ABSTRACT
Pulmonary embolism (PE) refers to the endogenous or exogenous emboli blocking pulmonary trunk or branches, causing clinical and pathophysiological syndrome of pulmonary circulation disorder, the incidence rate is high. Sometimes PE patients were lack of specific symptoms and signs, or without any symptoms, which often result in misdiagnosis, un-timely diagnosis, and the delay of treatment. A PE case with syncope, vomiting and shock, which was proved to be pulmonary artery trunk and branch wide embolism later, was presented so as to improve the understanding of the disease.
ABSTRACT
Objective To detect fat emboli in cardiac chamber of the patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty(TKA) by transesophageal echocardiography(TEE), and to discuss the relevant clinical value.Methods Eleven female patients with 12 osteoarthritis(OA) knees were underwent TKA. According to whether using tourniquet or not,12 knees were divided into 2 groups at random:tourniquet-related group (6 knees) and control group(6 knees). Echo intensity and ultrasonic characteristics of fat emboli in cardiac chamber were studied dynamically by multiplane TEE in various periods of the whole operation. Results All of the patients were implanted knee prostheses successfully. In different periods of TKA, fat emboli appeared as isoechoic or hyperechoic particles, which were found in right atrium, but nothing could be found in left heart. The imaging of the particles was flowing with duration time of 10～600s, like dots, lines, "moving star" or "shower". While femur expanding(0～3mins),the particles in right atrium and ventricle became more and more, and the echo intensity became significantly higher than those in other periods. After releasing tourniquet(0～5mins),most particles with highest echo intensity were observed in right heart,showing like "snowstorm" in tourniquet-related group, and more emboli were still detected at the end of monitoring (10 min after releasing tourniquet) by TEE,compared to the control group. No patient suffered from fat embolism syndrome(FES) with clinical manifestation. Conclusions Fat emboli in cardiac chamber can be observed sensitively by real-time TEE dynamically during TKA. It should be encouraged and promoted to analyze ultrasonic characteristics to facilitate the early detection, early diagnosis and early clinical intervention for the subclinical type of FES.
ABSTRACT
Objective To summarize the sonographic characteristics of parathyroid adenomas(PAs) and investigate the diagnostic values and best diagnostic thinking for an early detection. Methods Sixteen cases finally proved with PAs were retrospectively analyzed of their clinical complaints, the department for their initial consultation,indicative ultrasound findings for neck scanning, major manifestations of PAs on a series of three-mode ultrasound imagings,association of adenoma sizes to serum parathyroid hormone(PTH) levels. Results On multimode ultrasound images, the PAs were multidisciplinary morphologic, homogenously hypoeehoic,absent of calculus and necrosis,highly vascularized with color signals,and similar to thyroid in contrast agents perfusion. Serum PTH levels were elevated in accordance with increase of adenomas' size. Among the 16 cases 12 were defined as with parathyroid incidentalomas, to which liver or/ and kidney stones were contributed as indicatives. Conclusions High frequency ultrasound with multiple imaging modes are most suitable for scanning and detection of neck PAs. For those with stones in liver and urinary tracts, unknown bone fracture etc, ultrasound scanning of the neck parathyroids used to reveal latent PAs.