AJR. American journal of roentgenology
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Feb 2010
Tracheal stricture and fistula: management with a barbed silicone-covered retrievable expandable nitinol stent.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a barbed silicone-covered retrievable expandable nitinol stent in preventing stent migration in patients with tracheal strictures or fistulas. ⋯ Use of a barbed silicone-covered retrievable expandable nitinol stent relieves dyspnea and facilitates fistula closure in patients with benign or malignant tracheal strictures or fistulas. The barbed design of the stent is important in preventing migration.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Feb 2010
Microbiologic contamination and time efficiency of use of automatic MDCT injectors with prefilled syringes: Results of a clinical investigation.
Multiple use of syringes in automatic injectors is considered to place patients at risk of septic complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the microbiologic contamination and time efficiency associated with routine clinical use of single-use prefilled disposable syringes for contrast administration. ⋯ Use of prefilled contrast syringes with single-use saline syringes is associated with time-efficient assembly of injection systems and prevents microbiologic contamination in clinical routine, especially in the care of immunocompromised patients.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Feb 2010
Do additional views improve the diagnostic performance of cervical spine radiography in pediatric trauma?
The aims of this study were to measure the diagnostic performances of lateral views alone and multiple radiographic views of the cervical spine in comparison with MDCT scans in pediatric trauma and to determine whether evaluation of additional views, in relation to lateral views alone, improves the performance of radiography. ⋯ Lateral view radiographs had a borderline acceptable sensitivity to cervical spine abnormalities in pediatric patients compared with MDCT. The addition of other radiographic views did not seem to improve the diagnostic performance of radiography.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Feb 2010
Percutaneous abscess drainage in patients with perforated acute appendicitis: effectiveness, safety, and prediction of outcome.
The purposes of this study were to retrospectively investigate the effectiveness and safety of CT-guided percutaneous drainage in the treatment of patients with acute appendicitis complicated by perforation and to identify CT findings and procedure-related factors predictive of clinical and procedure outcome. ⋯ CT-guided percutaneous drainage is both effective and safe in the treatment of patients with acute appendicitis complicated by perforation and abscess. The clinical and technical success rates are high.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Feb 2010
Success of a safe and simple algorithm to reduce use of CT pulmonary angiography in the emergency department.
The purpose of our study was to determine whether the radiation exposure to patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) could be decreased by safely increasing the use of ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scanning and decreasing the use of CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) through an educational intervention. ⋯ The practice patterns of physicians changed in response to an educational intervention, resulting in a reduction in radiation exposure to emergency department patients with suspected PE without compromising patient safety.