Biomedical subjects

N Lachman

Publications and source records attributed to N Lachman.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Lithopedion: a case report.

An 80-year-old Black, South African woman presented in the outpatient department with severe abdominal pain. Ultrasound examination revealed a large echogenic mass (20 x 20 cm) in the right upper quadrant. An abdominal x-ray demonstrated the skeleton of a fully developed extrauterine fetus. It is presumed from the patient's history that this fetus was present for at least 40 years. Radiography revealed a fetus shrouded in a mantle of calcification. The fetus was hyper-flexed with other signs of "intrauterine" death. Fetal dentition charts dated the fetus at 34 weeks, the epiphyses being obscured by extensive calcification. In addition to subcutaneous calcification there was extensive visceral and intracranial calcification.

Abdomen, Acute↗

PubMed2001

Bilateral origin of the internal thoracic artery from the third part of the subclavian artery: a case report.

The routine use of the internal thoracic artery (ITA) as a conduit in coronary artery bypass grafting surgery has highlighted the need to appreciate this vessel's anatomic variations. The usual origin of this vessel is from the first part of the subclavian artery, occasionally from the second and rarely from the third. Henriques-Pino and Prates described a unilateral origin from the third part on the left and Vorster et al on the right. Our cadaveric case report presents an unusual bilateral origin of the ITA arising from the third part of the subclavian artery in a 25-year-old Black South African female. The ITA arose from the ventral aspect, 7.3 cm on the right side and 8.5 cm on the left side from the origin of the subclavian artery, and inclined acutely inferiorly and medially, anterior to the distal attachment of the scalenus anterior m., followed the inner border of the first rib for a short distance and, thereafter, continued its usual course in the thorax. This appears to be the first case report presenting a bilateral origin of the ITA from the third part of the subclavian artery.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Origin and incidence of xiphoid branch of the internal thoracic artery.

The study presents the incidence of a variant terminal branch of the internal thoracic artery (ITA). The ITA's were cannulated in situ, injected with coloured latex and dissected together with its branches in 62 cadavers. Unlike the usual termination of the ITA bifurcating into the musculophrenic and superior epigastric arteries, this third branch arose from the medial border of the ITA at the level of the 6th costal cartilage. As it descends it inclines medially towards the angle between the xiphoid process and the 7th costal cartilage, giving off 2 or 3 fine branches to the lower sternum. It then passes deep to this angle and can be observed on the anterior surface of the xiphoid process, terminating in fine branches distributed to the inferior aspect of the xiphoid cartilage. It is proposed that this branch at the "trifurcation" of the ITA be termed the xiphoid branch. This branch was noted in 61.3%. An incidence of 30.7% was seen on the right and 21% on the left with bilateral presence in 9.7%. The xiphoid branch contributes to the supply to the lower sternal region and may be of special importance when the collateral supply to the region is compromised in the event of the internal thoracic or superior epigastric artery damage or when used as a conduit in coronary artery by-pass grafts.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Morphometry of the internal thoracic arteries.

The surgical significance of the internal thoracic arteries (ITA's) in procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting, transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps and minimal incision direct coronary artery bypass surgery is well recognised. However, the detailed morphometry of these vessels is not well documented. This study aimed to detail the morphometry of the ITA's. Morphometric analysis of these vessels from post mortem en-bloc specimens, consisting of aortic arch, great vessels and ITA's with anterior chest wall was conducted on 62 adults. The mean lengths and diameters of the ITA's at the origin, costal cartilage levels and termination were: length of the right ITA, 18.05 +/- 0.6 cm and the left, 18.085 +/- 0.6 cm. The average diameters recorded at the origin, first costal cartilage, fourth costal cartilage and termination were: right: 3.24 +/- 0.5 mm; 2.85 +/- 0.4 mm; 2.33 +/- 0.6 mm; 1.98 +/- 0.2 mm and left: 3.05 +/- 0.4 mm, 2.67 +/- 0.3 mm; 2.22 +/- 0.3 mm; 1.92 +/- 0.2 mm respectively. Morphometry of the ITA's are detailed. There was no significant difference in length between right and left ITA's although differences between the race groups were demonstrated. Significant differences in diameters in sides and race exist.

Adult↗