Background: Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) is one of the most common congenital cardiac diseases, accounting for 20%, and affects the left ventricular function. There is no study on the application of Tei index to evaluate left ventricular function in patients with VSD in Vietnam. Objective:To assess left ventricular function in ventricular septal defect by Tei index. Subject and Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study that involves 35 patients of VSD with an average age of 15.77+/-10.41 (A group: 19 patients of VSD with systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAPs) < 40 mmHg and B group: 16 patients of VSD with PAPs>=40mmHg and control group: 30 normal volunteers). Results: Tei index for estimation of left ventricular function is higher in the VSD (0.50+/- 0.18) than the control (0.37 +/- 0.03) with p < 0.01, exponentially more in the VSD with PAPs >=40mmHg (0.64 +/- 0.15; p<0.01). Conclusion: Left ventricular function is worse in VSD patients in comparison to the healthy people.
Ventricular Septal Defect ; Tissue Doppler ; Tei index

PURPOSE: An anatomical study concerning the location of the perforators to the posteromedial thigh perforator flap was done for the purpose of clinical application, and reconstruction using this flap was undergone for 3 patients with ischial sores. METHODS: The authors dissected 6 cadavers, measuring the distance between the perforator of the posteromedial thigh perforator flap and the extended line of the inguinal crease. The location of the perforator was studied using this data. In the 3 cases mentioned above, perforators were traced using Doppler ultrasonography and the sores were reconstructed with posteromedial thigh perforator flaps. Anatomical study results showed that posteromedial thigh perforators were found 77+/-18.9mm below the extended line of the inguinal crease. Application of the flap in the 3 patients was successful. CONCLUSION: The perforator to the posteromedial thigh perforator flap was found to be located in a relatively consistent position. Since this flap is also comparatively easy to elevate and mobilize, and shows low donor site morbidity, it is considered to be very useful in the treatment of ischial sores.
Cadaver ; Humans ; Perforator Flap ; Thigh ; Tissue Donors ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

PURPOSE: To evaluate the distribution of color flow signals on color Doppler ultrasonography of vascular leiomyomas and to correlate them with pathologic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed color Doppler ultrasonographic images and pathologic slides of six vascular leiomyomas. We classified the patterns of distribution of color flow signals into localized compact cluster types and non-cluster types, and the pathologic findings into three subtypes: solid, venous and cavernous. RESULTS: All cases showed well-defined homogenous hypoechoic subcutaneous masses on gray-scale ultrasonography. Three cases showed localized compact cluster types on color Doppler ultrasonography, one in each subtype (solid, venous and cavernous). For the three non-cluster types, again there was on in each subtype. In addition, on pathologic analysis the zone of the localized compact cluster of color flow signals coincided with a cluster of larger, vascular caliber masses. CONCLUSIONS: Localized compact clusters of color flow signals on color Doppler ultrasonography were seen in 50% of our cases and correlated with a cluster of larger vascular caliber in the mass. But the pattern of distribution of color flows didn't show a correlation with pathologic type.
Angiomyoma ; Retrospective Studies ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

Continuous observation based on the operator's clinical experience is impractical in monitoring free flap and the success rate of flap can be increased with the adjunctive monitoring system such as laser Doppler flowmetry. The author tried to establish the objective critical point to analyze the data in the postoperative period in microsurgical reconstruction. In this study, laser Doppler flowmetry(Periflux 4001 Master , Sweden) was used continuously for flap monitoring from the recovery room; every hour for 24hours, every 2 hours in the next 24 hours and every 3 - 6hours thereafter until the 7th day. Among 43 cases performed, 4 patients suffered from postoperative vascular insufficiency and they were decided to follow the exploration or salvage procedure. The value may be recorded at most 3.0 even when the tissue sufferes without flow due to its highly sensitive system, and it is quite reliable for flap survival if the initial value is above 3.0 with increasing trend. If the flow value persists below 3.0 continuously or show a plateau, vascular compromise can be doubted. Initial plateau or decline curve was caused by flap swelling and could be detected in 2 postoperative periods such as early (2-24hour) and /or late (26 -116 hour) period. Its decline was maximally up to 31.5% and this decline was more commonly observed in perforator- based free flap than others. However, its appearance and duration was quite unexpected especially in small free flap due to skin tension after suture. In conclusion, the laser Doppler flowmetry is a valuable adjunctive system in flap monitoring after operation by observing the trend in perfusion value.
Free Tissue Flaps* ; Humans ; Laser-Doppler Flowmetry* ; Perfusion ; Postoperative Period ; Recovery Room ; Skin ; Sutures

Ultrasound elastography is a widely used technique for assessing the mechanical characteristics of tissues. Although there are several ultrasound elastography techniques, strain elastography (SE) is currently the most widely used technique for visualizing an elastographic map in real time. Among its various indications, SE is especially useful in evaluating the musculoskeletal system. In this article, we review the SE techniques for clinical practice and describe the images produced by these techniques in the context of the musculoskeletal system. SE provides information about tissue stiffness and allows real-time visualization of the image; however, SE cannot completely replace gray-scale, color, or power Doppler ultrasonography. SE can increase diagnostic accuracy and may be useful for the follow-up of benign lesions.
Elasticity Imaging Techniques* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Musculoskeletal System* ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

Soft tissue chondroma, or extraskeletal chondroma, is a relatively rare, benign cartilaginous tumor that occurs most frequently in the hands and feet - a subungual location is quite rare. The authors describe a subungual soft tissue chondroma in a 25-year-old man that was visualized as a hypervascular mass on color Doppler ultrasonography and initially misdiagnosed as a glomus tumor.
Adult ; Chondroma ; Foot ; Glomus Tumor ; Hand ; Humans ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

PURPOSE: The anastomosis of hepatic artery to recipient vessel has a major role in a liver transplantation, so its occlusion is the most important cause of failure of liver transplantations. We made the study to reveal the peculiarities in pediatric liver transplantations compared with adult cases. METHODS: From January 1999 to September 2005, we performed 99 cases of pediatric liver transplantation. The mean age at operation was 4.17 years of age. The hepatic vein and portal vein are anastomosed by the general surgeons and then the hepatic artery is anastomosed by the plastic surgeons. The Doppler ultrasonography and computed tomography were used for postoperative checkup for hepatic artery patency. RESULTS: There were no immediate complications, but hepatic arterial occlusion was developed in 3 cases (2.8%). In pediatric patients, the anastomosis of hepatic artery is more difficult than adults because of the rapid respiratory and pulse rate, the small vascular diameter, and the large gap of diameter difference between the recipient and the donor vessels. CONCLUSION: We could confirm that pediatric liver transplantations are relatively safe but long learning curve was needed.
Adult ; Child* ; Heart Rate ; Hepatic Artery* ; Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Learning Curve ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Portal Vein ; Tissue Donors ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

The use of the implantable Doppler device eases the burden of free flap monitoring, and allows caregivers to notify healthcare personnel of a potential vascular event. A 24-year-old female patient underwent anterolateral thigh adipofascial flap surgery to provide a buried flap on the left temporal area for a depressed and infected skull wound. The author was able to salvage the flap from two venous occlusions, which was made possible by early notifications from the caregiver who reported changes in the Doppler signal.
Caregivers* ; Delivery of Health Care ; Female ; Free Tissue Flaps* ; Humans ; Skull ; Thigh ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed ; Wounds and Injuries ; Young Adult

Calcifying aponeurotic fibroma is a rare soft tissue tumor that occurs in the distal extremities of children and adolescents. We report ultrasound and X-ray findings of a calcifying aponeurotic fibroma in the finger of a 36-year-old woman, associated with distal phalangeal bone involvement.
Adult ; Bone Neoplasms/*radiography/surgery/*ultrasonography ; Calcinosis/*radiography/surgery/*ultrasonography ; Female ; Fibroma/*radiography/surgery/*ultrasonography ; *Fingers ; Humans ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms/*radiography/surgery/*ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

BACKGROUND: Management of a cadaveric donor with hemodynamic stability is essential for successful liver transplantation. Since the liver is susceptible to ischemic insult and since the blood pressure of a brain-dead patient is usually hypotensive, donor management should be performed on the bases of the hemodynamic characteristics of brain death and physiologic control of hepatic blood flow. In this study, the response of hepatic microcirculation was evaluated in six dogs in which hepatic innervation was sequentially altered and change of blood pressure and corresponding therapy for brain-dead donor was simulated. METHODS: The hepatic microcirculation in a dog model was measured by using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). Factors affecting the LDF signal were set as the mean arterial pressure (MAP), the central venous pressure (CVP), and the infusion of vasopressors. RESULTS: Common hemodynamic responses in dogs with innervated and sequentially denervated livers were as follows: First, buffering of the hepatic arterial flow was observed when the MAP was in the range of 60-120 mmHg. Second, a CVP of upto 12-13 cm saline did not decrease the LDF signal. Third, dopamine and dobutamine doses of up to 20 microgram/Kg/min offset the prehepatic flow resistance with elevation of the MAP against splanchnic vasoconstriction. Attenuation of hepatic arterial buffering was the only difference following hepatic denervation. Meanwhile, hepatic arterial buffering seemed not to be working when the MAP fell below 60 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS: Although dysfunction of the hepatic nerve in a brain-dead condition has not been evaluated, common responses from an innervated and sequentially denervated liver may be observed inthe livers of donors in a brain-dead state. The results of this experiment suggest that there is a certain control mechanism for hepatic blood flow, independent of hepatic innervation. Even though these results cannot be applied directly to clinical treatment, they will would provide clues about the control mechanism for hepatic blood flow for the management of brain-dead liver donors.
Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Brain Death ; Cadaver ; Central Venous Pressure ; Denervation ; Dobutamine ; Dogs* ; Dopamine ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Laser-Doppler Flowmetry* ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation ; Microcirculation* ; Tissue Donors ; Vasoconstriction