nerve through deep fascia on ultrasound and by dissection: Implications for regional anesthesia in foot and ankle surgery

Regional anesthesia relies on a sound understanding of anatomy and the utility of ultrasound in identifying relevant structures. We assessed the ability to identify the point at which the superficial peroneal nerve (SPN) emerges through the deep fascia by ultrasound on 26 volunteers (mean age 27.85 years ± 13.186; equal male: female). This point was identified, characterized in relation to surrounding bony landmarks (lateral malleolus and head of the fibula), and compared to data from 16 formalin‐fixed human cadavers (mean age 82.88 years ± 6.964; equal male: female). The SPN was identified bilaterally in all subjects. On ultrasound it was found to pierce the deep fascia of the leg at a point 0.31 (±0.066) of the way along a straight line from the lateral malleolus to the head of the fibula (LM‐HF line). This occurred on or anterior to the line in all cases. Dissection of cadavers found this point to be 0.30 (±0.062) along the LM‐HF line, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (U = 764.000; exact two‐tailed P = 0.534). It was always on or anterior to the LM‐HF line, anterior by 0.74 cm (±0.624) on ultrasound and by 1.51 cm (±0.509) during dissection. This point was significantly further anterior to the LM‐HF line in cadavers (U = 257.700, exact two‐tailed P < 0.001). Dissection revealed the nerve to divide prior to emergence in 46.88% (n = 15) limbs, which was not identified on ultrasound (although not specifically assessed). Such information can guide clinicians when patient factors (e.g., obesity and peripheral edema) make ultrasound‐guided nerve localization more technically challenging. Clin. Anat. 32:390–395, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

股神经阻滞联合无止血带技术在全膝关节置换术中的应用及效果

目的探讨股神经阻滞联合无止血带技术在全膝关节置换术(TKA)中的应用,并分析其在减轻术后疼痛中的作用及对术后认知功能的影响。方法本院2016年1月至2018年1月行TKA患者251例,男117例,女134例,年龄18～80岁,BMI 16.9～31.7 kg/m~2,ASAⅠ—Ⅲ级,随机分为四组:止血带下膝关节置换+静脉镇痛组(PT1组,n=56);止血带下膝关节置换+股神经阻滞镇痛组(PT2组,n=63);无止血带下膝关节置换+静脉镇痛组(P1组,n=56);无止血带下膝关节置换+股神经阻滞镇痛组(P2组,n=76)。分别于术前1 d、术后1、2、3 d测量术侧大腿中上1/3处周长,并于同时点采集外周静脉血测定白细胞计数(WBC)、中性粒细胞百分比(NEUT%)、C-反应蛋白(CRP)浓度。分别于术前1 d、术后1、2、3、7 d和3个月评测患侧膝关节活动度(AROM),采用视觉模拟疼痛评分法(VAS)评估静息和活动时的疼痛VAS评分。分别于术前1 d、术后1、2、3 d采用蒙特利尔认知评估量表(MoCA)评估患者认知功能,记录术后3 d内认知功能损害发生情况和恶心呕吐(PONV)发生情况。结果术后1、2、3 d PT1组和PT2组大腿周长增加值明显大于P1组和P2组(P0.05)、CRP浓度明显低于P1组和P2组(P0.05)。术后1、2 d PT1和P1组AROM明显小于PT2组和P2组(P0.05),PT1组静息和活动时VAS评分明显高于PT2组、P1组和P2组(P0.05),且P1组活动时VAS评分明显高于PT2组和P2组(P0.05)。术后1 d PT1组和PT2组MoCA评分明显高于P1组和P2组(P0.05)。术后3 d内PT1组和PT2组认知功能损害总发生率明显低于P1组和P2组(P0.05),PT1组和P1组PONV的总发生率明显高于PT2组和P2组(P0.05)。结论持续股神经阻滞联合无止血带技术用于全膝关节置换术,患者术后大腿肿胀及疼痛程度较轻,利于膝关节功能锻炼,关节活动度恢复快,但术后全身炎症反应较重且术后早期认知功能损害发生率增加。