Endovascular treatment of pseudoaneurysm of the thoracic aorta from a firearm injury

A 24-year-old male patient was the victim of a firearm wound that penetrated the thorax. He arrived at another hospital hemodynamically unstable and was submitted to exploratory surgery by means of bithoracotomy. A lesion of the left branch of the pulmonary artery was detected and successfully repaired. He was submitted for computer-aided tomography on the fifth postoperative day, and a lesion of the mid-thoracic aorta was detected, which formed a saccular image. Considering that the patient had already been submitted to a bithoracotomy and that a direct approach to repair would involve another thoracotomy within a short period of time, endovascular treatment was chosen in our hospital. The procedure was performed under fluoroscopy. A second computer-aided tomography indicated adequate treatment of the lesion, with no indication of an endoleak. He has undergone ambulatory follow-up for 36 months without any problem related to the procedure. While endovascular treatment of the aorta has developed enormously, multicenter studies are needed to better define the long-term results of this approach. © 2008 Published by European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.

Components of the acoustic swallowing signal: Preliminary study

Purpose: To analyze the components of the acoustic signal of swallowing using a specific software. Methods: Fourteen healthy subjects ranging in age from 20 to 50 years (mean age 31±10 years), were evaluated. Data collection consisted on the simultaneous capture of the swallowing audio with a microphone and of the swallowing videofluoroscopic image. The bursts of the swallowing acoustic signal were identified and their duration and the interval between them were later analyzed using a specific software, which allowed the simultaneous analyses between the acoustic wave and the videofluoroscopic image. Results: Three burst components were identified in most of the swallows evaluated. The first burst presented mean time of 87.3 milliseconds (ms) for water and 78.2 for the substance. The second burst presented mean time of 112.9 ms for water and 85.5 for the pasty substance. The mean interval between first and second burst was 82.1 ms for water and 95.3 ms for the pasty consistency, and between second and third burst was 339.8 ms for water and 322.0 ms for the pasty consistency. Conclusion: The software allowed the visualization of three bursts during the swallowing of healthy individuals, and showed that the swallowing signal in normal subjects is highly variable.

Acurácia da avaliação clínica da disfagia orofaríngea na encefalopatia crônica não progressiva

Objetivo: analisar a acurácia da avaliação clínica da disfagia orofaríngea para detectar penetração e aspiração laringotraqueal na encefalopatia crônica não progressiva. Métodos: participaram deste estudo 45 indivíduos com ECNP e disfagia orofaríngea, sendo 28 do sexo masculino e 17 do sexo feminino, faixa etária variando de 3 a 19 anos. A avaliação clínica da deglutição utilizou protocolo específico e a videofluoroscopia de deglutição (VFD) foi utilizada como padrão ouro. Resultados: verificou-se que houve sensibilidade de 80,0% (IC 95%: [82,7;100]), especificidade de 46,67% (IC 95%: [18,1;75,3]), valor preditivo positivo de 77,78% (IC 95%: [62,8;92,8]) e valor preditivo negativo de 77,78% (IC 95%: [45,1;100]). Conclusão: constatou-se que a avaliação fonoaudiológica clínica da disfagia orofaríngea na ECNP apresenta maior sensibilidade que especificidade.

Cálculo estrutural de barreiras: Desenvolvimento de um programa computacional de interface online

This study aimed to develop a computer program which systematizes the structural shielding design calculation in diagnostic radiology facilities. For this purpose methodology of the National Council of Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP 147[5]) was used. By comparative statistics studies, it was verified if reference parameters values suggested by the US publication correspond to the average national values. The World Wide Web was chosen because of its characteristics as a powerful mean of communication, especially in terms of the wide variety of useful resources and easy access. To compare the reference values of some parameters proposed by NCRP 147 to Brazilian average, studies about the normalized workload per patient, performance of X-ray tube and primary air kerma, unshielded, at one meter from the focal point of the X-ray tube were made. Through this research, relative differences were found. In workload values this differences reached up to 50% in mammography compared to those presented by the NCRP 147; in X-ray tube performance the percentage differences reached 69% in dental radiology, and air kerma results amounted 31% in fluoroscopy. This demonstrates the importance of validation of international protocols to local realities

Aplicações práticas de proteção radiológica nas áreas de medicina nuclear e radiodiagnóstico em instalações hospitalares

After the discovery of ionizing radiation, its applications in various fields of science began to take significant proportions. In the case of medicine, there are the application areas in radiotherapy, diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine. It was then necessary to create the field of radiological protection to establish the conditions necessary for the safe use of such ionizing radiation. Apply knowledge obtained during the graduation stage and in the practice of radiological protection in the areas of nuclear medicine and diagnostic radiology. In the area of nuclear medicine, tests were made in the Geiger-Muller counters (GM) and the dose calibrator (curiometer), the monitoring tests of radiation, waste management, clean of the Therapeutic room and testing the quality control of gamma-chambers. In the area of radiology, were performed tests of quality control equipment for conventional X-ray equipment and x-ray fluoroscopy, all following the rules of the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), and reporting of tests. The routine developed in the fields of nuclear medicine in hospitals has proved very useful, since the quality control of GM counters contribute to the values of possible contamination are more reliable. The control of dose calibrator enables the patient not to receive different doses of the recommended amounts, which prevents the repetition of tests and unnecessary exposure to radiation. The management of waste following the rules and laws established and required for its management. Tests for quality control of gamma chambers help to evaluate its medical performance through image. In part of diagnostic radiology, tests for quality control are performed in order to verify that the equipment is acceptable for usage or if repairs are needed. The knowledge acquired at the internship consolidated the learning of graduation course

Avaliação da Taxa de Exposição em Exames Radiológicos Realizados em Procedimentos Cirúrgicos - Minimização dos Riscos em Indivíduos Ocupacionalmente Expostos

This paper consists in the evaluation of the exposure rate to ionizing radiation to which professionals working in surgical procedures which require radiological examinations are subjected. Were initially performed real-time readings of exposure rate within four distinct operating rooms during the execution of four surgical procedures that made use of fluoroscopy equipment (including three orthopedic surgeries, one in the shoulder, one in the arm, another for deployment of metal pin in the leg region, and a fourth for vascular procedure); in these surgeries were used ionization chamber detector and an electrometer. In order to check the values achieved, was made a re-evaluation of the distribution of the rate of exposure to radiation, from the surgical procedures, now with thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs). For this, thirty TLDs were distributed in the operating rooms, arranged in points of interest as occupation by professionals. The TLDs were prepared for thirty consecutive days, after which they were removed and replaced with new dosimeters not exposed yet. The dosimeters were subjected to reading of the rate of exposure; this procedure was repeated for four months without interruption. The quantification of the results sought primarily to convert the rate of exposure for equivalent dose rate, both in measurements with ionization chamber as in measurements with TLDs, in order to highlight the presence of the biological effect of ionizing radiation for comparisons within scientific context. Then, the results were plotted to establish the relationship between the values of equivalent dose and the distance to the central axis of the x -ray source, confirming the inverse square law for distance. Finally, the values were associated with the maximum limit recommended by the legislation for occupationally exposed individuals. The methodology for the analysis and quantification of the data in this work aims at implementing a work plan that meets ...

Validation of cone-beam computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the porcine spine: a comparative study with multidetector computed tomography and anatomical specimens

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)