Thesis (MScPhysio (Physiotherapy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Study Aim: To describe the profile and selected outcomes of CABG patients admitted in the Cape metropolitan area. Design: A prospective descriptive study design with a multicentre observational approach was followed. Method: All patients undergoing isolated CABG surgery, whether elective or emergency, during a three-month period (15 August–15 November 2005) were included in the study. Demographic data, pre-operative medical status, intra-operative, as well as post-operative information were collected using a self-designed structured initial assessment form (SIA). Means and standard deviations were calculated where applicable. Relationships between different variables were analyzed by means of: ANOVA, correlations, linear and logistic regressions. Where it appeared that the ANOVA assumptions were violated, non-parametric bootstrap techniques were employed. Results: Two hundred and forty five patients were admitted to the seven hospitals which provide CABG surgery in the Cape metropolitan area in the allotted period. The profile of patients admitted to private and state institutions were similar. The mean age of the sample was 60 (±10). The mean LOS of the total cohort was 12 (±5.5) days, with patients in the state hospitals staying longer 13.4 days (± 7.1). Patients who were older than 60 were twice as likely to have a LOS >12days (odds ratio = 2.49; 95% confidence interval = 1.33 to 4.65). The development of a pleural effusion or pneumothorax was associated with an increased LOS (p<0.01). At least one PPC was reported in 65% of the population. A mortality rate of only 3% was reported. Conclusion: Patients in this cohort were younger than in developed countries. An age greater than 60 years was a predictor of an LOS >12days in the current cohort. Patients were most likely to develop a PPC on day three after CABG surgery. Physiotherapeutic intervention, if any, would be well aimed at those patients older than 60 years of age. Screening of patients in the first three post-operative days for the development of PPCs is also advised.

Background: Goal-directed ultrasound protocols have been developed to facilitate efficiency, throughput, and patient care. Hands-on instruction and training workshops have been shown to positively impact ultrasound training. Objectives: We describe a novel undifferentiated chest pain goal-directed ultrasound algorithm-focused education workshop for the purpose of enhancing emergency medicine resident training in ultrasound milestones competencies. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study performed at an academic medical center. A novel goal-directed ultrasound algorithm was developed and implemented as a model for teaching and learning the sonographic approach to a patient with undifferentiated chest pain. This algorithm was incorporated into all components of the 1-day workshop: asynchronous learning, didactic lecture, case-based learning, and hands-on stations. Performance comparisons were made between postgraduate year (PGY) levels. Results: A total of 38 of the 40 (95%) residents who attended the event participated in the chest pain objective standardized clinical exam, and 26 of the 40 (65%) completed the entire questionnaire. The average number of ultrasounds performed by resident class year at the time of our study was as follows: 19 (standard deviation [SD]=19) PGY-1, 238 (SD=37) PGY-2, and 289 (SD=73) PGY-3. Performance on the knowledge-based questions improved between PGY-1 and PGY-3. The application of the novel algorithm was noted to be more prevalent among the PGY-1 class. Conclusion: The 1-day algorithm-based ultrasound educational workshop was an engaging learning technique at our institution.

Objective: Chest pain is a common reason for an encounter in general practice. The present investigation was set out to characterize the consultation rate of chest pain, accompanying symptoms, frequency of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, and results of the encounter. Materials and Methods: Cross‑sectional data were collected from randomly selected patients in the German Sächsische Epidemiologische Studie in der Allgemeinmedizin 2 (SESAM 2) and analyzed from the Dutch Transition Project. Results: Overall, 270 patients from the SESAM 2 study consulted a general practitioner due to chest pain (3% of all consultations). Chest pain was more frequent in people aged over 45 years. The most common diagnostic interventions were physical examination, electrocardiogram at rest and analysis of blood parameters. For the majority of cases, the physicians arranged a follow‑up consultation or prescribed drugs. The transition project documented 8117 patients reporting chest pain with a frequency of 44.5/1000 patient years (1.7% of all consultations). Physical examination was also the most common diagnostic intervention, and physician’s advice the most relevant therapeutic one. Conclusion: The most common causes for chest pain were musculoskeletal problems followed by cardiovascular diseases. Ischemic heart disease, psychogenic problems, and respiratory diseases each account for about 10% of the cases. However, acutely dangerous causes are rare in general practice.

No description available.

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of premature death in the UK. Chest pain, the most common symptoms associated with this disease, accounts for 1% of all primary care consultations, 5% of visits to emergency departments, and up to 40% of emergency admissions to hospital. When people experience acute coronary symptoms such as chest pain, or other symptoms such as pain in the arms, back or shoulder pain and pain in the jaw and neck, we know that prompt diagnosis and treatment of heart disease can significantly reduce mortality. However, we also know that when people experience these symptoms they can wait sometime before seeking medical help. Part of the problem may be that people do not attribute their symptoms a serious problem such as heart disease. Whilst several campaigns have been aimed at the general population there is no information resource targeted at people who may be at risk of heart disease to help them understand and evaluate their symptoms and take prompt action. The overall aim of this thesis is to fill this gap by producing a piloted draft information resource which aims to help people to respond effectively to symptoms that might be attributable to heart disease for people at high risk of heart disease. Using focus group discussions and individual interviews with people who had experienced symptoms that might be attributable to heart disease or might be at high risk of heart disease experiential data about their response to symptoms were gathered. Participants were also asked their views on what an information resource should be like and their experiences and views formed the basis of the content of the first draft of the information resource. In making sense of their symptom the participants drew upon a range of past experiences and the experiences of others to help them; participants who experienced severe symptoms sought help quickly; those whose symptoms were mild or transient waited, in some cases a considerable time, before seeking help. Previous personal experience may be the factor that helped those who acted quickly. Whereas the experience of others, evident in many of the accounts of those who waited, may not be sufficient to help people interpret and make sense of their own symptom experiences. The information resource incorporated the experiences of people with symptoms that ended up being attributable to heart disease and included examples of the range of symptoms that can be encountered to illustrate the different ways in which heart disease can be manifested as well as information drawn from best practice resources in the management of heart disease. Participants in the original focus group discussions and interviews were asked to be involved in the development of the resource and seventeen agreed. The information resource went through three drafts; at each stage changes were made to incorporate respondent views; at the penultimate draft health professionals’ views were also sought and used to inform the final draft which is now ready for further evaluation.

Whether caused by trauma, internal diseases, or spontaneously; pneumothorax and hemothorax are potentially life threatening illnesses. They are currently primarily diagnosed with x-rays, CT scans, and ultrasound imaging. While these methods are generally reliable, they are not always available to the injured patient. Life threatening pneumothoraces, such as tension pneumothorax, must be treated quickly. When diagnosed correctly, pneumothorax and hemothorax can be quickly mended through insertion of chest tubes. X-rays, CT scans, and ultrasound imaging require large scale equipment and are not always dependable. There is a more reliable, portable, and faster result producing method to diagnose pneumothorax. Vibro-acoustic waves can be sent through the chest and the resulting wave can be measured. By analyzing attenuation characteristics determined by the geometry of the chest structures, it can be determined if the patient's pleural space is healthy, contains air (pneumothrax), or contains fluid (hemothorax).

Each year in the U.S., approximately 7-8 million patients with non-traumatic chest pain visit hospital emergency departments (ED) for medical evaluation. It is estimated that approximately 2-5% of these patients are experiencing acute cardiac ischemia, but due to the shortcomings of current test methods, they are incorrectly diagnosed and discharged without appropriate treatment provided, thus leading to poor patient outcome and potential medical malpractice litigation.The goals of this research were to evaluate plasma samples for potential biomarker(s) of acute cardiac ischemia prior to heart tissue necrosis, and to ultimately develop a rapid method for detection of the potential biomarker(s) in human plasma. Initial experiments were performed using the mouse model, with subsequent evaluations on human plasma samples using high performance liquid chromatographic ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). The final phase of this research involved the development of a rapid luminometer test method (An HPLC-UV detection method was developed and utilized for inosine, hypoxanthine and other adenosine triphosphate (ATP) catabolic by-products in Krebs-Henseleit (Krebs) buffer solution, with analysis on perfusate samples from isolated mouse hearts undergoing 20 min acute global ischemia. The HPLC-UV method was modified for subsequent use on human plasma samples, obtained from hospital emergency department (ED) patients presenting with non-traumatic chest pain (potential acute cardiac ischemia) and from healthy normal individuals. The HPLC-UV (component quantification) and HPLC-MS (component identification) test methods utilized C18 column technology, mobile phases consisting of aqueous trifluoroacetic acid (0.05% TFA in deionized water pH 2.2, v/v) and methanol gradient to achieve component separation, with both utilizing simple sample preparations (e.g. direct injection of Krebs perfusate samples and centrifugal membrane filtration on plasma samples).Results of the animal experiments using isolated mouse hearts undergoing 20 min acute global ischemia demonstrated significant levels of endogenous inosine effluxed from the heart tissue, indicating its use as a potential candidate biomarker of acute cardiac ischemia. The HPLC results from human plasma representing ED non-traumatic chest pain patients demonstrated elevated levels of inosine (hypoxanthine precursor) and significant levels of hypoxanthine, which provided additional support for the use of these candidate biomarker(s) as a potential diagnostic tool for the initial acute cardiac ischemic event, prior to heart tissue necrosis.The final phase of this research focused on the development of a rapid, simple and sensitive chemiluminescence test method. Using a microplate luminometer with direct injectors and continuous mixing, the measurement of inosine and hypoxanthine in human plasma was achieved for healthy normal individuals and on patients with confirmed acute MI, with an analysis time of less than 5 minutes. The utility of this rapid luminescence technique would be the potential use at point-of-care (POC) services (e.g. hospital clinical laboratory or emergency medical services) as part of the initial ED treatment protocol on patients presenting with non-traumatic chest pain and signs/symptoms of acute myocardial ischemia or acute MI.

Objective: The paper deals with the evaluation of the status of pulmonary and postural functions of the patients with pectus carinatum. Further, it deals with the development of pulmonary and postural functions after Welch surgery. Methods: Between the years 2010 and 2011 20 patients (19 men, 1 woman) went through Welch surgery at the Pediatric Clinic of the Faculty Hospital, Prague Motol. The average age of the group was 16,2 ± 1,2 years. Before surgery, pulmonary functions, respiratory muscle strength and posturography were evaluated. The received values were compared with the predicted, i.e. the controlled group, and in order to find mutual dependencies, also among themselves. 7 patients were repeatedly checked for pulmonary functions and posturography in the interval of 8,1 ± 3,0 months after their surgery. Pre and post - surgery values were compared. Results: Dynamic and static hyperinflation and also an increased patency of periphery respiratory tracts was found in 20 pre-surgery patients with PC. Testing of respiratory muscle strength showed significantly lower values than the predicted. Checking for posturography revealed the differences in postural system resulting, especially with complicated postural demands, in medio-lateral instability of the body. Worsening of the balance functions...

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o uso da cintilografia de perfusão miocárdica planar de repouso para o diagnóstico de insuficiência coronariana aguda em pacientes com dor torácica e eletrocardiograma sem alterações sugestivas de isquemia. Foram estudados 71 pacientes com idades entre 34 e 87 (média 58, desvio-padrão 12) anos; 44 (62%) eram do sexo masculino e 27 (38%) do feminino. Os pacientes com dor torácica foram avaliados na unidade de emergência com anamnese, exame físico e eletrocardroqrarna de 12 derivações. Pacientes com dor torácica de duração superior a 20 minutos, em vigência da dor ou sem dor, mas que sofreram dor torácica até seis horas anies do atendimento e com eletrocardioqrarna sem alterações sugestivas de isquemia miocárdica, foram submetidos à cintilografia planar de perfusão miocárdica de repouso quando solicitada pelo médico assistente. O tempo médio entre o início da dor toràcica e a Injeção do radiotraçador foi de três horas e seis minutos. Treze pacientes apresentavam dor torácica no momento da injeção. Foram colhidas amostras sanguineas para dosagens de atividade da creatinoquinase-MB (CK-MB), CK-MB massa, troponina I e mioglobina, seis horas após o início da dor torácica. O diagnóstico de insuficiência coronariana aguda foi feito em pacientes com angina de repouso, infarto agudo do miocárdio, pacientes submetidos à revascularização miocárdica, presença de lesões coronarianas significativas na angiografia (>- 70% estenose em artérias coronárias ou seus ramos ou .- 50% em tronco de artéria coronária esquerda) realizada durante a inernação e morte cardíaca foram considerados eventos cardíacos maiores. As cintilografias com defeito de captação foram consideradas sugestivas de isquemia miocárdica e foram comparadas com o diagnóstico clínico e com a ocorrência de eventos cardíacos maiores até três meses após a alta.Pacientes sem insuficiência coronariana aguda, dispensados da unidade de emergência, foram encaminhados para realização ambulatorial de cintilografia de perfusão miocárdica tomográfica de esforço ou com dipiridamol. Vinte e um pacientes (29,6%) tiveram o diagnóstico de insuficiência coronariana aguda e em 15 (21,1%) ocorreram eventos cardíacos maiores (oito com infarto agudo do miocárdio e sete foram submetidos à revascularização miocárdica). A cintilografia planar de perfusão miocárdica demonstrou defeitos de captação em 21 (29,6%) pacientes, dos quais 16 (76,2%) tiveram o diagnóstico de insuficiência coronariana aguda, 12 (80%) apresentaram eventos cardíacos maiores e 7 (87,5%) infarto agudo do miocárdio. O valor preditivo negativo da cintilografia planar de perfusão miocárdica foi de 90% para o diagnóstico de insuficiência coronariana aguda e de 94% para detecção de eventos cardíacos maiores. Portanto a cintilografia planar de perfusão miocárdica foi eficaz para o diagnóstico de insuficiência coronariana aguda em pacientes com dor torácica e electrocardiograma sem alterações sugestivas de isquemia / The objective of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of rest scintigraphic planar myocardial perfusion imaging in patients with acute chest pain suspected of myocardial ischemia and nondiagnostic ECG in the diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes and to predict adverse cardiac outcomes. Patients within 6 hours of chest pain onset and nondiagnostic ECGs underwent planar myocardial perfusion imaging with Technetium-99m sestamibi and measurements of serum creatine kinase-MB, creatine kinase-MB mass. troponin and myoglobin 6 hours after the onset of symptoms. Studies showing perfusion defects were considered suggestive of acute coronary syndromes and were compared to the diagnosis made by the attending cardiologist. Clinical diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes was made In patients with rest angina admitted to the hospital, acute myocardial Infarction, myocardial revascularization, demonstration of significant coronary artery disease on angiography or cardiac death. Acute myocardial revascularization and cardiac death were considered major cardiac events. Patients discharged without acute coronary syndromes were scheduled for outpatient stress myocardial perfusion imaging. A total of 71 patients underwent planar myocardial perfusion imaging. The mean age was 58 +- 12 years, 44 (62%) were male and 27 (38%) female. The mean time between chest pain onset and radiotracer injection was 3 hours and 6 minutes, thirteen patients had chest pain at the moment of iniection. Twenty-one (29,6%) patients had acute coronary syndromes, 15 (21,1 %) had major cardiac events (8 myocardial infarction and 7 underwent myocardial revascularization). Planar perfusion imaging demonstrated perfusion defects in 21 patients, 16 (76,2%) patients with acute coronary syndromes, 12 (80%) patients who had major cardiac events and in 7 (87,5%) patients with myocardial infarction. The negative predictive value of planar perfusion image was 90% for diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes and 94% for detecting major cardiac events. In conclusion, early planar perfusion imaging allowed for a rapid and accurate risk stratification of emergency departments patients with possible myocardial ischemia and nondiagnostic ECGs

Na rotina de felinos domésticos, algumas modalidades de diagnóstico por imagem, como a radiografia simples e, na última década, a tomografia computadorizada (TC) já são amplamente utilizadas. Este estudo teve por objetivo realizar uma análise crítica da contribuição dos exames radiográfico e tomográfico (simples e contrastado), na avaliação do trato respiratório de felinos portadores ou não de imunodeficiência viral (FIV). Identificando as principais alterações encontradas em felinos FIV+ aos exames radiográfico e tomográfico do crânio e tórax. E ainda, correlacionando os achados radiográficos e tomográficos com os resultados laboratoriais de sorologia para imunodeficiência viral felina, citologia e cultura (bacteriana e fúngica) do lavado traqueal. Foram utilizados 20 felinos adultos jovens de ambos os sexos, sendo 14 FIV+ e 06 FIV-, todos provenientes do mesmo gatil. Pela análise estatística houve um maior percentual de felinos FIV+ com opacificação nas bulas timpânicas pela TC (57,14%) e resultado positivo na análise citológica do lavado traqueal (85,71%). Constatou-se que os felinos portadores de imunodeficiência viral possuíram, por meio da avaliação radiográfica e tomográfica, um maior comprometimento do trato respiratório relacionado às cavidades nasais, bulas timpânicas, parênquima pulmonar e vias aéreas inferiores, quando comparados aos felinos negativos para imunodeficiência viral. / In internal medicine of domestic cats, imaging modalities, such as radiography and, in the last decade, computed tomography (CT) are widely used. The aim of this study was to perform a critical analysis of the radiographic and tomographic contribution in assessing the respiratory tract of feline immunodeficiency vírus (FIV) infected cats and FIV negative cats. Identifying the radiographic and tomographic findings, in FIV+ cats, of the skull and chest examination. And, correlating radiographic and tomographic findings with the laboratory serology for feine immunodeficiency vírus results, cytology evaluation and culture (bacterial and fungal) from tracheal lavage fluid.Twenty young adults cats of both gender were used, 14 FIV+ and 06 FIV-, all from the same cattery. By the statstical analysis there was a higher percentage of FIV+ infected cats with timpanic bullae opacification by the CT examination (57,14%) and positive cytologic evaluation of traqueal aspirates (85,71%). It was found that FIV+ infected cats has greater involvement of the respiratory tract related to the nasal cavity, tympanic bullae, lung parenchyma and lower airways, when compared with FIV- cats.