Radiology
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To evaluate the accuracy of focused abdominal ultrasonography (US) in detecting abdominal injuries that require in-hospital patient treatment in the setting of blunt abdominal trauma. ⋯ Focused abdominal US has a high negative predictive value for major abdominal injury in patients with blunt abdominal trauma.
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The communication between radiologists and their surgical colleagues is particularly important in the setting of back pain. This common disorder often does not have a definable cause, even when the imaging findings are abnormal. ⋯ Unfortunately, little standardization in the terminology for and management of back pain syndromes exists. This article elucidates the approaches to problems of back pain used in one clinical setting.
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Comparative Study
Tunneled infusion catheters: increased incidence of symptomatic venous thrombosis after subclavian versus internal jugular venous access.
To compare the incidence of symptomatic venous thrombosis after tunneled infusion catheter placement via the internal jugular vein (IJV) versus the subclavian vein (SCV). ⋯ The IJV is the preferred site for tunneled infusion catheter placement because of the lower incidence of symptomatic venous thrombosis.
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Carotid arterial endarterectomy is considered to be the standard for the treatment of atherosclerotic carotid arterial occlusive disease. This has been validated with results of several randomized controlled trials in which its effectiveness has been demonstrated over that of the best nonsurgical therapy. ⋯ A brief description of the current technical aspects of carotid artery stent placement is presented. The future status of the endovascular approach will be determined with randomized trials in which carotid artery stent placement is directly compared with endarterectomy, as well as by the potential for further innovation and improvement in endovascular devices, technique, and safety.
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To determine if contrast material-enhanced spiral computed tomography (CT) can be used to select patients with blunt splenic injuries to undergo arteriographic embolization. ⋯ Contrast-enhanced spiral CT plays a valuable role in selecting hemodynamically stable patients with splenic vascular injury who may be treated with transcatheter therapy and potentially improves the success rate of nonsurgical management.