An easily applicable alternative method for warming cold limbs in nerve conduction studies.

OBJECTIVE: Warming cold limbs by hot water immersion prior to nerve conduction studies may be cumbersome in certain patients. The aim of the present study is to test whether application of hot packs would be as efficient as hot water immersion. METHODS: Cold limbs of 10 healthy volunteers were warmed: in half of subjects by hot packs and, after cooling down, by hot water immersion; vice versa in the other half. Motor and sensory nerve conduction studies of upper and lower extremities were performed before and after warming with two different methods. RESULTS: There are no relevant differences in temperatures or nerve conduction velocities after warming with either hot packs or water. CONCLUSION: Hot packs are as effective as hot water immersion for warming cold limbs prior to electrodiagnostic testing. Since hot packs are safer, cleaner, and easier to use, we prefer warming by hot packs instead of hot water immersion before performing nerve conduction studies.

Rupture of an intracerebral aneurysm after carotid endarterectomy: a case report.

Coincidental intracerebral aneurysm and internal carotid artery stenosis is a rare combination. This case report describes the development of an intracerebral aneurysm in the presence of an internal carotid artery stenosis in an 58-year old women. Furthermore, the management of intracerebral aneurysm in combination with an internal carotid artery stenosis is discussed as well as the role of potential important hemodynamic factors involved in the development and rupture of these aneurysms.