In the emergency department, rib fractures are a common finding in patients who sustain chest trauma. Rib fractures may be a sign of significant, underlying pathology, especially in the elderly patients where rib fractures are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. To date, no studies have evaluated the ability of ultrasound to detect rib fractures using cadaver models and subsequently use this model as a teaching tool.
Objectives
The purpose of this study was to determine if it is possible to generate rib fractures on cadaver models which could be accurately identified using ultrasound.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional study performed during one session at a cadaver lab. A single hemithorax from four adult cadavers were used as models. Single rib fractures on each of rib five through eight were created. Four subjects, blinded to the normal versus fractured ribs, were asked to identify the presence of a fracture on each rib.
Results
A total of 8 of 16 potential ribs had fractured induced by study staff. Mean accuracy was 55% for all subjects. The overall sensitivity and specificity for detecting rib fractures was 50% (CI: 31.89–68.11) and 59.38% (CI: 35.69–73.55) respectively. The overall PPV and NPV was 55.17% and 54.29% respectively.
Conclusions
In this pilot study, subjects were not able to detect induced rib fractures using ultrasound on cadaver models. The use of this model as a teaching tool in the detection of rib fractures requires further investigation. 相似文献
Background: Few studies have examined the use of ultrasound for sciatic nerve localization. The authors evaluated the usefulness of low-frequency ultrasound in identifying the sciatic nerve at three locations in the lower extremity and in guiding needle advancement to target before nerve stimulation.
Methods: In this prospective observational study, 15 volunteers underwent sciatic nerve examination using a curved ultrasound probe in the range of 2-5 MHz and a Philips-ATL 5000 unit (ATL Ultrasound, Bothell, WA) in the gluteal, infragluteal, and proximal thigh regions. Thereafter, an insulated block needle was advanced inline with the ultrasound beam to reach the nerve target, which was further confirmed by electrical stimulation. The quality of sciatic nerve images, ease of needle to nerve contact, threshold stimulating current, and resultant motor response were recorded.
Results: The sciatic nerve was successfully identified in the transverse view as a solitary predominantly hyperechoic structure on ultrasound in all of the three regions examined. The target nerve was visualized easily in 87% and localized within two needle attempts in all patients. Nerve stimulation was successful in 100% after two attempts with a threshold current of 0.42 +/- 0.12 (mean +/- SD) eliciting foot plantarflexion or dorsiflexion. 相似文献
High levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, are present in the wound fluid of chronic nonhealing wounds. This leads to increased inflammation, cytokine expression, and ultimately results in impaired wound healing and tissue destruction. Etanercept is a recombinant fusion protein that consists of the soluble TNF receptor (p75) linked to the Fc portion of human IgG1. It is an effective inhibitor of TNF-alpha and has been shown to provide rapid and sustained improvement in rheumatoid arthritis by acting as a soluble receptor binding TNF-alpha and preventing its proinflammatory activities. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether Etanercept could inhibit TNF-alpha activity in chronic wound fluid. Wound fluid was collected from the venous leg ulcers of 16 different patients. The effect of Etanercept on TNF-alpha activity was evaluated using both a TNF-alpha bioassay and an enzyme-linked immunoassay. Etanercept was found to reduce the cytotoxic effect of chronic wound fluid on L929 fibroblasts by approximately 30% and neutralized TNF-alpha binding in the enzyme-linked immunoassay by up to 80%. Direct application of Etanercept to chronic wounds may therefore reduce the inflammatory activity of TNF-alpha, which could reduce the chronicity of venous leg ulcers and thus aid in the healing of these wounds. 相似文献
Introduction Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are known to be at risk for early osteoporosis, and the mechanisms that mediate bone loss
are still being delineated. The aim of the present investigation was to investigate if a correlation exists in these patients
between skeletal measurements by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and two anabolic factors, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and proresorptive factors such as the cytokines interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor α,
and interleukin-6.
Methods We studied 32 outpatients (18 females; mean age: 26.2 ± 7.9 years) at a tertiary care medical center. The subjects had venous
samples obtained, underwent anthropometric and bone mineral density (BMD) measurements, and completed a health survey. Serum
IGF-I concentrations were below the age-adjusted mean in 78% of the participants, and DHEA sulfate (DHEAS) concentrations
were low in 72%. Serum concentrations of all cytokines were on the low side of normal; nonetheless, there was a modest inverse
correlation between IL-1β and BMD at all sites.
Results In univariate analyses, IGF-I and DHEAS were significant correlates of BMD or bone mineral content. In final multivariate
models controlling for anthropometric and other variables of relevance to bone density, only IGF-I was identified as a significant
independent skeletal predictor. While alterations in DHEAS, IGF-I, and specific cytokines may contribute to skeletal deficits
in patients with CF, of these factors a low IGF-I concentration appears to be most strongly correlated with BMD.
Conclusions These findings may have therapeutic implications for enhancing bone density in these patients. 相似文献
Foreign bodies in the esophagus are uncommon causes of esophageal perforation. Many nonperforating cases are successfully managed by flexible gastroscopy. However, complicated foreign bodies such as those that result in esophageal perforation and vascular injury are best managed surgically. Gastroscopy remains the primary method of diagnosis. A case of a 59-year-old woman who developed retrosternal and intrascapular pain, odynophagia and hematemesis after eating fish is reported. Flexible gastroscopy showed arterial bleeding from the midthoracic esophagus. Computed tomography scan localized a 3 cm fish bone perforating the esophagus with surrounding hematoma. An aortogram did not reveal an actively bleeding aortoesophageal fistula. The fish bone was surgically removed and the patient recovered with no postoperative complications. This case illustrates the importance of early consideration for surgical intervention when confronted with a brisk arterial bleed from the esophagus with suggestive history of foreign body ingestion. 相似文献
Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) may cause hypertension, progressive renal failure, and recurrent pulmonary edema. It typically occurs in high risk patients with coexistent vascular disease elsewhere. Most patients with ARAS are likely to die from coronary heart disease or stroke before end-stage renal failure occurs. Recent controlled trials have shown that most patients undergoing angioplasty to treat renovascular hypertension still need antihypertensive agents 6 or 12 months after the procedure. Nevertheless, the number of antihypertensive agents required to control blood pressure adequately is lower following angioplasty than for medication alone. Trials assessing the value of revascularization for preserving renal function or preventing clinical events are only in the early recruitment phase. Revascularization should be undertaken in patients with ARAS and resistant hypertension or heart failure, and probably in those with rapidly deteriorating renal function or with an increase in plasma creatinine levels during angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition. With or without revascularization, medical therapy using antihypertensive, hypolipidemic and antiplatelet agents is necessary in almost all cases. 相似文献