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Biomedical subjects

P C Ferrera

Publications and source records attributed to P C Ferrera.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Third ventricle colloid cyst.

A 65-year-old man presented with an episode of loss of consciousness associated with a fever and headache. His history was significant for 1 year of short-term memory loss. Computed tomographic scanning showed a third ventricular mass that was ultimately resected and pathologically confirmed as a colloid cyst. The patient's postoperative course was complicated by a dense left hemiparesis. A brief discussion of colloid cysts of the third ventricle is presented.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗
PubMed1997

Ductus diverticulum interpreted as traumatic aortic injury.

A 50-year-old woman was the victim of a motor vehicle accident. An aortogram obtained for suspicion of an aortic injury was interpreted as an intimal disruption at the level of the aortic isthmus. At thoracotomy the patient was found to have only a ductus diverticulum. A brief discussion of the angiographic appearance of a ductus diverticulum and its significance in the setting of trauma is presented.

Aorta, Thoracic↗
PubMed1997

Traumatic carotid-cavernous sinus fistula with spontaneous resolution.

A 77-year-old woman presented with unilateral ocular pain, exophthalmos, vascular tinnitus, and chemosis several weeks after a minor closed head injury. Cerebral angiography showed a carotid-cavernous sinus fistula. One week later the patients's symptoms abruptly ceased. A brief discussion of the presentation and management of these fistulas is presented.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Nonconvulsive status epilepticus.

A 49-year-old man presented with dizziness and altered behavior associated with a nonconvulsive seizure. He had a long history of well-controlled tonic-clonic seizures and daily episodes of 10-second staring spells. Despite normal neurological and laboratory examinations, an emergent electroencephalogram showed changes consistent with nonconvulsive generalized status epilepticus.

Anticonvulsants↗
PubMed1997

Initial management of the patient with altered mental status.

Primary care physicians may encounter patients with altered mental status or neurologic deficit. Because the differential diagnosis for altered mental status includes conditions with significant morbidity and mortality, care of these patients must be rapid and thorough. The resources required to ensure and maintain cardiopulmonary stabilization and to perform the initial workup are often unavailable in the primary care office setting. Therefore, these patients often require immediate referral to an emergency department. Proper evaluation and initial management include evaluation of metabolic factors, assessment for toxic ingestions and a thorough neurologic assessment.

Brain Diseases↗
PubMed1996

Shigella-induced encephalopathy in an adult.

A 71-year-old woman presented with altered level of consciousness following episodes of diarrhea and abdominal pain. Shigella sonnei was later cultured from her stool. Although neurological complications, primarily seizures, have been reported sequelae in children afflicted shigellosis, there are only rare cases of encephalopathy in affected adults. A brief discussion of the neurological complications of Shigella infection and the yet undetermined role of Shiga toxin in producing neurotoxicity are presented.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Acute confusional migraine and trauma-triggered migraine.

Migraine in children can present as a state of confusion or agitation with or without a history of migraine. These events can arise spontaneously or can be triggered by mild head trauma. Transient blindness and hemiplegia may accompany the confusional state. We present two cases of children with histories of confusion and agitation, one with multiple episodes after mild head trauma. The symptomatology, differential diagnosis, theories on pathogenesis, and natural history of confusional migraine are discussed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1996

Traumatic atlanto-occipital dislocation: a potentially survivable injury.

Although survival with traumatic atlanto-occipital dislocation (AOD) is rare, there have been reports of victims who have sustained this injury with good neurological outcome. Plain lateral cervical spine radiography is the initial diagnostic procedure but may miss subtle dislocations. Several methods for the interpretation of the normal atlanto-occipital alignment have been devised and are discussed. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are valuable studies in the diagnosis and management of AOD. Halo immobilization and posterior spinal fusion are the preferred modes of treatment. Vascular injury may contribute to the neurological deficits seen with AOD and is potentially reversible. Three cases are reported, two with survival of 1 day, and one long-term survivor with poor neurological outcome because of associated cerebral trauma.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Spinal cord concussion in previously undiagnosed osteogenesis imperfecta.

An 11-year-old boy was a victim of a motor vehicle accident. He initially presented with paraplegia and inability to detect pain below the fourth thoracic dermatome. Two hours later, he had full return of motor and sensory function. Thoracolumbar spine radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed multiple compression fractures and marked osteopenia of the vertebrae. The patient's family history is significant for osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), although the patient had not been previously diagnosed with this disorder. Although the patient had no prior fractures or any of the classic stigmata of OI except for short stature, plain radiographic and MRI findings in conjunction with his family history support the diagnosis of OI. A brief discussion of both OI and spinal cord concussion is presented.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1995

Torsion of the fallopian tube.

Isolated fallopian tube torsion is a rare entity that most frequently occurs during the menstruating years, but has also been reported in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Diagnosis of this condition is often delayed because of the rarity of its occurrence and prolonged investigations to rule out more common causes of acute abdominal pain. A case of a 13-year-old girl with isolated left fallopian tube torsion is presented. A high index of suspicion must be maintained for adnexal torsion in women with abdominal pain so that an attempt can be made to salvage the adnexal structures.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed1994

Anesthesia in the emergency setting: Part II. Head and neck, eye and rib injuries.

Anesthesia for procedures of the head and neck includes ear field blocks, supraorbital and supratrochlear nerve blocks, infraorbital, mental, mandibular and posterosuperior alveolar nerve blocks. Topical ophthalmic anesthesia is useful in treating a variety of ocular injuries, including corneal abrasion and laceration, chemical/thermal burns, and injuries caused by foreign bodies and contact lenses. The intercostal nerve block is used to manage the pain of rib fractures, thus improving patient comfort, tidal volume and ventilation, and pulmonary toilet.

Craniocerebral Trauma↗
PubMed1994

Anesthesia in the emergency setting: Part I. Hand and foot injuries.

Topical application and local infiltration of anesthetic agents are useful for localized areas, while a circular field block provides superficial anesthesia within the encircled area. Regional anesthesia is accomplished by injecting the anesthetic agent near a nerve or nerve group. Useful anesthetic techniques for repair of hand injuries include wrist blocks, intermetacarpal blocks and local infiltration anesthesia. Median nerve block, ulnar nerve block, radial nerve block or a combination of these blocks provides satisfactory anesthesia without inducing muscle paralysis in the anesthetized region. Intermetacarpal digital blocks are used to anesthetize any finger. Local infiltration is useful for closing minor lacerations. For foot injuries, the posterior ankle block is used to anesthetize the sole. The anterior ankle block is used for the dorsum of the foot.

Anesthesia, Local↗