Ultrasonography can replace chest X-rays in the postoperative care of thoracic surgical patients.

OBJECTIVES: Lung ultrasound accurately identifies pulmonary and pleural pathologies. Presently it has not been accepted as a routine examination in the postoperative follow-up of thoracic surgical patients. The present study aimed to compare thoracic ultrasonography with chest X-ray for detecting and clinical relevance of pneumothorax, pleural effusion, and lung consolidation and determine whether ultrasonography could replace chest X-ray as the standard examination after surgery. METHODS: In this blinded, prospective, single-center study, lung ultrasound images were obtained within 2 hours of post-operative routine chest X-ray. A severity score was given to each examination in each technique. Lung ultrasound and chest X-ray results were compared by three methods: absolute comparison of normal to abnormal, the degree of pathology, and the clinical findings' relevance. RESULTS: Eighty patients were enrolled from 2013 to 2017, and 215 ultrasonography images were obtained. For pneumothorax, the precise overlap was found in 129/180 (72%) images. In 24% of examinations, X-ray missed ultrasonography findings. There was an agreement between studies in 80/212 (38%) images for pleural effusion. 60% of pleural effusions were missed by chest X-ray and detected by ultrasonography, and only 2.4% were missed by ultrasound, all very small. Clinically relevant fluid accumulation found a precise match in 80%, and 20% were found only by lung ultrasound. For lung consolidation, a 100% overlap was found with both methods. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that lung ultrasound may replace chest X-ray as the standard examination in the postoperative care of patients undergoing thoracic surgical procedures.

Clinical and Molecular Characterization of a Rare Case of BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine-Associated Myositis.

Initial clinical trials and surveillance data have shown that the most commonly administered BNT162b2 COVID-19 mRNA vaccine is effective and safe. However, several cases of mRNA vaccine-induced mild to moderate adverse events were recently reported. Here, we report a rare case of myositis after injection of the first dose of BNT162b2 COVID-19 mRNA vaccine into the left deltoid muscle of a 34-year-old, previously healthy woman who presented progressive proximal muscle weakness, progressive dysphagia, and dyspnea with respiratory failure. One month after vaccination, BNT162b2 vaccine mRNA expression was detected in a tissue biopsy of the right deltoid and quadriceps muscles. We propose this case as a rare example of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine-induced myositis. This study comprehensively characterizes the clinical and molecular features of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine-associated myositis in which the patient was severely affected.

Epidemiologic, microbiologic and imaging characteristics of urinary tract infections in hospitalized children < 2 years of age diagnosed with anatomic abnormalities of the urinary tract.

BACKGROUND: To compare the epidemiologic, microbiologic and imaging characteristics of urinary tract infections (UTI) in children <2 years of age with and without anatomic urinary tract abnormalities (AA). METHODS: All children hospitalized with UTI during 1.1.2005-31.12.2018 were included. The study group (patients with AA) included 76 patients. The control group (99 patients) included patients without AA. RESULTS: 1163 children were hospitalized. Age at diagnosis was younger in the study group vs. controls (5.2 ± 6.0 vs. 7.9 ± 7.5 months, P = 0.038). Uropathogens distribution was different (P = 0.007), with lower Escherichia coli (Ec) and Proteus mirabilis (Pm) percentages in the study group and higher percentages of Enterococcus spp. (Ent) in controls. In the study group, Ec nonsusceptibility rates to ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cefazolin, cefuroxime, TMP/SMX and ceftriaxone were 58%, 40%, 14%, 14%, 12% and 10%, respectively, with no differences vs. controls. Ultrasound (US) was performed in 69/76 (98%) patients with AA (84.1%, abnormal); bilateral (39.7%) and unilateral (32.7%) ureteral dilatation were the most frequent findings. Voiding cystourethrography was performed in 46 patients (pathologic in 35, 76%); 31 (81.6%) patients had vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) (bilateral in 11, 35.5%; grade 4/5 in 7 patients). Uropathogens distribution in VUR patients differed between study and control groups, with lower Ec and Pm in the first group and higher Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Ent percentages in the control group. CONCLUSION: Age at diagnosis was lower and pathogen distribution was different in patients with AA. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the main uropathogens were similar between patients with or without AA.

Vertebral Body Avascular Osteonecrosis: An Unusual Late Complication of Tracheostomy.

Vertebral body erosion is a rare late complication of tracheostomy. Here we present the case of a 30-year-old female patient, in a vegetative state after severe brain injury, with a permanent tracheostomy and prolonged mechanical ventilation, who suffered from recurrent episodes of severe air leakage with oxygenation drop due to a puncture in the tracheostomy tube cuff. A neck computed tomography (CT) detected destruction of two vertebral bodies, C7 and Th1, and a bony fragment - a remnant of C7 penetrated the trachea and probably repetitively punctured the inflated cuff. A biopsy of the C7 vertebral body was performed under CT guidance to rule out osteomyelitis. The biopsy revealed necrotic bone spicules surrounded by vascular-rich fibrous tissue, without evidence of inflammation. C7 vertebral body avascular osteonecrosis was diagnosed. The case highlights the importance of monitoring cuff pressure during long-term use of cuffed endotracheal tubes to avoid hyperinflation and subsequent ischemic complications.

Severe Postoperative Bleeding Following Minor-to-Moderate Abdominal and Flank Liposuction Performed at a Day Surgery Center: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Liposuction is a one of the most common aesthetic procedures. The super-wet and tumescent techniques are used most frequently. Both serve to reduce collateral blood loss, facilitate the suctioning procedure, and providing local anesthesia. Overall, liposuction is considered safe and effective, with minor adverse effects such as swelling, minute bleeding, contour irregularities, and seroma. Serious complication such as life-threatening bleeding are rare. In this case report, we present a patient with significant postoperative bleeding following minor-to-moderate liposuction performed at a day surgery center. CASE REPORT A 51-year-old healthy man, 4 days after 1600-cc aspirate tumescent liposuction performed in a day surgery center, was admitted to our ward with tachycardia, weakness, abdominal pain and disseminated hematoma. On admission, laboratory testing showed hematocrit of 20.9% and hemoglobin of 6.9 gr/dl. Immediate abdominal CT angiography was performed to exclude active bleeding, showing diffused hematoma in the subcutaneous fat all over the abdomen and scrotum, with some edema without active bleeding. The patient was treated with blood transfusion to facilitate fast home discharge during the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic that time. CONCLUSIONS We discuss the common work-up and treatment of postoperative hemorrhage. Blood transfusion following minor-to-moderate liposuction is unusual but during the COVID-19 pandemic it can facilitate quick discharge of a patient with postoperative hemorrhage with no active bleeding. Improper patient selection, an inexperienced surgeon, and inadequate operating locale can all result in postoperative complications. We call for the formulation of more detailed guidelines for liposuction setting.

Isolated ascending aorta dilatation is associated with increased risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an asymptomatic condition characterized by progressive dilatation of the aorta. The purpose of this study is to identify important 2D-TTE aortic indices associated with AAA as predictive tools for undiagnosed AAA. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we evaluated the size of the ascending aorta in patients without known valvular diseases or hemodynamic compromise as predictive tool for undiagnosed AAA. We studied the tubular ascending aorta of 170 patients by 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2D-TTE). Patients were further divided into two groups, 70 patients with AAA and 100 patients without AAA with normal imaging results. RESULTS: Dilatation of tubular ascending aorta was measured in patients with AAA compared to the group with absent AAA (37.5 ± 4.8 mm vs. 31.2 ± 3.6 mm, p < 0.001, respectively) and confirmed by computed tomographic (CT) (35.6 ± 5.1 mm vs. 30.8 ± 3.7 mm, p < 0.001, respectively). An increase in tubular ascending aorta size was associated with the presence of AAA by both 2D-TTE and CT (r = 0.40, p < 0.001 and r = 0.37, p < 0.001, respectively). The tubular ascending aorta (D diameter) size of ≥33 mm or ≥ 19 mm/m2 presented with 2-4 times more risk of AAA presence (OR 4.68, CI 2.18-10.25, p = 0.001 or OR 2.63, CI 1.21-5.62, p = 0.02, respectively). In addition, multiple logistic regression analysis identified tubular ascending aorta (OR 1.46, p < 0.001), age (OR 1.09, p = 0.013), gender (OR 0.12, p = 0.002), and LVESD (OR 1.24, p = 0.009) as independent risk factors of AAA presence. CONCLUSIONS: An increased tubular ascending aortic diameter, measured by 2D-TTE, is associated with the presence of AAA. Routine 2D-TTE screening for silent AAA by means of ascending aorta analysis, may appear useful especially in older patients with a dilated tubular ascending aorta (≥33 mm).

Scanner influence on the mechanical response of QCT-based finite element analysis of long bones.

Patient-specific QCT-based finite element (QCTFE) analyses enable highly accurate quantification of bone strength. We evaluated CT scanner influence on QCTFE models of long bones. A femur, humerus, and proximal femur without the head were scanned with K2HPO4 phantoms by seven CT scanners (four models) using typical clinical protocols. QCTFE models were constructed. The geometrical dimensions, as well as the QCT-values expressed in Hounsfield unit (HU) distribution was compared. Principal strains at representative regions of interest (ROIs), and maximum principal strains (associated with fracture risk) were compared. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to evaluate strain prediction reliability for different scanners. Repeatability was examined by scanning the femur twice and comparing resulting QCTFE models. Maximum difference in geometry was 2.3%. HU histograms before phantom calibration showed wide variation between QCT scans; however, bone density histogram variability was reduced after calibration and algorithmic manipulation. Relative standard deviation (RSD) in principal strains at ROIs was <10.7%. ICC estimates between scanners were >0.9. Fracture-associated strain had 6.7%, 8.1%, and 13.3% maximum RSD for the femur, humerus, and proximal femur, respectively. The difference in maximum strain location was <2 mm. The average difference with repeat scans was 2.7%. Quantification of strain differences showed mean RSD bounded by ∼6% in ROIs. Fracture-associated strains in "regular" bones showed a mean RSD bounded by ∼8%. Strains were obtained within a ±10% difference relative to the mean; thus, in a longitudinal study only changes larger than 20% in the principal strains may be significant. ICCs indicated high reliability of QCTFE models derived from different scanners.

Epidural hematoma secondary to sinusitis: a case report and review of the literature.

Epidural hematoma is a potentially life threatening event that demands prompt diagnosis and surgical treatment, usually following head trauma. We present a case of a 9-year-old boy with no history of head trauma, and who was diagnosed with epidural hematoma secondary to frontal sinusitis; and the medical literature was reviewed.

Posttraumatic fat necrosis presented as cellulitis of the leg.

Cellulitis, a diffuse inflammation of connective tissue with severe inflammation of dermal and subcutaneous layers of the skin, is a common lesion in children, usually responsive to systemic antibiotic therapy. However, an unusual course of healing or some nontypical features should call the treating physician to consider and investigate for other diagnoses that might prevent unnecessary treatment and alleviate parental stress. We present a case of posttraumatic fat necrosis, demonstrating some pitfalls in the process of diagnosis.

[May-Thurner syndrome: an uncommon cause for deep vein thrombosis].

May-Thurner syndrome is an uncommon cause for developing a left leg deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in young women. The DVT is caused as a result of the repeated pulsation of the right common iliac artery on the left common iliac vein (normally the artery is posterior to the vein). Early diagnosis of the syndrome can lead to an early intervention, preventing future complications as DVT. This is a case study of a patient with May-Thurner syndrome diagnosed after the development of left leg DVT.

Unilateral urinothorax due to nephropleural fistula detected on Tc-99m diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid renal scintigraphy.

Urinothorax or urothorax, the presence of urine in the pleural space, is a rare complication of percutaneous access to the kidney for the management of complex renal and proximal ureteral calculi and ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Other causes such as blunt renal trauma, ureteral instrumentation, or ureteral surgery have also been reported. The authors describe a patient with a massive left pleural effusion with total lung atelectasis. The diagnosis of urinothorax was confirmed by diuretic renography with Tc-99m diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid.

The contribution of the blood glutamate scavenging activity of pyruvate to its neuroprotective properties in a rat model of closed head injury.

The removal of excess glutamate from brain fluids after acute insults such as closed head injury (CHI) and stroke is expected to prevent excitotoxicity and the ensuing long lasting neurological deficits. Since blood glutamate scavenging accelerates the removal of excess glutamate from brain into blood and causes neuroprotection, we have evaluated here whether the neuroprotective properties of pyruvate could be partly accounted to its blood glutamate scavenging activity. The neurological outcome of rats after CHI improved significantly when treated with intravenous pyruvate (0.9 mmoles/100 g) but not with pyruvate administered together with glutamate. Pyruvate, at 5 micromole/100 g rat was neither protective not able to decrease blood glutamate but displayed the latter two properties when combined with 60 microg/100 g of glutamate-pyruvate transaminase. Since the neurological recovery from CHI was correlated with the decrease of blood glutamate levels, we conclude that pyruvate blood glutamate scavenging activity contributes to the spectrum of its neuroprotective mechanisms.