Emergency radiology
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Blunt abdominal aortic trauma is a rare but potentially lethal event. It is commonly associated with high-speed motor vehicle accidents. Intimal flap, thrombosis, and pseudoaneurysm of the abdominal aorta are the more common findings. We present a case of blunt abdominal aortic trauma in which CT disclosed free aortic rupture with intraabdominal bleeding and a huge retroperitoneal hematoma, an extremely rare finding among patients reaching the hospital alive, due to its high and immediate mortality rate.
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Emergency radiology · Mar 2008
Treatment of breast abscesses with ultrasound-guided aspiration and irrigation in the emergency setting.
The purpose of our study was to describe the efficacy of ultrasound (US)-guided aspiration and intracavitary irrigation of breast abscesses in the emergency setting. Ten cases of mastitis clinically suspected of having a breast abscess were referred from the emergency department for breast ultrasound. Eleven abscesses depicted at US were treated with US-guided aspiration and intracavitary irrigation. ⋯ No recurrences were observed in the follow-up period. US-guided percutaneous aspiration and irrigation is a successful method for treatment of breast abscesses in the emergency setting. This method is more successful in abscesses with a maximum dimension smaller than 3 cm and should be preferred to the surgical drainage.
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Emergency radiology · Mar 2008
Case ReportsCecal volvulus in pregnancy: report of a case and review of the safety and utility of medical diagnostic imaging in the assessment of the acute abdomen during pregnancy.
We report a case of a 38-year-old woman who presents at 31 weeks of gestation with acute abdominal pain. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen and pelvis showed a cecal volvulus. ⋯ While not advocating overutilization, this case demonstrates that helical CT can be, in the correct clinical scenario, an acceptable, useful, and relatively noninvasive test in the accurate assessment of the acute abdomen in pregnancy. We review the safety and utility of medical diagnostic imaging in the assessment of the acute abdomen in pregnancy.
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Emergency radiology · Mar 2008
Case ReportsPseudoaneurysm and renal arteriovenous fistula after nephrectomy: two cases treated by transcatheter coil embolization.
Pseudoaneurysms and arteriovenous fistulas of renal arteries are rare clinical lesions. Invasive renal procedures may lead to pseudoaneurysm or arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs). We report two pseudoaneurysms and arteriovenous fistula cases that were treated by transcatheter embolization with metallic coils. ⋯ Endovascular treatment with coil embolization succeeds to total occlusion in renal artery pseudoaneurysm. Delayed hemorrhage related to postnephrectomy may be life-threatening conditions because of diagnostic difficulties. AVF and pseudoaneurysm can be treated safely and successfully by transcatheter arterial embolization.
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Emergency radiology · Jan 2008
Comparative StudyA pilot study evaluating the "STATSCAN" digital X-ray machine in paediatric polytrauma.
A pilot study evaluating the use in paediatric polytrauma of the STATSCAN, a low-radiation dose, fan-beam digital radiography unit (Lodox Systems, Sandton, South Africa). Over 3 months, 23 polytrauma patients treated at the Emergency Unit of the Red Cross Children's Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, were imaged on the STATSCAN. Image quality, diagnostic equivalence and clinical efficiency were compared with a computed radiography (CR) system (Fuji FCR 5000, Fuji Photo Film, Tokyo, Japan). ⋯ It allowed superior visualisation of the trachea and main bronchi and imaging was, on average, 13% faster than CR. The STATSCAN could play an important role in paediatric polytrauma. The clinical significance of its superior demonstration of the trachea and main bronchi requires further evaluation.