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Dorothy Bulas

Publications and source records attributed to Dorothy Bulas.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Hydroxyurea therapy lowers TCD velocities in children with sickle cell disease.

INTRODUCTION: Hydroxyurea (HU) improves hematologic parameters and decreases adverse events in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). HU has been proposed as an alternative to chronic transfusions for secondary stroke prevention. Transcranial doppler (TCD) is an accepted method of stroke risk stratification in patients with SCD. We sought to determine if HU affects TCD velocities in children with SCD. METHODS: A cohort of 24 children with HbSS with a baseline TCDi prior to HU and a follow-up after at least 6 months of therapy was analyzed. Twenty-four age-matched children with HbSS formed the control group. Differences in hematologic parameters before and after HU therapy were evaluated. RESULTS: TCDi velocities decreased in the HU-treated patients. The adjusted mean change in TCDi velocities was -13.0 cm/sec (95% CI -20.19, -5.92) in the HU-treated group and +4.72 cm/sec (95% CI -3.24, 12.69) in the controls. Changes in TCDi between the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Changes in hematologic parameters were not predictive of changes in TCDi velocities in the treated patients. Four out of five patients with TCDi velocities >170 cm/sec had normalization of TCDi velocities on HU. Mean change was -34.75 cm/sec in this subgroup. No patients experienced cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) while on HU. CONCLUSIONS: HU-treated patients experienced statistically significant decreases in TCDi velocities compared to age-matched controls. Changes in hematologic parameters were not predictive of changes in TCDi velocities in the treated group. The decrease in TCDi velocities is not a consequence of changes in hematologic values in patients treated with HU.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Concomitant Candida epiglottitis and disseminated Varicella zoster virus infection associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Acute epiglottitis by nonbacterial pathogens is an uncommon but life-threatening clinical entity. Herein, we report the concomitant occurrence of Candida epiglottitis and mucosal and visceral Varicella zoster virus infection in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Both infections were atypical in their presentation, occurred in a severely immunocompromised host, and required invasive procedures for diagnosis.

Candidiasis↗
PubMed2005

Screening children for sickle cell vasculopathy: guidelines for transcranial Doppler evaluation.

Cerebral infarction is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children with sickle cell disease. Prevention of primary stroke might be feasible with a way to identify children at greatest risk. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) has been shown to be a noninvasive, reliable, inexpensive method of identifying children at highest risk for cerebral infarction. The pros and cons of imaging and non-imaging TCD techniques are discussed. The protocol for the stroke prevention trial in sickle cell anemia (STOP), including data acquisition and interpretation, is reviewed. Providing TCD to sickle cell patients can be a valuable service that results in a significant decrease in first stroke rates.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗
PubMed2005

Neonatal ECMO: neuroimaging and neurodevelopmental outcome.

Intracranial injury continues to be a major complication associated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)-treated neonates. The reported frequency of abnormal neuroimaging has ranged from 28% to 52%, depending on neuroimaging techniques and methods of classification. The purpose of this chapter is to describe types of imaging techniques commonly used to evaluate the ECMO neonate, to specify different types of injuries that have been reported, and to identify factors which increase the risk of injury. We will then describe the functional impact at age 5 years following neonatal brain injury among ECMO infants.

Brain↗
PubMed2004

Transcranial Doppler changes in children with sickle cell disease on transfusion therapy.

Transcranial Doppler (TCD) is an effective method for screening patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) at risk for first stroke. Its usefulness in monitoring children with SCD receiving transfusions has not been established. The authors studied 17 children with SCD evaluated with TCDs and magnetic resonance angiograms (MRAs) while receiving transfusion therapy. Patients with normalized TCDs had normal MRAs that remained normal on transfusions. Patients with persistently abnormal TCDs had abnormal MRAs. In these children, TCD velocities decreased but rarely reverted to normal. Patients with low TCD velocities (<70 cm/s) had corresponding vasculopathy on MRA. Low velocities may be a risk factor for stroke and should be followed. Overall, there was good correlation between TCD velocity changes and MRA analysis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Classical positioning decreases subclavian vein cross-sectional area in children.

BACKGROUND: Recommendations for subclavian vein catheter placement in children are extrapolated from adult experience. The purpose of this study was to determine the ideal body position to optimize the size of the subclavian vein in children for percutaneous catheter placement. METHODS: Children underwent ultrasound imaging of the subclavian vein in four supine body positions: head in a neutral position with the chin midline (NL) and no shoulder roll (SR); head turned 90 degrees away (TA) and no SR; head NL with an SR; and head TA with an SR. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the subclavian vein was calculated and statistical significance was determined using the Student's t test and the Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: Nine children participated in the study, with a mean age of 5.3 years. The CSA of the subclavian vein was 0.39 +/- 0.24 cm2 with the head NL and no SR, compared with 0.31 +/- 0.20 cm2 with the head TA or 0.32 +/- 0.23 cm2 with the head TA and SR. This represented a significant reduction in the CSA of the subclavian vein by 22% and 18%, respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In children, the recommended maneuvers of turning the head or turning the head and placing a posterior shoulder roll significantly reduce the cross-sectional area of the subclavian vein. Maintaining the head in a normal position with the chin midline without a shoulder roll optimizes subclavian vein size. Positioning children in this manner may serve to reduce the morbidity associated with percutaneous subclavian vein cannulation.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2002

Color Doppler sonography and scintigraphy of the testis: a prospective, comparative analysis in children with acute scrotal pain.

OBJECTIVE: To compare testicular color Doppler sonography with testicular scintigraphy in differentiating between surgical and nonsurgical conditions of the pediatric testis, and to evaluate the role of testicular color Doppler sonography in the pediatric population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-six children (age range, 1 day to 18 years; median age, 11 years) with acute scrotal pain were evaluated with both scintigraphy and color Doppler sonography by two separate groups of radiologists who had no knowledge of the results of the other modality. The final radiologic diagnosis was classified as a surgical condition, nonsurgical condition, or indeterminate and was compared with the patient's surgical diagnosis or clinical diagnosis, which was established by response to treatment and follow-up. RESULTS: Sonography correctly diagnosed 11 of 14 surgical conditions and 31 of 32 nonsurgical conditions. There was one indeterminate sonogram. There were no false-positive examinations, and there were three false-negative examinations (sensitivity = 78.6% [95% CI, 66.7-90.5%], specificity = 96.9% [95% CI, 94.3-99.5%], accuracy = 91.3%). Color flow was demonstrated in the asymptomatic testis in 34 of 44 boys. Scintigraphy correctly diagnosed 11 of 14 surgical conditions and 29 of 32 nonsurgical conditions. There were two indeterminate scintigrams. There were two false-positive examinations and two false-negative examinations (sensitivity = 78.6% [95% CI, 66.7%-90.5%], specificity = 90.6% [95%CI, 82.2%-99.0%], accuracy = 87.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Color Doppler sonography and scintigraphy show similar sensitivity for the diagnosis of testicular torsion. A small number of false-negative cases can occur with either modality. The two studies may provide complementary information in indeterminate cases.

Acute Disease↗