High-resolution MRI of carotid plaque with a neurovascular coil and contrast-enhanced MR angiography: one-stop shopping for the comprehensive assessment of carotid atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to assess a protocol of study of carotid atherosclerosis coupling vascular wall imaging and luminal imaging in the same examination and to evaluate the accuracy of high-resolution MRI with a neurovascular coil in carotid plaque characterization. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty-two consecutive patients with 34 carotid artery stenoses were prospectively enrolled. MRI was performed on a 1.5-T unit. Plaque assessment was performed starting with a diffusion-weighted sequence and followed by a fat-suppressed T1-weighted sequence; after contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA), all patients were evaluated with a T1-weighted 3D high-resolution sequence. Carotid plaques were classified as type A, having a large lipid-necrotic core; type B, being a complex fibrotic-calcified plaque with soft content (mixed plaque); or type C, being a fibrotic-calcified plaque (hard). Additional features indicative of vulnerable plaque such as intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH), ulceration, and severe stenosis were registered. MR findings were compared with surgical specimens. RESULTS: MRI correctly identified 11 of 13 type A, eight of 11 type B, and eight of 10 type C plaques (sensitivity, 84.6%, 72.7%, and 80%, respectively). In the identification of lipid-necrotic core plaque, MRI showed a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 84.6%, 100%, 100%, and 91.3%, respectively (κ = 0.87). For reordering all plaques in two groups (i.e., soft vs nonsoft) in the identification of soft plaques, MRI had a sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of 83.3%, 80%, 90.9%, and 66.7%, respectively (κ = 0.59). IPH, ulcers, and severe stenosis were detected in eight of eight, 11 of 13, and 25 of 25 cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: In patients with carotid atherosclerosis, ongoing CE-MRA with a neurovascular coil for the simultaneous detection of unstable plaques is feasible. Our MR protocol accurately identifies the major features of vulnerable plaque.

[Cervical lymphoadenopathy due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa following mesotherapy]. / Linfoadenopatia cervicale da Pseudomonas aeruginosa dopo trattamento con mesoterapia.

Mesotherapy is a treatment method devised for controlling several diseases by means of subcutaneous microinjections given at or around the affected areas at short time intervals. It is used to treat a variety of medical conditions, amongst which all orthopaedic diseases and rheumatic pain. Mesotherapy is especially indicated for neck pain. The mechanism of action is twofold: a pharmacological effect due to the drug administered, and a reflexogenic effect, the skin containing many nerve endings that are sensitive to the mechanical action of the needle. Although this therapy is safe, like any other medical intervention it cannot be considered free of complications that may occur, such as allergies, haematomas, bruising, wheals, granulomas and telangiectasias. Infective complications are also possible, due to pathogenic bacteria that are inoculated through contamination of products, of the materials used for the procedure or even from germs on the skin. We present the case of a patient who had cervical lymphadenopathy due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa after mesotherapy treatment for neck pain.

[Cannabinoids in the control of pain]. / I cannabinoidi nella terapia del dolore.

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) has been used since remotes ages as a herbal remedy. Only recently the medical community highlighted the pharmacological scientific bases of its effects. The most important active principle, Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, was identified in the second half of the last century, and subsequently two receptors were identified and cloned: CB1 that is primarily present in the central nervous system, and CB2 that is present on the cells of the immune system. Endogenous ligands, called endocannabinoids, were characterized. The anandamide was the first one to be discovered. The effectiveness of the cannabinoids in the treatment of nausea and vomit due to anti-neoplastic chemotherapy and in the wasting-syndrome during AIDS is recognized. Moreover, the cannabinoids are analgesic, and their activity is comparable to the weak opioids. Furthermore, parallels exist between opioid and cannabinoid receptors, and evidence is accumulating that the two systems sometimes may operate synergistically. The interest of the pharmaceutical companies led to the production of various drugs, whether synthetic or natural derived. The good ratio between the polyunsatured fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 of the oil of Cannabis seeds led to reduction of the phlogosis and an improvement of the pain symptoms in patients with chronic musculo-skeletal inflammation.

Continuous intrathecal morphine infusion in patients with vertebral fractures due to osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVES: Vertebral fractures are the most common consequences of severe osteoporosis. The chronic pain from collapse of osteoporotic vertebrae affects quality of life (QOL) and autonomy of patients. The management of pain with oral or transdermal opiates can cause severe side effects. Continuous intrathecal administration of morphine via an implantable pump might represent an alternative therapy to conventional oral or transdermal administration of opioids and has some advantages and disadvantages for pain relief and improvement in QOL when compared with conventional opioid delivery. It is our objective to report our experience using intrathecal delivery of analgesics in a population of patients with refractory pain due to vertebral fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 24 patients, refractory to conventional delivery of opioids, we used intrathecal analgesic therapy. To test for efficacy and improvement in QOL, we administered the visual analog scale for pain and the Questionnaire of the European Foundation of Osteoporosis (QUALEFFO). Before patients were selected for pump implantation, an intraspinal drug delivery trial was performed to monitor side effects and responses to intrathecal therapy. RESULTS: Significant pain relief was obtained in all implanted patients. Using the QUALEFFO, we observed significant improvement of all variables such as quality of daily life, domestic work, ambulation, and perception of health status, before and after 1 year after pump implantation. With intrathecal morphine infusion, none of the 24 patients required additional systemic analgesic medication. The mean morphine dose during the spinal trial was 11.28 mg/d, 7.92 mg/d at pump implantation, and 16.32 mg/d at 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that intrathecal administration of morphine efficiently relieves the symptoms of pain and improves QOL. Continuous intrathecal administration of morphine appears to be an alternative therapy to conventional analgesic drug delivery and has advantages in those patients who have severe side effects with systemic administration of analgesics.

Auricular acupuncture to resolve the exacerbations in ocular myasthenia--a case report.

Ocular myasthenia is a neuromuscular autoimmune disorder in which the clinical symptoms are restricted to the external ocular muscles with either ptosis or diplopia, or both. The condition may follow a relapsing and remitting course. Conventional therapy consists of anticholinergic drugs, corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. We report a case in which auricular acupuncture was used as an adjunct to pharmacological treatment. The time course of the response suggests that acupuncture appeared to help resolve the current relapse.

[FastTrack approach to major colorectal surgery]. / Approccio FastTrack alla chirurgia colorettale maggiore.

Intensive rehabilitation programs after major abdominal, thoracic and vascular surgery have been published over the last few years, showing early recovery, fewer complications and a quicker discharge. The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a multimodal intensive rehabilitation program (FastTrack) after major colorectal surgery, according to the experience of Dr. H. Kehlet of Hvidovre University Hospital, Copenhagen. The study design was of the prospective, randomized, controlled type. Forty patients undergoing elective colonic surgery were randomly selected and assigned to two groups well matched for age, weight, ASA and type of resection. The FastTrack group underwent a multimodal rehabilitation program with epidural analgesia, short laparotomy, early feeding and mobilisation. The control group had the usual postoperative treatment with a pain control program. The FastTrack group exhibited a shorter need for assisted ventilation, a lower sedation level and lower opioid consumption over the first 24 hours. We also observed a statistically significant earlier onset of peristalsis (0.5 vs 2.7 days), gastrointestinal function (defecation) (2.8 vs 5.8 days), regular feeding (3.1 vs 7.2 days) and autonomous ambulation (3.3 vs 6.9). The multimodal rehabilitation approach to colon surgery permits an earlier postoperative recovery, better postoperative performance and quicker functional autonomy. These results may have important implications for the management of patients after major colorectal surgery.

The management of pain from collapse of osteoporotic vertebrae with continuous intrathecal morphine infusion.

Objectives. Vertebral fractures are the most common consequences of severe osteoporosis. The chronic pain from collapse of osteoporotic vertebrae affects quality of life (QoL) and autonomy of patients. The management of pain with oral or transdermal opiates can cause severe side-effects. Continuous intrathecal administration of morphine through an implantable pump might represent an alternative therapy to conventional oral or transdermal administration of opioids and has some advantages and disadvantages for pain relief and improvement in QoL when compared to conventional opioid delivery. It is our objective to report our experience using intrathecal delivery of analgesics in a population of patients with refractory pain due to vertebral fractures. Materials and Methods. In 24 patients, refractory to conventional delivery of opioids, we used intrathecal analgesic therapy. To test for efficacy and improvement in QoL, we administered the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and the Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (QUALEFFO). Before patients were selected for pump implantation, an intraspinal drug delivery trial was performed to monitor side-effects and responses to intrathecal therapy. Results. Significant pain relief was obtained in all implanted patients. Using the QUALEFFO, we observed significant improvement of all variables such as QDL (quality of daily life), DW (domestic work), ambulation, and PHS (perception of health status), before and after one year after pump implantation. With intrathecal morphine infusion, none of the 24 patients required additional systemic analgesic medication. The mean morphine dose during the spinal trial was 11.28 mg/day, 7.92 mg/day at pump implantation, and 16.32 mg/day at one-year follow-up. Conclusions. Our results show that intrathecal administration of morphine efficiently relieves the symptoms of pain and improves QoL. Continuous intrathecal administration of morphine appears to be an alternative therapy to conventional analgesic drug delivery and has advantages in those patients who have severe side-effects with systemic administration of analgesics.

Subintimal angioplasty of infrapopliteal artery occlusions in the treatment of critical limb ischaemia. Short-term results.

AIM: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of subintimal infrapopliteal angioplasty (SIA) as a method for recanalization of occluded tibial arteries in the treatment of critical limb ischaemia (CLI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2002 and September 2003, 20 patients with CLI were submitted to SIA; of these, 16 had diabetes mellitus. All patients had foot ulceration or gangrene and ten had rest pain. All patients were treated with SIA of one or more vessels of the popliteal district. Overall, thirty-four arteries of the infrapopliteal district underwent revascularization; in 9 cases, SIA of superficial femoral artery occlusions was associated. Technical success was evaluated on angiography at the end of the procedure: revascularization of at least one of the 3 leg vessels with re-establishment of arterial flow to the foot was regarded as a technical success. Pain relief (when pain was present) and healing of foot ulceration, without above-the-ankle major amputation (limb salvage), were defined as clinically successful. During the follow-up (mean: 9 months; range: 6-21 months) all patients were checked 6 months after the procedure by clinical examination and colour-Doppler ultrasound. RESULTS: The technical success rate of SIA in the revascularization of the infrapopliteal vessels was 85%. In the 17 technically successful cases, pain had entirely resolved in 9/10 cases and trophic lesions of the foot healed in 14/17 cases. In this group, 9 patients underwent minor amputation; 2 underwent major above-the-ankle amputation; one underwent to surgery 20 days after the SIA and required a femoro-tibial by-pass. In the 3 cases of technical failure (15%), revascularization of the entire occluded tract could not be achieved. Of these, one patient subsequently underwent major amputation. Nine months after SIA, the cumulative limb salvage rate was 85% (17/20 clinically successful cases) and the survival rate was 90%. Colour-Doppler US at 6 months showed 70% primary patency. No major complication occurred during the procedure. Five minor complications in four patients were managed endovascularly or healed spontaneously. CONCLUSIONS: SIA is a feasible and effective technique for foot revascularization in patients with CLI. Long occlusions or diffusely calcified arteries are suitable indications. Technical failure does not preclude conventional surgery. In patients treated with SIA, the risk of major amputation is low and mortality rate is nil. Minor complications can be managed using endovascular techniques.