Biomedical subjects

Ursula Kiechl-Kohlendorfer

Publications and source records attributed to Ursula Kiechl-Kohlendorfer.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Fluid-debris level in follicular cysts: a pathognomonic sign of ovarian torsion.

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis of ovarian torsion is mandatory to avoid common complications. Sonography is the imaging modality of choice, but diagnosis is still a challenge. OBJECTIVE: To report an additional sonographic feature of ovarian torsion in order to improve diagnostic accuracy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Grey-scale and colour Doppler pelvic sonography was performed in 12 patients with acute onset of intermittent lower abdominal pain and in 1 asymptomatic patient with a palpable mass in the labium majus. Patient ages ranged from 4 months to 17 years. RESULTS: In all patients an enlarged ovary with peripheral cysts was demonstrated. High-resolution sonography detected fluid-debris levels within these cystic structures in 11 of the 13 patients (sensitivity 85%) and provided an additional diagnostic sign. Six patients had cystic teratoma. CONCLUSIONS: We confirm the fluid-debris level as a pathognomonic sonographic sign of ovarian torsion with or without associated teratoma.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

[Physicians working part-time].

In order to ensure the best possible medical care and high-quality research, hospital medical staff must be well educated and highly motivated. Part-time work can help to provide good human resources. Moreover, part-time jobs are often necessary as a means of juggling work and family responsibilities. The aim of this study was to illustrate the legal and educational groundwork for part-time work for physicians in Austria and to outline the advantages and drawbacks of part-time work. In March 2003, all medical doctors working part-time at hospitals in the Austrian state of the Tyrol (n = 60) were surveyed by means of a written questionnaire with the aim of finding out their motives for taking a part-time job as well as the positive and negative aspects involved. The response rate was nearly 70% (n = 40). Most of the part-time hospital physicians were female. The vast majority chose part-time employment in order to better balance family and job. Problems involved in part-time work are legal issues (part-time employment does not always qualify for medical training), the comparatively low salary and the fewer career opportunities. All respondents agreed that patient care, teaching and research are not compatible on a part-time basis. Another negative aspect is the generally strong time pressure experienced in part-time jobs. Despite these negative aspects of working part-time, advantages are considered more important, especially the better balancing of job and family and the possibility of an important early professional reintegration. Better acceptance of part-time jobs would help to make part-time work more attractive. An important improvement is associated with the forthcoming changes in the laws governing part-time work and medical training.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

[Sudden infant death--prevention programs in Austria].

In the current study, design and success of intervention programmes to prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in Austria are described and major future challenges indicated. Various prevention programmes are being carried out in the federal states of Austria and they focus on the detailed information of parents about modifiable SIDS risk factors. Relevant topics such as guidelines for home monitoring are carefully addressed in the Austrian consensus statements. With the introduction of the first campaigns SIDS incidence rates have gradually dropped from 1.69 (1988) to 0.51 per 1000 life births (2000). In line, there was a decline in the prevalence of risk behaviour, especially of the prone sleeping position (federal state of the Tyrol: 53.7% before the campaign (1984-1994) vs. 4.7% thereafter (1995-2001), p < 0.001). Because of this latter trend smoking during pregnancy became the most prevalent SIDS risk factor and the prevalence of the side sleeping position substantially increased. To maintain the current success in lowering SIDS frequency, prevention programmes ought to continue and changes in the weight of risk factors should be considered. Further efforts are required to achieve a thorough post-mortem examination in virtually all sudden unexpected deaths, to establish a country-wide SIDS data base and to continuously update SIDS risk profiles in Austria.

Austria↗

PubMed2003

Cerebrospinal fluid leakage after lumbar puncture in neonates: incidence and sonographic appearance.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to review the incidence and sonographic appearance of cerebrospinal fluid leakage after lumbar puncture in the neonatal period. Thirty-three neonates underwent spinal sonography after diagnostic lumbar puncture. A total of 21 of these patients showed cerebrospinal fluid leakage into the epidural space extending from the level of the cauda equina to the lumbar (n = 9), the thoracic (n = 8), or the cervical (n = 4) region. In eight patients, the subarachnoid space was markedly compressed by the epidural fluid collection. CONCLUSION: Cerebrospinal fluid leakage into the epidural space is a frequent complication of lumbar puncture in neonates and has a characteristic appearance on sonograms. Leakage after lumbar puncture must be differentiated from cerebrospinal fluid leakage due to perinatal meningeal injury. If cerebrospinal fluid leakage at the puncture site compresses the subarachnoid space, sonography assists in the performance of subsequent lumbar puncture.

Cerebrospinal Fluid↗