scholarly journals MDCT Imaging of Non-Traumatic Thoracic Aortic Emergencies and Its Impact on Diagnosis and Management—A Reappraisal

Tomography ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 200-228
Author(s):  
Tullio Valente ◽  
Giacomo Sica ◽  
Giorgio Bocchini ◽  
Federica Romano ◽  
Francesco Lassandro ◽  
...  

Non-traumatic thoracic aorta emergencies are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Diseases of the intimomedial layers (aortic dissection and variants) have been grouped under the common term of acute aortic syndrome because they are life-threatening conditions clinically indistinguishable on presentation. Patients with aortic dissection may present with a wide variety of symptoms secondary to the pattern of dissection and end organ malperfusion. Other conditions may be seen in patients with acute symptoms, including ruptured and unstable thoracic aortic aneurysm, iatrogenic or infective pseudoaneurysms, aortic fistula, acute aortic thrombus/occlusive disease, and vasculitis. Imaging plays a pivotal role in the patient’s management and care. In the emergency room, chest X-ray is the initial imaging test offering a screening evaluation for alternative common differential diagnoses and a preliminary assessment of the mediastinal dimensions. State-of-the-art multidetector computed tomography angiography (CTA) provides a widely available, rapid, replicable, noninvasive diagnostic imaging with sensitivity approaching 100%. It is an impressive tool in decision-making process with a deep impact on treatment including endovascular or open surgical or conservative treatment. Radiologists must be familiar with the spectrum of these entities to help triage patients appropriately and efficiently. Understanding the imaging findings and proper measurement techniques allow the radiologist to suggest the most appropriate next management step.

2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 75-84
Author(s):  
Venkata Vijaya K. Dalai ◽  
Jason E. Childress ◽  
Paul E Schulz

Dementia is a major public health concern that afflicts an estimated 24.3 million people worldwide. Great strides are being made in order to better diagnose, prevent, and treat these disorders. Dementia is associated with multiple complications, some of which can be life-threatening, such as dysphagia. There is great variability between dementias in terms of when dysphagia and other swallowing disorders occur. In order to prepare the reader for the other articles in this publication discussing swallowing issues in depth, the authors of this article will provide a brief overview of the prevalence, risk factors, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, current treatment options, and implications for eating for the common forms of neurodegenerative dementias.


2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-15
Author(s):  
Kenneth V Iserson ◽  
Sri Devi Jagjit ◽  
Balram Doodnauth

Acute thoracic aortic dissection is an uncommon, although not rare, life-threatening condition. With protean signs and symptoms that often suggest more common cardiac or pulmonary conditions, it can be difficult to diagnose. Ultrasound has proven useful in making the correct diagnosis. This case demonstrates that training gained using standard ultrasound machines can be easily and successfully adapted to newer handheld ultrasound devices. The examination technique using the handheld device is illustrated with photos and a video.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Narendra Pandit ◽  
Abhijeet Kumar ◽  
Tek Narayan Yadav ◽  
Qamar Alam Irfan ◽  
Sujan Gautam ◽  
...  

Abstract Gastric volvulus is a rare abnormal rotation of the stomach along its axis. It is a surgical emergency, hence requires prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent life-threatening gangrenous changes. Hence, a high index of suspicion is required in any patients presenting with an acute abdomen in emergency. The entity can present acutely with pain abdomen and vomiting, or as chronic with non-specific symptoms. Chest X-ray findings to diagnose it may be overlooked in patients with acute abdomen. Here, we report three patients with gastric volvulus, where the diagnosis was based on the chest X-ray findings, confirmed with computed tomography, and managed successfully with surgery.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. e242158
Author(s):  
Camille Plourde ◽  
Émilie Comeau

A woman presented to our hospital with acute abdominal pain 7 months following an oesophagectomy. A chest X-ray revealed a new elevation of the left diaphragm. CT demonstrated a large left diaphragmatic hernia incarcerated with non-enhancing transverse colon and loops of small bowel. She deteriorated rapidly into obstructive shock and was urgently brought to the operating room for a laparotomy. The diaphragmatic orifice was identified in a left parahiatal position, consistent with a parahiatal hernia. Incarcerated necrotic transverse colon and ischaemic loops of small bowel were resected, and the diaphragmatic defect was closed primarily. Because of haemodynamic instability, the abdomen was temporarily closed, and a second look was performed 24 hours later, allowing anastomosis and definitive closure. Parahiatal hernias are rare complications following surgical procedures and can lead to devastating life-threatening complications, such as an obstructive shock. Expeditious diagnosis and management are required in the acute setting.


2010 ◽  
Vol 92 (5) ◽  
pp. e53-e54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Somprakas Basu ◽  
Shilpi Bhadani ◽  
Vijay K Shukla

Bilothorax is a rare complication of biliary peritonitis and, if not treated promptly, can be life-threatening. We report a case of a middle-aged woman who had undergone a bilio-enteric bypass and subsequently a biliary leak developed, which finally led to intra-abdominal biliary collection and spontaneous bilothorax. The clinical course was rapid and mimicked venous thromboembolism, myocardial infarction and pulmonary oedema, which led to a delay in diagnosis and management and finally death. We high-light the fact that bilothorax, although a rare complication of biliary surgery, should always be considered as a probable cause of massive effusion and sudden-onset respiratory and cardiovascular collapse in the postoperative period. A chest X-ray and a diagnostic pleural tap can confirm the diagnosis. Once detected, an aggressive management should be instituted to prevent organ failure and death.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (19) ◽  
pp. 5792
Author(s):  
Tiantian Tan ◽  
Jie Li ◽  
Ruhua Luo ◽  
Rongrong Wang ◽  
Liyan Yin ◽  
...  

Malignant tumors are life-threatening, and chemotherapy is one of the common treatment methods. However, there are often many factors that contribute to the failure of chemotherapy. The multidrug resistance of cancer cells during chemotherapy has been reported, since tumor cells’ sensitivity decreases over time. To overcome these problems, extensive studies have been conducted to reverse drug resistance in tumor cells. Elemene, an extract of the natural drug Curcuma wenyujin, has been found to reverse drug resistance and sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy. Mechanisms by which elemene reverses tumor resistance include inhibiting the efflux of ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1(ABCB1) transporter, reducing the transmission of exosomes, inducing apoptosis and autophagy, regulating the expression of key genes and proteins in various signaling pathways, blocking the cell cycle, inhibiting stemness, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and so on. In this paper, the mechanisms of elemene’s reversal of drug resistance are comprehensively reviewed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-47
Author(s):  
Ram Kishor Shah ◽  
RK Jaiswal ◽  
DP Pokharel

Pericardial cyst is the result of an outpuching of the parietal pericardium that is lined by mesothelial cells. They represent 6% of mediastinal masses, and 33% of mediastinal cysts. Other cysts in the mediastinum are brochogenic-34%, enteric-12%, thymic and others-21%. A 19 year old man admitted with exertional breathlessness and a typical chest pain. The result of physical examination was within normal linits. Resting 12-lead electrocardiography shows T inversion in lead 1, AVL, V5 and V6. A posteroanterior chest radiograph revealed a cystic mass in the mediastinum. Transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography confirmed the presence of a large fluid filled cyst within the pericardial space. Contrast CT imaging revealed a giant pericardial cyst (10x10x12cm) in left cardiophrenic angle, later confirmed intraoperatively and by histopathology. Pericardial cysts occur at the rate of 1 person per 100,000. Seventy five percent of them have no associated symptoms, and are usually found incidentally during routine chest x-ray or echocardiography. Cardiac tamponade, obstruction of right main stem bronchus, and sudden death are the life threatening emergencies that have been reported. The management of pericardial cysts includes observation, percutaneous drain-age, and resection.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 56-59
Author(s):  
Fahisham Taib ◽  
Laila Ab Mukmin

Continuous ketamine infusion has been used successfully to treat severe refractory bronchospasm in children requiring mechanical ventilation in the intensive care setting. One of the common side effects known is emergence delirium. There is no standardized treatment for the ketamine-induced emergence delirium although benzodiazepine, haloperidol and dexmedetomidine have been reported to be effective in the past. A 7-year-old girl admitted to a tertiary hospital for life-threatening asthma requiring immediate intubation and ventilation. Ketamine was used as sedative and bronchodilator in anticipation of her challenging ventilation strategy. She was successfully extubated on day 8 of admission, however, she developed symptoms associated with the delirium. Successful reversal of the symptoms was achieved after 48-hour use of low dose intravenous midazolam. This was the first case reported on the reversal of ketamine-induced emergence phenomenon using low dose intravenous midazolam infusion.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 3792
Author(s):  
Alaa Sedik ◽  
Meriem Touheria ◽  
Ahmed Fathi ◽  
Uzair Ilyas ◽  
Ahmed Wahdan ◽  
...  

Pancreatic pseudocyst is one of the common complications of both acute and chronic pancreatitis. While most pseudocysts resolve spontaneously with conservative treatment, larger pseudocysts are more likely to cause complications, such as, spontaneous rupture into the gastrointestinal tract and are usually associated with life-threatening bleeding, which is life threatening complication. Endoscopic or surgical drainage may be necessary for uncomplicated persistent large cysts. We present a case of 32 year old Indian male, admitted to our department, who was a known case of alcoholic acute pancreatitis treated conservatively and developed massive upper GI bleeding and shock. CT angiography and upper GI endoscopy failed so he was taken to theatre several time due to bleeding, recurrent bleeding and a major bile leak. Unfortunately, he was expired. Current study highlights this serious rare life-threatening complication.


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