Journal of ultrasound in medicine : official journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
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Comparative Study
Application of echogenic technology for catheters used in ultrasound-guided continuous peripheral nerve blocks.
Limited data exist regarding the echogenicity of perineural catheters, but visualization is crucial to ensure accurate placement and efficacy of the subsequent local anesthetic infusion. The objective of this study was to determine the comparative echogenicity of various regional anesthesia catheters. ⋯ Outcomes included visual echogenicity ranking, image quality, and scanning time, as assessed by 2 blinded investigators. The experimental catheter was found to be more echogenic than 2 of the 3 comparators.
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The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the usefulness of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography of the pancreas for predicting postoperative pancreatic fistula occurrence after pancreatic resection. ⋯ This preliminary study showed the potential feasibility of a clinical application of ARFI elastography in preoperatively predicting postoperative pancreatic fistulas after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Investigation of this method in larger studies is needed.
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The purpose of this series was to describe the sonographic findings of tuberculous vasitis. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 3 cases of tuberculous vasitis. The following grayscale and color Doppler sonographic features were analyzed: location, echogenicity of the lesion, epididymal or testicular involvement, presence of hydrocele, and blood flow within the lesion. ⋯ On color Doppler sonography, no blood flow was identified within the lesions of the vas deferens. All 3 patients had tuberculous epididymitis in addition to tuberculous vasitis. Tuberculous vasitis presents with infection along with tuberculous epididymitis, and it appears as a heterogeneously hypoechoic lesion in the scrotal segment of the vas deferens adjacent to the epididymal tail.