Findings and limitations of focused ultrasound as a possible screening test in stable adult patients with blunt abdominal trauma: a Greek study.

Our objective is to underline the place of FAST (focus assessment by sonography for trauma) ultrasonography (US) in the investigation of blunt abdominal trauma. We retrospectively examined the ultrasound findings in 1,999 haemodynamically stable adult patients. These people were admitted to the emergency room (ER) for possible blunt abdominal trauma. All were stable at admission and a FAST ultrasound examination was made. Initial findings were compared with the clinical course after at least 24 h of observation time and CT results. Among the 1,999 US examinations, abnormalities were found in 109 (5.5%) cases. Among them, 102 had free peritoneal fluid, and in 58 examinations, ruptures, lacerations or haematomas were demonstrated. Despite its limitations, such as in cases involving uncooperative patients, excessive bowel gas, obesity and empty bladder, the FAST technique seems to be an accurate method to evaluate the possibility of abdominal blunt trauma in stable patients. Because of the high negative predictive value of the FAST technique in stable patients with blunt abdominal trauma, we recommend that a stable patient with negative ultrasound results at admission remain under close observation for at least 12 or preferably 24 h before being discharged.

Selective hepatic arterial infusion of In-111-DTPA-Phe1-octreotide in neuroendocrine liver metastases.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of (111)In-DTPA-Phe(1)-octreotide infusions after selective catheterization of the hepatic artery in inoperable metastasised liver, sst(2) receptor-positive neuroendocrine tumours due to the effect of (111)In Auger electron emission, minimising in parallel the toxicity of non-target tissue. METHODS: The average dose per session administered monthly to each patient (17 cases in total) was 6.3+/-2.3 GBq. Repetitions did not exceed 12-fold, except in one case (15 sessions). Response assessment was classified according to the Response Evaluating Criteria in Solid Tumours. CT/MRI scans were performed as baseline before, during and after the end of treatment, and monthly ultrasound images for follow-up measurements. Toxicity (World Health Organization criteria) was measured using blood and urine tests of renal, hepatic and bone marrow function. RESULTS: Complete response was achieved in one (5.9%) patient and partial in eight (47.0%), and disease stabilization in 3 (17.7%) patients; five (29.4%) did not respond. A 32-month median survival time was estimated in 12 (70.5%). Nine of these 12 surviving had a mean target diameter shrinkage from 144+/-81 to 60+/-59 mm. Grade 1 erythro-, leuko- and thrombo-cytopenia occurred in three (17.6%) cases. CONCLUSION: In unresectable metastatic liver lesions positive for somatostatin receptors repeated, transhepatic high doses of (111)In-DTPA-Phe(1)-octreotide show an effective therapeutic outcome. Given the locoregional modality character of the administration technique plus the extremely short range of (111)In Auger and internal conversion electrons emission, no nephro-, liver- or myelo-toxicity has so far been observed.

Percutaneous injection of lidocaine within the carotid body area in carotid artery stenting: an "old-new" technique.

Severe bradycardia is a common untoward effect during balloon angioplasty when performing carotid artery stenting. Therefore atropine injection even before dilatation and the presence of an anesthesiologist are advocated in all patients. In the surgical literature, injection of a local anesthetic agent into the carotid sinus before carotid endarterectomy was performed in an attempt to ameliorate perioperative hemodynamic instability. This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that percutaneous infiltration of the carotid sinus with local anesthetic immediately before balloon dilatation reduces bradycardia and ameliorates the need for atropine injection or the presence of an anesthesiologist. Infiltration of the carotid sinus with 5 ml of 1% lidocaine, 3 min before dilatation, was performed in 30 consecutive patients. No one exhibited any significant rhythm change that required atropine injection. The anesthesiologist did not face any hemodynamic instability during the carotid artery stenting procedure.

Endovascular treatment of a vertebral artery pseudoaneurysm in a drug user.

A 26-year-old drug abuser who presented with sepsis was found to have a pseudoaneurysm in the left vertebral artery. This aneurysm was presumed to be post-traumatic, since the patient reported multiple attempts to inject drugs in the left jugular vein 15 days prior to admission. The pseudoaneurysm was treated effectively with stent-graft placement.

Evaluation of the therapeutic response to In-111-DTPA octreotide-based targeted therapy in liver metastatic neuroendocrine tumors according to CT/MRI/US findings.

Thirteen (13) patients with liver neuroendocrine carcinomas metastases, positive for somatostatin receptors, confirmed by scintigraphy were infused with 4070-7030 MBq per session of In-111-octreotide after selective hepatic catheterization, exploiting the catastrophic activity of Indium Auger and Internal Conversion electron emission on cell DNA. Evaluation of the treatment was assessed by ultrasonography (US) as well as by computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging scans. US appears to be the imaging procedure of choice because the examination is sensitive for evaluating lesions' edema and cystic components, provides precise measurement of tumor size, and is inexpensive. Degeneration US signs were classified in stage I (an echolucent rim in the periphery of the lesion), stage IIa (lesion with large cystic spaces), stage IIb (tiny cystic spaces) and stage III (absorption of the cystic component or stable cystic remnants).