Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Radier

Publications and source records attributed to C Radier.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Thirteen-megahertz ultrasound probe: its role in diagnosing localized scleroderma.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound imaging has been shown to be useful for the evaluation of systemic and localized scleroderma (LS). However, its specificity and sensitivity have not been studied. OBJECTIVES: To define morphological ultrasound diagnostic criteria in LS and to test their sensitivity and specificity with a 13-MHz ultrasound probe. METHODS: Forty plaques in 26 consecutive patients with LS were examined and compared blindly with 17 control plaques in 16 patients with skin diseases where LS was in the differential diagnosis. Data were also compared with a normal control group. Five patients were re-evaluated 12-18 months after the first examination. RESULTS: Ultrasound examination disclosed a characteristic dense image resembling a flattened 'yo-yo'. Undulations of the dermis, disorganization, loss of thickness and thickened hyperechoic bands in the hypodermis, and the 'yo-yo' image had a high sensitivity and a high specificity for LS. A 92% sensitivity and a 100% specificity for LS were found when at least four of these five signs were present. CONCLUSIONS: Thirteen-megahertz ultrasound is a valuable tool for diagnosing LS. Morphological ultrasound diagnostic criteria had a high specificity and a high sensitivity.

Adolescent↗

Partial nephrectomy with retroperitoneal laparoscopy.

PURPOSE: Laparoscopy has gradually gained acceptance for a variety of ablative procedures of the retroperitoneal organs, and the indications are being extended to more complex reconstructive and organ preserving procedures. We report our experience with retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial nephrectomy was performed for benign conditions in 6, equivocal solid masses in 4 and indeterminate cysts in 3 patients. If malignancy was suspected, laparoscopic sonography was used to assess the intrarenal anatomy and the mass. To facilitate parenchymal closure during nephron sparing surgery we used a hemostatic biological glue that consisted of gelatin, resorcinol and formaldehyde. RESULTS: Average operating time was 113 minutes and average blood loss was 72 ml. Histological examination revealed malignancy in 1 of the 3 cystic lesions and 2 of the 4 equivocal solid masses. There were 2 postoperative urinomas. CONCLUSIONS: Partial nephrectomy with retroperitoneal laparoscopy is feasible, and has a reasonable operating time and blood loss. Laparoscopic ultrasound was an important decision making aid during surgery. The use of biological glue simplified hemostasis and closure of the collecting system but good quality drainage of the collecting system is still required to decrease the risk of urinoma. The development of surgical tools that allow bloodless and nontraumatic section of the renal parenchyma is required to facilitate laparoscopic nephron sparing surgery. The ultrasonic scalpel needs further evaluation in this setting.

Adolescent↗

[Auxiliary hepatic transplantation in iproniazid-induced subfulminant hepatitis. Should iproniazid still be sold in France?].

We report a new case of subfulminant hepatitis due to iproniazid, a MAO-inhibitor antidepressant, in a 27-year-old man. An auxiliary liver transplantation was performed. Liver function returned to normal and the patient was discharged from the hospital. However, the patient's native liver did not regenerate, and immunosuppressive therapy had to be maintained. Iproniazid hepatotoxicity is characterized by jaundice in 1% of cases, with a fulminant or subfulminant course in 20% of icteric patients. Although iproniazid is no longer sold in most countries, it is still commercialized in France. Because of the frequency and severity of hepatic injury, commercialization of iproniazid in France should no longer be authorized.

Adult↗

Percutaneous aspiration for bacteriological studies in patients with necrotizing pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous computed tomography (CT)-guided aspiration of abdominal collections is performed in necrotizing pancreatitis to detect infection of necrosis, which is an adverse prognostic factor and requires surgical drainage. However, in the case of sterile aspirates, the outcome and the optimum management are subject to debate. This study examined the clinical and bacteriological outcome of patients with severe acute pancreatitis with initially sterile necrosis and assessed the efficiency of percutaneous drainage in this setting. METHODS: Seventeen patients hospitalized for necrotizing pancreatitis with a septic course underwent a preliminary sterile CT-guided aspiration. Eight patients underwent simultaneous percutaneous drainage of the punctured collection. Supportive therapy was continued unless severe clinical deterioration or proven secondary infection of necrosis indicated the need for necrosectomy and drainage. RESULTS: Secondary infection of necrosis was observed in two patients of nine who had only fine-needle aspiration cytology of the collection, and in seven of eight it was drained percutaneously (P = 0.01). Only one patient drained percutaneously recovered without surgery. Surgical drainage was required in 12 patients. The hospital mortality rate was 29 per cent and was not significantly affected by the bacteriological status of necrosis. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous drainage of sterile collections predisposed to secondary infection of the necrosis and did not cure the patients. A first sterile percutaneous aspiration did not predict a favourable course and surgery frequently remains necessary.

Adult↗

Prevention of thrombotic complications of the nephrotic syndrome by the low-molecular-weight heparin enoxaparin.

The nephrotic syndrome (NS) carries one of the highest risks of thrombotic complications. Consequently, over the last 15 years, some nephrologists have treated patients risk (i.e. those with albuminemia < 20 g/l and membranous nephropathy) with anticoagulants: either subcutaneous heparin (Kakkar protocol) or antivitamin K. Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) has a longer plasma half-life and better bioavailability than standard heparin and can thus be administered as a single daily injection. LMWH also carries a lower risk of hemorrhage. We prospectively studied the safety and efficacy of the LMWH Enoxaparin for preventive anticoagulation in NS. In a preliminary study, 10 adult nephrotic patients with biological markers of thrombosis risk (severe hypoalbuminemia and/or anomalies of the fibrinolytic pathway and/or deficiency in coagulation inhibitors) were given 40 mg (4,000 U) of Enoxaparin daily for at least 3 months; 3 patients were treated for 3 months, 1 for 6 months and 6 for 12 months. Patients were assessed for silent thrombosis, using renal vein Doppler ultrasonography, lower leg vein Doppler ultrasonography and lung ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy, before entry to the trial and subsequently at 3-month intervals. As LWMH caused no obvious side effects and no thrombosis was observed during the pilot study, we then placed 55 adult nephrotic patients free of thrombosis on the same treatment. Patients were seen according to the usual calendar required by their individual illnesses. At each examination, patients were assessed for clinical signs and symptoms of thrombosis and side effects; plasma D-dimer and urinary fibrin-fibrinogen degradation products were also measured at each visit.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

MR imaging in acute infectious cellulitis.

PURPOSE: To describe magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings in acute infectious cellulitis and assess its value for the diagnosis of severe necrotizing forms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Spin-echo (SE) T1- and T2-weighted imaging was performed in 36 patients with acute infectious cellulitis. T1-weighted SE images obtained after injection of a paramagnetic contrast agent were also obtained when an abscess was suspected on precontrast images. Sixteen patients underwent surgical débridement, along with fascial and muscle biopsy. RESULTS: Distinct MR imaging features were found in patients with necrotizing soft-tissue infections, that is, hyperintense signal on T2-weighted images at the deep fasciae, poorly defined areas of hyperintense signal on T2-weighted images within muscles, and peripheral enhancement on contrast material-enhanced T1-weighted images. In nonnecrotizing cellulitis, signal intensity abnormalities were seen only in the subcutaneous fat. CONCLUSION: The precise extent of acute cellulitis and the presence of necrotizing soft-tissue infections can be determined with MR imaging, particularly on T2-weighted images.

Abdominal Muscles↗

[A rare cause of portal vein thrombosis: closed abdominal trauma].

Abdominal trauma is a rare and poorly documented cause of portal vein thrombosis. We report here the case of a patient in whom portal vein thrombosis was diagnosed one month after an abdominal blunt trauma. Post-traumatic origin of thrombosis was confirmed by the negativity of an exhaustive aetiological investigation. Thrombosis involved portal bifurcation and right and left portal veins, but remained asymptomatic. A particularity of this case was that a total regression of the thrombosis was observed under anticoagulation therapy.

Abdominal Injuries↗

[Prospective study of echography versus phlebography in the detection of sural venous thrombosis].

Among all noninvasive techniques, high-resolution ultrasonography used alone has rarely been used for the diagnosis of thrombosis in the calf. Nineteen patients with suspected AVT were examined with ultrasonography and phlebography during 4 months. For each patient, a sonogram and a phlebogram were taken within less than 24 hours and interpreted independently. The sonographic exploration with a high-resolution (5 MHz) transducer covers all deep trunks and muscular veins (soleus or gastrocnemius muscles). The positivity criterion is the persistence of a hypoechogenic endoluminal image under moderate compression. According to the phlebographic data, 65% of the patients present with thrombosis. Ultrasonography has a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 99% for the study of the deep trunks. Ultrasonography screens more thromboses than phlebography (23 cases versus 17). On a whole, ultrasonography seems to be more sensitive than phlebography for the diagnosis of recent sural thrombosis.

Acute Disease↗

Tension-free cuff repairs with excision of macroscopic tendon lesions and muscular advancement: results in a prospective series with limited fatty muscular degeneration.

Recurrent tears after rotator cuff repairs are frequent. These could be influenced by excessive tension on a degenerated tendinous stump and by fatty degeneration of the cuff muscles. The goal of this study was to evaluate the anatomic and functional results of tension-free cuff repairs with the excision of macroscopic tendon lesions in a series with limited muscular fatty degeneration of the infraspinatus and a global fatty degeneration index of rotator cuff muscles equal to or lower than 2. We studied 27 tears, comprising 13 cases involving both supraspinatus and infraspinatus tears, 13 cases with 3-tendon tears, and 1 case with only a supraspinatus tear. All shoulders were operated on through a transacromial approach easily repaired with 2 titanium screws with washers. To obtain a repair without tension, a single advancement was performed in 20 cases and a double advancement of both the supraspinatus and infraspinatus was done in 7 cases. The shoulders were evaluated clinically preoperatively and postoperatively with the non-weighted Constant score and anatomically with computed arthrotomography scans. The mean age at operation was 59.5 years, and the length of follow-up ranged from 1 to 4 years. Of the cuffs, 23 (85%) were watertight 1 year after surgery. No predictive factor of retear could be found. The functional improvement was statistically significant only for watertight cuffs, with an improvement of the Constant score from 57.8 to 75. The only predictive factor of functional outcome in this watertight group was the preoperative Constant score. Single and double advancements yielded similar functional results regardless of the extent of the initial tear, provided that the cuff was watertight at revision.

Aged↗