Relationship between EMG-detected and ultrasound-detected fasciculations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A prospective cohort study

ObjectivesFasciculation potentials (FP) are an important consideration in the electrophysiological diagnosis of ALS. Muscle ultrasonography (MUS) has a higher sensitivity in detecting fasciculations than electromyography (EMG), while in some cases, it is unable to detect EMG-detected fasciculations. We aimed to investigate the differences of FP between the muscles with and without MUS-detected fasciculations (MUS-fas).MethodsThirty-one consecutive patients with sporadic ALS were prospectively recruited and in those, both needle EMG and MUS were performed. Analyses of the amplitude, duration, and number of phases of EMG-detected FPs were performed for seven muscles per patient, and results were compared between the muscles with and without MUS-fas in the total cohort.ResultsThe mean amplitude and phase number of FP were significantly lower in patients with EMG-detected FP alone (0.39 ± 0.25 mV and 3.21 ± 0.88, respectively) than in those with both FP and MUS-fas (1.22 ± 0.92 mV and 3.74 ± 1.39, respectively; p < 0.0001 and p = 0.017, Welch’s t-test).ConclusionSmall FP may be undetectable with MUS. MUS cannot replace EMG in the diagnostic approach for ALS.SignificanceClinicians should use a combination of EMG and MUS for the detection and quantitative analysis of fasciculation in ALS.     

Outcomes and risk management in type B aortic dissection patients with acute kidney injury: a concise review

PurposeType B aortic dissection is a rare but life-threatening disease. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) was widely used for Type B aortic dissection patients in the last decade due to the lower mortality and morbidity compared with open chest surgical repair (OCSR). AKI in type B aortic dissection is a well-recognized complication and indicates poor short-term and long-term outcome. The objective of this concise review was to identify the risk factors and the impact of AKI on type B aortic dissection patients.Methods and resultsA literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library with the search terms ‘type B aortic dissection’ and ‘acute kidney injury’ (AKI), and all English-language literatures published in print or available online from inception through August 2020 were thoroughly reviewed. Studies that reported relative AKI risks and outcomes in type B aortic dissection patient were included. Major mechanisms of AKI in type B aortic dissection included renal hypoperfusion, inflammation response, and the use of contrast medium. Type B aortic dissection patients with AKI significantly had increased hospital stay duration, need of renal replacement therapy, and 30-d and 1-year mortality.ConclusionsAKI in type B aortic dissection is a well-recognized complication and associated with poor short-term and long-term outcome. Early identification of high-risk patients, early diagnosis of AKI, stabilization of the hemodynamic parameters, avoidance of nephrotoxic drugs, and optimization of the use of contrast agents are the major strategies for the reduction of AKI in type B aortic dissection patients.     

Dynamic Indicators That Impact the Outcomes of Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair in Complicated Type B Aortic Dissection

PurposeTo investigate dynamic variables obtained from retrospective computed tomography angiography for ability to predict thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) outcomes in patients with complicated type B aortic dissection (cTBAD).Materials and MethodsSeventy-nine patients with cTBAD who received TEVAR from March 2009 to June 2018 were retrospectively enrolled. Relative true lumen area (r-TLA) was computed at the level of tracheal bifurcation every 5% of all R-R intervals. Parameters that reflect the state of intimal motion were evaluated, including difference between maximum and minimum r-TLA (D-TLA) and true lumen collapse. The endpoints comprised early (≤ 30 days) and late (> 30 days) outcomes after intervention.ResultsOverall early mortality rate was 13.9% (11/79), and early adverse events rate was 24.1% (19/79). Patients who received TEVAR within 2 days of symptom onset demonstrated the worst outcomes. A longer time of r-TLA < 25% in 1 cardiac cycle (P = .049) and larger D-TLA (P < .001) were correlated to an increased early death. In addition, D-TLA was an independent predictor of early mortality. Area under the curve of D-TLA was 0.849 (95% confidence interval 0.730–0.967) for predicting early mortality and 0.742 (95% CI 0.611–0.873) for predicting early adverse events. Survival and event-free survival rates during follow-up were decreased in the D-TLA > 21.5% group compared with the D-TLA ≤ 21.5% group (all P < .001).ConclusionsLarger D-TLA is correlated with worse postoperative outcomes and might be a crucial parameter for future risk stratification in patients with cTBAD.     

“Cheese Wire” Fenestration of Dissection Intimal Flap to Facilitate Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair in Chronic Dissection

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for aneurysmal chronic dissection is often complicated by retrograde filling of the false lumen and dissected distal landing zone. A “cheese wire”-style fenestration of the dissection intimal flap can create a landing zone facilitating TEVAR. This technique successfully aided TEVAR in 3 patients with an average age of 57.3 years. Complications included type III endoleak requiring relining and renal artery occlusion requiring stent placement. Average duration of clinical follow-up was 19 ± 4 months. Imaging follow-up was 8 ± 10 months. All patients have survived for more than 1 year without aneurysm enlargement.     

全国著名骨伤专家梁铁民教授学术思想和正骨经验

总结了全国著名骨伤专家梁铁民教授的学术思想和正骨经验,简述了梁老生平。梁老学术思想表现在突出整体观念,主张辨证施术;注重调理气血,强调药物接续;重视望问切触量法五诊结合等三个方面。对于梁老正骨经验先进行了综合论述,进一步佐证其学术思想;后分别从小儿桡骨头半脱位、颈椎错位、胸腰椎小关节错位、肋骨骨折等梁老研究较深入和比较擅长的几个方面进行了阐述。特别是颈椎错位这种高难度高风险的手法操作,体现出梁老高超的手法技艺。     

A peripherally inserted central catheter misplacement into lateral thoracic vein: A case report

IntroductionCentral venous catheter applications and complications are closely related to the tip position. Previous studies have reported some rare cases of catheter misplacement. Here, we report a case of misplacement of a peripherally inserted central catheter into the lateral thoracic vein.Case reportA 56-year-old cancer patient underwent placement of a peripherally inserted central catheter through the left basilic vein under ultrasound-guided puncture. The catheterisation procedure was uneventful, so the catheter was believed to be in the superior vena cava. However, the post-anterior chest X-ray image revealed that after the catheter advanced towards the axilla, it turned downwards and outwards in the direction of the left lateral thoracic region, with the projection of the catheter tip giving the appearance of termination in the subcutaneous tissue of the lateral thoracic wall on the two-dimensional image. The catheter was then repositioned in the distal superior vena cava.DiscussionPeripherally inserted central catheters can be potentially misplaced into the lateral thoracic vein because these catheters can pass through the orifice of the lateral thoracic vein which flows into the axillary vein. Some pathological cases and clinical conditions can cause dilatation of the lateral thoracic vein, which increases the probability of catheter misplacement. Three principles were proposed to avoid this rare complication: a comprehensive review of the patients’ medical history, real-time image-guided catheterisation and routine radiographic identification of the tip position.     

腰椎间盘突出症疗效不佳的临床观察

目的 分析腰椎间盘突出症手术疗效不佳的原因，探讨提高疗效的方法。方法 随访本院1993-2003年腰椎间盘突出症行后路髓核摘除术病例236例，对术后腰腿痛症状未缓解或症状消失后再复发者复查X片、CT或MRI了解病因。结果手术疗效不佳者25例。疗效不佳的主要原因为残留髓核再突出、术后脊柱不稳倾向增加、对侧隐窝狭窄认识不足、神经根损伤、极外侧型椎问盘突出漏切、感染、术后椎管内瘢痕黏连等。全椎板切除术较椎板问开窗术更易发生椎管内瘢痕黏连（P＜0．01）。结论首次手术时应尽可能取净髓核组织，对动力位摄片发现有椎问不稳倾向者行后外侧植骨或椎体问植骨融合，常规探查并妥善处理侧隐窝，牵拉神经根时间不应过长且用力轻柔。行腰椎间盘CT和MRI扫描时，应注意包括椎间盘相邻上下椎体的1／3部，以防止遗漏极外侧型椎问盘突出，尽量采用椎板间开窗术式以减少脊柱创伤，术中间断冲洗，术毕持续负压引流，以减少术后黏连，术中应严格无菌操作。     

颈椎前路手术内置物并发症的分析

在颈椎前路减压、植骨、带锁钢板内固定技术日渐成熟的今天,越来越多的医院开展了该项手术。自1998年2月-2005年8月应用该方法治疗颈椎病215例,发生与内置物钢板及钛网相关的并发症14例,为此积累了一定的经验,现总结如下。1临床资料本组215例,男126例,女89例;年龄42～82岁,平均     

人工骨椎体成形术治疗胸腰椎爆裂骨折

目的:探讨经椎弓根人工骨植入椎体成形术治疗胸腰椎爆裂性骨折的方法和效果。方法:胸腰椎爆裂骨折12例,男8例,女4例;年龄28～61岁,平均47.5岁;受伤时间4～12d;术前Frankel分级:C级1例,D级3例,E级8例;受伤椎体:T112例,T122例,L15例,L23例;术前后突角11°～35°,平均24°;术前椎管占位率39%～85%,平均64.5%;术前伤椎椎体前缘高度平均为正常的47%。行后路切开复位短节段椎弓根钉内固定后,人工骨经伤椎椎弓根植入椎体成形术。结果:所有患者均获随访,时间3～19个月,平均13个月。脊柱后突角平均恢复20°,椎体高度平均恢复96%,椎管占位率平均恢复至7%。2例人工骨椎体内充填不足;无内固定松动、断裂、椎体高度变低及生理弧度丢失。神经功能恢复:1例术前Frankel分级C级及2例D级患者术后均恢复至E级。结论:经椎弓根人工骨植入椎体成形术重建了椎体高度,增加了脊椎前柱的抗压稳定性,使患者能早期活动,减少内固定物因应力过大造成的断钉、松动、椎体再压缩等并发症。