Technique of endovascular rheolytic thrombectomy using AngioJet for treatment of acute pulmonary embolism

We present a technique of endovascular rheolytic thrombectomy using the AngioJet system for the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism. We describe the procedure in detail, suggesting the optimal catheter, wires and potential complications during the procedure. Recent advances in endovascular techniques, such as aspiration thrombectomy, endovascular thrombus fragmentation devices and rheolytic or rotational thrombectomy, suggest that the endovascular approach can represent an alternative for pharmacological thrombolysis and surgical embolectomy

Study on Geometry, Dimensional Accuracy and Structure of Parts Produced by Multi Jet Fusion

Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) is one of the newest additive manufacturing technologies for polymer powders, introduced in recent years. This fully industrial technology is gaining big interest as it allows fast, layer-by-layer, printing process, short production cycle, and very high printing resolution. In this paper, twelve thin-walled, spherical PA12 prints were studied in terms of geometry, dimensional accuracy, and fracture surface characteristics. The various characteristic features for MJF prints were observed here for parts produced according to four various print orientations and having different thicknesses, i.e., 1, 2 or 3 mm. The study showed that MJF technology can print such difficult shapes. However, the set of parameters allowing producing parts with highest geometrical and dimensional accuracy causes at the same time some microstructural issues, like great interlayer porosity or high number of non-processed powder particles embedded in the print structure

Combined therapy of patients with uterine sarcomas – evaluation of treatment results and analysis of prognostic factors

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of combined therapy (surgery plus radiotherapy) and reasons of treatment failure in patients with uterine sarcoma. Material and methods: The analyzed clinical material involved 95 patients with uterine sarcoma (US) treated in the Cracow Branch of the Center of Oncology between 1980 and 1999. The studied group consisted of 70 patients with leiomyosarcoma (LS) and 25 patients with endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS). Seventy-three women were diagnosed with stage I and II and 22 with stage III and IVA US. All patients in this group underwent radical hysterectomy with salpingooophorectomy followed by postoperative irradiation consisting of vaginal brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy of the small pelvic area. Results: Out of 95 patients in the tested group, 46 (48.4%) patients survived 5 years with no evidence of disease. In the group of early-stage US there were 60.3% 5-year disease-free survivals. None of 9 patients with stage IVA was cured. In 36 among 47 uncured patients (76.6%) distant metastases was found. Conclusion: Combined surgery plus radiotherapy treatment was effective therapy in patients with early-stage US, nevertheless, it was ineffective in the group with advanced US, as none of the 9 patients with grade IVA was cured. The basic cause of treatment failure in the LS group was the spread of malignancy, whereas in the ESS group – locoregional recurrence.Cel: Celem pracy była ocena skuteczności leczenia skojarzonego (chirurgia + napromienianie) i analiza przyczyn niepowodzenia leczenia chorych na mięsaka macicy. Materiał i metody: Przeprowadzono analizę materiału klinicznego obejmującego 95 chorych na mięsaka macicy (MM) leczonych w Centrum Onkologii, Oddział Kraków w latach 1980-1999. W skład badanej grupy weszło 70 chorych na leiomyosarcoma (LS) oraz 25 chorych na endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS). U 73 pacjentek rozpoznano MM w I i II, a u 22 w III i IVA stopniu zaawansowania. W badanej grupie u wszystkich chorych wykonano zabieg radykalnego usunięcia macicy wraz z przydatkami, a następnie przeprowadzono uzupełniające pooperacyjne napromienianie składające się z brachyterapii dopochwowej i teleradioterapii terenu miednicy mniejszej. Wyniki: Spośród 95 chorych z badanej grupy 5 lat bez objawów nowotworu przeżyło 46, tzn. 48,4% chorych. W grupie osób z niezaawansowanym MM uzyskano 60,3% bezobjawowych przeżyć 5-letnich. Skojarzone leczenie chirurgiczne z pooperacyjnym napromienianiem okazało się nieskuteczne w grupie chorych na zaawansowanego MM – nie wyleczono żadnej spośród 9 chorych w IVA stopniu zaawansowania. U 36 spośród 47 chorych (76,6%) z niewyleczonym procesem nowotworowym stwierdzono przerzuty odległe. Wnioski: Skojarzone leczenie chirurgiczne z pooperacyjnym napromienianiem było skuteczne u chorych na niezaawansowanego MM, natomiast u chorych na zaawansowanego MM skojarzone leczenie okazało się nieskuteczne, ponieważ żadna z 9 chorych na MM w stopniu IVA nie została wyleczona. Głównym powodem niepowodzenia leczenia w grupie chorych na LS były przerzuty odległe, a w grupie chorych na ESS – wznowa lokoregionalna

Early diagnosis and treatment of invasive aspergillosis as a main determinant of outcome – review of literature according to the presented case report

Although Aspergillus spp infection is not the major cause of morbidity in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), mortality among patients treated for it is tremendous. Moreover, invasive aspergillosis (IA) is an independent risk factor of hospital costs and length of stay. The prevalence of this disease is inversely correlated with the immunocompetence of individuals; for instance, the incidence of IA among patients with leukemia is estimated as high as 12.7%. Although there is a significant improvement in the antifungal armamentarium, the appropriate treatment is still being given too late, mostly because of late diagnosis. As well as the diagnosis, the criteria for recognition of IA constitute a challenge. Objective The aim of this review, based on a case report, is to introduce the problem of poor diagnosis and treatment of IA, especially in the critical care settings. The presented scenario is an example which assists in showing the evidence-based medicine (EBM) approach to the treatment of fungal infections. Furthermore, to demonstrate the appropriate approach to diagnosis and treatment of invasive aspergillosis, the guidelines of The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) are presented. Conclusions According to presented literature, Galactomannan assay enables early diagnosis and remains a specific and sensitive tool to diagnose Asppergillosis , both in serum and BAL fluid. The guidelines recommend voriconazole as a first line treatment in IA. Failure to detect and implement proper antifungal treatment may lead to fatal consequences, as in the presented case

Association of Gender, Painkiller Use, and Experienced Pain with Pain-Related Fear and Anxiety among University Students According to the Fear of Pain Questionnaire-9

Anxiety and fear are determinants of acute and chronic pain. Effectively measuring fear associated with pain is critical for identifying individuals’ vulnerable to pain. This study aimed to assess fear of pain among students and evaluate factors associated with pain-related fear. We used the Fear of Pain Questionnaire-9 to measure this fear. We searched for factors associated with fear of pain: gender, size of the city where the subjects lived, subject of academic study, year of study, the greatest extent of experienced pain, frequency of painkiller use, presence of chronic or mental illness, and past hospitalization. We enrolled 717 participants. Median fear of minor pain was 5 (4–7) fear of medical pain 7 (5–9), fear of severe pain 10 (8–12), and overall fear of pain 22 (19–26). Fear of pain was associated with gender, frequency of painkiller use, and previously experienced pain intensity. We found a correlation between the greatest pain the participant can remember and fear of minor pain (r = 0.112), fear of medical pain (r = 0.116), and overall fear of pain (r = 0.133). Participants studying medicine had the lowest fear of minor pain while stomatology students had the lowest fear of medical pain. As students advanced in their studies, their fear of medical pain lowered. Addressing fear of pain according to sex of the patient, frequency of painkiller use, and greatest extent of experienced pain could ameliorate medical training and improve the quality of pain management in patients

The Effectiveness of Transversus Abdominis Plane and Quadratus Lumborum Blocks in Acute Postoperative Pain Following Cesarean Section—A Randomized, Single-Blind, Controlled Trial

Acute pain intensity related to cesarean section (CS) may be extensive and is often underestimated. This may influence mothers’ quality of life and their children’s development. Regional analgesia techniques that include transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) and quadratus lumborum block (QLB) have proven their efficacy in the postoperative period after CS. Although several randomized controlled studies and one meta-analysis have investigated the utility of TAPB and QLB in the reduction of acute and chronic pain after CS, only one study directly compared both types of regional blocks and revealed superiority of QLB over TAPB. Our study aimed to reevaluate the effectiveness of transversus TAPB and QLB in controlling acute postoperative pain after CS. We recruited 197 women with singleton pregnancies undergoing CS under spinal anesthesia. The patients were randomized to receive either TAPB or QLB after CS. The acute postoperative pain was evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) at 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h after the operation. No significant difference in acute postoperative pain intensity between the groups was found. The patients who received TAPB had a higher demand for supplemental morphine injections (p < 0.039). In our study, none of the evaluated regional blocks demonstrated an advantage over the other regarding acute postoperative pain management