Biomedical subjects

J M O'Neill

Publications and source records attributed to J M O'Neill.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Helical CTPA in the investigation of pulmonary embolism: a 6-year review.

AIM: To assess the change in practice and resulting diagnostic outcome in the radiological investigation of pulmonary embolism (PE) since the introduction of helical CTPA in a large teaching hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was undertaken of all radiological investigations performed over a 6-year period before and after the introduction of CTPA (protocols 1 and 2, respectively) as an integral part of the imaging protocol in the investigation of clinically suspected PE. The total numbers and results of all investigations are assessed for each protocol. RESULTS: A substantial increase in both the total number of patients and the number of investigations performed for the investigation of PE since the introduction of CTPA occurred. Five hundred and twenty-six patients underwent 617 investigations in 1995-1996, and 760 patients underwent 805 investigations in 2001-2002. There was a significant decrease in the number of investigations per patient, 1.17 in 1995-1996 versus 1.06 in 2001-2002. Primary investigation showed a significant decrease in indeterminate examinations from 25.7 to 8.5% and an increase in positive results for PE from 18 to 24%. CONCLUSION: In the study population there was a significant increase in the number of patients being investigated for PE, with a decrease in both the number of non-diagnostic investigations and the total investigations per patient since the introduction of helical CTPA. This is probably due to the ready availability of a new imaging technique and physicians awareness that CTPA has significantly improved specificity, which encourages the referral of patients for investigation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Recurrence of dialysis shunt pseudoaneurysm following percutaneous thrombin embolization.

We report an unusual case of a 58-year-old woman on maintenance hemodialysis who presented with an iatrogenic radial artery pseudoaneurysm proximal to a Cimino-Brescia fistula. The pseudoaneurysm was not amenable to ultrasonographic compression due to the vascular anatomy. The pseudoaneurysm recurred despite initial successful response to two direct injections of thrombin on separate occasions. We highlight the role of ultrasound and thrombin injection in the treatment of pseudoaneurysm and emphasize the need for follow-up ultrasound examination to monitor recurrence.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

PubMed2001

Nosocomial infections during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

OBJECTIVE: To examine trends in nosocomial infection associated with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO). DESIGN: Retrospective review of all patients who underwent ECMO over a 4-year period at our institution; specifically, examining reasons for placement and duration of time on ECMO, as well as nosocomial infections incurred while on or shortly after discontinuation of support. Infections were considered ECMO-related if the organism was recovered on support or within 7 days from decannulation. Analyses were performed utilizing Pearson's chi-square for dichotomous factors and t-tests for continuous factors. RESULTS: Of 141 patients requiring ECMO support, 90 (64%) survived to hospital discharge. Indication for support included circulatory failure (53%) and non-cardiac (47%). Twenty-six percent of patients developed infections on ECMO. Organisms isolated included: bacterial 20 (54%), fungal 10 (27%), mixed five (14%) and viral two (5%). Infection sites included: blood 13 (35%), urine nine (24%), mixed eight (22%), wound five (14%) and lung two (5%). Seventy-eight percent of infections noted occurred in cardiac patients. Patients with nosocomial infections were supported for a median of 169 h (range, 84-936 h), versus those without nosocomial infection [146 h (range, 50-886 h); P<0.001]. Procedures on ECMO were associated with an increased risk of infection (P<0.001) as was the presence of an open chest (P<0.025). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of infection in ECMO patients at our institution has not increased significantly since our previous study. Cardiac patients have increased risk for nosocomial infection while on ECMO, which may be in part due to longer cannulation times, as well as increased likelihood of undergoing major procedures or having an open chest.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and contrast media reactions in a radiology department.

AIM: To assess current knowledge and training in the management of contrast media reactions and cardiopulmonary resuscitation within a radiology department. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The standard of knowledge about the management of contrast media reactions and cardiopulmonary resuscitation among radiologists, radiographers and nurses were audited using a two-section questionnaire. Our results were compared against nationally accepted standards. Repeat audits were undertaken over a 28-month period. Three full audit cycles were completed. RESULTS: The initial audit confirmed that although a voluntary training programme was in place, knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques were below acceptable levels (set at 70%) for all staff members. The mean score for radiologists was 50%. Immediate changes instituted included retraining courses, the distribution of standard guidelines and the composition and distribution of two separate information handouts. Initial improvements were complemented by new wallcharts, which were distributed throughout the department, a series of lectures on management of contrast reactions and regular reviews with feedback to staff. In the third and final audit all staff groups had surpassed the required standard. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of contrast media reactions and resuscitation needs constant updating. Revision of skills requires a prescriptive programme; visual display of advice is a constant reminder. It is our contention all radiology departmental staff should consider it a personal duty to maintain their resuscitation skills at appropriate standards.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation↗

PubMed1992

Visual expectation and dimensions of infant information processing.

Visual expectation was assessed in 103 black 6.5-month-olds using Haith, Hazan, and Goodman's paradigm and related to performance on standard developmental assessments and tests of information processing skill. As expected, percent anticipations was higher and RT lower than in 3.0-month-olds previously tested. Split-half and left-right correlations for the RT measures were moderate and similar to those previously reported, as was split-half reliability for percent anticipations. The 2 RT measures were related to fixation duration on both visual recognition memory (VRM) and cross-modal transfer, suggesting moderate cross-task and cross-age consistency in processing speed. Percent anticipations and baseline RT each contributed independently to the prediction of VRM novelty preference. Data from a factor analysis suggested 3 dimensions of cognitive function: processing speed, developmental level, and memory/attention. These findings suggest that the visual expectation paradigm provides a reliable new approach for assessing cognitive processing efficiency and attention during infancy.

Black or African American↗

PubMed1973

Thymineless death in polA+ and polA- strains of Escherichia coli.

The extreme sensitivity of polA(-) cells to thymineless death is due, primarily, to the absence of an extended lag prior to the commencement of death. Once thymineless death has commenced, the rate in polA(-) cells is only slightly faster than in polA(+) cells.

Culture Media↗