Biomedical subjects

B Baslo

Publications and source records attributed to B Baslo.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Spinal accessory nerve function after neck dissections.

The aim of this study was to evaluate spinal accessory nerve function after functional neck dissection (FND) and radical neck dissection (RND) by monitoring the nerve with electromyographic (EMG) examinations. A prospective, double-blind, clinical study was undertaken in 21 patients (42 neck side dissections) operated on for head and neck malignant diseases, separated into two groups: 10 neck sides in the RND group and 32 neck sides in the FND group. Electromyographic examinations were performed pre-operatively and post-operatively in the third week and third and ninth months. Additionally, a questionnaire, modified from the neck dissection impairment index, was applied to all the patients in order to assess shoulder function in the ninth post-operative month. All patients had maximum EMG scores pre-operatively. Following the operation, motor amplitudes decreased in both groups. At the third post-operative month, amplitudes decreased to their lowest values. As expected, the decreases in amplitude and EMG score were more prominent in the RND group. Following reinnervation, the amplitudes of the trapezius motor response increased in the FND group but never reached pre-operative values (during the time of follow up). The FND group scores for pain, neck and shoulder stiffness, and disability in heavy object lifting, light object lifting and reaching overhead were significantly lower than those of the RND group. In FND, one aims to preserve anatomically the spinal accessory nerve, and it is presumed to be intact after the procedure. However, using EMG nerve function monitoring, our study revealed that profound spinal nerve injury was detected immediately after FND surgery, which tended to improve over subsequent months but had not regained its original function by the end of the ninth post-operative month.

Accessory Nerve Injuries↗

PubMed2004

Electromyographic studies on the external anal sphincter in children with operated anorectal malformations.

Fecal incontinence is a common problem after surgical repair in patients with anorectal malformations. A normally functioning external anal sphincter (EAS) mechanism is a major factor for continence. The aim of this study was to assess the function of the EAS in children with operated anorectal malformations by electromyography (EMG) and to refine the sphincter function further. The study group consisted of 8 patients with incontinence problems who were operated for anorectal malformations. The electrical activity of EAS was evaluated by EMG using concentric needle electrodes in all subjects. The presence, localization, integrity and activity of the sphincter were assessed. Seven of 8 patients showed electrical activity of the EAS. Sphincter localization was found to be appropriate in six children. Five children showed a well preserved sphincter integrity and 2 of them disclosed normal EMG activity. In cases of localization or integrity abnormalities, secondary corrective surgery was planned, while in patients showing only abnormal EMG activity, biofeedback treatment was given. In cases of fecal incontinence in patients with operated anorectal malformations, electromyographic study shows the type of sphincter abnormality and further helps to make a decision whether to improve the EAS function with conservative treatment or surgically.

Anal Canal↗

PubMed2001

Analysis of gastrocnemius compound muscle action potential in rat after death: significance for the estimation of early postmortem interval.

The estimation of postmortem interval is of great importance in forensic medicine. Changes in the properties of excitable tissue provide another possible means by which the time of death can be estimated. This paper reports the monitorization of the compound action potentials recorded from gastrocnemius muscle by means of sciatic nerve stimulation in rats before and after death. The sciatic nerve was stimulated using rectangular impulses of 0.1ms duration and intensities ranged between 1 and 100mA while the rat was alive. Subsequently, the rat was killed by cervical dislocation. The similar measurement procedure was performed at the moment of death and every 5min after sequentially. There was a progressive decline in amplitude values that began 10min after death. The decrease in the amplitude of the compound muscle action potentials (CMAP) was most prominent especially when elicited with lower stimulus intensities. The mean area of the CMAPs also began to decrease beginning from 15min after death. Fifteen minutes after death, the motor latencies began to prolong. Thirty-five minutes after death, the decline in amplitude and area of mean CMAP was most prominent as the mean motor latency. At the 40th minute, most of the CMAPs were unelicitable. During the early postmortem interval, these amplitude, area and motor latency alterations decrease in the amplitude and area, prolongation of motor latency seems to be well correlated with each other and this was statistically significant. These findings are discussed as possible basis of a forensic method for postmortem interval estimation.

Action Potentials↗