Medical ultrasonography
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Medical ultrasonography · Dec 2016
ReviewUtility of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in assessing fluid responsiveness in critically ill patients - a challenge for the bedside sonographer.
Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) has become one of the most important diagnostic tools in the treatment of critically ill patients. It allows clinicians to recognise potentially reversible life-threatening situations and is also very effective in the monitoring of the fluid status of patients, slowly substituting invasive methods in the intensive care unit. Hemodynamic assessment is based on a few static and dynamic parameters. ⋯ For these patients the most important test is passive leg raising, which is a good substitute for fluid bolus. Although TTE is very useful in the critical care setting, we should not forget the important limitations, not only technical ones but also caused by the critical illness itself. Unfortunately, this method does not allow continuous monitoring and every change in the patient's condition requires repeated examination.
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Medical ultrasonography · Dec 2016
Randomized Controlled TrialIntra-articular hyaluronic acid vs platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of hip osteoarthritis.
To compare the efficacy of ultrasound-guided intra-articular (IA) treatment with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) versus viscosupplementation (hyaluronic acid HA) in hip osteoarthritis. METHODS: A total of 43 patients affected by monolateral severe hip osteoarthritis (OA) were included in the study. Patients were randomized to receive either intra-articular PRP (3 ml) or HA (30 mg/2 ml; 1,000-2,900 kDa), 3 injections in total - 1/week. Clinical assessments for each patient were made at baseline (T0), 4 (T1), and 16 weeks (T2) of follow-up. The primary efficacy outcome was pain reduction as measured by VAS and by WOMAC pain subscale. ⋯ Intra-articular PRP had an immediate effect on pain that was not maintained at longer term follow-up when, on the contrary, the effects of intra-articular HA were evident.