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Biomedical subjects

D S Ball

Publications and source records attributed to D S Ball.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

External beam irradiation as an adjunctive treatment in failing dialysis shunts.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the utility of low-dose irradiation as adjunctive treatment for failing dialysis shunts related to stenoses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients with 41 lesions in their dialysis shunts were successfully enrolled for this study. After imaging of the shunt and calculation of venous stenoses, each patient was randomized into one of two segments of the protocol: (i) angioplasty and/or stent placement alone, and (ii) angioplasty and/or stent placement followed by external beam irradiation. All patients with significant venous stenoses (> or =50%) were treated with appropriately sized PTA (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty) and Wallstents. Patients randomized to the external irradiation segment underwent localized irradiation via a Theratron cobalt unit of 7 Gy 0-24 hours and 24-48 hours after intervention. Those patients randomized to the control group received no additional treatment. Clinical follow-up included resumption of successful dialysis with appropriate hemodynamic parameters. Two follow-up shunt images were obtained, follow-up 1 (fu-1) from 90 to 179 days and follow-up 2 (fu-2) from 180 to 365 days. Percentages of significant recurrent stenoses, defined as greater than 50%, were recorded and re-treated as needed. RESULTS: Sixteen of the 31 patients underwent external beam irradiation. There were 21 lesions in the test group that underwent irradiation after intervention, and 20 lesions were treated with intervention alone. There were seven native arteriovenous fistulas and 24 Gore-tex grafts. All stenoses were either venous outflow stenoses (68%) or central stenoses (32%). The authors utilized chi2 analysis to compare restenoses rates between the control and irradiated groups at fu-1 (P<.99) and fu-2 (P<.10). CONCLUSIONS: Although the results show that external beam irradiation has minimal effects on the restenoses of dialysis grafts when used in conjunction with PTA and stent placement, further studies with a larger, more homogenous population are needed to assess the trend of improving patency rates after external beam irradiation.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Treatment of left pneumonectomy syndrome with an expandable endobronchial prosthesis.

Postneumonectomy syndrome has only been described after a right pneumonectomy except in cases of congenital mediastinal anomalies or right-sided aortic arch. Placement of Silastic prostheses into the empty hemithorax is the preferred surgical treatment; however, other nonsurgical options exist. Herein, we report a case of left postpneumonectomy syndrome in an adult who was successfully treated with the placement of an endobronchial stent.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

A strategy of aggressive regional therapy for acute iliofemoral venous thrombosis with contemporary venous thrombectomy or catheter-directed thrombolysis.

PURPOSE: Occlusive iliofemoral venous thrombosis is associated with morbid short- and long-term consequences. Having been disappointed with standard anticoagulant therapy and systemic fibrinolysis, we embarked on an aggressive multidisciplinary regional approach to treat these patients, with the goals of therapy being (1) to eliminate iliofemoral venous thrombus, (2) to provide unobstructed venous drainage from the affected limb, and (3) to prevent recurrent thrombosis. METHODS: Twelve consecutive patients were treated for extensive iliofemoral venous thrombosis. Each had thrombus from their infrapopliteal veins through their iliofemoral system, and four had vena caval involvement. The conditions of 11 patients failed to improve when the patients were given anticoagulants, and prior systemic fibrinolysis failed in five patients. The treatment strategy includes catheter-directed thrombolysis with intrathrombus infusion of the plasminogen activator or operative thrombectomy or venous bypass with a permanent 4 mm arteriovenous fistula (AVF). RESULTS: Nine of 12 patients had a good or excellent clinical outcome (mean follow-up 25 months), which correlated with restored unobstructed venous drainage from the affected limb. Seven patients had catheter-directed lytic therapy attempted. In five patients the catheters were appropriately positioned, and lysis was successful. Five of the eight patients who underwent operations had successful procedures. Two of the three patients with poor operative outcomes had residual thrombus in their iliac veins or vena cava after thrombectomy (without bypass). The third patient, in whom anticoagulation was contraindicated, had an initially successful thrombectomy and AVF; however, vena caval thrombosis developed 2 months after operation. No patient had symptomatic pulmonary emboli, and routine posttreatment ventilation/perfusion lung scanning was not performed. CONCLUSIONS: An aggressive multidisciplinary regional approach to patients with obliterative iliofemoral venous thrombosis, designed to remove thrombus and provide unobstructed venous drainage, offers substantially better clinical outcome compared with systemic fibrinolysis and standard anticoagulation. Catheter-directed thrombolysis is successful if the catheter is appropriately positioned within the thrombus. Contemporary venous thrombectomy, which includes thrombus removal, completion phlebography, AVF, and cross-pubic bypass when necessary, is associated with high success rates. Failures can be anticipated and avoided in most patients.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1993

Carcinoid of the intrahepatic ducts.

Carcinoid tumors of the biliary tree are rare. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an intrahepatic ductal carcinoid and the thirteenth reported case of biliary carcinoid. The radiographic appearance is variable. A brief review of the previously described cases is presented.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Scar sign of renal oncocytoma: magnetic resonance imaging appearance and lack of specificity.

This case report illustrates the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearance of a typically asymptomatic renal oncocytoma as a homogeneous mass of medium signal with a stellate central region of decreased signal, representing the central scar. The MRI was correlated with computed tomography (CT), ultrasound (US), and gross pathologic appearance. The appearance of a central scar is not specific for oncocytoma and does not exclude renal cell carcinoma, as illustrated by a second case.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1986

Contrast medium precipitation during abdominal CT.

Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans of 55 patients who had ingested Gastrografin (meglumine diatrizoate and diatrizoate sodium) diluted to 2% with tap water and flavored with a commercial fruit juice base were reviewed. Twenty patients (36%) demonstrated intraluminal precipitation of Gastrografin shown by focal areas of markedly increased attenuation within the gastric lumen or trapped within gastric folds. Beam-hardening artifact produced by precipitation was observed, which limited the diagnostic value of some examinations. In vitro CT scans of the same Gastrografin solution titrated with hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide showed that by raising the pH of the solution, precipitation was virtually eliminated. Fifty-one CT scans of the abdomen using a buffered Gastrografin solution demonstrated precipitation in only five patients. Properly buffered dilute oral Gastrografin solutions should significantly decrease the prevalence of precipitation during abdominal CT examinations.

Beverages↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effort thrombosis: effective treatment with vascular stent after unrelieved venous stenosis following a surgical release procedure.

Acute symptomatic effort thrombosis in a 33-year-old male necessitated an aggressive approach consisting of thrombolysis, angioplasty, and surgical thoracic outlet release. The patient required postoperative placement of a Wallstent and was placed on anticoagulation. He has remained symptom free for the past 10 months, both clinically and sonographically.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Selective arterial embolization of idiopathic priapism.

We report a case of idiopathic priapism that was only identified as high-flow or arterial priapism after drainage of the corpora cavernosa. Following failure of conservative and surgical treatment attempts, two consecutive embolizations of a unilateral penile artery were performed with gelgoam particles.

Adult↗