ABSTRACT
Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SP) unrelated to assisted ventilation is a newly recognised complication of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The objective of the present study was to examine the incidence, risk factors and the outcomes of SP in a cohort of SARS victims from a community outbreak. Data were retrieved from a prospectively collected database of virologically confirmed SARS patients. One hundred and twelve cases were analysable, with 13 patients developing SP (11.6%) at a mean +/- SD of 19.6 +/- 4.6 days from symptom onset. Peak lactate dehydrogenase level was associated with the development of SP. SP was associated with increased intubation and a trend towards death. Drainage was required in five cases. For patients who survived, the SP and/or the associated pneumothoraces took a median of 28 days (interquartile range: 15-45 days) to resolve completely. In conclusion, spontaneous pneumomediastinum appeared to be a frequent complication of severe acute respiratory syndrome. Further research is needed to investigate its pathogenesis.
Subject(s)
Mediastinal Emphysema/etiology , Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/complications , Adult , Female , Hong Kong , Humans , Male , Mediastinal Emphysema/diagnostic imaging , Retrospective Studies , Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/diagnostic imaging , Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/drug therapy , Statistics, Nonparametric , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
The prone table machine is a mammographic X-ray system specially designed for use in the stereotactic localisation of breast abnormality. In this study, its clinical usefulness was investigated in terms of duration, success rate, complications, and patients' acceptance of the procedure. During a 5-month period, 79 patients attended the Kwong Wah Hospital for stereotactic-guided biopsy on the prone table. Eighty-one lesions were assessed-seven by fine needle aspirations, 67 by large-core needle biopsies, and seven by vacuum-assisted biopsies. Most of the biopsies were done because of clustered microcalcifications (77.8%) and the majority were of mammographically indeterminate nature (58.0%). The mean duration of the procedure was 49 minutes. A high degree of acceptance was experienced by patients. Only one patient had persistent haemorrhage after the biopsy. In conclusion, the prone table machine was considered to be useful and efficient, and had a high degree of acceptance among patients.
