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Hernia through the foramen of Winslow.

A case of hernia through the foramen of Winslow diagnosed preoperatively is reported. Although the preoperative diagnosis is difficult to make because of the nonspecific symptoms presented and the rarity of the disease, careful evaluation of the plain abdominal X-ray and barium enema study gave the clue in the present case. Review of the literature including those from Japan revealed 115 cases up to 1976, of which diagnosis was established preoperatively in 11 cases.

Barium Sulfate↗

Herniation through the foramen of Winslow: report of a case.

Herniation into the lesser omental sac through the foramen of Winslow is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction. A successfully managed case is presented. The clinical history and physical findings are reviewed, and radiographic findings are discussed. The proper interpretation of these findings should suggest the diagnosis. Treatment is prompt surgical correction, and various technical maneuvers that may be necessary are outlined.

Female↗

Herniation of the cecum through the foramen of Winslow.

A case of cecal herniation through the foramen of Winslow is presented. Although rare in occurrence, it carries a high mortality risk when diagnosis and treatment are delayed. A better understanding of the nature of this hernia and appreciation of the classic radiographic findings will allow for earlier recognition and treatment.

Cecal Diseases↗

[Detection of patent foramen ovale. Transesophageal echocardiography and transcranial Doppler sonography with ultrasound contrast media are "supplementary, not competing, diagnostic methods"].

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in healthy individuals is estimated to be about 25% and is elevated to 40% patients with stroke. To date transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was considered to be the most sensitive method to detect PFO and was regarded as the gold standard. Transcranial Doppler sonography of the middle cerebral artery during contrast injection (c-TCD) has recently been proposed as an alternative method for the detection of PFO. We report our experience on 45 patients (age < 55 years) with stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) in whom both c-TCD and TEE were performed to detect PFO as a mechanism for embolic cerebral ischemia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 45 patients (21 women, 24 men, mean age 41.4 years ranging from 17 to 54 years) with cerebral ischemia, both standardized TEE and standardized c-TCD were performed separately. When any PFO was found by TEE and/or c-TCD, it was classified as positive. If c-TCD was positive but TEE negative, a second TEE was performed and vice versa. RESULTS: PFO was found epicritically in 26 patients (57.8%). First TEE detected PFO in 24 cases (sensitivity 92.3%). Separately performed c-TCD detected PFO in 22 cases of the PFO-positive cases (sensitivity 84.6%). However, c-TCD detected PFO in 2 cases, in which the first TEE had been negative, leading to a second TEE which confirmed PFO and demonstrated minimal shunt (7.7%). TEE detected PFO in 4 cases in which first c-TCD was negative. A second c-TCD confirmed in 2 of these 4 cases a positive right-to-left shunt. Neither method revealed false positive results (specifity 100%). The positive predictive value was 100% in both methods. The negative predictive value in TEE was 90.5% and in c-TCD was 82.6%. CONCLUSION: TEE and c-TCD are not concurrent diagnostic tools to detect PFO. Both supplement each other. If both methods are used in all PFO-suspected patients, PFO detection rate is higher than when using either method alone.

Adolescent↗

[Intraoperative transesophageal versus preoperative transthoracic contrast echocardiography. A method for detection of patent foramen ovale in neurosurgical patients].

Preoperative detection of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) may be achieved employing either transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) with the Valsalva manoeuvre in the awake patient or trans-oesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the anaesthesised patient. Our study was undertaken to validate these methods with regard to their efficacy in identifying patients at risk for paradoxical air embolism (PAE). METHODS. In 67 patients ranging from 28 to 70 years of age, TTE was performed utilising the Valsalva manoeuvre prior to surgery. The patients were informed about all procedures and agreed to take part in the study. After induction of anaesthesia the patients were evaluated with TEE in the supine and sitting positions. At end-inspiration 10 ml agitated gelatine solution (Gelafundin) was injected through a central venous catheter into the right atrium after airway pressure of 20 cm H2O had been maintained for 5 s. The injected bolus was observed throughout the ventilatory cycle, with special attention being given to early expiration and systole. A right-to-left shunt was assumed if five echo targets were observed in the left atrium. RESULTS. The prevalence of PFO detected by TTE/Valsalva was 9%. The diagnosis was confirmed by TEE in 2 patients in the supine and 1 in the sitting position. An echocardiogram in these patients showed bulging of the septum to the left, which was not seen in those patients in whom PFO was detected only by TTE. DISCUSSION. The reason for the lower incidence of PFO detected by TEE during airway pressure 20 cm H2O may have been an insufficient increase of pressure in the right atrium with a negative right-to-left atrial pressure gradient. A standardised ventilation manoeuvre with supra-atmospheric airway pressure of 20 cm H2O is not sufficient. Bulging of the intra-atrial septum from right to left during airway pressure is a possible indication of the efficacy of the manoeuvre, regardless of the influence of the breathing pattern.

Adult↗

[Intraoperative contrast echocardiography for detection of a patient foramen ovale using a provocation test and ventilation with PEEP respiration].

UNLABELLED: Intraoperative paradoxical air embolism may occur even if a patent foramen ovale (PFO) is excluded by contrast transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) under 20 cm H2O positive airway pressure. It is questionable whether the combination of PEEP and ventilation with a large tidal volume increases the sensitivity of contrast TEE in detecting a PFO. METHODS: Eighty healthy patients (ASA status I, II) scheduled for surgery in the supine position and ranging from 25 to 72 years of age were investigated by TEE, which was performed in the biatrial viewing mode (short axis). Echocardiographic contrast (10 ml agitated gelatine solution) was injected during two different ventilation manoeuvres. Manoeuvre I: Contrast injection during the application of 20 cm H2O positive airway pressure for 5 s. The pressure was released when the right atrium became completely opacified by echo targets. The injected bolus was observed throughout the ventilatory cycle, with special attention being given to early expiration and systole. A right-to-left shunt was assumed if five echo targets were observed in the left atrium. Manoeuvre II: Contrast injection during ventilation with PEEP (15 cm H2O), a tidal volume of 1,200 ml, and a respiratory rate of 6/min. RESULTS: The frequency of a PFO causing a right-to-left interatrial shunt was 8.7% (7 cases) in manoeuvre I and 15% (12 cases) in manoeuvre II. In one case a PFO was diagnosed intraoperatively by chance. DISCUSSION: The use of provocation manoeuvres including ventilation with PEEP and high tidal volumes might improve the ability to detect a PFO presenting with right-to-left interatrial shunt by intraoperative contrast TEE, but does not have 100% sensitivity. However, our results clearly indicate that ventilation with PEEP and high tidal volumes may predispose to paradoxical embolism.

Adult↗

[Preoperative diagnosis of a patent foramen ovale: rational use of transthoracic and transesophageal contrast echocardiography].

BACKGROUND: The detection or ruling out of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) can be determined noninvasively by contrast echocardiography (CE). The transesophageal technique is superior to the transthoracic technique regarding sensitivity, whereas the specificity of both methods is equally high. This prospective study shows the rational use of transesophageal CE for the detection of a PFO, in patients without cardiovascular disorders. METHODS: 165 patients (92 female, 73 male, age 48 +/- 18 years) with planned neuro-surgery in a sitting position, underwent CE to rule out a PFO. If the CE was positive, an alternative position was selected in order to avoid a paradoxical air embolism. RESULTS: Initially, a transthoracic CE was performed in all patients resulting in 21 patients (13%) being positive and 39 patients (24%) being negative by sufficient image quality. A transesophageal CE was performed in 96 of the remaining 105 patients (63%). Here, further 25 patients showed a positive CE in the sense of a PFO. The combined use of transthoracic and transesophageal CE revealed a PFO in 46 of 165 patients (28%). CONCLUSION: The use of both, transthoracic and transesophageal CE is an efficient approach to the preoperative detection of a PFO in the sense of quality and economics. Depending upon the image quality, the use of a transesophageal examination could be avoided in one third of the cases.

Adolescent↗

[Patent foramen ovale, atrial septum aneurysm, and stroke. An examination of the status of recent evidence].

The role of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) in stroke is still regarded as controversial, as is the optimal strategy of secondary prevention for such patients. The best available evidence is derived from case-control studies, which in all show a statistically significant relationship but cannot be judged as conclusive for methodologic reasons. Besides paradoxic embolism, different pathomechanisms of stroke due to abnormalities of the atrial septum are possible that can rarely be verified in clinical routine. While the risk of stroke recurrence seems to be low at least for younger patients, to date no definite recommendations for secondary prevention can be given. Several ongoing randomized clinical trials might increase the store of evidence in this topic over the next years. However, primary and secondary risk seem to be substantially increased for the combined defect of PFO and atrial septum aneurysm. To allow further risk stratification, other potentially important factors such as shunt size and coagulation disorders should be targeted in future studies.

Causality↗

Intracranial lipoma with extracranial extension through foramen ovale in a patient with encephalocraniocutaneous lipomatosis syndrome.

We present CT and MR features of a large intracranial lipoma located in the left sphenocavernosal region in a patient with a history of spinal intradural lipoma excision. The lipomatous lesion surrounded the internal carotid artery and trigeminal nerve and extended extracranially into the infratemporal region through a smoothly dilated foramen ovale.

Brain Neoplasms↗

Coexistence of ductal constriction and closure of the foramen ovale in utero.

We report a fetus with an unusual combination of a narrow ductus arteriosus (DA) and foramen ovale. A pregnant mother was referred at 26 weeks of gestation for fetal pericardial effusion. Fetal echocardiography showed pericardial effusion, right atrial enlargement, right ventricular hypertrophy, and tricuspid regurgitation. The DA looked tortuous with S-shaped kinking. The atrial septum primum bulged into the left atrium. Color Doppler did not show any flow across the atrial septum. Cesarean section was performed at 31 weeks of gestation. Admission to intensive care was required after delivery, but the infant gradually improved and was discharged home without any sequela.

Adult↗

Patent foramen ovale morphology and impact on percutaneous device closure.

We sought to evaluate the effects of atrial septal and patent foramen ovale (PFO) morphology on the efficacy of transcatheter closure. We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent PFO device closure from January 1997 to January 2002. Forty-seven patients underwent percutaneous closure of a PFO with a median age of 45 years (range, 8-75) and weight of 76 kg (range 28-115). The septal morphology was flat in 33 and aneurysmal in 14 patients. The PFO morphology was a simple flap in 20 and complex in 27 patients. Complex morphologies included long-tunnel PFO (n = 15), coexistent small atrial septal defect (ASD) (n = 5), and aneurysmal septum without a tunnel or ASD (n = 7). Nonstretched PFO diameters were significantly smaller than stretched (4.8 +/- 1.1 mm vs 11.6 +/- 3.8 mm, p < 0.01). Median device size: stretched diameter ratio (DS:SD) was 3.7:1 (range, 2.2-9.1). The DS:SD ratio was significantly higher in patients with complex PFO (mean, 3.9:1 vs 2.6:1; p < 0.05). Device placement was successful in all patients. Five patients required transeptal puncture of the foraminal flap in long-tunnel PFOs. Effective closure on follow-up was achieved in 45 patients (95%). Of the 2 patients with residual shunts, 1 had a complex PFO and the other a simple PFO. Two patients (5%) experienced recurrent neurologic symptoms after device closure despite having no residual shunt by echocardiography. Complex PFO did not increase risk of residual shunt or recurrent neurologic symptoms after device closure.

Adolescent↗

Patent foramen ovale and left atrial appendage: new devices and methods for closure.

Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects (ASDs) has become a routine procedure in many countries of the world. It spares many patients cardiac surgery and has proven efficacy in long-term studies. Device improvements have resulted in a continuous reduction of complications and of residual shunt frequency. ASD closure devices are also used for transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) for prevention of paradoxical embolism. In the past few years, there has been increasing interest in developing devices specifically designed for PFO closure. Although transcatheter closure of ASDs is well established, interventional closure of the left atrial appendage is in its development stage. Closure of the left atrial appendage is designed to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation in whom anticoagulation with Warfarin-type drugs is contraindicated. This article describes the latest developments in catheter closure of PFO and the left atrial appendage.

Atrial Appendage↗

Premature "closing" of the foramen ovale in transposition of the great arteries with intact ventricular septum: rare cause of sudden neonatal death.

We report a male neonate who developed severe cyanosis and bradycardia at birth unresponsive to resuscitation. At autopsy he was found to have premature "closure" of the foramen ovale together with transposition of the great arteries and an intact ventricular septum. Reviewing the literature, we found only one case report describing a similar neonate with this lethal combination of cardiac malformations.

Fatal Outcome↗

Cervical venous organization in the transverse foramen.

The most widely accepted description of venous anatomy in the transverse foramen involves the presence of one or two veins running along and parallel to the external side of the vertebral artery. For most surgeons, the vertebral artery is surrounded by a rete of veins which is continous with the wide sinusoids which surround the thecal sac (internal vertebral venous plexus). The goal of this study was to ascertain the exact structure of the venous system in the transverse canal by micro dissection and histology. Six spinal segments (C1 to C7) removed from cadavers embalmed using 5% diluted formalin or not and studied with or without injection of colored latex after bilateral catheterization of the internal jugular vein, vertebral vein, common carotid artery, and vertebral artery. An anatomical study was performed by optical microscopy. After fixation and decalcification, tissue specimens were stained using hematoxylin-eosin-safran (HES) and immunocytochemical markers including CD43, CD31, and desmine (specific for vascular endothelium). Findings showed that venous blood in the transverse canal flows through a space formed by the periosteum. There was no evidence of a vein inside the transverse canal. The periosteum spans the space between the transverse processes and gives off fibrous leaflets to the artery thus forming a compartmentalized space lined with vascular endothelium around the artery. The venous system in the transverse canal presents itself as a sinus similar to the intracranial sinus structure.

Adult↗

Mental foramen in Thais: an anatomical variation related to gender and side.

Sixty-nine adult mandibles (45 male, 24 female) of Thai dry skulls were assessed to determine the size, the orientation and the location of the mental foramen (MF) related to gender and side. The results showed that the usual direction of exit of the MF was in a posterosuperior direction. The most common location of the MF was bilaterally symmetrical and located on the same vertical line with the long axis of the lower second premolar. The mean distances from the MF to the symphysis menti (A), to the posterior border of the mandibular ramus (P), to the lower border of the mandible (mb) and to the buccal cusp tip of the second premolar (cm) were 28.83, 68.85, 14.88 and 24.27 mm, respectively. The mean distances from the alveolar bone crest across the MF to the lower border of the mandible (ab) was 29.97 mm. The mean distance from the buccal cusp tip of the second premolar through the long axis of the clinical crown to the lower border of the mandible (cb) was 39.18 mm. No measurements varied according to the sides (P > 0.05). In contrast, gender differences were significant in all measurements with the longer distances in males (P < 0.05). The mean ratios of A/(A + P), mb/ab and cm/cb in all subjects were 0.30, 0.50 and 0.62, respectively. The values of the three ratios were nearly equal in males and females. Our results may assist surgeons to localize important maxillofacial neurovascular bundles passing through the MF in avoiding complication from local anesthetic, surgical and other invasive procedures.

Adult↗

Isolated brain metastases of osteosarcoma in a patient presenting with a patent foramen ovale.

We report the case of a patient in whom brain MR imaging was requested for initial symptoms of intracranial hypertension. The presence of multiple intracranial hemorrhagic lesions suggested brain metastases. Body screening showed periosteal osteosarcoma of the left fibula with no lung metastases, but with a patent foramen ovale which probably allowed neoplastic cells to reach the brain without being filtered through the lungs. The conclusion of this study was that a left-right cardiac communication is to be considered in cases of isolated brain metastases from osteosarcoma.

Bone Neoplasms↗

Chondrosarcoma causing cervical neural foramen widening.

Various neoplastic, vascular, and developmental causes may lead to spinal neural foraminal widening, the most common causes of spinal dumbbell lesions being schwannomas and neurofibromas. Occasionally, some other slow-growing tumors may cause neural foraminal widening. We report an exceptional case of a low-grade spinal chondrosarcoma which apparently developed from a pre-existing osteochondroma in the neural arcus of C6. The lesion passed through the C5-C6 foramen, producing a dumbbell mass.

Adolescent↗