scholarly journals Ultrasound evaluation of complications after cardiovascular surgery in pediatric patients: A case series

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takahiro Hosokawa ◽  
Sio Suzuki ◽  
Yutaka Tanami ◽  
Yumiko Sato ◽  
Yoshihiro Ko ◽  
...  

In contrast to computed tomography, ultrasound can be performed without radiation exposure, repeatedly performed by the patients’ bedside. Hence, in this case series, we describe the evaluation of complications including hematoma, superficialsurgical site infection, mediastinitis, and pseudoaneurysm associated mediastinitis using ultrasound in pediatric patients after cardiovascular surgery. To our knowledge, no previous reports have evaluated such complications using ultrasound. Ultrasound may be useful for the early diagnosis of these complications, and in the selection of subsequent examinations such as computed tomography, resulting in the early initiation of intervention.

2016 ◽  
Vol 155 (1) ◽  
pp. 160-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ozgul Gergin ◽  
Kosuke Kawai ◽  
Robert D. MacDougall ◽  
Caroline D. Robson ◽  
Ethan Moritz ◽  
...  

Study Objective To evaluate the prevalence of computed tomography (CT) sinus imaging in a pediatric cystic fibrosis (CF) population, determine changes in Lund Mackay (LM) scores over time, and estimate radiation exposure. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Tertiary care children’s hospital. Subjects and Methods In total, 202 pediatric patients with CF who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) were included. The total number of CT scans was calculated for each patient, with specific focus on the indications for and subsequent outcomes of the sinus CT scan subgroup. Results Patients underwent a total of 1718 CT scans, 832 of which were sinus CT scans (mean of 4.2 sinus scans per patient). Disease evaluation (54%) and preoperative planning (35%) were the most common indications. Otolaryngologists were more likely to order imaging for preoperative evaluation, and those scans were more likely to result in surgery compared with those requested by other physicians ( P < .001). Ninety CT scans (10.8%) led to no change in management. There was no significant difference in LM scores between patients admitted to the hospital or prescribed antibiotics and those who were not. There was also no significant change in LM score following ESS after adjusting for age and sex ( P = .23). Conclusion Based on LM scores, all sinus CT scans in patients with CF reveal moderate to severe sinus disease. Effort should be made to minimize radiation exposure in patients with CF by limiting sinus CT scans to the preoperative context or for evaluation of potential sinusitis complications.


2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 267-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan N. Desmond ◽  
Kevin O'Regan ◽  
Neera Malik ◽  
Sebastian McWilliams ◽  
Siobhan O'Neill ◽  
...  

Background Results of previous studies have shown that repeated abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) examinations can lead to substantial cumulative diagnostic radiation exposure in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Improved selection of patients referred for CT will reduce unnecessary radiation exposure. This study examines if serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration predicts which symptomatic patients with CD are likely to have significant disease activity or disease complications (such as abscess) detected on abdominopelvic CT. Methods All abdominopelvic CTs performed on patients with CD at a tertiary referral centre during the period June 2003 to June 2008 were identified. CT findings were coded by a pair of independent blinded senior radiologists for (i) small bowel luminal disease, (ii) large bowel luminal disease, (iii) mesenteric inflammatory changes, (iv) penetrating disease (fistulas, abscess, or phlegmon), (v) acute disease complications (obstruction or perforation), and (vi) acute non-CD findings. Imaging findings were correlated with serum CRP checked within 14 days before imaging. The reference range for CRP was defined as 0–5 mg/L. Results A total of 147 patients with symptomatic CD had a CRP assay performed within 14 days before undergoing abdominopelvic CT. The median time from CRP assay to imaging was 2 days (interquartile range, 0-6 days). Median CRP before imaging was 24 mg/L (interquartile range, 6-88 mg/L). CT was normal in 34 of 147 case (23.1%). Patients with normal CRP (n = 36) were significantly less likely to have penetrating disease (odds ratio [OR], 0.04 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.01-0.7]; P < .001) or large bowel luminal disease (OR, 0.3 [95% CI, 0.1-0.8]; P < .05). Normal CRP excluded penetrating disease with a sensitivity of 1.0 (95% CI, 0.87-1.0). CRP levels did not correlate with the presence of small bowel luminal disease (n = 82), mesenteric inflammatory changes (n = 68), or acute disease complications (n = 10). Conclusion Symptomatic patients with CD and normal serum CRP are unlikely to have evidence of abscess, fistulating disease, or large bowel luminal disease detected on abdominopelvic CT. However, abdominopelvic CT may demonstrate evidence of clinically significant non-penetrating CD or complications, including perforation and acute obstruction, regardless of serum CRP concentration.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 36-39
Author(s):  
Samson O. Paulinus ◽  
Benjamin E. Udoh ◽  
Bassey E. Archibong ◽  
Akpama E. Egong ◽  
Akwa E. Erim ◽  
...  

Objective: Physicians who often request for computed tomography (CT) scan examinations are expected to have sound knowledge of radiation exposure (risks) to patients in line with the basic radiation protection principles according to the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), the Protection of Persons Undergoing Medical Exposure or Treatment (POPUMET), and the Ionizing Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (IR(ME)R). The aim is to assess the level of requesting physicians’ knowledge of ionizing radiation from CT scan examinations in two Nigerian tertiary hospitals. Materials and Methods: An 18-item-based questionnaire was distributed to 141 practicing medical doctors, excluding radiologists with work experience from 0 to >16 years in two major teaching hospitals in Nigeria with a return rate of 69%, using a voluntary sampling technique. Results: The results showed that 25% of the respondents identified CT thorax, abdomen, and pelvis examination as having the highest radiation risk, while 22% said that it was a conventional chest X-ray. Furthermore, 14% concluded that CT head had the highest risk while 9% gave their answer to be conventional abdominal X-ray. In addition, 17% inferred that magnetic resonance imaging had the highest radiation risk while 11% had no idea. Furthermore, 25.5% of the respondents have had training on ionizing radiation from CT scan examinations while 74.5% had no training. Majority (90%) of the respondents were not aware of the ICRP guidelines for requesting investigations with very little (<3%) or no knowledge (0%) on the POPUMET and the IR(ME)R respectively. Conclusion: There is low level of knowledge of ionizing radiation from CT scan examinations among requesting physicians in the study locations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 549-557
Author(s):  
Malia McAvoy ◽  
Heather J. McCrea ◽  
Vamsidhar Chavakula ◽  
Hoon Choi ◽  
Wenya Linda Bi ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEFew studies describe long-term functional outcomes of pediatric patients who have undergone lumbar microdiscectomy (LMD) because of the rarity of pediatric disc herniation and the short follow-up periods. The authors analyzed risk factors, clinical presentation, complications, and functional outcomes of a single-institution series of LMD patients over a 19-year period.METHODSA retrospective case series was conducted of pediatric LMD patients at a large pediatric academic hospital from 1998 to 2017. The authors examined premorbid risk factors, clinical presentation, physical examination findings, type and duration of conservative management, indications for surgical intervention, complications, and postoperative outcomes.RESULTSOver the 19-year study period, 199 patients underwent LMD at the authors’ institution. The mean age at presentation was 16.0 years (range 12–18 years), and 55.8% were female. Of these patients, 70.9% participated in competitive sports, and among those who did not play sports, 65.0% had a body mass index greater than 25 kg/m2. Prior to surgery, conservative management had failed in 98.0% of the patients. Only 3 patients (1.5%) presented with cauda equina syndrome requiring emergent microdiscectomy. Complications included 4 cases of postoperative CSF leak (2.0%), 1 case of a noted intraoperative CSF leak, and 3 cases of wound infection (1.5%). At the first postoperative follow-up appointment, minimal or no pain was reported by 93.3% of patients. The mean time to return to sports was 9.8 weeks. During a mean follow-up duration of 8.2 years, 72.9% of patients did not present again after routine postoperative appointments. The total risk of reoperation was a rate of 7.5% (3.5% of patients underwent reoperation for the same level; 4.5% underwent adjacent-level decompression, and one patient [0.5%] ultimately underwent a fusion).CONCLUSIONSMicrodiscectomy is a safe and effective treatment for long-term relief of pain and return to daily activities among pediatric patients with symptomatic lumbar disc disease in whom conservative management has failed.


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