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Biomedical subjects

R G Fisher

Publications and source records attributed to R G Fisher.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Diagnosis of injuries of the aorta and brachiocephalic arteries caused by blunt chest trauma: CT vs aortography.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of chest CT in the triage of patients with potential injuries of the aorta and brachiocephalic arteries caused by blunt trauma and to test the value of chest CT scans in limiting the number of screening aortograms. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A prospective study was done with 107 patients who were examined because of possible laceration of the aorta or brachiocephalic vessels. Chest radiographs were obtained in 107 patients, aortograms in 105, and chest CT scans in 90. This evaluation concentrates on the 88 patients who had both CT and aortography. Findings on CT scans were categorized as normal, equivocal, suggestive of, subtly positive for, or grossly positive for mediastinal hematoma. RESULTS: Findings on CT scans were considered normal in 18 patients. Sixteen had normal aortographic findings. Two of the 18 had clinical follow-up without aortography. Findings on CT scans were considered equivocal in 25 patients, suggestive of hematoma in 13, subtly positive for hematoma in 24, and grossly positive for hematoma in 10. Subsequent aortography showed injuries in four patients who had abnormal CT findings. Nineteen other patients had aortography because of grossly abnormal findings on chest radiographs, and one aortic injury was detected. CONCLUSION: The value of chest CT as a preliminary procedure to avoid thoracic aortography in patients with blunt trauma was limited in our series. Chest CT scans with normal findings effectively exclude aortic/brachiocephalic injury; however, only about 25% of our patients had chest CT scans with unequivocally normal findings, and most patients required further evaluation with aortography.

Aorta, Thoracic↗
PubMed1992

Placement of dual bird's nest filters in an unusual case of duplicated inferior vena cava.

The authors describe an unusual variant of inferior vena cava duplication, with azygos continuation of the right vena cava and hemiazygos continuation of the left vena cava, discovered at cavography in a patient with pulmonary embolism. Following unsuccessful attempts to advance titanium Greenfield filters through tortuous iliac veins, bilateral Bird's Nest filters were placed successfully.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

CT evidence for the "osseous pinch" mechanism of traumatic aortic injury.

OBJECTIVE: Our prior experiments suggested that traumatic laceration of the aorta induced by rapid deceleration results from pinching of the aorta between the spine and the anterior bony complex (manubrium, clavicle, and first rib). This study examines that hypothesis with in vivo CT data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 22 patients with angiographically and surgically proved lacerations of the proximal descending aorta, chest CT scans were obtained before (18) or after (four) surgical repair. The point of impact of the anterior bony complex with the anterior surface of the thoracic spine during compression of the thorax was predicted by simulated rotation of the first rib based on calculations made from the CT scans. RESULTS: In all 22 patients, the projected site of impact of the anterior bony complex with the spine corresponded to the actual injured aortic segment as determined with angiography. CONCLUSION: Our data further support the proposed "osseous pinch" mechanism of injury to explain traumatic tears of the aorta.

Aorta, Thoracic↗
PubMed1990

Conservative management of aortic lacerations due to blunt trauma.

Three patients with angiographically documented thoracic aortic lacerations were managed conservatively over 8 years due to the nonthreatening appearance of the injuries in two and the presence of an associated major closed head injury in a third. The lesion(s) resolved in one, diminished in another, and remained unchanged in the third. At least ten other cases managed similarly are recorded in the literature. In certain selected circumstances this approach may represent a viable alternative to the current standard of immediate surgical correction of aortic injuries.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Stab wounds of the renal artery branches: angiographic diagnosis and treatment by embolization.

Renal artery branch injury resulting from stab wounds of iatrogenic origin or street violence is an important cause of renal hemorrhage. Over a period of 10 years we accurately diagnosed the injury and successfully managed the associated hemorrhage in 15 patients by using angiography and percutaneous embolization techniques. Nine branch injuries in eight patients were due to street knifings and seven injuries were complications of invasive medical procedures (four from renal biopsy, two from nephrostolithotomy, and one from nephrostomy). All patients had gross hematuria at the time of angiographic evaluation. False aneurysms were present in six patients (one with associated frank extravasation), false aneurysm/arteriovenous fistula in three, false aneurysm/arteriocaliceal fistula in one, and isolated arteriovenous fistula in two. Frank extravasation without associated false aneurysm/arteriovenous fistula was present in two. One patient had two injuries, an upper-pole false aneurysm and a lower-pole false aneurysm/arteriovenous fistula. In the eight patients injured in street knifings, hematuria recurred after surgical exploration and treatment. None of the 16 injuries involved the main renal artery. Gelfoam was used for embolization of nine lesions and steel coils for four. Three others were treated with Gelfoam plus coils. Hemostasis was achieved in all and none required subsequent surgery. Renal tissue loss was small to moderate (less than 30%) in 12 patients and large (30-50%) in three patients. Transient postembolization hypertension occurred in one of the latter. We consider selective angiography/embolization to be an effective and safe means for diagnosing and treating wounds of the renal artery branches.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Sacral fracture with compression of cauda equina: surgical treatment.

Fractures of the sacrum are rare and generally accompany fractures of the pelvis. Isolated transverse sacral fractures are even less frequent, and extensive neurologic deficits may accompany these injuries. This report describes an unusual case of extradural hemorrhage accompanying a complex fracture of the sacrum. The reversal of a serious neurologic deficit was notably aided by sacral laminectomy.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Penetrating injuries of the thoracic aorta and brachiocephalic arteries: angiographic findings in 18 cases.

Eighteen patients with surgically proved penetrating injuries to the thoracic aorta or brachiocephalic arteries were evaluated preoperatively with angiography. Fifteen injuries resulted from direct penetration of a vessel and three were concussion or blast injuries. Arteriography correctly showed vessel damage in 16 (89%), although one was identified only in retrospect. There were two false-negative examinations. False aneurysms were present in nine. Other findings included occlusion, wall irregularity, and an arterial-arterial fistula. Our results show that angiography is an accurate means of detecting penetrating injuries to the thoracic aorta or brachiocephalic arteries.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Interventional radiology in appendicular skeletal trauma.

Embolotherapy for extremity vascular injuries is a relatively new, effective, and safe treatment modality in selected patients. The resultant hemostasis decreases the morbidity or even mortality that can result from uncontrolled hemorrhage. In addition, surgery may be postponed until the patient is stabilized, or avoided altogether. Prompt diagnosis of vascular injury and embolization when indicated also contributes to the proper management of associated osseous and soft tissue injuries.

Angiography↗
PubMed1986

Patent ductus arteriosus in adults--long-term follow-up: nonsurgical versus surgical treatment.

The long-term prognosis of adult patients with patent ductus arteriosus treated medically or surgically has not been demonstrated. One hundred seventeen adult patients ranging in age from 18 to 81 years (mean 36) were followed up for 1 to 37 years (mean 18). Forty-five patients were treated nonsurgically and 72 had surgical closure. The nonsurgical group experienced significantly more cyanosis (p = 0.002) and had fewer diastolic murmurs (p greater than 0.001) than did the surgical group. In the nonsurgical group, patients with cardiomegaly before treatment were more likely to die (p greater than 0.001) than were patients who did not have cardiomegaly. In the surgical group, patients with cardiomegaly before treatment had a worse prognosis (p = 0.09) than that of patients with normal heart size. Seven patients, five in the nonsurgical and two in the surgical group, presented with a pulmonary artery systolic pressure greater than 100 mm Hg. Five of these patients are alive and well at a mean follow-up time of 18 years. The two nonsurvivors were in the nonsurgical group and died at 4 and 19 years of follow-up, respectively. Adult patients with patent ductus arteriosus should be treated surgically, especially if cardiomegaly is seen at initial presentation.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Surgical experience following intervertebral discolysis with collagenase.

Of 410 patients with refractory herniated lumbar disc disease treated with intradiscal collagenase, 82 (20%) did not respond to enzyme treatment and subsequently underwent surgery. Failure to improve in 6 to 8 weeks was the predominant cause for surgical intervention (53 patients). Increased pain (18 patients), progressing neurological deficit (10 patients), and disc-space infection (one patient) were the other indications for surgery. At surgery, extrusions and/or sequestrations were found in 46 patients, undigested protrusions in 16 patients, and other causes of treatment failure in 14 patients. Six patients had normal findings. There was no evidence of adverse enzyme activity on the surrounding structures. Surgical results showed an overall success rate of 87%, and did not appear to be compromised by the previous enzyme therapy.

Adult↗