Articles: cations.
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Multicenter Study
A Multicenter Clinical Study on Treating Post-Dural Puncture Headache with an Intravenous Injection of Aminophylline.
Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is the most common complication of lumbar puncture. Aminophylline has been reported to be effective in the prevention of PDPH in some clinical studies, but its efficacy for the treatment of PDPH has been unproven. ⋯ An IV injection of aminophylline may be an effective and safe early-stage treatment for PDPH.
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Comparative Study
Percutaneous Vertebroplasty versus Conservative Treatment for One Level Thoracolumbar Osteoporotic Compression Fracture: Results of an Over 2-Year Follow-up.
We retrospectively compared the clinical and radiological results of percutaneous vertebroplasty with those of conservative treatment in the management of thoracolumbar osteoporotic compression fractures. Sixty-five patients who could be followed up for more than 2 years with thoracic and lumbar spine osteoporotic compression fractures, between January 2005 and October 2010, were reviewed. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the type of management: group 1, non-operated group treated conservatively; group 2, operated group that underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty. ⋯ The overall VAS score and the VAS score until 6 months post-injury were statistically more improved in group 2 than in group 1 (P < 0.05 and P < 0.005, respectively). Overall, the compression ratio was statistically more improved in group 2 than in group 1 (P < 0.05). Early pain control and restoration of the compressed vertebral body are the beneficial and real effects of percutaneous vertebroplasty in patients with thoracolumbar osteoporotic compression fractures.
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A case of hyperacute vasospasm, indicating a poor prognosis after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), is reported, and a review is presented of the literature addressing use of nitric oxide (NO) donors in cases of refractory vasospasm and recurrent delayed cortical ischemias (DCI). ⋯ The review of the literature suggested that combined intravenous molsidomine with intraventricular SNP treatment reversed refractory, recurrent vasospasm and DCIs probably by addressing the hemoglobin NO sink effect, NO depletion, and decreased NO availability after aneurysmal SAH.
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The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score has traditionally been used to prioritize liver transplantation. However, its use has been extended to predict overall and postoperative outcomes in patients with hepatic and renal dysfunction. Our objective was to use the MELD score to predict outcomes in patients undergoing lower extremity bypass. ⋯ An elevated MELD score places patients undergoing infrainguinal bypass at higher risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality. This provides an evidence base for risk stratification and informed consent for these patients. Alternative treatment may be considered in these patients; however, the overall morbidity and mortality rates may still be acceptable, even in high-risk patients.
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Groin lymph node dissection for melanoma is burdened by high postoperative morbidity. Videoscopic lymphadenectomy may lower the incidence of complications, including infection, dehiscence and lymphoedema. This pilot study aimed to investigate the feasibility and postoperative outcomes of videoscopic ilioinguinal lymphadenectomy in patients with inguinal nodal melanoma metastases. ⋯ Videoscopic ilioinguinal lymphadenectomy for melanoma groin lymph node metastases is technically feasible, safe, and associated with acceptable morbidity and oncological outcome.