ABSTRACT
Background:Hypertension has direct effect on abdominal aortic diameter. Some of its manifestations are aortic aneurysm and dissection. Aims: To compare the AAD among adult normotensive and hypertensive subjects as well as correlating with age, sex and blood pressure. Materials and Methods: Participants will be randomly selected from hypertensives attending Cardiology Clinic, in University of Nigeria teaching hospital (UNTH) Enugu,Nigeria. Controls will be apparently healthy normotensive volunteers. Participants’ demographics, weight, height and blood pressure will be documented. Ultrasound measurements of infrarenal AAD will be taken at 2 cm below the origin of the superior mesenteric artery. Data will be statistically analyzed and a p-value of ≤ 0.05 will be considered significant. Results:300 participants: comprising of 150 normotensives and 150 hypertensives were studied. The mean values for AAD in normotensive males and females were 16.66 ± 2.04 mm and 15.36 ± 1.97 mm respectively. Whereas the values for hypertensives, changed to 18.89 ± 2.64 mm and 16.57 ± 2.54 mm respectively. The AAD showed a positive correlation with systolic blood pressure (r2= 0.317, P ≤ 0.001) but not with diastolic blood pressure. Conclusion: Abdominal aortic diameter was significantly larger among hypertensives than normotensives. The diameter increased with age in both normotensive and hypertensive subjects
ABSTRACT
Background: The study was designed to find out the radiation protection practices of radiologists and other staff involved in the first extra-corporeal shock wave lithotripsy in Nigeria, performed at Igbinedion Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Okada. Methodology: Some members of staff who were present when the extra-corporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) was used in the hospital at Okada were interviewed between November 2002 and August 2003. Radiology records of the hospital were studied. Literature search involved available publication on the procedure in local and international journals with interest in precautions to reducing radiation exposure. Results: Only lead apron and lead gloves were used by the radiologists for radiation protection and shielding during fluoroscopy procedures. The fluoroscopy was the screen type with TV monitor. Multiple sessions were used in several patients with multiple pre- and post- treatment radiographic studies including contrast studies with average of two sessions per patient. All the patients were adults aged between 26 and 65 years with mean age of 42.5 years. 627-6000 shock waves were delivered over 45-135 minutes at intensity of 143-19KV depending on patients build and the size of the stones. The sizes of the patients varied from very obese with large bulk to slim built. Radiation monitoring of the staff and patients was not done. Staff believed that radiation effect from the lithotripsy procedure was low therefore adequate radiation monitoring and radiation reducing alteration in the procedure was rarely adopted. Conclusion: Extended fluoroscopy time, multiple fluoroscopy examinations, multiple treatment sessions and multiple x-ray examinations which increased both the patients/' and staff/'s radiation exposures were noted. Proper radiation protection and monitoring of patients and staff are necessary to avoid the risks from low-level exposure to radiation such as in ESWL