New infusion device for use in acquisition of images during endovascular procedures: an experimental model / Novo dispositivo de infusão para a aquisição de imagens durante procedimentos endovasculares: modelo experimental

Abstract Background The contrast power injector (CPI) is the gold standard method for injecting contrast with the pressure and flow needed to generate a satisfactory images during endovascular procedures, but it is an expensive tool, narrowing its wide-scale applications. One alternative is the manual injection (MI) method, but this does not generate the pressure required for adequate visualization of anatomy. It is therefore imperative to create an alternative low-cost method that is capable of producing high quality images. Objectives To compare the injection parameters of a new mechanical device (Hand-Crank) created in a university hospital with the MI method and with the contrast power injector's ideal values. Methods A circulation phantom was constructed to simulate the pressure in the aorto-iliac territory and the injection parameters of the two methods were compared in a laboratory setting. Student's t test and the Mann-Whitney test were used for statistical analysis. Three vascular surgery residents (the authors) performed the injections (each performed 9 tests using conventional manual injection and 9 tests using the Hand-Crank, totaling 54 injections). Results There were statistical differences between the two methods (p<0.05) in total volume injected until maximum pressure was attained, pressure variation, maximum pressure, total injection time, and time to reach the maximum pressure. Conclusions The Hand-Crank can achieve higher maximum pressure, higher average flow, and lower injection time than the manual method. It is a simple, low-cost, and effective tool for enhancing injection parameters in an experimental setup. It could help to produce higher quality images in a clinical scenario.

Resumo Contexto A bomba injetora é o método padrão-ouro para a injeção de contraste em aortografias. Entretanto, é uma ferramenta de alto custo, o que limita o seu uso. A injeção manual surge como alternativa, mas a pressão gerada com esse método é baixa, e, por isso, a qualidade das imagens não é usualmente satisfatória. Assim, a criação de um método de baixo custo capaz de gerar imagens de qualidade é imperativo. Objetivos Comparar os parâmetros de injeção de um novo dispositivo mecânico (manivela articulada) criado em um hospital universitário com os parâmetros da injeção manual e com os valores ideais da bomba injetora. Métodos Um simulador do território aórtico foi construído, e parâmetros de injeção entre os diferentes métodos em um cenário laboratorial controlado foram analisados. O teste t de Student e o teste de Mann-Whitney foram usados para análise estatística. Três residentes de Cirurgia Vascular realizaram os testes (nove usando o novo dispositivo, e nove usando a injeção manual, totalizando 54 injeções). Resultados Houve diferença estatisticamente significativa (p < 0,05) entre os dois métodos, considerando os parâmetros: variação de pressão, pressão máxima, tempo de injeção, tempo até a pressão máxima e volume até a pressão máxima. Conclusões A manivela articulada atingiu níveis superiores de pressão e de velocidade de injeção, com menor tempo de injeção do que a injeção manual. É um dispositivo simples, de baixo custo e com resultados comparáveis à bomba injetora, o que sugere seu uso potencial na geração de imagens satisfatórias em aortografias.

Complicações de autoinjeção de agentes químicos para aumento muscular / Complications in self-injection of chemicals to increase muscle

O número de frequentadores de academia que utilizam injeções de substâncias oleosas para aumentar o volume muscular artificialmente, buscando, com essa prática, uma melhora cosmética dos músculos que não responderiam aos treinamentos, vem aumentando. Apesar dos efeitos imediatos e dos bons resultados estéticos como aumento de volume ou modificação do contorno de várias áreas do corpo, a infiltração de óleo pode levar a diversas complicações a curto e longo prazo, que muitas vezes são irreversíveis. A conscientização e atuação das entidades de classes médicas e sanitárias tornam-se fundamentais na profilaxia e controle deste problema. Neste artigo revisamos as complicações e ainda relatamos o caso de um paciente com complicações locais importantes secundárias a injeção de óleo.

The number of gym goers who self-inject oily substances to increase muscle volume artificially and thereby improve the aesthetic appearance of their muscles that are unresponsive to training is increasing. Although immediate effects and satisfactory aesthetic results such as increased volume or changes in the contour of several areas of the body might be observed, oil infiltration might cause several short- and long-term complications, which are often irreversible. The awareness and actions of medical and health professional societies are fundamental for the prevention and control of this problem. In this article, possible complications are reviewed, and the case of a patient with severe local complications caused by oil injection is reported.

Descemet's tear due to injector cartridge tip deformity.

Foldable intraocular lens (IOL) implantation using an injector system through 2.8-mm clear corneal incision following phacoemulsification provides excellent speedy postoperative recovery. In our reported case, a Sensar AR40e IOL (Abbott Medical Optics, USA) was loaded into Emerald C cartridge, outside the view of the operating microscope, by the first assistant. The surgeon proceeded with the IOL injection through a 2.8-mm clear corneal incision after uneventful phacoemulsification, immediately following which he noted a Descemet's tear with a rolled out flap of about 2 mm near the incision site. Gross downward beaking of the bevelled anterior end of the cartridge was subsequently noticed upon examination under the microscope. We suggest careful preoperative microscopic inspection of all instruments and devices entering the patient's eyes to ensure maximum safety to the patient.

Alternative technique for reducing compound waste during intravitreal injections / Técnica alternativa para reduzir a perda de medicação durante injeção intravítrea

PURPOSE: To describe an intravitreal injection technique using a commercially available 29-gauge insulin needle syringe (29GN syringe) and a 21-gauge (G) needle, comparing compound waste associated with this technique application and the one described in ranibizumab (Lucentis®) kit instructions. METHODS: Ten 0.3 ml doses of distilled water were aspirated using the 29GN syringe and 21G needle (PT technique), and another ten equal doses were aspirated employing the sterilized Lucentis® kit (LK technique), which contains a 1ml tuberculin syringe, a 18G needle for compound aspiration and a 30G needle for intravitreal injection. For aspiration using the PT technique, a 21G needle is attached over a 29GN syringe. After compound aspiration, the 21G needle is removed and intravitreal injection is performed using the 29G needle. Using a precision balance, the aspiration needles (21G for PT; 18G for LK) were weighed before and after water aspiration and the syringe-needle complexes for injection (29GN for PT; 30G for LK) were weighed before aspiration and after emptying them. The volumes left in the aspiration needles and needle-syringe complexes were estimated by the difference in weight in grams, which were converted to millilitres. RESULTS: The mean (±SD) residual volume (ml) of aspiration needles (21G for PT; 18G for LK) was significantly lower with PT technique (0.0034 ± 0.0016) when compared to LK tech nique (0.0579 ± 0.0011) (p<0.01). The mean (±SD) residual volume (ml) of syringe-needle complexes was significantly lower with PT technique (0.0056 ± 0.0011) than with LK (0.0906 ± 0.003 ml) (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The proposed technique is a reasonable alternative for minimizing medication loss during intravitreal injection procedures.

OBJETIVO: Descrever técnica de injeção intravítrea utilizando agulha-seringa de 29 gauge (seringa 29GN) e agulha 21 gauge (G) comercialmente disponíveis, comparando perda de composto associada à aplicação desta técnica com a descrita nas instruções do kit do ranibizumabe (Lucentis®). MÉTODOS: Dez doses de 0,3 ml de água destilada foram aspiradas com a seringa 29GN e a agulha 21G (técnica PT) e outras dez doses iguais foram aspiradas utilizando-se o kit do Lucentis® (técnica LK). Para aspiração com a técnica PT, a agulha 21G é colocada sobre a seringa 29GN. Depois da aspiração, a agulha 21G é removida e a injeção intravítrea é realizada com a agulha 29G. A técnica LK utiliza seringa de tuberculina de 1 ml acoplada a agulha 18G para aspiração e agulha 30G para injeção intravítrea. Usando balança de precisão, as agulhas de aspiração (21G para PT; 18G para LK) foram pesadas antes e depois da aspiração da água e os complexos agulha-seringa para injeção (29GN para PT; 30G para LK) foram pesados antes da aspiração e após serem esvaziados. Os volumes restantes nas agulhas de aspiração e complexos agulha-seringa foram estimados pela diferença dos pesos em gramas com conversão para mililitros. RESULTADOS: O volume (ml) residual médio (±DP) das agulhas de aspiração (21G para PT; 18G para LK) foi significativamente menor com a técnica PT (0,0034 ± 0,0016) quando comparado à técnica LK (0,0579 ± 0,0011) (p<0,01). O volume (ml) residual médio (±DP) dos complexos agulha-seringa foi significativamente menor com a técnica PT (0,0056 ± 0,0011) do que LK (0,0906 ± 0,003 ml) (p<0,01). CONCLUSÃO: A técnica de injeção proposta é uma alternativa razoável para minimizar perda de medicação durante aplicação de injeções intravítreas.

Comparison of the pain levels of computer-controlled and conventional anesthesia techniques in prosthodontic treatment

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the pain levels on opposite sides of the maxilla at needle insertion during delivery of local anesthetic solution and tooth preparation for both conventional and anterior middle superior alveolar (AMSA) technique with the Wand computer-controlled local anesthesia application. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Pain scores of 16 patients were evaluated with a 5-point verbal rating scale (VRS) and data were analyzed nonparametrically. Pain differences at needle insertion, during delivery of local anesthetic, and at tooth preparation, for conventional versus the Wand technique, were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test (p=0.01). RESULTS: The Wand technique had a lower pain level compared to conventional injection for needle insertion (p<0.01). In the anesthetic delivery phase, pain level for the Wand technique was lower (p<0.01). However, there was no difference between the Wand and conventional technique for pain level during tooth preparation (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The AMSA technique using the Wand is recommended for prosthodontic treatment because it reduces pain during needle insertion and during delivery of local anaesthetic. However, these two techniques have the same pain levels for tooth preparation.

Safe and newer injection technologies.

The different technologies available in safe injection practices can be categorised as: (1) Auto disable syringes for immunisation. (2) Prefilled devices. (3) Reuse prevention syringes for curative injections. (4) New safety devices which include safe blood draw and NSI prevention devices. Auto disable syringes are preferred over normal disposable syringes because of its safety and can be used with minimal amount of training. These syringes improved vaccination coverage rates and are being currently introduced in country EPI. Uniject prefill injection device ensures safety by various ways. There are also reuse prevention syringes for curative injections. The new safety devices have also been discussed in a nutshell.

Injection safety for immunisation--Andhra Pradesh experience.

Injection safety is one component of a major immunisation project being implemented in partnership with Government of Andhra Pradesh and PATH, an international NGO. Prior to the project wrong and dangerous injection giving practices were present among the staff which needed immediate attention. It was decided to introduce auto disable syringes along with safety boxes with high quality training to staff and make all these available to all districts along with hepatitis B introduction in the routine immunisation. The State of Andhra Pradesh became the first to implement 'bundling' concept in the immunisation project. Implementation was planned to be done in a phased manner to cover all the 23 districts over a five-year period. For routine immunisation sessions, smaller locally produced boxes may be more acceptable. The Government of India made a decision on 21st July, 2004 on implementing injection safety. Injection safety and proper disposal of used needles and syringes can be successfully advocated if medical associations, paediatric associations, key governmental bodies and international agencies come together. PATH established a group and holds the secretariat for the India injection safety coalition on similar basis as the Safe Injection Global Network of WHO (SIGN). Description of AP system for safe disposal of needles and syringes using manual needle-cutters and plastics recycling has been depicted in this article.

Lawful, non-burn options for injection waste disposal.

The Government of India has decided to introduce auto disable syringes in the entire country for immunisation which means a lot of immunisation injection waste gets generated in the process. There is a need for managing immunisation waste to avoid occupational risk, risk to the public and also the indirect risks via the environment. Treatment technology options for safe management waste at different locations is elaborated in this article.

Comparative study of sealing capabilities and adhesiveness of injectable root canal sealers using pressure syringe technique.

The accuracy with which root canal space is sealed is a major determinant in the Endodontic success. Use of pressure-syringe to introduce root canal sealer in the root canal without gutta percha or silver cone represents a modification to current technique of obturation. This study investigates the sealing capabilities and adhesiveness of various root canal sealers with the use of pressure syringe technique. Apart from eliminating the use of solid core, pressure syringe technique can be used as a new obturation method since it showed better marginal sealability than the conventional technique.

Aceitabilidade e funcionabilidade de uma nova caneta para administraçäo de insulina (humapen): experiência clínica em pacientes brasileiros / Acceptability and functionality of a new pen for insulin administration (Humapen): clinical experience in brazilian patients

A administraçäo de insulina geralmente é realizada com seringa e agulha. Porém, a injeçäo é frequantemente considerada dolorosa e traumática, causando problemas psicossociais em muitos pacientes com diabetes. Reconhece-se que as canetas de injeçäo de insulina säo mais convenientes, causam menos dor à injeçäo e melhoram a qualidade de vida dos pacientes. Este estudo examinou a aceitabilidade funcionalidade de uma nova caneta de administraçäo de insulina reutilizável, Humapen, em 94 pacientes diabéticos tipo 1 e 2 os quais usavam insulina por um tempo mediano de 7,8 anos com 2,7 +/- 3,0 aplicaçöes por dia. Quarenta e dois por cento deles usava outras canetas, e os 58 por cento restantes usava seringas. Os pacietes fizeram uso de Humapen por 8 semanas, mantendo o esquema de insulinizaçäo prévio. Todos os pacientes completaram o estudo...

Técnica de inyección de aceite de silicón en cirugía vitreorretiniana / Silicon-oil injection technique in vetreoretinal surgery

Los autores proponen una técnica para la inyección intraocular de aceite de silicón en cirugía vitreorretiniana basándose en el principio de Pascal de la prensa hidráulica. En la técnica se utiliza una jeringa de 3 ml y un catéter intravenoso de teflón calibre 18. La inyección intraocular del aceite de silicón se realiza vía pars plana durante la cirugía vitreorretiniana. Los autores han realizado esta técnica en 107 casos operados de 1992 a 1997 sin haber tenido complicaciones durante el procedimiento. Se considera una técnica segura en su aplicación, fácil de realizar y de bajo costo

Novo dispositivo para injeçäo de óleo de silicone / New gadget for intravitreous silicone oil injection

Injeçäo intravítrea de óleo de silicone é mais facilmente realizada com uma seringa graduada, originalmente utilizada na prática veterinária

Tratamento näo-cirúrgico das fístulas de ducto mamário / Non-surgical treatment of mamary duct fistula

Pacientes com fístula mamária foram tratadas de modo näo cruento pela injeçäo local de soluçäo a 1:1 de Lugol + polímero ácido metacresolsufônico a 36%, mediante cateterizaçäo do trajeto fistuloso. Foram estudadas 18 pacientes. Expöem-se a técnica utilizada, analisam-se os resultados baseado no seguimento e conclui-se pela validade deste novo método terapêutico