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Biomedical subjects

K T Kavanagh

Publications and source records attributed to K T Kavanagh.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Airway obstruction in the mentally handicapped.

We have presented a case of laryngomalacia in an 18-year-old mentally retarded woman treated with epiglottoplasty. The preoperative and postoperative appearance of the larynx during aspiration was documented using video and still photography. Diagnosis was made by fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopy and laryngoscopy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Passive exposure to cocaine in medical personnel and its effect on urine drug screening tests.

This report studies the importance of passive exposure of medical personnel to cocaine hydrochloride and its impact on urine screening testing. Eleven medical staff members were exposed to cocaine hydrochloride by means of aerosol and cutaneous application, similar to that which may occur in medical practice. Urine drug screening tests were negative for everyone tested. This finding is supported by known drug kinetics. It is unlikely that a single passive exposure of medical staff to cocaine hydrochloride will produce a positive urine screening test. In all cases of positive urine tests, contaminants should be tested for which may indicate a source of the drug. The routine use of gloves and masks--which is recommended to prevent HIV infection--should further decrease medical personnel's passive exposure to cocaine hydrochloride.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1992

Evaluation of occupational hearing loss and presbyacusis using a microcomputer.

Occupational noise-induced hearing loss remains a common problem in industry. This report presents a systematic method of patient evaluation and describes software that is capable of calculating hearing handicaps from audiometric data and the proportion of the handicap due to presbyacusis. The software also has the capability of subtracting the effects of presbyacusis from the current audiometric thresholds and to estimate hearing thresholds at any future age of the patient. Four patients are presented that illustrate the utility of this type of computer analysis.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Fungal sinusitis in immunocompromised children with neoplasms.

This paper reviews the treatment and diagnosis of immunocompromised patients with fungal sinusitis at St Jude Children's Research Hospital. Sinusitis of all types was found to be more common in patients with hematopoietic neoplasms than in patients with solid tumors; 42% of patients with leukemia had abnormal sinus radiographs. Eight cases of pathologically proven fungal sinusitis were identified. All patients were undergoing chemotherapy for either acute myeloblastic leukemia or acute lymphoblastic leukemia and had neutrophil counts less than 100 cells/mm3. The most common findings were fever, facial pain, and abnormal sinus radiographs. Surveillance cultures of the upper aerodigestive system did not reliably predict sinus pathogens. An aggressive treatment approach consisting of early administration of amphotericin B (intravenously and via catheter irrigations of the sinuses) and surgical drainage is advocated. There was an 80% survival rate in patients in remission who were undergoing maintenance chemotherapy. All patients undergoing chemotherapy for relapse died.

Aspergillosis↗