The clinical consequences of a circumaortic renal vein.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Aged↗
Biomedical subjects
Coen A Wijdicks
Publications and source records attributed to Coen A Wijdicks.
Spinal arachnoid calcifications.
Arachnoid calcifications have been imaged on axial-CT and MRI. These often clinically asymptomatic deposits have been attributed to trauma, myelography (particularly with the use of oil-based contrast), subarachnoid hemorrhage, and spinal anesthesia. This report describes calcified arachnoid plaques in an 86-year-old male cadaver located in the dorsal thoracic level. A laminectomy from C4 to the lumbo-sacral junction was performed and the dura mater was transected and pinned aside. Three plaques between T2-T3, 3 at T7, 2 at T9 were noted. Plaques were 1.0 mm in thickness and ranged from 0.5 cm to 1.0 cm in diameter. The spinal cord or nerve roots were not displaced. The plaques stained positively with Von Kossa and Alizarin Red S staining, confirming that the deposits included calcium phosphate and calcium. Arachnoid calcifications are an incidental finding in cadavers and typically do not compress the spinal cord or nerve roots. However such plaques may be precursors to spinal arachnoid ossificans, a more serious condition that may cause spinal cord or nerve root compression.
Aged, 80 and over↗
The portrayal of coma in contemporary motion pictures.
BACKGROUND: Coma has been a theme of screenplays in motion pictures, but there is no information about its accuracy. METHODS: The authors reviewed 30 movies from 1970 to 2004 with actors depicting prolonged coma. Accurate depiction of comatose patients was defined by appearance, the complexity of care, accurate cause of coma and probability of awakening, and appropriate compassionate discussion between the physician and family members. Twenty-two key scenes from 17 movies were rated for accuracy by a panel of neurointensivists and neuroscience nurses and then were shown to 72 nonmedical viewers. Accuracy of the scenes was assessed using a Likert Scale. RESULTS: Coma was most often caused by motor vehicle accidents or violence (63%). The time in a comatose state varied from days to 10 years. Awakening occurred in 18 of 30 motion pictures (60%). Awakening was sudden with cognition intact, even after prolonged time in a coma. Actors personified "Sleeping Beauty" (eyes closed, beautifully groomed). Physicians appeared as caricatures. Only two movies had a reasonable accurate representation (Dream Life of Angels and Reversal of Fortune). The majority of the surveyed viewers identified inaccuracy of representation of coma, awakenings, and conversations on the experience of being in a coma, except in 8 of the 22 scenes (36%). Twenty-eight of the 72 viewers (39%) could potentially allow these scenes to influence decisions in real life. CONCLUSIONS: Misrepresentation of coma and awakening was common in motion pictures and impacted on the public perception of coma. Neurologic advice regarding prolonged coma is needed.
Adolescent↗