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Biomedical subjects

Larry B Mellick

Publications and source records attributed to Larry B Mellick.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Clinical presentation, quantitative sensory testing, and therapy of 2 patients with fourth thoracic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to describe 2 representative cases of patients presenting to an osteopathic pain practice with signs and symptoms consistent with the fourth thoracic (T4) syndrome. In addition, this article reports the application of quantitative thermosensory testing and dynamometer strength testing to confirm associated sensory and motor strength changes. Nonmanipulative therapeutic interventions are reported for the first time. CLINICAL FEATURES: Two patients experienced paresthesias in all digits of the hands, glove-like numbness of the hands and forearm, weakness (unable to open jars), hand clumsiness, upper extremity coldness, fullness or tightness, deep aching pain, and other signs and symptoms consistent with T4 syndrome. The patients were evaluated using quantitative thermosensory testing and handgrip dynamometry before and after treatment. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: Relief of bilateral arm pain, numbness, and paresthesias occurred after intramuscular injections of 1 to 2 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine at the fourth thoracic paraspinal level. Additional therapy for associated signs and symptoms was provided using an anticonvulsant (gabapentin). CONCLUSION: The clinical presentation of the patients reported in this article provides a description and additional information regarding T4 syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Pediatric laryngoscope blade size selection using facial landmarks.

OBJECTIVES: The study evaluates whether facial landmarks can be used to estimate an appropriate laryngoscope blade length for oral endotracheal intubation in children. We tested the hypothesis that the laryngoscope blade measuring 10 mm or less distal or proximal to the angle of the mandible (when the flat portion of the blade follows the facial contour from the upper incisor teeth to the angle of the mandible) will demonstrate greater success and ease of oral tracheal intubation. METHODS: We performed an observational study that prospectively evaluated a convenience sample of children 8 years old or younger and who were undergoing direct laryngoscopy for oral endotracheal intubation in the operating room, outpatient surgery center, emergency department, or pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary referral medical center. Ease and success of oral tracheal intubation were compared with distance measurements from the angle of the mandible to the tip of the laryngoscope blade. RESULTS: Blade lengths considered too short (blade lengths >10 mm proximal to the angle of the mandible) were more likely to be associated with more than 1 attempt at intubation. Only 57.1% (12/21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 36.5-75.5) of the intubations using the shorter blade were performed on the first attempt as compared with 89.7% (26/29; 95% CI, 73.6-96.4) of the intubations using the recommended length or 85.7% (6/7; 95% CI, 48.7-97.4) of the intubations using blades extending longer than 10 mm past the angle of the mandible. CONCLUSIONS: The distance from the upper incisor teeth to the angle of the jaw seems to be an excellent clinical landmark for laryngoscope blade length selection for pediatric intubations. When the blade (excluding the handle insertion block) is placed at the upper midline incisor teeth and the tip is located within 1 cm proximal or distal to the angle of the mandible, oral tracheal intubations are more consistently accomplished on the first attempt. Our observations suggest that facial landmarks can be used to estimate an appropriate laryngoscope blade length for oral endotracheal intubation in children.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2006

Treatment of headaches in the ED with lower cervical intramuscular bupivacaine injections: a 1-year retrospective review of 417 patients.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this retrospective chart review is to describe 1 year's experience of an academic emergency department (ED) in treating a wide spectrum of headache classifications with intramuscular injections of 0.5% bupivacaine bilateral to the spinous process of the lower cervical vertebrae. BACKGROUND: Headache is a common reason that patients present to an ED. While there are a number of effective therapeutic interventions available for the management of headache pain, there clearly remains a need for other treatment options. The intramuscular injection of 1.5 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine bilateral to the sixth or seventh cervical vertebrae has been used to treat headache pain in our facility since July 2002. The clinical setting for the study was an academic ED with an annual volume of over 75,000 patients. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of over 2805 ED patients with the discharge diagnosis of headache and over 771 patients who were coded as having had an anesthetic injection between June 30, 2003 and July 1, 2004. All adult patients who had undergone paraspinous intramuscular injection with bupivacaine for the treatment of their headache were gleaned from these 2 larger databases and were included in this retrospective chart review. A systematic review of the medical records was accomplished for these patients. RESULTS: Lower cervical paraspinous intramuscular injections with bupivacaine were performed in 417 patients. Complete headache relief occurred in 271 (65.1%) and partial headache relief in 85 patients (20.4%). No significant relief was reported in 57 patients (13.7%) and headache worsening was described in 4 patients (1%). Overall a therapeutic response was reported in 356 of 417 patients (85.4%). Headache relief was typically rapid with many patients reporting complete headache relief in 5 to 10 minutes. Associated signs and symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, photophobia, phonophobia, and allodynia were also commonly relieved. CONCLUSION: Our observations suggest that the intramuscular injection of small amounts of 0.5% bupivacaine bilateral to the sixth or seventh cervical spinous process appears to be an effective therapeutic intervention for the treatment of headache pain in the outpatient setting.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Cytokine response to diabetic ketoacidosis and its treatment.

The objectives of this study were to monitor plasma cytokines as markers of cellular activation and as potential markers for the progression of the acute complications of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Blood samples were obtained prior to, during and after treatment of severe DKA (pH < 7.2) in six children and adolescents. Plasma IL-10, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-2 cytokine levels were assayed by ELISA at each of the time points. Prior to treatment, elevations of multiple cytokines were found, the highest being IL-10. Treatment of DKA resulted in a significant decrease of IL-10 at 6-8 h (p = 0.0062), and further increases in the inflammatory cytokines at 6-8 h and/or 24 h vs 120 h (baseline): IL-1beta (p =.0048); TNF-alpha (p =.0188) and IL-8 (p =.0048). This study strengthens the hypothesis that the metabolic crisis of DKA, and its treatment, have differential effects on cellular activation and cytokine release. The time frame for the increase in inflammatory cytokines correlates with the reported progression of subclinical brain edema, interstitial pulmonary edema and the development of clinical brain edema.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Ash wednesday.

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Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Regional head and face pain relief following lower cervical intramuscular anesthetic injection.

BACKGROUND: Although cervical trigger point intramuscular injections are commonly used to relieve localized neck pain, regional head pain relief from lower cervical paravertebral injections has not been reported previously. PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of such injections in a selected group of patients with intractable head or face pain. METHODS: In a series of patients with chronic head or face pain, local anesthetic was injected into the lower cervical spine paravertebral musculature approximately 1 to 2 inches lateral to the seventh cervical spinous process. RESULTS: In addition to producing rapid relief of palpable scalp or facial tenderness (mechanical hyperalgesia and allodynia pain), this lower cervical intramuscular injection technique alleviated associated symptoms of nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia in patients with migrainous headache. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that lower cervical intramuscular anesthetic injection may be an effective treatment for head or face pain.

Adult↗