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K Dantendorfer

Publications and source records attributed to K Dantendorfer.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Sudden arousals from slow wave sleep and panic disorder: successful treatment with anticonvulsants--a case report.

We report on a patient who suffered from treatment-resistant sudden arousals from sleep for 30 years and eventually developed daytime panic attacks. Polysomnography recorded three sudden arousals from sleep stage 4, with intense anxiety that was not associated with confusion or dream recall. While resting wakeful electroencephalogram (EEG) was normal, sleep-deprived EEG revealed increased left temporal theta activity and brain magnetic resonance imaging showed left hemispheric atrophy. Complete remission of symptoms could be obtained only with a combination therapy of carbamazepine and clonazepam. Relations between atypical sleep disorders, panic disorder and ictal brain activity are discussed. We conclude that in patients with atypical sleep and anxiety disorders anticonvulsants could be a successful treatment approach.

Adult↗

Randomized comparison of sitting and prone positions for stereotactic fine-needle aspiration breast biopsy.

In a prospective randomized study, 103 women had stereotactic biopsies performed either in the prone (n = 51) or sitting (n = 52) position. Questionnaires were administered before and after biopsy, to measure anxiety, pain and subjective experience in all patients. Vasovagal reactions were scored from 0 to 2 according to severity. There was no significant difference between biopsies performed in the sitting or the prone position with regard to overall tolerance. Significantly more patients biopsied in the prone position (15 of 51, 29 per cent) than in the sitting position (seven of 52, 13 per cent) would prefer premedication before a repeat biopsy (P = 0.04). Of the total patient group, three women fainted, one in the prone position and two others in the sitting position. Breast biopsies performed in the prone or sitting position are equally well tolerated. Somatic reactions such as fainting are not a major problem during breast biopsy; however, attention should be focused on patient care, including information given before the procedure.

Anxiety↗

Is there a pathophysiological and therapeutic link between panic disorder and epilepsy?

Relations between panic disorder (PD) and epilepsy (E) have repeatedly been discussed. Three patients with juvenile E who had been free of seizures under anticonvulsant medication for many years and developed PD are presented. Increasing anticonvulsant medication resulted in complete and stable remission of PD. It is hypothesized that, in a subgroup of patients with PD, there is a pathophysiological relation to E. Further research into the usefulness of anticonvulsants in the treatment of PD, especially in therapy-refractory cases, is suggested.

Adult↗

Automatic patient-instruction devices in thin-section CT of the thorax: impact on image quality.

PURPOSE: To determine what influence automatic patient-instruction (API) devices have on image quality of chest computed tomographic (CT) scans and whether the qualitative outcome justifies their routine use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thin-collimation CT scans of two age- and sex-matched groups of 64 patients each were evaluated prospectively for the presence of breathing artifacts and for concomitant deterioration of image quality. Breathing commands in group 1 were given with the API device and in group 2 with technologist-performed patient instruction. Cardiac motion artifacts were not evaluated. The frequency of scans repeated owing to breathing artifact was determined. RESULTS: Image quality was worse in group 1 compared with that of group 2. The percentage of scans repeated was higher with API (38%) than without API (16%). CONCLUSION: API devices cannot be recommended for thin-section CT of the thorax. The large number of scans that must be repeated leads to a considerable increase in patient irradiation, scanning time, and cost.

Adult↗