Estimation of the amniotic fluid volume using the Cavalieri method on ultrasound images.

OBJECTIVES: Presently, a design-based and practical method for measuring amniotic fluid volume (AFV) for routine clinical examinations has not been proposed. In this study we describe a new method, which combines the Cavalieri method with ultrasound imaging to estimate AFV. METHODS: We measured the AFVs of 14 women in the third trimester of pregnancy, and repeated our measurements three times for each woman. Parallel planimetric ultrasonographic images were obtained at every 2 cm along the longitudinal uterine axis. AFVs were calculated as the total of the multiples of the estimated cut surface areas by the section thickness. RESULTS: The mean estimated AFV was 380.5 cm3. The coefficient of error of each measurement was calculated and the mean was 0.108. The coefficient of correlation between the amniotic fluid index and our AFV estimations was 0.87. CONCLUSIONS: Design-based and efficient estimation of AFV is possible with the combination of consecutive ultrasound images and the Cavalieri method.     

Mesoatrial shunt in Budd-Chiari syndrome

BACKGROUND: The operations with proven effects on survival in Budd-Chiari syndrome are shunt operations and liver transplantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1993 and 1999 (June), 13 cases of Budd-Chiari syndrome have been treated surgically. Four cases had concomitant thrombosis of the inferior vena cava; the others had marked narrowing of the lumen due to the enlarged caudate lobe. Mesoatrial (n = 12) or mesosuperior vena caval (n = 1) shunts were constructed with ringed polytetrafluoroethylene grafts. RESULTS: The median portal pressure fell from 45 (range 32 to 55) to 20 (range 11 to 27) cm H(2)O (P <0.001). Two patients died in the early postoperative period. One patient who did not comply with anticoagulant treatment had a shunt thrombosis in the second postoperative year. The other 10 patients are alive without problems during a median 42 (range 1 to 76) months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Mesoatrial shunt with a ringed polytetrafluoroethylene graft is effective in Budd-Chiari syndrome cases with thrombosis or significant stenosis in the inferior vena cava.     

An unusual case of epigastric heteropagus: parasite with a rudimentary heart

Parasitic or heterotopic conjoined twins are exceedingly rare, and these cases are referred to as "heteropagus" when there is a parasitic attachment in a nonduplicated fashion to any portion of the body. Epigastric heteropagus twinning refers to the attachment of the parasite to the epigastric region of the autosite. An unusual epigastric heteropagus case is presented with a rudimentary cardiopulmonary and also nearly complete gastrointestinal and genitourinary system of the parasite, and an organogenetic and vascular status of the previously reported cases are reviewed. The current case might be unique for the parasite having a cardiopulmonary development--although rudimentary--and this might be the reason that it has more complete organogenesis than the cases that have been presented previously in the literature.     

Maternal mortality rates in the last eight years: A university hospital-based study from Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the cause of changing maternal mortality ratios (MMRs) in a tertiary women's health center in Turkey in the last eight years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Charts of patients seen between 1998 and 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test. The results were accepted to be significant when the p value was <0.05. RESULTS: During this period, 27 pregnancy-related deaths were identified via hospital death records. The MMR was found to have decreased in rate by approximately 50% from 822.2/100,000 live births in the previous report including the years 1978-1997 to 412.0/100,000 during the last eight years (p < 0.01). Pregnancy-induced hypertension was still the most frequent cause of maternal death. The decrease in MMR was due to the decrease in the ratio of maternal infection (26.4% in 1978-1997 to 7.4% in 1998-2005, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Although treatment in the antenatal care and health service has decreased maternal deaths, it was discovered that the MMR has not reached the optimum levels found in developed countries in the last eight years. Also the percentage of direct obstetric deaths (with the exception of those caused by infection) showed no change and was similar to that found in the previous report (1978-1997).     

Trichoptysis caused by intrapulmonary teratoma: Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings

We describe a 9-year-old child with a history of trichoptysis caused by intrapulmonary teratoma and we present the CT and MRI findings of the teratoma. A heterogeneous mass containing cystic and solid elements was detected on both CT and MRI scans. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of teratoma. Teratomas arising from lung parenchyma, as in this case, are extremely rare in childhood. In the thoracic region, the most common localization of teratomas is the anterior mediastinal compartment. We also discuss the CT and MRI findings and the differential diagnosis of teratomas.     

Echocardiographic diagnosis of double-chambered left ventricle

Double-chambered left ventricle (DCLV) is a rare congenital abnormality in which the left ventricle is divided into two separate chambers by a septum or anomalous muscular structure. The chambers are observed mostly parallel to each other without stenosis, and less frequently in a superior-inferior arrangement. An asymptomatic girl is presented here who was diagnosed with DCLV on echocardiographic examination that was performed for the evaluation of cardiac murmur detected by a pediatrician. She has been followed up without treatment.     

Large Lipomatous Hypertrophy of the Interventricular Septum

We present the case of a 58-year-old woman who had large lipomatous hypertrophy of the interventricular septum, a condition that is reported very infrequently. Preoperative cardiac magnetic resonance images revealed an inhomogeneous, infiltrating mass that was suppressed in fat-suppression mode. The extensive mass was causing right ventricular dysfunction, so we excised it through a right ventricular approach. The findings on histologic analysis of the mass were consistent with lipomatous hypertrophy. The patient died of septic shock on the 28th postoperative day. In addition to the patient''s case, we discuss the characteristics and diagnosis of this rare entity.