Journal of ultrasonography
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Modern echocardiographic techniques, i.e. tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking echocardiography, allow for an assessment of global and regional right ventricular function. The right ventricular myocardial performance index and tricuspid annulus motion are used in the assessment of global right ventricular function, whereas duration of the cardiac cycle phases and myocardial velocities are used in the assessment of regional function. Strain and strain rate allow for an evaluation of both regional and global myocardial function. ⋯ A statistically significant decrease in both the S' wave as well as acceleration during isovolumic contraction were observed in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. S' wave and global right ventricular longitudinal strain values were lower in patients in the acute phase of myocardial infarction involving the right ventricle compared to the corresponding parameters in healthy individuals. In the case of tetralogy of Fallot correction, the evaluation of S' wave velocity may prove useful in identifying patients with reduced cardiac systolic reserve; a good correlation was also found between the global right ventricular longitudinal strain and right ventricular ejection fraction in MRI.
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Pneumothorax is defined as the presence of air in the pleural cavity. The incidence of iatrogenic pneumothorax in the pediatric population is 0.3-0.48 in 1000 patients. A conventional chest X-ray, in some cases supplemented with chest computed tomography, is a typical imaging examination used to confirm the diagnosis of pneumothorax. Within the last years, the relevance of transthoracic lung ultrasound in the diagnostic process of this disease entity has greatly increased. This is confirmed by the opinion of a group of experts in ultrasound lung imaging in patients in a life-threatening condition, who strongly recommend a transthoracic ultrasound examination for the diagnosis of pneumothorax in such patients. These data constituted the basis for initiating the prospective studies on the application of this method in pneumothorax diagnosis in patients of pediatric hematology and oncology wards. ⋯ The transthoracic ultrasound examination is a highly effective method in diagnosing iatrogenic pneumothorax in pediatric patients. However, to confirm this conclusion, multicenter studies, among considerably larger populations, are necessary.
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Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is a genetic disorder which results in the development of multiple cysts in the kidneys and other parenchymal organs. The two genes in which mutations are known to cause autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease are PKD1 and PKD2. Approximately 50% of individuals with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease will develop end-stage renal disease by the age of 60. ⋯ The possibility of ultrasound imaging in general practice broadens clinical examination and facilitates establishing a proper diagnosis. The paper presents a case report of a patient with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Its aim was to present the relevance of ultrasound examination in general practice.
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Review
Ultrasonographic diagnostics of pain in the lateral cubital compartment and proximal forearm.
Pain in the lateral compartment of the elbow joint and decreased strength of the extensor muscle constitute a fairly common clinical problem. These symptoms, occurring in such movements as inverting and converting the forearm, pushing, lifting and pulling, mostly affect people who carry out daily activities with an intense use of wrist, e.g. work on computer. Strains in this area often result from persistent overload and degeneration processes of the common extensor tendon and the radial collateral ligament. ⋯ In radial nerve tunnel syndrome, the ultrasound examination can reveal abnormalities in the deep branch of the radial nerve and within the anatomical structures adjacent to the nerve in the radial nerve tunnel. Furthermore, the ultrasound examination allows for detection of other articular and extraarticular pathologies, which affect the compression of the deep branch of radial nerve, such as skeletal deformations, post-traumatic changes, arthritis, and the presence of tumors. The ultrasonography is also helpful in differentiation of symptoms arising from cervical radiculopathy or brachial plexus injury.
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Ultrasonography is an established method for imaging peripheral nerves. It serves to supplement the physical examination, electromyography, and magnetic resonance imaging. It enables the identification of post-traumatic changes of nerves, neuropathies secondary to compression syndromes, inflammatory or neoplastic nerve lesions as well as the evaluation of postoperative complications. ⋯ As an example, the proper anatomy and the ultrasonographic appearance of the median nerve were described. This nerve's course is presented, its divisions, and characteristic reference points, so as to facilitate its location and identification, and enable subsequent use of the aforementioned "elevator technique". This article opens a series of publications concerning anatomy, technique of examination and pathologies of peripheral nerves.