Chinese Expert Consensus on Protection for Ultrasound Healthcare Workers against COVID-19.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has caused a worldwide pandemic and poses a serious public health risk. It has been proven that lung ultrasound can be extremely valuable in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease, which could also minimize the number of exposed healthcare workers and equipment. Because healthcare workers in ultrasound departments are in close contact with patients who might be infected or virus carriers, it is extremely important that they be provided sufficient protection. Extremely aggressive protection should be avoided because it might lead to a lack of protection equipment for the hospital. Guidance on proper protection management should be provided in detail, for example, how to choose personal protective equipment, how to disinfect the environment. To address these problems, on behalf of the Chinese Ultrasound Doctors Association, Chinese PLA Professional Committee of Ultrasound in Medicine, Beijing Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Chinese Research Hospital Association Ultrasound Professional Committee, the authors have summarized the recommendations for effective protection according to existing hygienic standards, their experience and available literature. After the recommendations were completed, two online conferences were held on January 31, 2020 and February 7, 2020, at which the recommendations were discussed in detail. A modified version of the work was circulated and finally approved by all authors, and is the present Chinese Expert Consensus on Protection for Ultrasound Healthcare Workers against COVID-19.

A persistent primitive hypoglossal artery-posterior inferior cerebellar artery convergence aneurysm treated by stent-assisted coil embolization: A case report.

RATIONALE: Persistent primitive hypoglossal artery (PPHA) is often associated with intracranial anomalies such as aneurysms. Surgical treatment of aneurysms on the PPHA is challenging due to that the posterior circulation depends solely on PPHA. PATIENT CONCERNS: A case of an 83-year-old woman with a large aneurysm on PPHA presented with vertigo was reported. DIAGNOSIS: Three-dimensional angiogram revealed a wide-neck aneurysm on the PPHA. INTERVENTIONS: The aneurysm was successfully treated using a novel low-profile visualized intraluminal support stent-assisted coiling technique. OUTCOMES: No complications occurred during the procedure. The final angiogram confirmed the patency of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery and the parent artery and its distal branches. LESSONS: Our case suggests that stent-assisted coil embolization is safe and effective for the treatment of aneurysms on the PPHA.

Sustained maternal hyperoxygenation improves aortic arch dimensions in fetuses with coarctation.

The aim was to investigate the impact of maternal hyperoxygenation (HO) on cardiac dimensions in fetuses with isolated Coarctation (CoA). Fetal echocardiography was performed serially in 48 fetuses with CoA and gestation age matched normal fetues. The Z-scores for the mitral valve (MV), tricuspid valve (TV), aortic valve (AV), ascending aorta (AAo), isthmus, pulmonary valve (PV), main pulmonary artery (MPA), and descending aorta (DAo) were measured and compared among normal fetuses, CoA fetuses with oxygen and CoA fetuses with air. In the group with oxygen, 6 L/min oxygen was administered to the mother using a face mask. Regression analyses were performed to identify potential factors for HO outcome. The left heart dimension Z-scores increased gradually during HO therapy periods, especially at 4 weeks after oxygen therapy (P < 0.05). As for the case group with air, the left heart dimension remained unchanged. The duration of HO was associated with aortic arch Z-scores (adjusted R2 = 0.199, 0.60 for AAO and isthmus, respectively). Sustained maternal middle-flow oxygenation can be safely used to improve left heart dimensions in fetuses with isolated CoA. The duration of HO were associated with treatment outcome. These findings may provide useful information for developing novel treatment strategies.

[Application of lumbar-pelvic fixation in lumbosacral reconstruction after resection of sacral tumors].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short-term clinical results of a new approach of lumbar-pelvic fixation for lumbosacral reconstruction after resection of sacral tumors. METHODS: Fifteen patients with sacral tumors underwent lumbar-pelvic fixation using TSRH-3D, CDH-M8 or ISOLA with iliac screws. The lumbosacral stability was evaluated according to the X-ray result to assess the feasibility and therapeutic effect of this approach. RESULTS: X-ray showed that high lumbosacral stability was achieved in all the 15 cases after the operation, and satisfactory therapeutic effect was obtained. CONCLUSION: Lumbar-pelvic fixation with iliac screw is feasible for lumbosacral reconstruction after resection of the sacral tumors, which provides strong internal fixation and produce good clinical outcomes.