Morphometric Study of Inferior Thyroid Artery In Cadavers.

Background: Thyroid gland is one of the vital organs in neck region. It is highly vascularized and variations of the thyroid arteries are frequent and have been well documented in literature. This fact increases the significance of being cautious about thyroid gland while performing surgery in neck region. Objective: To study the morphological anatomy of Inferior thyroid artery and to report the origin of the Inferior thyroid artery, to measure the length of the Inferior thyroid artery from its origin to its entry into the gland, to measure the distance from the midline of the neck to the entry of the Inferior thyroid artery into the thyroid gland and to trace its branches. Method: A total of fifty human cadavers were dissected at anatomy department dissection hall of MGM Medical College, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra and the measurements were taken as per objective of the study. Results: Inferior thyroid artery originated from the thyrocervical trunk in all cases on the left side. On right side in 48 out of 50 cadavers, it originated from thyrocervical trunk (96%) and in rest two cases it originated from the subclavian artery (4%). Statistically significant variation (p<0.001) of mean length of inferior thyroid artery between the right and left side of cadaver was found, indicating mean length was more on left side. Statistically significant variation (p<0.001) of mean distance from midline to entry of inferior thyroid artery into gland between the right and left side of cadaver was found signifying mean distance from midline was more on the right when compared to the left side. Conclusions: Variations of inferior thyroid arteries are well documented in literature. To keep morbidity to minimum, surgeons should have extensive knowledge of the topographic anatomy and its variations.

Audit of radiation dose to patients during coronary angiography.

BACKGROUND: There is widespread concern about radiation doses imparted to patients during cardiology procedures in the medical community. The current study intends to audit and optimize radiation dose to patients undergoing coronary angiography (CA) performed using two dedicated cardiovascular machines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and forty nine patients who underwent CA are reported in this study. Dose auditing was done by implementing dose reduction strategies using spectral filters and by evaluating work practices of operators involved in performing CA. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: A Student's 't' test was used to analyze the statistical significance. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The radiation dose imparted to patients was measured using dose area product (DAP) meter. The mean DAP values during CA before optimization was 55.86 Gy cm2 and after optimization was 27.71 Gy cm2. No ill-effects of radiation were reported for patients who underwent CA. Use of copper filtration may be recommended for procedures performed using cardiovascular machines.

Evaluation of radiation dose to patients during abdominal embolizations.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal embolization procedures performed using digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is on the increase in the present-day scenario owing to their diagnostic and therapeutic values. These procedures involve prolonged fluoroscopy times and may tend to impart high radiation dose to patients if adequate radiation safety measures are not taken. AIM: To evaluate radiation dose imparted to patients and the work practices involved therein during abdominal embolization procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two patients who underwent abdominal embolizations performed using DSA equipment were included in the study. Dose area product (DAP) was measured using DAP meter and values obtained were used for calculating entrance surface dose (ESD). Work practices of personnel involved in conducting the procedure were evaluated based on the choice of field sizes, selection of appropriate fluoro-modes, and optimization techniques. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The mean ESD values during hepatic embolization, renal embolization, splenic artery embolization and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) were 1.2, 1.01, 1.19, and 1.03, respectively. No deterministic effects of radiation, such as transient or main erythema, were noticed for a few patients whose doses exceeded the threshold doses.