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Biomedical subjects

D I Bulas

Publications and source records attributed to D I Bulas.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Splenic injury from blunt abdominal trauma in children: follow-up evaluation with CT.

PURPOSE: To assess if the initial grade of splenic injury depicted at computed tomography (CT) in children could help predict rate of healing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven children with splenic injury graded at emergent CT were prospectively followed up with non-enhanced and contrast material-enhanced CT performed 2 weeks to 11 months after injury. RESULTS: In all 15 grade 1 and 2 splenic injuries, healing was seen at follow-up, including eight injuries that occurred in patients who underwent follow-up CT within 4 months. In 10 of 11 grade 3 splenic injuries, healing was seen within 6 months. In all 11 grade 4 injuries, residual lesions were seen within 4 months and healing took up to 11 months. Five of nine residual splenic injuries were more clearly visualized with contrast material enhancement. No splenic complications occurred. CONCLUSION: CT grade of splenic injury is related to rate of healing. Grade 1 and 2 injuries typically heal within 4 months, whereas grade 3 injuries take up to 6 months to heal and grade 4 injuries take up to 11 months.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Ectrodactyly, diaphragmatic hernia, congenital heart defect, and agenesis of the corpus callosum.

A unique case of a female born with four major malformations, ectrodactyly, diaphragmatic hernia, ventricular septal defect, and agenesis of the corpus callosum is reported. The patient had a normal birth weight, normal head circumference and a normal karyotype. There was no significant facial dysmorphism. The family history was unremarkable for birth defects, recurrent pregnancy loss, limb anomalies or consanguinity. We propose that this represents a new constellation of multiple malformations.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the inferior rectus muscle of the eye.

BACKGROUND: Extramedullary involvement of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in sites outside the central nervous system (CNS) or testes is rare and may signal a refractory form of leukemia. METHODS: The authors describe a child with ALL who experienced a relapse involving the inferior rectus muscle of the eye. This patient had been treated with a bone marrow transplant for previous bone marrow and ovarian relapse. RESULTS: The patients had a pre-B ALL with a t(1;19) chromosomal translocation and previously had experienced relapse during therapy. At the time of the muscle relapse, she had pancreatomegaly consistent with leukemic infiltration but no CNS or bone marrow disease. CONCLUSIONS: Relapse of ALL in unusual sites may indicate disease that is particularly difficult to eradicate. Factors in addition to age and leukocyte count at diagnosis determined risk. Additional research is needed to define these factors and develop more effective therapy.

Child, Preschool↗

Blunt renal trauma in children: healing of renal injuries and recommendations for imaging follow-up.

Initial CT grading of renal injury was correlated with the frequency of complications and the time course of healing in 35 children. All renal contusions (grade 1, 8) and small parenchymal lacerations (grade 2, 8) healed without complications. All lacerations extending to the collecting system (grade 3, 9) resulted in mild to severe loss of renal function with progressive healing over 4 months. One of four segmental infarcts (grade 4A), and five of six vascular pedicle injuries (grade 4B) resulted in severe loss of renal function. Complications, including urinoma (2), sepsis (1), hydronephrosis (1), and persistent hypertension (2), were limited to grade 3 and 4 injuries. Our results suggest that mild renal injuries do not require follow-up imaging. Major renal lacerations and vascular pedicle injuries, however, often result in loss of renal function and should be followed up closely due to the risk of delayed complications. Follow-up examinations should continue for 3-4 months until healing is documented.

Adolescent↗

Surfactant (beractant) therapy for infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia on ECMO: evidence of persistent surfactant deficiency.

Infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can have initial lung atelectasis which, in survivors, gradually improves over time. To test the hypothesis that these patients could benefit from surfactant therapy, infants with CDH (born at > 34 weeks' gestation) on ECMO received either four doses of modified bovine lung surfactant extract (beractant) (surfactant group, n = 9) or an equal volume of air (control group, n = 8). Tracheal aspirate surfactant protein-A (SP-A) concentrations were initially low, and then increased over time in both CDH groups (P = .0021); however, levels remained low when compared with those of infants on ECMO who had other diagnoses (P = .04). Lung compliance (CL), time to extubation, time on oxygen, and total no. of hospital days were not different between the two groups. Infants with CDH had persistently elevated right ventricular pressure (RVP) at cessation of bypass when compared with non-CDH infants on ECMO (RVP = 53.25 mm Hg +/- 19.52 in the CDH group, 32.90 +/- 10.63 in the non-CDH group; P = .0121). The findings suggest that the postnatal surfactant deficiency may be more persistent in CDH infants than in non-CDH infants on ECMO. However, CDH remains a multifactorial condition, with delayed improvement, because of persistence of pulmonary hypertension, difficulties with vascular remodeling, degree of lung hypoplasia, or compromised respiratory mechanics.

Airway Resistance↗

Variable prenatal appearance of osteogenesis imperfecta.

Osteogenesis imperfecta is a heterogeneous group of disorders of type I collagen with both lethal and nonlethal forms. Prenatal sonographic findings in affected fetuses are variable and depend on the severity of the disease. Six cases of osteogenesis imperfecta in which prenatal sonography had been performed were reviewed. Two cases of lethal type II osteogenesis imperfecta revealed short femurs at 16 to 17 weeks' gestation with development of bowing and fractures by 19 weeks' gestation. Four fetuses with the nonlethal type III or IV had femoral bowing with or without shortening in the late second or third trimester with grossly normal mineralization. Fractures in this latter group did not develop until 1 to 12 months after delivery. Understanding the progressive nature and variability of osteogenesis imperfecta is crucial in the prenatal diagnosis and management of this disease.

Adolescent↗

Lumbar spine injury in a pediatric population: difficulties with computed tomographic diagnosis.

Thirty-five children with lumbar spine injuries were evaluated with computed tomography and plain radiography following blunt trauma. The majority of these children (31) were injured in motor vehicle crashes; most of them (27 of 35, 77%) were restrained by lap-styled safety belts. The other mechanisms of injury included motor vehicle crashes involving a pedestrian (2), a fall (1), and a crush (1). The types of injuries encountered were subluxation or distraction combined with fracture in 18; fracture only in 13; and distraction only in four. Abnormalities were not detected with thick-section computed tomographic (CT) scans in 20 (57%) of the cases. Children involved in motor vehicle crashes are at high risk for lumbar spine injuries, because the sudden deceleration forces may cause hyperflexion, resulting in vertebral body compression or interspinous ligament disruption. Lumbar spine radiographs are necessary in all cases with suspected lumbar spine injury because the abnormality may be missed by thick-section CT scanning and may not be detected even with complementary thin sections.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Significance of periportal low-attenuation zones following blunt trauma in children.

The CT scans of 400 consecutive children evaluated with CT following blunt abdominal trauma were evaluated to determine the frequency of periportal low-attenuation zones, assess patterns of associated intraabdominal injury, and examine clinical outcome. Periportal low-attenuation zones were noted in 60 children (15%). The presence of these zones was associated with a significantly higher incidence of intraabdominal injury (60% versus 11%, p = 0.0001). Injuries most frequently associated with zones of periportal low-attenuation included hepatic (n = 23, 38%), and adrenal (n = 14, 23%). Children who had periportal low-attenuation zones tended to be more physiologically unstable as evidenced by a lower Trauma Score (diffuse, 11.9; focal, 13.4) than children without the zones (15.1, p = 0.0001). The presence of these zones was also associated with a significantly higher mortality rate (13% versus 1%, p = 0.0001). Ten children who had periportal low-attenuation zones and no hepatic injury on CT had a normal appearing liver on gross inspection at surgery or autopsy. In conclusion, periportal low-attenuation zones are common in children who have hepatic injury. These zones may be seen in conjunction with non-hepatic visceral injury or in the absence of intraabdominal injury. The presence of zones of periportal low-attenuation is associated with a higher index of physiologic instability, and higher mortality.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Cranial fasciitis of childhood.

We present a child with a rapidly growing mass and lytic skull lesion that on pathologic evaluation was diagnosed as cranial fasciitis. This disease entity is not widely known by radiologists, and should be included in the differential diagnosis of lytic skull lesions.

Fasciitis↗

Prenatal diagnosis and management of congenital volvulus.

We present a case of a twin gestation in which one twin developed a complex abdominal mass and signs of small bowel obstruction. Following delivery, an exploratory laparotomy revealed a meconium pseudocyst and midgut volvulus. While the infant survived, a large portion of small bowel was atretic, resulting in short bowel syndrome. The prenatal diagnosis of volvulus is rare. When volvulus is present, the risk of bowel infarction is high, with variable perinatal outcome.

Adult↗

Improved pulmonary outcome after exogenous surfactant therapy for respiratory failure in term infants requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

A blinded, randomized, controlled study was designed to test whether multiple-dose surfactant therapy would improve pulmonary outcome in term infants with respiratory failure, resulting in a shortened period of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Infants > or = 34 weeks of gestational age in severe respiratory failure and receiving ECMO were stratified by diagnosis and then randomly assigned to the treatment or the control group. Four doses of modified bovine lung surfactant extract (beractant) were administered to the surfactant group (n = 28), and an equal volume of air was administered to the control group (n = 28). Lung compliance was initially low in both groups; after treatment, values were higher with time in the surfactant group (F = 5.40, p = 0.026). The ECMO treatment period was significantly shorter in the surfactant group (mean +/- SD: 107 +/- 33 hours vs 139 +/- 54 hours for the control group; U = 232, p = 0.023). Tracheal aspirate concentrations of surfactant protein A were low in both groups, and then increased steadily to a higher level in the surfactant group (F = 2.58, p = 0.04). The overall incidence of complications after ECMO was decreased in the surfactant group (18% vs 46% for the control group; chi-square value = 5.004, p = 0.025). Radiographic scores, echocardiographic findings, incidence of intracranial or pulmonary hemorrhage and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, time to extubation, duration of oxygen therapy, and duration of hospitalization did not differ between the two groups. Beractant in this population improved pulmonary mechanics, increased surfactant protein A content in tracheal aspirate, decreased time on ECMO duration, and reduced disease complications.

Double-Blind Method↗

Traumatic atlanto-occipital dislocation in children.

During a 5-year period, 11 children were identified as having traumatic atlanto-occipital dislocation injury on the basis of clinical and radiographic findings. Radiographic criteria including the distance between the tip of the dens and the basion (DB distance), the BC/OA ratio (ratio of the distance between the basion and the posterior arch of C-1 divided by the distance between the opisthion and the anterior arch of C-1; normal ratio, < 1), and the width of the atlanto-occipital joint (normal width, < or = 5 mm) were correlated with clinical presentation and outcome. Normal pediatric values for DB distance were reviewed in a series of 110 lateral cervical spine radiographs. The normal DB distance was 8.3 mm +/- 4.2 (mean +/- 2 standard deviations). All 11 children had DB distances greater than 1.4 cm (mean, 1.7 cm). The BC/OA ratio was greater than 1 in only six patients. Of the 11 children, six died with severe neurologic deficits and five survived with minimal or no neurologic sequela. Without the clinical presentation variable, widened DB distance may be the first abnormality identified to suggest atlanto-occipital injury.

Atlanto-Occipital Joint↗

Hepatic injury from blunt trauma in children: follow-up evaluation with CT.

OBJECTIVE: Because CT is now used to assess the extent of abdominal injury after blunt trauma, children with hepatic injury often can be treated nonsurgically. We used a CT grading system to evaluate the frequency of complications and the time course of healing in children with hepatic injury from blunt abdominal trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five children with CT or surgical evidence of hepatic injury after blunt abdominal trauma were followed up clinically and with serial CT scans. Hepatic injuries were graded as mild (< 25% of one lobe injured), moderate (25-50% of one lobe injured), or severe (> 50% of one lobe injured). Physical activities were limited until healing was verified with follow-up CT scans. RESULTS: All mild hepatic injuries (n = 12) appeared to have healed on follow-up CT studies 1 week to 11 months after the injury. Sixty-seven percent of moderate hepatic injuries (n = 19) showed complete healing on CT scans 1-3 months after injury, and 80% showed complete healing between 3.5 and 6 months. In all 14 children with severe hepatic injuries, residual lesions were seen on CT scans up to 8 months after injury. Residual lesions were seen in seven of 11 children with severe injuries who were reexamined 9-15 months after trauma. Despite this protracted course, no delayed hepatic complications occurred. No difference was seen between unenhanced and IV contrast-enhanced CT findings in 28 of 32 studies. IV contrast material improved the resolution of residual lesions in two cases, and two residual lesions were identified only on unenhanced CT scans. CONCLUSION: CT grading of acute hepatic injuries is useful for estimating the time course of healing. Although mild and moderate hepatic injuries heal relatively quickly, severe hepatic injuries take months to resolve. Follow-up CT scans to verify complete hepatic healing should be obtained 3 months after mild injuries, 3-6 months after moderate injuries, and 9 months after severe injuries.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Perinatal and postnatal chest sonography.

Sonography is the primary method used to image the fetal chest. Many significant congenital anomalies such as pleural effusion, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, cystic adenomatoid malformation, pulmonary sequestration, and congenital heart disease can be detected during early prenatal sonography. Fetal sonography also permits accurate assessment of the severity of these processes, allowing for parental counseling and optimal planning of postnatal care. After birth, sonography is the primary method for evaluating cardiac anatomy and diagnosing congenital heart disease. Sonography also serves as a useful adjunct to plain film radiology and other modalities in evaluation of the mediastinum, diaphragm, pleura, and chest wall.

Bronchopulmonary Sequestration↗