A Series of 15 Patients with Extracranial Carotid Artery Aneurysms: Surgical and Endovascular Treatment

AbstractObjectivesThis is a retrospective review of 15 patients with primary and secondary aneurysms of extracranial carotid arteries treated surgically and endoluminally over 20 years in one centre.Patients and methodsFifteen aneurysms of extracranial carotid arteries were noticed in the same number of patients: five atherosclerotic, two after previous carotid surgery, six post-traumatic, one inflammatory, one of unknown etiology. All of them were symptomatic.ResultsIn the group treated surgically some complications occurred in the perioperative time: one haematoma, two transient neurological deficits, one fatal stroke. In the endovascular group of patients no complications occurred after the treatment. One fatal stroke occurred during operation—the patient died on the 43rd postoperative day due to respiratory insufficiency. Two other deaths occurred during the follow-up: one caused by myocardial infarction 10 years after the aneurysm resection, and the second due to a fatal stroke 3 years after aneurysmorraphy. One patient refused treatment and died 9 months after being diagnosed.ConclusionNeurological deficits in patients after neck injuries should arouse the suspicion of the presence of a carotid artery aneurysm. Open repair remains the method of choice in treating carotid artery aneurysms but endovascular procedures create the possibility of treating extracranial aneurysms in selected cases when open surgery is not recommended

Zastosowanie termowizji aktywnej do badań nieniszczących obiektów zabytkowych

The paper pertains to the problem of historic building envelope investigation with the use of active thermography. Mainly emphasized is its application in the detection of different material inclusions in historic walls. Examples of active thermography in the reflective mode application and a description of the experimental investigation has been shown on a wall model with the inclusion of materials with significantly different thermal conductivity and heat capacity, i.e. styrofoam, steel and granite. Thermograms received for every kind of envelope are compared and analyzed. Finally, the summary and conclusion is shown along with the prospects of development and practical application of this kind of investigation in historic construction.Artykuł porusza zagadnienie wykorzystania termografii aktywnej w nieniszczących badaniach przegród budowlanych w obiektach zabytkowych. Opisane zostały potencjalne możliwości stosowania badań, takie jak: lokalizacja rodzaju zbrojenia w elementach żelbetowych, detekcja pustek powietrznych i przemurowań w przegrodach, określanie rodzaju struktury materiałowej zabytkowej przegrody lub identyfikacja ukrytych pod warstwą tynku lub farby malowideł ściennych. W pracy opisano przebieg doświadczenia z wykorzystaniem termografii aktywnej w trybie odbiciowym. W badanych modelach przegród, wewnętrzne wtrącenia materiałowe zostały wykonane ze styropianu XPS, stali oraz granitu. Otrzymane wyniki opisano za pomocą kontrastów temperaturowych (absolutny i standardowy) oraz zinterptretowano otrzymane termogramy. W podsumowaniu przedstawiono wnioski z przeprowadzonego doświadczenia. W artykule potwierdzono przydatność nieniszczących badań za pomocą termowizji aktywnej do detekcji przypowierzchniowych wtrąceń materiałowych

Effect of short-term rapid ventricular pacing followed by pacing interruption on arterial blood pressure in healthy pigs and pigs with tachycardiomyopathy

Ventricular tachycardia may lead to haemodynamic deterioration and, in the case of long term persistence, is associated with the development of tachycardiomyopathy. The effect of ventricular tachycardia on haemodynamics in individuals with tachycardiomyopathy, but being in sinus rhythm has not been studied. Rapid ventricular pacing is a model of ventricular tachycardia. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of rapid ventricular pacing on blood pressure in healthy animals and those with tachycardiomyopathy. A total of 66 animals were studied: 32 in the control group and 34 in the study group. The results of two groups of examinations were compared: the first performed in healthy animals (133 examinations) and the second performed in animals paced for at least one month (77 examinations). Blood pressure measurements were taken during chronic pacing - 20 min after onset of general anaesthesia, in baseline conditions (20 min after pacing cessation or 20 min after onset of general anaesthesia in healthy animals) and immediately after short-term rapid pacing. In baseline conditions significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure was found in healthy animals than in those with tachycardiomyopathy. During an event of rapid ventricular pacing, a significant decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure was found in both groups of animals. In the group of chronically paced animals the blood pressure was lower just after restarting ventricular pacing than during chronic pacing. Cardiovascular adaptation to ventricular tachycardia develops with the length of its duration. Relapse of ventricular tachycardia leads to a blood pressure decrease more pronounced than during chronic ventricular pacing