Promoting Academic Integrity in Health Occupations Education

This article reviews the concept of academic integrity and its promotion by health occupations education faculty. Academic integrity is the use of a student’s own work only; thus, an absence of any form of cheating or plagiarism is assumed. Since a lack of academic integrity can translate into later unethical behaviors by students in clinical settings, health occupations teachers have an obligation to promote academic integrity and prevent student cheating. In addition to reviewing concepts of academic integrity and plagiarism, this article provides specific recommendations for health occupations education programs

Superselective Intra-Arterial Ethanol Sclerotherapy of Feeding Artery and Nidal Aneurysms in Ruptured Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations

In the endovascular treatment of cerebral arteriovenous malformations, ethanol sclerotherapy is seldom used due to safety concerns. However, when limited reflux of an embolic agent is permissible or when there is a long distance to the target, ethanol may be preferable. We reviewed 10 patients with 14 cerebral AVM feeding artery aneurysms or intranidal aneurysms treated with intra-arterial ethanol sclerotherapy at our institution between 2005 and 2014. All patients presented with acute intracranial hemorrhage. Thirteen of 14 aneurysms were treated primarily with 60%-80% ethanol into the feeding artery. Complete target feeding artery and aneurysm occlusion was seen in all cases; 8/13 (62%) were occluded by using ethanol alone. No retreatments or recurrences were seen. One permanent neurologic deficit (1/13, 7.7%) and no deaths occurred. In a subset of ruptured cerebral AVMs, ethanol sclerotherapy of feeding artery aneurysms and intranidal aneurysms can be performed with a high degree of technical success and a low rate of complication

Association between Venous Angioarchitectural Features of Sporadic Brain Arteriovenous Malformations and Intracranial Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intracranial hemorrhage is the most serious outcome for brain arteriovenous malformations (AVM). This study examines associations between venous characteristics of these lesions and intracranial hemorrhage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Statistical analysis was performed on a prospectively maintained database of brain AVMs evaluated at an academic medical center. DSA, CT, and MRI studies were evaluated to classify lesion side, drainage pattern, venous stenosis, number of draining veins, venous ectasia, and venous reflux. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify association of these angiographic features with intracranial hemorrhage of any age at initial presentation. RESULTS: Exclusively deep drainage (OR 3.42, 95% CI 1.87–6.26, p<0.001) and a single draining vein (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.26–3.08, p=0.002) were associated with hemorrhage, whereas venous ectasia (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.34–0.78, p=0.002) was inversely associated with hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: Analysis of venous characteristics of brain AVMs may help determine their prognosis and thereby identify lesions most appropriate for treatment

Endovascular Treatment of Medically Refractory Cerebral Vasospasm Following Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: CV following aneurysmal SAH is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. We review our experiences using PTA and IA verapamil infusion for treating medically refractory cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of patients with SAH admitted from July 2003 to January 2008. RESULTS: Of 546 patients admitted within 72 hours of symptom onset, 231 patients (42%) developed symptomatic CV and 189 patients (35%) required endovascular therapy. A total of 346 endovascular sessions were performed consisting of 1 single angioplasty, 286 IA verapamil infusions, and 59 combined treatments. PTA was performed on 151 vessel segments, and IA verapamil was infused in 720 vessel segments. IA verapamil doses ranged from 2.0 to 30.0 mg per vessel segment and from 3.0 to 55.0 mg per treatment session. Repeat treatments were necessary in 102 patients (54%) for persistent, recurrent, or worsening CV. There were 6 treatment-related complications, of which 2 resulted in clinical worsening. No deaths were attributable to endovascular therapy. At follow-up, 115 patients (61%) had a good outcome and 55 patients (29%) had a poor outcome. Sixteen patients died from causes related to SAH, while 3 died from other medical complications. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular treatments are an integral part of managing patients with medically refractory CV. In our experience, PTA and IA verapamil are safe, with a low complication rate, but further studies are required to determine appropriate patient selection and treatment efficacy