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Biomedical subjects

D Fleischmann

Publications and source records attributed to D Fleischmann.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Value of negative spiral CT angiography in patients with suspected acute PE: analysis of PE occurrence and outcome.

The aim of this study was to analyze pulmonary embolism (PE) occurrence and retrospective clinical outcome in patients with clinically suspected acute PE and a negative spiral CT angiography (SCTA) of the pulmonary arteries. Within a 35-month period, 485 consecutive patients with clinical symptoms of acute PE underwent SCTA of the pulmonary arteries. Patients with a negative SCTA and without anticoagulation treatment were followed-up and formed the study group. Patient outcome and recurrence of PE was evaluated retrospectively during a period of 6 months after the initial SCTA, and included a review of computerized patient records, and interviews with physicians and patients. Patients were asked to fill out a questionnaire concerning all relevant questions about their medical history and clinical course during the follow-up period. Special attention was focused on symptoms indicating recurrent PE, as well as later confirmation and therapy of PE. Of the 485 patients, 325 patients (67%) had a negative scan, 134 (27.6%) had radiological signs of PE, and 26 (5.4%) had an indeterminant result. Of 325 patients with a negative scan, 269 (83%) were available for follow-up. The main reasons for loss to follow-up were change of address, name, or phone number, or non-resident patients who left abroad. Of 269 patients available for follow-up, 49 patients (18.2% of 269) received anticoagulant treatment because of prior or recent deep venous thrombosis (32.6%) or a history of PE (34.7%), cardiovascular disease (18.4%), high clinical probability (8.2%), positive ventilation-perfusion scan (4.2%), and elevated D-dimer test (2%). The remaining 220 patients, who did not receive anticoagulant medication, formed the study group. Of this study group, 1 patient died from myocardial infarction 6 weeks after the initial SCTA, and the postmortem examination also detected multiple peripheral emboli in both lungs ( p=0.45%; 0.01-2.5, 95% confidence interval). The PE did not occur in any other patient. In patients with suspected PE and negative SCTA without anticoagulant therapy, the risk of recurrent PE in this study was less than 1% and similar to that in patients after a negative pulmonary angiogram. Therefore, we conclude that patients can be managed safely without anticoagulation therapy; however, this approach may not be appropriate for critically ill patients and those with persistent high clinical suspicion of acute PE.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

[Acute myocardial infarction after blunt polytrauma -- successful coronary intervention].

Acute myocardial infarction following blunt chest trauma is a well reported but rare finding. Especially in severely injured patients the optimal therapy of the myocardial infarction is not well established, since anticoagulants, platelet aggregation inhibitors or thrombolytics are frequently contraindicated under these conditions. We report a case of a 41-year-old man, who presented with an acute myocardial infarction in combination with a severe polytrauma (multiple rib fractures, hematothorax, pelvic bone fractures, multiple injuries of intestinal organs) after a motorcycle accident with a blunt chest and abdominal trauma. After surgical treatment of the injuries of the bones and the intestinal organs a coronary angiography was immediately performed. The left anterior descending and the circumflex coronary artery were occluded in the mid-portion of the vessels. Coronary recanalization by PTCA and the implantation of coronary stents were successful in both vessels. Despite of a non-optimal blood flow after recanalization and stenting in one vessel (LAD TIMI II flow after recanalization), and a non-optimal accompanying medical therapy, during and after intervention (intravenous heparin starting 8 hours after the coronary intervention and platelet inhibitors starting 4 days after the intervention) the coronary angiogram after 2 months documented both vessels patent without a reocclusion or a restenosis. The case report documents, that in traumatic myocardial infarctions the treating of both, the attending injuries and the myocardial ischemia, is feasible. Early coronary angiography and coronary interventions, with or without stent-implantation, are indicated, even in cases in which an adequate accompanying medical therapy with heparin and platelet inhibitors is contraindicated.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2002

[CT angiography (CTA)].

Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is today a well-established diagnostic technique for non-invasive vascular imaging and has replaced diagnostic intra-arterial angiography. Especially since the implementation of multi detector-row computed tomography (MDCT) the acquisition of isotropic data sets is possible, thus widening the spectrum of clinical application of multi detector-row computed tomography. Compared to intra-arterial angiography computed tomography angiography is less invasive and cheaper.

Angiography↗
PubMed2001

High-resolution CT of diffuse interstitial lung disease: key findings in common disorders.

High-resolution CT (HRCT) is the radiological imaging technique that most closely reflects changes in lung structure. It represents the radiological method of choice for the diagnostic work-up of patients with known or suspected diffuse interstitial lung disease. A single HRCT finding is frequently nonspecific, but the combination of the various HRCT findings together with their anatomic distribution can suggest the most probable diagnosis. The purpose of this article is to summarize the classic HRCT features of the most common diffuse interstitial lung diseases. Lists of differential diagnoses and distinguishing key features are provided to improve diagnostic confidence. The presence of classic HRCT features often obviates the need for biopsy. In patients with atypical findings, HRCT can be used to determine the most appropriate biopsy site.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed2001

Equipment availability and diagnostic strategies for suspected pulmonary embolism in Austria.

The aim of this study was to investigate equipment availability and current diagnostic strategies for suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) in Austrian hospitals. A questionnaire was sent to the medical directors of all Austrian hospitals with emergency and/or surgical, orthopedic, and medical departments. The questionnaire contained questions regarding the available equipment suitable for the imaging diagnosis of PE, the first-line and second-line imaging tests for patients with suspected PE, and additional lower extremity venous imaging and laboratory tests that complement the diagnostic armamentarium. The return rate for questionnaires was 81% (127 of 157 hospitals). There were 97% of hospitals that had the equipment to perform sonography, 59% could perform pulmonary angiography, 54% spiral CT, 19% ventilation/perfusion (V/P) scintigraphy, and 4% perfusion scintigraphy alone. Spiral-CT angiography (SCTA) was the first-line imaging study for suspected PE in 56% of hospitals, followed by echocardiography and V/P scintigraphy. Lower extremity venous imaging (47%) and, interestingly, V/P scintigraphy (43%), served as second-line imaging tests. D-dimer tests were included in the diagnostic strategy in 74% of hospitals. Spiral-CT angiography is the most commonly used primary method for suspected PE in Austrian hospitals. The V/P scintigraphy is available only in a minority of hospitals to investigate patients with suspected PE. When V/P scintigraphy is available, however, it is employed in a large number of patients per annum.

Austria↗
PubMed2001

[Acute myocardial infarct in pheochromocytoma crisis. Early coronary angiography findings and echocardiography follow-up].

A myocardial infarction is a rare complication of a pheochromocytoma. A pheochromo-cytoma crisis may occur spontaneously, during pregnancy, or may be induced by a local trauma of the tumor or by drugs. We present a case report of a 41-year-old woman without anamnestic episodes of hypertension or angina pectoris. During angiography of the mesenteric arteries for further diagnostics of a sonographically suspected liver tumor, she developed an acute pulmonary edema and a cardiogenic shock with the electro- and echocardiographic findings of a large anterolateral-apical-diaphragmal myocardial infarction. The immediate coronary angiography 90 min after the onset of the myocardial infarction showed normal coronary arteries with normal coronary blood flow of the arteries supplying myocardial areas with akinetic segments and those arteries supplying hyperkinetic segments. The blood catecholamine levels at this time were excessively elevated. The left ventricular function improved to almost normal within the next 4 weeks with the beginning of the improvement already before the abdominal tumor was surgically removed at day five. The histology documented a pheochromocytoma with acute necrosis. The early invasive findings support the hypothesis that a reversible spasm of several epicardial arteries and not a direct toxic effect of catecholamines could have been the cause of the small myocardial infarction and the observed large myocardial stunning.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed2001

Long-term MRI observations of childhood-onset relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

PURPOSE: Long-term MRI follow-up of childhood-onset relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) was carried out in 4 cases. MRI findings were correlated with clinical course and characteristic differences from adult-onset RRMS were elaborated. METHODS: Two girls and one boy with true childhood-onset, and one girl with juvenile-onset RRMS underwent 5-16 MRI examinations within 6-8 years. The total number of lesions, the numbers of new, active, disappearing and reappearing lesions, infratentorial and U-fibre lesions, "giant" plaques and "black holes" were counted. Callosal atrophy and general brain atrophy were assessed. The findings were related to the physical status according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Results showed that the primary differences in childhood-onset RRMS compared to adult-onset RRMS lie in the lack of, or slower development of irreversible changes ("black hole" formation, brain atrophy). Despite callosal atrophy and intensive U-fibre region involvement, school performance was unchanged. Regarding the frequency of "giant" lesions, an even more pronounced white matter involvement was found in our children compared to adults. All children exhibited a rather "benign" disease course. A more intensive remyelination, less severe neuronal loss, and higher functional brain plasticity at younger ages may account for these differences.

Atrophy↗
PubMed2001

Quantitative determination of age-related geometric changes in the normal abdominal aorta.

PURPOSE: We conducted a novel quantitative three-dimensional analysis of computed tomography (CT) angiograms to establish the relationship between aortic geometry and age, sex, and body surface area in healthy subjects. METHODS: Abdominal helical CT angiograms from 77 healthy potential renal donors (33 men/44 women; mean age, 44 years; age range, 19-67 years) were selected. In each dataset, orthonormal cross-sectional area and diameter measurements were obtained at 1-mm intervals along the automatically calculated central axis of the abdominal aorta. The aorta was subdivided into six consecutive anatomic segments (supraceliac, supramesenteric, suprarenal, inter-renal, proximal infrarenal, and distal infrarenal). The interrelated effects of anatomic segment, age, sex, and body surface area on cross-sectional dimensions were analyzed with linear mixed-effects and varying-coefficient statistical models. RESULTS: We found that significant effects of sex and of body surface area on aortic diameters were similar at all anatomic levels. The effect of age, however, was interrelated with anatomic position, and gradually decreasing slopes of significant diameter-versus-age relationships along the aorta, which ranged from 0.14 mm/y (P <.0001) proximally to 0.03 mm/y (P =.013) distally in the abdominal aorta, were shown. CONCLUSION: The abdominal aorta undergoes considerable geometric changes when a patient is between 19 and 67 years of age, leading to an increase of aortic taper with time. The hemodynamic consequences of this geometric evolution for the development of aortic disease still need to be established.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Iliac arterial injuries after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms: correlation with iliac curvature and diameter.

PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between iliac arterial tortuosity and cross-sectional area and the occurrence of iliac arterial injuries following transfemoral delivery of endovascular prostheses for repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Iliac arterial curvature values and orthogonal cross-sectional areas were determined from helical computed tomographic (CT) data acquired in 42 patients prior to transfemoral delivery of aortic stent-grafts. The curvature and luminal cross-sectional area orthogonal to the median centerline were quantified every millimeter along the median centerline of the iliac arteries. An indicator of global iliac tortuosity, the iliac tortuosity index, was defined as the sum of the curvature values for all points with a curvature of 0.3 cm(-1) or greater, and cross-sectional area (CSA) was indexed for all points as the mean cross-sectional diameter (D = 2 radical[CSA/pi]). Following stent-graft deployment, helical CT data were analyzed for the presence of iliac arterial dissections independently by two reviewers. RESULTS: Eighteen dissections were detected in 16 patients. The iliac tortuosity index was significantly larger in iliac arteries with dissections (35.5 +/- 20.8 [mean +/- SD]) when compared with both nondissected contralateral iliac arteries in the same patients (26.1 +/- 21.0, P =.001) and iliac arteries in patients without any iliac arterial injury (20 +/- 9, P =.009). The tortuosity index was higher ipsilateral to the primary component delivery in 10 of 11 iliac dissections that developed along the primary component delivery route. CONCLUSION: A high degree of iliac arterial tortuosity appears to impart greater risk for the development of iliac arterial injuries in patients undergoing transfemoral delivery of endovascular devices.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Internal iliac artery embolization before endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms: frequency, efficacy, and clinical results.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to assess the frequency, efficacy, and incidence of adverse effects of internal iliac artery embolization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 343 patients examined for stent-graft repair, 147 were suitable for endovascular treatment. Fifty-five patients underwent preprocedural embolization of the internal iliac artery either unilaterally (46 patients) or bilaterally (nine patients). Successful embolization was assessed angiographically and with helical CT follow-up examinations. Colonic ischemia was ruled out clinically or colonoscopically. Buttock claudication, and sexual dysfunction in men, were evaluated through a questionnaire. RESULTS: Embolization of the internal iliac artery increased by 16% the percentage of patients for whom endovascular repair was suitable. After successful embolization in all patients, routine CT follow-up examinations after a mean time of 16.7 months showed no evidence of endoleaks related to retrograde perfusion via embolized internal iliac arteries. Nevertheless, in all patients who had undergone embolization, a primary endoleak was detected in 43.4% at the first postoperative CT examination. None of our patients had evidence of colonic ischemia. Clinical follow-up data of 46 patients were available. Of these patients, mild to severe new onset buttock claudication was found in 13 (36.1%) of 36 patients with unilateral, and in eight (80%) of 10 patients with bilateral, internal iliac artery embolization (p = 0.03). Five (25%) of 20 men had an erectile dysfunction after the procedure. CONCLUSION: Embolization of the internal iliac artery is a safe and efficient procedure that increases the applicability for endovascular repair of aortoiliac aneurysms. However, buttock claudication and erectile dysfunction are a drawback in a substantial number of patients.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Early pulmonary involvement in ankylosing spondylitis: assessment with thin-section CT.

AIM: To determine the frequency and the distribution of early pulmonary lesions in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and a normal chest X-ray on thin-section CT and to correlate the CT findings with the results of pulmonary function tests and clinical data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients with clinically proven AS and no history of smoking underwent clinical examinations, pulmonary function tests (PFT), chest radiography, and thin-section CT. Four of 25 patients (16%), who had obvious signs on plain films suggestive of pre-existing disorders unrelated to AS were excluded. RESULTS: Fifteen of 21 patients (71%) had abnormalities on thin-section CT. The most frequent abnormalities were thickening of the interlobular septa in seven of 21 patients (33%), mild bronchial wall thickening in (6/21, 29%), pleural thickening and pleuropulmonary irregularities (both 29%) and linear septal thickening (6/21, 29%). In six patients there were no signs of pleuropulmonary involvement. Eight of 15 patients (53%) with abnormal and four of six patients (67%) with normal CT findings revealed mild restrictive lung function impairment. CONCLUSION: Patients with AS but a normal chest radiograph frequently have abnormalities on thin-section CT. As these abnormalities are usually subtle and their extent does not correlate with functional and clinical data, the overall routine impact of thin-section CT in the diagnosis of AS is limited.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Blunt chest trauma with severe pulmonary contusion and traumatic myocardial infarction].

In the literature the incidence of cardiac involvement in blunt chest trauma varies considerably. This reflects the diagnostic problems encountered in polytraumatised patients. We report the case of an 18 year old man who suffered bilateral pulmonary contusion and traumatic myocardial infarction following a motorbike accident. The myocardial infarct was diagnosed by means of ECG, cardiac enzymes and echocardiography. When the diagnosis was made the time for successful interventional treatment had lapsed. A coronary angiography was performed after stabilisation which revealed a proximal dilatation of the left anterior descending artery. Left ventricular function was severely impaired (ejection fraction 26%). Due to the pulmonary contusion respiratory support was required for 14 days. The course was further complicated by left ventricular failure with low output.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2000

Improved uniformity of aortic enhancement with customized contrast medium injection protocols at CT angiography.

PURPOSE: To compare the uniformity of aortoiliac opacification obtained from uniphasic contrast medium injections versus individualized biphasic injections at computed tomographic (CT) angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two patients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm underwent CT angiography. In 16 patients (group 1), 120 mL of contrast material was administered at a flow rate of 4 mL/sec. In the other 16 patients (group 2), biphasic injection protocols were computed by using mathematic deconvolution of each patient's time-attenuation response to a standardized test injection. Attenuation uniformity was quantified as the "plateau deviation" of enhancement values, which were calculated as the SD of the time-contiguous attenuation values observed during the 30-second scanning period. RESULTS: Group 2 patients received between 77 and 165 mL (mean, 115 mL) of contrast medium. Initial flow rates ranged from 4.1 to 10.0 mL/sec (mean, 6.8 mL/sec) for the first 4-6 seconds; continuing flow rates ranged from 2.0 to 4.8 mL/sec (mean, 3.1 mL/sec) for the remaining 24-26 seconds. The plateau deviation was significantly smaller in group 2 patients (19 HU) versus group 1 patients (38 HU, P <.001). CONCLUSION: At CT angiography, tailored biphasic injections led to more uniform aortoiliac enhancement, compared with standard uniphasic injections of contrast medium.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Partial fat-saturated contrast-enhanced three-dimensional MR angiography compared with non-fat-saturated and conventional fat-saturated MR angiography.

Abdominal three-dimensional magnetic resonance angiography was performed in 35 patients in the equilibrium phase without fat saturation, with conventional fat saturation, and with fast partial fat saturation. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation demonstrated significantly better vessel visualization with both fat-saturated techniques. The partial fat-saturated technique provided water-specific images within a breath hold, reducing motion artifacts significantly.

Abdomen↗
PubMed2000

Stair-step artifacts with single versus multiple detector-row helical CT.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of acquisition parameters on the magnitude and appearance of artifacts between single and multiple detector-row helical computed tomography (CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cylindric (12.7 x 305.0-mm) acrylic rod inclined 45 degrees relative to the z axis was scanned at the isocenter and 100 mm from the isocenter with single detector-row (single-channel) helical CT (beam width, 1-10 mm; pitch, 1.0, 2.0, or 3.0) and multiple detector-row (four-channel) helical CT (detector width, 1. 25, 2.5, 3.75, and 5 mm; pitch, 0.75 or 1.5). The SD of radius measurements along the rod (SD(r)) was used to quantify artifacts in all 72 data sets and to analyze their frequency patterns. Volume-rendered images of the data sets were ranked by six independent and blinded readers; findings were correlated with acquisition parameters and SD(r) measurements. RESULTS: SD(r) was smaller in four- than in single-channel helical CT for any given table increment (TI). In single-channel helical CT, SD(r) increased linearly with beam width and geometrically with pitch. In four-channel helical CT, SD(r) measurements were directly proportional to the TI, regardless of the detector width and pitch combination used. Off-center object position on average increased SD(r) by a factor of 1.6 for single-channel helical CT and by a factor of 2.0 for four-channel helical CT. Subjective rankings of image quality correlated excellently with SD(r) (Spearman r = 0.94, P <.001). CONCLUSION: Artifacts are quantitatively and subjectively smaller with four- compared with single-channel helical CT for any given TI.

Artifacts↗