Sample records for adjustable shunt resistance

  1. Intracranial Pressure-Guided Shunt Valve Adjustments with the Miethke Sensor Reservoir.

    PubMed

    Antes, Sebastian; Stadie, Axel; Müller, Simon; Linsler, Stefan; Breuskin, David; Oertel, Joachim

    2018-01-01

    Telemetric intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring seems to be a promising therapy-supporting option in shunt-treated patients. Benefits become obvious when headaches are unspecific and clinical symptoms cannot be related to possible overdrainage or underdrainage. In this study, we evaluated a new telemetric device to individually adjust shunt valves according to ICP measurements. Between December 2015 and November 2016, 25 patients with suspected suboptimal shunt valve settings underwent insertion of a telemetric ICP sensor (Sensor Reservoir; Christoph Miethke, Potsdam, Germany). Over a 1-year period, a total of 183 telemetric ICP measurements and 85 shunt valve adjustments were carried out. Retrospective statistic analyses focused on valve adjustments, ICP values, and clinical outcomes. ICP-guided valve adjustments positively changed the clinical state in 18 out of 25 patients. Clinical improvement over time was associated with significant changes of the valve settings and ICP values. Interestingly, a therapeutically normalized ICP profile was not automatically associated with clinical improvement. The Sensor Reservoir is an important and valuable tool for shunt-treated patients suffering from drainage-related problems. The possibility to simultaneously recognize and solve shunt problems represents the decisive advantage. Nevertheless, measurements with the Sensor Reservoir did not allow for the determination of default valve settings or universal target ICP values. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. Hydrocephalus shunt technology: 20 years of experience from the Cambridge Shunt Evaluation Laboratory.

    PubMed

    Chari, Aswin; Czosnyka, Marek; Richards, Hugh K; Pickard, John D; Czosnyka, Zofia H

    2014-03-01

    The Cambridge Shunt Evaluation Laboratory was established 20 years ago. This paper summarizes the findings of that laboratory for the clinician. Twenty-six models of valves have been tested long-term in the shunt laboratory according to the expanded International Organization for Standardization 7197 standard protocol. The majority of the valves had a nonphysiologically low hydrodynamic resistance (from 1.5 to 3 mm Hg/[ml/min]), which may result in overdrainage related to posture and during nocturnal cerebral vasogenic waves. A long distal catheter increases the resistance of these valves by 100%-200%. Drainage through valves without a siphon-preventing mechanism is very sensitive to body posture, which may result in grossly negative intracranial pressure. Siphon-preventing accessories offer a reasonable resistance to negative outlet pressure; however, accessories with membrane devices may be blocked by raised subcutaneous pressure. In adjustable valves, the settings may be changed by external magnetic fields of intensity above 40 mT (exceptions: ProGAV, Polaris, and Certas). Most of the magnetically adjustable valves produce large distortions on MRI studies. The behavior of a valve revealed during testing is of relevance to the surgeon and may not be adequately described in the manufacturer's product information. The results of shunt testing are helpful in many circumstances, such as the initial choice of shunt and the evaluation of the shunt when its dysfunction is suspected.

  3. Adjustable shunt valve-induced magnetic resonance imaging artifact: a comparative study.

    PubMed

    Toma, Ahmed K; Tarnaris, Andrew; Grieve, Joan P; Watkins, Laurence D; Kitchen, Neil D

    2010-07-01

    In this paper, the authors' goal was to compare the artifact induced by implanted (in vivo) adjustable shunt valves in spin echo, diffusion weighted (DW), and gradient echo MR imaging pulse sequences. The MR images obtained in 8 patients with proGAV and 6 patients with Strata II adjustable shunt valves were assessed for artifact areas in different planes as well as the total volume for different pulse sequences. Artifacts induced by the Strata II valve were significantly larger than those induced by proGAV valve in spin echo MR imaging pulse sequence (29,761 vs 2450 mm(3) on T2-weighted fast spin echo, p = 0.003) and DW images (100,138 vs 38,955 mm(3), p = 0.025). Artifacts were more marked on DW MR images than on spin echo pulse sequence for both valve types. Adjustable valve-induced artifacts can conceal brain pathology on MR images. This should influence the choice of valve implantation site and the type of valve used. The effect of artifacts on DW images should be highlighted pending the development of less MR imaging artifact-inducing adjustable shunt valves.

  4. Research of vibration control based on current mode piezoelectric shunt damping circuit

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Weiwei; Mao, Qibo

    2017-12-01

    The piezoelectric shunt damping circuit using current mode approach is imposed to control the vibration of a cantilever beam. Firstly, the simulated inductance with large values are designed for the corresponding RL series shunt circuits. Moreover, with an example of cantilever beam, the second natural frequency of the beam is targeted to control for experiment. By adjusting the values of the equivalent inductance and equivalent resistance of the shunt circuit, the optimal damping of the shunt circuit is obtained. Meanwhile, the designed piezoelectric shunt damping circuit stability is experimental verified. Experimental results show that the proposed piezoelectric shunt damping circuit based on current mode circuit has good vibration control performance. However, the control performance will be reduced if equivalent inductance and equivalent resistance values deviate from optimal values.

  5. [Shunt and short circuit].

    PubMed

    Rangel-Abundis, Alberto

    2006-01-01

    Shunt and short circuit are antonyms. In French, the term shunt has been adopted to denote the alternative pathway of blood flow. However, in French, as well as in Spanish, the word short circuit (court-circuit and cortocircuito) is synonymous with shunt, giving rise to a linguistic and scientific inconsistency. Scientific because shunt and short circuit made reference to a phenomenon that occurs in the field of the physics. Because shunt and short circuit are antonyms, it is necessary to clarify that shunt is an alternative pathway of flow from a net of high resistance to a net of low resistance, maintaining the stream. Short circuit is the interruption of the flow, because a high resistance impeaches the flood. This concept is applied to electrical and cardiovascular physiology, as well as to the metabolic pathways.

  6. Accurate expressions for solar cell fill factors including series and shunt resistances

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Green, Martin A.

    2016-02-01

    Together with open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current, fill factor is a key solar cell parameter. In their classic paper on limiting efficiency, Shockley and Queisser first investigated this factor's analytical properties showing, for ideal cells, it could be expressed implicitly in terms of the maximum power point voltage. Subsequently, fill factors usually have been calculated iteratively from such implicit expressions or from analytical approximations. In the absence of detrimental series and shunt resistances, analytical fill factor expressions have recently been published in terms of the Lambert W function available in most mathematical computing software. Using a recently identified perturbative relationship, exact expressions in terms of this function are derived in technically interesting cases when both series and shunt resistances are present but have limited impact, allowing a better understanding of their effect individually and in combination. Approximate expressions for arbitrary shunt and series resistances are then deduced, which are significantly more accurate than any previously published. A method based on the insights developed is also reported for deducing one-diode fits to experimental data.

  7. A randomised trial of high and low pressure level settings on an adjustable ventriculoperitoneal shunt valve for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus: results of the Dutch evaluation programme Strata shunt (DEPSS) trial.

    PubMed

    Delwel, Ernst J; de Jong, Dirk A; Dammers, Ruben; Kurt, Erkan; van den Brink, Wimar; Dirven, Clemens M F

    2013-07-01

    In treating idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) with a shunt there is always a risk of underdrainage or overdrainage. The hypothesis is tested whether patients treated using an adjustable valve preset at the highest opening pressure leads to comparable good clinical results with less subdural effusions than in a control group with an opening pressure preset at a low pressure level. A multicentre prospective randomised trial was performed on a total of 58 patients suspected of INPH. Thirty patients were assigned to (control) group 1 and received a Strata shunt (Medtronic, Goleta, USA) with the valve preset at a performance level (PL) of 1.0, while 28 patients were assigned to group 2 and received a Strata shunt with the valve preset at PL 2.5. In this group the PL was allowed to be lowered until improvement or radiological signs of overdrainage were met. Significantly more subdural effusions were observed in the improved patients of group 1. There was no statistically significant difference in improvement between both groups overall. On the basis of this multicentre prospective randomised trial it is to be recommended to treat patients with INPH with a shunt with an adjustable valve, preset at the highest opening pressure and lowered until clinical improvement or radiological signs of overdrainage occur although slower improvement and more shunt adjustments might be the consequence.

  8. Superconducting fault current-limiter with variable shunt impedance

    DOEpatents

    Llambes, Juan Carlos H; Xiong, Xuming

    2013-11-19

    A superconducting fault current-limiter is provided, including a superconducting element configured to resistively or inductively limit a fault current, and one or more variable-impedance shunts electrically coupled in parallel with the superconducting element. The variable-impedance shunt(s) is configured to present a first impedance during a superconducting state of the superconducting element and a second impedance during a normal resistive state of the superconducting element. The superconducting element transitions from the superconducting state to the normal resistive state responsive to the fault current, and responsive thereto, the variable-impedance shunt(s) transitions from the first to the second impedance. The second impedance of the variable-impedance shunt(s) is a lower impedance than the first impedance, which facilitates current flow through the variable-impedance shunt(s) during a recovery transition of the superconducting element from the normal resistive state to the superconducting state, and thus, facilitates recovery of the superconducting element under load.

  9. Effects of equivalent series resistance on the noise mitigation performance of piezoelectric shunt damping

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lai, Szu Cheng; Sharifzadeh Mirshekarloo, Meysam; Yao, Kui

    2017-05-01

    Piezoelectric shunt damping (PSD) utilizes an electrically-shunted piezoelectric damper attached on a panel structure to suppress the transmission of acoustic noise. The paper develops an understanding on the effects of equivalent series resistance (ESR) of the piezoelectric damper in a PSD system on noise mitigation performance, and demonstrates that an increased ESR leads to a significant rise in the noise transmissibility due to reduction in the system’s mechanical damping. It is further demonstrated with experimental results that ESR effects can be compensated in the shunt circuit to significantly improve the noise mitigation performance. A theoretical electrical equivalent model of the PSD incorporating the ESR is established for quantitative analysis of ESR effects on noise mitigation.

  10. Quality measurement in the shunt treatment of hydrocephalus: analysis and risk adjustment of the Revision Quotient.

    PubMed

    Piatt, Joseph H; Freibott, Christina E

    2014-07-01

    OBJECT.: The Revision Quotient (RQ) has been defined as the ratio of the number of CSF shunt revisions to the number of new shunt insertions for a particular neurosurgical practice in a unit of time. The RQ has been proposed as a quality measure in the treatment of childhood hydrocephalus. The authors examined the construct validity of the RQ and explored the feasibility of risk stratification under this metric. The Kids' Inpatient Database for 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2009 was queried for admissions with diagnostic codes for hydrocephalus and procedural codes for CSF shunt insertion or revision. Revision quotients were calculated for hospitals that performed 12 or more shunt insertions annually. The univariate associations of hospital RQs with a variety of institutional descriptors were analyzed, and a generalized linear model of the RQ was constructed. There were 12,244 admissions (34%) during which new shunts were inserted, and there were 23,349 admissions (66%) for shunt revision. Three hundred thirty-four annual RQs were calculated for 152 different hospitals. Analysis of variance in hospital RQs over the 5 years of study data supports the construct validity of the metric. The following factors were incorporated into a generalized linear model that accounted for 41% of the variance of the measured RQs: degree of pediatric specialization, proportion of initial case mix in the infant age group, and proportion with neoplastic hydrocephalus. The RQ has construct validity. Risk adjustment is feasible, but the risk factors that were identified relate predominantly to patterns of patient flow through the health care system. Possible advantages of an alternative metric, the Surgical Activity Ratio, are discussed.

  11. Faraday cup with nanosecond response and adjustable impedance for fast electron beam characterization.

    PubMed

    Hu, Jing; Rovey, Joshua L

    2011-07-01

    A movable Faraday cup design with simple structure and adjustable impedance is described in this work. This Faraday cup has external adjustable shunt resistance for self-biased measurement setup and 50 Ω characteristic impedance to match with 50 Ω standard BNC coaxial cable and vacuum feedthroughs for nanosecond-level pulse signal measurements. Adjustable shunt resistance allows self-biased measurements to be quickly acquired to determine the electron energy distribution function. The performance of the Faraday cup is validated by tests of response time and amplitude of output signal. When compared with a reference source, the percent difference of the Faraday cup signal fall time is less than 10% for fall times greater than 10 ns. The percent difference of the Faraday cup signal pulse width is below 6.7% for pulse widths greater than 10 ns. A pseudospark-generated electron beam is used to compare the amplitude of the Faraday cup signal with a calibrated F-70 commercial current transformer. The error of the Faraday cup output amplitude is below 10% for the 4-14 kV tested pseudospark voltages. The main benefit of this Faraday cup is demonstrated by adjusting the external shunt resistance and performing the self-biased method for obtaining the electron energy distribution function. Results from a 4 kV pseudospark discharge indicate a "double-humped" energy distribution.

  12. Use of the proGAV shunt valve in normal-pressure hydrocephalus.

    PubMed

    Toma, Ahmed K; Tarnaris, Andrew; Kitchen, Neil D; Watkins, Laurence D

    2011-06-01

    Overdrainage is a common complication associated with shunt insertion in normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) patients. Using adjustable valves with antigravity devices has been shown to reduce its incidence. The optimal starting setting of an adjustable shunt valve in NPH is debatable. To audit our single-center practice of setting adjustable valves. We performed a retrospective review of clinical records of all NPH patients treated in our unit between 2006 and 2009 by the insertion of shunts with a proGAV valve, recording demographic and clinical data, shunt complications, and revision rates. Radiological reports of postoperative follow-up computed tomography scans of the brain were reviewed for detected subdural hematomas. A proGAV adjustable valve was inserted in 50 probable NPH patients between July 2006 and November 2009. Mean ± SD age was 76 ± 7 years. Mean follow-up was 15 months. The initial shunt setting was 6 ± 3 cm H2O, and the final setting was 4.9 ± 1.9 cm H2O. Nineteen patients required 24 readjustment procedures (readjustment rate, 38%; readjustment number, 0.48 times per patient). One patient (2%) developed delayed bilateral subdural hematoma after readjustment of his shunt valve setting as an outpatient. Starting with a low opening pressure setting on a proGAV adjustable shunt valve does not increase the chances of overdrainage complications and reduces the need for repeated readjustments.

  13. Progressive Functional Underdrainage in Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunt-Dependent Women During Pregnancy: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

    PubMed

    Krauss, Philipp; Fritz-Naville, Marco; Regli, Luca; Stieglitz, Lennart Henning

    2018-01-01

    Since the 1950s cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt dependency has no longer been a contradiction to normal life, including sexuality and pregnancy in women, because of advances in the understanding of hydrocephalus and shunt technology. Although pregnancy in shunt-dependent women is rare, it causes uncertainty among treating physicians. We report the case of a 34-year-old pregnant woman with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Throughout her pregnancy she experienced progressive symptoms of CSF underdrainage without any signs of other pregnancy-related complications. After the delivery of a healthy infant, shunt resistance had to be readjusted to prepregnancy levels. A comprehensive review of the literature reports in English, listed in PubMed, is provided. Conservative treatment of pregnancy-related functional underdrainage by consecutive valve pressure adjustment is possible, easy, and safe. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  14. A wireless monitoring system for Hydrocephalus shunts.

    PubMed

    Narayanaswamy, A; Nourani, M; Tamil, L; Bianco, S

    2015-08-01

    Patients with Hydrocephalus are usually treated by diverting the excess Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) to other parts of the body using shunts. More than 40 percentage of shunts implanted fail within the first two years. Obstruction in the shunts is one of the major causes of failure (45 percent) and the detection of obstruction reduces the complexity of the revision surgery. This paper describes a proposed wireless monitoring system for clog detection and flow measurement in shunts. A prototype was built using multiple pressure sensors along the shunt catheters for sensing the location of clog and flow rate. Regular monitoring of flow rates can be used to adjust the valve in the shunt to prevent over drainage or under drainage of CSF. The accuracy of the flow measurement is more than 90 percent.

  15. Metallurgical Effects of Shunting Current on Resistance Spot-Welded Joints of AA2219 Sheets

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jafari Vardanjani, M.; Araee, A.; Senkara, J.; Jakubowski, J.; Godek, J.

    2016-08-01

    Shunting effect is the loss of electrical current via the secondary circuit provided due to the existence of previous nugget in a series of welding spots. This phenomenon influences on metallurgical aspects of resistance spot-welded (RSW) joints in terms of quality and performance. In this paper RSW joints of AA2219 sheets with 1 mm thickness are investigated metallurgically for shunted and single spots. An electro-thermal finite element analysis is performed on the RSW process of shunted spot and temperature distribution and variation are obtained. These predictions are then compared with experimental micrographs. Three values of 5 mm, 20 mm, and infinite (i.e., single spot) are assumed for welding distance. Numerical and experimental results are matching each other in terms of nugget and HAZ geometry as increasing distance raised nugget size and symmetry of HAZ. In addition, important effect of shunting current on nugget thickness, microstructure, and Copper segregation on HAZ grain boundaries were discovered. A quantitative analysis is also performed about the influence of welding distance on important properties including ratio of nugget thickness and diameter ( r t), ratio of HAZ area on shunted and free side of nugget ( r HA), and ratio of equivalent segregated and total amount of Copper, measured in sample ( r Cu) on HAZ. Increasing distance from 5 mm to infinite, indicated a gain of 111.04, -45.55, and -75.15% in r t, r HA, and r Cu, respectively, while obtained ratios for 20 mm welding distance was suitable compared to single spot.

  16. Primary ventriculoperitoneal shunting outcomes: a multicentre clinical audit for shunt infection and its risk factors.

    PubMed

    Woo, P Ym; Wong, H T; Pu, J Ks; Wong, W K; Wong, L Yw; Lee, M Wy; Yam, K Y; Lui, W M; Poon, W S

    2016-10-01

    To determine the frequency of primary ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection among patients treated at neurosurgical centres of the Hospital Authority and to identify underlying risk factors. This multicentre historical cohort study included consecutive patients who underwent primary ventriculoperitoneal shunting at a Hospital Authority neurosurgery centre from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2011. The primary endpoint was shunt infection, defined as: (1) the presence of cerebrospinal fluid or shunt hardware culture that yielded the pathogenic micro-organism with associated compatible symptoms and signs of central nervous system infection or shunt malfunction; or (2) surgical incision site infection requiring shunt reinsertion (even in the absence of positive culture); or (3) intraperitoneal pseudocyst formation (even in the absence of positive culture). Secondary endpoints were shunt malfunction, defined as unsatisfactory cerebrospinal fluid drainage that required shunt reinsertion, and 30-day mortality. A primary ventriculoperitoneal shunt was inserted in 538 patients during the study period. The mean age of patients was 48 years (range, 13-88 years) with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1. Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage was the most common aetiology (n=169, 31%) followed by intracranial tumour (n=164, 30%), central nervous system infection (n=42, 8%), and traumatic brain injury (n=27, 5%). The mean operating time was 75 (standard deviation, 29) minutes. Shunt reinsertion and infection rates were 16% (n=87) and 7% (n=36), respectively. The most common cause for shunt reinsertion was malfunction followed by shunt infection. Independent predictors for shunt infection were: traumatic brain injury (adjusted odds ratio=6.2; 95% confidence interval, 2.3-16.8), emergency shunting (2.3; 1.0-5.1), and prophylactic vancomycin as the sole antibiotic (3.4; 1.1-11.0). The 30-day all-cause mortality was 6% and none were directly procedure-related. This is the first Hong Kong

  17. Aqueous shunt implantation in glaucoma

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Jing; Barton, Keith

    2017-01-01

    Aqueous shunts or glaucoma drainage devices are increasingly utilized in the management of refractory glaucoma. The general design of the most commonly-used shunts is based on the principles of the Molteno implant: ie. a permanent sclerostomy (tube), a predetermined bleb area (plate) and diversion of aqueous humour to the equatorial region and away from the limbal subconjunctival space. These three factors make aqueous shunts more resistant to scarring as compared to trabeculectomy. The two most commonly used shunts are the Ahmed Glaucoma Valve, which contains a flow-restrictor, and the non-valved Baervedlt Glaucoma Implant. While the valved implants have a lower tendency to hypotony and related complications, the non-valved implants with larger, more-biocompatible end plate design, achieve lower intraocular pressures with less encapsulation. Non-valved implants require additional suturing techniques to prevent early hypotony and a number of these methods will be described. Although serious shunt-related infection is rare, corneal decompensation and diplopia are small but significant risks. PMID:29034151

  18. Passively Shunted Piezoelectric Damping of Centrifugally-Loaded Plates

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Duffy, Kirsten P.; Provenza, Andrew J.; Trudell, Jeffrey J.; Min, James B.

    2009-01-01

    Researchers at NASA Glenn Research Center have been investigating shunted piezoelectric circuits as potential damping treatments for turbomachinery rotor blades. This effort seeks to determine the effects of centrifugal loading on passively-shunted piezoelectric - damped plates. Passive shunt circuit parameters are optimized for the plate's third bending mode. Tests are performed both non-spinning and in the Dynamic Spin Facility to verify the analysis, and to determine the effectiveness of the damping under centrifugal loading. Results show that a resistive shunt circuit will reduce resonant vibration for this configuration. However, a tuned shunt circuit will be required to achieve the desired damping level. The analysis and testing address several issues with passive shunt circuit implementation in a rotating system, including piezoelectric material integrity under centrifugal loading, shunt circuit implementation, and tip mode damping.

  19. Validated linear dynamic model of electrically-shunted magnetostrictive transducers with application to structural vibration control

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Scheidler, Justin J.; Asnani, Vivake M.

    2017-03-01

    This paper presents a linear model of the fully-coupled electromechanical behavior of a generally-shunted magnetostrictive transducer. The impedance and admittance representations of the model are reported. The model is used to derive the effect of the shunt’s electrical impedance on the storage modulus and loss factor of the transducer without neglecting the inherent resistance of the transducer’s coil. The expressions are normalized and then shown to also represent generally-shunted piezoelectric materials that have a finite leakage resistance. The generalized expressions are simplified for three shunts: resistive, series resistive-capacitive, and inductive, which are considered for shunt damping, resonant shunt damping, and stiffness tuning, respectively. For each shunt, the storage modulus and loss factor are plotted for a wide range of the normalized parameters. Then, important trends and their impact on different applications are discussed. An experimental validation of the transducer model is presented for the case of resistive and resonant shunts. The model closely predicts the measured response for a variety of operating conditions. This paper also introduces a model for the dynamic compliance of a vibrating structure that is coupled to a magnetostrictive transducer for shunt damping and resonant shunt damping applications. This compliance is normalized and then shown to be analogous to that of a structure that is coupled to a piezoelectric material. The derived analogies allow for the observations and equations in the existing literature on structural vibration control using shunted piezoelectric materials to be directly applied to the case of shunted magnetostrictive transducers.

  20. Intrinsically shunted Josephson junctions for electronics applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Belogolovskii, M.; Zhitlukhina, E.; Lacquaniti, V.; De Leo, N.; Fretto, M.; Sosso, A.

    2017-07-01

    Conventional Josephson metal-insulator-metal devices are inherently underdamped and exhibit hysteretic current-voltage response due to a very high subgap resistance compared to that in the normal state. At the same time, overdamped junctions with single-valued characteristics are needed for most superconducting digital applications. The usual way to overcome the hysteretic behavior is to place an external low-resistance normal-metal shunt in parallel with each junction. Unfortunately, such solution results in a considerable complication of the circuitry design and introduces parasitic inductance through the junction. This paper provides a concise overview of some generic approaches that have been proposed in order to realize internal shunting in Josephson heterostructures with a barrier that itself contains the desired resistive component. The main attention is paid to self-shunted devices with local weak-link transmission probabilities that are so strongly disordered in the interface plane that transmission probabilities are tiny for the main part of the transition region between two super-conducting electrodes, while a small part of the interface is well transparent. We discuss the possibility of realizing a universal bimodal distribution function and emphasize advantages of such junctions that can be considered as a new class of self-shunted Josephson devices promising for practical applications in superconducting electronics operating at 4.2 K.

  1. Use of programmable versus nonprogrammable shunts in the management of hydrocephalus secondary to aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a retrospective study with cost-benefit analysis.

    PubMed

    Lee, Lester; King, Nicolas K K; Kumar, Dinesh; Ng, Yew Poh; Rao, Jai; Ng, Huiyu; Lee, Kah Keow; Wang, Ernest; Ng, Ivan

    2014-10-01

    The choice of programmable or nonprogrammable shunts for the management of hydrocephalus after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) remains undefined. Variable intracranial pressures make optimal management difficult. Programmable shunts have been shown to reduce problems with drainage, but at 3 times the cost of nonprogrammable shunts. All patients who underwent insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for hydrocephalus after aneurysmal SAH between 2006 and 2012 were included. Patients were divided into those in whom nonprogrammable shunts and those in whom programmable shunts were inserted. The rates of shunt revisions, the reasons for adjustments of shunt settings in patients with programmable devices, and the effectiveness of the adjustments were analyzed. A cost-benefit analysis was also conducted to determine if the overall cost for programmable shunts was more than for nonprogrammable shunts. Ninety-four patients underwent insertion of shunts for hydrocephalus secondary to SAH. In 37 of these patients, nonprogrammable shunts were inserted, whereas in 57 programmable shunts were inserted. Four (7%) of 57 patients with programmable devices underwent shunt revision, whereas 8 (21.6%) of 37 patients with nonprogrammable shunts underwent shunt revision (p = 0.0413), and 4 of these patients had programmable shunts inserted during shunt revision. In 33 of 57 patients with programmable shunts, adjustments were made. The adjustments were for a trial of functional improvement (n = 21), overdrainage (n = 5), underdrainage (n = 6), or overly sunken skull defect (n = 1). Of these 33 patients, 24 showed neurological improvements (p = 0.012). Cost-benefit analysis showed $646.60 savings (US dollars) per patient if programmable shunts were used, because the cost of shunt revision is a lot higher than the cost of the shunt. The rate of shunt revision is lower in patients with programmable devices, and these are therefore more cost-effective. In addition, the shunt

  2. Prediction of Susceptibility to Acute Mountain Sickness Using Hypoxia-Induced Intrapulmonary Arteriovenous Shunt and Intracardiac Shunt Fractions

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-10-31

    intrapulmonary and intracardiac shunt using saline contrast echocardiography to determine bubble/shunt scores. We will also use nuclear medicine imaging to...subjects have completed saline contrast echocardiography while breathing hypoxic gas mixtures. For Task #2 “10 hr hypoxic exposure and AMS... echocardiography while breathing an FIO2=0.14, will be susceptible or resistant to developing AMS after 10 hr hypoxic exposure. For Task #3 “Hypoxia

  3. Calibration of piezoelectric RL shunts with explicit residual mode correction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Høgsberg, Jan; Krenk, Steen

    2017-01-01

    Piezoelectric RL (resistive-inductive) shunts are passive resonant devices used for damping of dominant vibration modes of a flexible structure and their efficiency relies on the precise calibration of the shunt components. In the present paper improved calibration accuracy is attained by an extension of the local piezoelectric transducer displacement by two additional terms, representing the flexibility and inertia contributions from the residual vibration modes not directly addressed by the shunt damping. This results in an augmented dynamic model for the targeted resonant vibration mode, in which the residual contributions, represented by two correction factors, modify both the apparent transducer capacitance and the shunt circuit impedance. Explicit expressions for the correction of the shunt circuit inductance and resistance are presented in a form that is generally applicable to calibration formulae derived on the basis of an assumed single-mode structure, where modal interaction has been neglected. A design procedure is devised and subsequently verified by a numerical example, which demonstrates that effective mitigation can be obtained for an arbitrary vibration mode when the residual mode correction is included in the calibration of the RL shunt.

  4. Does CSF outflow resistance predict the response to shunting in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus?

    PubMed

    Boon, A J; Tans, J T; Delwel, E J; Egeler-Peerdeman, S M; Hanlo, P W; Wurzer, J A; Avezaat, C J; de Jong, D A; Gooskens, R H; Hermans, J

    1998-01-01

    The value of the measurements of CSF outflow resistance (Rcsf) relative to predicting outcome after shunting was studied. In a group of 101 patients with mainly idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) Rcsf was obtained by lumbar constant flow infusion. Gait disturbance and dementia were quantified using an NPH scale (NPHS) and disability by the Modified Rankin scale (MRS). Patients were assessed before and at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after surgery. Outcome measures were differences between the preoperative and last NPHS and MRS scores. Improvement was defined as a change of > or = 15% in NPHS and > or = 1 grade in MRS. Intention-to-treat analysis of all patients at one year yielded improvement of 57% in NPHS and 59% in MRS. Efficacy analysis, excluding comorbidity unrelated to NPH, revealed positive predictive values of around 80% at Rcsf < 18, and between 90% and 100% at Rcsf > or = 18 mm Hg/ml/min. For Rcsf > or = 18, the likelihood ratios were also higher. We conclude that the best predictor of the response to shunting is an Rcsf > or = 18 mm Hg/ml/min. Since two-thirds of the patients with Rcsf < 18 showed improvement as well, these patients should not be denied shunting.

  5. Reduction of ventricular size after shunting for normal pressure hydrocephalus related to CSF dynamics before shunting.

    PubMed Central

    Tans, J T; Poortvliet, D C

    1988-01-01

    Reduction of ventricular size was determined by repeated computed tomography in 30 adult patients shunted for normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) and related to the pressure-volume index (PVI) and resistance to outflow of cerebrospinal fluid (Rcsf) measured before shunting. Rapid and marked reduction of ventricular size (n = 10) was associated with a significantly lower PVI than slow and moderate to marked (n = 13) or minimal to mild reduction (n = 7). Otherwise no relationship could be found between the reduction of ventricular size and PVI or Rcsf. It is concluded that both rate and magnitude of reduction of ventricular size after shunting for NPH are extremely variable. High brain elasticity seems to be the best predictor of rapid and marked reduction. PMID:3379425

  6. To shunt or not to shunt? An experimental study comparing temporary vascular shunts and venous ligation as damage control techniques for vascular trauma.

    PubMed

    Marinho de Oliveira Góes Junior, Adenauer; de Campos Vieira Abib, Simone; de Seixas Alves, Maria Teresa; Venerando da Silva Ferreira, Paulo Sérgio; Carvalho de Andrade, Mariseth

    2014-04-01

    Eq/L on the left EIV (P < 0.05). In the developed experimental model, venous shunting, when compared with venous ligation, offered less resistance to vascular flow through the arterial shunt and allowed a more efficient limb venous drainage than simple vein ligature. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. Overdrainage and shunt technology. A critical comparison of programmable, hydrostatic and variable-resistance valves and flow-reducing devices.

    PubMed

    Aschoff, A; Kremer, P; Benesch, C; Fruh, K; Klank, A; Kunze, S

    1995-04-01

    When vertical body position is simulated, conventional differential pressure valves show an absolutely unphysiological flow, which is 2-170 times the normal liquor production rate. Although this is compensated in part by the resistance of the silicon tubes, which may produce up to 94% of the resistance of the complete shunt system, a negative intracranial pressure (ICP) of up to 30-44 cmH2O is an unavoidable consequence, which can be followed by subdural hematomas, slit ventricles, and other well-known complications. Modern shunt technology offers programmable, hydrostatic, and "flow-controlled" valves and anti-siphon devices; we have tested 13 different designs from 7 manufacturers (56 specimens), using the "Heidelberg Valve Test Inventory" with 16 subtests. "Programmable" valves reduce, but cannot exclude, unphysiological flow rates: even in the highest position and in combination with a standard catheter typical programmable Medos-Hakim valves allow a flow of 93-232 ml/h, Sophy SU-8-valves 86-168 ml/h with 30 cmH2O. The effect of hydrostatic valves (Hakim-Lumbar, Chhabra) can be inactivated by movements of daily life. The weight of the metal balls in most valves was too low for adequate flow reduction. Antisiphon devices are highly dependent on external, i.e. subcutaneous, pressure which has unpredictable influences on shunt function, and clinically is sometimes followed by shunt insufficiency. Two new Orbis-Sigma valves showed relatively physiological flow rates even when the vertical position (30 cmH2O) was simulated. One showed an insufficient flow (5.7 ml/h), and one was primarily obstructed. These have by far the smallest outlet of all valves. Additionally, the ruby pin tends to stick. Therefore, a high susceptibility to obliterations and blockade is unavoidable. Encouraging results obtained in pediatric patients contrast with disappointing experiences in some German and Swedish hospitals, which suggests that our laboratory findings are confirmed by

  8. Persistent hydrocephalus due to postural activation of a ventricular shunt anti-gravity device.

    PubMed

    Craven, Claudia L; Toma, Ahmed K; Watkins, Laurence D

    2017-03-01

    The ever present need to balance over drainage with under drainage in hydrocephalus has required innovations including adjustable valves with antigravity devices. These are activated in the vertical position to prevent siphoning. We describe a group of bedridden patients who presented with unexplained under drainage caused by activation of antigravity shunt components produced by peculiar head/body position. Retrospective single centre case series of hydrocephalus patients, treated with ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt insertion between April 2014 - February 2016. These patients presented with clinical and radiological under drainage syndrome. Medical notes were reviewed for clinical picture and outcome. Radiological studies were reviewed assessing shunt placement and ventricular size. Seven patients presented with clinical and radiological under drainage syndrome. A consistent posturing of long term hyper-flexion of the neck whilst lying supine was observed. All patients had similar shunt construct (adjustable Miethke ProGAV valve and shunt assistant anti-gravity component). In each of those patients a hypothesis was formulated that neck flexion was activating the shunt assistance anti-gravity component in supine position. Five patients underwent shunt revision surgery removing the shunt assistant device from the cranium and adding an anti-gravity component to the shunt system at the chest. One had the shunt assistant completely removed and one patient was managed conservatively with mobilisation. All patients had clinical and radiological improvement. Antigravity shunt components implanted cranially in bedridden hydrocephalus patients will produce underdrainage due to head flexion induced anti-gravity device activation. In these patients, anti-gravity devices should be placed at the chest. Alternatively, special nursing attention should be paid to head-trunk angle. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Gravitational shunt units may cause under-drainage in bedridden patients.

    PubMed

    Kaestner, S; Kruschat, T; Nitzsche, N; Deinsberger, W

    2009-03-01

    Implantation of a shunt in a hydrocephalic patient still carries a risk of complications such as over-drainage and under-drainage. Gravitational shunt units are especially designed to minimize the problem of over-drainage. Nevertheless, these valves carry a risk of under-drainage. The best choice of valve for a patient is still challenging. The purpose of this survey was to identify in which patients a gravitational shunt valve is liable to lead to under-drainage. Patients with hydrocephalus entered prospectively into a data base were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were treated between January 2006 to the end of Feb 2007 and those experiencing under- or over-drainage were identified. Thirty-five ventriculo-peritoneal shunt systems were implanted in adult patients. The cause of the hydrocephalus was: normal pressure hydrocephalus in 18 patients, post-haemorrhagic following subarachnoid or intracerebral haemorrhage in 11, associated with a tumour in four and followed a head injury in two patients. Three different valves were used: an adjustable shunt valve with gravitational unit (Pro-GAV 0-20/25 in 21 patients), a gravitational shunt valve with fixed opening pressure (GAV 5/30 in nine patients) and an adjustable differential valve (Hakim medos in five patients). Four patients developed severe, valve-related under-drainage. Each had received a gravitational shunt valve and all were bedridden. In two of these patients it was necessary to change the valve. One patient who had received a differential valve, after regaining mobility developed severe over-drainage with bilateral subdural haematomas. Over-drainage was not seen in long-term bedridden patients with a differential shunt valve. If a bedridden patient with a gravitational shunt valve system lies with a slightly elevated head, this leads to activation of the gravitational unit and this may cause under drainage. As a result, we advise not using an anti-siphon devices in a patient who is bedridden for a

  10. Decreased head circumference in shunt-treated compared with healthy children.

    PubMed

    Nilsson, Daniel; Svensson, Johanna; Korkmaz, Betül A; Nelvig, Helena; Tisell, Magnus

    2013-11-01

    In this study, the authors' goal was to compare head circumference in hydrocephalic children during the first 4 years of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt treatment with data on healthy children and to investigate predictors of skull growth in children with a VP shunt. Children from western Sweden treated for hydrocephalus with an initial VP shunt insertion performed between 2001 and 2006 who were younger than 12 months of age at the time of surgery were included. Children with major brain malformations, craniofacial syndromes, large cysts, and tumors were excluded. Head circumference, weight, and height at 9 defined ages up to 4 years were obtained and compared with data from a reference population of 3650 healthy children using the standard deviation score (SDS). Predictors (length, weight, etiology of hydrocephalus, valve type, number of revisions, valve setting, number of adjustments, and time of first surgery) for head circumference SDS and changes in head circumference SDS from shunt insertion at 1 year to last measurement were analyzed using bivariate and multiple linear regression analysis. Fifty children were included. The mean SDSs for head circumference in shunt-treated compared with healthy children were 1.95 ± 2.50 at shunt insertion (p < 0.001, n = 44), 0.38 ± 1.97 at 1 year (p = 0.27, n = 33), -0.96 ± 2.05 at 2 years (p = 0.046, n = 21), -1.39 ± 2.25 at 3 years (p = 0.026, n = 16), and 0.63 ± 3.34 at 4 years (p = 0.73, n = 4). Significant predictors for low head circumference SDS at 1 year of age were low weight (p = 0.002) and short height (p = 0.022) and at last measurement low weight (p < 0.0001), short height (p = 0.002), and 1-4 shunt revisions (p = 0.034). A significant predictor for change in head circumference SDS from shunt insertion to 1 year of age was the number of shunt valve revisions (p = 0.04) and at last measurement an etiology of intraventricular hemorrhage (p = 0.0058). Shunt-treated children have smaller head circumferences at

  11. Glaucoma in patients with shunt-treated normal pressure hydrocephalus.

    PubMed

    Gallina, Pasquale; Savastano, Alfonso; Becattini, Eleonora; Orlandini, Simone; Scollato, Antonio; Rizzo, Stanislao; Carreras, Giulia; Di Lorenzo, Nicola; Porfirio, Berardino

    2017-11-17

    OBJECTIVE Changes in the pressure gradient between intraocular and intracranial compartments at the lamina cribrosa level are a possible explanation of normal tension glaucoma (NTG). Shunt-treated normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a model for testing whether the increase (time from disease onset to CSF shunt placement, i.e., "protection period") and decrease (time from shunt placement to observation, i.e., "exposure period") in intracranial pressure (ICP) are glaucoma protective or risk factors, respectively. The authors estimated the prevalence of NTG in patients with shunt-treated NPH and calculated the extent of optic nerve exposure to changes in the trans-lamina cribrosa gradient. METHODS Data obtained in patients with NPH who had undergone ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement were analyzed. Patients with more than 6 months' follow-up, no pathologies associated with ICP changes or CSF dynamics disturbances, and no surgical or valve-related complications were scheduled for ophthalmic evaluation. RESULTS Nine of 22 patients had NTG, which is about a 40-fold increase in rate compared with the rate in the general elderly population without hydrocephalus (p < 0.001). The median protection period was 12.0 months in patients with NTG and 18.0 months in those without NTG (p = 0.033). The median ICP decrease multiplied by duration of exposure in months was 76.0 mm Hg × months in the NTG group and 24.1 mm Hg × months in the no-NTG group (p = 0.048). The patients' median adjusted age (adjusted for "protection" and "exposure" times) was 85.1 years in the NTG group and 78.8 years in the no-NTG group (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS A crucial risk factor for development of NTG in patients with shunt-treated NPH is the duration of optic nerve exposure to the lowering of ICP. Patients with NPH who are candidates for CSF shunting should be informed of the risk of incurring glaucoma. Longitudinal studies could provide estimates of tolerated times for a given ICP decrease.

  12. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt - discharge

    MedlinePlus

    ... ventriculoperitoneal - discharge; VP shunt - discharge; Shunt revision - discharge; Hydrocephalus shunt placement - discharge ... Your child has hydrocephalus and needed a shunt placed to drain excess fluid and relieve pressure in the brain. This buildup of brain ...

  13. Effect of bladder augmentation on VP shunt failure rates in spina bifida.

    PubMed

    Gonzalez, Dani O; Cooper, Jennifer N; McLeod, Daryl J

    2017-12-11

    Most patients with spina bifida require ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement. Some also require bladder augmentation, which may increase the risk of VP shunt malfunction and/or failure. The aim of this study was to assess whether bladder augmentation affects the rate of VP shunt failure in this population. Using the Pediatric Health Information System, we studied patients with spina bifida born between 1992 and 2014 who underwent VP shunt placement. Using conditional logistic regression, we compared age- and hospital-matched patients who did and did not undergo a bladder augmentation to determine their difference in rates of VP shunt failure. There were 4192 patients with spina bifida who underwent both surgical closure and VP shunt placement. Of these, 203 patients with bladder augmentation could be matched to 593 patients without bladder augmentation. VP shunt failure occurred within 2 years in 7.7% of patients, the majority of whom were in the group who underwent bladder augmentation (87%). After adjusting for confounders, undergoing bladder augmentation was independently associated with VP shunt failure (HR: 33.5, 95% CI: 13.15-85.44, p< 0.001). Bladder augmentation appears to be associated with VP shunt failure. Additional studies are necessary to better define this relationship and identify risk-reduction techniques.

  14. Should ventriculoatrial shunting be the procedure of choice for normal-pressure hydrocephalus?

    PubMed

    McGovern, Robert A; Kelly, Kathleen M; Chan, Andrew K; Morrissey, Nicholas J; McKhann, Guy M

    2014-06-01

    Ventriculoatrial (VA) shunting is rarely used for patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), likely due to surgeon technical preference and case reports indicating cardiopulmonary complications. However, these complications have typically been limited to adults in whom VA shunts had been placed when they were children. Few studies have directly compared VA shunting to ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting in cases of NPH. The authors retrospectively analyzed all NPH patients treated by a single surgeon at their center from January 2002 through December 2011. Thirty patients were treated with VA shunts (14 male) and 157 with VP shunts (86 male). The patients' mean age (± SD) at surgery was 73.7 ± 9.4 years for VA shunting and 76.0 ± 8.2 years for VP shunting; the median durations of follow-up were 42.0 months (IQR 19.2-63.6 months) and 34.2 months (IQR 15.8-67.5), respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square tests and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Perioperative and postoperative complications for VA and VP shunting cohorts, respectively, included distal revision (2.7% vs 6.6%, p = 0.45), proximal revision (2.7% vs 2.5%, p = 0.97), and postoperative seizure (2.7% vs 1.5%, p = 0.62). Shunt drainage-related subdural hematomas/hygromas developed in 8.1%/27.0% of VA shunt-treated patients versus 6.6%/26.4% of VP shunt-treated patients (p = 0.76/0.98) and were nearly always successfully managed with programmable-valve adjustment. Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (1.5%) and shunt infection (2.0%) were only observed in those who underwent VP shunting. Of note, no cardiovascular complications were observed in any patient, and there were no cases of distal occlusion of the VA shunt. The authors found no significant differences in complication rates between VA and VP shunting, and VA shunting was not associated with any cardiopulmonary complications. Thus, in the authors' experience, VA shunting is at least as safe as VP shunting for treating NPH.

  15. Management of idiopathic intracranial hypertension with a programmable lumboperitoneal shunt: Early experience.

    PubMed

    Alkherayf, Fahad; Abou Al-Shaar, Hussam; Awad, Michael

    2015-09-01

    To evaluate the clinical outcomes and complications rate among idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) patients who underwent lumboperitoneal (LP) shunt insertion with a programmable Strata valve. We retrospectively evaluated patients who underwent LP shunt with a programmable Strata valve insertion at the University of Ottawa Civic Hospital from November 2012 to June 2013. The demographic data, clinical symptoms, opening pressure, pre-operative and post-operative visual fields, neuroimaging, visual acuity, disc status, and complications were recorded and analyzed. Seven female patients with IIH underwent insertion of an LP shunt with a programmable Strata valve. The mean opening pressure was 35.8 cm H2O. The initial valve setting was 1.5, and four patients required post-operative valve pressure adjustment. All patients showed significant improvement in objective visual testing at follow-up as well as less frequent headaches. None of the patients developed intra- or post-operative complications. LP shunts with programmable Strata valve systems are a potential alternative to conventional LP and programmable ventriculoperitoneal shunt systems as well as optic nerve sheath fenestration, due to their potential in avoiding brain injury, lower failure and complication rates, lower intracranial hypotension incidence, and flexibility in adjusting valve pressure settings post-operatively evading under- and overdrainage complications. They should be considered for the management of IIH instead of early design LP systems and VP shunts. A randomized multi-center trial should be conducted to compare the efficacy of these surgical techniques. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  16. Adjustable valves in normal-pressure hydrocephalus: a retrospective study of 218 patients.

    PubMed

    Zemack, Göran; Romner, Bertil

    2002-12-01

    We sought to assess the value of adjusting shunt valve opening pressure, complications, and outcomes with the use of an adjustable shunt valve in the treatment of patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). In a single-center retrospective study, 231 adjustable valves (range, 30-200 mm H(2)O) were the first shunt implantations in 147 patients with idiopathic NPH (INPH) and 71 patients with secondary NPH (SNPH). The effect of adjustment on gait disturbance, cognitive impairment, urinary incontinence and other symptoms were evaluated, and an improvement index was created. In the INPH group, 138 adjustments were performed in 49.0% of the patients (average, 0.94 adjustments/patient). For the SNPH group, 49 adjustments were performed in 32.4% of the patients (average, 0.69 adjustments/patient). The reasons for adjustment were overdrainage in 48 patients (25.7%), underdrainage in 98 patients (52.4%), subdural hematoma in 37 patients (19.8%), and other reasons in 2 patients (2.1%). Clinical status improved after 56 (49.1%) of all 114 adjustments, whereas 23 (42.6%) of 54 minor (< or =20 mm H2O) and 33 (66.0%) of 50 larger adjustments improved the patient's clinical status. The correlation of the improvement index with the size of the individual adjustments was not significant. Complications occurred in 43 (19.7%) of 218 patients, valve malfunction occurred in 3 patients (1.3%), infection occurred in 14 patients (6.4%), and nontraumatic subdural effusion occurred in 15 patients (6.9%; 8 were treated by adjustment alone). The 5-year shunt survival rate was 80.2%. Outcomes were excellent or good in 71 (78.9%) of 90 patients with INPH and in 30 (69.8%) of 43 patients with SNPH. Noninvasive, particularly consecutive, minor or single larger adjustments to the valve opening pressure can further improve outcome in patients with NPH who undergo shunting.

  17. Superconductor Electronics Fabrication Process with MoNx Kinetic Inductors and Self-Shunted Josephson Junctions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tolpygo, Sergey K.; Bolkhovsky, Vladimir; Oates, Daniel E.; Rastogi, Ravi; Zarr, Scott; Day, Alexandra L.; Weir, Tarence J.; Wynn, Alex; Johnson, Leonard M.

    2018-06-01

    Recent progress in superconductor electronics fabrication has enabled single-flux-quantum (SFQ) digital circuits with close to one million Josephson junctions (JJs) on 1-cm$^2$ chips. Increasing the integration scale further is challenging because of the large area of SFQ logic cells, mainly determined by the area of resistively shunted Nb/AlO$_x$-Al/Nb JJs and geometrical inductors utilizing multiple layers of Nb. To overcome these challenges, we are developing a fabrication process with self-shunted high-J$_c$ JJs and compact thin-film MoN$_x$ kinetic inductors instead of geometrical inductors. We present fabrication details and properties of MoN$_x$ films with a wide range of T$_c$, including residual stress, electrical resistivity, critical current, and magnetic field penetration depth {\\lambda}$_0$. As kinetic inductors, we implemented Mo$_2$N films with T$_c$ about 8 K, {\\lambda}$_0$ about 0.51 {\\mu}m, and inductance adjustable in the range from 2 to 8 pH/sq. We also present data on fabrication and electrical characterization of Nb-based self-shunted JJs with AlO$_x$ tunnel barriers and J$_c$ = 0.6 mA/{\\mu}m$^2$, and with 10-nm thick Si$_{1-x}$Nb$_x$ barriers, with x from 0.03 to 0.15, fabricated on 200-mm wafers by co-sputtering. We demonstrate that the electron transport mechanism in Si$_{1-x}$Nb$_x$ barriers at x < 0.08 is inelastic resonant tunneling via chains of multiple localized states. At larger x, their Josephson characteristics are strongly dependent on x and residual stress in Nb electrodes, and in general are inferior to AlO$_x$ tunnel barriers.

  18. Sound absorption of a finite micro-perforated panel backed by a shunted loudspeaker.

    PubMed

    Tao, Jiancheng; Jing, Ruixiang; Qiu, Xiaojun

    2014-01-01

    Deep back cavities are usually required for micro-perforated panel (MPP) constructions to achieve good low frequency absorption. To overcome the problem, a close-box loudspeaker with a shunted circuit is proposed to substitute the back wall of the cavity of the MPP constructions to constitute a composite absorber. Based on the equivalent circuit model, the acoustic impedance of the shunted loudspeaker is formulated first, then a prediction model of the sound absorption of the MPP backed by shunted loudspeaker is developed by employing the mode solution of a finite size MPP coupled by an air cavity with an impendence back wall. The MPP absorbs mid to high frequency sound, and with properly adjusted electrical parameters of its shunted circuit, the shunted loudspeaker absorbs low frequency sound, so the composite absorber provides a compact solution to broadband sound control. Numerical simulations and experiments are carried out to validate the model.

  19. Universality of Non-Ohmic Shunt Leakage in Thin-Film Solar Cells

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Dongaonkar, S.; Servaites, J.D.; Ford, G.M.

    2010-01-01

    We compare the dark current-voltage (IV) characteristics of three different thin-film solar cell types: hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) p-i-n cells, organic bulk heterojunction (BHJ) cells, and Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGS) cells. All three device types exhibit a significant shunt leakage current at low forward bias (V<~0.4) and reverse bias, which cannot be explained by the classical solar cell diode model. This parasitic shunt current exhibits non-Ohmic behavior, as opposed to the traditional constant shunt resistance model for photovoltaics. We show here that this shunt leakage (I sh) , across all three solar cell types considered, is characterized by the following commonmore » phenomenological features: (a) voltage symmetry about V=0 , (b) nonlinear (power law) voltage dependence, and (c) extremely weak temperature dependence. Based on this analysis, we provide a simple method of subtracting this shunt current component from the measured data and discuss its implications on dark IV parameter extraction. We propose a space charge limited (SCL) current model for capturing all these features of the shunt leakage in a consistent framework and discuss possible physical origin of the parasitic paths responsible for this shunt current mechanism.« less

  20. Tunable elastic parity-time symmetric structure based on the shunted piezoelectric materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hou, Zhilin; Assouar, Badreddine

    2018-02-01

    We theoretically and numerically report on the tunable elastic Parity-Time (PT) symmetric structure based on shunted piezoelectric units. We show that the elastic loss and gain can be archived in piezoelectric materials when they are shunted by external circuits containing positive and negative resistances. We present and discuss, as an example, the strongly dependent relationship between the exceptional points of a three-layered system and the impedance of their external shunted circuit. The achieved results evidence that the PT symmetric structures based on this proposed concept can actively be tuned without any change of their geometric configurations.

  1. Active shunt capacitance cancelling oscillator circuit

    DOEpatents

    Wessendorf, Kurt O.

    2003-09-23

    An oscillator circuit is disclosed which can be used to produce oscillation using a piezoelectric crystal, with a frequency of oscillation being largely independent of any shunt capacitance associated with the crystal (i.e. due to electrodes on the surfaces of the crystal and due to packaging and wiring for the crystal). The oscillator circuit is based on a tuned gain stage which operates the crystal at a frequency, f, near a series resonance frequency, f.sub.S. The oscillator circuit further includes a compensation circuit that supplies all the ac current flow through the shunt resistance associated with the crystal so that this ac current need not be supplied by the tuned gain stage. The compensation circuit uses a current mirror to provide the ac current flow based on the current flow through a reference capacitor that is equivalent to the shunt capacitance associated with the crystal. The oscillator circuit has applications for driving piezoelectric crystals for sensing of viscous, fluid or solid media by detecting a change in the frequency of oscillation of the crystal and a resonator loss which occur from contact of an exposed surface of the crystal by the viscous, fluid or solid media.

  2. Effect of Abrasive Machining on the Electrical Properties Cu86Mn12Ni₂ Alloy Shunts.

    PubMed

    Misti, Siti Nabilah; Birkett, Martin; Penlington, Roger; Bell, David

    2017-07-29

    This paper studies the effect of abrasive trimming on the electrical properties of Cu 86 Mn 12 Ni₂ Manganin alloy shunt resistors. A precision abrasive trimming system for fine tuning the resistance tolerance of high current Manganin shunt resistors is proposed. The system is shown to be capable of reducing the resistance tolerance of 100 μΩ shunts from their standard value of ±5% to <±1% by removing controlled amounts of Manganin material using a square cut trim geometry. The temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR), high current, and high temperature performance of the trimmed shunts was compared to that of untrimmed parts to determine if trimming had any detrimental effect on these key electrical performance parameters of the device. It was shown that the TCR value was reduced following trimming with typical results of +106 ppm/°C and +93 ppm/°C for untrimmed and trimmed parts respectively. When subjected to a high current of 200 A the trimmed parts showed a slight increase in temperature rise to 203 °C, as compared to 194 °C for the untrimmed parts, but both had significant temporary increases in resistance of up to 1.3 μΩ. The results for resistance change following high temperature storage at 200 °C for 168 h were also significant for both untrimmed and trimmed parts with shifts of 1.85% and 2.29% respectively and these results were related to surface oxidation of the Manganin alloy which was accelerated for the freshly exposed surfaces of the trimmed part.

  3. In vitro performance of the fixed and adjustable gravity-assisted unit with and without motion-evidence of motion-induced flow.

    PubMed

    Kimura, Takaoki; Schulz, Matthias; Shimoji, Kazuaki; Miyajima, Masakazu; Arai, Hajime; Thomale, Ulrich-Wilhelm

    2016-10-01

    Anti-siphon devices and gravitational-assisted valves have been introduced to counteract the effects of overdrainage after implantation of a shunt system. The study examined the flow performance of two gravitational-assisted valves (shunt assistant - SA and programmable shunt assistant - proSA, Miethke & Co. KG, Potsdam, Germany) in an in vitro shunt laboratory with and without motion. An in vitro laboratory setup was used to model the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage conditions similar to a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt and to test the SA (resistance of +20 cmH2O in 90°) and proSA (adjustable resistance of 0 to +40 cmH2O in 90°). The differential pressure (DP) through the simulated shunt and tested valve was adjusted between 0 and 60 cmH2O by combinations of different inflow pressures (40, 30, 20, 10, and 0 cmH2O) and the hydrostatic negative outflow pressure (0, -20, and -40 cmH2O) in several differing device positions (0°, 30°, 60°, and 90°). In addition, the two devices were tested under vertical motion with movement frequencies of 2, 3, and 4 Hz. Both gravity-assisted units effectively counteract the hydrostatic effect in relation to the chosen differential pressure. The setting the proSA resulted in flow reductions in the 90° position according to the chosen resistance of the device. Angulation-related flow changes were similar in the two devices in 30-90° position, however, in the 0-30° position, a higher flow is seen in the proSA. Repeated vertical movement significantly increased flow through both devices. While with the proSA a 2-Hz motion was not able to induce additional flow (0.006 ± 0.05 ml/min), 3- and 4-Hz motion significantly induced higher flow values (3 Hz: +0.56 ± 0.12 ml/min, 4 Hz: +0.54 ± 0.04 ml/min). The flow through the SA was not induced by vertical movements at a low DP of 10 cmH2O at all frequencies, but at DPs of 30 cmH2O and higher, all frequencies significantly induced higher flow values (2 Hz: +0

  4. Ventricular shunt tap as a predictor of proximal shunt malfunction in children: a prospective study.

    PubMed

    Rocque, Brandon G; Lapsiwala, Samir; Iskandar, Bermans J

    2008-06-01

    The clinical diagnosis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt malfunction can be challenging. In this prospective study, the authors evaluated a common method of interrogating shunts: the shunt tap; specifically, its ability to predict proximal malfunction. The authors performed standardized shunt taps in a consecutive series of cases involving children with suspected or proven shunt malfunction, assessing flow and, when possible, opening pressure. Data were collected prospectively, and results analyzed in light of surgical findings. A shunt tap was performed prior to 68 operative explorations in 51 patients. Of the 68 taps, 28 yielded poor or no CSF flow on aspiration. After 26 of these 28 procedures, proximal catheter obstruction was identified. After 28 taps with good CSF return and normal or low opening pressure, 18 shunts were found to have a proximal obstruction, 8 had no obstruction, and 2 had a distal obstruction. Another 12 taps with good CSF flow had high opening pressure; subsequent surgery showed distal obstruction in 11 of the shunts, and proximal obstruction in 1. The positive predictive value of poor flow was 93%, while good flow on shunt tap predicted adequate proximal catheter function in only 55% of cases. Poor flow of CSF on shunt tap is highly predictive of obstruction of the proximal catheter. Because not all patients with good flow on shunt tap underwent surgical shunt exploration, the specificity of this test cannot be determined. Nonetheless, a shunt tap that reveals good flow with a normal opening pressure can be misleading, and management of such cases should be based on clinical judgment.

  5. Shunted Piezoelectric Vibration Damping Analysis Including Centrifugal Loading Effects

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Min, James B.; Duffy, Kirsten P.; Provenza, Andrew J.

    2011-01-01

    Excessive vibration of turbomachinery blades causes high cycle fatigue problems which require damping treatments to mitigate vibration levels. One method is the use of piezoelectric materials as passive or active dampers. Based on the technical challenges and requirements learned from previous turbomachinery rotor blades research, an effort has been made to investigate the effectiveness of a shunted piezoelectric for the turbomachinery rotor blades vibration control, specifically for a condition with centrifugal rotation. While ample research has been performed on the use of a piezoelectric material with electric circuits to attempt to control the structural vibration damping, very little study has been done regarding rotational effects. The present study attempts to fill this void. Specifically, the objectives of this study are: (a) to create and analyze finite element models for harmonic forced response vibration analysis coupled with shunted piezoelectric circuits for engine blade operational conditions, (b) to validate the experimental test approaches with numerical results and vice versa, and (c) to establish a numerical modeling capability for vibration control using shunted piezoelectric circuits under rotation. Study has focused on a resonant damping control using shunted piezoelectric patches on plate specimens. Tests and analyses were performed for both non-spinning and spinning conditions. The finite element (FE) shunted piezoelectric circuit damping simulations were performed using the ANSYS Multiphysics code for the resistive and inductive circuit piezoelectric simulations of both conditions. The FE results showed a good correlation with experimental test results. Tests and analyses of shunted piezoelectric damping control, demonstrating with plate specimens, show a great potential to reduce blade vibrations under centrifugal loading.

  6. Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunting Complications in Children

    PubMed Central

    Hanak, Brian W.; Bonow, Robert H.; Harris, Carolyn A.; Browd, Samuel R.

    2018-01-01

    Although cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt placement is the most common procedure performed by pediatric neurosurgeons, shunts remain among the most failure-prone life-sustaining medical devices implanted in modern medical practice. This article provides an overview of the mechanisms of CSF shunt failure for the 3 most commonly employed definitive CSF shunts in the practice of pediatric neurosurgery: ventriculoperitoneal, ventriculopleural, and ventriculoatrial. The text has been partitioned into the broad modes of shunt failure: obstruction, infection, mechanical shunt failure, overdrainage, and distal catheter site-specific failures. Clinical management strategies for the various modes of shunt failure are discussed as are research efforts directed towards reducing shunt complication rates. As it is unlikely that CSF shunting will become an obsolete procedure in the foreseeable future, it is incumbent on the pediatric neurosurgery community to maintain focused efforts to improve our understanding of and management strategies for shunt failure and shunt-related morbidity. PMID:28249297

  7. Congenital Shunts of the Portal Venous System: Case-series of Uncommon Shunts.

    PubMed

    Santos, Liliana; Nobre, Susana; Laezza, Nadia; Cunha, Catarina; Gonçalves, Isabel; Lopes, Maria F

    Congenital shunts of the portal venous system are rare entities that can present in children with clinical heterogeneity. To evaluate the clinical course of children with uncommon shunts presenting to our institution and examine the available literature on this topic. Medical records of children with rare forms of congenital shunts were retrospectively reviewed for demographics, symptoms, management, and outcome between 2003 and 2016. Three female patients with congenital shunts, including a congenital mesenterico-portal Rex shunt (n = 1) and congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSS) (n = 2), were referred for surgical evaluation between ages 4 and 9. Median follow-up was 8 years (range, 6-13 years). One asymptomatic patient did not require treatment and remained disease-free during long-term follow-up. The other 2 patients with CPSS and unusual symptoms, including liver focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) in infancy (n = 1) and bleeding from esophageal varices (n = 1), showed subsequent progression to liver nodules that were managed by endovascular shunt occlusion. One patient showed symptom resolution and the other showed stable lesions at last follow-up. Literature yielded descriptions of two cases of congenital mesenterico-portal Rex shunt, one case of coincident CPSS and FNH in infancy, but zero reports of bleeding from esophageal varices. This case series examines each distinct patient's presentation, discusses the diagnosis, management and outcome and compares findings while discussing literature on this topic. A high index of suspicion and familiarity with unusual forms and treatment options is required to allow timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

  8. Experimental Comparison of Piezoelectric and Magnetostrictive Shunt Dampers

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Asnani, Vivake M.; Deng, Zhangxian; Dapino, Marcelo J.; Scheidler, Justin J.

    2016-01-01

    A novel mechanism called the vibration ring is being developed to enable energy conversion elements to be incorporated into the driveline of a helicopter or other rotating machines. Unwanted vibration is transduced into electrical energy, which provides a damping effect on the driveline. The generated electrical energy may also be used to power other devices (e.g., health monitoring sensors). PZT (piezoceramic) and PMN-30PT (single crystal) stacks, as well as a Tb_0.3 Dy_0.7 Fe_1.92 (Terfenol-D) rod with a bias magnet array and a pickup coil, were tested as alternative energy conversion elements to use within the vibration ring. They were tuned for broadband damping using shunt resistors, and dynamic compression testing was conducted in a high-speed load frame. Energy conversion was experimentally optimized at 750Hz by tuning the applied bias stress and resistance values. Dynamic testing was conducted up to 1000Hz to determine the effective compressive modulus, shunt loss factor, internal loss factor, and total loss factor. Some of the trends of modulus and internal loss factor versus frequency were unexplained. The single crystal device exhibited the greatest shunt loss factor whereas the Terfenol-D device had the highest internal and total loss factors. Simulations revealed that internal losses in the Terfenol-D device were elevated by eddy current effects, and an improved magnetic circuit could enhance its shunt damping capabilities. Alternatively, the Terfenol-D device may be simplified to utilize only the eddy current dissipation mechanism (no pickup coil or shunt) to create broadband damping.

  9. Experimental Comparison of Piezoelectric and Magnetostrictive Shunt Dampers

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Asnani, Vivake M.; Deng, Zhangxian; Scheidler, Justin J.; Dapino, Marcelo J.

    2016-01-01

    A novel mechanism called the vibration ring is being developed to enable energy conversion elements to be incorporated into the driveline of a helicopter or other rotating machines. Unwanted vibration is transduced into electrical energy, which provides a damping effect on the driveline. The generated electrical energy may also be used to power other devices (e.g., health monitoring sensors). PZT (piezoceramic) and PMN-30%PT (single crystal) stacks, as well as a Tb_0.3 Dy_0.7 Fe_1.92 (Terfenol-D) rod with a bias magnet array and a pickup coil, were tested as alternative energy conversion elements to use within the vibration ring. They were tuned for broadband damping using shunt resistors, and dynamic compression testing was conducted in a high-speed load frame. Energy conversion was experimentally optimized at 750Hz by tuning the applied bias stress and resistance values. Dynamic testing was conducted up to 1000Hz to determine the effective compressive modulus, shunt loss factor, internal loss factor, and total loss factor. Some of the trends of modulus and internal loss factor versus frequency were unexplained. The single crystal device exhibited the greatest shunt loss factor whereas the Terfenol-D device had the highest internal and total loss factors. Simulations revealed that internal losses in the Terfenol-D device were elevated by eddy current effects, and an improved magnetic circuit could enhance its shunt damping capabilities. Alternatively, the Terfenol-D device may be simplified to utilize only the eddy current dissipation mechanism (no pickup coil or shunt) to create broadband damping.

  10. Experimental comparison of piezoelectric and magnetostrictive shunt dampers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Asnani, Vivake M.; Deng, Zhangxian; Scheidler, Justin J.; Dapino, Marcelo J.

    2016-04-01

    A novel mechanism called the vibration ring is being developed to enable energy conversion elements to be incorporated into the driveline of a helicopter or other rotating machines. Unwanted vibration is transduced into electrical energy, which provides a damping effect on the driveline. The generated electrical energy may also be used to power other devices (e.g., health monitoring sensors). PZT (`piezoceramic') and PMN-30%PT (`single crystal') stacks, as well as a Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe1.92 (`Terfenol-D') rod with a bias magnet array and a pickup coil, were tested as alternative energy conversion elements to use within the vibration ring. They were tuned for broadband damping using shunt resistors, and dynamic compression testing was conducted in a high-speed load frame. Energy conversion was experimentally optimized at 750Hz by tuning the applied bias stress and resistance values. Dynamic testing was conducted up to 1000Hz to determine the effective compressive modulus, shunt loss factor, internal loss factor, and total loss factor. Some of the trends of modulus and internal loss factor versus frequency were unexplained. The single crystal device exhibited the greatest shunt loss factor whereas the Terfenol-D device had the highest internal and total loss factors. Simulations revealed that internal losses in the Terfenol-D device were elevated by eddy current effects, and an improved magnetic circuit could enhance its shunt damping capabilities. Alternatively, the Terfenol-D device may be simplified to utilize only the eddy current dissipation mechanism (no pickup coil or shunt) to create broadband damping.

  11. Effect of Abrasive Machining on the Electrical Properties Cu86Mn12Ni2 Alloy Shunts

    PubMed Central

    Misti, Siti Nabilah; Bell, David

    2017-01-01

    This paper studies the effect of abrasive trimming on the electrical properties of Cu86Mn12Ni2 Manganin alloy shunt resistors. A precision abrasive trimming system for fine tuning the resistance tolerance of high current Manganin shunt resistors is proposed. The system is shown to be capable of reducing the resistance tolerance of 100 μΩ shunts from their standard value of ±5% to <±1% by removing controlled amounts of Manganin material using a square cut trim geometry. The temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR), high current, and high temperature performance of the trimmed shunts was compared to that of untrimmed parts to determine if trimming had any detrimental effect on these key electrical performance parameters of the device. It was shown that the TCR value was reduced following trimming with typical results of +106 ppm/°C and +93 ppm/°C for untrimmed and trimmed parts respectively. When subjected to a high current of 200 A the trimmed parts showed a slight increase in temperature rise to 203 °C, as compared to 194 °C for the untrimmed parts, but both had significant temporary increases in resistance of up to 1.3 μΩ. The results for resistance change following high temperature storage at 200 °C for 168 h were also significant for both untrimmed and trimmed parts with shifts of 1.85% and 2.29% respectively and these results were related to surface oxidation of the Manganin alloy which was accelerated for the freshly exposed surfaces of the trimmed part. PMID:28773236

  12. A 2-collinear-DoF strut with embedded negative-resistance electromagnetic shunt dampers for spacecraft micro-vibration

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Stabile, Alessandro; Aglietti, Guglielmo S.; Richardson, Guy; Smet, Geert

    2017-04-01

    Micro-vibration on board a spacecraft is an important issue that affects payloads requiring high pointing accuracy. Although isolators have been extensively studied and implemented to tackle this issue, their application is far from being ideal due to the several drawbacks that they present, such as limited low-frequency attenuation for passive systems or high power consumption and reliability issues for active systems. In the present study, a novel 2-collinear-DoF strut with embedded electromagnetic shunt dampers (EMSD) is modelled, analysed and the concept is physically tested. The combination of high-inductance components and negative-resistance circuits is used in the two shunt circuits to improve the EMSD micro-vibration mitigation and to achieve an overall strut damping performance that is characterised by the elimination of the resonance peaks and a remarkable FRF final decay rate of -80 dB dec-1. The EMSD operates without requiring any control algorithm and can be comfortably integrated on a satellite due to the low power required, the simplified electronics and the small mass. This work demonstrates, both analytically and experimentally, that the proposed strut is capable of producing better isolation performance than other well-established damping solutions over the whole temperature range of interest.

  13. Low-frequency vibration isolation in sandwich plates by piezoelectric shunting arrays

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Shengbing; Wang, Gang; Song, Yubao

    2016-12-01

    Piezoelectric shunting arrays are proposed to isolate low-frequency vibrations transmitted in sandwich plates. The performance is characterized through application of finite element method. The numerical result shows that a complete band gap, whose width is about 20 Hz, is produced in the desired low-frequency ranges. The band gap is induced by local resonances of the shunting circuits, whose location is strongly related to the inductance, while the resistance can broaden the band gap to some extent. Vibration experiments are conducted on a 1200 × 1000 × 15 mm aluminum honeycomb plate with two arrays of 5 × 5 shunted piezoelectric patches bonded on the surface panels. Significant attenuation is found in the experimental results, which agree well with the theoretical predictions. Consequently, the proposed idea is feasible and effective.

  14. Glaucoma Mini-Shunt Implantation After Keratoplasty.

    PubMed

    Ledesma-Gil, Jasbeth; García-Rodríguez, María de Los Ángeles; Gurria, Lulu U; Graue-Hernández, Enrique O; Navas, Alejandro

    2017-04-01

    To report the outcomes of patients who underwent miniature glaucoma shunt implantation after secondary glaucoma due to keratoplasty. Prospective study of consecutive clinical cases who underwent mini-glaucoma shunt implantation following keratoplasty. In brief, a fornix-based conjunctival flap was performed, approximately 50% thickness scleral flap. Mitomycin C 0.025% placed under Tenon's capsule. A 25-G needle created entry for mini-shunt. Ex-PRESS model P-50 was inserted. Scleral flap and conjunctiva were closed with 10-0 Nylon. STATA 8.0 and SPSS software were used for statistical analysis. Seventeen eyes of 17 patients with a mean age of 39.70 years (SD=18.33, range: 18 to 76). A total of 64.70% were male and 35.30% female. Eleven cases after penetrating keratoplasty, 3 cases after triple procedure, 2 after deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty, and 1 following endothelial keratoplasty. Most of the indications for keratoplasty were keratoconus in 9 cases (52.94%), 4 due to endothelial failure (23.52%), 3 cases of herpetic keratitis (17.64%), and 1 case of post-LASIK ectasia (5.88%). Mean preoperative intraocular pressure was 35.94 mm Hg with maximal medical therapy (SD=9.65, range: 18 to 55). Decreasing intraocular pressure to 12.76 mm Hg postoperatively (SD=2.51, range 10 to 18) (P=0.001). Mean follow-up after mini-glaucoma shunt implantation was 23.76 months (SD=8.73, range: 10 to 35 mo). Preoperative mean uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was 1.31±0.63 (20/408 Snellen) and postoperative mean UDVA was 0.85±0.40 (20/141 Snellen) (P=0.001). Preoperative mean corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was 0.83±0.76 (20/135 Snellen) and postoperative mean CDVA was 0.56±0.44 (20/72 Snellen) (P=0.032). Ex-PRESS miniature glaucoma shunt could be an alternative treatment in postkeratoplasty glaucoma resistant to medical treatment. This technique may be helpful, in trying to avoid corneal damage produced by conventional glaucoma procedures.

  15. Shunt diameter in agenesis of the ductus venosus with extrahepatic portosystemic shunt impacts on prognosis.

    PubMed

    Shen, O; Valsky, D V; Messing, B; Cohen, S M; Lipschuetz, M; Yagel, S

    2011-02-01

    Agenesis of the ductus venosus (ADV) is a rare condition in which there are two variants of umbilical vein drainage: intrahepatic shunt or extrahepatic (portosystemic) shunt. It has been posited that the extrahepatic variant carries a poorer prognosis. However, in the absence of associated anomalies there is still a wide variation in outcome. We evaluated the portal system in cases of ADV and aimed to identify parameters that might predict outcome. We conducted a retrospective study of cases of ADV with extrahepatic shunt that had been examined in two centers, and collected new cases prospectively. The route of the shunt was depicted using two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound imaging. In an attempt to characterize portal system and shunt developmental variations and their possible impact on outcome, the diameter of the shunt was compared with the diameter of the umbilical vein and the entire portal vasculature was assessed. Poor outcome was defined as persistent morbidity or fetal or neonatal death. Twenty-two cases of ADV were identified: nine retrospectively and 13 prospectively. Aberrant shunts from the umbilical vein were identified to the right atrium, coronary sinus, inferior vena cava (IVC) and iliac vein. In seven of 22 cases (32%) a wide connection was observed. In six of these seven cases (86%) the outcome was poor, including four with severe associated anomalies and two with hepatic dysfunction. In five of these cases, cardiomegaly with tricuspid regurgitation was observed, as well as underdevelopment of the portal system. In only five of 15 cases with a narrow shunt (33%) was the outcome poor, and in all five cases the poor outcome was related to associated anomalies. In cases of ADV with extrahepatic shunt, portal system development is impacted by the diameter of the shunt. If the shunt is narrow, the portal system will have developed normally. A wide shunt is associated with underdevelopment or absence of the portal system. In

  16. Failed Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt: Is Retrograde Ventriculosinus Shunt a Reliable Option?

    PubMed

    Oliveira, Matheus Fernandes de; Teixeira, Manoel Jacobsen; Reis, Rodolfo Casimiro; Petitto, Carlo Emanuel; Gomes Pinto, Fernando Campos

    2016-08-01

    Currently, the treatment of hydrocephalus is mainly carried out through a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) insertion. However, in some cases, there may be surgical revisions and requirement of an alternative distal site for shunting. There are several described distal sites, and secondary options after VPS include ventriculopleural and ventriculoatrial shunt, which have technical difficulties and harmful complications. In this preliminary report we describe our initial experience with retrograde ventriculosinus shunt (RVSS) after failed VPS. In 3 consecutive cases we applied RVSS to treat hydrocephalus in shunt-dependent patients who had previously undergone VPS revision and in which peritoneal space was full of adhesions and fibrosis. RVSS was performed as described by Shafei et al., with some modifications to each case. All 3 patients kept the same clinical profile after RVSS, with no perioperative or postoperative complications. However, revision surgery was performed in the first operative day in 1 out of 3 patients, in which the catheter was not positioned in the superior sagittal sinus. We propose that in cases where VPS is not feasible, RVSS may be a safe and applicable second option. Nevertheless, the long-term follow-up of patients and further learning curve must bring stronger evidence. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. Manipulating waves by distilling frequencies: a tunable shunt-enabled rainbow trap

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cardella, Davide; Celli, Paolo; Gonella, Stefano

    2016-08-01

    In this work, we propose and test a strategy for tunable, broadband wave attenuation in electromechanical waveguides with shunted piezoelectric inclusions. Our strategy is built upon the vast pre-existing literature on vibration attenuation and bandgap generation in structures featuring periodic arrays of piezo patches, but distinguishes itself for several key features. First, we demystify the idea that periodicity is a requirement for wave attenuation and bandgap formation. We further embrace the idea of ‘organized disorder’ by tuning the circuits as to resonate at distinct neighboring frequencies. In doing so, we create a tunable ‘rainbow trap’ (Tsakmakidis et al 2007 Nature 450 397-401) capable of attenuating waves with broadband characteristics, by distilling (sequentially) seven frequencies from a traveling wavepacket. Finally, we devote considerable attention to the implications in terms of packet distortion of the spectral manipulation introduced by shunting. This work is also meant to serve as a didactic tool for those approaching the field of shunted piezoelectrics, and attempts to provide a different perspective, with abundant details, on how to successfully design an experimental setup involving resistive-inductive shunts.

  18. Impact of Magnetic Field on Pressures of Programmable Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts: An Experimental Study.

    PubMed

    Altun, Idiris; Yuksel, Kasim Zafer; Mert, Tufan

    2017-01-01

    To investigate whether programmable cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts are influenced by exposure to the magnetic field and to compare the effects of magnetic field in 4 different brands of programmable CSF shunts. This experimental study was performed in the laboratory using a novel design of magnetic field. Four types of programmable CSF shunts (Miethke®, Medtronic®, Sophysa® and Codman®Hakim®) were exposed to the magnetic field generated by an apparatus consisting of Helmholtz coil for 5 minutes. In every CSF shunt, initial pressures were adjusted to 110 mm H2O and pressures after exposure to magnetic field were noted. These measurements were implemented at frequencies of 5 Hz, 20 Hz, 30 Hz, 40 Hz, 60 Hz and 80 Hz. In each type, three shunts were utilized and evaluations were made twice for every shunt. At 5, 30, 40 and 60 Hz, Groups 1, 2 and 3 had significantly higher average pressures than Group 4. At 20 and 80 Hz, Groups 1 and 2 had notably different pressure values than Groups 3 and 4. Group 3 displayed the highest pressure, while Group 4 demonstrated the lowest pressure. Exposure to magnetic fields may affect the pressures of programmable CSF shunts. However, further controlled, clinical trials are warranted to elucidate the in-vivo effects of magnetic field exposure.

  19. Rate of shunt revision as a function of age in patients with shunted hydrocephalus due to myelomeningocele.

    PubMed

    Dupepe, Esther B; Hopson, Betsy; Johnston, James M; Rozzelle, Curtis J; Jerry Oakes, W; Blount, Jeffrey P; Rocque, Brandon G

    2016-11-01

    OBJECTIVE It is generally accepted that cerebrospinal fluid shunts fail most frequently in the first years of life. The purpose of this study was to describe the risk of shunt failure for a given patient age in a well-defined cohort with shunted hydrocephalus due to myelomeningocele (MMC). METHODS The authors analyzed data from their institutional spina bifida research database including all patients with MMC and shunted hydrocephalus. For the entire population, the number of shunt revisions in each year of life was determined. Then the number of patients at risk for shunt revision during each year of life was calculated, thus enabling them to calculate the rate of shunt revision per patient in each year of life. In this way, the timing of all shunt revision operations for the entire clinic population and the likelihood of having a shunt revision during each year of life were calculated. RESULTS A total of 655 patients were enrolled in the spina bifida research database, 519 of whom had a diagnosis of MMC and whose mean age was 17.48 ± 11.7 years (median 16 years, range 0-63 years). Four hundred seventeen patients had had a CSF shunt for the treatment of hydrocephalus and thus are included in this analysis. There were 94 shunt revisions in the 1st year of life, which represents a rate of 0.23 revisions per patient in that year. The rate of shunt revision per patient-year initially decreased as age increased, except for an increase in revision frequency in the early teen years. Shunt revisions continued to occur as late as 43 years of age. CONCLUSIONS These data substantiate the idea that shunt revision surgeries in patients with MMC are most common in the 1st year of life and decrease thereafter, except for an increase in the early teen years. A persistent risk of shunt failure was observed well into adult life. These findings underscore the importance of routine follow-up of all MMC patients with shunted hydrocephalus and will aid in counseling patients and

  20. Asymptomatic Congenital Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt.

    PubMed

    Brown, Karen M; Hal, Hassan

    2009-01-01

    Congenital (spontaneous) intrahepatic portosystemic shunt is rare in the English literature. Most cases of portosystemic shunt occur after trauma, surgery, liver biopsy or as a result of chronic portal hypertension. Chronic shunting may result in encephalopathy, bleeding or hyperinsulinism. We report a case of an asymptomatic adult female with a presumed congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and discuss the pertinent imaging findings and important key concepts related to this condition.

  1. Shunt-Enhanced, Lead-Driven Bifurcation of Epilayer GaAs based EEC Sensor Responsivity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Solin, Stuart; Werner, Fletcher

    2015-03-01

    The results reported here explore the geometric optimization of room-temperature EEC sensor responsivity to applied bias by exploring contact geometry and location. The EEC sensor structure resembles that of a MESFET, but the measurement technique and operation distinguish the EEC sensor significantly; the EEC sensor employs a four-point resistance measurement as opposed to a two-point source-drain measurement and is operated under both forward and reverse bias. Under direct forward bias, the sensor distinguishes itself from a traditional FET by allowing current to be injected from the gate, referred to as a shunt, into the active layer. We show that the observed bifurcation in EEC sensor response to direct reverse bias depends critically on measurement lead location. A dramatic enhancement in responsivity is achieved via a modification of the shunt geometry. A maximum percent change of 130,856% of the four-point resistance was achieved under a direct reverse bias of -1V using an enhanced shunt design, a 325 fold increase over the conventional EEC square shunt design. This result was accompanied by an observed bifurcation in sensor response, driven by a rotation of the four-point measurement leads. S. A. S is a co-founder of and has a financial interest in PixelEXX, a start-up company whose mission is to market imaging arrays.

  2. Outcome of shunting in idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus and the value of outcome assessment in shunted patients.

    PubMed

    Klinge, Petra; Marmarou, Anthony; Bergsneider, Marvin; Relkin, Norman; Black, Peter McL

    2005-09-01

    To develop guidelines for assessing shunt outcome in patients with idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (INPH). To date, the literature available on this topic has been marked by disparate definitions of clinical improvement, varying postoperative follow-up protocols and periods, and substantial differences in the postoperative management. Because specific criteria for defining clinical improvement are seldom reported, conclusions drawn about shunt outcome may be subjective. A MEDLINE search back to 1966 was undertaken using the query NPH, normal-pressure hydrocephalus, shunting, shunt treatment, shunt response, outcome, and clinical outcome. The criteria for selection were studies that included INPH from 1966 to the present in which the outcome of INPH was reported in patient groups of 20 or more. To date, there is no standard for outcome assessment of shunt treatment in INPH. The variable improvement rates reported are not only because of different criteria for selection of patients but also because of different postoperative assessment procedures and follow-up intervals. Studies that have established fixed protocols for follow-up have shown that short- and long-term periods after shunting are determined by many factors. Whereas short-term results were more likely to be influenced by shunt-associated risks, long-term results were independent of factors inherent to the shunt procedure and shunt complications, i.e., death and morbidity related to concomitant cerebrovascular and vascular diseases. Studies have shown that beyond 1 year after surgery, these factors definitely influence the clinical effect of shunting, making the 1-year postshunt period a potential determinant of the shunt outcome. Guidelines for outcome assessment were developed on the basis of the available evidence and consensus of expert opinion.

  3. Shunting for normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).

    PubMed

    Esmonde, T; Cooke, S

    2002-01-01

    Since the condition was first described in 1965, the syndrome of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) has conventionally been managed by placement of a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt. To determine the effectiveness of shunting procedures in promoting stability or improvement in the neurological symptoms and signs of NPH. The trials were identified from a search of the Specialized Register of the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group on 26 June 2001 using the terms 'shunt*' and 'normal pressure hydrocephalus'. Studies included for analysis were those involving the placement of a CSF shunt for the treatment of NPH as part of a randomized controlled trial. No data matching the selection criteria were found. No randomized controlled trials of shunt placement versus no shunt were found. There is no evidence to indicate whether placement of a shunt is effective in the management of NPH.

  4. Programmable valve shunts: are they really better?

    PubMed

    Kataria, Rashim; Kumar, Vimal; Mehta, Veer Singh

    2012-01-01

    Programmable valve shunts allows selection of opening pressure of shunt valve. In the presented article, a unique complication pertaining to programmable shunts has been discussed. A 5-year-old boy who had tectal plate low grade glioma with obstructive hydrocephalus was managed with Codman programmable ventriculoperitoneal shunt. There was a spontaneous change in the opening pressure of the shunt valve leading to shunt malfunction. Routinely used household appliances produce a magnetic field strong enough to cause change in the setting of shunt valve pressure and may lead to valve malfunction. Other causes of programmable valve malfunction also discussed.

  5. Dutch normal-pressure hydrocephalus study: prediction of outcome after shunting by resistance to outflow of cerebrospinal fluid.

    PubMed

    Boon, A J; Tans, J T; Delwel, E J; Egeler-Peerdeman, S M; Hanlo, P W; Wurzer, H A; Avezaat, C J; de Jong, D A; Gooskens, R H; Hermans, J

    1997-11-01

    The authors examined whether measurement of resistance to outflow of cerebrospinal fluid (Rcsf) predicts outcome after shunting for patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). In four centers 101 patients (most of whom had idiopathic NPH) who fulfilled strict entry criteria underwent shunt placement irrespective of their level of Rcsf obtained by lumbar constant flow infusion. Gait disturbance and dementia were quantified by using an NPH scale and the patient's level of disability was assessed by using the modified Rankin scale (mRS). In addition the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination was performed. Patients were assessed prior to and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after surgery. Primary outcome measures were based on differences between the preoperative and last NPH scale scores and mRS grades. Improvement was defined as a change measuring at least 15% in the NPH scale score and at least one mRS grade. Intention-to-treat analysis of all patients at 1 year yielded improvement for 57% in NPH scale score and 59% in mRS grade. Efficacy analysis, excluding serious events and deaths that were unrelated to NPH, was performed for 95 patients. Improvement rose to 76% in NPH scale score and 69% in mRS grade. Six cut-off levels of Rcsf were related to improvement in NPH scale score using two-by-two tables. Positive predictive values were approximately 80% for an Rcsf of 10, 12, or 15 mm Hg/ml/minute, 92% for an Rcsf of 18 mm Hg/ml/minute, and 100% for an Rcsf of 24 mm Hg/ml/minute. Negative predictive values were low. More important was the highest likelihood ratio of 3.5 for an Rcsf of 18 mm Hg/ml/minute. Extensive comorbidity was a major prognostic factor. Measurement of Rcsf reliably predicts outcome if the limit for shunting is raised to 18 mm Hg/ml/minute. At lower Rcsf values the decision depends mainly on the extent to which clinical and computerized tomography findings are typical of NPH.

  6. Frontal and occipital horn ratio is associated with multifocal intraparenchymal hemorrhages in neonatal shunted hydrocephalus.

    PubMed

    Oushy, Soliman; Parker, Jonathon J; Campbell, Kristen; Palmer, Claire; Wilkinson, Corbett; Stence, Nicholas V; Handler, Michael H; Mirsky, David M

    2017-11-01

    shunt and etiology of hydrocephalus were also significantly associated with MIPH. After adjusting for corrected age, etiology of hydrocephalus, and shunt setting, the authors found that ∆FOR after shunting was still associated with MIPH. A prospective study of MIPH prevention strategies and assessment of possible implications for patient outcomes is needed.

  7. Applying the Network Simulation Method for testing chaos in a resistively and capacitively shunted Josephson junction model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bellver, Fernando Gimeno; Garratón, Manuel Caravaca; Soto Meca, Antonio; López, Juan Antonio Vera; Guirao, Juan L. G.; Fernández-Martínez, Manuel

    In this paper, we explore the chaotic behavior of resistively and capacitively shunted Josephson junctions via the so-called Network Simulation Method. Such a numerical approach establishes a formal equivalence among physical transport processes and electrical networks, and hence, it can be applied to efficiently deal with a wide range of differential systems. The generality underlying that electrical equivalence allows to apply the circuit theory to several scientific and technological problems. In this work, the Fast Fourier Transform has been applied for chaos detection purposes and the calculations have been carried out in PSpice, an electrical circuit software. Overall, it holds that such a numerical approach leads to quickly computationally solve Josephson differential models. An empirical application regarding the study of the Josephson model completes the paper.

  8. Prediction of WBGT-based clothing adjustment values from evaporative resistance

    PubMed Central

    BERNARD, Thomas E.; ASHLEY, Candi D.; GARZON, Ximena P.; KIM, Jung-Hyun; COCA, Aitor

    2017-01-01

    Wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index is used by many professionals in combination with metabolic rate and clothing adjustments to assess whether a heat stress exposure is sustainable. The progressive heat stress protocol is a systematic method to prescribe a clothing adjustment value (CAV) from human wear trials, and it also provides an estimate of apparent total evaporative resistance (Re,T,a). It is clear that there is a direct relationship between the two descriptors of clothing thermal effects with diminishing increases in CAV at high Re,T,a. There were data to suggest an interaction of CAV and Re,T,a with relative humidity at high evaporative resistance. Because human trials are expensive, manikin data can reduce the cost by considering the static total evaporative resistance (Re,T,s). In fact, as the static evaporative resistance increases, the CAV increases in a similar fashion as Re,T,a. While the results look promising that Re,T,s can predict CAV, some validation remains, especially for high evaporative resistance. The data only supports air velocities near 0.5 m/s. PMID:29033404

  9. Design and simulation of RF MEMS SPST shunt and SPDT shunt-shunt switches for X-band and Ku-band applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lenka, Manas K.; Sharma, Amit; Sharma, Jaibir; DasGupta, Amitava

    2012-10-01

    This paper describes the design and simulation of RF MEMS SPST shunt and SPDT shunt-shunt switches with modified coplanar waveguide (CPW) configuration for X-band and Ku-band applications exhibiting high isolation and low insertion loss. By modifying the basic CPW structure for a six-strip membrane having length 720 μm, the resonant frequency can be reduced from 33.5 GHz to 13.5 GHz with isolation as high as -30 dB(-63 dB at resonant frequency) in Ku-band. Similar results are also found in case SPST and SPDT switches with other membrane types.

  10. Over-drainage and persistent shunt-dependency in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension treated with shunts and bariatric surgery.

    PubMed

    Roth, Jonathan; Constantini, Shlomi; Kesler, Anat

    2015-01-01

    Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) may lead to visual impairment. Shunt surgery is indicated for refractory IIH-related symptoms that persist despite medical treatment, or those presenting with significant visual decline. Obesity is a risk factor for IIH; a reduction in weight has been shown to improve papilledema. Bariatric surgery (BS) has been suggested for treating IIH associated with morbid obesity. In this study, we describe a high rate of over-drainage (OD) seen in patients following shunts and BS. The study cohort includes 13 patients with IIH that underwent shunt surgery for treatment of the IIH-related symptoms. Six patients underwent BS in addition to the shunt surgery (but not concomitantly). Seven patients had only shunt surgeries with no BS. Data were collected retrospectively. BS effectively led to weight reduction (body mass index decreasing from 43 ± 4 to 28 ± 5). Patients undergoing BS had 1-6 (2.5 ± 1.9) shunt revisions for OD following BS, as opposed to 0-3 (1.4 ± 1.1) revisions prior to BS over similar time spans (statistically insignificant difference), and 0-6 (1.6 ± 2.5) revisions among the non-BS patients over a longer time span (statistically insignificant difference). Two patients in the BS group underwent shunt externalization and closure; however, they proved to be shunt-dependent. Patients with IIH that undergo shunt surgery and BS (not concomitantly) may suffer from OD symptoms, necessitating multiple shunt revisions, and valve upgrades. Despite BS being a valid primary treatment for some patients with IIH, among shunted patients, BS may not lead to resolution of IIH-related symptoms and patients may remain shunt-dependent.

  11. 49 CFR 236.838 - Wire, shunt.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Wire, shunt. 236.838 Section 236.838 Transportation Other Regulations Relating to Transportation (Continued) FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION... Wire, shunt. A wire forming part of a shunt circuit. ...

  12. 49 CFR 236.838 - Wire, shunt.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 4 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Wire, shunt. 236.838 Section 236.838 Transportation Other Regulations Relating to Transportation (Continued) FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION... Wire, shunt. A wire forming part of a shunt circuit. ...

  13. Shunt Intervention for Possible Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Improves Patient Outcomes: A Nationwide Hospital-Based Survey in Japan.

    PubMed

    Nakajima, Madoka; Miyajima, Masakazu; Ogino, Ikuko; Akiba, Chihiro; Kawamura, Kaito; Kurosawa, Michiko; Kuriyama, Nagato; Watanabe, Yoshiyuki; Fukushima, Wakaba; Mori, Etsuro; Kato, Takeo; Sugano, Hidenori; Karagiozov, Kostadin; Arai, Hajime

    2018-01-01

    Background and Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of cerebrospinal fluid shunt intervention for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) using data from a nationwide epidemiological survey in Japan. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from a nationwide epidemiological survey performed in Japan. Propensity score matching was used to select 874 patients from 1,423 patients aged ≥60 years, who were diagnosed with iNPH based on clinical guidelines following a hospital visit in 2012. Patients who experienced an improvement of at least 1 modified Rankin Scale (mRS) grade after the intervention were classified as "improved," while the remaining patients were classified as "non-improved." In the shunt intervention ( n = 437) and non-shunt intervention ( n = 437) groups, the differences in mRS grade improvement were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U -test. Finally, we examined subjects in the shunt intervention group ( n = 974) to compare the outcomes and complications of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt (n = 417) with lumboperitoneal (LP) shunt ( n = 540). Results: We examined subjects with iNPH to compare the non-shunt intervention group to the shunt intervention group following adjustment for age and mRS grade at baseline by propensity score matching (0.31-0.901). The mRS grade (mean [SD]) was found to improve with non-shunt intervention (2.46 [0.88]) and shunt intervention (1.93 [0.93]) ( p < 0.001) in iNPH patients. The mRS outcome score and complications comparison between the VP and LP shunt groups did not show significant difference. Conclusions: In this study, analysis of the efficacy of shunts for possible iNPH conducted in Japan indicated a significant improvement in the mRS grade between baseline and outcome within 1 year, regardless of the surgical technique, and shunt intervention was found to be effective.

  14. Maladjustment of programmable ventricular shunt valves by inadvertent exposure to a common hospital device.

    PubMed

    Fujimura, R; Lober, R; Kamian, K; Kleiner, L

    2018-01-01

    Programmable ventricular shunt valves are commonly used to treat hydrocephalus. They can be adjusted to allow for varying amounts of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow using an external magnetic programming device, and are susceptible to maladjustment from inadvertent exposure to magnetic fields. We describe the case of a 3-month-old girl treated for hydrocephalus with a programmable Strata TM II valve found at the incorrect setting on multiple occasions during her hospitalization despite frequent reprogramming and surveillance. We found that the Vocera badge, a common hands-free wireless communication system worn by our nursing staff, had a strong enough magnetic field to unintentionally change the shunt setting. The device is worn on the chest bringing it into close proximity to the shunt valve when care providers hold the baby, resulting in the maladjustment. Some commonly used medical devices have a magnetic field strong enough to alter programmable shunt valve settings. Here, we report that the magnetic field from the Vocera hands-free wireless communication system, combined with the worn position, results in shunt maladjustment for the Strata TM II valve. Healthcare facilities using the Vocera badges need to put protocols in place and properly educate staff members to ensure the safety of patients with Strata TM II valves.

  15. Clinical features of congenital portosystemic shunt in children.

    PubMed

    Kim, Myung Jin; Ko, Jae Sung; Seo, Jeong Kee; Yang, Hye Ran; Chang, Ju Young; Kim, Gi Beom; Cheon, Jung-Eun; Kim, Woo Sun

    2012-02-01

    Clinical features, images, complications, treatments, and prognosis of 10 children with congenital portosystemic shunt (CPSS) were reviewed. Nine children were diagnosed with intrahepatic shunts while one presented with extrahepatic shunt. CPSS was detected by prenatal ultrasonography in four infants. Three infants presented with galactosemia without an enzyme deficiency. Two children presented with mental retardation and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Pulmonary hypertension developed in two patients. Spontaneous closure occurred in four infants with intrahepatic shunts including patent ductus venosus. The shunts were closed using transcatheter embolizations in four patients with intrahepatic shunts. Intrahepatic shunts may close spontaneously. Transcatheter embolization is effective for the treatment of symptomatic intrahepatic shunts.

  16. Patients with a Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Shunt Have Fewer Complications than Do Patients with Other Shunts.

    PubMed

    Schenker, Pascale; Stieglitz, Lennart H; Sick, Beate; Stienen, Martin N; Regli, Luca; Sarnthein, Johannes

    2018-02-01

    Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting is a well-established therapy for hydrocephalus. However, complications are frequent. The incidence of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) increases with the aging of the population. We evaluated the functional status of patients and the classification of complications associated with VP shunt procedures in our center. We recorded all VP shunt procedures in our prospective patient registry from January 2013 to December 2015. Functional outcome (Karnofsky Performance Status [KPS] and modified Rankin Scale) and complications were compiled from patient records. Any deviation from the normal postoperative course within 3 months after surgery was considered a complication. Complications were classified with the therapy-oriented Clavien-Dindo grading system. We evaluated potential risk factors with a logistic regression model. From 285 procedures in the reporting period, 90 were excluded, resulting in 195 patients. Among those patients, 174 (90%) were shunt implantations and 21 (11%) were shunt revisions. Forty-four shunts (23%) were implanted for NPH. Median KPS improved over the first year after surgery. Although some type of complication was observed in 114 patients (58%), 60 of those complications (31%) did not require surgical treatment (Clavien-Dindo grade <3). In 50 patients (26%), the complication concerned the shunt itself. A high KPS at admission and NPH as underlying indication significantly reduced the odds ratio for a complication. Although shunt surgery has a high general rate of complications, this rate is significantly lower for patients with NPH. The decision for shunting in patients with NPH should consider the low complication rate specific for the group of patients with NPH. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. Patient data system for monitoring shunts.

    PubMed

    Frank, E; Su, E; Smith, K

    1988-01-01

    Rapidly locating accurate data on a patient's shunt system is often extremely difficult. We have developed a simple system to fill a perceived need for recording current data on a patients shunt. This system employs an easily updated record in the patient's hospital or clinic chart as well as a wallet-sized data card for the patient or his family to carry. The data in the chart include the configuration of the patient's current shunt system and a graphic record of previous shunt problems. The small patient data card describes the age of the shunt system and its current configuration. We have found that this system provides assistance in the routine follow-up of patients with shunts and plays an extremely necessary role in the emergency evaluation of these patients, particularly when an emergency evaluation is undertaken in facilities distant from the location of regular treatment.

  18. What are the implications of the spontaneous spleno-renal shunts in liver cirrhosis?

    PubMed Central

    2009-01-01

    Background Although significant advances are expected to be made in the assessment of the portal hypertension-related complications, the prognostic role of spleno-renal shunts has not been fully explored so far. Clarifying this aspect could help tackle the life-treating events occurring in patients suffering from liver cirrhosis. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationships between the spleno-renal shunts presence at doppler ultrasound and the liver cirrhosis complications. Methods Design: eighty one patients out of 129 formed the study population (35 females). Chronic liver damage in these patients was caused by HCV (66), HBV (2), alcohol abuse (2) or unknown etiology, likely non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (11). Setting: two Liver Units of university/primary hospitals in Southern Italy. Main outcome measures: grading of esofageal varices; detection of ascites: assessment of hepatic encephalopathy; evaluation of liver cirrhosis severity; tracking hepatocellular carcinoma; doppler features of spleno-renal shunts and splenic flow velocity; spleen longitudinal diameter at sonography. Results The prevalence of spleno-renal shunts was 18.5%, without no difference concerning the etiology (HCV versus non-HCV, p = 0.870); the prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with spleno-renal shunts was superior to that of patients without them (Pearson Chi-square, p = 0.006, power of sample size 74%), also after adjustment for liver decompensation (p = 0.024). The median score of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with and without spleno-renal shunts was similar, i.e., 0 (range, 0-2) versus 0 (0 - 3), p = 0.67. The median splenic vein flow velocity in patients with spleno-renal shunts was significantly inferior to that of patients without them, i.e., 13 cm/sec (95% confidence intervals, 6-18) versus 21 cm/sec (17-24), p < 0.0001. By far the largest percentage of large esophageal varices was in patients without spleno-renal shunts (p = 0.005). In contrast, the

  19. Prediction of WBGT-based clothing adjustment values from evaporative resistance.

    PubMed

    Bernard, Thomas E; Ashley, Candi D; Garzon, Ximena P; Kim, Jung-Hyun; Coca, Aitor

    2017-12-07

    Wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index is used by many professionals in combination with metabolic rate and clothing adjustments to assess whether a heat stress exposure is sustainable. The progressive heat stress protocol is a systematic method to prescribe a clothing adjustment value (CAV) from human wear trials, and it also provides an estimate of apparent total evaporative resistance (R e,T,a ). It is clear that there is a direct relationship between the two descriptors of clothing thermal effects with diminishing increases in CAV at high R e,T,a . There were data to suggest an interaction of CAV and R e,T,a with relative humidity at high evaporative resistance. Because human trials are expensive, manikin data can reduce the cost by considering the static total evaporative resistance (R e,T,s ). In fact, as the static evaporative resistance increases, the CAV increases in a similar fashion as R e,T,a . While the results look promising that R e,T,s can predict CAV, some validation remains, especially for high evaporative resistance. The data only supports air velocities near 0.5 m/s.

  20. Comparative durability and costs analysis of ventricular shunts.

    PubMed

    Agarwal, Nitin; Kashkoush, Ahmed; McDowell, Michael M; Lariviere, William R; Ismail, Naveed; Friedlander, Robert M

    2018-05-11

    OBJECTIVE Ventricular shunt (VS) durability has been well studied in the pediatric population and in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus; however, further evaluation in a more heterogeneous adult population is needed. This study aims to evaluate the effect of diagnosis and valve type-fixed versus programmable-on shunt durability and cost for placement of shunts in adult patients. METHODS The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients who underwent implantation of a VS for hydrocephalus at their institution over a 3-year period between August 2013 and October 2016 with a minimum postoperative follow-up of 6 months. The primary outcome was shunt revision, which was defined as reoperation for any indication after the initial procedure. Supply costs, shunt durability, and hydrocephalus etiologies were compared between fixed and programmable valves. RESULTS A total of 417 patients underwent shunt placement during the index time frame, consisting of 62 fixed shunts (15%) and 355 programmable shunts (85%). The mean follow-up was 30 ± 12 (SD) months. The shunt revision rate was 22% for programmable pressure valves and 21% for fixed pressure valves (HR 1.1 [95% CI 0.6-1.8]). Shunt complications, such as valve failure, infection, and overdrainage, occurred with similar frequency across valve types. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed no difference in durability between fixed (mean 39 months) and programmable (mean 40 months) shunts (p = 0.980, log-rank test). The median shunt supply cost per index case and accounting for subsequent revisions was $3438 (interquartile range $2938-$3876) and $1504 (interquartile range $753-$1584) for programmable and fixed shunts, respectively (p < 0.001, Wilcoxon rank-sum test). Of all hydrocephalus etiologies, pseudotumor cerebri (HR 1.9 [95% CI 1.2-3.1]) and previous shunt malfunction (HR 1.8 [95% CI 1.2-2.7]) were found to significantly increase the risk of shunt revision. Within each diagnosis

  1. Validation of a noninvasive test routinely used in otology for the diagnosis of cerebrospinal fluid shunt malfunction in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus.

    PubMed

    Sakka, Laurent; Chomicki, Alexandre; Gabrillargues, Jean; Khalil, Toufic; Chazal, Jean; Avan, Paul

    2016-02-01

    Ventriculoperitoneal shunting is the first-line treatment for normal pressure hydrocephalus. Noninvasive auditory tests based on recorded otoacoustic emissions were assessed, as currently used for universal neonatal hearing screenings, for the diagnosis of cerebrospinal fluid shunt malfunction. The test was designed based on previous works, which demonstrated that an intracranial pressure change induces a proportional, characteristic, otoacoustic-emission phase shift. Forty-four patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus (23 idiopathic and 21 secondary cases) were included in this prospective observational study. The male:female sex ratio was 1.44, the age range was 21-87 years (mean age 64.3 years), and the range of the follow-up period was 1-3 years (mean 20 months). Patients were implanted with a Sophy SU8 adjustable-pressure valve as the ventriculoperitoneal shunt. The phase shifts of otoacoustic emissions in response to body tilt were measured preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and at 3-6 months, 7-15 months, 16-24 months, and more than 24 months postoperatively. Three groups were enrolled: Group 1, 19 patients who required no valve opening-pressure adjustment; Group 2, 18 patients who required valve opening-pressure adjustments; and Group 3, 7 patients who required valve replacement. In Group 1, phase shift, which was positive before surgery, became steadily negative after surgery and during the follow-up. In Group 2, phase shift, which was positive before surgery, became negative immediately after surgery and increasingly negative after a decrease in the valve-opening pressure. In Group 3, phase shift was positive in 6 cases and slightly negative in 1 case before revision, but after revision phase shift became significantly negative in all cases. Otoacoustic emissions noninvasively reflect cerebrospinal fluid shunt function and are impacted by valve-opening pressure adjustments. Otoacoustic emissions consistently diagnosed shunt malfunction and

  2. The clinical anatomy of congenital portosystemic venous shunts.

    PubMed

    Stringer, Mark D

    2008-03-01

    Congenital portosystemic venous shunts are rare. Their gross anatomy has not been well defined. Four different varieties of congenital portosystemic venous shunts are described in six children seen during a 10-year period, focusing on the anatomy of the shunt as determined by imaging studies and surgery. A detailed review of the literature indicates that congenital portosystemic venous shunts are best classified as: extrahepatic or intrahepatic. Extrahepatic shunts may be further subdivided into portocaval shunts (type 1 end-to-side and type 2 side-to-side) and others. Intrahepatic shunts are due to an abnormal intrahepatic connection between the portal vein and hepatic vein/inferior vena cava or a persistent patent ductus venosus. Additional congenital anomalies, particularly cardiac malformations, may be associated with any type. Some congenital intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts close spontaneously in infancy; all other congenital portosystemic venous shunts tend to remain patent. To a variable extent, depending largely on the volume and duration of the shunt, affected individuals are at risk of developing hepatic encephalopathy and/or an intrahepatic tumor. The key to understanding the pathogenesis of these shunts lies in the normal developmental mechanisms underlying the formation of the portal vein and inferior vena cava in the embryo. Copyright 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  3. Maternal diabetes alters the development of ductus venosus shunting in the fetus.

    PubMed

    Lund, Agnethe; Ebbing, Cathrine; Rasmussen, Svein; Kiserud, Torvid W; Kessler, Jörg

    2018-05-11

    Despite adequate glycemic control, the risks of fetal macrosomia and perinatal complications are increased in diabetic pregnancies. Adjustments of the umbilical venous (UV) distribution, including increased ductus venosus (DV) shunting, can be important fetal compensatory mechanisms, but the impact of pregestational diabetes on UV and DV flow is not known. In this prospective study, 49 women with pregestational diabetes mellitus underwent monthly ultrasound examinations from gestational week 20 to 36. The blood velocity and the mean diameters of the UV and DV were used for calculating blood flow volumes. The development of the UV flow, DV flow and DV shunt fraction (% of UV blood shunted through the DV) was compared with a reference population, and the effect of HbA 1c on the DV flow was assessed. The UV flow was larger in pregnancies with pregestational diabetes mellitus than in low-risk pregnancies (p<0.001), but smaller when normalized for fetal weight (p=0.036). The distributional pattern of the DV flow developed differently in diabetic pregnancies, particularly during the third trimester, being smaller (p=0.007), also when normalized for fetal weight (p<0.001). Correspondingly the DV shunt fraction was reduced (p<0.0001), most prominently at 36 weeks. There were negative relations between the maternal HbA 1c and the DV flow velocity, flow volume and shunt fraction. In pregnancies with pregestational diabetes mellitus, prioritized UV distribution to the fetal liver, and lower DV shunt capacity, both reduce the compensatory capability of the fetus and may represent an augmented risk during hypoxic challenges during late pregnancy and birth. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

  4. MRI safety of a programmable shunt assistant at 3 and 7 Tesla.

    PubMed

    Mirzayan, M Javad; Klinge, Petra M; Samii, Madjid; Goetz, Friedrich; Krauss, Joachim K

    2012-06-01

    Several new shunt technologies have been developed to optimize hydrocephalus treatment within the past few years. Overdrainage, however, still remains an unresolved problem. One new technology which may reduce the frequency of this complication is the use of a programmable shunt assistant (proSA). Inactive in a horizontal position, it impedes CSF flow in a vertical position according to a prescribed pressure level ranging from 0 to 40 cm H(2)O. We exposed the proSA valve in an ex vivo protocol to MR systems operating at 3 and 7 Tesla to investigate its MRI safety. Following 3 Tesla exposure, no changes in valve settings were noted. Adjustment to any pressure level was possible thereafter. The mean deflection angle was 23 ± 3°. After exposure to 7 Tesla, however, there were unintended pressure changes, and the mechanism for further adjustment of the valves even disintegrated. According to the results of this study, proSA is safe with heteropolar vertical magnet alignment at 3 Tesla. Following 7 Tesla exposure, the valves lost their functional capability.

  5. Hepatic vascular shunts: embryology and imaging appearances

    PubMed Central

    Bhargava, P; Vaidya, S; Kolokythas, O; Katz, D S; Dighe, M

    2011-01-01

    The purpose of this pictorial review is to understand the embryological basis of the development of congenital hepatic vascular shunts and to review the multimodality imaging appearances of congenital and acquired hepatic vascular shunts. Hepatic vascular shunts are commonly seen in imaging. Familiarity with their characteristic appearances is important in order to accurately characterise these shunts and diagnose the underlying disorders. PMID:22101582

  6. Cerebrospinal Fluid Lumbar Tapping Utilization for Suspected Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Under-Drainage Malfunctions

    PubMed Central

    Lee, Jong-Beom; Ahn, Ho-Young; Lee, Hong-Jae; Yang, Ji-Ho; Yi, Jin-Seok; Lee, Il-Woo

    2017-01-01

    suspected if CSF lumbar tapping pressure is 35 mmH2O higher than the valve opening pressure and shunt malfunction evaluation or adjustment of the valve opening pressure should be made. PMID:28061484

  7. Cerebrospinal Fluid Lumbar Tapping Utilization for Suspected Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Under-Drainage Malfunctions.

    PubMed

    Lee, Jong-Beom; Ahn, Ho-Young; Lee, Hong-Jae; Yang, Ji-Ho; Yi, Jin-Seok; Lee, Il-Woo

    2017-01-01

    pressure is 35 mmH 2 O higher than the valve opening pressure and shunt malfunction evaluation or adjustment of the valve opening pressure should be made.

  8. Pulmonary hypertension in patients with congenital portosystemic venous shunt: a previously unrecognized association.

    PubMed

    Ohno, Takuro; Muneuchi, Jun; Ihara, Kenji; Yuge, Tetsuji; Kanaya, Yoshiaki; Yamaki, Shigeo; Hara, Toshiro

    2008-04-01

    Pulmonary arterial hypertension has been reported to be observed in association with acquired portal hypertension. However, the contribution of congenital anomalies occurring in the portal system to the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension remains to be elucidated. Nine patients with congenital portosystemic venous shunt were studied from January 1990 through September 2005. Patent ductus venosus was detected in 5 patients, including 3 patients with an absence of the portal vein. The presence of either a gastrorenal or splenorenal shunt was evident in another 4 patients. Six patients had a history of hypergalactosemia with normal enzyme activities, as seen during neonatal screening. Six (66.7%) of the 9 patients were identified to have clinically significant pulmonary arterial hypertension (mean pulmonary artery pressure: 34-79 mm Hg; pulmonary vascular resistances: 5.12-38.07 U). The median age at the onset of pulmonary arterial hypertension was 12 years and 3 months. Histologic studies of lung specimens, which were available in 4 of the 9 patients with congenital portosystemic venous shunt, showed small arterial microthrombotic lesions in 3 patients. This characteristic finding was recognized even in the congenital portosystemic venous shunt patients without PAH. This study demonstrated thromboembolic pulmonary arterial hypertension to be a crucial complication in congenital portosystemic venous shunt, and this pathologic state may be latently present in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension of unknown etiology.

  9. Exercise Physiology and Pulmonary Hemodynamic Abnormality in PH Patients with Exercise Induced Venous-To-Systemic Shunt.

    PubMed

    Guo, Jian; Shi, Xue; Yang, Wenlan; Gong, Sugang; Zhao, Qinhua; Wang, Lan; He, Jing; Shi, Xiaofang; Sun, Xingguo; Liu, Jinming

    2014-01-01

    To identify the pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients who develop an exercise induced venous-to-systemic shunt (EIS) by performing the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), analyse the changes of CPET measurements during exercise and compare the exercise physiology and resting pulmonary hemodynamics between shunt-PH and no-shunt-PH patients. Retrospectively, resting pulmonary function test (PFT), right heart catheterization (RHC), and CPET for clinical evaluation of 104 PH patients were studied. Considering all 104 PH patients by three investigators, 37 were early EIS+, 61 were EIS-, 3 were late EIS+, and 3 others were placed in the discordant group. PeakVO2, AT and OUES were all reduced in the shunt-PH patients compared with the no-shunt-PH subjects, whereas VE/VCO2 slope and the lowest VE/VCO2 increased. Besides, the changes and the response characteristics of the key CPET parameters at the beginning of exercise in the shunt group were notably different from those of the no shunt one. At cardiac catheterization, the shunt patients had significantly increased mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), mean right atrial pressure (mRAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), reduced cardiac output (CO) and cardiac index (CI) compared with the no shunt ones (P<0.05). Resting CO was significantly correlated with exercise parameters of AT (r = 0.527, P<0.001), OUES (r = 0.410, P<0.001) and Peak VO2 (r = 0.405, P<0.001). PVR was significantly, but weakly, correlated with the above mentioned CPET parameters. CPET may allow a non-invasive method for detecting an EIS and assessing the severity of the disease in PH patients.

  10. Outcomes of systemic to pulmonary artery shunts in patients weighing less than 3 kg: analysis of shunt type, size, and surgical approach.

    PubMed

    Myers, John W; Ghanayem, Nancy S; Cao, Yumei; Simpson, Pippa; Trapp, Katie; Mitchell, Michael E; Tweddell, James S; Woods, Ronald K

    2014-02-01

    To evaluate outcomes of systemic to pulmonary artery shunts (SPS) in patients weighing less than 3 kg with regard to shunt type, shunt size, and surgical approach. Patients weighing less than 3 kg who underwent modified Blalock-Taussig or central shunts with polytetrafluoroethylene grafts at our institution from January 1, 2000, to May 31, 2011, were reviewed. Patients who had undergone other major concomitant procedures were excluded from the analysis. Primary outcomes included mortality (discharge mortality and mortality before next planned palliative procedure or definitive repair), cardiac arrest and/or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and shunt reintervention. In this cohort of 80 patients, discharge survival was 96% (77/80). Postoperative cardiac arrest or ECMO occurred in 6/80 (7.5%), and shunt reintervention was required in 14/80 (17%). On univariate analysis, shunt reintervention was more common in patients with 3-mm shunts (11/30, 37%) compared with 3.5-mm (2/36, 6%) or 4-mm shunts (1/14, 7%) (P < .003). There were no statistically significant associations between shunt type, shunt size, or surgical approach and cardiac arrest/ECMO or mortality. Multiple logistic regression demonstrated that a shunt size of 3 mm (P = .019) and extracardiac anomaly (P = .047) were associated with shunt reintervention, whereas no variable was associated with cardiac arrest/ECMO or mortality. In this high-risk group of neonates weighing less than 3 kg at the time of SPS, survival to discharge and the next planned surgical procedure was high. Outcomes were good with the 3.5- and 4-mm shunts; however, shunt reintervention was common with 3-mm shunts. Copyright © 2014 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. Periodic shunted arrays for the control of noise radiation in an enclosure

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Casadei, Filippo; Dozio, Lorenzo; Ruzzene, Massimo; Cunefare, Kenneth A.

    2010-08-01

    This work presents numerical and experimental investigations of the application of a periodic array of resistive-inductive (RL) shunted piezoelectric patches for the attenuation of broadband noise radiated by a flexible plate in an enclosed cavity. A 4×4 lay-out of piezoelectric patches is bonded to the surface of a rectangular plate fully clamped to the top face of a rectangular cavity. Each piezo-patch is shunted through a single RL circuit, and all shunting circuits are tuned at the same frequency. The response of the resulting periodic structure is characterized by frequency bandgaps where vibrations and associated noise are strongly attenuated. The location and extent of induced bandgaps are predicted by the application of Bloch theorem on a unit cell of the periodic assembly, and they are controlled by proper selection of the shunting circuit impedance. A coupled piezo-structural-acoustic finite element model is developed to evaluate the noise reduction performance. Strong attenuation of multiple panel-controlled modes is observed over broad frequency bands. The proposed concept is tested on an aluminum plate mounted in a wooden box and driven by a shaker. Experimental results are presented in terms of pressure responses recorded using a grid of microphones placed inside the acoustic box.

  12. [Total cavopulmonary connection for grown diminutive pulmonary artery after staged Blalock-Taussig shunt].

    PubMed

    Uchita, S; Matsuo, K; Ishida, T; Okajima, Y; Aotsuka, H; Fujiwara, T

    1998-11-01

    We report a two-year-old girl with asplenia, [A, L, L] DORV, pulmonary atresia, common AV valve, PDA, and TAPVC, who successfully underwent total cavo pulmonary connection (TCPC). Deep cyanosis was pointed out since birth. Cardiac catheterization performed on the sixth day after birth revealed a diminutive pulmonary artery tree of which PA index was 41 mm2/m2. Left modified Blalock-Taussig shunt was created at 27 days of age. The PA index increased to 282 mm2/mm2, but disparity in diameter between the left and the right pulmonary artery was yielded by PDA subsidence. Therefore additional contralateral B-T shunt was made at one year of age. Follow-up cardiac catheterization at 28 months of age showed well developed pulmonary artery; PA index of 460 mm2/m2, right pulmonary resistance (Rp) of 3.49 units, left Rp of 2.33 units, and estimated total Rp was 1.39. According to study, bidirectional Glenn procedure or TCPC was indicated. Considering necessity of urgent repair of common pulmonary vein obstruction, regurgitation of the common atrio-ventricular valve and pulmonary artery stenosis, TCPC was performed with concomitant repair of the associated lesions. Severe butterfly-figure stenosis of the central PA was augmented by anastomosing both the left SVC and the left-sided atrium. In conclusion, diminutive pulmonary artery could be adequately grown by phase-in Blalock-Taussig shunts. Pulmonary blood flow scintigraphy was thought to be useful for estimation of pulmonary resistance in such cases with different pulmonary resistance between right and left PA.

  13. Hepatopulmonary shunting on Tc99m-MAA liver mapping: correlation with dynamic cross-sectional imaging and description of different shunting patterns.

    PubMed

    Bermo, Mohammed; Matesan, Manuela C; Itani, Malak; Behnia, Fatemeh; Vesselle, Hubert J

    2018-04-09

    The purpose of the study was to correlate lung shunt fraction (LSF) calculated by intra-arterial injection of Technetium-99m (Tc-99m)-labeled macroaggregated albumin (MAA) in a hepatic artery branch with the presence of certain patterns of vascular shunts on dynamic CT or MRI of the liver. This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board and informed consent was waived. We reviewed 523 MAA scans in 453 patients (301 men, 152 women) performed from July 2007 to June 2015 and their correlative cross-sectional imaging. Patterns of vascular shunts on dynamic CT or MRI performed within 3 months of the MAA study and that potentially divert hepatic arterial inflow to the systemic venous return were defined as "target shunts." Dynamic CT or MRI was classified into three groups with target shunt present, absent, or indeterminate. The mean LSF was compared across the first and second groups using paired t test. 342 CT and MRI studies met inclusion criteria: target shunts were present in 63 studies, absent in 271 studies, and 8 studies were indeterminate. When target shunts were visualized, the mean LSF on corresponding MAA scans was 12.9 ± 10.36% (95% CI 10.29-15.15%) compared to 4.3 ± 3.17% (95% CI 3.93-4.68%) when no target shunt was visualized. The difference was statistically significant (p value < 0.001). Identified target shunts were either direct (arteriohepatic venous shunt) or indirect (arterioportal shunt combined with a portosystemic shunt). Visualizing certain patterns of vascular shunting on a dynamic CT or MRI scan is associated with high LSF.

  14. A physical framework for implementing virtual models of intracranial pressure and cerebrospinal fluid dynamics in hydrocephalus shunt testing.

    PubMed

    Venkataraman, Pranav; Browd, Samuel R; Lutz, Barry R

    2016-09-01

    OBJECTIVE The surgical placement of a shunt designed to resolve the brain's impaired ability to drain excess CSF is one of the most common treatments for hydrocephalus. The use of a dynamic testing platform is an important part of shunt testing that can faithfully reproduce the physiological environment of the implanted shunts. METHODS A simulation-based framework that serves as a proof of concept for enabling the application of virtual intracranial pressure (ICP) and CSF models to a physical shunt-testing system was engineered. This was achieved by designing hardware and software that enabled the application of dynamic model-driven inlet and outlet pressures to a shunt and the subsequent measurement of the resulting drainage rate. RESULTS A set of common physiological scenarios was simulated, including oscillations in ICP due to respiratory and cardiac cycles, changes in baseline ICP due to changes in patient posture, and transient ICP spikes caused by activities such as exercise, coughing, sneezing, and the Valsalva maneuver. The behavior of the Strata valve under a few of these physiological conditions is also demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS Testing shunts with dynamic ICP and CSF simulations can facilitate the optimization of shunts to be more failure resistant and better suited to patient physiology.

  15. Congenital portosystemic venous shunt.

    PubMed

    Papamichail, M; Pizanias, M; Heaton, N

    2018-03-01

    Congenital portosystemic venous shunts are rare developmental anomalies resulting in diversion of portal flow to the systemic circulation and have been divided into extra- and intrahepatic shunts. They occur during liver and systemic venous vascular embryogenesis and are associated with other congenital abnormalities. They carry a higher risk of benign and malignant liver tumors and, if left untreated, can result in significant medical complications including systemic encephalopathy and pulmonary hypertension. This article reviews the various types of congenital portosystemic shunts and their anatomy, pathogenesis, symptomatology, and timing and options of treatment. What is Known: • The natural history and basic management of this rare congenital anomaly are presented. What is New: • This paper is a comprehensive review; highlights important topics in pathogenesis, clinical symptomatology, and treatment options; and proposes an algorithm in the management of congenital portosystemic shunt disease in order to provide a clear idea to a pediatrician. An effort has been made to emphasize the indications for treatment in the children population and link to the adult group by discussing the consequences of lack of treatment or delayed diagnosis.

  16. Congenital portosystemic shunts with and without gastrointestinal bleeding - case series.

    PubMed

    Gong, Ying; Zhu, Hui; Chen, Jun; Chen, Qi; Ji, Min; Pa, Mier; Zheng, Shan; Qiao, Zhongwei

    2015-12-01

    The clinical presentation of congenital portosystemic shunt is variable and gastrointestinal bleeding is an uncommon presentation. To describe the imaging features of congenital portosystemic shunt as it presented in 11 children with (n = 6) and without gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 5). We performed a retrospective study on a clinical and imaging dataset of 11 children diagnosed with congenital portosystemic shunt. A total of 11 children with congenital portosystemic shunt were included in this study, 7 with extrahepatic portosystemic shunts and 4 with intrahepatic portosystemic shunts. Six patients with gastrointestinal bleeding had an extrahepatic portosystemic shunt, and the imaging results showed that the shunts originated from the splenomesenteric junction (n = 5) or splenic vein (n = 1) and connected to the internal iliac vein. Among the five cases of congenital portosystemic shunt without gastrointestinal bleeding, one case was an extrahepatic portosystemic shunt and the other four were intrahepatic portosystemic shunts. Most congenital portosystemic shunt patients with gastrointestinal bleeding had a shunt that drained portal blood into the iliac vein via an inferior mesenteric vein. This type of shunt was uncommon, but the concomitant rate of gastrointestinal bleeding with this type of shunt was high.

  17. Multi-resonant piezoelectric shunting induced by digital controllers for subwavelength elastic wave attenuation in smart metamaterial

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Gang; Cheng, Jianqing; Chen, Jingwei; He, Yunze

    2017-02-01

    Instead of analog electronic circuits and components, digital controllers that are capable of active multi-resonant piezoelectric shunting are applied to elastic metamaterials integrated with piezoelectric patches. Thanks to recently introduced digital control techniques, shunting strategies are possible now with transfer functions that can hardly be realized with analog circuits. As an example, the ‘pole-zero’ method is developed to design single- or multi-resonant bandgaps by adjusting poles and zeros in the transfer function of piezoelectric shunting directly. Large simultaneous attenuations in up to three frequency bands at deep subwavelength scale (with normalized frequency as low as 0.077) are achieved. The underlying physical mechanism is attributable to the negative group velocity of the flexural wave within bandgaps. As digital controllers can be readily adapted via wireless broadcasting, the bandgaps can be tuned easily unlike the electric components in analog shunting circuits, which must be tuned one by one manually. The theoretical results are verified experimentally with the measured vibration transmission properties, where large insulations of up to 20 dB in low-frequency ranges are observed.

  18. Piezoelectric Shunt Vibration Damping of F-15 Panel under High Acoustic Excitation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wu, Shu-Yau; Turner, Travis L.; Rizzi, Stephen A.

    2000-01-01

    At last year's SPIE symposium, we reported results of an experiment on structural vibration damping of an F-15 underbelly panel using piezoelectric shunting with five bonded PZT transducers. The panel vibration was induced with an acoustic speaker at an overall sound pressure level (OASPL) of about 90 dB. Amplitude reductions of 13.45 and 10.72 dB were achieved for the first and second modes, respectively, using single- and multiple-mode shunting. It is the purpose of this investigation to extend the passive piezoelectric shunt-damping technique to control structural vibration induced at higher acoustic excitation levels, and to examine the controllability and survivability of the bonded PZT transducers at these high levels. The shunting experiment was performed with the Thermal Acoustic Fatigue Apparatus (TAFA) at the NASA Langley Research Center using the same F-15 underbelly panel. The TAFA is a progressive wave tube facility. The panel was mounted in one wall of the TAFA test section using a specially designed mounting fixture such that the panel was subjected to grazing-incidence acoustic excitation. Five PZT transducers were used with two shunt circuits designed to control the first and second modes of the structure between 200 and 400 Hz. We first determined the values of the shunt inductance and resistance at an OASPL of 130 dB. These values were maintained while we gradually increased the OASPL from 130 to 154 dB in 6-dB steps. During each increment, the frequency response function between accelerometers on the panel and the acoustic excitation measured by microphones, before and after shunting, were recorded. Good response reduction was observed up to the 148dB level. The experiment was stopped at 154 dB due to wire breakage from vibration at a transducer wire joint. The PZT transducers, however, were still bonded well on the panel and survived at this high dB level. We also observed shifting of the frequency peaks toward lower frequency when the OASPL

  19. Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (Abernethy malformation) treated endovascularly with vascular plug shunt closure.

    PubMed

    Passalacqua, Matthew; Lie, Kevin T; Yarmohammadi, Hooman

    2012-01-01

    A 3-year-old boy, who presented with progressive cyanosis and hypoxia, was diagnosed with a large congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt, interrupted IVC with azygos continuation, and multiple congenital anomalies. Traditionally open and laparoscopic surgical techniques have been used to treat this malformation. Endovascular repair using a 16-mm Amplatzer vascular plug (AGA Medical Corporation, Golden Valley, Minnesota, USA) was used to occlude the shunt. Immediate post-placement venography demonstrated cessation of flow within the shunt and increased portal venous flow. The patient's hypoxia and cyanosis decreased significantly, and he was discharged on the 5th post-procedure day in stable clinical condition. Three months follow-up evaluation demonstrated the vascular plug in place, unchanged in position.

  20. 49 CFR 236.725 - Circuit, switch shunting.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 4 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Circuit, switch shunting. 236.725 Section 236.725 Transportation Other Regulations Relating to Transportation (Continued) FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION... Circuit, switch shunting. A shunting circuit which is closed through contacts of a switch circuit...

  1. 49 CFR 236.725 - Circuit, switch shunting.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 4 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Circuit, switch shunting. 236.725 Section 236.725 Transportation Other Regulations Relating to Transportation (Continued) FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION... Circuit, switch shunting. A shunting circuit which is closed through contacts of a switch circuit...

  2. 49 CFR 236.725 - Circuit, switch shunting.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Circuit, switch shunting. 236.725 Section 236.725 Transportation Other Regulations Relating to Transportation (Continued) FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION... Circuit, switch shunting. A shunting circuit which is closed through contacts of a switch circuit...

  3. 49 CFR 236.725 - Circuit, switch shunting.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 4 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Circuit, switch shunting. 236.725 Section 236.725 Transportation Other Regulations Relating to Transportation (Continued) FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION... Circuit, switch shunting. A shunting circuit which is closed through contacts of a switch circuit...

  4. 49 CFR 236.725 - Circuit, switch shunting.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 4 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Circuit, switch shunting. 236.725 Section 236.725 Transportation Other Regulations Relating to Transportation (Continued) FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION... Circuit, switch shunting. A shunting circuit which is closed through contacts of a switch circuit...

  5. Ventriculosubgaleal shunts for posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus in premature infants.

    PubMed

    Willis, Brian K; Kumar, Cherukuri Ravi; Wylen, Esther L; Nanda, Anil

    2005-01-01

    The early management of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus in premature infants is challenging and controversial. These infants need a temporary cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion procedure until they gain adequate weight, and the blood and protein levels in CSF are reasonably low before permanent shunt can be placed. Various options are available with their associated advantages and disadvantages. Ventriculosubgaleal shunts have been recommended as a more physiologic and less invasive means of achieving this goal. We have performed this procedure in 6 premature infants to evaluate their effectiveness and complications. Six consecutive premature infants with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus underwent placement of ventriculosubgaleal shunts over a 1-year period of time. We reviewed their clinical and imaging progress to assess the ability of the shunt to control hydrocephalus and the complication rates. In all 6 patients, the ventriculosubgaleal shunt controlled the progression of hydrocephalus as assessed by clinical and imaging parameters. A permanent shunt was avoided in 1 patient (16.6%). However, 4 patients developed shunt infections, 1 involving the ventriculosubgaleal shunt itself, and 3 immediately after conversion to ventriculoperitoneal shunt. The total infection rate of the series was 66.6%. All infections were caused by staphylococcus species. There was only a 1% shunt infection rate in our institution for all nonventriculosubgaleal shunts during the same period of time. Placement of ventriculosubgaleal shunts for interim CSF diversion in neonates with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus is effective as a temporary method of CSF diversion. However, our experience has shown that it is associated with a unacceptably high CSF infection rate. A potential cause for infection is CSF stasis just beneath the extremely thin skin of the premature infants, promoting colonization by skin flora. CSF sampling before conversion to a permanent shunt and replacement of the proximal

  6. Indications and results of systemic to pulmonary shunts: results from a national database.

    PubMed

    Dorobantu, Dan Mihai; Pandey, Ragini; Sharabiani, Mansour Taghavi; Mahani, Alireza Shahidzadeh; Angelini, Gianni Davide; Martin, Robin Peter; Stoica, Serban Constantin

    2016-06-01

    The systemic-to-pulmonary shunt (SPS) remains an important palliative therapy in many congenital heart defects. Unlike other surgical treatments, the mortality after shunt operations has risen. We used an audit dataset to investigate potential reasons for this change and to report national results. A total of 1993 patients classified in 13 diagnoses underwent an SPS procedure between 2000 and 2013. Indication trends by era and also results before repair or next stage are reported. A dynamic hazard model with competing risks and modulated renewal was used to determine predictors of outcomes. The usage of SPS in Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) has significantly decreased in the last decade, with cases of single ventricle (SV) and pulmonary atresia (PA) with septal communication increasing (P < 0.001 for trends). This is correlated with an increase of early mortality from 5.1% in the first half of the decade to 9.8% in the latter (P = 0.007 for trend). At 1.5 years, 13.9% of patients have died, 17.8% had a shunt reintervention and 68.3% of patients are alive and reintervention-free. Low weight, PA-intact septum, SV and central shunt type are among the factors associated with increased mortality, whereas PA-ventricular septal defect, corrected transposition, isomerism, central shunt and low weight are among those associated with increased reintervention, also having a dynamic effect on the relative risk when compared with ToF patients. Shunt reinterventions are not associated with worse outcomes when adjusted by other covariates, but they do have higher 30-day mortality if occurring earlier than 30 days from the index (P < 0.001). Patients operated in later years were found to have significantly lower survival at a distance from index. The observed historical rise in mortality for shunt operations relates to complex factors including changing practice for repair of ToF and for univentricular palliation. PA and SV patients are the groups of patients at the highest risk of

  7. Prediction of Susceptibility to Acute Mountain Sickness Using Hypoxia-Induced Intrapulmonary Arteriovenous Shunt and Intracardiac Shunt Fractions

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-10-01

    echocardiography to determine bubble/shunt scores. We will also use nuclear medicine imaging to determine shunt fractions following acute exposures to... echocardiography while breathing hypoxic gas mixtures. – TASK COMPLETED. For Task #1.3 “Quantify shunt during hypoxic exposure with SPECT CT – PFO...subjects.” 19 PFO+ subjects have completed saline contrast echocardiography while breathing hypoxic gas mixtures for 30 min. One PFO+ subject that had

  8. Interventional embolization of congenital intrahepatic shunts in children.

    PubMed

    Wu, Lin; Zhao, Lu; Lu, Ying; He, Lan; Hu, Xihong

    2016-04-01

    Congenital intrahepatic shunts in children are rare and precise treatment strategies have not been established. The purpose of this study was to present our experience with transcatheter embolization in a descriptive case series of congenital intrahepatic shunts in children. We retrospectively studied 10 children with symptomatic congenital intrahepatic shunts who were treated with embolization at our institute between January 2008 and December 2014. Seven children had arteriovenous shunts in association with hepatic hemangiomas, two had arterioportal shunts and one had portosystemic shunts. The major presentations were congestive heart failure and severe anemia in the groups with arteriovenous and arterioportal shunts, respectively. Following embolization, two children died in the arteriovenous group, one from progressive liver dysfunction and the other from abdominal compartment syndrome. One child in the arterioportal group required liver transplantation after initial embolization. With mean post-procedure follow-up of 15 months (range 4-54 months), all the remaining children were well, with resolution of the symptoms. Interventional embolization provides an alternative to surgical ligation or hepatic resection in children with clinically significant intrahepatic shunts. For lesions with complex morphology, embolization may be inadequate and liver transplantation might be the only therapeutic option.

  9. Modeling the effect of shunt current on the charge transfer efficiency of an all-vanadium redox flow battery

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Yong-Song; Ho, Sze-Yuan; Chou, Han-Wen; Wei, Hwa-Jou

    2018-06-01

    In an all-vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB), a shunt current is inevitable owing to the electrically conductive electrolyte that fills the flow channels and manifolds connecting cells. The shunt current decreases the performance of a VRFB stack as well as the energy conversion efficiency of a VRFB system. To understand the shunt-current loss in a VRFB stack with various designs and operating conditions, a mathematical model is developed to investigate the effects of the shunt current on battery performance. The model is calibrated with experimental data under the same operating conditions. The effects of the battery design, including the number of cells, state of charge (SOC), operating current, and equivalent resistance of the electrolytes in the flow channels and manifolds, on the shunt current are analyzed and discussed. The charge-transfer efficiency is calculated to investigate the effects of the battery design parameters on the shunt current. When the cell number is increased from 5 to 40, the charge transfer efficiency is decreased from 0.99 to a range between 0.76 and 0.88, depending on operating current density. The charge transfer efficiency can be maintained at higher than 0.9 by limiting the cell number to less than 20.

  10. [Selective portal-systemic shunts for bleeding portal hypertension].

    PubMed

    Orozco, H; Mercado, M A; Takahashi, T; García-Tsao, G; Guevara, L; Hernandez-Ortiz, J; Tielve, M

    1990-07-01

    At the beginning of the seventies, we began to perform regularly selective shunts for the treatment of portal hypertension. In a 15 year period, 177 patients (155 with liver cirrhosis) were operated with three kinds of selective shunts: 128 with a Warren shunt, 29 with an end to end renosplenic shunt and 20 with a splenocaval shunt. 167 cases were operated in an elective fashion. The 15 years global operative mortality, was 14.4%. Operative mortality of the Child A patients, was 11.6%. Survival for the Child A group was 74.6% at 1 year, 68.2% at 5 years and 64.6% at 15 years. Incapacitating encephalopathy was observed in 6.9%, rebleeding 6.2% and shunt thrombosis in 6.2%. Portal vein alterations in the postoperative period were observed: in 13.3% a reduction in diameter ocurred and in 20.5%, thrombosis was recorded. It is concluded that when feasible, the selective shunts are the treatment of choice for portal hypertension in those patients with good liver function.

  11. Outcome of infants shunted for post-haemorrhagic ventricular dilatation.

    PubMed

    Hislop, J E; Dubowitz, L M; Kaiser, A M; Singh, M P; Whitelaw, A G

    1988-08-01

    Between April 1980 and March 1986, 19 infants underwent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting procedures for post-haemorrhagic ventricular dilatation at the Hammersmith Hospital, London. A total of 58 shunt-related procedures have been performed on these children. The major perioperative complication was seizure activity (eight children). Postoperative complications included infection (12 shunts) and blockage (29 shunts). Prophylactic antibiotics failed to prevent shunt infection. The likelihood of the first shunt failing was significantly reduced by greater weight of the infant and lower CSF protein at surgery. Long-term outcome was poor: three have died and another four are quadriplegic with severe mental retardation. Only four children are developmentally normal. These outcomes cannot be related to the shunt surgery or its complications, but correlate best with pre-operative parenchymal brain-lesions, as shown on ultrasound scans.

  12. Outcome of intrahepatic portosystemic shunt diagnosed prenatally.

    PubMed

    Francois, Bérengère; Gottrand, Fréderic; Lachaux, Alain; Boyer, Corinne; Benoit, Bernard; De Smet, Stéphanie

    2017-12-01

    We analyzed the characteristics of the population with congenital portosystemic shunt diagnosed during the antenatal period and the organization of their perinatal care. This multicentric retrospective study included all the patients with a prenatal diagnosis of congenital portosystemic shunt. Between 1999 and 2015, 12 patients were included. Prenatal diagnosis was done at a median 26.5 weeks of gestation (21-34). All the patients presented intrahepatic CPSS, three of them had associated congenital cardiopathy, and one a Bannayan-Zonana syndrome. Ten patients had simple outcome on conservative treatment, eight of them having a spontaneous closure of their portosystemic shunt within the first 2 years of life. One patient had surgical treatment which failed and he developed a focal nodular hyperplasia. Another patient had radiological interventional closure of his shunt which was complicated by a venal portal thrombosis. Outcome of intrahepatic portosystemic shunt diagnosed prenatally is good in the majority of cases. What is known: • Multiples studies exist on congenital porto systemic shunt but when the diagnosis is done after birth. • The evolution, management, and complication are well known. What is new: • There is very few studies with only patients diagnosed in antenatal and it is a large series of cases. • Outcome of intrahepatic portosystemic shunt diagnosed prenatally is good in the majority of cases.

  13. Lower incidence of reoperation with longer shunt survival with adult ventriculoperitoneal shunts placed for hemorrhage-related hydrocephalus.

    PubMed

    Hoh, Brian L; Lang, Shih-Shan; Ortiz, Michael V; Chi, Yueh-Yun; Lewis, Stephen B; Pincus, David W

    2008-07-01

    The incidence of reoperation for ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPS) in adults, although lower than in pediatric patients, is not insignificant. We hypothesize that adult VPS placed for hemorrhage-related hydrocephalus have a lower incidence of reoperation than those placed for other types of hydrocephalus. We retrospectively reviewed all adult (>/= 20 yr) VPS initially placed from February 2001 to August 2006 at the University of Florida. We determined the incidence and time interval to reoperation. Follow-up was conducted by telephone interview and review of medical records. A total of 286 adult VPS were initially placed: 96 (34%) hemorrhage and 190 (66%) nonhemorrhage. A total of 15 (16%) hemorrhage patients underwent 22 shunt reoperations, compared with 50 (27%) nonhemorrhage patients who underwent 82 shunt reoperations (P = 0.0316). A Poisson regression analysis of the number of reoperations, factoring hemorrhage, age, and sex, demonstrated a significantly lower incidence of reoperation in hemorrhage patients (P = 0.0900). A Cox proportional hazards model analysis of time to first reoperation, factoring hemorrhage, age, and sex, demonstrated a significantly longer shunt survival in hemorrhage patients (P = 0.0404). Adult VPS placed for hemorrhage-related hydrocephalus have a significantly lower incidence of reoperation and significantly longer shunt survival. This result may be related to an incidence of transient shunt dependency in patients with hemorrhage-related hydrocephalus. However, the precise mechanism remains unclear.

  14. Candidal infections of ventriculoperitoneal shunts.

    PubMed

    Baradkar, V P; Mathur, M; Sonavane, A; Kumar, S

    2009-07-01

    Although ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt infection is a common complication of shunt procedures, fungal infection is considered to be rare. In the present study, we performed retrospective analysis of six cases in which candida infection occurred. In all these six cases, VP shunt was performed in children for hydrocephalus and the onset of symptoms varied between seven days to one month after the surgical procedure was performed. The commonest clinical signs and symptoms were fever (100%), vomiting (100%), and altered sensorium (50%). The commonest isolate was Candida albicans (66.66%) followed by Candida parapsilosis and Candida glabrata in one case each. All the patients were successfully treated with Amphotericin B and there was no mortality recorded.

  15. Internal carotid artery rupture caused by carotid shunt insertion

    PubMed Central

    Illuminati, Giulio; Caliò, Francesco G.; Pizzardi, Giulia; Vietri, Francesco

    2015-01-01

    Introduction Shunting is a well-accepted method of maintaining cerebral perfusion during carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Nonetheless, shunt insertion may lead to complications including arterial dissection, embolization, and thrombosis. We present a complication of shunt insertion consisting of arterial wall rupture, not reported previously. Presentation of case A 78-year-old woman underwent CEA combined with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). At the time of shunt insertion an arterial rupture at the distal tip of the shunt was detected and was repaired via a small saphenous vein patch. Eversion CEA and subsequent CABG completed the procedure whose postoperative course was uneventful. Discussion Shunting during combined CEA-CABG may be advisable to assure cerebral protection from possible hypoperfusion due to potential hemodynamic instability of patients with severe coronary artery disease. Awareness and prompt management of possible shunt-related complications, including the newly reported one, may contribute to limiting their harmful effect. Conclusion Arterial wall rupture is a possible, previously not reported, shunt-related complication to be aware of when performing CEA. PMID:26255001

  16. Internal carotid artery rupture caused by carotid shunt insertion.

    PubMed

    Illuminati, Giulio; Caliò, Francesco G; Pizzardi, Giulia; Vietri, Francesco

    2015-01-01

    Shunting is a well-accepted method of maintaining cerebral perfusion during carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Nonetheless, shunt insertion may lead to complications including arterial dissection, embolization, and thrombosis. We present a complication of shunt insertion consisting of arterial wall rupture, not reported previously. A 78-year-old woman underwent CEA combined with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). At the time of shunt insertion an arterial rupture at the distal tip of the shunt was detected and was repaired via a small saphenous vein patch. Eversion CEA and subsequent CABG completed the procedure whose postoperative course was uneventful. Shunting during combined CEA-CABG may be advisable to assure cerebral protection from possible hypoperfusion due to potential hemodynamic instability of patients with severe coronary artery disease. Awareness and prompt management of possible shunt-related complications, including the newly reported one, may contribute to limiting their harmful effect. Arterial wall rupture is a possible, previously not reported, shunt-related complication to be aware of when performing CEA. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

  17. Intracranial pressure monitoring in pediatric and adult patients with hydrocephalus and tentative shunt failure: a single-center experience over 10 years in 146 patients.

    PubMed

    Sæhle, Terje; Eide, Per Kristian

    2015-05-01

    OBJECT In patients with hydrocephalus and shunts, lasting symptoms such as headache and dizziness may be indicative of shunt failure, which may necessitate shunt revision. In cases of doubt, the authors monitor intracranial pressure (ICP) to determine the presence of over- or underdrainage of CSF to tailor management. In this study, the authors reviewed their experience of ICP monitoring in shunt failure. The aims of the study were to identify the complications and impact of ICP monitoring, as well as to determine the mean ICP and characteristics of the cardiac-induced ICP waves in pediatric versus adult over- and underdrainage. METHODS The study population included all pediatric and adult patients with hydrocephalus and shunts undergoing diagnostic ICP monitoring for tentative shunt failure during the 10-year period from 2002 to 2011. The patients were allocated into 3 groups depending on how they were managed following ICP monitoring: no drainage failure, overdrainage, or underdrainage. While patients with no drainage failure were managed conservatively without further actions, over- or underdrainage cases were managed with shunt revision or shunt valve adjustment. The ICP and ICP wave scores were determined from the continuous ICP waveforms. RESULTS The study population included 71 pediatric and 75 adult patients. There were no major complications related to ICP monitoring, but 1 patient was treated for a postoperative superficial wound infection and another experienced a minor bleed at the tip of the ICP sensor. Following ICP monitoring, shunt revision was performed in 74 (51%) of 146 patients, while valve adjustment was conducted in 17 (12%) and conservative measures without any actions in 55 (38%). Overdrainage was characterized by a higher percentage of episodes with negative mean ICP less than -5 to -10 mm Hg. The ICP wave scores, in particular the mean ICP wave amplitude (MWA), best differentiated underdrainage. Neither mean ICP nor MWA levels showed any

  18. Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Dysfunction: Concordance of Clinical Findings, Doppler Ultrasound Examination, and Shunt Venography.

    PubMed

    Owen, Joshua M; Gaba, Ron Charles

    2016-01-01

    The objective of this study was to evaluate the concordance between clinical symptoms, Doppler ultrasound (US), and shunt venography for the detection of stent-graft transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) dysfunction. Forty-one patients (M:F 30:11, median age 55 years) who underwent contemporaneous clinical exam, Doppler US, and TIPS venography between 2003 and 2014 were retrospectively studied. Clinical symptoms (recurrent ascites or variceal bleeding) were dichotomously classified as present/absent, and US and TIPS venograms were categorized in a binary fashion as normal/abnormal. US abnormalities included high/low (>190 or <90 cm/s) TIPS velocity, significant velocity rise/fall (>50 cm/s), absent flow, and return of antegrade intra-hepatic portal flow. Venographic abnormalities included shunt stenosis/occlusion and/or pressure gradient elevation. Clinical and imaging concordance rates were calculated. Fifty-two corresponding US examinations and venograms were assessed. The median time between studies was 3 days. Forty of 52 (77%) patients were symptomatic, 33/52 (64%) US examinations were abnormal, and 20/52 (38%) TIPS venograms were abnormal. Concordance between clinical symptoms and TIPS venography was 48% (25/52), while the agreement between US and shunt venography was 65% (34/52). Clinical symptoms and the US concurred in 60% (31/52) of the patients. The sensitivity of clinical symptoms and US for the detection of venographically abnormal shunts was 80% (16/20) and 85% (17/20), respectively. Both clinical symptoms and the US had low specificity (25%, 8/32 and 50%, 16/32) for venographically abnormal shunts. Clinical findings and the US had low concordance rates with TIPS venography, with acceptable sensitivity but poor specificity. These findings suggest the need for improved noninvasive imaging methods for stent-graft TIPS surveillance.

  19. Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Dysfunction: Concordance of Clinical Findings, Doppler Ultrasound Examination, and Shunt Venography

    PubMed Central

    Owen, Joshua M; Gaba, Ron Charles

    2016-01-01

    Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the concordance between clinical symptoms, Doppler ultrasound (US), and shunt venography for the detection of stent-graft transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) dysfunction. Materials and Methods: Forty-one patients (M:F 30:11, median age 55 years) who underwent contemporaneous clinical exam, Doppler US, and TIPS venography between 2003 and 2014 were retrospectively studied. Clinical symptoms (recurrent ascites or variceal bleeding) were dichotomously classified as present/absent, and US and TIPS venograms were categorized in a binary fashion as normal/abnormal. US abnormalities included high/low (>190 or <90 cm/s) TIPS velocity, significant velocity rise/fall (>50 cm/s), absent flow, and return of antegrade intra-hepatic portal flow. Venographic abnormalities included shunt stenosis/occlusion and/or pressure gradient elevation. Clinical and imaging concordance rates were calculated. Results: Fifty-two corresponding US examinations and venograms were assessed. The median time between studies was 3 days. Forty of 52 (77%) patients were symptomatic, 33/52 (64%) US examinations were abnormal, and 20/52 (38%) TIPS venograms were abnormal. Concordance between clinical symptoms and TIPS venography was 48% (25/52), while the agreement between US and shunt venography was 65% (34/52). Clinical symptoms and the US concurred in 60% (31/52) of the patients. The sensitivity of clinical symptoms and US for the detection of venographically abnormal shunts was 80% (16/20) and 85% (17/20), respectively. Both clinical symptoms and the US had low specificity (25%, 8/32 and 50%, 16/32) for venographically abnormal shunts. Conclusion: Clinical findings and the US had low concordance rates with TIPS venography, with acceptable sensitivity but poor specificity. These findings suggest the need for improved noninvasive imaging methods for stent-graft TIPS surveillance. PMID:27563495

  20. Cranial dural arteriovenous shunts. Part 4. Clinical presentation of the shunts with leptomeningeal venous drainage.

    PubMed

    Baltsavias, Gerasimos; Spiessberger, Alex; Hothorn, Torsten; Valavanis, Anton

    2015-04-01

    Cranial dural arteriovenous fistulae have been classified into high- and low-risk lesions mainly based on the pattern of venous drainage. Those with leptomeningeal venous drainage carry a higher risk of an aggressive clinical presentation. Recently, it has been proposed that the clinical presentation should be considered as an additional independent factor determining the clinical course of these lesions. However, dural shunts with leptomeningeal venous drainage include a very wide spectrum of inhomogeneous lesions. In the current study, we correlated the clinical presentation of 107 consecutive patients harboring cranial dural arteriovenous shunts with leptomeningeal venous drainage, with their distinct anatomic and angiographic features categorized into eight groups based on the "DES" (Directness and Exclusivity of leptomeningeal venous drainage and features of venous Strain) concept. We found that among these groups, there are significant angioarchitectural differences, which are reflected by considerable differences in clinical presentation. Leptomeningeal venous drainage of dural sinus shunts that is neither direct nor exclusive and without venous strain manifested only benign symptoms (aggressive presentation 0%). On the other end of the spectrum, the bridging vein shunts with direct and exclusive leptomeningeal venous drainage and venous strain are expected to present aggressive symptoms almost always and most likely with bleeding (aggressive presentation 91.5%). Important aspects of the above correlations are discussed. Therefore, the consideration of leptomeningeal venous drainage alone, for prediction of the clinical presentation of these shunts appears insufficient. Angiographic analysis based on the above concept, offers the possibility to distinguish the higher- from the lower-risk types of leptomeningeal venous drainage. In this context, consideration of the clinical presentation as an additional independent factor for the prediction of their clinical

  1. Impedance Changes Indicate Proximal Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Obstruction In Vitro.

    PubMed

    Basati, Sukhraaj; Tangen, Kevin; Hsu, Ying; Lin, Hanna; Frim, David; Linninger, Andreas

    2015-12-01

    Extracranial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt obstruction is one of the most important problems in hydrocephalus patient management. Despite ongoing research into better shunt design, robust and reliable detection of shunt malfunction remains elusive. The authors present a novel method of correlating degree of tissue ingrowth into ventricular CSF drainage catheters with internal electrical impedance. The impedance based sensor is able to continuously monitor shunt patency using intraluminal electrodes. Prototype obstruction sensors were fabricated for in-vitro analysis of cellular ingrowth into a shunt under static and dynamic flow conditions. Primary astrocyte cell lines and C6 glioma cells were allowed to proliferate up to 7 days within a shunt catheter and the impedance waveform was observed. During cell ingrowth a significant change in the peak-to-peak voltage signal as well as the root-mean-square voltage level was observed, allowing the impedance sensor to potentially anticipate shunt malfunction long before it affects fluid drainage. Finite element modeling was employed to demonstrate that the electrical signal used to monitor tissue ingrowth is contained inside the catheter lumen and does not endanger tissue surrounding the shunt. These results may herald the development of "next generation" shunt technology that allows prediction of malfunction before it affects patient outcome.

  2. Serum hyaluronic acid in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts.

    PubMed

    Seki, M; Asano, K; Sakai, M; Kanno, N; Teshima, K; Edamura, K; Tanaka, S

    2010-05-01

    To compare the serum level of hyaluronic acid in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunt with that in healthy dogs and to investigate the perioperative change in serum hyaluronic acid following shunt attenuation. Blood samples were obtained from 29 congenital portosystemic shunt dogs before the operation, and 2 and 4 weeks after the operation from 17 and 7 dogs, respectively. The serum hyaluronic acid level of these dogs was measured and compared with that of 10 healthy beagles. The median preoperative hyaluronic acid level in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunt was significantly elevated compared with that in healthy dogs. Furthermore, the median postoperative hyaluronic acid level significantly decreased compared with the median preoperative levels in congenital portosystemic shunt dogs. In the case of dogs with congenital portosystemic shunt, the reduction of intrahepatic portal blood flow might lower the clearance rate of hyaluronic acid in hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells, so hyaluronic acid clearance could be improved by attenuation of a shunt vessel. Hence, serum hyaluronic acid levels might be useful to evaluate liver function and also have the potential to evaluate successful attenuation of a shunt vessel in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunt. Further investigations are required to clarify whether serum hyaluronic acid offers significant benefits over existing markers such as serum bile acid or ammonia concentrations.

  3. Portosystemic shunts for extrahepatic portal hypertension in children.

    PubMed

    Tocornal, J; Cruz, F

    1981-07-01

    Twenty-three children with prehepatic portal hypertension and hemorrhage due to ruptured esophagogastric varices had portosystemic shunts. Their ages ranged from two years and seven months to 15 years. Eleven were less than eight years of age. Twenty patients had portal vein cavernomatosis and three patients had double portal veins. In 21 patients, a mesocaval type of shunt was done. A splenorenal shunt was performed in two. There was no surgical mortality. Two shunts occluded, both in rather young infants--two years and seven months and three years of age. In all the others, there was no further bleeding, and the shunts remained patent, as shown by abdominal angiograms. Neuropsychiatric disorders, probably due to hepatic encephalopathy, occurred in only one patient. On the basis of this favorable experience, we believe that an elective portosystemic shunt should, in general, be performed upon children with prehepatic portal hypertension after one major variceal hemorrhage. We favor a mesocaval type of shunt in these children because of the larger diameter of the vessels involved in the anastomosis and because it preserves the spleen, maintaining defense against subsequent infection.

  4. Canine congenital portosystemic shunts: Disconnections dissected.

    PubMed

    Van den Bossche, L; van Steenbeek, F G

    2016-05-01

    Canine congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSS) are vascular anomalies that connect the portal vein with the systemic circulation, therefore bypassing the hepatic parenchyma. Portosystemic shunts exist in two different subtypes: extrahepatic and intrahepatic. This congenital disorder is also described in mice, cat, sheep and man. Research has been focused on pathophysiology, diagnostics and treatment of CPSS and this has resulted in increased knowledge, although the aetiology of the disease remains unclear. This review focuses on the aetiology and genetic basis of both intra- and extrahepatic shunts. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. A new shunt for obstructive hydrocephalus: ventricle-Sylvian fissure shunt A preliminary report.

    PubMed

    Patkar, Sushil

    2017-06-01

    Cerbrospinal fluid (CSF) pathway studies have revealed that after egressing from the fourth ventricle reaches the basal supra sellar cistern and ultimately the sylvian cisterns from where the CSF travels over the cerebral convexity subarachnoid space to reach the superior saggital sinus and enters the blood stream. Diverting CSF from the lateral ventricle with a shunt catheter to the sylvian cistern can be an option to treat obstructive hydrocephalus. 2 patients underwent this procedure of diverting CSF from the lateral ventricle with a shunt catheter (Chabbra, India) to the sylvian cistern successfully and had immediate relief of symptoms of raised intracranial pressure. Additional 4 patients had relief for 3mths to 6 mths and are under follow up. Though preliminary results seem logical and promising, more cases and longer follow-up is required to consider this shunt operation as an option in treatment of obstructive hydrocephalus.

  6. Intracardiac Shunting and Stroke in Children: A Systematic Review

    PubMed Central

    Dowling, Michael M.; Ikemba, Catherine M.

    2017-01-01

    In adults, patent foramen ovale or other potential intracardiac shunts are established risk factors for stroke via paradoxical embolization. Stroke is less common in children and risk factors differ. The authors examined the literature on intracardiac shunting and stroke in children, identifying the methods employed, the prevalence of detectible intracardiac shunts, associated conditions, and treatments. PubMed searches with keywords related to intracardiac shunting and stroke in children identified articles of interest. Additional articles were identified via citations in these articles or in reviews. The authors found that studies of intracardiac shunting in children with stroke are limited. No controlled studies were identified. Detection methods vary and the prevalence of echocardiographically detectible intracardiac shunting appears lower than reported in adults and autopsy studies. Defining the role of intracardiac shunting in pediatric stroke will require controlled studies with unified detection methods in populations stratified by additional risk factors for paradoxical embolization. Optimal treatment is unclear. PMID:21212453

  7. Use of intraoperative venography to guide the distal portion of a ventriculoatrial shunt past an obstruction in the central veins: technical case report.

    PubMed

    Momin, Eric N; Recinos, Pablo F; Coon, Alexander L; Rigamonti, Daniele

    2010-06-01

    Ventriculoatrial (VA) shunting is commonly used to treat hydrocephalus when ventriculoperitoneal shunting has failed. Placement of a VA shunt in patients with narrowing or occlusion of the central veins presents considerable difficulty because few imaging modalities exist to safely and reliably insert a guidewire or atrial catheter past the occlusion. We report the use of intraoperative venography to guide the placement of the distal portion of a VA shunt in a patient with a valve blocking the left brachiocephalic vein. A 42-year-old man with pseudotumor cerebri and a left ventriculoperitoneal shunt presented with severe headaches. He was diagnosed with partial distal shunt obstruction. Because of a history of failed attempts at ventriculoperitoneal shunting, conversion to a VA shunt via the left internal jugular vein was planned. Surgery was performed by using the standard technique until resistance was encountered when inserting a guidewire into the internal jugular vein. Intraoperative venography of the central veins was performed, which showed a large valve blocking progression of the guidewire in the left brachiocephalic vein. Using fluoroscopic guidance, a 0.035-inch guidewire was successfully directed through the vein past the obstruction and exchanged for a peel-away introducer. The distal shunt catheter was then inserted, and the correct position in the atrium was confirmed fluoroscopically. When obstruction of the central veins is found during a VA shunting procedure, intraoperative venography is a useful method to aid in the placement of the atrial catheter through the central veins.

  8. 49 CFR 236.57 - Shunt and fouling wires.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 4 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Shunt and fouling wires. 236.57 Section 236.57...: All Systems Track Circuits § 236.57 Shunt and fouling wires. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, shunt wires and fouling wires hereafter installed or replaced shall consist of at...

  9. 49 CFR 236.57 - Shunt and fouling wires.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Shunt and fouling wires. 236.57 Section 236.57...: All Systems Track Circuits § 236.57 Shunt and fouling wires. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, shunt wires and fouling wires hereafter installed or replaced shall consist of at...

  10. Laparoscopic treatment of abdominal complications following ventriculoperitoneal shunt

    PubMed Central

    Grigorean, VT; Onose, G; Popescu, M; Strambu, V; Sandu, AM

    2009-01-01

    The aim of this study is the evaluation of laparoscopic treatment in abdominal complications following ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt. Methods: We report a retrospective study including 17 patients with abdominal complications secondary to VP shunt for hydrocephalus, laparoscopically treated in our department, between 2000 and 2007. Results: Patients' age ranged from 1 to 72 years old (mean age 25.8 years old). Male: female ratio was 1.4. Abdominal complications encountered were: shunt disconnection with intraperitoneal distal catheter migration 47.05% (8/17), infections 23.52% (4/17) such as abscesses and peritonitis, pseudocysts 11.76% (2/17), CSF ascites 5.88% (1/17), inguinal hernia 5.88% (1/17), and shunt malfunction due to excessive length of intraperitoneal tube 5.88% (1/17). Free–disease interval varies from 1 day to 21 years, depending on the type of complication, short in peritoneal irritation syndrome and abscesses (days) and long in ascites, pseudocysts(months– years). Laparoscopic treatment was: extraction of the foreign body in shunt disconnection with intraperitoneal distal catheter migration, evacuation, debridement, lavage and drainage for pseudocysts, abscess and peritonitis, shortening of the tube in shunt malfunction due to excessive length of intraperitoneal tube a nd hernioraphy. One diagnostic laparoscopy was performed in a peritoneal irritation syndrome, which found only CSF ascites. There were no conversions to open surgery. The overall mortality was of 5.88% and postoperative morbidity was of 11.76%. In 7 patients operated for abscesses, peritonitis, pseudocysts, and CSF ascites the shunting system was converted in to a ventriculocardiac shunt. Conclusions: Abdominal complication following VP shunt can be successfully performed laparoscopically. Abdominal surgery required, in selected cases, the repositioning of the distal catheter, frequently as a ventriculocardiac shunt. There are abdominal complications with no indication of

  11. Laparoscopic correction of congenital portosystemic shunt in children.

    PubMed

    Kimura, Takuya; Soh, Hideki; Hasegawa, Toshimichi; Sasaki, Takashi; Kuroda, Seika; Yuri, Etani; Tomoda, Kaname; Fukuzawa, Masahiro

    2004-10-01

    Congenital portosystemic shunt is a rare clinical entity that may progress to jaundice, severe encephalopathy, and pulmonary hypertension and require surgical correction or coil embolization. We present a novel approach to the management of children with congenital portosystemic shunt by means of a minimally invasive surgical technique. Congenital portosystemic shunts were identified between the superior mesenteric vein and inferior vena cava in case 1 and between the splenic vein and left renal vein in case 2. Both of them were successfully ligated by laparoscopic approach, and catheters were subsequently replaced to monitor portal venous pressure. The patients tolerated the procedure well, and short-term results were excellent. Laparoscopic ligation of congenital portosystemic shunt is technically feasible and less invasive to the management of patients with congenital portosystemic shunts, preventing late onset, life-threatening complications.

  12. A Case of Shunting Postoperative Patent Foramen Ovale Under Mechanical Ventilation Controlled by Different Ventilator Settings.

    PubMed

    Pragliola, Claudio; Di Michele, Sara; Galzerano, Domenico

    2017-06-07

    A 56-year old male with ischemic heart disease and an unremarkable preoperative echocardiogram underwent surgical coronary revascularization. An intraoperative post pump trans-esophageal echocardiogram (TOE) performed while the patient was being ventilated at a positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 8 cm H 2 O demonstrated a right to left interatrial shunt across a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Whereas oxygen saturation was normal, a reduction of the PEEP to 3 cm H 2 O led to the complete resolution of the shunt with no change in arterial blood gases. Attempts to increase the PEEP level above 3 mmHg resulted in recurrence of the interatrial shunt. The remaining of the TEE was unremarkable. Mechanical ventilation, particularly with PEEP, causes an increase in intrathoracic pressure. The resulting rise in right atrial pressure, mostly during inspiration, may unveil and pop open an unrecognized PFO, thus provoking a right to left shunt across a seemingly intact interatrial septum. This phenomenon increases the risk of paradoxical embolism and can lead to hypoxemia. The immediate management would be to adjust the ventilatory settings to a lower PEEP level. A routine search for a PFO should be performed in ventilated patients who undergo a TEE.

  13. Cerebrospinal fluid pulse pressure amplitude during lumbar infusion in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus can predict response to shunting

    PubMed Central

    2010-01-01

    Background We have previously seen that idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) patients having elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) pulse amplitude consistently respond to shunt surgery. In this study we explored how the cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFP) pulse amplitude determined during lumbar infusion testing, correlates with ICP pulse amplitude determined during over-night ICP monitoring and with response to shunt surgery. Our goal was to establish a more reliable screening procedure for selecting iNPH patients for shunt surgery using lumbar intrathecal infusion. Methods The study population consisted of all iNPH patients undergoing both diagnostic lumbar infusion testing and continuous over-night ICP monitoring during the period 2002-2007. The severity of iNPH was assessed using our NPH grading scale before surgery and 12 months after shunting. The CSFP pulse was characterized from the amplitude of single pressure waves. Results Totally 62 iNPH patients were included, 45 of them underwent shunt surgery, in whom 78% were shunt responders. Among the 45 shunted patients, resistance to CSF outflow (Rout) was elevated (≥ 12 mmHg/ml/min) in 44. The ICP pulse amplitude recorded over-night was elevated (i.e. mean ICP wave amplitude ≥ 4 mmHg) in 68% of patients; 92% of these were shunt responders. In those with elevated overnight ICP pulse amplitude, we found also elevated CSFP pulse amplitude recorded during lumbar infusion testing, both during the opening phase following lumbar puncture and during a standardized period of lumbar infusion (15 ml Ringer over 10 min). The clinical response to shunting after 1 year strongly associated with the over-night ICP pulse amplitude, and also with the pulsatile CSFP during the period of lumbar infusion. Elevated CSFP pulse amplitude during lumbar infusion thus predicted shunt response with sensitivity of 88 and specificity of 60 (positive and negative predictive values of 89 and 60, respectively). Conclusions In i

  14. Resistance within hemodialysis shunts predicts patency.

    PubMed

    Bui, Trung D; Gordon, Ian L; Parashar, Amish; Vo, David; Wilson, Samuel E

    2006-01-01

    The authors examined the relationship between patency after thrombectomy of clotted dialysis grafts and intraoperative measurements of flow (Q), pressure gradient (PGR), and longitudinal resistance (RL). Eighteen thrombosed arteriovenous (AV) grafts underwent 21 thrombectomies. Pressures at arterial (P1) and venous (P2) ends of the AV grafts were determined with 22-gauge catheters and standard transducers; flow was measured with transit-time probes; arithmetic averaging of waveforms was used to compute mean Q, PGR, and RL. Kaplan-Meier patency curves were analyzed by using log rank methods. Mean patency for all grafts was 164 +/-152 days. For each variable, the 21 measurements were split and the patency curve for the grafts with the 11 lowest value grafts was compared to the curve representing the 10 highest value grafts. The difference between high RL versus low RL patency curves was significant with high-resistance grafts having a median patency of 55 days and low-resistance grafts having a median patency greater than 151 days (p = 0.0089). In contrast, the high Q group median patency was 151 days versus 174 days for the low Q group (p = 0.86). Median patency for the low PGR group was 115 days compared to 62 days for the high PGR group (p = 0.162). Longitudinal resistance within AV grafts, but not flow or pressure gradient, showed a significant correlation with patency after thrombectomy. Increased resistance to flow within AV grafts appears to be an important factor affecting the propensity of dialysis grafts to thrombose.

  15. Treatment of refractory chylothorax with externalized pleuroperitoneal shunts in children.

    PubMed

    Wolff, A B; Silen, M L; Kokoska, E R; Rodgers, B M

    1999-09-01

    Traditional therapy for refractory chylothorax in the pediatric population has included pleurodesis and thoracic duct ligation. These procedures are associated with high morbidity and questionable success rates. We retrospectively reviewed our experience with 15 patients who underwent treatment for chylous effusions using pleuroperitoneal shunts with exteriorized pump chambers. Mean patient age at time of shunt placement was 2.1 (0.1 to 11.5) years and the most common indication (7 of 15) was refractory chylothorax following surgical correction of congenital heart disease. Mean chylothorax duration before shunt placement was 76 (5 to 810) days and shunts were in place for an average of 104 (12 to 365) days. A total of 19 chylous effusions (pleural or pericardial) were treated with shunts. Nine of 11 right-sided chylothoraces, 5 of 6 left-sided chylothoraces, and 2 of 2 chylopericardia resolved with shunt therapy (84% total). Pleuroperitoneal shunting failed to clear the effusion in 3 children. There were six episodes of shunt malfunction that were repaired and two episodes of infection. Inguinal or umbilical hernia developed in 4 patients. Externalized pleuroperitoneal shunting is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive treatment for children with refractory chylous effusions.

  16. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection in Haji Adam Malik Hospital, Medan

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dharmajaya, R.

    2018-03-01

    Installation of ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VP) represented a substantial progress in the neurosurgical management of hydrocephalus in children. However, infection is the most commonpostoperative complication of aventriculoperitoneal shunt. It is important because it is related to substantial morbidity and mortality, and exerts a negative impact on the quality of life of patients. We retrospectively analyzed all 20 cases of shunt infection from 2013 to 2016. The types of infections found were exposed shunts15 cases (75%), and 5 cases of ventriculitis (25%). Length of infection time which calculated from the beginning of surgery was 350.20 days or 11 months. The most common pathogen types are S. epidermidis followed by P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and A. baumanii. There were many risk factors for shunt infection, but the interesting fact was the level of pre-operative albumin. There was a significant difference between low albumin levels (<3.0) and normal albumin (≥3.0) levels against the risk of exposure shunt, p = 0.015. It means there is asignificant difference between low pre-operative albumin and normal level for the risk of theexposed shunt.

  17. The Association Between Ventriculo-Peritoneal Shunt and Acute Appendicitis in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: A 14-Year, Population-Based Study.

    PubMed

    Lim, Sher-Wei; Ao, Kam-Hou; Ho, Chung-Han; Tseng, Chien-Jen; Wang, Jhi-Joung; Chio, Chung-Ching; Kuo, Jinn-Rung

    2017-07-01

    The association between preexisting ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt and the risk of new-onset acute appendicitis in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) is not well established. The aim of the present study was to determine the relationships between VP shunt and acute appendicitis in patients with TBI. A longitudinal cohort study matched by a propensity score in patients with TBI with (4781 patients) or without (9562 patients) VP shunt was conducted using the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan between January 1993 and December 2013. The main outcome studied was diagnosis of acute appendicitis. The cumulative probability of acute appendicitis was not different between these 2 groups (P = 0.6244). A Cox model showed central nervous system (CNS) infection to be an independent predictor of acute appendicitis with an adjusted hazard ratio of 2.98. Patients with TBI with both a VP shunt and a CNS infection had a greater risk of developing new-onset acute appendicitis (hazard ratio 4.25; 95% confidence interval 1.84-9.81) compared patients with TBI without a VP shunt or CNS infection. We concluded that VP shunt is not a risk factor in the development of appendicitis in patients with TBI. Patients with TBI with a shunt and a CNS infection may have a greater risk of developing acute appendicitis. Therefore, care in avoiding CNS infection is a key for the prevention acute appendicitis in this patient population. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  18. Design trade-offs among shunt current, pumping loss and compactness in the piping system of a multi-stack vanadium flow battery

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ye, Qiang; Hu, Jing; Cheng, Ping; Ma, Zhiqi

    2015-11-01

    Trade-off between shunt current loss and pumping loss is a major challenge in the design of the electrolyte piping network in a flow battery system. It is generally recognized that longer and thinner ducts are beneficial to reduce shunt current but detrimental to minimize pumping power. Base on the developed analog circuit model and the flow network model, we make case studies of multi-stack vanadium flow battery piping systems and demonstrate that both shunt current and electrolyte flow resistance can be simultaneously minimized by using longer and thicker ducts in the piping network. However, extremely long and/or thick ducts lead to a bulky system and may be prohibited by the stack structure. Accordingly, the intrinsic design trade-off is between system efficiency and compactness. Since multi-stack configurations bring both flexibility and complexity to the design process, we perform systematic comparisons among representative piping system designs to illustrate the complicated trade-offs among numerous parameters including stack number, intra-stack channel resistance and inter-stack pipe resistance. As the final design depends on various technical and economical requirements, this paper aims to provide guidelines rather than solutions for designers to locate the optimal trade-off points according to their specific cases.

  19. Current concepts in congenital portosystemic shunts.

    PubMed

    Mankin, Kelley M Thieman

    2015-05-01

    Congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSS) are vascular abnormalities that allow portal blood to bypass the liver and join systemic circulation. Laboratory and imaging studies are performed preoperatively to diagnose CPSS and hopefully identify an anatomic location of the shunt. CPSS can be found in different locations in both small and large breed dogs. Most CPSS are best managed surgically. The goal of surgical management of CPSS is to slowly redirect blood from the shunting vessel through the portal vasculature while avoiding portal hypertension. Many surgical management methods are available, including open and less invasive procedures, such as laparoscopy and embolization. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  20. Simulation model for port shunting yards

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rusca, A.; Popa, M.; Rosca, E.; Rosca, M.; Dragu, V.; Rusca, F.

    2016-08-01

    Sea ports are important nodes in the supply chain, joining two high capacity transport modes: rail and maritime transport. The huge cargo flows transiting port requires high capacity construction and installation such as berths, large capacity cranes, respectively shunting yards. However, the port shunting yards specificity raises several problems such as: limited access since these are terminus stations for rail network, the in-output of large transit flows of cargo relatively to the scarcity of the departure/arrival of a ship, as well as limited land availability for implementing solutions to serve these flows. It is necessary to identify technological solutions that lead to an answer to these problems. The paper proposed a simulation model developed with ARENA computer simulation software suitable for shunting yards which serve sea ports with access to the rail network. Are investigates the principal aspects of shunting yards and adequate measures to increase their transit capacity. The operation capacity for shunting yards sub-system is assessed taking in consideration the required operating standards and the measure of performance (e.g. waiting time for freight wagons, number of railway line in station, storage area, etc.) of the railway station are computed. The conclusion and results, drawn from simulation, help transports and logistics specialists to test the proposals for improving the port management.

  1. 21 CFR 876.5955 - Peritoneo-venous shunt.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ...) Identification. A peritoneo-venous shunt is an implanted device that consists of a catheter and a pressure...) Backflow specification and testing to prevent reflux of blood into the shunt. [48 FR 53023, Nov. 23, 1983...

  2. 21 CFR 876.5955 - Peritoneo-venous shunt.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ...) Identification. A peritoneo-venous shunt is an implanted device that consists of a catheter and a pressure...) Backflow specification and testing to prevent reflux of blood into the shunt. [48 FR 53023, Nov. 23, 1983...

  3. 21 CFR 876.5955 - Peritoneo-venous shunt.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ...) Identification. A peritoneo-venous shunt is an implanted device that consists of a catheter and a pressure...) Backflow specification and testing to prevent reflux of blood into the shunt. [48 FR 53023, Nov. 23, 1983...

  4. 21 CFR 876.5955 - Peritoneo-venous shunt.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ...) Identification. A peritoneo-venous shunt is an implanted device that consists of a catheter and a pressure...) Backflow specification and testing to prevent reflux of blood into the shunt. [48 FR 53023, Nov. 23, 1983...

  5. 21 CFR 876.5955 - Peritoneo-venous shunt.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ...) Identification. A peritoneo-venous shunt is an implanted device that consists of a catheter and a pressure...) Backflow specification and testing to prevent reflux of blood into the shunt. [48 FR 53023, Nov. 23, 1983...

  6. Normal pressure hydrocephalus: long-term outcome after shunt surgery.

    PubMed

    Pujari, S; Kharkar, S; Metellus, P; Shuck, J; Williams, M A; Rigamonti, D

    2008-11-01

    Little is known about the long-term clinical course and management of patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) treated by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting. We retrospectively reviewed records of 55 patients diagnosed with idiopathic NPH (INPH) and treated with CSF shunts, all of whom were followed for more than 3 years after the original shunt surgery. At each annual follow-up visit, the patient was assessed by Folstein Mini Mental State Examination, detailed clinical evaluation of gait and assessment of headache, cognition, gait or urination, as assessed by the patient and relatives. The mean duration of follow-up was 5.9+/-2.5 years. There was an overall sustained improvement among all symptoms. Gait showed the highest maintenance of improvement over baseline (83% at 3 years and 87% at the last analysed follow-up of 7 years), cognition showed intermediary improvement (84% and 86%, respectively), and urinary incontinence showed the least improvement (84% and 80%, respectively). Fifty-three percent of patients required shunt revisions. Indications for revision included shunt malfunction (87%), infection (10%) and change of shunt configuration (3%). Overall, 74% revisions resulted in clinical improvement. Clinical improvement of patients with NPH can be sustained for 5-7 years in some patients with NPH, even if shunt revision surgery is needed multiple times. With earlier diagnosis and treatment of NPH and the increasing lifespan of the ageing population, the need for long-term follow-up after shunt surgery for NPH may be greater than it was in the past. Monitoring, identification and treatment of shunt obstruction is a key management principle.

  7. Distribution of extrahepatic congenital portosystemic shunt morphology in predisposed dog breeds

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Background An inherited basis for congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts (EHPSS) has been demonstrated in several small dog breeds. If in general both portocaval and porto-azygous shunts occur in breeds predisposed to portosystemic shunts then this could indicate a common genetic background. This study was performed to determine the distribution of extrahepatic portocaval and porto-azygous shunts in purebred dog populations. Results Data of 135 client owned dogs diagnosed with EHPSS at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Utrecht University from 2001 – 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. The correlation between shunt localization, sex, age, dog size and breed were studied. The study group consisted of 54 males and 81 females from 24 breeds. Twenty-five percent of dogs had porto-azygous shunts and 75% had portocaval shunts. Of the dogs with porto-azygous shunts only 27% was male (P = 0.006). No significant sex difference was detected in dogs with a portocaval shunt. Both phenotypes were present in almost all breeds represented with more than six cases. Small dogs are mostly diagnosed with portocaval shunts (79%) whereas both types are detected. The age at diagnosis in dogs with porto-azygous shunts was significantly higher than that of dogs with portocaval shunts (P < 0.001). Conclusion The remarkable similarity of phenotypic variation in many dog breeds may indicate common underlying genes responsible for EHPSS across breeds. The subtype of EHPSS could be determined by a minor genetic component or modulating factors during embryonic development. PMID:22784395

  8. Distribution of extrahepatic congenital portosystemic shunt morphology in predisposed dog breeds.

    PubMed

    Van den Bossche, Lindsay; van Steenbeek, Frank G; Favier, Robert P; Kummeling, Anne; Leegwater, Peter A J; Rothuizen, Jan

    2012-07-11

    An inherited basis for congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts (EHPSS) has been demonstrated in several small dog breeds. If in general both portocaval and porto-azygous shunts occur in breeds predisposed to portosystemic shunts then this could indicate a common genetic background. This study was performed to determine the distribution of extrahepatic portocaval and porto-azygous shunts in purebred dog populations. Data of 135 client owned dogs diagnosed with EHPSS at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Utrecht University from 2001 - 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. The correlation between shunt localization, sex, age, dog size and breed were studied. The study group consisted of 54 males and 81 females from 24 breeds. Twenty-five percent of dogs had porto-azygous shunts and 75% had portocaval shunts. Of the dogs with porto-azygous shunts only 27% was male (P = 0.006). No significant sex difference was detected in dogs with a portocaval shunt. Both phenotypes were present in almost all breeds represented with more than six cases. Small dogs are mostly diagnosed with portocaval shunts (79%) whereas both types are detected. The age at diagnosis in dogs with porto-azygous shunts was significantly higher than that of dogs with portocaval shunts (P < 0.001). The remarkable similarity of phenotypic variation in many dog breeds may indicate common underlying genes responsible for EHPSS across breeds. The subtype of EHPSS could be determined by a minor genetic component or modulating factors during embryonic development.

  9. Design, Fabrication, and In Vitro Testing of an Anti-biofouling Glaucoma Micro-shunt.

    PubMed

    Harake, Ryan S; Ding, Yuzhe; Brown, J David; Pan, Tingrui

    2015-10-01

    Glaucoma, one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. Chronic elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), a prime risk factor for glaucoma, can be treated by aqueous shunts, implantable devices, which reduce IOP in glaucoma patients by providing alternative aqueous outflow pathways. Although initially effective at delaying glaucoma progression, contemporary aqueous shunts often lead to numerous complications and only 50% of implanted devices remain functional after 5 years. In this work, we introduce a novel micro-device which provides an innovative platform for IOP reduction in glaucoma patients. The device design features an array of parallel micro-channels to provide precision aqueous outflow resistance control. Additionally, the device's microfluidic channels are composed of a unique combination of polyethylene glycol materials in order to provide enhanced biocompatibility and resistance to problematic channel clogging from biofouling of aqueous proteins. The microfabrication process employed to produce the devices results in additional advantages such as enhanced device uniformity and increased manufacturing throughput. Surface characterization experimental results show the device's surfaces exhibit significantly less non-specific protein adsorption compared to traditional implant materials. Results of in vitro flow experiments verify the device's ability to provide aqueous resistance control, continuous long-term stability through 10-day protein flow testing, and safety from risk of infection due to bacterial ingression.

  10. Hydrostatic and hydrodynamic considerations in shunted normal pressure hydrocephalus.

    PubMed

    de Jong, D A; Delwel, E J; Avezaat, C J

    2000-01-01

    Symptoms of overdrainage, a frequent complication following shunting procedures especially in patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), are presumed to be caused by siphoning: gravity-enhanced flow of cerebro spinal fluid (CSF) through shunts in upright position. A critical reappraisal of siphoning and overdrainage (OD) is presented considering the occurrence of subdural hygromas (SDH) encountered in a group of patients shunted for NPH. The patients participated in the multicentre Dutch NPH study: 101 NPH patients were randomised for treatment with shunts with low or medium-high working pressure. Treatment with shunts with low working pressure resulted in an increased incidence of SDH (iSDH). Current physiological concepts of overdrainage are discussed and criticised. A new theory is presented on the basis of general physiological considerations. The theoretical model proposed yields a revised explanation for the origin of extremely low ventricular pressure in the upright position found with overdrainage. The efficacy of siphoning-preventing shunts and subtemporal decompression is explored in the light of the proposed theory.

  11. Ascending transaqueductal cystoventriculoperitoneal shunting in Dandy-Walker malformation: technical note.

    PubMed

    Unal, Omer Faruk; Aras, Yavuz; Aydoseli, Aydin; Akcakaya, Mehmet Osman

    2012-01-01

    The optimal treatment for Dandy-Walker malformation is still controversial. Ventriculoperitoneal shunting, cystoperitoneal shunting or combinations are the most common surgical options in the management of this clinical entity. Endoscopic procedures like ventriculocystostomy, 3rd ventriculostomy or endoscopy-assisted shunt surgeries have become the focus of recent publications. We describe a new transcystic endoscopic technique, with the usage of a single ascending transaqueductal shunt catheter with additional holes, whereby both the posterior fossa cyst and supratentorial ventricular compartments are drained effectively. By using this new technique complications associated with combined shunting can be avoided. In addition, by equalizing the pressure within the supra- and infratentorial compartments, the upward or downward herniations associated with single-catheter shunting can be prevented. Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  12. Congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunt diagnosed during intrauterine life.

    PubMed

    Bellettini, Camila Vieira; Wagner, Rafaela; Sette Balzanelo, Aleocídio; de Souza Andretta, André Luis; Nascimento de Moura, Arthur; Fabris, Catia Carolina; Maranhão Gubert, Eduardo

    2016-09-01

    To report a patient with prenatal diagnosis of portosystemic shunt; a rare condition in humans. 17-day-old female infant admitted for investigation of suspected diagnosis of portosystemic shunt, presumed in obstetric ultrasound. The hypothesis was confirmed after abdominal angiography and liver Doppler. Other tests such as echocardiography and electroencephalogram were performed to investigate possible co-morbidities or associated complications, and were normal. We chose conservative shunt treatment, as there were no disease-related complications and this was intrahepatic shunt, which could close spontaneously by the age of 2 years. Portosystemic shunt can lead to various complications such as hepatic encephalopathy, hypergalactosemia, liver tumors, and hepatopulmonary syndrome. Most diagnoses are done after one month of age, after such complications occur. The prenatal diagnosis of this patient provided greater security for the clinical picture management, as well as regular monitoring, which allows the anticipation of possible complications and perform interventional procedures when needed. Copyright © 2016. Publicado por Elsevier Editora Ltda.

  13. Congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunt diagnosed during intrauterine life

    PubMed Central

    Bellettini, Camila Vieira; Wagner, Rafaela; Balzanelo, Aleocídio Sette; Andretta, André Luis de Souza; de Moura, Arthur Nascimento; Fabris, Catia Carolina; Gubert, Eduardo Maranhão

    2016-01-01

    Abstract Objective: To report a patient with prenatal diagnosis of portosystemic shunt; a rare condition in humans. Case description: 17-Day-old female infant admitted for investigation of suspected diagnosis of portosystemic shunt, presumed in obstetric ultrasound. The hypothesis was confirmed after abdominal angiography and liver Doppler. Other tests such as echocardiography and electroencephalogram were performed to investigate possible co-morbidities or associated complications, and were normal. We chose conservative shunt treatment, as there were no disease-related complications and this was intrahepatic shunt, which could close spontaneously by the age of 2 years. Comments: Portosystemic shunt can lead to various complications such as hepatic encephalopathy, hypergalactosemia, liver tumors, and hepatopulmonary syndrome. Most diagnoses are done after one month of age, after such complications occur. The prenatal diagnosis of this patient provided greater security for the clinical picture management, as well as regular monitoring, which allows the anticipation of possible complications and perform interventional procedures when needed. PMID:27133713

  14. Post ventriculoperitoneal shunt abdominal pseudocyst: Challenges posed in management.

    PubMed

    Hamid, Raashid; Baba, Aejaz A; Bhat, Nisar A; Mufti, Gowhar; Mir, Younis A; Sajad, Wani

    2017-01-01

    In patients with hydrocephalus, the abdominal cavity has been used for absorption of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) since 1905. Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt operation is followed by abdominal complications in about 5-47% cases. Abdominal CSF pseudo cyst is an uncommon, but well described complication. This survey was conducted to study the clinical profile and management of this entity. We present our experience with cases of CSF pseudo cyst in children. Retrospective analysis of 4 cases diagnosed to have abdominal pseudo cyst following VP shunt between 2008 and 2013. All the four cases were suspected clinically and diagnosis was confirmed by abdominal ultrasonography. In three patients, the cyst was multilocular and of varying size. Fourth one had a unilocular cyst at the lower end of VP shunt. All the four patients had features of varying degree raised intracranial pressure and a two patients had abdominal signs also. All the patients needed open exploration. Cyst fluid was drained and partial to complete excision of the cyst was done along with the repositioning of the shunt in abdominal cavity in three patients and exteriorization of shunt in one patient. Patients were followed for any further complication over a period of 1-year. Abdominal pseudo cyst is a rare complication after VP Shunt and could result in shunt malfunction or abdominal symptoms and signs. Whenever suspected it should be confirmed by imaging, followed by open exploration and repositioning of the shunt.

  15. Post ventriculoperitoneal shunt abdominal pseudocyst: Challenges posed in management

    PubMed Central

    Hamid, Raashid; Baba, Aejaz A.; Bhat, Nisar A.; Mufti, Gowhar; Mir, Younis A.; Sajad, Wani

    2017-01-01

    Background: In patients with hydrocephalus, the abdominal cavity has been used for absorption of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) since 1905. Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt operation is followed by abdominal complications in about 5-47% cases. Abdominal CSF pseudo cyst is an uncommon, but well described complication. Aim: This survey was conducted to study the clinical profile and management of this entity. We present our experience with cases of CSF pseudo cyst in children. Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis of 4 cases diagnosed to have abdominal pseudo cyst following VP shunt between 2008 and 2013. All the four cases were suspected clinically and diagnosis was confirmed by abdominal ultrasonography. Results: In three patients, the cyst was multilocular and of varying size. Fourth one had a unilocular cyst at the lower end of VP shunt. All the four patients had features of varying degree raised intracranial pressure and a two patients had abdominal signs also. All the patients needed open exploration. Cyst fluid was drained and partial to complete excision of the cyst was done along with the repositioning of the shunt in abdominal cavity in three patients and exteriorization of shunt in one patient. Patients were followed for any further complication over a period of 1-year. Conclusion: Abdominal pseudo cyst is a rare complication after VP Shunt and could result in shunt malfunction or abdominal symptoms and signs. Whenever suspected it should be confirmed by imaging, followed by open exploration and repositioning of the shunt. PMID:28413525

  16. Intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt: diagnosis by color Doppler imaging.

    PubMed

    Kudo, M; Tomita, S; Tochio, H; Minowa, K; Todo, A

    1993-05-01

    Intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt is a rare clinical entity; only 33 such cases have been reported. It may be congenital, or secondary to portal hypertension. Five patients with this disorder are presented, each of whom was diagnosed by color Doppler imaging, including waveform spectral analysis. One patient with clinical evidence of cirrhosis and portal hypertension had episodes of hepatic encephalopathy and elevated blood levels of ammonia. This patient had a large tubular shunt between the posterior branch of the portal vein and the inferior vena cava. Shunts of this type are considered to be collateral pathways which develop in the hepatic parenchyma as a result of portal hypertension. The other four patients had no evidence of liver disease, and all four evidenced an aneurysmal portohepatic venous shunt within the liver parenchyma. Shunts of this type are considered congenital. The diagnosis of intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts was established by color Doppler imaging, which demonstrated a direct communication of color flow signals between the portal vein and hepatic vein, in addition to the characterization of the Doppler spectrum at each sampling point from a continuous waveform signal (portal vein) to a turbulent signal (aneurysmal cavity), and finally, to a biphasic waveform signal (hepatic vein). As demonstrated by the five patients, color Doppler imaging is useful in the diagnosis of an intrahepatic portosystemic hepatic venous shunt, and the measurement of shunt ratio may be useful in the follow-up and determining the therapeutic option.

  17. Hydrocephalus and Shunts

    MedlinePlus

    ... someone with Spina Bilda and shunted hydrocephalus. When making decisions, here is some helpful advice to families and health care providers: • Pay attention to a parent’s (and particularly mom’s) gut feeling ...

  18. Congenital portosystemic shunt: characterization of a multisystem disease.

    PubMed

    Sokollik, Christiane; Bandsma, Robert H J; Gana, Juan C; van den Heuvel, Meta; Ling, Simon C

    2013-06-01

    Congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSSs) are rare but increasingly recognized as a cause of important multisystem morbidity. We present new cases and a systematic literature review and propose an algorithm for the identification and care of affected patients. We reviewed the charts of consecutive patients seen in our pediatric liver clinic between 2003 and 2010 and systematically reviewed the literature of cases with CPSS. We identified 316 published cases and 12 patients in our own clinic. Of the published cases (177 male), 185 had an extrahepatic and 131 an intrahepatic portosystemic shunt. Diagnosis was made at any age, from prenatal to late adulthood. Cardiac anomalies were found in 22% of patients. The main complications were hyperammonemia/neurological abnormalities (35%), liver tumors (26%), and pulmonary hypertension or hepatopulmonary syndrome (18%). The spectrum of neurological involvement ranged from changes in brain imaging, subtle abnormalities on neuropsychological testing, through learning disabilities to overt encephalopathy. Spontaneous shunt closure occurred mainly in infants with intrahepatic shunts. Therapeutic interventions included shunt closure by surgery or interventional radiology techniques (35%) and liver transplantation (10%) leading to an improvement of symptoms in the majority. These findings mirror the observations in our own patients. In this largest review of the reported clinical experience, we identify that children with CPSS may present with otherwise unexplained developmental delay, encephalopathy, pulmonary hypertension, hypoxemia, or liver tumors. When CPSS is diagnosed, children should be screened for all of these complications. Spontaneous closure of intrahepatic shunts may occur in infancy. Closure of the shunt is indicated in symptomatic patients and is associated with a favorable outcome.

  19. Time-related patterns of ventricular shunt failure.

    PubMed

    Kast, J; Duong, D; Nowzari, F; Chadduck, W M; Schiff, S J

    1994-11-01

    Proximal obstruction is reported to be the most common cause of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt failure, suggesting that imperfect ventricular catheter placement and inadequate valve mechanisms are major causes. This study retrospectively examined patterns of shunt failure in 128 consecutive patients with symptoms of shunt malfunction over a 2-year period. Factors analyzed included site of failure, time from shunt placement or last revision to failure, age of patient at time of failure, infections, and primary etiology of the hydrocephalus. One hundred of these patients required revisions; 14 revisions were due to infections. In this series there was a higher incidence of distal (43%) than of proximal (35%) failure. The difference was not statistically significant when the overall series was considered; however, when factoring time to failure as a variable, marked differences were noted regardless of the underlying cause of hydrocephalus or the age of the patient. Of the 49 patients needing a shunt revision or replacement within 2 years of the previous operation, 50% had proximal malfunction, 14% distal, and 10% had malfunctions attributable directly to the valve itself. Also, 12 of the 14 infections occurred during this time interval. In sharp contrast, of the 51 patients having shunt failure from 2 to more than 12 years after the previous procedure, 72% had distal malfunction, 21% proximal, and only 6% had a faulty valve or infection. This difference between time to failure for proximal versus distal failures was statistically significant (P < 0.00001 for both Student's t-test and non-parametric Mann-Whitney U-test).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

  20. Maintenance of pulmonary vasculature tone by blood derived from the inferior vena cava in a rabbit model of cavopulmonary shunt.

    PubMed

    Ikai, Akio; Shirai, Mikiyasu; Nishimura, Kazunobu; Ikeda, Tadashi; Kameyama, Takayuki; Ueyama, Koji; Komeda, Masashi

    2005-01-01

    After cavopulmonary shunt in which the superior vena cava is anastomosed to the right pulmonary artery, the right lung is in a unique condition without flow pulsatility and hepatic venous effluent. In a previous study, we reported that hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction disappeared in the pulmonary circulation after cavopulmonary shunt. In this study, however, to investigate the influence of pulsatility and hepatic venous effluent on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in the pulmonary circulation, we developed an alternative cavopulmonary shunt rabbit model that included hepatic venous effluent in the pulmonary circulation and reduced the pulsatility of the pulmonary arterial blood flow. We then observed the physiologic characteristics of the peripheral pulmonary artery after cavopulmonary shunt, specifically the disappearance of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. Sixteen Japanese white rabbits (12-16 weeks old) were used in this study. With general anesthesia, a cavopulmonary shunt was established by anastomosing the right superior vena cava to the right pulmonary artery in an end-to-side fashion. Of the 16 rabbits for the study, the proximal right pulmonary artery was completely ligated in 5 (atresia group) and partially ligated in 6 (stenosis group). Sham operation was performed in the remaining 5 rabbits. Two weeks later, we analyzed the response of the pulmonary artery (which was divided into three categories: segmental, lobular, and acinar level artery) to hypoxia (8% oxygen inhalation) with a specially designed video radiographic system. Morphometric analysis of the resistance pulmonary artery was done in each group after angiography. Mean pressure and pulse pressure in the right pulmonary artery were not significantly different between the atresia and stenosis groups. The mean pulmonary artery pressures in the atresia and stenosis groups were 8 and 11 mm Hg, respectively. However, the pulse pressure was less than 2 mm Hg in both groups. The baseline

  1. Cross-Species Functionality of Pararetroviral Elements Driving Ribosome Shunting

    PubMed Central

    Pooggin, Mikhail M.; Fütterer, Johannes; Hohn, Thomas

    2008-01-01

    Background Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) and Rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV) belong to distinct genera of pararetroviruses infecting dicot and monocot plants, respectively. In both viruses, polycistronic translation of pregenomic (pg) RNA is initiated by shunting ribosomes that bypass a large region of the pgRNA leader with several short (s)ORFs and a stable stem-loop structure. The shunt requires translation of a 5′-proximal sORF terminating near the stem. In CaMV, mutations knocking out this sORF nearly abolish shunting and virus viability. Methodology/Principal Findings Here we show that two distant regions of the CaMV leader that form a minimal shunt configuration comprising the sORF, a bottom part of the stem, and a shunt landing sequence can be replaced by heterologous sequences that form a structurally similar configuration in RTBV without any dramatic effect on shunt-mediated translation and CaMV infectivity. The CaMV-RTBV chimeric leader sequence was largely stable over five viral passages in turnip plants: a few alterations that did eventually occur in the virus progenies are indicative of fine tuning of the chimeric sequence during adaptation to a new host. Conclusions/Significance Our findings demonstrate cross-species functionality of pararetroviral cis-elements driving ribosome shunting and evolutionary conservation of the shunt mechanism. We are grateful to Matthias Müller and Sandra Pauli for technical assistance. This work was initiated at Friedrich Miescher Institute (Basel, Switzerland). We thank Prof. Thomas Boller for hosting the group at the Institute of Botany. PMID:18286203

  2. Predicting ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection in children with hydrocephalus using artificial neural network.

    PubMed

    Habibi, Zohreh; Ertiaei, Abolhasan; Nikdad, Mohammad Sadegh; Mirmohseni, Atefeh Sadat; Afarideh, Mohsen; Heidari, Vahid; Saberi, Hooshang; Rezaei, Abdolreza Sheikh; Nejat, Farideh

    2016-11-01

    The relationships between shunt infection and predictive factors have not been previously investigated using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model. The aim of this study was to develop an ANN model to predict shunt infection in a group of children with shunted hydrocephalus. Among more than 800 ventriculoperitoneal shunt procedures which had been performed between April 2000 and April 2011, 68 patients with shunt infection and 80 controls that fulfilled a set of meticulous inclusion/exclusion criteria were consecutively enrolled. Univariate analysis was performed for a long list of risk factors, and those with p value < 0.2 were used to create ANN and logistic regression (LR) models. Five variables including birth weight, age at the first shunting, shunt revision, prematurity, and myelomeningocele were significantly associated with shunt infection via univariate analysis, and two other variables (intraventricular hemorrhage and coincided infections) had a p value of less than 0.2. Using these seven input variables, ANN and LR models predicted shunt infection with an accuracy of 83.1 % (AUC; 91.98 %, 95 % CI) and 55.7 % (AUC; 76.5, 95 % CI), respectively. The contribution of the factors in the predictive performance of ANN in descending order was history of shunt revision, low birth weight (under 2000 g), history of prematurity, the age at the first shunt procedure, history of intraventricular hemorrhage, history of myelomeningocele, and coinfection. The findings show that artificial neural networks can predict shunt infection with a high level of accuracy in children with shunted hydrocephalus. Also, the contribution of different risk factors in the prediction of shunt infection can be determined using the trained network.

  3. Predictors of Shunt Dysfunction and Overall Survival in Patients with Variceal Bleeding Treated with Transjugular Portosystemic Shunt Creation Using the Fluency Stent Graft.

    PubMed

    Wan, Yue-Meng; Li, Yu-Hua; Xu, Ying; Wu, Hua-Mei; Li, Ying-Chun; Wu, Xi-Nan; Yang, Jin-Hui

    2018-01-16

    Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is an established method for portal hypertension. This study was to investigate the long-term safety, technical success, and patency of TIPS, and to determine the risk factors and clinical impacts of shunt dysfunction. A total of 154 consecutive patients undergoing embolotherapy of gastric coronary vein and/or short gastric vein and TIPS creation were prospectively studied. Follow-up data included technical success, patency and revision of TIPS, and overall survival of patients. During the study, the primary and secondary technical success rates were 98.7% and 100%, respectively. Sixty-three patients developed shunt dysfunction, 30 with shunt stenosis and 33 with shunt occlusion. The cumulative 60-month primary, primary assisted, and secondary patency rates were 19.6%, 43.0%, and 93.4%, respectively. The cumulative 60-month overall survival rates were similar between the TIPS dysfunction group and the TIPS non-dysfunction group (68.6% vs. 58.6%, P = .096). Baseline portal vein thrombosis (P < .001), use of bare stents (P = .018), and portal pressure gradient (PPG) (P = .020) were independent predictors for shunt dysfunction, hepatocellular carcinoma (P < .001), and ascites (P = .003) for overall survival. The accuracy of PPG for shunt dysfunction was statistically significant (P < .001), and a cutoff value of 8.5 had 77.8% sensitivity and 64.8% specificity. The long-term safety, technical success, and patency of TIPS were good; baseline portal vein thrombosis, use of bare stents, and PPG were significantly associated with shunt dysfunction; shunt dysfunction has little impact on patients' long-term survival because of high secondary patency rates. Copyright © 2017 The Association of University Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. Investigating PID shunting in polycrystalline silicon modules via multiscale, multitechnique characterization

    DOE PAGES

    Harvey, Steven P.; Moseley, John; Norman, Andrew; ...

    2018-02-27

    We investigated the potential-induced degradation (PID) shunting mechanism in multicrystalline-silicon photovoltaic modules by using a multiscale, multitechnique characterization approach. Both field-stressed modules and laboratory-stressed mini modules were studied. We used photoluminescence, electroluminescence, and dark lock-in thermography imaging to identify degraded areas at the module scale. Small samples were then removed from degraded areas, laser marked, and imaged by scanning electron microscopy. We used simultaneous electron-beam induced current imaging and focused ion beam milling to mark around PID shunts for chemical analysis by time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry or to isolate individual shunt defects for transmission electron microscopy and atom-probe tomography analysis.more » By spanning a range of 10 orders of magnitude in size, this approach enabled us to investigate the root-cause mechanisms for PID shunting. We observed a direct correlation between recombination active shunts and sodium content. The sodium content in shunted areas peaks at the SiNX/Si interface and is consistently observed at a concentration of 0.1% to 2% in shunted areas. Analysis of samples subjected to PID recovery, either activated by electron beam or thermal effects only, reveals that recovery of isolated shunts correlates with diffusion of sodium out of the structural defects to the silicon surface. We observed the role of oxygen and chlorine in PID shunting and found that those species - although sometimes present in structural defects where PID shunting was observed - do not play a consistent role in PID shunting.« less

  5. Autologous patch graft in tube shunt surgery.

    PubMed

    Aslanides, I M; Spaeth, G L; Schmidt, C M; Lanzl, I M; Gandham, S B

    1999-10-01

    To evaluate an alternate method of covering the subconjunctival portion of the tube in aqueous shunt surgery. Evidence of tube erosion, graft-related infection, graft melting, or other associated intraocular complications were evaluated. A retrospective study of 16 patients (17 eyes) who underwent tube shunt surgery at Wills Eye Hospital between July 1991 and October 1996 was conducted. An autologous either "free" or "rotating" scleral lamellar graft was created to cover the subconjunctival portion of the tube shunt. All patients were evaluated for at least 6 months, with a mean follow-up of 14.8 months (range 6-62 months). All eyes tolerated the autologous graft well, with no clinical evidence of tube erosion, or graft-related or intraocular complications. Autologous patch graft in tube shunt surgery appears--in selected cases--to be an effective, safe and inexpensive surgical alternative to allogenic graft materials. It also offers ease of availability, and eliminates the risk of transmitting infectious disease.

  6. Shunt attachment and method for interfacing current collection systems

    DOEpatents

    Denney, P.E.; Iyer, N.C.; Hannan, W.F. III.

    1992-12-08

    A composite brush to shunt attachment wherein a volatile component of a composite but mostly metallic brush, used for current collection purposes, does not upon welding or brazing, adversely affect the formation of the interfacial bond with a conductive shunt which carries the current from the zone of the brush. The brush to shunt attachment for a brush material of copper-graphite composite and a shunt of copper, or substituting silver for copper as an alternative, is made through a hot isostatic pressing (HIP). The HIP process includes applying high pressure and temperature simultaneously at the brush to shunt interface, after it has been isolated or canned in a metal casing in which the air adjacent to the interface has been evacuated and the interfacial area has been sealed before the application of pressure and temperature. 6 figs.

  7. Shunt attachment and method for interfacing current collection systems

    DOEpatents

    Denney, Paul E.; Iyer, Natraj C.; Hannan, III, William F.

    1992-01-01

    A composite brush to shunt attachment wherein a volatile component of a composite but mostly metallic brush, used for current collection purposes, does not upon welding or brazing, adversely affect the formation of the interfacial bond with a conductive shunt which carries the current from the zone of the brush. The brush to shunt attachment for a brush material of copper-graphite composite and a shunt of copper, or substituting silver for copper as an alternative, is made through a hot isostatic pressing (HIP). The HIP process includes applying high pressure and temperature simultaneously at the brush to shunt interface, after it has been isolated or canned in a metal casing in which the air adjacent to the interface has been evacuated and the interfacial area has been sealed before the application of pressure and temperature.

  8. Establishing a preoperative evaluation system for lumboperitoneal shunt: Approach to attenuate the risk of shunt failure.

    PubMed

    Sun, Tong; Yuan, Yikai; Zhang, Qiuming; Zhou, Yicheng; Li, Xuepei; Yu, Hang; Tian, Meng; Guan, Junwen

    2018-06-12

    Lumboperitoneal shunt (LPS) has been demonstrated an effective method for the treatment of communicating hydrocephalus in the presence of frequent shunt failure. To determine if establishing a preoperative evaluation system could benefit patients thus attenuating the risk of LPS failure. In this three-year study, treated by LPS, patients undergoing preoperative evaluation were included into study group and others without preoperative evaluation were included into control group. Perioperative conditions, including Keifer's hydrocephalus score (KHS), symptomatic control rate (SCR), Evans index, complications, long-term shunt revision rate, and quality of life (QOL), were synchronously investigated. 93 eligible patients were included in the study (study group: 51, control group: 42). The baseline characteristics of two groups were basically similar. The results showed patients in study group had better short-term improvement in symptoms and imageology, including higher SCR (Median, 62.5% vs 50%, P=0.001), more reduction in Evans index (0.08±0.05 vs 0.05±0.04, P=0.002), and lower incidence of postoperative complications (Median, 35.3% vs 57.1%, P=0.04). Similarly, the incidence of shunt revision in study group was dramatically lower than control group (Median, 15.7% vs 40.9%, P=0.006) in line with the revision-free curve (P=0.002), in which suggested most of patients received revision, if needed, within 3 months. Additionally, patients in study group had better QOL. In conclusion, patients who underwent the evaluation before LPS had better short-term and long-term outcomes, suggesting it would be a promising strategy to correctly select patients for LPS with prolonged favorable shunt outcomes. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. Parylene MEMS patency sensor for assessment of hydrocephalus shunt obstruction.

    PubMed

    Kim, Brian J; Jin, Willa; Baldwin, Alexander; Yu, Lawrence; Christian, Eisha; Krieger, Mark D; McComb, J Gordon; Meng, Ellis

    2016-10-01

    Neurosurgical ventricular shunts inserted to treat hydrocephalus experience a cumulative failure rate of 80 % over 12 years; obstruction is responsible for most failures with a majority occurring at the proximal catheter. Current diagnosis of shunt malfunction is imprecise and involves neuroimaging studies and shunt tapping, an invasive measurement of intracranial pressure and shunt patency. These patients often present emergently and a delay in care has dire consequences. A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) patency sensor was developed to enable direct and quantitative tracking of shunt patency in order to detect proximal shunt occlusion prior to the development of clinical symptoms thereby avoiding delays in treatment. The sensor was fabricated on a flexible polymer substrate to eventually allow integration into a shunt. In this study, the sensor was packaged for use with external ventricular drainage systems for clinical validation. Insights into the transduction mechanism of the sensor were obtained. The impact of electrode size, clinically relevant temperatures and flows, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) plasma sterilization on sensor function were evaluated. Sensor performance in the presence of static and dynamic obstruction was demonstrated using 3 different models of obstruction. Electrode size was found to have a minimal effect on sensor performance and increased temperature and flow resulted in a slight decrease in the baseline impedance due to an increase in ionic mobility. However, sensor response did not vary within clinically relevant temperature and flow ranges. H2O2 plasma sterilization also had no effect on sensor performance. This low power and simple format sensor was developed with the intention of future integration into shunts for wireless monitoring of shunt state and more importantly, a more accurate and timely diagnosis of shunt failure.

  10. New and improved ways to treat hydrocephalus: Pursuit of a smart shunt.

    PubMed

    Lutz, Barry R; Venkataraman, Pranav; Browd, Samuel R

    2013-01-01

    The most common treatment for hydrocephalus is placement of a cerebrospinal fluid shunt to supplement or replace lost drainage capacity. Shunts are life-saving devices but are notorious for high failure rates, difficulty of diagnosing failure, and limited control options. Shunt designs have changed little since their introduction in 1950s, and the few changes introduced have had little to no impact on these long-standing problems. For decades, the community has envisioned a "smart shunt" that could provide advanced control, diagnostics, and communication based on implanted sensors, feedback control, and telemetry. The most emphasized contribution of smart shunts is the potential for advanced control algorithms, such as weaning from shunt dependency and personalized control. With sensor-based control comes the opportunity to provide data to the physician on patient condition and shunt function, perhaps even by a smart phone. An often ignored but highly valuable contribution would be designs that correct the high failure rates of existing shunts. Despite the long history and increasing development activity in the past decade, patients are yet to see a commercialized smart shunt. Most smart shunt development focuses on concepts or on isolated technical features, but successful smart shunt designs will be a balance between technical feasibility, economic viability, and acceptable regulatory risk. Here, we present the status of this effort and a framework for understanding the challenges and opportunities that will guide introduction of smart shunts into patient care.

  11. Complications of congenital portosystemic shunts in children: therapeutic options and outcomes.

    PubMed

    Franchi-Abella, Stéphanie; Branchereau, Sophie; Lambert, Virginie; Fabre, Monique; Steimberg, Clarisa; Losay, Jean; Riou, Jean-Yves; Pariente, Danièle; Gauthier, Frédéric; Jacquemin, Emmanuel; Bernard, Olivier

    2010-09-01

    Congenital portosystemic shunts are rare vascular malformations that lead to severe complications. Their management is controversial. The aim of this study was to propose a clear definition of the risks and management of congenital portosystemic shunts in children according to our experience and a review of the literature. Twenty-two children with a complicated congenital portosystemic shunt were studied in our institution. When necessary, management included portal pressure measurement and portal vein angiography during an occlusion test and closure of the shunt by surgical and/or endovascular methods. Five neonates with intrahepatic shunts presented with cholestasis that resolved spontaneously, and 17 older children presented with liver tumors (13) and/or hepatopulmonary syndrome (2), pulmonary artery hypertension (3), portosystemic encephalopathy (3), heart failure (1), and glomerulonephritis (1). The portosystemic shunt was extrahepatic (11) or intrahepatic (6). Portosystemic shunts were closed by endovascular methods in 5 children and surgically in 10, 4 of whom had portal pressure during occlusion above 35 mmHg and extremely hypoplastic or undetectable portal veins requiring banding of the fistula before closure. Shunt closure resulted in restoration of intrahepatic portal flow in all, with complete or partial regression of benign liver masses, and regression or stabilization of pulmonary, cardiac, neurological, and renal complications. Congenital portosystemic shunt carries risks of severe complications in children. Closure of a shunt persisting after age 2 years should be considered preventively. Intrahepatic portal flux restoration can be expected, even when intrahepatic portal veins are extremely hypoplastic or undetectable.

  12. Programmable shunts and headphones: Are they safe together?

    PubMed

    Spader, Heather S; Ratanaprasatporn, Linda; Morrison, John F; Grossberg, Jonathan A; Cosgrove, G Rees

    2015-10-01

    Programmable shunts have a valuable role in the treatment of patients with hydrocephalus, but because a magnet is used to change valve settings, interactions with external magnets may reprogram these shunts. Previous studies have demonstrated the ability of magnetic toys and iPads to erroneously reprogram shunts. Headphones are even more ubiquitous, and they contain an electromagnet for sound projection that sits on the head very close to the shunt valve. This study is the first to look at the magnetic field emissions of headphones and their effect on reprogrammable shunt valves to ascertain whether headphones are safe for patients with these shunts to wear. In this in vitro study of the magnetic properties of headphones and their interactions with 3 different programmable shunts, the authors evaluated Apple earbuds, Beats by Dr. Dre, and Bose QuietComfort Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones. Each headphone was tested for electromagnetic field emissions using a direct current gaussmeter. The following valves were evaluated: Codman Hakim programmable valve, Medtronic Strata II valve, and Aesculap proGAV. Each valve was tested at distances of 0 to 50 mm (in 5-mm increments) from each headphone. The exposure time at each distance was 1 minute, and 3 trials were performed to confirm results at each valve setting and distance. All 3 headphones generated magnetic fields greater than the respective shunt manufacturer's recommended strength of exposure, but these fields did not persist beyond 5 mm. By 2 cm, the fields levels were below 20 G, well below the Medtronic recommendation of 90 G and the Codman recommendation of 80 G. Because the mechanism for the proGAV is different, there is no recommended gauss level. There was no change in gauss-level emissions by the headphones with changes in frequency and amplitude. Both the Strata and Codman-Hakim valves were reprogrammed by direct contact (distance 0 mm) with the Bose headphones. When a rotation component was added, all

  13. Temporary arterial shunts to maintain limb perfusion after arterial injury: an animal study

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dawson, D. L.; Putnam, A. T.; Light, J. T.; Ihnat, D. M.; Kissinger, D. P.; Rasmussen, T. E.; Bradley, D. V. Jr

    1999-01-01

    BACKGROUND: Temporary shunt placement can quickly restore perfusion after extremity arterial injury. This study examined the adequacy of limb blood flow with shunt use, non-heparin-bonded shunt patency over prolonged periods, and the safety of this technique. METHODS: Common iliac arteries were divided and 4.0-mm Silastic Sundt shunts placed in 16 anesthetized pigs. Eight (group I) had shunts placed immediately; eight others (group II) were shunted after an hour of limb ischemia and hemorrhagic shock. Physiologic parameters and femoral artery blood flow in both hindlimbs were continuously monitored. Limb lactic acid generation, oxygen utilization, and hematologic and metabolic effects were serially evaluated for 24 hours. RESULTS: Shunts remained patent in 13 of 16 pigs. Shunts thrombosed in two group I animals because of technical errors, but functioned well after thrombectomy and repositioning. Patency could not be maintained in one animal that died from shock. Flow in group I shunted limbs was 57 (+/-11 SD) % of control. For group II animals in shock, shunted limb flow initially averaged 46 +/- 15% of control, but 4 hours after shunt placement, the mean limb blood flow was the same as in group I. Increased oxygen extraction compensated for the lower flow. Lactic acid production was not increased in comparison to control limbs. CONCLUSION: Shunts provided adequate flow in this model of extremity trauma. Correctly placed shunts stayed patent for 24 hours, without anticoagulation, if shunt placement followed resuscitation.

  14. A prospective study of basal insulin concentrations in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts.

    PubMed

    Collings, A J; Gow, A G; Marques, A; Yool, D; Furneaux, R; Mellanby, R; Watson, P J

    2012-04-01

    Hypoglycaemia is a common cause of morbidity in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts but the aetiology is unknown. The hypothesis of this study was that dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts would have significantly higher insulin concentrations than dogs without congenital portosystemic shunts. The main objective of the study was to compare peripheral glucose and insulin concentrations between dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts and dogs without congenital portosystemic shunts. Peripheral serum insulin and plasma glucose concentrations were measured in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts and without congenital portosystemic shunts and compared both between groups as well as to reference intervals derived from healthy dogs. Congenital portosystemic shunts were diagnosed in 41 dogs. Forty-eight dogs hospitalised with other conditions acted as controls. Serum insulin concentrations were mildly elevated (Ä40 μU/mL) in seven dogs and were markedly elevated in two dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts, yet mild hypoglycaemia (3·3 mmol/L) was detected in only one of these dogs. Four dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts showed fasting hypoglycaemia, yet insulin concentrations were within or below the reference interval in three. There was no difference between the median insulin concentration of dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts and without congenital portosystemic shunts. Hyperinsulinaemia is infrequently observed in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts. The aetiology of hypoglycaemia in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts merits further investigation. © 2012 British Small Animal Veterinary Association.

  15. Shunt occlusion for portosystemic shunt syndrome related refractory hepatic encephalopathy-A single-center experience in 21 patients from Kerala.

    PubMed

    Philips, Cyriac Abby; Kumar, Lijesh; Augustine, Philip

    2017-09-01

    Large spontaneous portosystemic shunts (SPSS) are seen in a subset of patients with liver disease and medically refractory recurrent/persistent hepatic encephalopathy (MRHE). Shunt occlusion has been shown to improve clinical outcomes. We retrospectively analyzed patient characteristics, SPSS attributes, procedural features, baseline clinical and investigational parameters, neurological outcomes, adverse effects (procedure and portal hypertension related), and risk factors predicting outcomes in liver disease patients undergoing shunt occlusion procedure for MRHE. Between October 2016 and July 2017, 21 patients (Child-Pugh score, CTP 6 to 13) with mean model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) and MELD-sodium scores 15.7 and 19.3 respectively with MRHE [3-cirrhotic Parkinsonism (CP)] were diagnosed to have single or multiple large SPSSs. A total of 29 shunts were occluded (1 surgical, 20 non-surgical). Recurrent and persistent HE and CP markedly improved in the short (n=20, 1 to 3 months), intermediate (n=12, 3 to 6 months), and long (n=7, 6 to 9 months) follow up. None had spontaneous or persistent HE at a median follow up 105 (30 to 329) days (p<0.05). Motor, speech, sleep abnormalities, daily activities of living, and liver disease severity scores improved significantly on follow up. Baseline arterial ammonia showed a statistically significant reduction in all time periods of follow up after shunt occlusion (p<0.05). CTP >11 predicted mortality post shunt occlusion (p=0.04). Embolization of large SPSS in liver disease patients with MRHE and modestly preserved liver function is safe and efficacious and associated with improved quality of life and can function as a bridge to liver transplantation in accurately selected patients.

  16. Predisposing Factors for Spontaneous Closure of Congenital Portosystemic Shunts.

    PubMed

    Paganelli, Massimiliano; Lipsich, José E; Sciveres, Marco; Alvarez, Fernando

    2015-10-01

    In a review of 382 cases of congenital portosystemic shunt, we found that presentation with neonatal cholestasis strongly predicts spontaneous closure of intrahepatic shunts (OR 8.3, 95% CI 3.4-20.2). Spontaneous closure before the 24th month of age is more likely for distal or multiple shunts, but rare for patent ductus venosus. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. Commentary on: "Vascular distensibilities have minor effects on intracardiac shunt patterns in reptiles" by Filogonio et al. (2017).

    PubMed

    Hillman, Stanley S; Hedrick, Michael S; Kohl, Zachary F

    2017-06-01

    The recent study by Filogonio et al. (2017) suggested that net cardiac shunt patterns in two species of reptiles (Trachemys scripta and Crotalus durissus) were not significantly influenced by the vascular distensibilities of the systemic and pulmonary vasculatures. This is in contrast to a previously published study (Hillman et al., 2014) in the toad (Rhinella marina) in which net cardiac shunts were predicted primarily by the physical properties of vascular distensibility rather than physiological control of resistance of the systemic and pulmonary vasculature. We analyze the data and conclusions reached by Filogonio et al. (2017) regarding the role of vascular distensibilities in determining net cardiac shunt patterns in reptiles in comparison with toads. In our view, the conclusions reached by Filogonio et al. (2017) are not supported by the data primarily because vascular distensibilities were not measured in the reptiles analyzed in their study. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

  18. Combination therapy using PSE and TIO ameliorates hepatic encephalopathy due to intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt in idiopathic portal hypertension

    PubMed Central

    Kojima, Seiichiro; Ito, Hiroyuki; Takashimizu, Shinji; Ichikawa, Hitoshi; Matsumoto, Tomohiro; Hasebe, Terumitsu

    2016-01-01

    A 64-year-old woman treated for anemia and ascites exhibited hepatic encephalopathy. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT) showed communication between the portal vein and the middle hepatic vein, indicating an intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt (PSS). Since hepatic encephalopathy of the patient was resistant to medical treatment, interventional radiology was performed for the treatment of shunt obliteration. Hepatic venography showed anastomosis between the hepatic vein branches, supporting the diagnosis of idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH). To minimize the increase in portal vein pressure after shunt obliteration, partial splenic artery embolization (PSE) was first performed to reduce portal vein blood flow. Transileocolic venous obliteration (TIO) was then performed, and intrahepatic PSS was successfully obliterated using coils with n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA). In the present case, hepatic encephalopathy due to intrahepatic PSS in the patient with IPH was successfully treated by combination therapy using PSE and TIO. PMID:27651930

  19. Functional Changes of Diaphragm Type Shunt Valves Induced by Pressure Pulsation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lee, Chong-Sun; Suh, Chang-Min; Ra, Young-Shin

    Shunt valves used to treat patients with hydrocephalus were tested to investigate influence of pressure pulsation on their flow control characteristics. Our focus was on flow dynamic and functional changes of the small and thin diaphragms in the valves that serve as the main flow control mechanism and are made from silicone elastomer. Firstly, pressure-flow control curves were compared under pulsed and steady flow (without pulsation) conditions. Secondly, functional changes of the valves were tested after a long-term continuous pulsation with a peristaltic pump. Thirdly, flushing procedures selectively conducted by neurosurgeons were simulated with a fingertip pressed on the dome of the valves. As 20cc/hr of flow rate was adjusted at a constant pressure, application of 40mmH2O of pressure pulse increased flow rate through shunt valves more than 60%. As a 90cm length silicone catheter was connected to the valve outlet, increase in the flow rate was substantially reduced to 17.5%. Pressure-flow control characteristics of some valves showed significant changes after twenty-eight days of pressure pulsation at 1.0 Hz under 50.0cc/hr of flow rate. Flushing simulation resulted in temporary decrease in the pressure level. It took three hours to fully recover the normal pressure-flow control characteristics after the flushing. Our results suggest that shunt valves with a thin elastic diaphragm as the main flow control mechanism are sensitive to intracranial pressure pulsation or pressure spikes enough to change their pressure-flow control characteristics.

  20. A New Approach to Identify Optimal Properties of Shunting Elements for Maximum Damping of Structural Vibration Using Piezoelectric Patches

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Park, Junhong; Palumbo, Daniel L.

    2004-01-01

    The use of shunted piezoelectric patches in reducing vibration and sound radiation of structures has several advantages over passive viscoelastic elements, e.g., lower weight with increased controllability. The performance of the piezoelectric patches depends on the shunting electronics that are designed to dissipate vibration energy through a resistive element. In past efforts most of the proposed tuning methods were based on modal properties of the structure. In these cases, the tuning applies only to one mode of interest and maximum tuning is limited to invariant points when based on den Hartog's invariant points concept. In this study, a design method based on the wave propagation approach is proposed. Optimal tuning is investigated depending on the dynamic and geometric properties that include effects from boundary conditions and position of the shunted piezoelectric patch relative to the structure. Active filters are proposed as shunting electronics to implement the tuning criteria. The developed tuning methods resulted in superior capabilities in minimizing structural vibration and noise radiation compared to other tuning methods. The tuned circuits are relatively insensitive to changes in modal properties and boundary conditions, and can applied to frequency ranges in which multiple modes have effects.

  1. Aberrant Gene Expression in Dogs with Portosystemic Shunts

    PubMed Central

    Grinwis, Guy C. M.; Kummeling, Anne; van Gils, Ingrid H. M.; Koerkamp, Marian J. A. Groot.; van Leenen, Dik; Holstege, Frank C. P.; Penning, Louis C.; Rothuizen, Jan; Leegwater, Peter A. J.; Spee, Bart

    2013-01-01

    Congenital portosystemic shunts are developmental anomalies of the splanchnic vascular system that cause portal blood to bypass the liver. Large-breed dogs are predisposed for intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (IHPSS) and small-breed dogs for extrahepatic portosystemic shunts (EHPSS). While the phenotype resulting from portal bypass of the liver of the two types of shunt is identical, the genotype and molecular pathways involved are probably different. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the pathways involved in the different types of portosystemic shunting. Microarray analysis of mRNA expression in liver tissue from dogs with EHPSS and IHPSS revealed that the expression of 26 genes was altered in either IHPSS or EHPSS samples compared with that in liver samples from control dogs. Quantitative real-time PCR of these genes in 14 IHPSS, 17 EHPSS, and 8 control liver samples revealed a significant differential expression of ACBP, CCBL1, GPC3, HAMP, PALLD, VCAM1, and WEE1. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting confirmed an increased expression of VCAM1 in IHPSS but its absence in EHPSS, an increased WEE1 expression in IHPSS but not in EHPSS, and a decreased expression of CCBL1 in both shunt types. Regarding their physiologic functions, these findings may indicate a causative role for VCAM1 in IHPSS and WEE1 for IHPSS. CCBL1 could be an interesting candidate to study not yet elucidated aspects in the pathophysiology of hepatic encephalopathy. PMID:23451256

  2. Energy relaxation mechanisms in capacitively shunted flux qubits

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Corcoles, Antonio; Rozen, Jim; Rothwell, Mary Beth; Keefe, George; di Vincenzo, David; Ketchen, Mark; Chow, Jerry; Rigetti, Chad; Rohrs, Jack; Borstelmann, Mark; Steffen, Matthias; IBM Quantum Computing Group Team

    2011-03-01

    Energy losses in superconducting qubits remain a major object of study in the road towards scalable, highly coherent qubit devices. The current understanding of the loss mechanisms in these devices is far from being complete and it is sometimes difficult to experimentally separate the different contributions to decoherence. Here we compare a traditional three Josephson-junction flux qubit to the recently implemented capacitively shunted flux qubit, whose energy decay is thought to be limited by dielectric losses arising from native oxides in the shunting capacitor. Keeping all parameters identical except for the shunting capacitance, we obtain energy relaxation times that are comparable for both types of qubit. This suggests that the energy relaxation time is not limited by junction losses in capacitively shunted flux qubits. We discuss some other possible loss mechanisms present in these devices.

  3. Transient right-to-left shunt in massive pulmonary embolism.

    PubMed

    Panoutsopoulos, G; Ilias, L; Christakopoulou, I

    2000-06-01

    A 56-yr-old man, two months after an operation for an acoustic neurinoma, gradually developed dyspnea. Massive pulmonary embolism (MPE), with a significant right-to-left (R-L) shunt, was seen in a perfusion scan of the lungs with Tc-99m MAA. Radioactivity was noted in the thyroid, spleen, kidneys and brain. A cardiac ultrasound study did not reveal intracardiac shunting. A few days later, when the patient's condition improved, another perfusion scan of the lungs did not show the shunt, whereas a subsequent digital subtraction angiographic study confirmed the diagnosis of MPE but failed to reveal the cause of the shunt. In the absence of any possible pathophysiological mechanism, to explain the observed R-L shunt, we deduce that the particles of Tc-99m MAA might have passed through the precapillary pulmonary arteriovenous anastomoses and/or through dilated pulmonary capillaries, as a result of highly increased pulmonary vascular pressure due to MPE.

  4. Congenital portosystemic shunts in children: recognition, evaluation, and management.

    PubMed

    Bernard, O; Franchi-Abella, S; Branchereau, S; Pariente, D; Gauthier, F; Jacquemin, E

    2012-11-01

    Congenital portosystemic shunts are present in one in 30,000 children. Among the associated risks of severe complications are neonatal cholestasis, benign and malignant liver tumors, hepatopulmonary syndrome, portopulmonary hypertension, and encephalopathy. They can be detected on prenatal ultrasonograms, during the investigation of a positive galactosemia screening test in neonates or of a complication, or be found fortuitously on an abdominal ultrasound. Small intrahepatic shunts may resolve spontaneously within one year of age, but other shunts such as extrahepatic, persistent ductus venosus or persisting intrahepatic shunts, must be closed in one or two steps, by interventional radiology techniques or surgically. The plasticity of the intrahepatic portal system allows revascularization of the liver after shunt closure, even when no intrahepatic portal structures can be detected on imaging studies. This leaves little or no place for liver transplantation in the management of these children. Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

  5. The long-term prognosis of congenital portosystemic venous shunt.

    PubMed

    Uchino, T; Matsuda, I; Endo, F

    1999-08-01

    Congenital portosystemic venous shunt (PSVS), considered to be a rare disease, can lead to hepatic encephalopathy (HE). With improvements in diagnostic imaging techniques, the number of infants and children with documented PSVS has increased. The natural course of the disease and indications for surgical closure of the shunt vessel have not been well defined. We reviewed 51 cases of congenital PSVS in Japan; 34 patients had an intrahepatic PSVS, and 17 had an extrahepatic PSVS. There were 12 patients with HE at the time of diagnosis. The frequency of HE increased in subjects over 60 years of age. Children with HE had a shunt ratio exceeding 60%. When the shunt ratio was less than 30%, HE did not occur. Twenty of 28 patients under the age of 15 years had hypergalactosemia at the time of neonatal screening. Part of the congenital intrahepatic PSVS spontaneously closed. Surgical closure of a PSVS may be an approach expected to prevent HE when the shunt ratio exceeds 60%.

  6. New and improved ways to treat hydrocephalus: Pursuit of a smart shunt

    PubMed Central

    Lutz, Barry R.; Venkataraman, Pranav; Browd, Samuel R.

    2013-01-01

    The most common treatment for hydrocephalus is placement of a cerebrospinal fluid shunt to supplement or replace lost drainage capacity. Shunts are life-saving devices but are notorious for high failure rates, difficulty of diagnosing failure, and limited control options. Shunt designs have changed little since their introduction in 1950s, and the few changes introduced have had little to no impact on these long-standing problems. For decades, the community has envisioned a “smart shunt” that could provide advanced control, diagnostics, and communication based on implanted sensors, feedback control, and telemetry. The most emphasized contribution of smart shunts is the potential for advanced control algorithms, such as weaning from shunt dependency and personalized control. With sensor-based control comes the opportunity to provide data to the physician on patient condition and shunt function, perhaps even by a smart phone. An often ignored but highly valuable contribution would be designs that correct the high failure rates of existing shunts. Despite the long history and increasing development activity in the past decade, patients are yet to see a commercialized smart shunt. Most smart shunt development focuses on concepts or on isolated technical features, but successful smart shunt designs will be a balance between technical feasibility, economic viability, and acceptable regulatory risk. Here, we present the status of this effort and a framework for understanding the challenges and opportunities that will guide introduction of smart shunts into patient care. PMID:23653889

  7. Weight-adjusted lean body mass and calf circumference are protective against obesity-associated insulin resistance and metabolic abnormalities.

    PubMed

    Takamura, Toshinari; Kita, Yuki; Nakagen, Masatoshi; Sakurai, Masaru; Isobe, Yuki; Takeshita, Yumie; Kawai, Kohzo; Urabe, Takeshi; Kaneko, Shuichi

    2017-07-01

    To test the hypothesis that preserved muscle mass is protective against obesity-associated insulin resistance and metabolic abnormalities, we analyzed the relationship of lean body mass and computed tomography-assessed sectional areas of specific skeletal muscles with insulin resistance and metabolic abnormalities in a healthy cohort. A total of 195 subjects without diabetes who had completed a medical examination were included in this study. Various anthropometric indices such as circumferences of the arm, waist, hip, thigh, and calf were measured. Body composition (fat and lean body mass) was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Sectional areas of specific skeletal muscles (iliopsoas, erector spinae, gluteus, femoris, and rectus abdominis muscles) were measured using computed tomography. Fat and lean body mass were significantly correlated with metabolic abnormalities and insulin resistance indices. When adjusted by weight, relationships of fat and lean body mass with metabolic parameters were mirror images of each other. The weight-adjusted lean body mass negatively correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressures; fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, alanine aminotransferase, and triglyceride, and insulin levels; and hepatic insulin resistance indices, and positively correlated with HDL-cholesterol levels and muscle insulin sensitivity indices. Compared with weight-adjusted lean body mass, weight-adjusted sectional areas of specific skeletal muscles showed similar, but not as strong, correlations with metabolic parameters. Among anthropometric measures, the calf circumference best reflected lean body mass, and weight-adjusted calf circumference negatively correlated with metabolic abnormalities and insulin resistance indices. Weight-adjusted lean body mass and skeletal muscle area are protective against weight-associated insulin resistance and metabolic abnormalities. The calf circumference reflects lean body mass and may be useful as a protective

  8. Clopidogrel in infants with systemic-to-pulmonary-artery shunts.

    PubMed

    Wessel, David L; Berger, Felix; Li, Jennifer S; Dähnert, Ingo; Rakhit, Amit; Fontecave, Sylvie; Newburger, Jane W

    2013-06-20

    Infants with cyanotic congenital heart disease palliated with placement of a systemic-to-pulmonary-artery shunt are at risk for shunt thrombosis and death. We investigated whether the addition of clopidogrel to conventional therapy reduces mortality from any cause and morbidity related to the shunt. In a multicenter, double-blind, event-driven trial, we randomly assigned infants 92 days of age or younger with cyanotic congenital heart disease and a systemic-to-pulmonary-artery shunt to receive clopidogrel at a dose of 0.2 mg per kilogram of body weight per day (467 infants) or placebo (439 infants), in addition to conventional therapy (including aspirin in 87.9% of infants). The primary efficacy end point was a composite of death or heart transplantation, shunt thrombosis, or performance of a cardiac procedure due to an event considered to be thrombotic in nature before 120 days of age. The rate of the composite primary end point did not differ significantly between the clopidogrel group (19.1%) and the placebo group (20.5%) (absolute risk difference, 1.4 percentage points; relative risk reduction with clopidogrel, 11.1%; 95% confidence interval, -19.2 to 33.6; P=0.43), nor did the rates of the three components of the composite primary end point. There was no significant benefit of clopidogrel treatment in any subgroup, including subgroups defined by shunt type. Clopidogrel recipients and placebo recipients had similar rates of overall bleeding (18.8% and 20.2%, respectively) and severe bleeding (4.1% and 3.4%, respectively). Clopidogrel therapy in infants with cyanotic congenital heart disease palliated with a systemic-to-pulmonary-artery shunt, most of whom received concomitant aspirin therapy, did not reduce either mortality from any cause or shunt-related morbidity. (Funded by Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00396877.).

  9. Shunt resistance and saturation current determination in CdTe and CIGS solar cells. Part 2: application to experimental IV measurements and comparison with other methods

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rangel-Kuoppa, Victor-Tapio; Albor-Aguilera, María-de-Lourdes; Hérnandez-Vásquez, César; Flores-Márquez, José-Manuel; Jiménez-Olarte, Daniel; Sastré-Hernández, Jorge; González-Trujillo, Miguel-Ángel; Contreras-Puente, Gerardo-Silverio

    2018-04-01

    In this Part 2 of this series of articles, the procedure proposed in Part 1, namely a new parameter extraction technique of the shunt resistance (R sh ) and saturation current (I sat ) of a current-voltage (I-V) measurement of a solar cell, within the one-diode model, is applied to CdS-CdTe and CIGS-CdS solar cells. First, the Cheung method is used to obtain the series resistance (R s ) and the ideality factor n. Afterwards, procedures A and B proposed in Part 1 are used to obtain R sh and I sat . The procedure is compared with two other commonly used procedures. Better accuracy on the simulated I-V curves used with the parameters extracted by our method is obtained. Also, the integral percentage errors from the simulated I-V curves using the method proposed in this study are one order of magnitude smaller compared with the integral percentage errors using the other two methods.

  10. Simultaneous Umbilical Hernia Repair with Transumbilical Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Placement.

    PubMed

    Montalbano, Michael J; Loukas, Marios; Oakes, W Jerry; Tubbs, R Shane

    2017-01-01

    Recently, placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt via a transumbilical approach has been reported. Herein, we report the repair of an umbilical hernia via the same incision and introduction of the distal end of a ventricultoperitoneal shunt into the peritoneal cavity in 3 patients. A case illustration is included. Both hernia repair and placement of the distal end of the ventriculoperitoneal shunt were uncomplicated in our small case series. To our knowledge, simultaneous repair of an umbilical hernia followed by transumbilical shunt placement has not been reported. As umbilical hernias are so common in infants, this finding, based on our experience, should not exclude placement of peritoneal tubing in the same setting. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  11. Risk factors for shunt malfunction in pediatric hydrocephalus: a multicenter prospective cohort study.

    PubMed

    Riva-Cambrin, Jay; Kestle, John R W; Holubkov, Richard; Butler, Jerry; Kulkarni, Abhaya V; Drake, James; Whitehead, William E; Wellons, John C; Shannon, Chevis N; Tamber, Mandeep S; Limbrick, David D; Rozzelle, Curtis; Browd, Samuel R; Simon, Tamara D

    2016-04-01

    OBJECT The rate of CSF shunt failure remains unacceptably high. The Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (HCRN) conducted a comprehensive prospective observational study of hydrocephalus management, the aim of which was to isolate specific risk factors for shunt failure. METHODS The study followed all first-time shunt insertions in children younger than 19 years at 6 HCRN centers. The HCRN Investigator Committee selected, a priori, 21 variables to be examined, including clinical, radiographic, and shunt design variables. Shunt failure was defined as shunt revision, subsequent endoscopic third ventriculostomy, or shunt infection. Important a priori-defined risk factors as well as those significant in univariate analyses were then tested for independence using multivariate Cox proportional hazard modeling. RESULTS A total of 1036 children underwent initial CSF shunt placement between April 2008 and December 2011. Of these, 344 patients experienced shunt failure, including 265 malfunctions and 79 infections. The mean and median length of follow-up for the entire cohort was 400 days and 264 days, respectively. The Cox model found that age younger than 6 months at first shunt placement (HR 1.6 [95% CI 1.1-2.1]), a cardiac comorbidity (HR 1.4 [95% CI 1.0-2.1]), and endoscopic placement (HR 1.9 [95% CI 1.2-2.9]) were independently associated with reduced shunt survival. The following had no independent associations with shunt survival: etiology, payer, center, valve design, valve programmability, the use of ultrasound or stereotactic guidance, and surgeon experience and volume. CONCLUSIONS This is the largest prospective study reported on children with CSF shunts for hydrocephalus. It confirms that a young age and the use of the endoscope are risk factors for first shunt failure and that valve type has no impact. A new risk factor-an existing cardiac comorbidity-was also associated with shunt failure.

  12. Cerebrospinal fluid eosinophilia and sterile shunt malfunction.

    PubMed

    Traynelis, V C; Powell, R G; Koss, W; Schochet, S S; Kaufman, H H

    1988-11-01

    Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) eosinophilia is a rare finding most often associated with central nervous system inflammatory processes, including parasitic, bacterial, and mycotic infections. It has also been seen as an allergic phenomenon. We present two cases of CSF eosinophilia occurring concurrently with sterile shunt malfunction. We speculate that CSF eosinophilia in our patients might have resulted from an allergic response to a foreign material such as suture, surgical glove powder, hair, cotton fibers, antibiotics, or silicone rubber. The incidence of sterile CSF eosinophilia after shunting is not known. Information concerning the role of eosinophilia in the development of shunt malfunctions is also lacking. An increased awareness of this possibility and further investigation are warranted.

  13. [Migraine and cadiac shunts - is there a link?].

    PubMed

    Riederer, Franz

    2012-10-17

    Recently an association between migraine and cardiac shunts (e.g. through a patent foramen ovale, PFO) has been described. There is evidence from mostly retrospective case series that PFO closure can significantly improve migraine. On the other hand an increase in attack frequency or de novo migraine after percutaneous closure of an atrial septal defect has been described. Animal experiments showed that microemboli in the cerebral circulation can trigger a cortical spreading depression, which is believed the pathophysiological substrate of migraine aura. A randomized controlled trial that investigated PFO closure for treatment resistant migraine with aura was negative. It is currently discussed whether certain subgroups, who have a high risk for paradoxical embolism, might improve after PFO closer.

  14. Morphology of splenocaval congenital portosystemic shunts in dogs and cats.

    PubMed

    White, R N; Parry, A T

    2016-01-01

    To describe the anatomy of congenital portosystemic shunts involving the splenic vein communicating with the caudal vena cava at the level of the epiploic foramen. A retrospective review of a consecutive series of dogs and cats managed for congenital portosystemic shunts. Ninety-eight dogs and eight cats met the inclusion criteria of a congenital portosystemic shunt involving the splenic vein communicating with the prehepatic caudal vena cava plus recorded intra-operative mesenteric portovenography or computed tomography angiography and gross observations at surgery. All cases (both dogs and cats) had a highly consistent shunt that involved a distended gastrosplenic vein that communicated with the caudal vena cava at the level of the epiploic foramen via an anomalous left gastric vein. The morphology of the shunt type described appeared to be a result of an abnormal communication between the left gastric vein and the caudal vena cava and the subsequent development of preferential blood flow through an essentially normal portal venous system. The abnormal communication (shunt) was through the left gastric vein and not the splenic vein, as might have been expected. This information may help with surgical planning in cases undergoing shunt closure surgery. © 2015 British Small Animal Veterinary Association.

  15. Evaluation of Mismatch Losses due to Shunts in industrial Silicon Photovoltaic Modules

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Somasundaran, P.; Shilpi, M.; Gupta, R.

    2017-05-01

    In order to achieve higher efficiencies in photovoltaic module technology, it is important to characterize the shunts and other defects which degrade the performance of cells and modules as well as decrease their efficiency. These shunts also affect the reliability of cells and modules. It is important to understand how much fill factor and power loss is caused by the presence of shunts in the module. Shunts not only reduce the module power output, but also affect the I-V characteristics of the cell and hence the characteristics of the shunted cells are different from those of the shunt-free cells connected in the module leading to the mismatch effect. This is an interesting effect which has been systematically investigated in the present work. Moreover, the flow of increased shunt current will give rise to increased temperature in the region of shunt, which will affect the cell and hence module performance. In the present study, the distributed diode model has been extended to the module level and applied to evaluate the electrical mismatch losses and thermal mismatch losses due to shunts in industrial Silicon PV modules.

  16. Fuzzy Inference System Approach for Locating Series, Shunt, and Simultaneous Series-Shunt Faults in Double Circuit Transmission Lines

    PubMed Central

    Swetapadma, Aleena; Yadav, Anamika

    2015-01-01

    Many schemes are reported for shunt fault location estimation, but fault location estimation of series or open conductor faults has not been dealt with so far. The existing numerical relays only detect the open conductor (series) fault and give the indication of the faulty phase(s), but they are unable to locate the series fault. The repair crew needs to patrol the complete line to find the location of series fault. In this paper fuzzy based fault detection/classification and location schemes in time domain are proposed for both series faults, shunt faults, and simultaneous series and shunt faults. The fault simulation studies and fault location algorithm have been developed using Matlab/Simulink. Synchronized phasors of voltage and current signals of both the ends of the line have been used as input to the proposed fuzzy based fault location scheme. Percentage of error in location of series fault is within 1% and shunt fault is 5% for all the tested fault cases. Validation of percentage of error in location estimation is done using Chi square test with both 1% and 5% level of significance. PMID:26413088

  17. Congenital portosystemic shunts: prenatal manifestations with postnatal confirmation and follow-up.

    PubMed

    Han, Byoung Hee; Park, Sung Bin; Song, Mi Jin; Lee, Kyung Sang; Lee, Young-Ho; Ko, Sun Young; Lee, Yeon Kyung

    2013-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to evaluate prenatal sonographic findings that could be helpful for diagnosis of congenital intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts and the follow-up results. Six neonates with congenital shunts between the portal vein and hepatic vein were enrolled in this study. Prenatal sonography was performed in 5 cases. We categorized the cases according to a previously published classification of intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts and retrospectively reviewed the prenatal and postnatal sonographic examinations to identify findings that might be helpful for diagnosing shunts prenatally. Follow-up sonographic examinations were done until closure of the shunts. Clinical features were also determined. According to the original reports, intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts were diagnosed by prenatal sonography in 2 of 5 cases. In the remaining 3 cases, there were suggestive abnormal findings on retrospective review, including an abnormal intrahepatic tubular structure, a prominent hepatic vein, and congestive heart failure. Postnatal sonography showed type 2 shunts in all 6 cases. In 1 case, there were 2 type 2 lesions between two branches of the left portal vein and the middle and left hepatic veins. On follow-up sonography, 5 of the 6 congenital shunts had spontaneously closed by 11 months of age. One case was treated with coil embolization during the neonatal period. Intrauterine growth restriction was the most commonly clinical feature prenatally. Findings such as an abnormal tubular structure, a prominent hepatic vein, and congestive heart failure can be important clues for identifying congenital intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts on prenatal sonography. The use of prenatal and postnatal sonography is feasible for detection and evaluation of these shunts.

  18. Congenital portosystemic shunts: imaging findings and clinical presentations in 11 patients.

    PubMed

    Konstas, Angelos A; Digumarthy, Subba R; Avery, Laura L; Wallace, Karen L; Lisovsky, Mikhail; Misdraji, Joseph; Hahn, Peter F

    2011-11-01

    To evaluate the clinical anatomy and presentations of congenital portosystemic shunts, and determine features that promote recognition on imaging. Institutional review board approval was obtained for this HIPAA-compliant study. The requirement for written informed consent was waived. Radiology reports were retrospectively reviewed from non-cirrhotic patients who underwent imaging studies from January 1999 through February 2009. Clinical sources reviewed included electronic medical records, archived images and histopathological material. Eleven patients with congenital portosystemic shunts were identified (six male and five female; age range 20 days to 84 years). Seven patients had extrahepatic and four patients had intrahepatic shunts. All 11 patients had absent or hypoplastic intrahepatic portal veins, a feature detected by CT and MRI, but not by US. Seven patients presented with shunt complications and four with presentations unrelated to shunt pathophysiology. Three adult patients had four splenic artery aneurysms. Prospective radiological evaluation of five adult patients with cross-sectional imaging had failed prospectively to recognize the presence of congenital portosystemic shunts on one or more imaging examinations. Congenital portosystemic shunts are associated with splenic artery aneurysms, a previously unrecognized association. Portosystemic shunts were undetected during prospective radiologic evaluation in the majority of adult patients, highlighting the need to alert radiologists to this congenital anomaly. Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

  19. Finite Ground Coplanar Waveguide Shunt MEMS Switches for Switched Line Phase Shifters

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ponchak, George E.; Simons, Rainee N.; Scardelletti, Maximillian; Varaljay, Nicholas C.

    2000-01-01

    Switches with low insertion loss and high isolation are required for switched line phase shifters and the transmit/receive switch at the front end of communication systems. A Finite Ground Coplanar (FGC) waveguide capacitive, shunt MEMS switch has been implemented on high resistivity Si. The switch has demonstrated an insertion loss of less than 0.3 dB and a return loss greater than 15 dB from 10 to 20, GHz. The switch design, fabrication, and characteristics are presented.

  20. A comparison of micropore membrane inlet mass spectrometry-derived pulmonary shunt measurement with Riley shunt in a porcine model.

    PubMed

    Duenges, Bastian; Vogt, Andreas; Bodenstein, Marc; Wang, Hemei; Böhme, Stefan; Röhrig, Bernd; Baumgardner, James E; Markstaller, Klaus

    2009-12-01

    The multiple inert gas elimination technique was developed to measure shunt and the ratio of alveolar ventilation to simultaneous alveolar capillary blood flow in any part of the lung (V(A)'/Q') distributions. Micropore membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MMIMS), instead of gas chromatography, has been introduced for inert gas measurement and shunt determination in a rabbit lung model. However, agreement with a frequently used and accepted method for quantifying deficits in arterial oxygenation has not been established. We compared MMIMS-derived shunt (M-S) as a fraction of total cardiac output (CO) with Riley shunt (R-S) derived from the R-S formula in a porcine lung injury model. To allow a broad variance of atelectasis and therefore shunt fraction, 8 sham animals did not receive lavage, and 8 animals were treated by lung lavages with 30 mL/kg warmed lactated Ringer's solution as follows: 2 animals were lavaged once, 5 animals twice, and 1 animal 3 times. Variables were recorded at baseline and twice after induction of lung injury (T1 and T2). Retention data of sulfur hexafluoride, krypton, desflurane, enflurane, diethyl ether, and acetone were analyzed by MMIMS, and M-S was derived using a known algorithm for the multiple inert gas elimination technique. Standard formulas were used for the calculation of R-S. Forty-four pairs of M-S and R-S were recorded. M-S ranged from 0.1% to 35.4% and R-S from 3.7% to 62.1%. M-S showed a correlation with R-S described by linear regression: M-S = -4.26 + 0.59 x R-S (r(2) = 0.83). M-S was on average lower than R-S (mean = -15.0% CO, sd = 6.5% CO, and median = -15.1), with lower and upper limits of agreement of -28.0% and -2.0%, respectively. The lower and upper limits of the 95% confidence intervals were -17.0 and -13.1 (P < 0.001, Student's t-test). Shunt derived from MMIMS inert gas retention data correlated well with R-S during breathing of oxygen. Shunt as derived by MMIMS was generally less than R-S.

  1. Resident-performed Ex-PRESS shunt implantation versus trabeculectomy.

    PubMed

    Seider, Michael I; Rofagha, Soraya; Lin, Shan C; Stamper, Robert L

    2012-09-01

    To compare outcomes between resident-performed trabeculectomy and Ex-PRESS shunt implantation. A consecutive cohort of 36 Ex-PRESS shunt implantations and 57 trabeculectomies (1 eye/patient) performed by resident surgeons in their third year of ophthalmic training at the University of California, San Francisco and at the San Francisco Veterans Administration Hospital, under the supervision of a single glaucoma fellowship-trained surgeon were included in this study. Eyes with < 6 months of follow-up or previous glaucoma surgery were excluded. Preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), preoperative and postoperative number of ocular antihypertensive medications and complication rates were compared between the 2 procedures retrospectively. No difference was found in postoperative IOP (all, P≥0.099) or proportional decrease in IOP (all, P≥0.092) between the trabeculectomy and Ex-PRESS shunt groups at all follow-up points. On average, the Ex-PRESS shunt group required significantly less ocular antihypertensive medication to control IOP at 3 months postoperative (P=0.01), but no difference was found at 6 months or 1 year (all, P≥0.28). A larger proportion of Ex-PRESS shunt patients had good IOP control without medication at 3 (P=0.057) and 6 months (P=0.076) postoperatively. No difference was found in the rates of sight-threatening complications between groups (all, P≥0.22). In the hands of ophthalmology residents in their third year of training, the trabeculectomy and Ex-PRESS shunt implantation procedures perform comparably in terms of postoperative IOP control, reduction in patient dependence on ocular antihypertensive medications, and risk of complication in our population.

  2. Use of mathematic modeling to compare and predict hemodynamic effects of the modified Blalock-Taussig and right ventricle-pulmonary artery shunts for hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

    PubMed

    Bove, Edward L; Migliavacca, Francesco; de Leval, Marc R; Balossino, Rossella; Pennati, Giancarlo; Lloyd, Thomas R; Khambadkone, Sachin; Hsia, Tain-Yen; Dubini, Gabriele

    2008-08-01

    Stage one reconstruction (Norwood operation) for hypoplastic left heart syndrome can be performed with either a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt or a right ventricle-pulmonary artery shunt. Both methods have certain inherent characteristics. It is postulated that mathematic modeling could help elucidate these differences. Three-dimensional computer models of the Blalock-Taussig shunt and right ventricle-pulmonary artery shunt modifications of the Norwood operation were developed by using the finite volume method. Conduits of 3, 3.5, and 4 mm were used in the Blalock-Taussig shunt model, whereas conduits of 4, 5, and 6 mm were used in the right ventricle-pulmonary artery shunt model. The hydraulic nets (lumped resistances, compliances, inertances, and elastances) were identical in the 2 models. A multiscale approach was adopted to couple the 3-dimensional models with the circulation net. Computer simulations were compared with postoperative catheterization data. Good correlation was found between predicted and observed data. For the right ventricle-pulmonary artery shunt modification, there was higher aortic diastolic pressure, decreased pulmonary artery pressure, lower Qp/Qs ratio, and higher coronary perfusion pressure. Mathematic modeling predicted minimal regurgitant flow in the right ventricle-pulmonary artery shunt model, which correlated with postoperative Doppler measurements. The right ventricle-pulmonary artery shunt demonstrated lower stroke work and a higher mechanical efficiency (stroke work/total mechanical energy). The close correlation between predicted and observed data supports the use of mathematic modeling in the design and assessment of surgical procedures. The potentially damaging effects of a systemic ventriculotomy in the right ventricle-pulmonary artery shunt modification of the Norwood operation have not been analyzed.

  3. Successful preemptive surgical division of type 2-congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt in children.

    PubMed

    Nii, Akira; Takehara, Hiro-o; Kuyama, Hisako; Shimada, Mitsuo

    2009-02-01

    A congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (CEPS) is a rare abnormality. The shunts are classified into 2 types. Of these, a type 2-shunt is a side-to-side one, which may be treated by a simple shunt division. The aim of this retrospective study was to clarify the effects of a surgical shunt division on 4 children with type 2-CEPS. Between June 2002 and June 2008, 4 children with type 2-CEPS underwent a surgical shunt division. Various clinical factors of each patient, including shunt types, shut ratios evaluated by portal scintigraphy using (123)I-iodoamphetamine, serum levels of ammonia and total bile acids before and after surgery were evaluated. Two children had a conventional open surgery and the other two had a laparoscopic surgery. The serum levels of ammonia as well as total bile acids of these children decreased significantly to the normal levels within a month after the surgical shunt divisions. All the children had a better clinical course. A shunt division, especially by laparoscopic surgery, is an effective therapy for type 2-CEPS. To the best of our knowledge by reviewing literatures, our cases are the youngest ones treated by laparoscopic shunt division.

  4. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome leading to ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction: Case report.

    PubMed

    Azriel, Amit; Fleming, Benjamin; Dior, Uri P; Moscovici, Samuel; Sufaro, Yuval; Awad, Mohammed; Drummond, Kate

    2018-06-01

    Ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) insertion is a common neurosurgical procedure for hydrocephalus. Unfortunately, VPS malfunction is not uncommon, with an estimated cumulative rate of 32% at 5 years. As flow through the shunt is influenced by the pressure gradient between the ventricles and the peritoneal cavity, malfunction may be caused by elevated intra-abdominal pressure. We present a rare patient with ascites following ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) leading to shunt malfunction. OHSS is a potentially life-threatening complication of controlled ovarian stimulation caused by the administration of exogenous gonadotropins. In this patient clinical and radiological resolution of shunt dysfunction were achieved following peritoneocentesis. To our knowledge this is the first described case of OHSS leading to shunt malfunction, emphasizing the importance of awareness, early recognition and proper management of abdominal etiologies of VPS malfunction. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Clinical and economic consequences of antibiotic-impregnated cerebrospinal fluid shunt catheters.

    PubMed

    Eymann, Regina; Chehab, Somar; Strowitzki, Martin; Steudel, Wolf-Ingo; Kiefer, Michael

    2008-06-01

    The authors evaluated the safety and efficacy of antibiotic-impregnated shunt catheters (AISCs) and determined the cost-benefit ratio related to the fact that AISCs increase the implant costs of a shunt procedure by approximately $400 per patient. The control group comprised 98 adults with chronic hydrocephalus and 22 children, who were treated without AISCs (non-AISCs). In the treatment group, AISCs (Bactiseal, Codman, Johnson & Johnson) were implanted in 171 adults and 26 children. The minimum follow-up period was 6 months. Important risk factors for shunt infections (such as age, comorbidity, cause of hydrocephalus, operating time, and duration of external cerebrospinal fluid drainage prior to shunt placement) did not differ between the study and control groups. In the pediatric AISC group, the frequency of premature, shunt-treated infants and the incidence of external ventricular drainage prior to shunt insertion were actually higher than those in the non-AISC group. When using AISCs, the shunt infection rate dropped from 4 to 0.6% and from 13.6 to 3.8% in the adult and the pediatric cohort, respectively. Overall the infection rate decreased from 5.8 to 1%, which was statistically significant (p = 0.0145). The average costs of a single shunt infection were $17,300 and $13,000 in children and adults, respectively. The cost-benefit calculation assumed to have saved shunt infection-related costs of approximately $50,000 in 197 AISC-treated patients due to the reduction in shunt infection rate in this group compared with costs in the control group. Despite the incremental implant costs associated with the use of AISCs, the overall reduction in infection-related costs made the use of AISCs cost beneficial in the authors' department. From clinical and economic perspectives, AISCs are seemingly a valuable addition in hydrocephalus therapy.

  6. Adaptive vibration suppression system: an iterative control law for a piezoelectric actuator shunted by a negative capacitor.

    PubMed

    Kodejska, Milos; Mokry, Pavel; Linhart, Vaclav; Vaclavik, Jan; Sluka, Tomas

    2012-12-01

    An adaptive system for the suppression of vibration transmission using a single piezoelectric actuator shunted by a negative capacitance circuit is presented. It is known that by using a negative-capacitance shunt, the spring constant of a piezoelectric actuator can be controlled to extreme values of zero or infinity. Because the value of spring constant controls a force transmitted through an elastic element, it is possible to achieve a reduction of transmissibility of vibrations through the use of a piezoelectric actuator by reducing its effective spring constant. Narrow frequency range and broad frequency range vibration isolation systems are analyzed, modeled, and experimentally investigated. The problem of high sensitivity of the vibration control system to varying operational conditions is resolved by applying an adaptive control to the circuit parameters of the negative capacitor. A control law that is based on the estimation of the value of the effective spring constant of a shunted piezoelectric actuator is presented. An adaptive system which achieves a self-adjustment of the negative capacitor parameters is presented. It is shown that such an arrangement allows the design of a simple electronic system which offers a great vibration isolation efficiency under variable vibration conditions.

  7. 21 CFR 882.4545 - Shunt system implantation instrument.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Shunt system implantation instrument. 882.4545 Section 882.4545 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES NEUROLOGICAL DEVICES Neurological Surgical Devices § 882.4545 Shunt system...

  8. 21 CFR 882.4545 - Shunt system implantation instrument.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Shunt system implantation instrument. 882.4545 Section 882.4545 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES NEUROLOGICAL DEVICES Neurological Surgical Devices § 882.4545 Shunt system...

  9. Shunt resistance and saturation current determination in CdTe and CIGS solar cells. Part 1: a new theoretical procedure and comparison with other methodologies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rangel-Kuoppa, Victor-Tapio; Albor-Aguilera, María-de-Lourdes; Hérnandez-Vásquez, César; Flores-Márquez, José-Manuel; González-Trujillo, Miguel-Ángel; Contreras-Puente, Gerardo-Silverio

    2018-04-01

    A new proposal for the extraction of the shunt resistance (R sh ) and saturation current (I sat ) of a current-voltage (I-V) measurement of a solar cell, within the one-diode model, is given. First, the Cheung method is extended to obtain the series resistance (R s ), the ideality factor (n) and an upper limit for I sat . In this article which is Part 1 of two parts, two procedures are proposed to obtain fitting values for R sh and I sat within some voltage range. These two procedures are used in two simulated I-V curves (one in darkness and the other one under illumination) to recover the known solar cell parameters R sh , R s , n, I sat and the light current I lig and test its accuracy. The method is compared with two different common parameter extraction methods. These three procedures are used and compared in Part 2 in the I-V curves of CdS-CdTe and CIGS-CdS solar cells.

  10. The use of abdominal binders to treat over-shunting headaches.

    PubMed

    Sklar, Frederick H; Nagy, Laszlo; Robertson, Brian D

    2012-06-01

    Headaches are common in children with shunts. Headaches associated with over-shunting are typically intermittent and tend to occur later in the day. Lying down frequently makes the headaches better. This paper examines the efficacy of using abdominal binders to treat over-shunting headaches. Over an 18-year period, the senior author monitored 1027 children with shunts. Office charts of 483 active patients were retrospectively reviewed to identify those children with headaches and, in particular, those children who were thought to have headaches as a result of over-shunting. Abdominal binders were frequently used to treat children with presumed over-shunting headaches, and these data were analyzed. Of the 483 patients undergoing chart review, 258 (53.4%) had headache. A clinical diagnosis of over-shunting was made in 103 patients (21.3% overall; 39.9% of patients with headache). In 14 patients, the headaches were very mild (1-2 on a 5-point scale) and infrequent (1 or 2 per month), and treatment with an abdominal binder was not thought indicated. Eighty-nine patients were treated with a binder, but 19 were excluded from this retrospective study for noncompliance, interruption of the binder trial, or lack of follow-up. The remaining 70 pediatric patients, who were diagnosed with over-shunting headaches and were treated with abdominal binders, were the subjects of a more detailed retrospective study. Significant headache improvement was observed in 85.8% of patients. On average, the patients wore the binders for approximately 1 month, and headache relief usually persisted even after the binders were discontinued. However, the headaches eventually did recur in many of the patients more than a year later. In these patients, reuse of the abdominal binder was successful in relieving headaches in 78.9%. The abdominal binder is an effective, noninvasive therapy to control over-shunting headaches in most children. This treatment should be tried before any surgery is

  11. Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Fracture Following Application of Halo-Gravity Traction: A Case Report.

    PubMed

    Blakeney, William G; D'Amato, Charles

    2015-09-01

    Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt malfunctions are very common, and shunt fracture is one of the most common causes. Shunt fractures are often a result of calcification and tethering, which predispose the tubing to fracture when mechanical stresses are applied. This case report describes a case of shunt fracture following application of halo-gravity traction for correction of spinal deformity. Chart and imaging data for a single case were reviewed and reported in this retrospective case study. A 10-year-old female, being treated for syndromic scoliosis, underwent posterior surgical release and application of halo-gravity traction. Increasing weight of traction was applied over a period of 6 weeks, for gradual deformity correction. It was noted on the 6-week cervical spine radiograph that the VP shunt had fractured at the base of the neck. The patient was taken to the operating room and intraoperative findings confirmed shunt fracture. This was repaired without complications. This case, to our best knowledge, is the first reported occurrence of shunt fracture following application of halo-gravity traction. It demonstrates the importance of careful monitoring of patients with VP shunts, when they are undergoing traction for correction of spinal deformity. Level IV.

  12. Morphology of congenital portosystemic shunts involving the right gastric vein in dogs.

    PubMed

    White, R N; Parry, A T

    2015-07-01

    To describe the anatomy of congenital portosystemic shunts involving the right gastric vein in dogs. Retrospective review of a consecutive series of dogs managed for congenital portosystemic shunt. Twenty-two dogs met the inclusion criteria of a congenital portosystemic shunt involving the right gastric vein with recorded intraoperative mesenteric portovenography or computed tomography angiography and gross observations at the time of surgery. Of these, 20 (91%) had a shunt that entered the pre-hepatic caudal vena cava at the level of the epiploic foramen and two (9%) had a shunt that entered the post-hepatic caudal vena cava at the level of the diaphragm. Shunts entering the pre-hepatic caudal vena cava could be further classified into three consistent subdivisions. The morphology of each shunt type described appeared to be a result of an abnormal communication between the left gastric vein and the caudal vena cava, the presence or absence of an abnormal communication between the splenic, left gastric and portal veins and the subsequent development of preferential blood flow through essentially normal portal vessels within the portal venous system. The abnormal communication (shunt) was through the left gastric vein and not the right gastric vein, as might have been expected. This information may help with surgical planning in cases undergoing shunt closure surgery. © 2015 British Small Animal Veterinary Association.

  13. Parent ratings of executive functioning in children with shunted hydrocephalus.

    PubMed

    Lacy, Maureen; Baldassarre, Megan; Nader, Todd; Frim, David

    2012-01-01

    The present study examined the executive functioning of a group of children with a history of communicating hydrocephalus and how their level of functioning was correlated with parent ratings of executive functioning. The study examined the executive functioning of 39 shunted children with a history of hydrocephalus and 20 healthy peers. Additionally, parents of both groups of children completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) to assess the parents' perceptions of their children's executive functioning. Finally, the study investigated the relationship between the shunted hydrocephalus children's executive functioning and the parent ratings of their executive functioning. Overall, the children with a history of shunted hydrocephalus displayed more executive dysfunction than their healthy peers. These children were rated by their parents as having more executive dysfunction than their healthy peers and displaying working memory, initiation, mental flexibility and self-monitoring difficulties, which appear to increase with age among the shunted hydrocephalus group. While parent ratings as measured by the BRIEF indices did not correlate with all executive tasks within the shunted hydrocephalus group, the cognitive tests assessing mental flexibility may be sensitive to the problems noted by parents at home. The children with a history of shunted hydrocephalus displayed executive functioning deficits on formal examination. The parents of children with a history of shunted hydrocephalus report ongoing executive difficulties which may increase with age. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  14. Attenuation of Congenital Portosystemic Shunt Reduces Inflammation in Dogs

    PubMed Central

    Tivers, Michael S.; Handel, Ian; Gow, Adam G.; Lipscomb, Victoria J.; Jalan, Rajiv; Mellanby, Richard J.

    2015-01-01

    Liver disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. One of the most significant complications in patients with liver disease is the development of neurological disturbances, termed hepatic encephalopathy. The pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy is incompletely understood, which has resulted in the development of a wide range of experimental models. Congenital portosystemic shunt is one of the most common congenital disorders diagnosed in client owned dogs. Our recent studies have demonstrated that the pathophysiology of canine hepatic encephalopathy is very similar to human hepatic encephalopathy, which provides strong support for the use of dogs with a congenital portosystemic shunt as a naturally occurring model of human hepatic encephalopathy. Specifically, we have demonstrated an important role for ammonia and inflammation in the development of hepatic encephalopathy in dogs with a congenital portosystemic shunt. Despite the apparent importance of inflammation in driving hepatic encephalopathy in dogs, it is unclear whether inflammation resolves following the successful treatment of liver disease. We hypothesized that haematological and biochemical evidence of inflammation, as gauged by neutrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte concentrations together with C-reactive protein concentrations, would decrease following successful treatment of congenital portosystemic shunts in dogs. One hundred and forty dogs with a congenital portosystemic shunt were enrolled into the study. We found that the proportion of dogs with a monocyte concentration above the reference range was significantly greater in dogs with hepatic encephalopathy at time of initial diagnosis. Importantly, neutrophil and monocyte concentrations significantly decreased following surgical congenital portosystemic shunt attenuation. We also found a significant decrease in C-reactive protein concentrations following surgical attenuation of congenital portosystemic shunts. Our study demonstrates that

  15. Clinical outcomes of temporary shunting for infants with cerebral pseudomeningocele.

    PubMed

    Mattei, Tobias A; Sambhara, Deepak; Bond, Brandon J; Lin, Julian

    2014-02-01

    Although in the case of subdural collections temporary shunting has been suggested as a viable alternative for definitive drainage of the accumulated fluid until restoration of the normal CSF dynamics, there is no agreement on the best management strategy for pseudomeningocele. The authors performed a retrospective chart review in order to evaluate the clinical outcomes of infants temporarily shunted for pseudomeningocele without encephalocele at our institution (The University of Illinois at Peoria/Illinois Neurological Institute) in the period from 2004 to 2012. The epidemiological characteristics, clinical management, and final outcomes of such subpopulation were compared with a control group which received temporary shunting for subdural hematomas (SDH) during the same period. Four patients (100% male) ranging in age from 8.9 to 27.1 months (mean = 13.88) with pseudomeningocele and 17 patients (64.7% male) ranging in age from 1.9 to 11.8 months (mean = 4.15) with SDH were identified. Although the initial management included sequential percutaneous subdural tapping in 82% of the patients, all children ultimately failed such strategy, requiring either subdural-peritoneal (81% of the cases) or subgaleal-peritoneal (19% of the cases) shunting. The mean implant duration was 201 days for the pseudomeningocele group and 384 days for the SDH one. Mean post-shunt hospitalization was 2 days for patients with pseudomeningocele and 4 days for patients with SDH. There was no statistical difference in terms of complications, length of hospitalization post-shunting, or clinical outcomes between the patients with pseudomeningocele and those with SDH. Temporary shunting of infants with pseudo-meningocele constitutes a viable therapeutic alternative with favorable clinical outcomes and a low risk of shunt dependency similar to those of children with SDH.

  16. Metabolic Pathways Regulated by Chitosan Contributing to Drought Resistance in White Clover.

    PubMed

    Li, Zhou; Zhang, Yan; Zhang, Xinquan; Merewitz, Emily; Peng, Yan; Ma, Xiao; Huang, Linkai; Yan, Yanhong

    2017-08-04

    Increased endogenous chitosan (CTS) could be associated with improved drought resistance in white clover (Trifolium repens). Plants were pretreated with or without 1 mg/mL CTS and then were subjected to optimal or water-limited condition in controlled growth chambers for 6 days. Phenotypic and physiological results indicated that exogenous CTS significantly improved drought resistance of white clover. Metabolome results showed that exogenous CTS induced a significant increase in endogenous CTS content during dehydration accompanied by the maintenance of greater accumulation of sugars, sugar alcohols, amino acids, organic acids, and other metabolites (ascorbate, glutathione, flavonoids, putrescine, and spermidine). These compounds are associated with osmotic adjustment, antioxidant defense, stress signaling, and energy metabolism under stress condition. Similarly, transcriptome revealed that many genes in relation to amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism, energy production and conversion, and ascorbate-glutathione and flavonoid metabolism were significantly up-regulated by CTS in response to dehydration stress. CTS-induced drought resistance was associated with the accumulation of stress protective metabolites, the enhancement of ascorbate-glutathione and tricarboxylic acid cycle, and increases in the γ-aminobutyric acid shunt, polyamine synthesis, and flavonoids metabolism contributing to improved osmotic adjustment, antioxidant capacity, stress signaling, and energy production for stress defense, thereby maintaining metabolic homeostasis under dehydration stress.

  17. Are Shunt Revisions Associated with IQ in Congenital Hydrocephalus? A Meta -Analysis.

    PubMed

    Arrington, C Nikki; Ware, Ashley L; Ahmed, Yusra; Kulesz, Paulina A; Dennis, Maureen; Fletcher, Jack M

    2016-12-01

    Although it is generally acknowledged that shunt revisions are associated with reductions in cognitive functions in individuals with congenital hydrocephalus, the literature yields mixed results and is inconclusive. The current study used meta-analytic methods to empirically synthesize studies addressing the association of shunt revisions and IQ in individuals with congenital hydrocephalus. Six studies and three in-house datasets yielded 11 independent samples for meta-analysis. Groups representing lower and higher numbers of shunt revisions were coded to generate effect sizes for differences in IQ scores. Mean effect size across studies was statistically significant, but small (Hedges' g = 0.25, p < 0.001, 95 % CI [0.08, 0.43]) with more shunt revisions associated with lower IQ scores. Results show an association of lower IQ and more shunt revisions of about 3 IQ points, a small effect, but within the error of measurement associated with IQ tests. Although clinical significance of this effect is not clear, results suggest that repeated shunt revisions because of shunt failure is associated with a reduction in cognitive functions.

  18. Three-year outcome of shunted idiopathic NPH patients.

    PubMed

    Aygok, G; Marmarou, A; Young, H F

    2005-01-01

    The incidence of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) has increased as a result of improved longevity. This report describes the 3-year outcome of shunted iNPH patients compared to three-month outcome after shunting. Patients (n = 50) (Age 70.4 +/- 8.9) admitted to our service were diagnosed and treated according to a fixed protocol for management of iNPH and after shunting were followed at least three times per year in clinic. The outcome of 50 patients was graded according to the level of improvement in symptoms as Excellent/Good, Partial or None in each category of Gait, Incontinence and Dementia. If we lump favorable (excellent, good, partial recovery) vs poor recovery (none), we found from 3 months to 3 years, a moderate decline in gait performance (91% to 75%), a retention of memory improvement (80%-80%) and an improvement in incontinence occurred over time (70%-82.5%). With proper diagnosis and management of iNPH, shunting of patients is associated with a favorable risk/benefit ratio that is reasonably long lasting.

  19. Transdiaphragmatic Approach to Attenuate Porto-Azygos Shunts Inserting in the Thorax.

    PubMed

    Or, Matan; Kitshoff, Adriaan; Devriendt, Nausikaa; De Ridder, Marianne; Quist-Rybachuk, Galena; de Rooster, Hilde

    2016-11-01

    To describe the surgical technique and document the application of a transdiaphragmatic approach to attenuate porto-azygos shunts inserting in the thoracic section of the azygos vein. Cadaveric study and prospective case series. Canine cadavers (n=6) and client-owned dogs with porto-azygos shunts inserting in the thoracic section of the azygos vein (n=9). In the cadavers, the azygos vein was filled with aqueous latex. Landmarks were established for creating a safe transdiaphragmatic approach to the caudal intrathoracic portion of the azygos vein. In the clinical cases, porto-azygos communication was diagnosed by trans-splenic portal scintigraphy. All shunts were attenuated close to their insertion site via ventral midline celiotomy and a transdiaphragmatic approach to the shunt. Perioperative complications were recorded. A 3-5 cm incision, 0.5-1 cm ventral and lateral to the level of the aortic hiatus, was made in the pars lumbalis part of the diaphragm. Stay sutures at both sides of the diaphragmatic incision were placed to open up the incision and a retractor was used to push the esophagus away from the aorta. Intrathoracic insertion of the shunt was confirmed intraoperative. Exposure of the shunt insertion site at the azygos vein was excellent in all clinical cases. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were encountered. If thoracic attenuation of a porto-azygos shunt is considered, a transdiaphragmatic approach exposes the insertion site for shunt attenuation. This approach is straightforward, without unnecessary abdominal organ manipulation, and since attenuates at the insertion, avoids missing additional contributing branches. © Copyright 2016 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

  20. 3T magnetic resonance imaging testing of externally programmable shunt valves

    PubMed Central

    Zabramski, Joseph M.; Preul, Mark C.; Debbins, Josef; McCusker, Daniel J.

    2012-01-01

    Background: Exposure of externally programmable shunt-valves (EPS-valves) to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may lead to unexpected changes in shunt settings, or affect the ability to reprogram the valve. We undertook this study to examine the effect of exposure to a 3T MRI on a group of widely used EPS-valves. Methods: Evaluations were performed on first generation EPS-valves (those without a locking mechanism to prevent changes in shunt settings by external magnets other than the programmer) and second generation EPS-valves (those with a locking mechanisms). Fifteen new shunt-valves were divided into five groups of three identical valves each, and then exposed to a series of six simulated MRI scans. After each of the exposures, the valves were evaluated to determine if the valve settings had changed, and whether the valves could be reprogrammed. The study produced 18 evaluations for each line of shunt-valves. Results: Exposure of the first generation EPS-valves to a 3T magnetic field resulted in frequent changes in the valve settings; however, all valves retained their ability to be reprogrammed. Repeated exposure of the second generation EPS-valves has no effect on shunt valve settings, and all valves retained their ability to be interrogated and reprogrammed. Conclusions: Second generation EPS-valves with locking mechanisms can be safely exposed to repeated 3T MRI systems, without evidence that shunt settings will change. The exposure of the first generation EPS-valves to 3T MRI results in frequent changes in shunt settings that necessitate re-evaluation soon after MRI to avoid complications. PMID:22937481

  1. High-Flow Arterio-Hepatic Venous Shunt in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Use of Multi-Electrode Radiofrequency for Shunt Obliteration

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Pua, Uei, E-mail: druei@yahoo.com

    2015-10-15

    Intra-tumoral arterio-hepatic venous shunting (AHVS) poses an impediment to transarterial chemoembolization of liver tumors. Not only does it present a potential hazard for systemic shunting and embolization, but also the altered flow dynamics may also result in poor delivery of drug/embolics to the target tumor bed. Current available techniques to overcome AVHS include arterial embolization (particles, coils, glue, etc.) or temporary venous occlusion using balloons. We hereby illustrate the use of radiofrequency ablation to obliterate a complex AHVS consisting of a varix-like venous aneurysm.

  2. Morphology of congenital portosystemic shunts emanating from the left gastric vein in dogs and cats.

    PubMed

    White, R N; Parry, A T

    2013-09-01

    To describe the anatomy of congenital portosystemic shunts emanating from the left gastric vein in dogs and cats. A retrospective review of a consecutive series of dogs and cats managed for congenital portosystemic shunts. Forty-six dogs and 27 cats met the inclusion criteria of a congenital portosystemic shunt emanating from the left gastric vein. Of the 46 dogs, 28 (61%) had a shunt that entered the left phrenic vein, 10 (22%) had a shunt that entered the post hepatic caudal vena cava and in 8 (17%) the shunt entered the azygos vein. Of the 27 cats, 19 (70%) had a shunt that entered the left phrenic vein and 8 (30%) had a shunt that entered the post hepatic caudal vena cava. The systemic vein into which the shunt entered was consistent showing three common presentations: left gastro-phrenic, left gastro-caval and left gastro-azygos. This information may help with surgical planning in cases undergoing shunt closure surgery. © 2013 British Small Animal Veterinary Association.

  3. Congenital intrahepatic portohepatic venous shunt: treatment with coil embolisation.

    PubMed

    Kim, I O; Cheon, J E; Kim, W S; Chung, J W; Yeon, K M; Yoo, S J; Seo, J K; Choi, J H

    2000-05-01

    Congenital abnormalities of the portal venous system are rare. There are few radiological descriptions of intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt detected in the perinatal period. We report a congenital portosystemic shunt that was detected by US and treated with coil embolisation in the neonatal period.

  4. Ion beam sputter-etched ventricular catheter for hydrocephalus shunt

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Banks, B. A. (Inventor)

    1983-01-01

    A cerebrospinal fluid shunt in the form of a ventricular catheter for controlling the condition of hydrocephalus by relieving the excessive cerebrospinal fluid pressure is described. A method for fabrication of the catheter and shunting the cerebral fluid from the cerebral ventricles to other areas of the body is also considered. Shunt flow failure occurs if the ventricle collapse due to improper valve function causing overdrainage. The ventricular catheter comprises a multiplicity of inlet microtubules. Each microtubule has both a large openings at its inlet end and a multiplicity of microscopic openings along its lateral surfaces.

  5. What is the risk of infecting a cerebrospinal fluid-diverting shunt with percutaneous tapping?

    PubMed

    Spiegelman, Lindsey; Asija, Richa; Da Silva, Stephanie L; Krieger, Mark D; McComb, J Gordon

    2014-10-01

    Most CSF-diverting shunt systems have an access port that can be percutaneously tapped. Tapping the shunt can yield valuable information as to its function and whether an infection is present. The fear of causing a shunt infection by tapping may limit the physician's willingness to do so. The authors of this study investigate the risk of infecting a shunt secondary to percutaneous tapping. Following institutional review board approval, CSF specimens obtained from tapping an indwelling CSF-diverting shunt during the 2011 and 2012 calendar years were identified and matched with clinical information. A culture-positive CSF sample was defined as an infection. If results were equivocal, such as a broth-only-positive culture, a repeat CSF specimen was examined. The CSF was obtained by tapping the shunt access port with a 25-gauge butterfly needle after prepping the unshaven skin with chlorhexidine. During the study period, 266 children underwent 542 shunt taps. With 541 taps, no clinical evidence of a subsequent shunt infection was found. One child's CSF went from sterile to infected 11 days later; however, this patient had redness along the shunt tract at the time of the initial sterile tap. The risk of infection from tapping a shunt is remote if the procedure is done correctly.

  6. Prophylactic antibiotics in pediatric shunt surgery.

    PubMed

    Biyani, N; Grisaru-Soen, G; Steinbok, P; Sgouros, S; Constantini, S

    2006-11-01

    The optimal antibiotic prophylaxis for pediatric shunt-related procedures is not clear. There is much inconsistency among different medical centers. This paper summarizes and analyzes the various prophylactic antibiotic regiments used for shunt-related surgeries at different pediatric neurosurgery centers in the world. A survey questionnaire was distributed through the Pediatric Neurosurgery list-server (an e-mail-based special interest group in pediatric neurosurgery). Forty-five completed questionnaires were received, one per medical center, primarily from pediatric neurosurgeons with the following geographic breakdown: 25 from North America, 13 from Europe, and 7 from Asia and other countries. All centers routinely administered prophylactic antibiotics for shunt-related procedures. The drugs of choice were first-generation cephalosporins (23), second-generation cephalosporins (10), naficillin/oxacillin (4), vancomycin (3), clindamycin (1), amoxicillin (1), and mixed protocols in three centers. The initial drug administration ("first dose") was: in the department before transfer to operating room (5), upon arrival to operating room (11), at induction of anesthesia (13), and at initial skin incision (16). The duration of antibiotic dosage also varied: single dose (13), 24-h administration (26), 48-h administration (2), and longer than 48 h in four centers. Two general tendencies were noted, common to the majority of participating centers. There was a general trend to modify antibiotic treatment protocol in "high-risk" populations. The second common theme noted in more than half of responding centers was the use of long-term antibiotic treatment for externalized devices (such as externalized shunts, external ventricular drains or lumbar drains), usually till the device was in place.

  7. Multi-resonant electromagnetic shunt in base isolation for vibration damping and energy harvesting

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pei, Yalu; Liu, Yilun; Zuo, Lei

    2018-06-01

    This paper investigates multi-resonant electromagnetic shunts applied to base isolation for dual-function vibration damping and energy harvesting. Two multi-mode shunt circuit configurations, namely parallel and series, are proposed and optimized based on the H2 criteria. The root-mean-square (RMS) value of the relative displacement between the base and the primary structure is minimized. Practically, this will improve the safety of base-isolated buildings subjected the broad bandwidth ground acceleration. Case studies of a base-isolated building are conducted in both the frequency and time domains to investigate the effectiveness of multi-resonant electromagnetic shunts under recorded earthquake signals. It shows that both multi-mode shunt circuits outperform traditional single mode shunt circuits by suppressing the first and the second vibration modes simultaneously. Moreover, for the same stiffness ratio, the parallel shunt circuit is more effective at harvesting energy and suppressing vibration, and can more robustly handle parameter mistuning than the series shunt circuit. Furthermore, this paper discusses experimental validation of the effectiveness of multi-resonant electromagnetic shunts for vibration damping and energy harvesting on a scaled-down base isolation system.

  8. Use of intraoperative mesenteric portovenography in congenital portosystemic shunt surgery.

    PubMed

    White, Robert N; Macdonald, Nicholas J; Burton, Carolyn A

    2003-01-01

    A retrospective study of the use of intraoperative mesenteric portovenography (IOMP) in the surgical management of congenital portosystemic shunts in 100 dogs and cats was performed. Each portovenogram was scored using a subjective visual analogue scale (VAS) and was assessed for the presence of portal atresia or hypoplasia. VAS scores and portal hypoplasia assessments were obtained for portovenogram images obtained for each animal both before shunt manipulation (preligation) and following the temporary, complete ligation of the vessel (postligation). In each patient, surgical records were reviewed to ascertain the degree of shunt attenuation that was achieved at surgery. Hepatic portal vasculature was significantly different on postligation compared with preligation IOMP. Sixty-two percent of animals had apparent portal hypoplasia or atresia on their preligation IOMP. The majority of these (81%) had an improvement in portal vasculature on postligation IOMP. It was concluded that both preligation and postligation IOMP provided valuable information regarding the morphology of congenital portosystemic shunts. An accurate assessment of an animal's portal vasculature could only be made following the interpretation of a postligation portovenogram, and these findings significantly influenced the surgical management of the patient. Although individuals with high postligation VAS scores were more likely to achieve full shunt attenuation at surgery, there was no quantifiable relationship between IOMP findings and the degree of shunt attenuation achieved.

  9. Sodium accumulation at potential-induced degradation shunted areas in polycrystalline silicon modules

    DOE PAGES

    Harvey, Steven P.; Aguiar, Jeffery A.; Hacke, Peter; ...

    2016-09-19

    Here, we investigated potential-induced degradation (PID) in silicon mini-modules that were subjected to accelerated stressing to induce PID conditions. Shunted areas on the cells were identified with photoluminescence and dark lock-in thermography (DLIT) imaging. The identical shunted areas were then analyzed via time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry (TOFSIMS) imaging, 3-D tomography, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The TOF-SIMS imaging indicates a high concentration of sodium in the shunted areas, and 3-D tomography reveals that the sodium extends more than 2 um from the surface below shunted regions. Transmission electron microscopy investigation reveals that a stacking fault is present at an areamore » identified as shunted by DLIT imaging. After the removal of surface sodium, tomography reveals persistent sodium present around the junction depth of 300 nm and a drastic difference in sodium content at the junction when comparing shunted and nonshunted regions.« less

  10. Congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunt--an incidental rare anomaly.

    PubMed

    Singh, Kunwarpal; Kapoor, Aprajita; Kapoor, Atul; Gupta, Kamini; Mahajan, Goldaa

    2006-12-01

    Congenital intrahepatic shunts are rare anomalies that are usually incidental in a child who undergoes an ultrasound examination for some other reasons. Early diagnosis is important, because the condition can lead to hepatic encephalopathy and hypoglycemia. Author's would like to describe the findings of one such patient diagnosed to be having congenital intrahepatic shunt and discuss the clinical importance of this condition.

  11. Experimental Percutaneous Extrahepatic Portacaval Shunt Creation by Transjugular Approach in Swine

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Seong, Chang Kyu; Pavcnik, Dusan, E-mail: pavcnikd@ohsu.edu; Uchida, Barry T.

    2005-06-15

    The purpose of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of the creation of a percutaneous extrahepatic portacaval shunt (PEPS) in swine by a transjugular approach and to find a suitable stent-graft to use in PEPS. In 12 swine, the extrahepatic portal vein (PV) was entered from the inferior vena cava (IVC) by a needle system introduced from the transjugular approach. A catheter introduced through the transhepatic approach served as a target. Five types of stent-graft consisting of homemade Z stents and a polytetrafluoethylene cover were explored for PEPS creation. Eight animals had follow-up venograms up to 6 weeks ormore » until the shunt became severely stenotic. Gross and histologic examinations were performed after the final follow-up venography. The PV punctures and stent-graft placement were difficult, but the PEPS was established in all animals. In four animals, the stent-graft failed to adequately cover the tract, causing severe hemorrhage. Only two shunts remained patent up to 6 weeks. The other shunts exhibited severe stenosis or occlusion. At gross examination, all shunts traversed the liver parenchyma of the caudate lobe surrounding the IVC. The extravascular PEPS portion was 4 mm to 2 cm long. All shunts entered the PV close to the splenomesenteric junction and exhibited neointimal formation. Shunt stenoses were caused by neointimal hyperplasia and occlusions by a superimposed thrombus. PEPS can be created by the transjugular approach in swine, but only the PV shunt entrance is extrahepatic. None of the tested rigid stent-grafts were suitable for PEPS creation. A short flexible stent-graft with flanged ends is suggested for further exploration.« less

  12. Electron microscopic evaluation of a gold glaucoma micro shunt after explantation.

    PubMed

    Berk, Thomas A; Tam, Diamond Y; Werner, Liliana; Mamalis, Nick; Ahmed, Iqbal Ike K

    2015-03-01

    We present a case of an explanted gold glaucoma micro shunt (GMS Plus) and the subsequent light and electron microscopic analyses. The shunt was implanted in a patient with medically refractive glaucoma. The intraocular pressure (IOP) was stable at 12 mm Hg 6 months postoperatively but spiked to 26 mm Hg 6 months later; membranous growth was visible on the implant gonioscopically. A second gold micro shunt was placed 2 years after the first. The IOP was 7 mm Hg 1 week postoperatively but increased to 23 mm Hg 3 weeks later; similar membranous growth was visible on this implant. One of the shunts was explanted, and light and scanning electron microscopic analyses revealed encapsulation around the shunt exterior and connective tissue invasion of the microstructure. This represents the first electron microscopic analysis of an explanted gold glaucoma micro shunt and the first unequivocal images of the fibrotic pseudo-capsule traversing its microchannels and fenestrations. Dr. Ahmed is a consultant to and has received research grants from Solx, Inc. No other author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. Copyright © 2015 ASCRS and ESCRS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  13. Hepatic encephalopathy caused by congenital extrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt.

    PubMed

    Ishii, Y; Inagaki, Y; Hirai, K; Aoki, T

    2000-01-01

    Congenital portosystemic venous shunt is a relatively rare disease. Recently, a 60-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for hepatic encephalopathy caused by congenital extrahepatic portocaval shunt. She had been in good health until the onset of this event, with no liver damage and no experience of abdominal surgery or history of abdominal trauma. In May 1993, hepatic encephalopathy manifested suddenly, with the chief complaint of orthostatic disturbance. Although conservative treatment was administered during the subsequent 5 years, on admission, liver damage and slight splenomegaly were shown, for which complete resection of the shunt vessel and splenectomy were performed. Postoperatively, the patient's symptoms have been alleviated. Hepatic encephalopathy caused by congenital portosystemic venous shunt requires long-term conservative treatment, and the patient's quality of life is reduced. For this reason, surgical intervention or embolization with interventional radiology should be considered, and the maintenance of hepatic blood flow should also be considered.

  14. [A new method of gastric shunting for treatment of patients with morbid obesity].

    PubMed

    Grubnik, V V; Golliak, V P; Kresiun, M S

    2013-01-01

    The gastric shunting (GSH) method, permitting to control the patients body mass more effectively and promoting complete remission of diabetes mellitus type II, was elaborated. In 2008 - 2009 yrs 29 patients (9 men, 20 women) were operated on for morbid obesity, using shunting interventions. In 21 patients (the first group) a standard GSH was performed, in 8 (second group)--a modified operation. In 18-24 mo the excessive patient's body mass in patients of the first group have reduced by 62.8%, of the second group--by 89.3%. Complete compensation of diabetes mellitus type II with rejection from insulin and other antidiabetic preparations was achieved in 4 patients of the first group and in all--in the second group. Resistence for insulin have had lowered in patients of both groups, including in the first group--in 1,4 times, in the second group--in 3.2 times. Thus, preliminary results accurately demonstrate, that application of a modified GSH method is more effective, concerning the patients body mass reduction and achievement of complete compensation of diabetes mellitus type II.

  15. Measurements of left-to-right intracardiac shunting in adults: oximetric versus indicator dilution techniques.

    PubMed

    Hillis, L D; Winniford, M D; Jackson, J A; Firth, B G

    1985-01-01

    Of the various techniques that are available to assess the presence and magnitude of intracardiac shunting, oximetry and indicator dilution are used most frequently. This study was performed to compare these methods in adult patients with pure left-to-right intracardiac shunting. In 27 patients [12 men, 15 women, aged 32 +/- 12 (mean +/- SD) years], shunt magnitude was assessed in close temporal proximity by both techniques. The oximetric percentage left-to-right shunt averaged 55 +/- 16%, whereas the indocyanine green dye percentage shunt was significantly less (36 +/- 14%, p less than 0.001). The oximetric percentage shunt exceeded the indocyanine green dye percentage shunt in 26 and did so by greater than 20% in 23 patients. Thus, there is a substantial difference in shunt magnitude between the oximetric and the indicator dilution techniques. In infants, indicator dilution yields results that are larger than those obtained with the oximetric method. Conversely, in adults, the indicator dilution technique gives results that are consistently smaller than those obtained with oximetry. As a result, the decision regarding therapy of an intracardiac shunt should be made with this in mind.

  16. Parent/guardian knowledge regarding implanted shunt type, setting, and symptoms of malfunction/infection.

    PubMed

    Ackerman, Laurie L; Fulkerson, Daniel H; Jea, Andrew; Smith, Jodi L

    2018-04-01

    OBJECTIVE Patients with shunts often interact with providers distant from their primary hospital, making it important that the parent(s)/guardian(s) is well versed in the type of shunt implanted and symptoms of malfunction/infection. This is particularly important with magnetic-sensitive programmable valves, as the use of MRI becomes more prevalent. METHODS Over a 6-month period, primary caregivers of 148 consecutive patients who received shunts were prospectively administered questionnaires at clinic visits. Caregivers were asked to do the following: 1) identify shunt valve name, type, and setting if applicable; 2) list symptoms of shunt malfunction/infection; and 3) indicate whether they had access to references regarding shunt type/setting, booklets from the Hydrocephalus Association, and quick reference cards with symptoms of shunt malfunction/infection. One cohort of caregivers (n = 75) was asked to carry informational cards with shunt valve/setting information (group I); this cohort was compared with another subgroup of caregivers (n = 73) not carrying cards (group II). RESULTS The mean (± SD) age of patients at implantation/revision was 3.71 ± 4.91 years, and the age at follow-up was 6.12 ± 5.4 years. The average time from surgery to administration of the questionnaire was 2.38 ± 3.22 years. There were 86 new shunt insertions and 62 revisions. One hundred twenty-eight caregivers (87%) could identify the type of valve (programmable vs nonprogrammable). On the other hand, only 72 caregivers (49%) could identify the valve name. Fifty-four of 73 (74%) caregivers of patients who had shunts with programmable valves could correctly identify the valve setting. One hundred caregivers (68%) had a copy of the Hydrocephalus Association booklet, and 103 (70%) had quick reference cards. Eighty caregivers (54%) had references on shunt type/setting. Most caregivers (127 [86%]) could name ≥ 3 signs/symptoms of shunt malfunction, with vomiting (61%), headache (49%), and

  17. Staged transcatheter treatment of portal hypoplasia and congenital portosystemic shunts in children.

    PubMed

    Bruckheimer, Elchanan; Dagan, Tamir; Atar, Eli; Schwartz, Michael; Kachko, Ludmila; Superina, Riccardo; Amir, Gabriel; Shapiro, Rivka; Birk, Einat

    2013-12-01

    Congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSS) with portal venous hypoplasia cause hyperammonemia. Acute shunt closure results in portal hypertension. A transcatheter method of staged shunt reduction to afford growth of portal vessels followed by shunt closure is reported. Pressure measurements and angiography in the CPSS or superior mesenteric artery (SMA) during temporary occlusion of the shunt were performed. If vessels were diminutive and the pressure was above 18 mmHg, a staged approach was performed, which included implantation of a tailored reducing stent to reduce shunt diameter by ~50 %. Recatheterization was performed approximately 3 months later. If the portal pressure was below 18 mmHg and vessels had developed, the shunt was closed with a device. Six patients (5 boys, 1 girl) with a median age of 3.3 (range 0.5-13) years had CPSS portal venous hypoplasia and hyperammonemia. Five patients underwent staged closure. One patient tolerated acute closure. One patient required surgical shunt banding because a reducing stent could not be positioned. At median follow-up of 3.8 (range 2.2-8.4) years, a total of 21 procedures (20 transcatheter, 1 surgical) were performed. In all patients, the shunt was closed with a significant reduction in portal pressure (27.7 ± 11.3 to 10.8 ± 1.8 mmHg; p = 0.016), significant growth of the portal vessels (0.8 ± 0.5 to 4.0 ± 2.4 mm; p = 0.037), and normalization of ammonia levels (202.1 ± 53.6 to 65.7 ± 9.6 μmol/L; p = 0.002) with no complications. Staged CPSS closure is effective in causing portal vessel growth and treating hyperammonemia.

  18. [Small-diameter portosystemic shunts: indications and limitations].

    PubMed

    Angel Mercado, M; Granados-García, J; Barradas, F; Chan, C; Contreras, J L; Orozco, H; Angel-Mercado, M

    1998-01-01

    Low diameter porto-systemic shunts for the treatment of portal hypertension bleeding have emerged as a consequence of the technical development of vascular grafts (PTFE) that allow the use of a narrow lumen. The experience with this kind of operation at the Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City during a 6-year period is reported. There were twenty-seven patients with good liver function (Child-Pugh A-B) were operated or electively, average Age 47.5 years (range 17-71), twenty three patients with liver cirrhosis, one with portal fibrosis and three with idiopathic portal hypertension. Operative mortality: 4%. Rebleeding: 14%. Postoperative encephalopathy was observed in 14 of 27, three of them being grade III-IV (11%). In the remaining 11 cases, it was mild and easily controlled. Postoperative angiography showed shunt patency in 81% of the cases; in 33% of the cases, portal vein diameter reduction was shown, as well as two cases with portal vein thrombosis. In 77% of the cases, adequate postoperative quality of life was observed. Survival (Kaplan-Meier): 86% at 12 months and 56% at 60 months. These kinds of shunts are a good alternate choice for patients considered for surgery, in which other portal blood flow preserving procedures (selective shunts, devascularization with transection) are not feasible.

  19. Shunt Devices for the Treatment of Adult Hydrocephalus: Recent Progress and Characteristics

    PubMed Central

    MIYAKE, Hiroji

    2016-01-01

    Various types of shunt valves have been developed during the past 50 years, most of which can be classified into the following categories: (1) fixed differential pressure valves; (2) fixed differential pressure (DP) valves with an antisiphon mechanism; (3) programmable DP valves; (4) programmable DP valves with an antisiphon mechanism; and (5) programmable antisiphon valves. When considering the myriad of possible postoperative condition changes, such as the onset of accidental non-related diseases or trauma in adults, and changes in normal physiological development or anticipation of future shunt removal in children, it has become standard to use the programmable valve as a first choice for cerebrospinal fluid shunting. However, it is still unclear what type of shunt valve is suitable for each individual case. Based on the results of SINPHONI and more recently SINPHONI 2 trials, the programmable DP valve is recommended as the first line shunt valve. The programmable DP valve with an antisiphon mechanism is thought to be beneficial for tall, slender patients, who have a tendency for easily developing complications of overdrainage, however, this type of valve must be used cautiously in obese patients because of the increased risk of underdrainage. Although the current evidence is still insufficient, the programmable antisiphon valve, which costs the same as the programmable DP valve, is also thought to be the first line shunt valve. The quick reference table is applicable for most shunt valves, and for patients with either the ventriculoperitoneal or the lumboperitoneal shunt. PMID:27041631

  20. Shunt Devices for the Treatment of Adult Hydrocephalus: Recent Progress and Characteristics.

    PubMed

    Miyake, Hiroji

    2016-05-15

    Various types of shunt valves have been developed during the past 50 years, most of which can be classified into the following categories: (1) fixed differential pressure valves; (2) fixed differential pressure (DP) valves with an antisiphon mechanism; (3) programmable DP valves; (4) programmable DP valves with an antisiphon mechanism; and (5) programmable antisiphon valves. When considering the myriad of possible postoperative condition changes, such as the onset of accidental non-related diseases or trauma in adults, and changes in normal physiological development or anticipation of future shunt removal in children, it has become standard to use the programmable valve as a first choice for cerebrospinal fluid shunting. However, it is still unclear what type of shunt valve is suitable for each individual case. Based on the results of SINPHONI and more recently SINPHONI 2 trials, the programmable DP valve is recommended as the first line shunt valve. The programmable DP valve with an antisiphon mechanism is thought to be beneficial for tall, slender patients, who have a tendency for easily developing complications of overdrainage, however, this type of valve must be used cautiously in obese patients because of the increased risk of underdrainage. Although the current evidence is still insufficient, the programmable antisiphon valve, which costs the same as the programmable DP valve, is also thought to be the first line shunt valve. The quick reference table is applicable for most shunt valves, and for patients with either the ventriculoperitoneal or the lumboperitoneal shunt.

  1. Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt: imaging features.

    PubMed

    Kandpal, H; Sharma, R; Arora, N K; Gupta, S D

    2007-09-01

    Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt (CEPS) is a rare anomaly. It causes metabolic derangements and is often associated with liver tumours and other anomalies. Imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis of CEPS. However, it may be misleading in determining the type of shunt. We present a six-year-old girl with CEPS to illustrate the importance of histology in determining the presence of portal veins in the portal triad, which were too small to be seen on imaging.

  2. Management of complicated shunt infections: a clinical report.

    PubMed

    James, Hector E; Bradley, John S

    2008-03-01

    The authors present their experience with a protocol for the treatment of patients with complicated shunt infections. Complicated shunt infections are defined for the purpose of this protocol as multiple compartment hydrocephalus, multiple organism shunt infection, severe peritonitis, or infections in other sites of the body. The initial treatment protocol for these patients was 3 weeks of intravenous antibiotic therapy and 2 weeks of twice daily intraventricular/intrashunt antibiotic therapy. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures were monitored during therapy and obtained again 48 hours after completion. The shunt was completely replaced. Additionally, follow-up cultures were obtained in all patients 3-6 months after therapy was completed. A cure of the infection was achieved in all patients as defined by negative cultures obtained at completion of antibiotic therapy and in follow-up studies. The follow-up period was 2-11 years (mean 4.4 +/- 2.5 years). The treatment protocol was modified in the patients treated after 1991, and 18 patients were treated with this modified treatment regime. In these patients, intraventricular antibiotics were administered only once daily for 14 days, and the CSF was cultured 24 hours after antibiotic therapy had been stopped instead of after 48 hours. The results were similar to those obtained with the initial protocol. Based on their prospective nonrandomized series, the authors believe that patients with complicated shunt infections can be successfully treated with 2 weeks of intraventricular antibiotic therapy administered once daily, concurrent with 3 weeks of intravenous antibiotic therapy. This protocol reduces length of treatment and hospital stay, and avoids recurrence of infection.

  3. Palliative shunt surgery for patients with leptomeningeal metastasis.

    PubMed

    Murakami, Yuta; Ichikawa, Masahiro; Bakhit, Mudathir; Jinguji, Shinya; Sato, Taku; Fujii, Masazumi; Sakuma, Jun; Saito, Kiyoshi

    2018-05-01

    Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) is associated with poor prognosis and affects the quality of life (QOL) of end-stage cancer patients. Severe headache associated with hydrocephalus causes reduced QOL. We investigated the clinical value of surgical treatment for hydrocephalus in LM patients. The medical records of 11 consecutive patients who underwent lumboperitoneal shunt (LPS) or ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) at our institution between 2007 and 2016 were investigated. Primary brain tumor patients were excluded. We assessed the neurological status and therapeutic effects at 1 month after the shunt surgery. The patients were three males and eight females with a median age of 58 years (interquartile range [IR] 52-68 years). The median preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was 6.4 (IR 4.8-9.2). Symptom improvement was observed in nine patients, and severe headache was relieved in seven (88%) out of eight patients. The median Karnofsky performance status scale increased from 40 to 60, and the median overall survival after primary malignancy diagnosis was 27.4 months (IR 19.6-63.1 months). The median survival after the diagnosis of brain parenchymal metastasis, LM, and shunt surgery were 7.2 months (IR 5.1-14.1 months), 3.9 months (IR 3.5-6.3 months), and 3.3 months (IR 2.9-5.7 months), respectively. Shunt surgery for hydrocephalus could offer an effective palliative surgical option for symptom relief especially relief of severe headache, contributing improvement of QOL in LM patients. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. Imaging diagnosis--Complex intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in a dog.

    PubMed

    D'Anjou, Marc-André; Huneault, Louis

    2008-01-01

    An unusual form of congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunt was identified in a 3 1/2-month-old female Labrador Retriever with neurologic signs. Ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography were used to characterize the shunt morphology. An unusual, looping right-divisional shunt connected back to the portal vein that formed an ampula in the right-central portion of the liver. An irregularly shaped window-like opening connected the combined right-divisional loop and aneurysmal portal vein, and the caudal vena cava, while this vascular pool gradually fused more cranially. Imaging features of this complex vascular anomaly, which has not been previously reported, are presented.

  5. 49 CFR 236.802 - Shunt.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Shunt. 236.802 Section 236.802 Transportation Other Regulations Relating to Transportation (Continued) FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF... in an electrical circuit. ...

  6. The classification based on intrahepatic portal system for congenital portosystemic shunts.

    PubMed

    Kanazawa, Hiroyuki; Nosaka, Shunsuke; Miyazaki, Osamu; Sakamoto, Seisuke; Fukuda, Akinari; Shigeta, Takanobu; Nakazawa, Atsuko; Kasahara, Mureo

    2015-04-01

    Liver transplantation was previously indicated as a curative operation for congenital absence of portal vein. Recent advances in radiological interventional techniques can precisely visualize the architecture of the intrahepatic portal system (IHPS). Therefore, the therapeutic approach for congenital portosystemic shunt (CPS) needs to be reevaluated from a viewpoint of radiological appearances. The aim of this study was to propose the IHPS classification which could explain the pathophysiological characteristics and play a complementary role of a therapeutic approach and management for CPS. Nineteen patients with CPS were retrospectively reviewed. The median age at diagnosis was 6.8 years old. Eighteen of these patients underwent angiography with a shunt occlusion test and were classified based of the severity of the hypoplasia of IHPS. The eighteen cases who could undergo the shunt occlusion test were classified into mild (n=7), moderate (n=6) and severe types (n=5) according to the IHPS classification. The IHPS classification correlated with the portal venous pressure under shunt occlusion, the histopathological findings, postoperative portal venous flow and liver regeneration. Shunt closure resulted in dramatic improvement in the laboratory data and subclinical encephalopathy. Two patients with the severe type suffered from sepsis associated with portal hypertension after treatment, and from the portal flow steal phenomenon because of the development of unexpected collateral vessels. The patients with the severe type had a high risk of postoperative complications after shunt closure in one step, even if the PVP was relatively low during the shunt occlusion test. The IHPS could be visualized by the shunt occlusion test. The IHPS classification reflected the clinicopathological features of CPS, and was useful to determine the therapeutic approach and management for CPS. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. Pediatric neurosurgical practice patterns designed to prevent cerebrospinal fluid shunt infection.

    PubMed

    Gruber, Thomas J; Riemer, Sara; Rozzelle, Curtis J

    2009-01-01

    Various factors have been associated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt infection risk, leading to many recommendations intended to reduce that risk. We sought to assess current North American pediatric neurosurgical practice patterns in this regard via a web-based survey. Particular attention was paid to the use of antibiotic-impregnated materials and prophylactic perioperative antibiotics. The membership of the section on pediatric neurological surgery of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons was invited to complete a survey of current practices intended to minimize CSF shunt infection risk. To be eligible for participation in this study, the respondent had to maintain an active neurosurgical practice within North America and place or revise at least 25 shunts in pediatric patients (<21 years) per year. Responses to the questionnaire were then analyzed. A total of 100 responses were analyzed. All respondents were familiar with antibiotic-impregnated shunt catheters, and 61 of 100 had actually used them. Eleven of 61 respondents use them universally, 20 of 61 in >50% of cases, and 30 of 61 in <50% of cases. Antibiotic-impregnated suture material was known to 59% of respondents, of whom 28% (14 of 59) reported having actually used antimicrobial suture. All respondents use perioperative intravenous antibiotics with vancomycin, first-generation cephalosporins, and then second-generation cephalosporins being the most common. Routine use of intraventricular antibiotics was reported by 27%. An assessment of surgical techniques revealed that 90% limit shunt contact with patient's skin, 62% use the double-gloving technique, 45% handle shunt components only with instruments, and 34% use an antiseptic shampoo preoperatively. Our survey reveals a wide range of practices intended to prevent shunt infection and captures, in particular, current trends in the use of antibiotic-impregnated materials and perioperative antibiotics

  8. Alkoxybenzothiadiazole-Based Fullerene and Nonfullerene Polymer Solar Cells with High Shunt Resistance for Indoor Photovoltaic Applications.

    PubMed

    Park, Song Yi; Li, Yuxiang; Kim, Jaewon; Lee, Tack Ho; Walker, Bright; Woo, Han Young; Kim, Jin Young

    2018-01-31

    We synthesized three semicrystalline polymers (PTTBT BO , PDTBT BO , and P2FDTBT BO ) by modulating the intra- and intermolecular noncovalent Coulombic interactions and investigated their photovoltaic characteristics under various light intensities. Low series (R s ) and high shunt (R sh ) resistances are essential prerequisites for good device properties under standard illumination (100 mW cm -2 ). Considering these factors, among three polymers, PDTBT BO polymer solar cells (PSCs) exhibited the most desirable characteristics, with peak power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of 7.52 and 9.60% by being blended with PC 71 BM under standard and dim light (2.5 mW cm -2 ), respectively. P2FDTBT BO PSCs exhibited a low PCE of 3.69% under standard light due to significant charge recombination with high R s (9.42 Ω cm 2 ). However, the PCE was remarkably improved by 2.3 times (8.33% PCE) under dim light, showing negligible decrease in open-circuit voltage and remarkable increase in fill factor, which is due to an exceptionally high R sh of over 1000 kΩ cm 2 . R s is less significant under dim light because the generated current is too small to cause noticeable R s -induced voltage losses. Instead, high R sh becomes more important to avoid leakage currents. This work provides important tips to further optimize PSCs for indoor applications with low-power electronic devices such as Internet of things sensors.

  9. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hu Jing; Rovey, Joshua L.

    A movable Faraday cup design with simple structure and adjustable impedance is described in this work. This Faraday cup has external adjustable shunt resistance for self-biased measurement setup and 50 {Omega} characteristic impedance to match with 50 {Omega} standard BNC coaxial cable and vacuum feedthroughs for nanosecond-level pulse signal measurements. Adjustable shunt resistance allows self-biased measurements to be quickly acquired to determine the electron energy distribution function. The performance of the Faraday cup is validated by tests of response time and amplitude of output signal. When compared with a reference source, the percent difference of the Faraday cup signal fallmore » time is less than 10% for fall times greater than 10 ns. The percent difference of the Faraday cup signal pulse width is below 6.7% for pulse widths greater than 10 ns. A pseudospark-generated electron beam is used to compare the amplitude of the Faraday cup signal with a calibrated F-70 commercial current transformer. The error of the Faraday cup output amplitude is below 10% for the 4-14 kV tested pseudospark voltages. The main benefit of this Faraday cup is demonstrated by adjusting the external shunt resistance and performing the self-biased method for obtaining the electron energy distribution function. Results from a 4 kV pseudospark discharge indicate a ''double-humped'' energy distribution.« less

  10. Staged Transcatheter Treatment of Portal Hypoplasia and Congenital Portosystemic Shunts in Children

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bruckheimer, Elchanan, E-mail: elchananb@bezeqint.net; Dagan, Tamir; Atar, Eli

    2013-12-15

    Purpose: Congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSS) with portal venous hypoplasia cause hyperammonemia. Acute shunt closure results in portal hypertension. A transcatheter method of staged shunt reduction to afford growth of portal vessels followed by shunt closure is reported. Methods: Pressure measurements and angiography in the CPSS or superior mesenteric artery (SMA) during temporary occlusion of the shunt were performed. If vessels were diminutive and the pressure was above 18 mmHg, a staged approach was performed, which included implantation of a tailored reducing stent to reduce shunt diameter by {approx}50 %. Recatheterization was performed approximately 3 months later. If the portal pressuremore » was below 18 mmHg and vessels had developed, the shunt was closed with a device. Results: Six patients (5 boys, 1 girl) with a median age of 3.3 (range 0.5-13) years had CPSS portal venous hypoplasia and hyperammonemia. Five patients underwent staged closure. One patient tolerated acute closure. One patient required surgical shunt banding because a reducing stent could not be positioned. At median follow-up of 3.8 (range 2.2-8.4) years, a total of 21 procedures (20 transcatheter, 1 surgical) were performed. In all patients, the shunt was closed with a significant reduction in portal pressure (27.7 {+-} 11.3 to 10.8 {+-} 1.8 mmHg; p = 0.016), significant growth of the portal vessels (0.8 {+-} 0.5 to 4.0 {+-} 2.4 mm; p = 0.037), and normalization of ammonia levels (202.1 {+-} 53.6 to 65.7 {+-} 9.6 {mu}mol/L; p = 0.002) with no complications. Conclusion: Staged CPSS closure is effective in causing portal vessel growth and treating hyperammonemia.« less

  11. Ultrasound guided placement of the distal catheter in paediatric ventriculoatrial shunts-an appraisal of efficacy and complications.

    PubMed

    Clark, David J; Chakraborty, Aabir; Roebuck, Derek J; Thompson, Dominic N P

    2016-07-01

    Ventriculoatrial (VA) shunts are commonly used as a second-line treatment of hydrocephalus when the peritoneum is an unsuitable site for the distal catheter. Many centres now utilise ultrasound and interventional radiology techniques to aid placement of the distal catheter. The purpose of this study was to conduct a contemporary audit of VA shunting in children using interventional radiology techniques for placement of the distal catheter. A retrospective analysis of all patients who had VA shunts inserted between June 2000 and June 2010 was conducted using a prospectively updated surgical database and case notes review. Ninety-four VA shunts were inserted in 38 patients. Thirty-seven patients had been treated initially with ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts. Twenty-two patients required at least 1 shunt revision (58 %). The 6-month, 1- and 2-year shunt survival rates were 53, 43 and 27 %, respectively. Blockage was the commonest reason for shunt failure (68 %). The site of failure was proximal (ventricular catheter +/- valve) in 32 % and distal (atrial catheter) in 21 % of cases. The overall infection rate was 6 % per procedure and 11 % per patient. There were 7 deaths, of which 3 were shunt related. VA shunting provides a viable second-line option for shunt placement in complex hydrocephalus. The causes of shunt failure (blockage, infection and equipment failure) are similar to VP shunting though shunt survival rates are inferior to VP shunts. Ultrasound guided VA shunt placement provides a relatively safe, second-line alternative to the placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt when this route is unsuitable.

  12. Cerebral hemodynamics before and after shunting in normal pressure hydrocephalus.

    PubMed

    Bakker, S L M; Boon, A J W; Wijnhoud, A D; Dippel, D W J; Delwel, E J; Koudstaal, P J

    2002-09-01

    To study the relationship between cerebral hemodynamics and clinical performance in normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), before and after surgery. Ten patients were studied prospectively before and 3 months after shunt surgery by means of transcranial Doppler (TCD). Clinical performance was scored by means of an NPH scale and the modified Rankin scale. Peak systolic and mean cerebral blood flow velocity (MCV) were lower and cerebrovascular CO2 reactivity was higher after shunt surgery. The three patients with clinical improvement had higher preoperative end diastolic cerebral blood flow velocity and MCV. All postoperative cerebral blood flow velocities were higher in patients with clinical improvement. Our data suggest that higher cerebral blood flow velocity before surgery in patients with NPH is related to clinical improvement after shunt surgery. Cerebral hemodynamic parameters may develop into predictors of successful shunt surgery in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus.

  13. Conversion of Low-Flow Priapism to High-Flow State Using T-Shunt with Tunneling.

    PubMed

    Mistry, Neil A; Tadros, Nicholas N; Hedges, Jason C

    2017-01-01

    Introduction . The three types of priapism are stuttering, arterial (high-flow, nonischemic), and venoocclusive (low-flow, ischemic). These are usually distinct entities and rarely occur in the same patient. T-shunts and other distal shunts are frequently combined with tunneling, but a seldom recognized potential complication is conversion to a high-flow state. Case Presentation . We describe 2 cases of men who presented with low-flow priapism episodes that were treated using T-shunts with tunneling that resulted with both men having recurrent erections shortly after surgery that were found to be consistent with high-flow states. Case 1 was a 33-year-old male with sickle cell anemia and case 2 was a 24-year-old male with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. In both cases the men were observed over several weeks and both men returned to normal erectile function. Conclusions . Historically, proximal shunts were performed only in cases when distal shunts failed and carry a higher risk of serious complications. T-shunts and other distal shunts combined with tunneling are being used more frequently in place of proximal shunts. These cases illustrate how postoperative erections after T-shunts with tunneling can signify a conversion from low-flow to high-flow states and could potentially be misdiagnosed as an operative failure.

  14. Congenital portosystemic venous shunt in a preterm Rh-isoimmunized infant.

    PubMed

    Thukral, Anu; Arora, Kamaldeep; Das, Rashmi Ranjan; Arora, Arundeep; Gamanagatti, Shivanand; Agarwal, Ramesh K

    2013-12-01

    The authors report a preterm infant with Rh-isoimmunization, who had persistent hepato-splenomegaly with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, transaminitis, and hyperammonemia. Ultrasound abdomen revealed an intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt (PSVS). The child was managed conservatively. On follow up at 2.4 y of age, the child is having normal growth and development, but with persisting shunt. Severe Rh-isoimmunisation in a neonate can sometimes share some of the features of congenital PSVS and delay the diagnosis of the latter. The index case had shunt ratio >80 % during the neonatal period but did not require any intervention.

  15. Brain abscesses associated with right-to-left shunts in adults.

    PubMed

    Memon, Kashif A; Cleveland, Kerry O; Gelfand, Michael S

    2012-04-01

    Although brain abscesses are frequently cryptogenic in origin, bacteria must reach the brain either by direct or hematogenous spread. Right-to-left shunts, caused either by intrapulmonary vascular malformations or congenital heart defects, may allow microorganisms to evade the normal host defenses in the lungs and lead to development of brain abscesses. Two patients recently presented with brain abscesses and were found to have conditions associated with right-to-left shunts. The diagnosis of brain abscess should prompt the clinician to consider right-to-left shunts as a possible predisposing condition for brain abscess.

  16. Management of Hydrocephalus with Ventriculoperitoneal Shunts: Review of 109 Cases of Children.

    PubMed

    Dakurah, Thomas K; Adams, Fuseini; Iddrissu, Mutawakilu; Wepeba, George Kojo; Akoto, Harry; Bankah, Patrick; Ametefe, Mawuli; Kasu, Philip W

    2016-12-01

    Treatment of hydrocephalus by shunting procedure is associated with variable outcomes, depending on the setting. Results from some published series in sub-Saharan Africa are not so good and various reasons have been given. This study presents preliminary findings of 109 cases of shunted hydrocephalus in children in a 3-year period. The main aim of the study was to evaluate the complications of the procedure in a tertiary-care center. It also seeks to identify ways of reducing such complications where appropriate in subsequent shunt placement procedures. A single-institutional retrospective study was conducted by reviewing 124 patients who had ventriculoperitoneal shunting including revisions, and subgroup analysis was performed in 109 patients younger than 18 years classified as children who had first-time shunt placement between January 2011 and December 2013. Data analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS (version 20.0). The mean age at shunt insertion of the subgroup was 5.35 years ± 1.264 standard deviations. Shunt-related complications were identified in 37 of the patients (33.9%). Infections were the most common form of complication, occurring in 16 patients (14.6%). The overall mortality of the 109 patients was 4.59%. The most common indications for shunt insertions were tumoral and congenital lesions, which may offer us benefit with the use of endoscopic third ventriculostomy. Comprehensive follow-up of these patients may give a better picture of the magnitude of the problem; hence the need for properly designed prospective studies to improve the current outcomes. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. Pleurovenous shunt for treating refractory benign pleural effusion.

    PubMed

    Bayram, Ahmet Sami; Köprücüoğlu, Mustafa; Aygün, Mert; Gebitekin, Cengiz

    2008-05-01

    We report the case of a 63-year-old female with hepatic cirrhosis due to chronic hepatitis C, successfully treated for refractory nonmalignant hepatic hydrothorax by using a long-term pleurovenous shunt (PVS). After failure of conventional treatment by mechanical pleurodesis, a PVS was inserted to drain the pleural fluid into the right subclavian vein. After 8 months of follow-up, the effusion is well controlled, and the shunt remains patent.

  18. Evaluation of Blalock-Taussig shunts in newborns: value of oblique MRI planes.

    PubMed

    Kastler, B; Livolsi, A; Germain, P; Zöllner, G; Dietemann, J L

    1991-01-01

    Eight infants with systemic-pulmonary Blalock-Taussig shunts were evaluated by spin-echo ECG-gated MRI. Contrary to Echocardiography, MRI using coronal oblique projections successfully visualized all palliative shunts entirely in one single plane (including one carried out on a right aberrant subclavian artery). MRI allowed assessment of size, course and patency of the shunt, including pulmonary and subclavian insertion. The proximal portion of the pulmonary and subclavian arteries were also visualized. We conclude that MRI with axial scans completed by coronal oblique planes is a promising, non invasive method for imaging the anatomical features of Blalock-Taussig shunts.

  19. Utility of Operative Glaucoma Tube Shunt Viscoelastic Bolus Flush.

    PubMed

    Groth, Sylvia L; Greider, Kelsi L; Sponsel, William Eric

    2015-01-01

    To assess the utility of viscoelastic injection to induce bleb expansion and decrease intraocular pressure (IOP) in eyes with encapsulated glaucoma tube shunt blebs. Case series. Forty-three glaucomatous eyes, including 13 eyes with congenital, 13 uveitic, 5 neovascular, 5 open angle, 4 narrow angle and 3 traumatic glaucomas. Methods, interventions or testing: All patients underwent viscoelastic flush procedure. A pre-bent 27 or 30-gauge cannula was passed through a 25-gauge paracentesis, advanced over the iris across the anterior chamber, and insinuated into the tube shunt lumen. Once the cannula was firmly lodged in position, 0.45 to 0.85 ml of viscoelastic was injected to hyperinflate the bleb. Paired t-tests were performed comparing preoperative IOP and number of medications used preoperatively vs levels measured at 1, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. Intraocular pressure was reduced from a mean preoperative level of 26.0 ± 1.2 (sem) mm Hg to 15.8 ± 1.0 at 1 month, remaining stable thereafter at each 6-month interval with 15.1 ± 1.1 mm Hg at 24 months (p < 0.0001). Medication use did not vary significantly from baseline. Pressure remained < 21 mm Hg after 2 years in 85% of eyes cannulated within 1 year of primary tube shunt implantation (n = 23), and in 62% of eyes cannulated more than 1 year after tube shunt placement (n = 20). Tube shunt expansion with bolus viscoelastic flush successfully restored encapsulated bleb function, providing a substantial (~10 mm Hg) IOP decrease into the mid-normal pressure range. This persisted in the majority of treated eyes for the entire study period. How to cite this article: Groth SL, Greider KL, Sponsel WE. Utility of Operative Glaucoma Tube Shunt Viscoelastic Bolus Flush. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2015;9(3):73-76.

  20. Shunting for hydrocephalus: analysis of techniques and failure patterns.

    PubMed

    Nigim, Fares; Critchlow, Jonathan F; Schneider, Benjamin E; Chen, Clark; Kasper, Ekkehard M

    2014-09-01

    Hydrocephalus is characterized by ventricular dilatation because of progressive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid. Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) affects a subset of patients representing a reversible clinical triad of gait disturbance, urinary incontinence, and dementia with normal cerebrospinal fluid pressure and composition. Various shunting procedures have been used for treatment, but techniques and outcomes remain under debate. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of 232 patients with and without NPH after the first-time Ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement and assessed patterns of failure between December 2004 and December 2012. Mean age was 54.7 y in non-NPH and 71.9 y in NPH patients. We used open technique in 34.3% and laparoscopic technique in 65.7% of NPH patients and 32.7% and 67.3% of the non-NPH patients, respectively. A total of 36 of 232 patients displayed shunt failure, 16.4% in NPH and 15.2% in non-NPH patients. Twenty-three of 155 patients failed after laparoscopic and 13 of 77 failed after open placement. Proximal shunt failure was more frequent in the non-NPH cohort. Distal failures accounted for 13 of 232 cases, and the difference between laparoscopic (six of 155) and open failures (seven of 77) was profound, but not between NPH- and non-NPH patients. Shunt failures are related to the placement method. Non-NPH patients showed more proximal failures. NPH patients showed fewer proximal failures. Less distal failures were observed after laparoscopic ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement without significant differences between NPH and non-NPH patients. Beyond this, laparoscopic surgery carries distinct advantages such as shorter operating room times and hospital stays, which should translate into less use of pain medications, earlier mobilization, and a lower incidence of ileus. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Chemoembolic Hepatopulmonary Shunt Reduction to Allow Safe Yttrium-90 Radioembolization Lobectomy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Gaba, Ron C., E-mail: rgaba@uic.edu; VanMiddlesworth, Kyle A.

    2012-12-15

    Yttrium-90 ({sup 90}Y) radioembolization represents an emerging transcatheter treatment option for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Elevation of the hepatopulmonary shunt fraction risks nontarget radiation to the lungs and may limit the use of {sup 90}Y therapy in patients with locally advanced disease with vascular invasion, who often demonstrate increased shunting. We present two cases in which patients with HCC and portal vein invasion resulting in elevated hepatopulmonary shunt fractions underwent chemoembolic shunt closure to allow safe {sup 90}Y radioembolization. Both patients demonstrated excellent tumor response and patient survival. On this basis, we propose a role for chemoembolic reductionmore » of the lung shunt fraction before {sup 90}Y radioembolization in patients with extensive tumor-related hepatopulmonary shunting.« less

  2. Electrically controlled adjustable-resistance exercise equipment employing magnetorheological fluid

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lukianovich, Alex; Ashour, Osama N.; Thurston, Wilbert L.; Rogers, Craig A.; Chaudhry, Zaffir A.

    1996-05-01

    Magnetorheological (MR) fluids consist of stable suspensions of magnetic particles in a carrying fluid. The magnetorheological effect is one of the direct influences on the mechanical properties of a fluid. It represents a reversible increase, due to an external magnetic field, of the effective viscosity. Besides the variation of the rheological properties (viscosity, elasticity, and plasticity), the magnetic properties of the fluid (permeability and susceptibility), as well as the thermal and acoustic properties, are strongly influenced when an external magnetic field is applied. MR fluids have many appealing applications in the area of vibration control. The distinguishing feature of any MR fluid device is the absence of moving mechanical parts and the extreme simplicity of construction and technology. The most important element of any MR fluid device is an MR valve, which is functionally a controllable hydraulic resistance. As a demonstration of such devices, two commercially available pieces of exercise equipment, a cross stepper and a bench press, were modified to incorporate MR fluid and an external MR valve. As the magnetic field strength operating across the MR valve is adjusted, the viscosity of the flowing MR fluid changes and, accordingly, the needed force is adjusted.

  3. Postprandial hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia secondary to a congenital portosystemic shunt.

    PubMed

    Senniappan, Senthil; Pitt, Katherine; Shah, Pratik; Arya, Ved; Jaiswal, Sanjay; Haddad, Munther; Hind, Jonathan; Dhawan, Anil; Davenport, Mark; Hussain, Khalid

    2015-01-01

    Portosystemic shunts (PSS) are abnormal vascular connections between the portal vein or its tributaries and the systemic vein that allow mesenteric blood to reach the systemic circulation without first passing through the liver. PSS can be associated with various syndromes and can lead to serious complications. We report a rare case of a child with PSS and recurrent hypoglycaemia. A 20-month-old girl with Down's syndrome presented with recurrent hypoglycaemic episodes. She had multiple anomalies including a ventricular septal defect, oesophageal atresia and tracheo-esophageal fistula, gastro-oesophageal reflux, and conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia. The initial investigations suggested hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (HH). She did not respond to diazoxide. An oral glucose tolerance test suggested postprandial HH. Further vascular imaging showed a side-to-side portocaval shunt (Abernethy malformation) with relative hypoperfusion of the liver. Hypoglycaemia resolved following surgical closure of the portocaval shunt. PSS can rarely be associated with HH, possibly due to lack of insulin degradation in the liver. Surgical closure of the shunt resolves the hypoglycaemia. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  4. The Evolution of Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt: Tips

    PubMed Central

    Fanelli, Fabrizio

    2014-01-01

    Since Richter's description in the literature in 1989 of the first procedure on human patients, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) has been worldwide considered as a noninvasive technique to manage portal hypertension complications. TIPS succeeds in lowering the hepatic sinusoidal pressure and in increasing the circulatory flow, thus reducing sodium retention, ascites recurrence, and variceal bleeding. Required several revisions of the shunt TIPS can be performed in case of different conditions such as hepatorenal syndrome, hepatichydrothorax, portal vein thrombosis, and Budd-Chiari syndrome. Most of the previous studies on TIPS procedure were based on the use of bare stents and most patients chose TIPS 2-3 years after traditional treatment, thus making TIPS appear to be not superior to endoscopy in survival rates. Bare stents were associated with higher incidence of shunt failure and consequently patients required several revisions during the follow-up. With the introduction of a dedicated e-PTFE covered stent-graft, these problems were completely solved, No more reinterventions are required with a tremendous improvement of patient's quality of life. One of the main drawbacks of the use of e-PTFE covered stent-graft is higher incidence of hepatic encephalopathy. In those cases refractory to the conventional medical therapy, a shunt reduction must be performed. PMID:27335841

  5. Difficulties of Distal Catheter Insertion of Ventriculoatrial Shunting in Infants and Little Children.

    PubMed

    Erdogan, Hakan; Altun, Adnan; Kuruoglu, Enis; Kaya, Ahmet Hilmi; Dagcinar, Adnan

    2017-09-26

    Ventriculoatrial (VA) shunting is a well-described cerebrospinal fluid diversion method for the treatment of hydrocephalus. However, it may be very challenging in infants and little children because of atrial catheter placement difficulties. This study aimed to create an algorithm to solve problems faced during open surgical procedures based on the present authors' experience. We conducted a retrospective analysis on 18 infants and children who underwent VA shunt insertion at the Department of Neurosurgery, Ondokuz Mayıs University School of Medicine Hospital between 2005 and 2012. Complications, clinical outcomes, revisions, and solutions for overcoming distal catheter placement difficulties were evaluated. Twenty-six VA shunt operations were performed in 18 patients. Six patients required eight VA shunt revisions. VA shunting was primarily performed from the internal jugular, facial, cephalic, and subclavian veins to the right atrium. In revision procedures, the internal jugular, cephalic, and subclavian veins were used. VA shunting in infants and little children requires careful surgical techniques. Neurosurgeons should necessarily have an appropriate strategy for VA shunting considering the complications and revisions. Our results suggest open surgical solutions to overcome distal catheter placement difficulties in this age group.

  6. Prenatal surgery for myelomeningocele and the need for cerebrospinal fluid shunt placement

    PubMed Central

    Tulipan, Noel; Wellons, John C.; Thom, Elizabeth A.; Gupta, Nalin; Sutton, Leslie N.; Burrows, Pamela K.; Farmer, Diana; Walsh, William; Johnson, Mark P.; Rand, Larry; Tolivaisa, Susan; D’Alton, Mary E.; Adzick, N. Scott

    2016-01-01

    Object The Management of Myelomeningocele Study (MOMS) was a multicenter randomized trial comparing the safety and efficacy of prenatal and postnatal closure of myelomeningocele. The trial was stopped early because of the demonstrated efficacy of prenatal surgery, and outcomes on 158 of 183 pregnancies were reported. Here, the authors update the 1-year outcomes for the complete trial, analyze the primary and related outcomes, and evaluate whether specific prerandomization risk factors are associated with prenatal surgery benefit. Methods The primary outcome was a composite of fetal loss or any of the following: infant death, CSF shunt placement, or meeting the prespecified criteria for shunt placement. Primary outcome, actual shunt placement, and shunt revision rates for prenatal versus postnatal repair were compared. The shunt criteria were reassessed to determine which were most concordant with practice, and a new composite outcome was created from the primary outcome by replacing the original criteria for CSF shunt placement with the revised criteria. The authors used logistic regression to estimate whether there were interactions between the type of surgery and known prenatal risk factors (lesion level, gestational age, degree of hindbrain herniation, and ventricle size) for shunt placement, and to determine which factors were associated with shunting among those infants who underwent prenatal surgery. Results Ninety-one women were randomized to prenatal surgery and 92 to postnatal repair. The primary outcome occurred in 73% of infants in the prenatal surgery group and in 98% in the postnatal group (p < 0.0001). Actual rates of shunt placement were only 44% and 84% in the 2 groups, respectively (p < 0.0001). The authors revised the most commonly met criterion to require overt clinical signs of increased intracranial pressure, defined as split sutures, bulging fontanelle, or sunsetting eyes, in addition to increasing head circumference or hydrocephalus. Using

  7. A rare and important case of Staphylococcus haemolyticus-associated ventricular atrial shunt nephritis.

    PubMed

    Suen, Kyle; Mashhadian, Ardavan; Figarsky, Ian; Payumo, Jeff; Liu, Antonio

    2017-12-01

    Shunt nephritis is a rare and relatively new diagnosis involving glomerular kidney damage following ventriculoperitoneal and ventriculoatrial shunt placement. Our case report summarizes the presentation, diagnostic workup, and management of a patient with shunt nephritis. We also review and discuss the current literature on the topic.

  8. Two signs indicative of successful access in nuclear medicine cerebrospinal fluid diversionary shunt studies.

    PubMed

    Bermo, Mohammed S; Khalatbari, Hedieh; Parisi, Marguerite T

    2018-05-08

    Successful shunt access is the first step in a properly performed nuclear medicine cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt study. To determine the significance of the radiotracer configuration at the injection site during initial nuclear medicine CSF shunt imaging and the lack of early systemic radiotracer activity as predictors of successful shunt access. With Institutional Review Board approval, three nuclear medicine physicians performed a retrospective review of all consecutive CSF shunt studies performed in children at our institution in 2015. Antecedent nuclear medicine CSF shunt studies in these patients were also assessed and included in the review. The appearance of the reservoir site immediately after radiotracer injection was classified as either figure-of-eight or round/ovoid configuration. The presence or absence of early systemic distribution of the tracer on the 5-min static images was noted and separately evaluated. A total of 98 nuclear medicine ventriculoperitoneal CSF shunt studies were evaluated. Figure-of-eight configuration was identified in 87% of studies and, when present, had 93% sensitivity, 78% specificity, 92% accuracy, 98% positive predictive value (PPV) and 54% negative predictive value (NPV) as a predictor of successful shunt access. Early systemic activity was absent in 89 of 98 studies. Lack of early systemic distribution of the radiotracer had 98% sensitivity, 78% specificity, 96% accuracy, 98% PPV and 78% NPV as a predictor of successful shunt access. Figure-of-eight configuration in conjunction with the absence of early systemic tracer activity had 99% PPV for successful shunt access. Figure-of-eight configuration at the injection site or lack of early systemic radiotracer activity had moderate specificity for successful shunt access. Specificity and PPV significantly improved when both signs were combined in assessment.

  9. Study on the Automatic Detection Method and System of Multifunctional Hydrocephalus Shunt

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sun, Xuan; Wang, Guangzhen; Dong, Quancheng; Li, Yuzhong

    2017-07-01

    Aiming to the difficulty of micro pressure detection and the difficulty of micro flow control in the testing process of hydrocephalus shunt, the principle of the shunt performance detection was analyzed.In this study, the author analyzed the principle of several items of shunt performance detection,and used advanced micro pressure sensor and micro flow peristaltic pump to overcome the micro pressure detection and micro flow control technology.At the same time,This study also puted many common experimental projects integrated, and successfully developed the automatic detection system for a shunt performance detection function, to achieve a test with high precision, high efficiency and automation.

  10. Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy Instead of Shunt Revision in Children Younger Than 3 Years of Age.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Rui; Shi, Wei; Yang, Haowei; Li, Hao

    2016-04-01

    Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is a valuable option in the treatment of shunt failure, but no clinical data exist for young children. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of ETV in patients younger than 3 years of age with shunt malfunction. A cohort of 37 patients younger than 3 years of age with shunt malfunction underwent ETV instead of shunt revision. Patients' preoperative condition and medical history were studied to determine the impact of a number of variables on outcome. The Fisher exact test was used to assess differences among groups. Median age at ETV was 21.6 months (8-36 months). Diagnosis was obstructive hydrocephalus in 24 patients and communicating hydrocephalus in 13. Median age at initial shunt placement was 3.2 months (10 days to 30 months). The etiology of shunt malfunction was obstruction (n = 27) or infection (n = 10). Overall ETV failure rate was 40.5% (15/37). Patients whose age at initial shunt placement was <6 months and/or who had a preterm birth history had higher relative rates of ETV failure. Other variables, including type of hydrocephalus, interval between initial shunt placement and ETV, history of intraventricular bleeding and/or infection, and etiology of shunt malfunction, did not significantly affect the final outcome. Patients younger than 3 years with obstructive or communicating hydrocephalus may benefit from ETV in the event of shunt malfunction and have about a 60% probability of becoming shunt free. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. Percutaneous Transjugular Direct Porto-caval Shunt in Patients with Budd-Chiari Syndrome

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Quateen, A.; Pech, M.; Berg, T.

    The purpose of the study was to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of direct porto-caval shunts in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) in whom there is no access to the hepatic veins during transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPSS). We included six consecutive patients with fulminant/acute Budd-Chiari syndrome (mean age: 35 years) in whom a conventional TIPSS was not possible due to inaccessible hepatic veins. We performed a direct porto-caval shunt via a transhepatic approach. Patients were followed up by means of clinical examination, laboratory investigations, and Doppler ultrasound. TIPSS implantation from the inferior vena cava (IVC) was successful in allmore » six patients (100%). The median transhepatic shunt length was 9 cm (8-10 cm). No procedure-related complications were observed in our patients. Early shunt occlusion occurred in three out of six patients (50%). In all three of these patients, the stent used to stabilize the shunt ended 1-2 cm before reaching the IVC. All occlusions were successfully recanalized. One of these patients developed recurrent early shunt as well as mesenteric and splenic vein occlusions. She died 7 days after TIPSS placement due to an unmanageable coagulation disorder. The remaining five patients were followed up by planned clinical examination and laboratory investigations (mean follow-up time was 15 months; patient 1 was followed up for 13 months, patient 2 for 14 months, patient 3 for 15 months, and patients 4 and 5 for 16 months) and all displayed a complete and durable resolution of liver failure and ascites without reintervention. In patients with acute liver failure originating from BCS and inaccessible hepatic veins, a direct transhepatic porto-caval shunt can be performed safely and effectively under ultrasound guidance. Future studies in larger patient groups should investigate if the patency of transcaval TIPSS with long transhepatic shunt segments is similar compared to conventional

  12. Management of the ventriculo-peritoneal shunt in pediatric patients during robot-assisted laparoscopic urologic procedures.

    PubMed

    Marchetti, Pablo; Razmaria, Aria; Zagaja, Greg P; Gundeti, Mohan S

    2011-02-01

    Infection or malfunction of ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunts is a severe complication during laparoscopic surgery involving the gastrointestinal or urinary tract. It has been recently suggested to externalize the shunt or convert into a ventriculo-atrial shunt to prevent this complication with laparoscopic approach. Herein, we present a novel technique for management of the VP shunt during robot-assisted laparoscopic (RAL) urologic procedures. After port placement and diagnostic peritoneoscopy, an Endopouch bag (Ethicon Endo-Surgery) was inserted into the peritoneal cavity and the distal end of the shunt was placed into the pouch. The Endopouch suture was synched around the shunt and the pouch was placed in the subhepatic space during the surgery. The intraperitoneal pressure was maintained at 12 mm Hg during the entire procedure. Metronidazole, gentamicin, and vancomycin were administered as prophylaxis. Following the completion of the surgery and profuse irrigation of the peritoneal cavity, the shunt was repositioned within the peritoneum. We evaluated perioperative shunt-related complications. We used this technique in four patients with VP shunt undergoing RAL cystoplasty and appendicovesicostomy and/or colonic enema channel formation. The average age of the patient at surgery was 10.8 (7-14) years. One patient was converted to open because of failure to progress due to multiple adhesions and the shunt was externalized temporarily. At a mean follow-up of 13 (3-20) months, no shunt-related complications were seen. In our preliminary experience, the use of an intracorporeal Endopouch bag with controlled pneumoperitoneal pressure to protect the VP shunt may be an effective alternative to prevent complications related to it during RAL urologic surgery involving the gastrointestinal or urinary tract. Further studies will be needed to confirm our results.

  13. Venous Shunt Versus Venous Ligation for Vascular Damage Control: The Immunohistochemical Evidence.

    PubMed

    Góes Junior, Adenauer Marinho de Oliveira; Abib, Simone de Campos Vieira; Alves, Maria Teresa de Seixas; Ferreira, Paulo Sérgio Venerando da Silva; Andrade, Mariseth Carvalho de

    2017-05-01

    To evaluate the expression of immunohistochemical markers of tissue ischemia (iNOS, eNOS, and HSP70) in a vascular damage control experimental model to determine if a venous temporary vascular shunt insertion leads to a better limb perfusion when compared with the ligature of the injured vein. Experimental study in male Sus Scrofa weighting 40 Kg. Animals were distributed into 5 groups: group 1 animals were submitted to right external iliac artery (EIA) shunting and right external iliac vein (EIV) ligation; group 2 animals were submitted to right EIA shunting and right EIV shunting; group 3 animals were submitted to right EIV ligation; group 4 animals were submitted to right EIV shunting; group 5 animals were not submitted to vascular shunting or venous ligation. Transonic Systems flowmeters were used to measure vascular flow on right and left external iliac vessels, and i-STAT (Abbot) portable blood analyzer was used for EIVs blood biochemical analysis. An initial baseline register of invasive arterial pressure, iliac vessels flow, and venous blood analysis was performed. Arterial pressure and iliac vessels flow were taken immediately after right iliac vessels shunting or ligation. Then, hemorrhagic shock was induced by continuous 20 mL/min blood withdraw from the external right jugular vein whereas arterial blood pressure and iliac vessels flow registers were taken every 10 min, and blood samples from EIVs were obtained every 30 min until the vascular flow through right EIA (or through the shunt inserted into the right EIV for group 4 animals) became inexistent or until the animal's death. After the end of the experiments, bilateral hind limb's biopsies were obtained for immunohistochemical analysis. Using image editing and analysis software, the expression of iNOS, eNOS, and HSP70 (3 well-known ischemic associated immunohistochemical markers) was assessed. The mean expression of each marker in the right hind limb was compared between groups. For statistical

  14. Left-to-right shunt reduction with intra-aortic balloon pump in postmyocardial infarction ventricular septal defect.

    PubMed

    Testuz, Ariane; Roffi, Marco; Bonvini, Robert Francis

    2013-03-01

    This case aims to describe the hemodynamic effects of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) in patients with ventricular septal defect (VSD) complicating myocardial infarction (MI). A 79-year-old man with no previous cardiovascular history presented to the emergency department with subacute inferior myocardial infarction associated with mild signs of systemic hypoperfusion. A transthoracic echocardiography revealed a large akinesia of the left ventricular inferior wall with preserved global left ventricular ejection fraction, as well as a large VSD in the midinferior portion of the interventricular septum. Coronary angiography showed an occlusion of the mid portion of a dominant circumflex coronary artery. The invasive hemodynamic evaluation showed a sizable left-to-right shunt (Q(p)/Q(s) = 3.1). Activation of the IABP led to an immediate reduction of the shunt (Q(p)/Q(s) = 2.4 = 22% reduction), an increase in systemic cardiac output (from 2.1 L/min to 2.4 L/min = +12%) and a decrease in the systemic vascular resistances (from 2240 to 1920 dyne-sec/cm(5) = 15% reduction). In patients with post-MI VSD, placement of IABP leads to an immediate reduction in left-to-right shunt and as a consequence to an increase in systemic cardiac output, which may allow hemodynamic stabilization of the patient prior to surgical VSD closure. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  15. Chronic cerebral herniation in shunted Dandy-Walker malformation.

    PubMed

    Naidich, T P; Radkowski, M A; McLone, D G; Leestma, J

    1986-02-01

    A review of serial computed tomography (CT) scans of 25 patients with the Dandy-Walker malformation revealed six patients with chronic downward transincisural herniation of the cerebrum after shunt decompression of the posterior fossa cyst or malfunction of a lateral ventricular drainage catheter, or both. Chronic cerebral herniation was detected postmortem in a seventh patient with the Dandy-Walker malformation. The CT findings and autopsy appearance of this previously undescribed feature of shunted Dandy-Walker malformation are illustrated.

  16. The Bohr Effect Is Not a Likely Promoter of Renal Preglomerular Oxygen Shunting

    PubMed Central

    Olgac, Ufuk; Kurtcuoglu, Vartan

    2016-01-01

    The aim of this study was to evaluate whether possible preglomerular arterial-to-venous oxygen shunting is affected by the interaction between renal preglomerular carbon dioxide and oxygen transport. We hypothesized that a reverse (venous-to-arterial) shunting of carbon dioxide will increase partial pressure of carbon dioxide and decrease pH in the arteries and thereby lead to increased oxygen offloading and consequent oxygen shunting. To test this hypothesis, we employed a segment-wise three-dimensional computational model of coupled renal oxygen and carbon dioxide transport, wherein coupling is achieved by shifting the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve in dependence of local changes in partial pressure of carbon dioxide and pH. The model suggests that primarily due to the high buffering capacity of blood, there is only marginally increased acidity in the preglomerular vasculature compared to systemic arterial blood caused by carbon dioxide shunting. Furthermore, effects of carbon dioxide transport do not promote but rather impair preglomerular oxygen shunting, as the increase in acidity is higher in the veins compared to that in the arteries. We conclude that while substantial arterial-to-venous oxygen shunting might take place in the postglomerular vasculature, the net amount of oxygen shunted at the preglomerular vasculature appears to be marginal. PMID:27833564

  17. Shunting normal pressure hydrocephalus: the predictive value of combined clinical and CT data.

    PubMed

    Vanneste, J; Augustijn, P; Tan, W F; Dirven, C

    1993-03-01

    The value of an ordinal global scale derived from combined clinical and CT data (clin/CT scale) to predict the clinical outcome in 112 patients shunted for presumed normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) was analysed. The clinical data were retrospectively collected, all CT scans were re-evaluated, and the clin/CT scale was determined blind to the results of further ancillary tests and to the post-surgical outcome. The scale ranked three classes of prediction: on the basis of clinical and CT characteristics, improvement after shunting was probable, possible, or improbable. The predictive value of the clin/CT scale for the subgroup of communicating NPH was established for two different strategies, depending on the strictness of selection criteria for shunting. In the subgroup of patients with presumed communicating NPH, the prevalence of shunt responsiveness was 29%; the best strategy was to shunt only patients with probable shunt-responsive NPH: the sensitivity was 0.54, the specificity 0.84, and the predictive accuracy 0.75, with a limited number of ineffective shunts (11%) and missed improvements (13%). The study illustrates its need to assess the pre-test probability of NPH based on combined clinical and CT data, before establishing the clinical usefulness of an ancillary test.

  18. Shunting normal pressure hydrocephalus: the predictive value of combined clinical and CT data.

    PubMed Central

    Vanneste, J; Augustijn, P; Tan, W F; Dirven, C

    1993-01-01

    The value of an ordinal global scale derived from combined clinical and CT data (clin/CT scale) to predict the clinical outcome in 112 patients shunted for presumed normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) was analysed. The clinical data were retrospectively collected, all CT scans were re-evaluated, and the clin/CT scale was determined blind to the results of further ancillary tests and to the post-surgical outcome. The scale ranked three classes of prediction: on the basis of clinical and CT characteristics, improvement after shunting was probable, possible, or improbable. The predictive value of the clin/CT scale for the subgroup of communicating NPH was established for two different strategies, depending on the strictness of selection criteria for shunting. In the subgroup of patients with presumed communicating NPH, the prevalence of shunt responsiveness was 29%; the best strategy was to shunt only patients with probable shunt-responsive NPH: the sensitivity was 0.54, the specificity 0.84, and the predictive accuracy 0.75, with a limited number of ineffective shunts (11%) and missed improvements (13%). The study illustrates its need to assess the pre-test probability of NPH based on combined clinical and CT data, before establishing the clinical usefulness of an ancillary test. PMID:8459240

  19. Hearing outcome after concurrent endolymphatic shunt and vestibular nerve section.

    PubMed

    Moody-Antonio, Stephanie; House, John W

    2003-05-01

    To determine if endolymphatic shunt surgery concurrent with vestibular nerve section improves hearing outcome compared with vestibular nerve section alone. Retrospective observational study with cross-sectional survey. Tertiary otologic private practice. Thirty-five patients who underwent vestibular nerve section and endolymphatic shunt surgery and 17 patients who had vestibular nerve section alone between 1985 and 2000. Chart review and correspondence for audiogram results and survey. Hearing at last follow-up. Hearing Handicap Inventory, Dizziness Handicap Inventory, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, and SF-36. Eight patients in the vestibular nerve section and 15 in the vestibular nerve section and endolymphatic shunt surgery group had an audiogram at more than 16 months after surgery available for review. In the vestibular nerve section group, three patients had same hearing whereas five were worse. In the vestibular nerve section and endolymphatic shunt surgery group, 2 patients showed improvement, 2 were the same, and 11 were worse. There was no significant difference in the change from preoperative pure tone average or Word Discrimination Score to postoperative levels between the surgical groups. Eighteen patients had serviceable hearing preoperatively. Five of 8 in the vestibular nerve section and 4 of 10 in the vestibular nerve section and endolymphatic shunt surgery groups maintained serviceable hearing postoperatively. Of the 52 patients, 33 responded to the survey (63%). There were no significant differences between the groups for Dizziness Handicap Inventory, Hearing Handicap Inventory, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, or SF-36, suggesting that patient-oriented outcomes are the same in both groups. Concurrent endolymphatic shunt surgery and vestibular nerve section does not improve hearing or tinnitus outcome over vestibular nerve section alone.

  20. Congenital portosystemic shunts in children: a new anatomical classification correlated with surgical strategy.

    PubMed

    Blanc, Thomas; Guerin, Florent; Franchi-Abella, Stéphanie; Jacquemin, Emmanuel; Pariente, Danièle; Soubrane, Olivier; Branchereau, Sophie; Gauthier, Frédéric

    2014-07-01

    To propose an anatomical classification of congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSs) correlating with conservative surgery. CPSs entail a risk of life-threatening complications because of poor portal inflow, which may be prevented or cured by their closure. Current classifications based on portal origin of the shunt are not helpful for planning conservative surgery. Twenty-three patients who underwent at least 1 surgical procedure to close the CPSs were included in this retrospective study (1997-2012). We designed a classification according to the ending of the shunt in the caval system. We analyzed the results and outcomes of surgery according to this classification. Two patients had an extrahepatic portosystemic shunt, 17 had a portacaval shunt [subdivided in 5 end-to-side-like portal-caval, 7 side-to-side-like portal-caval, and 5 H-shaped (H-type portal-caval)], 2 had portal-to-hepatic vein shunts (portohepatic), and 2 had a persistent ductus venosus. All extrahepatic portosystemic shunts, H-type portal-caval, portohepatic, and patent ductus venosus patients had a successful 1-stage ligation. All 5 end-to-side-like portal-caval patients had a threadlike intrahepatic portal venous system; a 2-stage complete closure was successfully achieved for 4 and a partial closure for 1. The first 2 side-to-side-like portal-caval patients had a successful 2-stage closure whereas the 5 others had a 1-stage longitudinal caval partition. All patients are alive and none needed a liver transplantation. Our classification correlates the anatomy of CPSs and the surgical strategy: outcomes are good provided end-to-side-like portal-caval shunts patients have a 2-stage closure, side-to-side portal-caval shunts patients have a 1-stage caval partition, and the others have a 1-stage ligation.

  1. Congenital intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt presenting with paraparesis as the initial symptom.

    PubMed

    Torigoe, Masataka; Maeshima, Keisuke; Takeshita, Yasushi

    2013-01-01

    An 85-year-old woman was hospitalized with rapidly progressive paraparesis without altered consciousness, although she was not definitively diagnosed. She developed acute drowsiness and disorientation several days later. An intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt (IPSVS) was observed on enhanced computed tomography, and hyperammonemia suggested leakage of neurotoxins from the shunt as the etiology of the patient's symptoms. Her neurological symptoms and hyperammonemia improved following transcatheter shunt embolization. We diagnosed her with hepatic myelopathy, which is a rare complication of liver cirrhosis and portosystemic venous shunts. Hepatic myelopathy resulting from a congenital IPSVS has not been previously reported. A diagnosis of hepatic myelopathy should be ruled out in diagnostically difficult cases of paraparesis.

  2. 21 CFR 874.3820 - Endolymphatic shunt.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ...) Identification. An endolymphatic shunt is a device that consists of a tube or sheet intended to be implanted to... made of polytetrafluoroethylene or silicone elastomer. (b) Classification. Class II. ...

  3. 21 CFR 874.3820 - Endolymphatic shunt.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ...) Identification. An endolymphatic shunt is a device that consists of a tube or sheet intended to be implanted to... made of polytetrafluoroethylene or silicone elastomer. (b) Classification. Class II. ...

  4. 21 CFR 874.3820 - Endolymphatic shunt.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ...) Identification. An endolymphatic shunt is a device that consists of a tube or sheet intended to be implanted to... made of polytetrafluoroethylene or silicone elastomer. (b) Classification. Class II. ...

  5. 21 CFR 874.3820 - Endolymphatic shunt.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ...) Identification. An endolymphatic shunt is a device that consists of a tube or sheet intended to be implanted to... made of polytetrafluoroethylene or silicone elastomer. (b) Classification. Class II. ...

  6. 21 CFR 874.3820 - Endolymphatic shunt.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ...) Identification. An endolymphatic shunt is a device that consists of a tube or sheet intended to be implanted to... made of polytetrafluoroethylene or silicone elastomer. (b) Classification. Class II. ...

  7. Spontaneous Intrahepatic Portal Venous Shunt: Presentation and Endovascular Treatment.

    PubMed

    Sheth, Nakul; Sabbah, Nathanael; Contractor, Sohail

    2016-07-01

    Spontaneous intrahepatic portal venous shunts are rare with only few case reports published. Treatments using various endovascular techniques have been described, although no single technique has been shown to be preferred. We present a patient who was referred for treatment of a spontaneous portal venous shunt and describe our treatment approach and present a review on previously reported cases. © The Author(s) 2016.

  8. In vitro flow measurements in ion sputtered hydrocephalus shunts

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Cho, Y. I.; Back, L. H.

    1989-01-01

    This paper describes an experimental procedure for accurate measurements of the pressure-drop/flow rate relationship in hydrocephalus shunts. Using a fish-hook arrangement, small flow rates in a perforated ion-sputtered Teflon microtubule were measured in vitro in a pressured system and were correlated with pressure in the system. Results indicate that appropriate drainage rates could be obtained in the physiological range for hydrocephalus shunts.

  9. Spinal arteriovenous shunts: accuracy of shunt detection, localization, and subtype discrimination using spinal magnetic resonance angiography and manual contrast injection using a syringe.

    PubMed

    Unsrisong, Kittisak; Taphey, Siriporn; Oranratanachai, Kanokporn

    2016-04-01

    The object of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of fast 3D contrast-enhanced spinal MR angiography (MRA) using a manual syringe contrast injection technique for detecting and evaluating spinal arteriovenous shunts (AVSs). This was a retrospective study of 15 patients and 20 spinal MRA and catheter angiography studies. The accuracy of using spinal MRA to detect spinal AVS, localize shunts, and discriminate the subtype and dominant arterial feeder of the AVS were studied. There were 14 pretherapeutic and 6 posttherapeutic follow-up spinal MRA and catheter spinal angiography studies. The spinal AVS was demonstrated in 17 of 20 studies. Spinal MRA demonstrated 100% sensitivity for detecting spinal AVS with no false-negative results. A 97% accuracy rate for AVS subtype discrimination and shunt level localization was achieved using this study's diagnostic criteria. The detection of the dominant arterial feeder was limited to 9 of these 17 cases (53%). The fast 3D contrast-enhanced MRA technique performed using manual syringe contrast injection can detect the presence of a spinal AVS, locate the shunt level, and discriminate AVS subtype in most cases, but is limited when detecting small arterial feeders.

  10. Shunt-dependent hydrocephalus: management style among members of the American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons.

    PubMed

    Kraemer, Mark R; Sandoval-Garcia, Carolina; Bragg, Taryn; Iskandar, Bermans J

    2017-09-01

    OBJECTIVE The authors conducted a survey to evaluate differences in the understanding and management of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus among members of the American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons (ASPN). METHODS Surveys were sent to all 204 active ASPN members in September 2014. One hundred thirty responses were received, representing a 64% response rate. Respondents were asked 13 multiple-choice and free-response questions regarding 4 fundamental problems encountered in shunted-hydrocephalus management: shunt malfunction, chronic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) overdrainage, chronic headaches, and slit ventricle syndrome (SVS). RESULTS Respondents agreed that shunt malfunction occurs most often as the result of ventricular catheter obstruction. Despite contrary evidence in the literature, most respondents (66%) also believed that choroid plexus is the tissue most often found in obstructed proximal catheters. However, free-text responses revealed that the respondents' understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of shunt obstruction was highly variable and included growth, migration, or adherence of choroid plexus, CSF debris, catheter position, inflammatory processes, and CSF overdrainage. Most respondents considered chronic CSF overdrainage to be a rare complication of shunting in their practice and reported wide variation in treatment protocols. Moreover, despite a lack of evidence in the literature, most respondents attributed chronic headaches in shunt patients to medical reasons (for example, migraines, tension). Accordingly, most respondents managed headaches with reassurance and/or referral to pain clinics. Lastly, there were variable opinions on the etiology of slit ventricle syndrome (SVS), which included early shunting, chronic overdrainage, and/or loss of brain compliance. Beyond shunt revision, respondents reported divergent SVS treatment preferences. CONCLUSIONS The survey shows that there is wide variability in the understanding and management of

  11. Ventricular-subcutaneous shunt for the treatment of experimental hydrocephalus in young rats: technical note.

    PubMed

    Santos, Marcelo Volpon; Garcia, Camila Araujo Bernardino; Jardini, Evelise Oliveira; Romeiro, Thais Helena; da Silva Lopes, Luiza; Machado, Hélio Rubens; de Oliveira, Ricardo Santos

    2016-08-01

    Hydrocephalus is a complex disease that affects cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics and is very common in children. To this date, CSF shunting is still the standard treatment for childhood hydrocephalus, but, nevertheless, the effects of such an operation on the developing brain are widely unknown. To help overcome this, experimental models of CSF shunts are surely very useful tools. The objective of this study was to describe a feasible and reliable technique of an adapted ventricular-subcutaneous shunt for the treatment of kaolin-induced hydrocephalus in young rats. We developed a ventricular-subcutaneous shunt (VSCS) technique which was used in 31 Wistar young rats with kaolin-induced hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus was induced at 7 days of age, and shunt implantation was performed 7 days later. Our technique used a 0.7-mm gauge polypropylene catheter tunneled to a subcutaneous pocket created over the animal's back and inserted into the right lateral ventricle. All animals were sacrificed 14 days after shunt insertion. Twenty-four rats survived and remained well until the study was ended. No major complications were seen. Their weight gain went back to normal. They all underwent ambulatory behavioral testing prior and after VSCS, which showed improvement in their motor skills. We have also obtained magnetic resonance (MR) scans of 16 pups confirming reduction of ventricular size after shunting and indicating effective treatment. Histopathological analysis of brain samples before and after shunting showed reversion of ependymal and corpus callosum disruption, as well as fewer reactive astrocytes in shunted animals. An experimental CSF shunt technique was devised. Excessive CSF of hydrocephalic rats is diverted into the subcutaneous space where it can be resorbed. This technique has a low complication rate and is effective. It might be applied to various types of experimental studies involving induction and treatment of hydrocephalus.

  12. Deletion of Rbpj from postnatal endothelium leads to abnormal arteriovenous shunting in mice

    PubMed Central

    Nielsen, Corinne M.; Cuervo, Henar; Ding, Vivianne W.; Kong, Yupeng; Huang, Eric J.; Wang, Rong A.

    2014-01-01

    Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are tortuous vessels characterized by arteriovenous (AV) shunts, which displace capillaries and shunt blood directly from artery to vein. Notch signaling regulates embryonic AV specification by promoting arterial, as opposed to venous, endothelial cell (EC) fate. To understand the essential role of endothelial Notch signaling in postnatal AV organization, we used inducible Cre-loxP recombination to delete Rbpj, a mediator of canonical Notch signaling, from postnatal ECs in mice. Deletion of endothelial Rbpj from birth resulted in features of AVMs by P14, including abnormal AV shunting and tortuous vessels in the brain, intestine and heart. We further analyzed brain AVMs, as they pose particular health risks. Consistent with AVM pathology, we found cerebral hemorrhage, hypoxia and necrosis, and neurological deficits. AV shunts originated from capillaries (and possibly venules), with the earliest detectable morphological abnormalities in AV connections by P8. Prior to AV shunt formation, alterations in EC gene expression were detected, including decreased Efnb2 and increased Pai1, which encodes a downstream effector of TGFβ signaling. After AV shunts had formed, whole-mount immunostaining showed decreased Efnb2 and increased Ephb4 expression within AV shunts, suggesting that ECs were reprogrammed from arterial to venous identity. Deletion of Rbpj from adult ECs led to tortuosities in gastrointestinal, uterine and skin vascular beds, but had mild effects in the brain. Our results demonstrate a temporal requirement for Rbpj in postnatal ECs to maintain proper artery, capillary and vein organization and to prevent abnormal AV shunting and AVM pathogenesis. PMID:25209249

  13. Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt complicated by the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Sharma, Ruchi; Suddle, Abid; Quaglia, Alberto; Peddu, Praveen; Karani, John; Satyadas, Thomas; Heaton, Nigel

    2015-10-01

    Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt, also known as Abernethy malformation, is a rare congenital malformation. It causes shunting of blood through a communication between the portal and systemic veins such as a patent ductus venous. We report 3 cases of Abernethy malformation complicated by the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Additionally, we comprehensively reviewed all previously reported cases and highlighted common features that may help in early diagnosis and appropriate management. Patients with Abernethy malformation may have an increased propensity to develop hepatocellular carcinoma. All 5 previously reported cases, plus the three of our patients, have a type 1 (complete) shunt suggesting a role for absent portal blood flow in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt should be sought for in cases with raised serum ammonia, hepatic encephalopathy or hepatocellular carcinoma in the absence of cirrhosis.

  14. Association between right-to-left shunts and brain lesions in sport divers.

    PubMed

    Gerriets, Tibo; Tetzlaff, Kay; Hutzelmann, Alfred; Liceni, Thomas; Kopiske, Gerrit; Struck, Niklas; Reuter, Michael; Kaps, Manfred

    2003-10-01

    Recent studies suggest that healthy sport divers may develop clinically silent brain damage, based on the association between a finding of multiple brain lesions on MRI and the presence of right-to-left shunt, a pathway for venous gas bubbles to enter the arterial system. We performed echocontrast transcranial Doppler sonography in 42 sport divers to determine the presence of a right-to-left shunt. Cranial MRI was carried out using a 1.5 T magnet. A lesion was counted if it was hyperintense on both T2-weighted and T2-weighted fluid attenuated inversion recovery sequences. To test the hypothesis that the occurrence of postdive arterial gas emboli is related to brain lesions on MRI, we measured postdive intravascular bubbles in a subset of 15 divers 30 min after open water scuba dives. Echocontrast transcranial Doppler sonography revealed a right-to-left shunt in 16 of the divers (38%). Only one hyperintensive lesion of the central white matter was found and that was in a diver with no evidence of a right-to-left shunt. Postdive arterial gas emboli were detected in 3 out of 15 divers; they had a right-to-left shunt, but no pathologic findings on cranial magnetic resonance imaging. Our data support the theory that right-to-left shunts can serve as a pathway for venous gas bubbles into the arterial circulation. However, we could not confirm an association between brain lesions and the presence of a right-to-left shunt in sport divers.

  15. Early variations of laboratory parameters predicting shunt-dependent hydrocephalus after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

    PubMed

    Na, Min Kyun; Won, Yu Deok; Kim, Choong Hyun; Kim, Jae Min; Cheong, Jin Hwan; Ryu, Je Il; Han, Myung-Hoon

    2017-01-01

    Hydrocephalus is a frequent complication following subarachnoid hemorrhage. Few studies investigated the association between laboratory parameters and shunt-dependent hydrocephalus. This study aimed to investigate the variations of laboratory parameters after subarachnoid hemorrhage. We also attempted to identify predictive laboratory parameters for shunt-dependent hydrocephalus. Multiple imputation was performed to fill the missing laboratory data using Bayesian methods in SPSS. We used univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses to calculate hazard ratios for shunt-dependent hydrocephalus based on clinical and laboratory factors. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the laboratory risk values predicting shunt-dependent hydrocephalus. We included 181 participants with a mean age of 54.4 years. Higher sodium (hazard ratio, 1.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-2.07; p = 0.005), lower potassium, and higher glucose levels were associated with higher shunt-dependent hydrocephalus. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the areas under the curve of sodium, potassium, and glucose were 0.649 (cutoff value, 142.75 mEq/L), 0.609 (cutoff value, 3.04 mmol/L), and 0.664 (cutoff value, 140.51 mg/dL), respectively. Despite the exploratory nature of this study, we found that higher sodium, lower potassium, and higher glucose levels were predictive values for shunt-dependent hydrocephalus from postoperative day (POD) 1 to POD 12-16 after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Strict correction of electrolyte imbalance seems necessary to reduce shunt-dependent hydrocephalus. Further large studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

  16. Early variations of laboratory parameters predicting shunt-dependent hydrocephalus after subarachnoid hemorrhage

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Choong Hyun; Kim, Jae Min; Cheong, Jin Hwan; Ryu, Je il

    2017-01-01

    Background and purpose Hydrocephalus is a frequent complication following subarachnoid hemorrhage. Few studies investigated the association between laboratory parameters and shunt-dependent hydrocephalus. This study aimed to investigate the variations of laboratory parameters after subarachnoid hemorrhage. We also attempted to identify predictive laboratory parameters for shunt-dependent hydrocephalus. Methods Multiple imputation was performed to fill the missing laboratory data using Bayesian methods in SPSS. We used univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses to calculate hazard ratios for shunt-dependent hydrocephalus based on clinical and laboratory factors. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the laboratory risk values predicting shunt-dependent hydrocephalus. Results We included 181 participants with a mean age of 54.4 years. Higher sodium (hazard ratio, 1.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.13–2.07; p = 0.005), lower potassium, and higher glucose levels were associated with higher shunt-dependent hydrocephalus. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the areas under the curve of sodium, potassium, and glucose were 0.649 (cutoff value, 142.75 mEq/L), 0.609 (cutoff value, 3.04 mmol/L), and 0.664 (cutoff value, 140.51 mg/dL), respectively. Conclusions Despite the exploratory nature of this study, we found that higher sodium, lower potassium, and higher glucose levels were predictive values for shunt-dependent hydrocephalus from postoperative day (POD) 1 to POD 12–16 after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Strict correction of electrolyte imbalance seems necessary to reduce shunt-dependent hydrocephalus. Further large studies are warranted to confirm our findings. PMID:29232410

  17. Elective minimally invasive coronary artery bypass: Shunt or tournique occlusion? Assessment of a protective role of perioperative left anterior descending shunting on myocardial damage. A prospective randomized study

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Background To determine impact of intraluminal-left anterior descending shunt to prevent myocardial damage in minimally invasive coronary artery bypass. Methods 38 patients were randomly assigned to external tournique occlusion (n = 19) or intraluminal-left anterior descending shunt group (n = 19). Blood samples for cardiac troponin T were collected at 30 minutes prior to, 6 and 24 hours after surgery. Results One patient in external tournique occlusion and two patients in intraluminal-left anterior descending shunt group were excluded from futher analysis due to preoperative cardiac troponin T level above the 99th-percentile. Postoperatively, each six patients in external tournique occlusion (33.3%) and intraluminal-left anterior descending shunt (35.3%) group were above the 99th-percentile. Two patients from each group (external tournique occlusion group 11.1% vs. intraluminal-left anterior descending shunt group 11.8%) had peak values above 10-% coeficient of variation cutoff (p = 1). There were no significant differences in between both groups at all studied timepoints. Conclusion There was no protective effect of intraluminal shunting on myocardial damage compared to short-term tournique occlusion. It is upon the surgeon's discretion which method may preferrably be used to achieve a bloodless field in grafting of the non-occluded left anterior descending in minimally invasive coronary artery bypass. PMID:22809563

  18. A novel method for passing cerebrospinal fluid shunt tubing: a proof of principle study.

    PubMed

    Tubbs, R Shane; Goodrich, Dylan; Tubbs, Isaiah; Loukas, Marios; Cohen-Gadol, Aaron A

    2014-12-01

    Few innovations in the method of tunneling shunt tubing for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt diversion have been made since this treatment of hydrocephalus was first developed. Therefore, this feasibility study was performed with the hope of identifying an improved technique that could potentially carry fewer complications. On 10 cadaver sides and when placed in the supine position, small skin incisions were made at the clavicle and ipsilateral subcostal region, and magnets were used to pass standard shunt tubing between the two incisions. Nickel-plated magnets were less effective in pulling the shunt tubing below the skin compared with ceramic magnets. Of these, magnets with pull strengths of 150-200 lbs were the most effective in dragging the subcutaneous tubing between the two incisions. No obvious damage to the skin from the overlying magnet was seen in any specimen. Few options exist for tunneling distal shunt tubing for CSF shunt procedures. Future patient studies are needed to determine if the technique described herein is superior to current methods, particularly when examining patient groups that are at a greater risk for injury during tunneling shunt catheters.

  19. Diamox((R)) challenge test to decide indications for cerebrospinal fluid shunting in normal pressure hydrocephalus.

    PubMed

    Miyake, H; Ohta, T; Kajimoto, Y; Deguchi, J

    1999-01-01

    The indications for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) have not been established. Establishment of clear-cut indications for this procedure is essential to ensure cost-effective, and safe treatment. We report the usefulness of the Diamox((R)) challenge test in evaluating indications for CSF shunting in patients with NPH. Pre- and post-operative responses in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and intracranial pressure (ICP) to intravenous administration of Diamox((R)) 1000mg (Diamox((R)) administration) were analysed in 41 patients with NPH who were treated by ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt with a programmable valve and an on-off valve. The preoperative response of ICP to Diamox((R)) administration was more than 10 mmHg in most patients in whom the shunt was effective (shunt effective group), however, it was less than 10 mmHg in most patients in whom the shunt was ineffective (shunt non-effective group). Furthermore, the postoperative response of ICP to Diamox((R)) administration decreased to less than 10 mmHg in most patients in the shunt effective group. The increases in CBF in response to Diamox((R)) administration were similar in the two groups both before and after placement of the VP shunt. Patients in whom ICP increased by more than 10 mmHg in response to Diamox((R)) administration were regarded to have poor CSF circulation and to thus be candidates for CSF shunting. The Diamox((R)) challenge test is a simple, safe procedure, useful in evaluating the response to treatment.

  20. Syringo-Subarachnoid-Peritoneal Shunt Using T-Tube for Treatment of Post-Traumatic Syringomyelia

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Seon-Hwan; Youm, Jin-Young; Kwon, Hyon-Jo

    2012-01-01

    Various surgical procedures for the treatment of post-traumatic syringomyelia have been introduced recently, but most surgical strategies have been unreliable. We introduce the concept and technique of a new shunting procedure, syringo-subarachnoid-peritoneal shunt. A 54-year-old patient presented to our hospital with a progressive impairment of motion and position sense on the right side. Sixteen years before this admission, he had been treated by decompressive laminectomy for a burst fracture of L1. On his recent admission, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies of the whole spine revealed the presence of a huge syrinx extending from the medulla to the L1 vertebral level. We performed a syringo-subarachnoid-peritoneal shunt, including insertion of a T-tube into the syrinx, subarachnoid space and peritoneal cavity. Clinical manifestations and radiological findings improved after the operation. The syringo-subarachnoid-peritoneal shunt has several advantages. First, fluid can communicate freely between the syrinx, the subarachnoid space, and the peritoneal cavity. Secondly, we can prevent shunt catheter from migrating because dural anchoring of the T-tube is easy. Finally, we can perform shunt revision easily, because only one arm of the T-tube is inserted into the intraspinal syringx cavity. We think that this procedure is the most beneficial method among the various shunting procedures. PMID:22993681

  1. Management of Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS)-associated Refractory Hepatic Encephalopathy by Shunt Reduction Using the Parallel Technique: Outcomes of a Retrospective Case Series

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Cookson, Daniel T., E-mail: danielthomascookson@yahoo.co.uk; Zaman, Zubayr; Gordon-Smith, James

    2011-02-15

    Purpose: To investigate the reproducibility and technical and clinical success of the parallel technique of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) reduction in the management of refractory hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Materials and Methods: A 10-mm-diameter self-expanding stent graft and a 5-6-mm-diameter balloon-expandable stent were placed in parallel inside the existing TIPS in 8 patients via a dual unilateral transjugular approach. Changes in portosystemic pressure gradient and HE grade were used as primary end points. Results: TIPS reduction was technically successful in all patients. Mean {+-} standard deviation portosystemic pressure gradient before and after shunt reduction was 4.9 {+-} 3.6 mmHg (range,more » 0-12 mmHg) and 10.5 {+-} 3.9 mmHg (range, 6-18 mmHg). Duration of follow-up was 137 {+-} 117.8 days (range, 18-326 days). Clinical improvement of HE occurred in 5 patients (62.5%) with resolution of HE in 4 patients (50%). Single episodes of recurrent gastrointestinal hemorrhage occurred in 3 patients (37.5%). These were self-limiting in 2 cases and successfully managed in 1 case by correction of coagulopathy and blood transfusion. Two of these patients (25%) died, one each of renal failure and hepatorenal failure. Conclusion: The parallel technique of TIPS reduction is reproducible and has a high technical success rate. A dual unilateral transjugular approach is advantageous when performing this procedure. The parallel technique allows repeat bidirectional TIPS adjustment and may be of significant clinical benefit in the management of refractory HE.« less

  2. Right-to-left shunt detection sensitivity with air-saline and air-succinil gelatin transcranial Doppler.

    PubMed

    Puledda, Francesca; Toscano, Massimiliano; Pieroni, Alessio; Veneroso, Gabriele; Di Piero, Vittorio; Vicenzini, Edoardo

    2016-02-01

    Air-saline transcranial Doppler is nowadays the first-choice examination to identify right-to-left shunt. To increase right-to-left shunt detection in echocardiography, cardiologists also use air-gelatin mixtures, which are more stable, more echogenic, and easier to be prepared. We assessed the sensitivity of air-gelatin compared with air-saline for transcranial Doppler right-to-left shunt detection. Air-saline transcranial Doppler, during unilateral middle cerebral artery monitoring at rest and after Valsalva maneuver, was performed in patients referred to our neurosonology laboratory for right-to-left shunt detection. The same transcranial Doppler protocol was repeated with air-gelatin. To consider transcranial Doppler positive for cardiac right-to-left shunt, at least one embolic signal had to be detected within 20″ from contrast injection. Later signals were interpreted of pulmonary origin. Trans-thoracic echocardiography was repeated with both air-saline and air-gelatin. A total of 97 patients were enrolled; 46 had negative transcranial Doppler for cardiac right-to-left shunt with both air-saline and air-gelatin; out of these, four patients with air-saline plus two more patients with air-gelatin presented late, isolated microemboli, slightly more numerous with air-gelatin: these were interpreted as pulmonary shunts and confirmed with trans-thoracic echocardiography. In 28 patients with already early positive air-saline transcranial Doppler at rest, air-gelatin induced a marked right-to-left shunt increase, facilitating its visualization at trans-thoracic echocardiography. In 23 patients in whom air-saline transcranial Doppler was negative at rest and positive for cardiac right-to-left shunt only after Valsalva maneuver, air-gelatin was able to reveal shunt also at rest. Air-gelatin increases right-to-left shunt detection sensitivity with transcranial Doppler in particular at rest, even in patients in whom air-saline mixture fails to identify the shunt. The

  3. Scintigraphic diagnosis of portosystemic shunts.

    PubMed

    Daniel, Gregory B

    2009-07-01

    Portal scintigraphy is a quick noninvasive method to the diagnosis of portosystemic shunts in dogs and cats. Scintigraphic procedures have evolved over the past 25 years. Currently, trans-splenic portal scintigraphy is the preferred method. High quality studies can be obtained with small radiopharmaceutical doses.

  4. Students with Shunts: Program Considerations.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    French, Ron; And Others

    1997-01-01

    Examines how the medical condition of hydrocephalus can affect physical education students and physical education programs, and stresses the need to provide physical educators with information on students' medical conditions. Describes hydrocephalus and its treatment with ventricular peritoneal shunts, and offers suggestions on modifying…

  5. [Extracorporeal ventriculoatrial shunt with the use of one-way ball valve].

    PubMed

    Kubo, Shigeki; Takimoto, Hiroshi; Hosoi, Kazuki; Toyota, Shingo; Takakura, Shuji; Hayashi, Yasuhiro; Ueno, Masato; Morisako, Toshitaka; Karasawa, Jun; Ninaga, Hideo; Yoshimine, Toshiki

    2002-04-01

    We developed a simple system of an "extracorporeal" ventriculoatrial (VA) shunt using a one-way ball valve (Acty valve II, Kaneka Medix) to release the patient from postoperative constraint during the ventricular drainage. The system is constructed in such a way that the ventricular drainage tube is connected to the central venous catheter via a one-way valve. The CSF is regulated by using the valve and is diverted into the systemic circulation as in the conventional ventriculoatrial shunt. After 2 or 3 weeks of CSF diversion through the extracorporeal VA shunt, a ventriculoperitoneal shunt is placed if hydrocephalus is apparent by temporary occlusion of the system. We applied this system to 4 patients with hydrocephalus, and we found it useful and free from adverse effects. The patient was freed from physical constraint involved in conventional ventricular drainage and an effective program of early rehabilitation was able to be started.

  6. Our initial experience with ventriculo-epiplooic shunt in treatment of hydrocephalus in two centers.

    PubMed

    Grigorean, Valentin Titus; Sandu, Aurelia Mihaela; Popescu, Mihai; Florian, Ioan Stefan; Lupascu, Cristian Dumitru; Ursulescu, Corina Lupascu

    Hydrocephalus represents impairment in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics. If the treatment of hydrocephalus is considered difficult, the repeated revisions of ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunts are even more challenging. The aim of this article is to evaluate the efficiency of ventriculo-epiplooic (VEp) shunt as a feasible alternative in hydrocephalic patients. A technical modification regarding the insertion of peritoneal catheter was imagined: midline laparotomy 8-10cm long was performed in order to open the peritoneal cavity; the great omentum was dissected between its two layers; we placed the distal end of the catheter between the two epiplooic layers; a fenestration of 4cm in diameter into the visceral layer was also performed. A retrospective study of medical records of 15 consecutive patients with hydrocephalus treated with VEp shunt is also presented. Between 2008 and 2014 we performed VEp shunt in 15 patients: 5 with congenital hydrocephalus, 8 with secondary hydrocephalus and 2 with normal pressure hydrocephalus. There were 7 men and 8 women. VEp shunt was performed in 13 patients with multiple distal shunt failures and in 2 patients, with history of abdominal surgery, as de novo extracranial drainage procedure. The outcome was favorable in all cases, with no significant postoperative complications. VEp shunt is a new, safe and efficient surgical technique for the treatment of hydrocephalus. VEp shunt is indicated in patients with history of recurrent distal shunt failures, and in patients with history of open abdominal surgery and high risk for developing abdominal complications. Copyright © 2017 Polish Neurological Society. Published by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved.

  7. The British antibiotic and silver-impregnated catheters for ventriculoperitoneal shunts multi-centre randomised controlled trial (the BASICS trial): study protocol

    PubMed Central

    2014-01-01

    Background Insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) for the treatment of hydrocephalus is one of the most common neurosurgical procedures in the UK, but failures caused by infection occur in approximately 8% of primary cases. VPS infection is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality and its management results in substantial cost to the health service. Antibiotic-impregnated (rifampicin and clindamycin) and silver-impregnated VPS have been developed to reduce infection rates. Whilst there is some evidence showing that such devices may lead to a reduction in VPS infection, there are no randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to support their routine use. Methods/design Overall, 1,200 patients will be recruited from 17 regional neurosurgical units in the UK and Ireland. Patients of any age undergoing insertion of their first VPS are eligible. Patients with previous indwelling VPS, active and on-going cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or peritoneal infection, multiloculated hydrocephalus requiring multiple VPS or neuroendoscopy, and ventriculoatrial or ventriculopleural shunt planned will be excluded. Patients will be randomised 1:1:1 to either standard silicone (comparator), antibiotic-impregnated, or silver-impregnated VPS. The primary outcome measure is time to VPS infection. Secondary outcome measures include time to VPS failure of any cause, reason for VPS failure (infection, mechanical failure, or patient failure), types of bacterial VPS infection (organism type and antibiotic resistance), and incremental cost per VPS failure averted. Discussion The British antibiotic and silver-impregnated catheters for ventriculoperitoneal shunts multi-centre randomised controlled trial (the BASICS trial) is the first multi-centre RCT designed to determine whether antibiotic or silver-impregnated VPS reduce early shunt infection compared to standard silicone VPS. The results of this study will be used to inform current neurosurgical practice and may potentially benefit

  8. Reversible Venting Stitch for Fenestrating Valve-less Glaucoma Shunts.

    PubMed

    Akil, Handan; Vu, Priscilla Q; Nguyen, Anhtuan H; Nugent, Alexander; Chopra, Vikas; Francis, Brian A; Tan, James C

    2017-12-01

    The purpose of this is to describe a venting stitch modification for valveless glaucoma aqueous shunts and characterize early postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) and glaucoma medication use following the modification. Retrospective chart review of 61 sequential patients undergoing Baerveldt glaucoma implant (BGI)-350 implantation at the Doheny Eye Institute. Twenty-four patients received a glaucoma shunt with venting stitch modification (modified BGI) and 37 patients received an unmodified shunt (BGI-only). IOP, number of glaucoma medications, and number of hypotony cases (intraocular pressure ≤5 mm Hg) were compared between the groups. T-tests were used for statistical analysis. At postoperative-day 1, mean IOP was significantly lower compared with preoperatively in the modified BGI group (14 mm Hg; reduced by 51%; P<0.0001) but not the BGI-only group (27 mm Hg; P=0.06). IOP difference between groups persisted till immediately before tube opening (P=0.005) and fewer IOP-lowering medications needed in the modified BGI group (P<0.0001). One case (4.2%) of postoperative hypotony was encountered with BGI modification, which resolved after the stitch was removed in clinic. The venting stitch valveless shunt modification allows for effective, reliable, and safe control of early postoperative IOP.

  9. Congenital multiple intrahepatic portosystemic shunt: an autopsy case

    PubMed Central

    Takahashi, Seishiro; Yoshida, Eriko; Sakanishi, Yasushi; Tohyama, Norihiro; Ayhan, Ayse; Ogawa, Hiroshi

    2014-01-01

    Multiple intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (IPSS) without portal hypertension, now thought to be congenital in origin, is very rare. The presence of IPSS, unlike other congenital diseases, may not be recognized for several decades due to the time it takes to develop hepatic encephalopathy. In this article, we report an autopsy case of an 80-year-old Japanese woman with a one-month history of hyperammonemic encephalopathy. Radiological examination of the liver revealed some abnormal connections between the branches of the portal veins and the hepatic veins, but the cause of the aberrant blood flow was not found. The cause of death was extensive cerebral infarction due to thromboembolism. At postmortem examination, multiple anomalous blood vessels were identified histologically in both lobes of the non-cirrhotic liver. In comparison with the few similar cases existing in the literature, this case should be diagnosed as congenital IPSS. To our knowledge, this is the first detailed histological study of IPSS, as several autopsy case reports exist but their histological descriptions are poor. Unlike past reports, the shunt vessels were accompanied by clear elastic lamellae that were microscopically observed. In addition to shunt vessels, septal fibrosis, disorder of hepatic acinar structure, and sinusoidal dilatation and capillarization were observed in the liver. We suggest that these histological modifications observed in the circumference of the shunt vessels acted as secondary regenerative/hyperplastic changes based on blood-flow imbalance caused by the IPSS. PMID:24427367

  10. Congenital multiple intrahepatic portosystemic shunt: an autopsy case.

    PubMed

    Takahashi, Seishiro; Yoshida, Eriko; Sakanishi, Yasushi; Tohyama, Norihiro; Ayhan, Ayse; Ogawa, Hiroshi

    2014-01-01

    Multiple intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (IPSS) without portal hypertension, now thought to be congenital in origin, is very rare. The presence of IPSS, unlike other congenital diseases, may not be recognized for several decades due to the time it takes to develop hepatic encephalopathy. In this article, we report an autopsy case of an 80-year-old Japanese woman with a one-month history of hyperammonemic encephalopathy. Radiological examination of the liver revealed some abnormal connections between the branches of the portal veins and the hepatic veins, but the cause of the aberrant blood flow was not found. The cause of death was extensive cerebral infarction due to thromboembolism. At postmortem examination, multiple anomalous blood vessels were identified histologically in both lobes of the non-cirrhotic liver. In comparison with the few similar cases existing in the literature, this case should be diagnosed as congenital IPSS. To our knowledge, this is the first detailed histological study of IPSS, as several autopsy case reports exist but their histological descriptions are poor. Unlike past reports, the shunt vessels were accompanied by clear elastic lamellae that were microscopically observed. In addition to shunt vessels, septal fibrosis, disorder of hepatic acinar structure, and sinusoidal dilatation and capillarization were observed in the liver. We suggest that these histological modifications observed in the circumference of the shunt vessels acted as secondary regenerative/hyperplastic changes based on blood-flow imbalance caused by the IPSS.

  11. Thoracoamniotic shunting for fetal pleural effusion with hydropic change using a double-basket catheter: An insight into the preoperative determinants of shunting efficacy.

    PubMed

    Hidaka, Nobuhiro; Kido, Saki; Sato, Yuka; Murata, Masaharu; Fujita, Yasuyuki; Kato, Kiyoko

    2018-02-01

    Although the efficacy of thoracoamniotic shunting (TAS) for fetal hydrothorax is well-recognized, the coexistence of hydrops fetalis is still a clinical challenge. The preoperative determinants of shunting efficacy are not fully understood. In this study, we aimed to investigate the perinatal and postnatal outcomes of hydrops fetalis with pleural effusion treated by TAS using a double-basket catheter, and to discuss the preoperative factors predictive of patients who will benefit from TAS. We conducted a retrospective study in hydropic fetuses with pleural effusion treated by TAS between 2007 and 2015. We extracted information regarding postnatal survival and pretherapeutic sonographic findings, including skin-edema thickness, pleural-effusion pocket size, and Doppler readings. Twelve subjects underwent TAS at a median gestational age of 29 +5 weeks (range, 25 +5 -33 +2 weeks). Skin edema disappeared or regressed in 7. Three experienced early neonatal death and the other 9 ultimately survived after a live birth at a median gestational age of 33 +4 weeks (range, 29 +1 -38 +2 weeks). All surviving children, except for 1, had a pretherapeutic pleural-effusion pocket greater than the precordial-edema thickness. All 3 children that died had precordial-edema thickness equal to or greater than the size of the pleural-effusion pocket. We achieved a high survival rate (75%) using the double-basket technique. A greater pretherapeutic width of skin edema compared with the pleural-effusion pocket is possibly suggestive of a treatment-resistant condition and subsequent poor postnatal outcome. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  12. The Neuroimaging Studies in Children with Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Complications: A 10 Years Descriptive Sudy in Tehran.

    PubMed

    Shahi, Mohammad Vafaee; Noorbakhsh, Samileh; Zarrabi, Vida; Nourozi, Banafsheh; Tahernia, Leila

    2018-01-01

    Any mismatch between the production and absorption of CSF results in hydrocephalus. In most cases, the selected choice of treatment is the ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion. Although, the surgery could have complications such as infection, shunt malfunction, subdural hematoma, seizure and Shunt immigration; so, the early and proper detection of these complications could result in better prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of CT scan, CSF analysis and X-ray radiography in detection of shunt complications and problems in shunt placement and further follow-up in hospitalized children. The medical records of children in Rasul Akram hospital in Tehran were reviewed retrospectively in the last 10 years, from 2006 to 2016. All data were recorded in the prepared form including the age, sex, shunt complication, CT scan and CSF characteristics. The total number of 95 patients were interfered in this study including 56 males (58.9%) and 39 females (41.1%). The mean age at the onset of complications were 2.8±2.2 years-old. The shunt obstruction (60%) and infection (25.3%) were the most common complications. The CT scan was able to detect 36.5% of shunt complications. The CT scan had the sensitivity and specificity of 50 and 87%, respectively in detection of shunt obstruction. The all cases of brain hematoma and hemorrhage were revealed by CT scan. On the other hand, the CT scan had 20% of sensitivity and 60% of specificity in the detection of shunt infection. The CSF evaluation in shunt infection revealed 92% hypoglycemia, 87.5% pleocytosis, and 62.5% positive CSF culture. CSF had the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 92, 82, 63 and 97%, respectively. The patient's symptoms and signs were helpful in obtaining higher test accuracy. The CT scan was not a good sensitive and specific study in the detection of shunt obstruction and infection, but it was very accurate in detection of

  13. Hypoxia and GABA shunt activation in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.

    PubMed

    Salminen, Antero; Jouhten, Paula; Sarajärvi, Timo; Haapasalo, Annakaisa; Hiltunen, Mikko

    2016-01-01

    We have previously observed that the conversion of mild cognitive impairment to definitive Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with a significant increase in the serum level of 2,4-dihydroxybutyrate (2,4-DHBA). The metabolic generation of 2,4-DHBA is linked to the activation of the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) shunt, an alternative energy production pathway activated during cellular stress, when the function of Krebs cycle is compromised. The GABA shunt can be triggered by local hypoperfusion and subsequent hypoxia in AD brains caused by cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) is a key enzyme in the GABA shunt, converting succinic semialdehyde (SSA) into succinate, a Krebs cycle intermediate. A deficiency of SSADH activity stimulates the conversion of SSA into γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), an alternative route from the GABA shunt. GHB can exert not only acute neuroprotective activities but unfortunately also chronic detrimental effects which may lead to cognitive impairment. Subsequently, GHB can be metabolized to 2,4-DHBA and secreted from the brain. Thus, the activation of the GABA shunt and the generation of GHB and 2,4-DHBA can have an important role in the early phase of AD pathogenesis. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  14. Do antibiotic-impregnated shunts in hydrocephalus therapy reduce the risk of infection? An observational study in 258 patients

    PubMed Central

    Ritz, Rainer; Roser, Florian; Morgalla, Matthias; Dietz, Klaus; Tatagiba, Marcos; Will, Bernd E

    2007-01-01

    Background Shunt infection in hydrocephalus patients is a severe, even life-threatening complication. Antibiotic-impregnated shunts (AIS) have been developed in an attempt to reduce rate of shunt infection. The study was performed to analyze if AIS can diminish the rate of shunt infection. The pathogenic nature of shunt infection in patients with AIS systems and those without antibiotic impregnated shunts (non-AIS) was compared. Methods Over a period of 24 months in the Department of Neurosurgery at University Hospital of Tübingen shunt surgery was performed in 258 patients. In 86 patients AIS systems were implanted. Shunt catheters were commercially impregnated with clindamycin and rifampicin. Analysis of the clinical data included sex, age, classification of hydrocephalus, shunt types and risk factors for shunt infection [age (< 1 year and > 80 years), prematurely born patients, external ventricular drainage, former shunt infection, former systemic infection, disturbance of consciousness, former radiation-/chemotherapy]. Infection rates and underlying bacterial pathogens of patients with AIS were compared to patients with implanted non-AIS systems (172 patients). Results AIS and non-AIS patients did not differ in sex, etiology of hydrocephalus and the shunt type. In the AIS group 72 out of 86 patients had at least one risk factor (83.7 %), compared to 126 patients in the non-AIS group (73.3 %). There was no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.0629; Fisher's exact test). In patients with no risk factors, only one patient with non-AIS suffered from shunt infection. In patients with one or more risk factors the rate for shunt infection was 7.14 % in patients with non-AIS and 6.94 % in patients with AIS. Former shunt infection (p = 0.0124) was related to higher risk for shunt infection. The use of AIS had therefore no significant advantage (p = 0.8611; multiple logistic regression). Significantly related to a shunt infection was the number of shunt

  15. Shunts to divert aqueous humor to distant epithelialized cavities after keratoprosthesis surgery.

    PubMed

    Dohlman, Claes H; Grosskreutz, Cynthia L; Chen, Teresa C; Pasquale, Louis R; Rubin, Peter A D; Kim, Eva C; Durand, Marlene

    2010-02-01

    Glaucoma is a frequent and often severe problem in patients needing keratoprosthesis (KPro) surgery. Standard glaucoma shunts in these cases often develop a very dense capsule that obstructs flow and causes intraocular pressure elevation. Therefore, we developed shunts that deliver aqueous to distant epithelialized cavities where an obstructing capsule is less likely to form. In this retroactive study of such shunts, the risk of postoperative infection (especially endophthalmitis) has been assessed. Ahmed shunts were connected with a tube to the lacrimal sac or ethmoid sinuses. In subsequent designs the polypropylene plate was eliminated, the valve was enclosed and a distal tube added (New World Medical Inc, Rancho Cucamonga, CA). The latter shunts were connected to the maxillary sinus or lower lid fornix. Between 2001 and 2005 the devices were implanted in 34 patients with very severe ocular disease. (31 had KPro implanted). Thus, the distal tube was led to the lacrimal sac (2 cases), to the ethmoid sinuses (6), to the maxillary sinus (16 cases), and to the lower lid fornix (10 cases). The patients were followed for cumulatively 145 shunt years, with a mean follow-up of 4 years and 3 months. They were instructed to administer low-dose topical antibiotics indefinitely. Only 1 case of acute bacterial endophthalmitis occurred, thus an incidence of 0.7% per shunt year. A slow-growing Mycobacterium was cultured in a disintegrating eye and 1 bacterial maxillary sinusitis occurred, both in autoimmune diseases. Three valves became exposed and had to be removed (1 replaced). Four eyes developed hypotony, probably from valve failure. The shunt arrangement, which connects the anterior chamber to potentially microbe-populated cavities or to the lower lid fornix and its flora, might be suspected to allow rapid retrograde invasion of infective agents, resulting in endophthalmitis. In this series of KPro patients, however, the incidence of severe infection was very low, in fact

  16. Treatment of Portosystemic Shunt Myelopathy with a Stent Graft Deployed through a Transjugular Intrahepatic Route

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Jain, Deepak, E-mail: deepakjain02@yahoo.com; Arora, Ankur, E-mail: aroradrankur@yahoo.com; Deka, Pranjal, E-mail: drpranjaldeka@gmail.com

    2013-08-01

    A case of surgically created splenorenal shunt complicated with shunt myelopathy was successfully managed by placement of a stent graft within the splenic vein to close the portosystemic shunt and alleviate myelopathy. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a case of shunt myelopathy in a patient with noncirrhotic portal fibrosis without cirrhosis treated by a novel technique wherein a transjugular intrahepatic route was adopted to deploy the stent graft.

  17. Shunt regulation electric power system

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wright, W. H.; Bless, J. J. (Inventor)

    1971-01-01

    A regulated electric power system having load and return bus lines is described. A plurality of solar cells interconnected in a power supplying relationship and having a power shunt tap point electrically spaced from the bus lines is provided. A power dissipator is connected to the shunt tap point and provides for a controllable dissipation of excess energy supplied by the solar cells. A dissipation driver is coupled to the power dissipator and controls its conductance and dissipation and is also connected to the solar cells in a power taping relationship to derive operating power therefrom. An error signal generator is coupled to the load bus and to a reference signal generator to provide an error output signal which is representative of the difference between the electric parameters existing at the load bus and the reference signal generator. An error amplifier is coupled to the error signal generator and the dissipation driver to provide the driver with controlling signals.

  18. Congenital portosystemic shunt: our experience.

    PubMed

    Timpanaro, Tiziana; Passanisi, Stefano; Sauna, Alessandra; Trombatore, Claudia; Pennisi, Monica; Petrillo, Giuseppe; Smilari, Pierluigi; Greco, Filippo

    2015-01-01

    Introduction. Congenital portosystemic venous malformations are rare abnormalities in which the portal blood drains into a systemic vein and which are characterized by extreme clinical variability. Case Presentations. The authors present two case reports of a congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (Type II). In the first patient, apparently nonspecific symptoms, such as headache and fatigue, proved to be secondary to hypoglycemic episodes related to the presence of a portosystemic shunt, later confirmed on imaging. During portal vein angiography, endovascular embolization of the portocaval fistula achieved occlusion of the anomalous venous tract. In the second patient, affected by Down's syndrome, the diagnosis of a portosystemic malformation was made by routine ultrasonography, performed to rule out concurrent congenital anomalies. Because of the absence of symptoms, we chose to observe this patient. Conclusions. These two case reports demonstrate the clinical heterogeneity of this malformation and the need for a multidisciplinary approach. As part of a proper workup, clinical evaluation must always be followed by radiographic diagnosis.

  19. Congenital Portosystemic Shunt: Our Experience

    PubMed Central

    Timpanaro, Tiziana; Passanisi, Stefano; Sauna, Alessandra; Trombatore, Claudia; Pennisi, Monica; Petrillo, Giuseppe; Smilari, Pierluigi; Greco, Filippo

    2015-01-01

    Introduction. Congenital portosystemic venous malformations are rare abnormalities in which the portal blood drains into a systemic vein and which are characterized by extreme clinical variability. Case Presentations. The authors present two case reports of a congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (Type II). In the first patient, apparently nonspecific symptoms, such as headache and fatigue, proved to be secondary to hypoglycemic episodes related to the presence of a portosystemic shunt, later confirmed on imaging. During portal vein angiography, endovascular embolization of the portocaval fistula achieved occlusion of the anomalous venous tract. In the second patient, affected by Down's syndrome, the diagnosis of a portosystemic malformation was made by routine ultrasonography, performed to rule out concurrent congenital anomalies. Because of the absence of symptoms, we chose to observe this patient. Conclusions. These two case reports demonstrate the clinical heterogeneity of this malformation and the need for a multidisciplinary approach. As part of a proper workup, clinical evaluation must always be followed by radiographic diagnosis. PMID:25709849

  20. [Congenital portosystemic shunt. The Abernethy malformation].

    PubMed

    Avila, L F; Luis, A L; Encinas, J L; Hernández, F; Olivares, P; Fernández Cuadrado, J; Hierro, L; Jara, P; López Santamaría, M; Tovar, J A

    2006-10-01

    Congenital portosystemic shunt (CEPS) is a rare condition that was first reported by John Abernethy in 1793. Two types of CEPS are described: type I (side to end anastomosis) or congenital absence of the portal vein, and type II (side to side anastomosis) with portal vein supply partially conserved. Type I CEPS is usually seen in girls and associates multiple malformations as polysplenia, malrotation, and cardiac anomalies. Type II is even rarer with no sex preference and no malformations associated. Hepatic encephalopathy is a common complication of both types in adulthood. Liver transplantation is the only effective treatment for symptomatic type I CEPS. A therapeutic approach for type II could be surgical closure of the shunt. To analyse our experience in diagnosis and management of portosystemic shunts. We report 4 cases of CEPS (3 type I and 1 type II) diagnosed between January-1997 and March-2005 in our department. We present 4 patients with ages at diagnosis ranging from 0 to 28 months, 3 type I CEPS (2 boys and 1 girl) and 1 boy type II. The type I girl was prenatally diagnosed at 12 weeks of gestation. Initial clinical signs in type 1 boys were splenomegaly and hypersplenism, both with normal pondo-statural growth. No polysplenia or cardiac anomalies were assessed. One of them presented mild developmental delay, dismorphic features and facial telangiectasias. He had normal coagulation tests with chronic hepatic dysfunction (high transaminases) and regenerative nodular lesions were seen by imaging techniques. The other type I patient had hypoprothrombinemia, tendency to capillary bleeding (haematomas and epistaxis) with preserved liver function. Both patients have developed mild portal hypertension and present steatosis signs at liver biopsy. The type I girl presents a 21 trisomy and associates a cardiac anomaly (interauricular communication). Her hepatic function test are normal but liver calcifications can be seen by ultrasound. Type II child associates

  1. Noninvasive prediction of shunt operation outcome in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus

    PubMed Central

    Aoki, Yasunori; Kazui, Hiroaki; Tanaka, Toshihisa; Ishii, Ryouhei; Wada, Tamiki; Ikeda, Shunichiro; Hata, Masahiro; Canuet, Leonides; Katsimichas, Themistoklis; Musha, Toshimitsu; Matsuzaki, Haruyasu; Imajo, Kaoru; Kanemoto, Hideki; Yoshida, Tetsuhiko; Nomura, Keiko; Yoshiyama, Kenji; Iwase, Masao; Takeda, Masatoshi

    2015-01-01

    Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a syndrome characterized by gait disturbance, cognitive deterioration and urinary incontinence in elderly individuals. These symptoms can be improved by shunt operation in some but not all patients. Therefore, discovering predictive factors for the surgical outcome is of great clinical importance. We used normalized power variance (NPV) of electroencephalography (EEG) waves, a sensitive measure of the instability of cortical electrical activity, and found significantly higher NPV in beta frequency band at the right fronto-temporo-occipital electrodes (Fp2, T4 and O2) in shunt responders compared to non-responders. By utilizing these differences, we were able to correctly identify responders and non-responders to shunt operation with a positive predictive value of 80% and a negative predictive value of 88%. Our findings indicate that NPV can be useful in noninvasively predicting the clinical outcome of shunt operation in patients with iNPH. PMID:25585705

  2. Use of C-Arm Cone Beam CT During Hepatic Radioembolization: Protocol Optimization for Extrahepatic Shunting and Parenchymal Enhancement

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hoven, Andor F. van den, E-mail: a.f.vandenhoven@umcutrecht.nl; Prince, Jip F.; Keizer, Bart de

    PurposeTo optimize a C-arm computed tomography (CT) protocol for radioembolization (RE), specifically for extrahepatic shunting and parenchymal enhancement.Materials and MethodsA prospective development study was performed per IDEAL recommendations. A literature-based protocol was applied in patients with unresectable and chemorefractory liver malignancies undergoing an angiography before radioembolization. Contrast and scan settings were adjusted stepwise and repeatedly reviewed in a consensus meeting. Afterwards, two independent raters analyzed all scans. A third rater evaluated the SPECT/CT scans as a reference standard for extrahepatic shunting and lack of target segment perfusion.ResultsFifty scans were obtained in 29 procedures. The first protocol, using a 6 s delaymore » and 10 s scan, showed insufficient parenchymal enhancement. In the second protocol, the delay was determined by timing parenchymal enhancement on DSA power injection (median 8 s, range 4–10 s): enhancement improved, but breathing artifacts increased (from 0 to 27 %). Since the third protocol with a 5 s scan decremented subjective image quality, the second protocol was deemed optimal. Median CNR (range) was 1.7 (0.6–3.2), 2.2 (−1.4–4.0), and 2.1 (−0.3–3.0) for protocol 1, 2, and 3 (p = 0.80). Delineation of perfused segments was possible in 57, 73, and 44 % of scans (p = 0.13). In all C-arm CTs combined, the negative predictive value was 95 % for extrahepatic shunting and 83 % for lack of target segment perfusion.ConclusionAn optimized C-arm CT protocol was developed that can be used to detect extrahepatic shunts and non-perfusion of target segments during RE.« less

  3. Two cases of esophageal cancer with portal hypertension: esophagectomy with venous shunt procedure.

    PubMed

    Kato, T; Motohara, T; Kaneko, Y; Shikishima, H; Okushiba, S; Kondo, S; Kato, H

    2001-01-01

    We performed venous shunt procedure in the reconstruction of the esophagus after esophagectomy using the gastric tube in two cases of esophageal cancer with portal hypertension due to liver cirrhosis. In both cases, the short-term postoperative course was uneventful, without congestion in the gastric tube. In Case 1 where the short gastric vein had been used as the shunt vein, the long-term postoperative course was also uneventful, without hepatic encephalopathy or hemorrhage from deterioration of the varices of the gastric tube. However, in Case 2 where the left gastroepiploic vein had been used, hepatic encephalopathy developed due to excessive shunt flow. These results suggested that appropriate shunt flow could be expected by using short gastric vein.

  4. Use of EOS Low-Dose Biplanar X-Ray for Shunt Series in Children with Hydrocephalus: A Preliminary Study.

    PubMed

    Ben-Sira, Liat; Shiran, Shelly I; Pratt, Li-Tal; Precel, Ronit; Ovadia, Dror; Constantini, Shlomi; Roth, Jonathan

    2018-05-04

    Shunt series (SS) are a common diagnostic tool used to verify shunt integrity. SS include X-ray films of the skull, chest, and abdomen and often are performed either when a shunted patient presents with suspected shunt malfunction or as a screening test to identify shunt disconnections or dislodgment. EOS low-dose biplanar X-rays are associated with significantly reduced radiation doses compared with ordinary X-rays and are used for various indications. This is the first publication on the use of EOS as a SS technique. Over a period of 6 months, EOS were performed at our center for various orthopedic indications, mostly for scoliosis evaluation. Nine children (<20 years of age) had a ventriculoperitoneal shunt and served as the study group. We retrospectively reviewed shunt visibility and integrity in the EOS scans as well as regular SS or plain spinal X-rays. Three patients had bilateral shunts, and 8 had previous X-rays for comparison. In all patients, the shunt integrity was easily demonstrated on the EOS images. Two patients had an identified shunt disconnection confirmed on the EOS images. No shunt-related information was missed on the EOS compared with the other X-ray images. These preliminary results suggest that EOS may be used as an alternative technology to demonstrate shunt integrity instead of regular X-ray SS. Favorable shunt visibility without the need for multiple radiation exposures and image processing (such as stitching) results in a significantly shorter examination time and significant less radiation. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  5. Reduction of shunt obstructions by using a peel-away sheath technique? A multicenter prospective randomized trial.

    PubMed

    Kehler, Uwe; Langer, Niels; Gliemroth, Jan; Meier, Ullrich; Lemcke, Johannes; Sprung, Christian; Schlosser, Hans-Georg; Kiefer, Michael; Eymann, Regina; Heese, Oliver

    2012-05-01

    Shunt obstructions may partly be caused by brain debris, which intrude into the ventricular catheter during ventricle puncture. Avoiding contact between the catheter and brain tissue, by using a peel-away sheath, should reduce the number of shunt failures caused by obstruction. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a randomized, prospective multicenter study. 201 patients from 6 different neurosurgical centers in Germany receiving a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt were included in this study. Of these, 177 patients completed a 1-year follow-up period. Surgery was randomized in a 1 to 1 fashion, such that out of 177 procedures, 91 were performed using a peel-away sheath and 86 were performed without. The rate of surgical re-interventions and shunt obstructions within a 12-month period was recorded. Within 1 year post-surgery, 17 shunt obstructions (9.6%) leading to shunt revisions were recorded. However, no difference was found between surgeries performed using a peel-away sheath (9.9%) or not (9.3%). The overall shunt infection rate was 2.8% and the shunt revision rate for overdrainage was 3.9%. The theoretical advantages attributed to the use of a peel-away sheath to introduce a ventricular catheter could not be confirmed in this randomized study, suggesting that the proposed role of brain debris in shunt obstructions may be overestimated. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  6. Ventriculoperitoneal shunts in low birth weight infants with intracranial hemorrhage: neurodevelopmental outcome.

    PubMed

    Boynton, B R; Boynton, C A; Merritt, T A; Vaucher, Y E; James, H E; Bejar, R F

    1986-02-01

    Fifty preterm infants (mean birth weight, 1266 +/- 303 g; mean gestational age, 30 +/- 2 weeks) who required a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt for posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus (92% with Grade III or IV hemorrhage) were followed for neurodevelopmental problems. VP shunts were placed at a median age of 29 days (range, 18 to 87 days) after serial lumbar punctures failed to control progressive and symptomatic ventriculomegaly. A total of 34 infants (68%) required one shunt revision or more, and the overall infection rate per patient was 50%. Seven infants died, 2 from shunt infections. The infants were evaluated with audiological, ophthalmological, and neurodevelopmental examinations. Of the survivors, 11 (28%) have severe visual loss and 10 (24%) have hearing impairment. Of the infants, 21 (49%) have severe motor handicaps and 19 (38%) have seizure disorders. Developmental and motor scores were obtained using the Bayley or Knobloch-Gesell scales. Seven infants (18%) have normal developmental outcomes; 26 (60%) have multiple handicaps. Grade IV hemorrhage or the occurrence of seizures was a predictor of poor neurodevelopmental outcome. We conclude that progressive posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus in low birth weight infants is associated with multiple handicaps despite early VP shunt placement.

  7. Importance of technical preparation of intraarterial shunts to prevent iatrogenic arterial injury during urgent procedures.

    PubMed

    Awad, Nadia; Choudry, Rashad; Durinka, Joel; Prabhu, Aparna; Dissin, Jonathan

    2013-02-01

    Although intraarterial shunting during carotid endarterectomy is a well-defined practice, its use remains controversial. Complication rates associated with shunt placement remain low, but may be underreported. When complications secondary to routine intraarterial shunting occur, they can cause significant morbidity or even mortality, emphasizing the importance of meticulous technique to prevent adverse outcomes. We report a case of internal carotid artery dissection and pseuedoaneurysm due to the technical failure of a safety device of an intraarterial shunt used during carotid endarterectomy.

  8. An Unusual Complication of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt: Urinary Bladder Stone Case Report and Literature Review.

    PubMed

    Xu, Songtao; Sheng, Weixin; Qiu, Yufa; Wang, Jianguo

    2016-01-01

    Ventriculoperitoneal (V-P) shunt surgery is the most common technique used for the treatment of hydrocephalus. The migration of ventriculoperitoneal shunt to the bladder is rare. Only two cases have been previously reported in the literature. We report on a 38-year-old male who had hydrocephalus and V-P shunt for 12 years. Two years ago, he found himself with recurrent urinary tract infections, haematuria and urges incontinence, and then he was diagnosed with bladder perforation and merge stones. The patient had an abdominal operation to cut off and take out the shunt catheter, as well as a transurethral holmium laser lithotripsy. Bladder perforation and stones are rare examples of complications in V-P surgical procedures. Controlling the effective length of the terminal V-P shunt and modifying it appropriately can effectively reduce these complications.

  9. 21 CFR 882.5550 - Central nervous system fluid shunt and components.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Central nervous system fluid shunt and components... Central nervous system fluid shunt and components. (a) Identification. A central nervous system fluid... central nervous system to an internal delivery site or an external receptacle for the purpose of relieving...

  10. 21 CFR 882.5550 - Central nervous system fluid shunt and components.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Central nervous system fluid shunt and components... Central nervous system fluid shunt and components. (a) Identification. A central nervous system fluid... central nervous system to an internal delivery site or an external receptacle for the purpose of relieving...

  11. 21 CFR 882.5550 - Central nervous system fluid shunt and components.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Central nervous system fluid shunt and components... Central nervous system fluid shunt and components. (a) Identification. A central nervous system fluid... central nervous system to an internal delivery site or an external receptacle for the purpose of relieving...

  12. 21 CFR 882.5550 - Central nervous system fluid shunt and components.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Central nervous system fluid shunt and components... Central nervous system fluid shunt and components. (a) Identification. A central nervous system fluid... central nervous system to an internal delivery site or an external receptacle for the purpose of relieving...

  13. 21 CFR 882.5550 - Central nervous system fluid shunt and components.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Central nervous system fluid shunt and components... Central nervous system fluid shunt and components. (a) Identification. A central nervous system fluid... central nervous system to an internal delivery site or an external receptacle for the purpose of relieving...

  14. Successful embolization using interlocking detachable coils for a congenital extrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt in a child.

    PubMed

    Yamagami, Takuji; Yoshimatsu, Rika; Matsumoto, Tomohiro; Terayama, Koshi; Nishiumra, Akira; Maeda, Yousuke; Nishimura, Tsunehiko

    2007-11-01

    The authors report the case of a 6-year-old boy with a congenital extrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt. He had hyperammonemia. The shunt was 18 mm in diameter and located between the inferior mesenteric vein and the left internal iliac vein. The flow in the shunt was very rapid. After decreasing blood flow by inflating a balloon catheter inserted into the left internal iliac vein from the femoral vein, a microcatheter was coaxially advanced to the shunt to embolize the shunt. Embolization was successfully performed with interlocking detachable coils and microcoils without any complication. This patient's hyperammonemia resolved soon after the procedure.

  15. Practice guideline: Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus: Response to shunting and predictors of response

    PubMed Central

    Halperin, John J.; Kurlan, Roger; Schwalb, Jason M.; Cusimano, Michael D.; Gronseth, Gary; Gloss, David

    2015-01-01

    Objective: We evaluated evidence for utility of shunting in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) and for predictors of shunting effectiveness. Methods: We identified and classified relevant published studies according to 2004 and 2011 American Academy of Neurology methodology. Results: Of 21 articles, we identified 3 Class I articles. Conclusions: Shunting is possibly effective in iNPH (96% chance subjective improvement, 83% chance improvement on timed walk test at 6 months) (3 Class III). Serious adverse event risk was 11% (1 Class III). Predictors of success included elevated Ro (1 Class I, multiple Class II), impaired cerebral blood flow reactivity to acetazolamide (by SPECT) (1 Class I), and positive response to either external lumbar drainage (1 Class III) or repeated lumbar punctures. Age may not be a prognostic factor (1 Class II). Data are insufficient to judge efficacy of radionuclide cisternography or aqueductal flow measurement by MRI. Recommendations: Clinicians may choose to offer shunting for subjective iNPH symptoms and gait (Level C). Because of significant adverse event risk, risks and benefits should be carefully weighed (Level B). Clinicians should inform patients with iNPH with elevated Ro and their families that they have an increased chance of responding to shunting compared with those without such elevation (Level B). Clinicians may counsel patients with iNPH and their families that (1) positive response to external lumbar drainage or to repeated lumbar punctures increases the chance of response to shunting, and (2) increasing age does not decrease the chance of shunting being successful (both Level C). PMID:26644048

  16. Mesocaval Shunt Creation for Jejunal Variceal Bleeding with Chronic Portal Vein Thrombosis.

    PubMed

    Yoon, Ja Kyung; Kim, Man Deuk; Lee, Do Yun; Han, Seok Joo

    2018-01-01

    The creation of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a widely performed technique to relieve portal hypertension, and to manage recurrent variceal bleeding and refractory ascites in patients where medical and/or endoscopic treatments have failed. However, portosystemic shunt creation can be challenging in the presence of chronic portal vein occlusion. In this case report, we describe a minimally invasive endovascular mesocaval shunt creation with transsplenic approach for the management of recurrent variceal bleeding in a portal hypertension patient with intra- and extrahepatic portal vein occlusion. © Copyright: Yonsei University College of Medicine 2018.

  17. Management and classification of type II congenital portosystemic shunts.

    PubMed

    Lautz, Timothy B; Tantemsapya, Niramol; Rowell, Erin; Superina, Riccardo A

    2011-02-01

    Congenital portosystemic shunts (PSS) with preserved intrahepatic portal flow (type II) present with a range of clinical signs. The indications for and benefits of repair of PSS remain incompletely understood. A more comprehensive classification may also benefit comparative analyses from different institutions. All children treated at our institution for type II congenital PSS from 1999 through 2009 were reviewed for presentation, treatment, and outcome. Ten children (7 boys) with type II PSS were identified at a median age of 5.5 years. Hyperammonemia with varying degrees of neurocognitive dysfunction occurred in 80%. The shunt arose from a branch of the portal vein (type IIa; n = 2), from the main portal vein (type IIb; n = 7), or from a splenic or mesenteric vein (type IIc; n = 1). Management included operative ligation (n = 6), endovascular occlusion (n = 3), or a combined approach (n = 1). Shunt occlusion was successful in all cases. Serum ammonia decreased from 130 ± 115 μmol/L preoperatively to 31 ± 15 μmol/L postoperatively (P = .03). Additional benefits included resolution of neurocognitive dysfunction (n = 3), liver nodules (n = 1), and vaginal bleeding (n = 1). Correction of type II PSS relieves a wide array of symptoms. Surgery is indicated for patients with clinically significant shunting. A refined classification system will permit future comparison of patients with similar physiology. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  18. Statistical Performances of Resistive Active Power Splitter

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lalléchère, Sébastien; Ravelo, Blaise; Thakur, Atul

    2016-03-01

    In this paper, the synthesis and sensitivity analysis of an active power splitter (PWS) is proposed. It is based on the active cell composed of a Field Effect Transistor in cascade with shunted resistor at the input and the output (resistive amplifier topology). The PWS uncertainty versus resistance tolerances is suggested by using stochastic method. Furthermore, with the proposed topology, we can control easily the device gain while varying a resistance. This provides useful tool to analyse the statistical sensitivity of the system in uncertain environment.

  19. [Intrathoracic migration of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt catheter: a case report].

    PubMed

    Sánchez-Medina, Yanire; Domínguez-Báez, Jaime; Lazo-Fernández, Eglis; Pérez Del Rosario, Pedro Antonio; Zanabria-Ortiz, Robert

    2015-01-01

    The intrathoracic complications from ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement are very rare. However, they are potentially serious if not treated. We report the case of thoracic migration of a peritoneal catheter after ventriculoperitoneal shunt and we also review the literature references with discussion of the different mechanisms of shunt-tip migration described. No case of previous sternotomy as in our patient has been found published. All reports recommend early catheter repositioning into the peritoneal cavity after diagnosing the migration described, to prevent worse complications. Moreover, it is important to keep in mind that intrathoracic migration can happen and it is necessary to palpate the catheter continuously during passage through subcutaneous tunnelling to prevent it. Copyright © 2014 Sociedad Española de Neurocirugía. Published by Elsevier España. All rights reserved.

  20. [Congenital intrahepatic venous shunt as a cause of hepatic encephalopathy].

    PubMed

    Cosme Jiménez, A; Bujanda Fernández de Piérola, L; Poch Zapiraín, M; Orcolaga Alba, R; Ojeda Pérez, E; Arenas Miravé, J I

    1995-11-01

    Macroscopic intrahepatic portosystemic shunts are extremely rare and may be due to liver injury, congenital vascular malformations or pathologic collaterals secondary to portal hypertension. Forty-eight cases have been reported in the literature up to 1994 with 50-60% presenting cerebral manifestations and 40% being associated with cirrhosis. The case of a patient without cirrhosis who was admitted for upper digestive hemorrhage secondary to gastroduodenal ulcer is described. At 48 hours the patient had an episode of hepatic encephalopathy coinciding with bleeding reactivation. Abdominal echography suggested communication between the right portal and suprahepatic veins and posterior angiography confirmed the diagnosis. Color Doppler echography determined shunt and portal vein blood flow. No case of intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt as a cause of encephalopathy was found to have been reported in the Spanish literature.

  1. Morphology of congenital portosystemic shunts involving the left colic vein in dogs and cats.

    PubMed

    White, R N; Parry, A T

    2016-05-01

    To describe the anatomy of congenital portosystemic shunts involving the left colic vein in dogs and cats. Retrospective review of a consecutive series of dogs and cats managed for congenital portosystemic shunts. For inclusion a shunt involving the left colic vein with recorded intraoperative mesenteric portovenography or computed tomography angiography along with direct gross surgical observations at the time of surgery was required. Six dogs and three cats met the inclusion criteria. All cases had a shunt which involved a distended left colic vein. The final communication with a systemic vein was variable; in seven cases (five dogs, two cats) it was via the caudal vena cava, in one cat it was via the common iliac vein and in the remaining dog it was via the internal iliac vein. In addition, two cats showed caudal vena cava duplication. The morphology of this shunt type appeared to be a result of an abnormal communication between either the left colic vein or the cranial rectal vein and a pelvic systemic vein (caudal vena cava, common iliac vein or internal iliac vein). This information may help with surgical planning in cases undergoing shunt closure surgery. © 2016 British Small Animal Veterinary Association.

  2. Current treatment of normal-pressure hydrocephalus: comparison of flow-regulated and differential-pressure shunt valves.

    PubMed

    Weiner, H L; Constantini, S; Cohen, H; Wisoff, J H

    1995-11-01

    FROM THE RECORDS of approximately 1500 shunt operations performed between 1987 and 1992, we identified 37 adults between ages 38 and 86 years (mean, 70 yr) with the normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) syndrome who underwent surgery by a single surgeon. Since 1990, we have routinely used a flow-regulated shunt system (Orbis-Sigma valve [OSV]; Cordis Corporation, Miami, FL) in these patients. In this study, we compared the OSV system with conventional differential-pressure (DP) shunt systems uniformly used before 1990. This series (n = 37) consisted of 62% men (n = 23) and 38% women (n = 14). We excluded all patients with hydrocephalus associated with central nervous system neoplasms, intracerebral hemorrhage, or trauma as well those with radiographically documented late-onset aqueductal stenosis. All patients presented with the NPH clinical syndrome, chiefly with magnetic gait. In addition, 75% of patients experienced cognitive loss and 59% experienced urinary incontinence. The mean duration of preoperative symptoms was 35 months (range, 7-120 mo). Eight patients (22%) had undergone previous shunting procedures before referral to our service. A total of 89 shunt operations were performed in the 37 patients. Using actuarial methods and controlling for a history of prior shunt surgery, we found no significant difference in the time to initial malfunction (shunt survival) between the OSV and the DP shunts. There were three subdural hematomas and one infection in the OSV group compared with no complications in the DP valve group (P = 0.11). Thirty-six patients were available for follow-up, at a mean of 14 months after surgery. Nearly 90% of all patients experienced improvement in gait after shunting, regardless of the valve system that was used. There was one unrelated death. Realizing the limitations of a retrospective analysis and on the basis of the limited number of patients in this study, we conclude that using actuarial methods, we found no significant difference

  3. A Comparative Result of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt, Focusing Mainly on Gravity-Assisted Valve and Programmable Valve

    PubMed Central

    Lee, Won-Chul; Choe, Il-Seung; Park, Sung-Choon; Ha, Young-Soo; Lee, Kyu Chang

    2010-01-01

    Objective Despite rapid evolution of shunt devices, the complication rates remain high. The most common causes are turning from obstruction, infection, and overdrainage into mainly underdrainage. We investigated the incidence of complications in a consecutive series of hydrocephalic patients. Methods From January 2002 to December 2009, 111 patients underwent ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting at our hospital. We documented shunt failures and complications according to valve type, primary disease, and number of revisions. Results Overall shunt survival time was 268 weeks. Mean survival time of gravity-assisted valve (GAV) was 222 weeks versus 286 weeks for other shunts. Survival time of programmable valves (264 weeks) was longer than that of pressure-controlled valves (186 weeks). The most common cause for shunt revision was underdrainage (13 valves). The revision rate due to underdrainage in patients with GAV (7 of 10 patients) was higher than that for other valve types. Of 7 patients requiring revision for GAV underdrainage, 6 patients were bedridden. The overall infection rate was 3.6%, which was lower than reported series. Seven patients demonstrating overdrainage had cranial defects when operations were performed (41%), and overdrainage was improved in 5 patients after cranioplasty. Conclusion Although none of the differences was statistically significant, some of the observations were especially notable. If a candidate for VP shunting is bedridden, GAV may not be indicated because it could lead to underdrainage. Careful procedure and perioperative management can reduce infection rate. Cranioplasty performed prior to VP shunting may be beneficial. PMID:21082054

  4. Laser restoration of flow in occluded ventricular shunts for pediatric neurosurgery

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Christens-Barry, William A.; Guarnieri, Michael; Carson, Benjamin S.

    1998-01-01

    We have investigated the use of short pulses of infrared ((lambda) equals 2.09 micrometers ) light from a Ho:YAG laser to photofragment occlusions and restore flow in ventricular shunts, which provide the sole means of maintaining proper intracranial pressure in hydrocephalus patients. These experiments employed model tissues, a polymeric model compound, and patient explants in order to determine appropriate pulse energies and delivery rates for removal of occlusions material. Laser energy doses and rates of occlusion removal were established for these materials. Laser energy doses that do not damage the shunt device or surrounding tissue were identified. Optical fibers (25 ga. or smaller) can be introduced through the dome of current shunt devices and threaded to the occlusion site. Clinical application will require the continued development of an introducer tool for the transcutaneous insertion of the optical fiber into the shunt device and irrigation techniques for removing the occlusion detritus generated by photofragmentation treatment. Using this approach, a minimally invasive and benign procedure for in situ restoration of flow in occluded neurological implant devices becomes possible.

  5. A modified Glenn shunt reduces venous congestion during acute right ventricular failure due to pulmonary banding: a randomized experimental study

    PubMed Central

    Vikholm, Per; Schiller, Petter; Hellgren, Laila

    2014-01-01

    OBJECTIVES Right ventricular failure after left ventricular assist device implantation is a serious complication with high rates of mortality and morbidity. It has been demonstrated in experimental settings that volume exclusion of the right ventricle with a modified Glenn shunt can improve haemodynamics during ischaemic right ventricular failure. However, the concept of a modified Glenn shunt is dependent on a normal pulmonary vascular resistance, which can limit its use in some patients. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of volume exclusion with a modified Glenn shunt during right ventricular failure due to pulmonary banding, and to study the alterations in genetic expression in the right ventricle due to pressure and volume overload. METHODS Experimental right ventricular failure was induced in pigs (n = 11) through 2 h of pulmonary banding. The pigs were randomized to either treatment with a modified Glenn shunt and pulmonary banding (n = 6) or solely pulmonary banding (n = 5) as a control group. Haemodynamic measurements, blood samples and right ventricular biopsies for genetic analysis were sampled at baseline, at right ventricular failure (i.e. 2 h of pulmonary banding) and 1 h post-right ventricular failure in both groups. RESULTS Right atrial pressure increased from 10 mmHg (9.0–12) to 18 mmHg (16–22) (P < 0.01) and the right ventricular pressure from 31 mmHg (26–35) to 57 mmHg (49–61) (P < 0.01) after pulmonary banding. Subsequent treatment with the modified Glenn shunt resulted in a decrease in right atrial pressure to 13 mmHg (11–14) (P = 0.03). In the control group, right atrial pressure was unchanged at 19 mmHg (16–20) (P = 0.18). At right heart failure, there was an up-regulation of genes associated with heart failure, inflammation, angiogenesis, negative regulation of cell death and proliferation. CONCLUSIONS Volume exclusion with a modified Glenn shunt during right ventricular failure reduced venous congestion compared

  6. Surgical strategy according to the anatomical types of congenital portosystemic shunts in children.

    PubMed

    Matsuura, Toshiharu; Takahashi, Yoshiaki; Yanagi, Yusuke; Yoshimaru, Koichiro; Yamamura, Kenichiro; Morihana, Eiji; Nagata, Hazumu; Uike, Kiyoshi; Takada, Hidetoshi; Taguchi, Tomoaki

    2016-12-01

    Congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSS) with intrahepatic portal vein (IHPV) hypoplasia or absence cause encephalopathy or pulmonary hypertension (PH). Acute shunt closure may result in postoperative portal hypertension. The aim of this study was to propose a surgical strategy according to the anatomical types of CPSS and IHPV. Twenty-three CPSS patients were diagnosed from1990 to 2015. All patients were evaluated by computed tomography, angiography, and PV pressure monitoring under a shunt occlusion test. CPSS were categorized into 5 types according to the anatomical shunt location. The median age at diagnosis was 34months. Three of 23 total patients, who had an extrahepatic portosystemic shunt with a hypoplastic IHPV, died before treatment initiation because of severe PH. Fourteen cases received surgical or interventional treatment at the median age of 5years. A total of 6 cases received surgical therapy, including liver transplants for 2 absent IHPV cases. The remaining 8 cases received interventional coiling. All shunt ligations were successfully accomplished in 1-stage ligation without any complications. After the treatment, the hypoplastic IHPV gradually enlarged with an efficient portal inflow. A precise pretreatment anatomical evaluation of CPSS and IHPV types is mandatory for the selection of surgical treatment. Diagnostic study - level II and treatment study - level III. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. Congenital Portosystemic Shunts: Clinic Heterogeneity Requires an Individual Management of the Patient.

    PubMed

    Chocarro, Gloria; Amesty, María Virginia; Encinas, Jose Luis; Vilanova Sánchez, Alejandra; Hernandez, Francisco; Andres, Ane M; Gamez, Manolo; Tovar, Juan Antonio; Lopez Santamaria, Manuel

    2016-02-01

    Congenital portosystemic shunt (CPSS) is a rare entity without insufficiency in treatment issues. The aim of this article is to show our experience in the heterogeneity of this condition. A retrospective study of 25 CPSS in the period 1995 to 2014 was conducted. Description of the morphology, clinical impact, and treatment is given. According to the imaging techniques (IT), the shunt was apparently intrahepatic in 14 patients, extrahepatic in 10 patients, and mixed in 1 patient. In 14 children, IT showed hepatic portal circulation. In total shunts in which radiological examination was performed, invasive radiological techniques were able to demonstrate intrahepatic portal vein. In other patients, it was not investigated as they are asymptomatic. A child presented multiorgan failure with fulminant hepatic failure at birth. The shunt was radiologically closed and clinical impairment reversed rapidly. He is now asymptomatic with no longer images of CPSS in ultrasound scan controls. Also, seven children are asymptomatic at this time and are monitored periodically. Seven children had prenatal diagnosis, in five the shunt closed spontaneously. Nine children were symptomatic in their evolution (hyperammonemia, regenerative nodules, cholestasis, gastrointestinal bleeding). Of these, in five we performed balloon test occlusion, tolerated in all patients, followed by radiological closure. In our experience, the advancement of interventional radiology techniques avoided surgery to close the shunt. Morphologically, the CPSS is extremely heterogeneous, with multiple possible connections established. CPSS has multiple clinical presentations, from asymptomatic patients to acute liver failure. The therapeutic approach should be individualized and therefore held in overspecialized centers. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

  8. Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt: an underdiagnosed but treatable cause of hepatopulmonary syndrome.

    PubMed

    Fu, Lijun; Wang, Qian; Wu, Jinjin; Guo, Ying; Huang, Meirong; Liu, Tingliang; Chen, Qimin; Li, Fen

    2016-02-01

    Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (CEPS) is a rare malformation of the mesenteric vasculature, which may lead to severe complications. In this report, we describe a case series of three children with type II CEPS (presenting as hypoxemia) and hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS). The first patient was a 4-year-old male who did not receive any specific treatment and subsequently died of brain abscess 5 years after the diagnosis. The second patient was a 10-year-old female with a 5-year history of cyanosis and dyspnea on exertion. She had partial regression of hypoxemia and improved exercise tolerance at 8 months after a surgical shunt closure. The third patient was a 4-year-old male with a 3-year history of cyanosis and decreased exercise tolerance. He had full regression of hypoxemia at 3 months after a transcatheter shunt closure. These results indicate that CEPS may present in children with unexplained hypoxemia, which may lead to devastating clinical consequences. Closure of portosystemic shunts may result in resolution of HPS in type II CEPS and the length of period for resolution varies depending on the severity of HPS. Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (CEPS) is a rare cause of hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS). There have been few reports in the literature about the management and outcome of HPS in children with CEPS. CEPS may present in children with unexplained hypoxemia, which may lead to devastating clinical consequences. Closure of portosystemic shunts may result in resolution of HPS in type II CEPS.

  9. Contemporary survival of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and congenital systemic to pulmonary shunts

    PubMed Central

    Chungsomprasong, Paweena; Bositthipichet, Densiri; Ketsara, Salisa; Titaram, Yuttapon; Chanthong, Prakul; Kanjanauthai, Supaluck

    2018-01-01

    Objective To compare survival of patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease (PAH-CHD) according to various clinical classifications with classifications of anatomical-pathophysiological systemic to pulmonary shunts in a single-center cohort. Methods All prevalent cases of PAH-CHD with hemodynamic confirmation by cardiac catheterization in 1995–2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who were younger than three months of age, or with single ventricle following surgery were excluded. Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were retrieved from the database. The survival analysis was performed at the end of 2016. Prognostic factors were identified using multivariate analysis. Results A total of 366 consecutive patients (24.5 ± 17.6 years of age, 40% male) with PAH-CHD were analyzed. Most had simple shunts (85 pre-tricuspid, 105 post-tricuspid, 102 combined shunts). Patients with pre-tricuspid shunts were significantly older at diagnosis in comparison to post-tricuspid, combined, and complex shunts. Clinical classifications identified patients as having Eisenmenger syndrome (ES, 26.8%), prevalent left to right shunt (66.7%), PAH with small defect (3%), or PAH following defect correction (3.5%). At follow-up (median = 5.9 years; 0.1–20.7 years), no statistically significant differences in survival rate were seen among the anatomical-pathophysiological shunts (p = 0.1). Conversely, the clinical classifications revealed that patients with PAH-small defect had inferior survival compared to patients with ES, PAH post-corrective surgery, or PAH with prevalent left to right shunt (p = 0.01). Significant mortality risks were functional class III, age < 10 years, PAH-small defect, elevated right atrial pressure > 15 mmHg, and baseline PVR > 8 WU•m.2 Conclusion Patients with PAH-CHD had a modest long-term survival. Different anatomical-pathophysiological shunts affect the natural presentation, while

  10. Impact of Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunting for Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus on the Amyloid Cascade

    PubMed Central

    Moriya, Masao; Miyajima, Masakazu; Nakajima, Madoka; Ogino, Ikuko; Arai, Hajime

    2015-01-01

    The aim of this study was to determine whether the improvement of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow dynamics by CSF shunting, can suppress the oligomerization of amyloid β-peptide (Aβ), by measuring the levels of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related proteins in the CSF before and after lumboperitoneal shunting. Lumbar CSF from 32 patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) (samples were obtained before and 1 year after shunting), 15 patients with AD, and 12 normal controls was analyzed for AD-related proteins and APLP1-derived Aβ-like peptides (APL1β) (a surrogate marker for Aβ). We found that before shunting, individuals with iNPH had significantly lower levels of soluble amyloid precursor proteins (sAPP) and Aβ38 compared to patients with AD and normal controls. We divided the patients with iNPH into patients with favorable (improvement ≥ 1 on the modified Rankin Scale) and unfavorable (no improvement on the modified Rankin Scale) outcomes. Compared to the unfavorable outcome group, the favorable outcome group showed significant increases in Aβ38, 40, 42, and phosphorylated-tau levels after shunting. In contrast, there were no significant changes in the levels of APL1β25, 27, and 28 after shunting. After shunting, we observed positive correlations between sAPPα and sAPPβ, Aβ38 and 42, and APL1β25 and 28, with shifts from sAPPβ to sAPPα, from APL1β28 to 25, and from Aβ42 to 38 in all patients with iNPH. Our results suggest that Aβ production remained unchanged by the shunt procedure because the levels of sAPP and APL1β were unchanged. Moreover, the shift of Aβ from oligomer to monomer due to the shift of Aβ42 (easy to aggregate) to Aβ38 (difficult to aggregate), and the improvement of interstitial-fluid flow, could lead to increased Aβ levels in the CSF. Our findings suggest that the shunting procedure can delay intracerebral deposition of Aβ in patients with iNPH. PMID:25821958

  11. Treatment of extrahepatic portal hypertension following a whipple procedure with a Rex shunt: report of a case.

    PubMed

    Reichman, Trevor W; Anthony, Tiffany; Testa, Giuliano

    2011-02-01

    The Rex shunt is a mesenteric vein to left portal vein decompressive shunt used for the treatment of portal vein thrombosis and portal hypertension. Its use has been reported primarily in the pediatric population where portal vein thrombosis occurs with some frequency. The shunt is thought to represent a more physiologic shunt, since it restores hepatopedal blood flow through the liver. This report describes the use of this shunt in an adult who had frequent gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis, which occurred as a complication after a pancreaticoduodenectomy.

  12. An in vitro lung model to assess true shunt fraction by multiple inert gas elimination.

    PubMed

    Varadarajan, Balamurugan; Vogt, Andreas; Hartwich, Volker; Vasireddy, Rakesh; Consiglio, Jolanda; Hugi-Mayr, Beate; Eberle, Balthasar

    2017-01-01

    The Multiple Inert Gas Elimination Technique, based on Micropore Membrane Inlet Mass Spectrometry, (MMIMS-MIGET) has been designed as a rapid and direct method to assess the full range of ventilation-to-perfusion (V/Q) ratios. MMIMS-MIGET distributions have not been assessed in an experimental setup with predefined V/Q-distributions. We aimed (I) to construct a novel in vitro lung model (IVLM) for the simulation of predefined V/Q distributions with five gas exchange compartments and (II) to correlate shunt fractions derived from MMIMS-MIGET with preset reference shunt values of the IVLM. Five hollow-fiber membrane oxygenators switched in parallel within a closed extracorporeal oxygenation circuit were ventilated with sweep gas (V) and perfused with human red cell suspension or saline (Q). Inert gas solution was infused into the perfusion circuit of the gas exchange assembly. Sweep gas flow (V) was kept constant and reference shunt fractions (IVLM-S) were established by bypassing one or more oxygenators with perfusate flow (Q). The derived shunt fractions (MM-S) were determined using MIGET by MMIMS from the retention data. Shunt derived by MMIMS-MIGET correlated well with preset reference shunt fractions. The in vitro lung model is a convenient system for the setup of predefined true shunt fractions in validation of MMIMS-MIGET.

  13. Self-adjusting magnetic bearing systems

    DOEpatents

    Post, Richard F.

    1998-01-01

    A self-adjusting magnetic bearing automatically adjusts the parameters of an axially unstable magnetic bearing such that its force balance is maintained near the point of metastable equilibrium. Complete stabilization can be obtained with the application of weak restoring forces either from a mechanical bearing (running at near-zero load, thus with reduced wear) or from the action of residual eddy currents in a snubber bearing. In one embodiment, a torque is generated by the approach of a slotted pole to a conducting plate. The torque actuates an assembly which varies the position of a magnetic shunt to change the force exerted by the bearing. Another embodiment achieves axial stabilization by sensing vertical displacements in a suspended bearing element, and using this information in an electrical servo system. In a third embodiment, as a rotating eddy current exciter approaches a stationary bearing, it heats a thermostat which actuates an assembly to weaken the attractive force between the two bearing elements. An improved version of an electromechanical battery utilizing the designs of the various embodiments is described.

  14. Self-adjusting magnetic bearing systems

    DOEpatents

    Post, R.F.

    1998-07-21

    A self-adjusting magnetic bearing automatically adjusts the parameters of an axially unstable magnetic bearing such that its force balance is maintained near the point of metastable equilibrium. Complete stabilization can be obtained with the application of weak restoring forces either from a mechanical bearing (running at near-zero load, thus with reduced wear) or from the action of residual eddy currents in a snubber bearing. In one embodiment, a torque is generated by the approach of a slotted pole to a conducting plate. The torque actuates an assembly which varies the position of a magnetic shunt to change the force exerted by the bearing. Another embodiment achieves axial stabilization by sensing vertical displacements in a suspended bearing element, and using this information in an electrical servo system. In a third embodiment, as a rotating eddy current exciter approaches a stationary bearing, it heats a thermostat which actuates an assembly to weaken the attractive force between the two bearing elements. An improved version of an electromechanical battery utilizing the designs of the various embodiments is described. 7 figs.

  15. Liver resection for the treatment of a congenital intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt.

    PubMed

    Papamichail, Michail; Ali, Amir; Quaglia, Alberto; Karani, John; Heaton, Nigel

    2016-06-01

    Intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (IPSS) are rare congenital anomalies arising from disordered portal vein embryogenesis. It has been described in both children and adults and may be asymptomatic or be associated with a variety of neurophysiological and pulmonary complications. When recognized, early intervention to occlude the shunt will reverse the associated complications. Literature review reports of surgical and radiological occlusion of the shunt, but due to its rarity, a standard therapeutic protocol has not been established. A case of a 38-year-old woman with abdominal pain and low grade encephalopathy, diagnosed with an IPSS and treated by right hepatectomy was reported.

  16. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt for treatment of hydrocephalus in a French bulldog puppy

    PubMed Central

    Giacinti, Jolene A.

    2016-01-01

    A 6.5-week-old bulldog was presented with lethargy, anorexia, and stunted growth. A domed skull, ventrolateral strabismus, hypermetria, and delayed hopping were observed. Congenital hydrocephalus was diagnosed and a ventriculoperitoneal shunt was placed. After surgery, a shunt obstruction occurred but resolved with treatment. The puppy responded well and neurological deficits continued to improve after surgery. PMID:26933271

  17. Programmable shunt valve interactions with osseointegrated hearing devices.

    PubMed

    Pierson, Matthew J; Wehrmann, Daniel; Albers, J Andrew; El Tecle, Najib E; Costa, Dary; Elbabaa, Samer K

    2017-04-01

    OBJECTIVE Patients with ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts with programmable valves who would benefit from osseointegrated hearing devices (OIHDs) represent a unique population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the magnetic field strengths of 4 OIHDs and their interactions with 5 programmable VP shunt valves. METHODS Magnetic field strength was measured as a function of distance for each hearing device (Cochlear Baha 5, Cochlear Baha BP110, Oticon Ponto Plus Power, and Medtronic Sophono) in the following modes: inactive, active in quiet, and active in 60 decibels of background noise in the sound booth. The hearing devices were introduced to each shunt valve (Aesculap proGAV, Aesculap proGAV 2.0, Codman Hakim, Codman Certas, and Medtronic Strata II) also as a function of distance in these identical 3 settings. Each trial was repeated 5 times. Between each trial, the valves were assessed for a change in setting. Finally, using a skull model, the devices were introduced to each other in standard anatomical locations and the valves were assessed for a change in settings. RESULTS The maximum magnetic field strengths generated by the Cochlear Baha 5, BP110, and Oticon OIHDs were 1.1, 36.2, and 48.7 gauss (G), respectively. The maximum strength generated by the Sophono device was > 800 G. The magnetic field strength of the hearing devices decreased markedly with increasing distance from the device. The strength of the Sophono's magnetic attachment decreased to 34.8 G at 5 mm. The Codman Hakim, Codman Certas, and Medtronic Strata II valve settings changed when rotating the valves next to the Sophono abutment. No other changes in valve settings occurred in the distance or anatomical models for any other trials. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study evaluating the interaction between OIHDs and programmable VP shunt valves. The findings suggest that it is safe to use these devices together without having to switch to a nonprogrammable valve or move the shunt valve to a more

  18. Reversible CSF cyst related to a functioning ventriculo-peritoneal shunt.

    PubMed

    Vajramani, G V; Fugleholm, K

    2005-11-01

    Although the occurrence of CSF oedema and cyst has been described in presence of a blocked ventriculoperitoneal shunt, especially distal end block, its occurrence in presence of a well functioning shunt has not been described so far. We report a case where a 51-year old lady developed an insidious onset and gradually progressive CSF cyst without any clinical or radiological feature of shunt block over a period of about 2 years. The changes started about 6 months after a course of radiation therapy for an extensive residual supra and infratentorial meningioma. Following surgery, where the cyst was punctured and a new ventricular catheter was inserted, despite well functioning upper and lower end, the cyst gradually disappeared. We review the literature and hypothesize that the radiation-induced changes were responsible for initiation and progression of the cyst.

  19. Continuous monitoring of intracranial pressure after endoscopic third ventriculostomy in the management of CSF shunt failure.

    PubMed

    Elgamal, E A

    2010-04-01

    The effectiveness of continuous intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring in the adaptation period, after endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), and removal of the failed shunt in the management of CSF shunt failure is assessed. Nine patients with active hydrocephalus presenting with CSF shunt obstruction or infection were managed by ETV, removal of the shunt and insertion of an external ventricular drain (EVD) containing an ICP sensor for the purpose of postoperative monitoring of the ICP, and intermittent drainage of CSF. Patient ages ranged from 8 months to 24 years, and six of them were females. Hydrocephalus was obstructive in seven patients, and multiloculated in two. Six patients had an ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS), one with a bilateral VPS, one patient had a ventriculoatrial shunt, and one had a VPS and cystoperitoneal shunt (CPS). Shunt failure was caused by obstruction in six patients and infection in three. The post-operative ICP monitoring period ranged from 1-7 days. Intracranial hypertension was persistent in the first day after ETV in 3 patients, and up to 110 mL of CSF were drained to improve its symptoms. ETV was successful in six patients and 3 had permanent VPS. Post-operative continuous ICP monitoring and EVD insertion were very useful in the treatment of CSF shunt failure with ETV. This procedure allowed intermittent CSF drainage, relieving symptoms of elevated ICP, and provided accurate assessment of the success of the ETV and patency of the stoma in the early postoperative days by CT ventriculography and can also be used to install antibiotics in cases of infection.

  20. Aqueous shunts in glaucoma: a report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

    PubMed

    Minckler, Don S; Francis, Brian A; Hodapp, Elizabeth A; Jampel, Henry D; Lin, Shan C; Samples, John R; Smith, Scott D; Singh, Kuldev

    2008-06-01

    To provide an evidence-based summary of commercially available aqueous shunts currently used in substantial numbers (Ahmed [New World Medical, Inc., Rancho Cucamonga, CA], Baerveldt [Advanced Medical Optics, Inc., Santa Ana, CA], Krupin [Eagle Vision, Inc, Memphis, TN], Molteno [Molteno Ophthalmic Ltd., Dunedin, New Zealand]) to control intraocular pressure (IOP) in various glaucomas. Seventeen previously published randomized trials, 1 prospective nonrandomized comparative trial, 1 retrospective case-control study, 2 comprehensive literature reviews, and published English language, noncomparative case series and case reports were reviewed and graded for methodologic quality. Aqueous shunts are used primarily after failure of medical, laser, and conventional filtering surgery to treat glaucoma and have been successful in controlling IOP in a variety of glaucomas. The principal long-term complication of anterior chamber tubes is corneal endothelial failure. The most shunt-specific delayed complication is erosion of the tube through overlying conjunctiva. There is a low incidence of this occurring with all shunts currently available, and it occurs most frequently within a few millimeters of the corneoscleral junction after anterior chamber insertion. Erosion of the equatorial plate through the conjunctival surface occurs less frequently. Clinical failure of the various devices over time occurs at a rate of approximately 10% per year, which is approximately the same as the failure rate for trabeculectomy. Based on level I evidence, aqueous shunts seem to have benefits (IOP control, duration of benefit) comparable with those of trabeculectomy in the management of complex glaucomas (phakic or pseudophakic eyes after prior failed trabeculectomies). Level I evidence indicates that there are no advantages to the adjunctive use of antifibrotic agents or systemic corticosteroids with currently available shunts. Too few high-quality direct comparisons of various available

  1. Small bowel perforation: a rare complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement

    PubMed Central

    Bourm, Kelsey; Pfeifer, Cory; Zarchan, Adam

    2016-01-01

    Small bowel perforation is a rare complication of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement. When seen, it most commonly affects the stomach or colon. We describe a case and image findings of an 8-year-old female who presented with sepsis and erosion of the VP shunt into the small bowel. The imaging findings were confirmed surgically. We also provide an overview of the current literature discussing previously reported cases, clinical features, and treatment. PMID:27761183

  2. Inexpensive system protects megawatt resistance-heating furnace against high-voltage surges

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Stearns, E. J.

    1971-01-01

    Coolant gas extinguishes arcing across the break in a heater element. Air-gap shunt which bypasses high voltage impressed across the circuit prevents damage if the resistance elements break and open the inductive circuit.

  3. Transhepatic Embolization of Congenital Intrahepatic Portosystemic Venous Shunts with Associated Aneurysms

    PubMed Central

    Paudel, Kalyan; Hoffer, Eric K.

    2015-01-01

    Intrahepatic shunts between the portal and systemic venous systems with associated aneurysms are extremely rare. A middle aged woman presented with hepatic encephalopathy and was found to have two intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts with associated aneurysms. Diagnosis was made by duplex ultrasound and was confirmed with contrast enhanced MRI. Treatment was performed percutaneously with an Amplatzer vascular plug. PMID:26257785

  4. Effects of isradipine and other calcium antagonists on arteriovenous-shunt flow in anesthetized rabbits and cats

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hof, R.P.

    The effects of vasodilators on arteriovenous (AV)-shunt flow was investigated in anesthetized cats and rabbits, using the tracer microsphere method. In cats, the calcium antagonist isradipine reduced AV-shunt flow; verapamil showed a similar tendency and nicardipine was without effect. Dihydralazine strongly increased, but nitroglycerin and dipyridamole decreased AV-shunt flow. In rabbits, the effects of isradipine and verapamil were similar to those seen in cats. Sodium nitroprusside had no effect, whereas prazosin, minoxidil, and the potassium-channel activator cromakalim increased AV-shunt flow. The contrasting effects of drugs sharing the same mechanism of action suggest that target-tissue selectivity is more important than themore » mechanism of action. An increase of AV-shunt flow is unlikely to be beneficial but could be associated with a number of undesirable side effects. It might negatively affect migraine sufferers and, if AV-shunt dilatation shows no tolerance development, it represents an unnecessary hemodynamic burden for the heart.« less

  5. Distal splenorenal shunt (DSS) in children: analysis of the first 21 consecutive cases.

    PubMed Central

    Maksoud, J G; Mies, S

    1982-01-01

    Twenty-one children from the ages of 4 to 12 years old were treated for esophageal hemorrhage by distal splenorenal shunt (DSS). In four patients, thrombosis of the shunt occurred within the first 24 hours after operation. In the other 17 children, long-term shunt patency was verified. Only one thrombosis has occurred in the last 15 consecutive cases. The patients were followed from one-half to six years. Late angiographic studies were performed in five patients. Forward flow through the portal vein was demonstrated in all patients. In addition, collateralization between the portomesenteric (PM) and gastrosplenic (GS) compartments was present in each case. In four patients with a wide-open shunt, the direction of collateral flow was from the PM to the GS compartment. In one child in whom the shunt was partially obstructed, the flow was from the GS to the PM compartment. In all 17 successful cases, esophageal variceal hemorrhage ceased, and there were no instances of hepatic encephalopathy. It is concluded that DSS is a safe and effective surgical procedure for the treatment of esophageal bleeding in children. Images Fig. 1. Fig. 2. Fig. 3. Fig. 4. Fig. 5. PMID:6978110

  6. Effective Intraluminal Shunt in Carotid Endarterectomy for Carotid Artery Near Occlusion: Technical Report.

    PubMed

    Kawamura, Yoichiro; Maruyama, Daisuke; Akagi, Yojiro; Iihara, Koji

    2017-10-01

    Carotid artery near occlusion is a critical degree of stenosis whereby blood flow is decreased and the distal cervical and intracranial internal carotid arteries (ICAs) are prone to collapse. Considering the diminished perfusion and risk of progression to total occlusion and periocclusive embolism, we performed carotid endarterectomy for carotid artery near occlusion. Accurate evaluation of tandem stenosis or patency of the poststenotic ICA in carotid artery near occlusion is often difficult preoperatively. Thus we performed carotid endarterectomy in a hybrid operating room where intraoperative digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and endovascular angioplasty or stenting for distal lesions can be performed if necessary. In addition, to evaluate the distal ICA intraoperatively, we used an intraluminal shunt for shunt angiography, with injection of contrast material through the shunt tube, as a replacement for conventional DSA. Furthermore, an intraluminal shunt held the collapsed lumen open and provided a scaffold for suturing, which prevented postoperative stenosis of the distal ICA. The present report is intended to underline the merits of intraluminal shunt as a replacement for conventional DSA and as a scaffold for suturing. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. AC Resistance measuring instrument

    DOEpatents

    Hof, Peter J.

    1983-01-01

    An auto-ranging AC resistance measuring instrument for remote measurement of the resistance of an electrical device or circuit connected to the instrument includes a signal generator which generates an AC excitation signal for application to a load, including the device and the transmission line, a monitoring circuit which provides a digitally encoded signal representing the voltage across the load, and a microprocessor which operates under program control to provide an auto-ranging function by which range resistance is connected in circuit with the load to limit the load voltage to an acceptable range for the instrument, and an auto-compensating function by which compensating capacitance is connected in shunt with the range resistance to compensate for the effects of line capacitance. After the auto-ranging and auto-compensation functions are complete, the microprocessor calculates the resistance of the load from the selected range resistance, the excitation signal, and the load voltage signal, and displays of the measured resistance on a digital display of the instrument.

  8. Clinical and radiologic manifestations of congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts: a comprehensive review.

    PubMed

    Alonso-Gamarra, Eduardo; Parrón, Manuel; Pérez, Ana; Prieto, Consuelo; Hierro, Loreto; López-Santamaría, Manuel

    2011-01-01

    Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (CEPS) is a rare condition in which the portomesenteric blood drains into a systemic vein, bypassing the liver through a complete or partial shunt. Most often, the diagnosis is made primarily with Doppler ultrasonography. Computed tomographic angiography and magnetic resonance angiography are used for further classification of the shunt and assessment of accompanying anomalies. Conventional angiography is necessary when results of the other tests disagree or are inconclusive. CEPS is classified into two types according to the pattern of anastomoses between the portal vein and systemic vein. In type 1, intrahepatic portal venous supply is absent; in type 2, intrahepatic portal venous supply is preserved. Type 1 usually occurs in girls with associated malformations, such as situs ambiguous with polysplenia and congenital heart defects. Associated anomalies are less frequent in type 2, and symptoms usually develop later without a gender preference. Hepatic encephalopathy and liver dysfunction are possible complications of both types and usually develop during adulthood. Both types are also associated with regenerative hepatic nodules. The clinical setting and imaging appearance of these nodules can help one avoid misdiagnosis. Definitive treatment of CEPS is determined by the type of shunt. Liver transplantation is the only effective treatment for symptomatic type 1 CEPS; surgical closure or embolization of the shunt is the therapeutic approach for type 2. Copyright © RSNA, 2011.

  9. Poor cognitive outcome in shunt-responsive idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.

    PubMed

    Koivisto, Anne M; Alafuzoff, Irina; Savolainen, Sakari; Sutela, Anna; Rummukainen, Jaana; Kurki, Mitja; Jääskeläinen, Juha E; Soininen, Hilkka; Rinne, Jaakko; Leinonen, Ville

    2013-01-01

    Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) causes cognitive decline that can be alleviated by shunting, but long-term outcome studies are scarce. To elucidate the long-term cognitive condition of shunt-responsive iNPH patients. The follow-up data (Kuopio University Hospital NPH Registry) of 146 patients diagnosed with iNPH by clinical and radiological examination, 24-hour intraventricular pressure monitoring, frontal cortical biopsy, and response to the shunt were analyzed for signs of dementia. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, and specified memory disorder criteria were used. Median follow-up was 4.8 years. At the end of follow-up, 117 (80%) of the 146 iNPH patients had cognitive decline and 67 (46%) had clinical dementia. The most common clinical diagnoses were Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia. In multivariate analysis of the 146 iNPH patients, memory deficit as a first symptom before shunt (odds ratio [OR] 18.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.9-175), male sex (OR 3.29; 95% CI 1.11-9.73), age (OR 1.17 year; 95% CI 1.07-1.28), and follow-up time (OR 1.20 year; 95% CI 1.02-1.40) predicted dementia. Interestingly, 8 (5%) iNPH patients had dementia without any signs of other neurodegenerative diseases in clinical, neuroradiological, or brain biopsy evaluation. These patients initially presented a full triad of symptoms, with gait disturbance being the most frequent initial symptom followed by deterioration in cognition. The novel findings were (a) a significant risk of dementia in iNPH initially responsive to cerebrospinal fluid shunt, (b) cognitive impairment most commonly due to iNPH-related dementia followed by concurrent degenerative brain disease, and (c) a subgroup with dementia related to iNPH without comorbidities.

  10. Congenital portosystemic shunts: diagnosis and treatment.

    PubMed

    Franchi-Abella, Stéphanie; Gonzales, Emmanuel; Ackermann, Oanez; Branchereau, Sophie; Pariente, Danièle; Guérin, Florent

    2018-05-05

    Congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSS) are rare vascular malformations that create an abnormal connection between portal and systemic veins resulting in complete or partial diversion of the portal flow away from the liver to the systemic venous system. Different anatomic types exist and several classifications have been proposed. They can be associated with other malformations especially cardiac and heterotaxia. The main complications include hepatic encephalopathy, liver tumors, portopulmonary hypertension, and pulmonary arteriovenous shunts. Diagnosis relies on imaging, and prenatal diagnosis is possible. Spontaneous closure of the CPSS is possible in some anatomic forms during the first year of life. When the CPSS remains patent, radiologic or surgical closure of the CPSS may prevent, resolve, or stabilize complications. Interventional radiology plays a key role for both the preoperative evaluation with occlusion test to assess the exact anatomy and to measure portal pressure after occlusion of the CPSS. Endovascular closure is the first option for treatment when possible.

  11. [Clinical experience with the Sp[hy adjustable valve in the treatment of adult hydrocephalus. A series of 147 cases].

    PubMed

    Bret, P; Guyotat, J; Ricci, A C; Mottolese, C; Jouanneau, E

    1999-05-01

    Evaluate the advantages, results and drawbacks of the Sophy adjustable valve (SV) in the treatment of hydrocephalus in the adult. One-hundred and forty-seven adult hydrocephalic patients (mean age = 64.5 years) shunted with a SV between 1990 and 1997 were retrospectively reviewed. Etiologies of hydrocephalus were: "normal pressure" chronic hydrocephalus (NPH) in 124 and tumoral hydrocephalus with intracranial hypertension in 23 patients. One-hundred fifty shunts were established in 147 patients: 14 ventriculoatrial and 136 ventriculoperitoneal shunts. The initial pressure settings of the SV were: high pressure: 12 times (8%), medium pressure: 136 times (90.6%) and low pressure: 2 times (1.3%). Sixteen patients were lost to follow-up. Two patients died within hours following the procedure. So, the results were analyzed in the 129 remaining patients, with a follow-up of 16.7 months (+/- 17.8). Three patients died from shunted-related causes (2.3%). Eighty-four patients had good results (65%), 25 had fair results (19.5%) and 20 failed to improve or deteriorated (15.5%) after shunting. Fifty-three reoperations were performed in 44 patients (34%), including 37 procedures for mechanical obstruction and 6 for septic complications. Subdural effusions (SDE) occurred in 16 patients (12.5%): 10 surgical evacuations were required in 7 patients; 8 patients were successfully treated using uprating of the SV pressure alone; one was managed conservatively. Fifty-eight pressure readjustments were performed in 47 patients. The pressure settings were uprated 28 times in patients showing clinical or computerized tomographic (CT) features suggesting overdrainage; 20 of those proved to be successful (71.5%). The pressure settings were lowered 30 times in patients showing a lack of improvement after shunting, attributed to underdrainage; only 12 of those proved to be successful (40%). Spontaneous changes of the pressure settings were observed in 14 patients (10.8%). After a MRI exposure

  12. Vaginal Migration of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Catheter and Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak as a Complication of Hysterectomy.

    PubMed

    Houten, John K; Smith, Shiela; Schwartz, Amit Y

    2017-08-01

    Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting is a common neurosurgical procedure to treat hydrocephalus that diverts cerebrospinal fluid from the cerebral ventricles to the peritoneal cavity for reabsorption. The distal catheter may potentially migrate through any potential or iatrogenic opening in the peritoneal cavity. Increasingly successfully management of childhood hydrocephalus and adult-onset conditions leading to hydrocephalus, such as subarachnoid hemorrhage, is leading many adult female patients harboring VP shunts needing to undergo hysterectomy. Hysterectomy creates a potential defect though which a VP shunt catheter may migrate. It is not known whether the hysterectomy cuff closure technique may affect the likelihood of distal catheter migration though the repair site. We report the case of a 38-year-old woman with a VP shunt who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy via an open vaginal cuff technique who subsequently presented with vaginal cerebrospinal fluid leakage secondary to migration of the distal shunt catheter through the hysterectomy cuff. Vaginal migration of the distal VP shunt catheter is a possible complication of hysterectomy. The authors postulate that an open cuff hysterectomy closure technique may increase the risk of catheter migration, an issue that may be better understood with further investigation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  13. Shunting inhibition improves robustness of gamma oscillations in hippocampal interneuron networks by homogenizing firing rates.

    PubMed

    Vida, Imre; Bartos, Marlene; Jonas, Peter

    2006-01-05

    Networks of GABAergic neurons are key elements in the generation of gamma oscillations in the brain. Computational studies suggested that the emergence of coherent oscillations requires hyperpolarizing inhibition. Here, we show that GABA(A) receptor-mediated inhibition in mature interneurons of the hippocampal dentate gyrus is shunting rather than hyperpolarizing. Unexpectedly, when shunting inhibition is incorporated into a structured interneuron network model with fast and strong synapses, coherent oscillations emerge. In comparison to hyperpolarizing inhibition, networks with shunting inhibition show several advantages. First, oscillations are generated with smaller tonic excitatory drive. Second, network frequencies are tuned to the gamma band. Finally, robustness against heterogeneity in the excitatory drive is markedly improved. In single interneurons, shunting inhibition shortens the interspike interval for low levels of drive but prolongs it for high levels, leading to homogenization of neuronal firing rates. Thus, shunting inhibition may confer increased robustness to gamma oscillations in the brain.

  14. Pruritus possibly associated with a portosystemic shunt in a bichon frise puppy

    PubMed Central

    Waisglass, Stephen E.; Gillick, Avery; Cockshutt, Joanne; Hall, Jan A.

    2006-01-01

    A bichon frise puppy was presented with generalized pruritus. At 22 weeks, a portosystemic shunt was diagnosed. Correction of the shunt led to resolution of the pruritus. Pruritus associated with hepatobiliary disease is well documented in humans; this case suggests that hepatobiliary disease may be associated with pruritus in dogs. PMID:17147142

  15. Reproducibility of right-to-left shunt quantification using transthoracic contrast echocardiography in hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia.

    PubMed

    Vorselaars, V M M; Velthuis, S; Huitema, M P; Hosman, A E; Westermann, C J J; Snijder, R J; Mager, J J; Post, M C

    2018-04-01

    Transthoracic contrast echocardiography (TTCE) is recommended for screening of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) in hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia. Shunt quantification is used to find treatable PAVMs. So far, there has been no study investigating the reproducibility of this diagnostic test. Therefore, this study aimed to describe inter-observer and inter-injection variability of TTCE. We conducted a prospective single centre study. We included all consecutive persons screened for presence of PAVMs in association with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia in 2015. The videos of two contrast injections per patient were divided and reviewed by two cardiologists blinded for patient data. Pulmonary right-to-left shunts were graded using a three-grade scale. Inter-observer and inter-injection agreement was calculated with κ statistics for the presence and grade of pulmonary right-to-left shunts. We included 107 persons (accounting for 214 injections) (49.5% male, mean age 45.0 ± 16.6 years). A pulmonary right-to-left shunt was present in 136 (63.6%) and 131 (61.2%) injections for observer 1 and 2, respectively. Inter-injection agreement for the presence of pulmonary right-to-left shunts was 0.96 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.9-1.0) and 0.98 (95% CI 0.94-1.00) for observer 1 and 2, respectively. Inter-injection agreement for pulmonary right-to-left shunt grade was 0.96 (95% CI 0.93-0.99) and 0.95 (95% CI 0.92-0.98) respectively. There was disagreement in right-to-left shunt grade between the contrast injections in 11 patients (10.3%). Inter-observer variability for presence and grade of the pulmonary right-to-left shunt was 0.95 (95% CI 0.91-0.99) and 0.97 (95% CI 0.95-0.99) respectively. TTCE has an excellent inter-injection and inter-observer agreement for both the presence and grade of pulmonary right-to-left shunts.

  16. A modified Glenn shunt reduces right ventricular stroke work during left ventricular assist device therapy.

    PubMed

    Schiller, Petter; Vikholm, Per; Hellgren, Laila

    2016-03-01

    Right ventricular (RV) failure is a major cause of morbidity and mortality after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement and remains hard to predict. We hypothesized that partial surgical exclusion of the RV with a modified Glenn shunt during LVAD treatment would reduce RV stroke work. An LVAD was implanted in eight pigs and a modified Glenn shunt was constructed. A conductance pressure-volume catheter was placed in the right ventricle through the apex. Haemodynamic data and pressure-volume loops were obtained at the following time periods: (i) baseline, (ii) open shunt, (iii) LVAD with closed shunt and (iii) LVAD and open shunt. During LVAD therapy, the right atrial (RA) pressure increased from 9 mmHg (9-9) to 15 mmHg (12-15), P = 0.01. RV stroke volume increased from 30 ml (29-40) to 51 ml (42-53), P < 0.01. Also, RV stroke work increased to 708 mmHg ml (654-1193) from 535 mmHg ml (424-717), P = 0.04, compared with baseline. During LVAD therapy in combination with a Glenn shunt, the RA pressure decreased from 15 mmHg (12-15) to 10 mmHg (7-11) when compared with LVAD therapy only, P = 0.01. A decrease in RV stroke work from 708 mmHg ml (654-1193) to 465 mmHg ml (366-711), P = 0.04, was seen when the LVAD was combined with a shunt, not significantly different from the baseline value (535 mmHg ml). The developed pressure in the right ventricle decreased from 29 mmHg (26-32) to 21 mmHg (20-24), P < 0.01. The pressure-volume loops of the RV show a significant reduction of RV stroke work during the use of the shunt with LVAD treatment. A modified Glenn shunt reduced RV volumes, RV stroke work and RA pressure during LVAD therapy in an experimental model of heart failure in pigs. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.

  17. Anatomy and Classification of Gastrorenal and Gastrocaval Shunts

    PubMed Central

    Sabri, Saher S.; Saad, Wael E. A.

    2011-01-01

    The gastric varices communicate with gastrorenal and gastrocaval shunts and are classified according to the pattern of venous inflow into three types, which differ in the number and location of the inflow veins. The gastric varices are also classified according to their venous drainage into four different types, reflecting the size and number of collateral veins communicating with the gastric varices and the gastrorenal/gastrocaval shunt. Lastly, the gastric varices are classified according to their appearance on balloon-occluded retrograde venography into five grades representing the degree of opacification of the gastric varices and the collateral veins. Understanding these anatomic classifications is crucial in planning endovascular obliteration of gastric varices. PMID:22942547

  18. A rare congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt affecting the inferior mesenteric vein, inferior vena cava, and left ovarian vein.

    PubMed

    Takeuchi, Hajime; Takeda, Yoko; Takahashi, Miyo; Hayashi, Shogo; Fukuzawa, Yoshitaka; Nakano, Takashi

    2014-09-01

    To observe a case of congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt and discuss it from the embryological and clinical viewpoints. An 85-year-old female cadaver was employed for a dissection course at Aichi Medical University in 2009. There was no evidence of liver cirrhosis macroscopically or microscopically. A portosystemic shunt was observed that involved communication between the inferior mesenteric vein, inferior vena cava (IVC), and left ovarian vein by a single Y-shaped shunt vessel. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of the above-mentioned three veins being connected by a single Y-shaped shunt vessel. Considering the other venous diameters, the shunt appeared to flow into the splenic vein and IVC. It cannot be denied that this shunt may have led to hepatic encephalopathy, although the shunt effect may have been minimal. Embryological development of IVC appears to occur close to the plexus of anastomosing vitelline veins, forming the portal vein.

  19. The reversibility of reduced cortical vein compliance in normal-pressure hydrocephalus following shunt insertion.

    PubMed

    Bateman, G A

    2003-02-01

    Superficial cortical venous compression secondary to alterations in craniospinal compliance is implicated in the pathogenesis of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). A reduction in the pulsation in the outflow of the cortical veins would be expected to occur following compression of these veins and this has been shown in NPH. If cortical vein compression is a causative factor in NPH, it would be expected that cortical vein compliance as measured by pulsatility would be significantly altered by a curative procedure i.e. shunt tube insertion. My purpose is to compare the blood flow pulsatility characteristics in a group of patients with NPH before and after shunt tube insertion. I initially studied 18 subjects without pathology with MRI flow quantification studies of the cerebral arteries and veins to define the range of normality. The main study involved 18 patients with idiopathic dementia and mild leukoaraiosis who served as controls and seven patients with NPH studied before and after shunt insertion. Arterial, superior sagittal and straight sinus pulsatility was not significantly different between the patients with idiopathic dementia and those NPH patients before or after shunting. Cortical vein pulsatility before shunting in the patients with NPH was 43% lower than in those with idiopathic dementia ( P=0.006). Following shunting, cortical vein pulsatility increased by 186% ( P=0.007). There is thus reduced compliance in cortical veins in NPH which is significantly increased in patients who respond to insertion of a shunt tube. These findings suggest that reversible elevation in cortical vein pressure and reversal of the normal absorption pathway for cerebrospinal fluid may be behind the pathophysiology of NPH.

  20. Delayed Catheter-Related Intracranial Hemorrhage After a Ventriculoperitoneal or Ventriculoatrial Shunt in Hydrocephalus.

    PubMed

    Qian, Zhouqi; Gao, Liang; Wang, Ke; Pandey, Sajan

    2017-11-01

    Delayed catheter-related intracranial hemorrhage is not rare after a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) or ventriculoatrial (VA) shunt for the treatment of hydrocephalus. Immediate postoperative catheter-related intracranial hemorrhage is possibly due to the procedure itself; however, delayed intracranial hemorrhage may have other underlying mechanisms. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and reveal the risk factors of delayed catheter-related intracranial hemorrhage after a VP or VA shunt. We did a retrospective study to review patients with hydrocephalus and underwent VP or VA shunt in our department from September 2011 to December 2015. We reviewed the clinical characteristics of the patients with delayed catheter-related intracranial hemorrhage, and its risk factors were analyzed with SPSS 16.0. Of the 218 patients enrolled in the study (145 male, 73 female), 17 (7.8%) patients experienced delayed catheter-related intracranial hemorrhage, including 11 of 151 (7.3%) patients with a VP shunt and 6 of 67 (9.0%) patients with a VA shunt. Additionally, 4 of the 16 patients with postoperative low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) therapy and 13 of the 202 patients without LMWH experienced bleeding, showing a significant difference (25% vs. 6.4%, P = 0.026). The relative risk was 4.8 (95% confidence interval: 1.4-17.1). Delayed catheter-related intracranial hemorrhage is not rare after a VP or VA shunt. However, most patients can be cured after appropriate treatment. Postoperative anticoagulation therapy with enoxaparin may be associated with an increased risk of bleeding. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  1. The role of operative intervention in management of congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt.

    PubMed

    Sanada, Yukihiro; Urahashi, Taizen; Ihara, Yoshiyuki; Wakiya, Taiichi; Okada, Noriki; Yamada, Naoya; Egami, Satoshi; Hishikawa, Shuji; Kawano, Youichi; Ushijima, Kentaro; Otomo, Shinya; Sakamoto, Koichi; Nakata, Manabu; Yasuda, Yoshikazu; Mizuta, Koichi

    2012-03-01

    Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (CEPS) is a rare venous malformation in which mesenteric venous blood drains directly into the systemic circulation. It is still a matter of debate whether conservative or operative strategies should be used to treat symptomatic CEPS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of operative intervention in the management of CEPS. Between June 2004 and August 2010, 6 consecutive patients with symptomatic CEPS were treated in our department. There were 3 male and 3 female patients, with a median age of 3.5 years (range, 1-8). Their demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were analyzed. All patients were scheduled to undergo shunt ligation or liver transplantation (LT). Living donor LT was carried out in 4 patients, and shunt ligation in 2. After a median follow-up of 25 months, all the patients are alive currently with marked relief of symptoms. Shunt ligation or LT for symptomatic CEPS is potentially curative. Crown Copyright © 2012. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. [Congenital portosystemic shunts: experience of the western region of France over 5 years].

    PubMed

    Hubert, G; Giniès, J-L; Dabadie, A; Tourtelier, Y; Willot, S; Pariente, D; Lefrançois, T; Caldari, D

    2014-11-01

    Congenital portosystemic shunts (CPS) are rare vascular malformations that lead to liver metabolic modifications. The aim of this study was to describe the management and outcome of CPS in children who were followed in the western region of France and to compare our experience to a literature review. This retrospective study reports nine children with CPS who were followed in the western region of France between 2008 and 2013. Among these nine children, six were detected by prenatal ultrasonography, one had cholestatic jaundice during the postoperative period, one had cholestatic jaundice during the first days of life, and one had dyspnea and fatigue. Two children had liver tumors. The CPS was intrahepatic for four children and extrahepatic for two children. Three others had a patent ductus venosus. Among the intrahepatic shunts that were discovered before the age of 2 years, three closed spontaneously. The five other shunts were closed surgically or by interventional radiology techniques, after angiography for four children. After closure of eight shunts, the outcome was favorable for six children. Two children presented complications after surgery: portal hypertension and portal thrombus. When CPS is suspected, the diagnosis should be confirmed and complications should be investigated. Shunt closure restores portal flow and prevents complications. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  3. Baseline neuropsychological profile and cognitive response to cerebrospinal fluid shunting for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.

    PubMed

    Thomas, George; McGirt, Matthew J; Woodworth, Graeme; Heidler, Jennifer; Rigamonti, Daniele; Hillis, Argye E; Williams, Michael A

    2005-01-01

    To evaluate neurocognitive changes and predict neurocognitive outcome after ventriculoperitoneal shunting for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH). Reports of neurocognitive response to shunting have been variable and studies that predict cognitive outcomes after shunting are limited. We reviewed our experience with cognitive outcomes for INPH patients who were selected for shunting based on abnormal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure monitoring and positive response in any of the NPH symptoms following large volume CSF drainage. Forty-two INPH patients underwent neurocognitive testing and Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) prior to shunting. Neurocognitive testing or MMSEwere performed at least 3 months after shunt insertion. Significant improvement in a neurocognitive subtest was defined as improvement by one standard deviation (1 SD) for the patient's age, sex and education level. Significant improvement in overall neurocognitive outcome was defined as a 4-point improvement in MMSE or improvement by 1 SD in 50% of the administered neurocognitive subtests. Nonparametric tests were used to assess changes. Predictors of outcome were assessed via logistic regression analysis. Twenty-two patients (52.3%) showed overall neurocognitive improvement, and significant improvement was seen in tests of verbal memory and psychomotor speed. Predictive analysis showed that patients scoring more than 1 SD below mean at baseline on verbal memory immediate recall were fourfold less likely to show overall cognitive improvement, and sixfold less likely if also associated with visuoconstructional deficit or executive dysfunction. Verbal memory scores at baseline were higher in patients who showed overall cognitive improvement. Shunting INPH patients on the basis of CSF pressure monitoring and drainage response shows a significant rate of cognitive improvement, and baseline neurocognitive test scores may distinguish patients likely to respond to shunt surgery

  4. The CHESS score: a simple tool for early prediction of shunt dependency after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

    PubMed

    Jabbarli, R; Bohrer, A-M; Pierscianek, D; Müller, D; Wrede, K H; Dammann, P; El Hindy, N; Özkan, N; Sure, U; Müller, O

    2016-05-01

    Acute hydrocephalus is an early and common complication of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). However, considerably fewer patients develop chronic hydrocephalus requiring shunt placement. Our aim was to develop a risk score for early identification of patients with shunt dependency after SAH. Two hundred and forty-two SAH individuals who were treated in our institution between January 2008 and December 2013 and survived the initial impact were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical parameters within 72 h after the ictus were correlated with shunt dependency. Independent predictors were summarized into a new risk score which was validated in a subsequent SAH cohort treated between January and December 2014. Seventy-five patients (31%) underwent shunt placement. Of 23 evaluated variables, only the following five showed independent associations with shunt dependency and were subsequently used to establish the Chronic Hydrocephalus Ensuing from SAH Score (CHESS, 0-8 points): Hunt and Hess grade ≥IV (1 point), location of the ruptured aneurysm in the posterior circulation (1 point), acute hydrocephalus (4 points), the presence of intraventricular hemorrhage (1 point) and early cerebral infarction on follow-up computed tomography scan (1 point). The CHESS showed strong correlation with shunt dependency (P = 0.0007) and could be successfully validated in both internal SAH cohorts tested. Patients scoring ≥6 CHESS points had significantly higher risk of shunt dependency (P < 0.0001) than other patients. The CHESS may become a valuable diagnostic tool for early estimation of shunt dependency after SAH. Further evaluation and external validation will be required in prospective studies. © 2016 EAN.

  5. Vibration attenuations induced by periodic arrays of piezoelectric patches connected by enhanced resonant shunting circuits

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Gang; Wang, Jianwei; Chen, Shengbing; Wen, Jihong

    2011-12-01

    Periodic arrays of piezoelectric patches connected by enhanced resonant shunting circuits are attached to a slender beam to control the propagation of vibration. Numerical models based on the transfer matrix methodology are constructed to predict the band structure, attenuation factors and the transmission of vibration in the proposed smart structure. The vibration attenuations of the proposed smart structure and that with the passive resonant shunting circuits are compared in order to verify the efficiency of the enhanced resonant shunting circuits. Vibration experiments are conducted in order to validate the theoretical predictions. The specimen with a combination of different types of resonant shunting circuits is also studied in order to gain wider attenuation frequency ranges.

  6. Evaluation of in vivo behavior of ameroid ring constrictors in dogs with congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts using computed tomography.

    PubMed

    Hunt, Geraldine B; Culp, William T N; Mayhew, Kelli N; Mayhew, Philipp; Steffey, Michele A; Zwingenberger, Allison

    2014-10-01

    To evaluate the in vivo pattern of ameroid constrictor closure of congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts in dogs. Prospective study. Dogs (n = 22) with congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography was performed immediately before, and at least 8 weeks after placement of ameroid ring constrictors. Plastic-encased ameroid constrictors were used in 17 dogs and metal constrictors in 5 dogs. Presence of residual flow through the portosystemic shunt, additional anomalous vessels, acquired shunts and soft tissue associated with the ameroid constrictor was recorded. Postoperative internal diameter was recorded for the 17 plastic constrictors. Correlations between internal diameter and pre- and postoperative serum protein concentration were analyzed. No ameroid constrictor closed completely: shunt occlusion was always dependent on soft tissue within the ameroid ring. Residual flow through the shunt was present in 4 dogs (18%), although this caused persistent elevation of shunt fraction in only 1 dog (dog 8). The change in ameroid constrictor internal diameter was not significantly correlated with serum protein concentration. Complete shunt occlusion after AC placement is usually dependent on soft tissue reaction. Ameroid constrictors ≥5 mm diameter may not promote complete shunt occlusion. © Copyright 2014 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

  7. Reduction of genu recurvatum through adjustment of plantarflexion resistance of an articulated ankle-foot orthosis in individuals post stroke

    PubMed Central

    Kobayashi, Toshiki; Orendurff, Michael S.; Singer, Madeline L.; Gao, Fan; Daly, Wayne K.; Foreman, K. Bo

    2016-01-01

    Background Genu recurvatum (knee hyperextension) is a common issue for individuals post stroke. Ankle-foot orthoses are used to improve genu recurvatum, but evidence is limited concerning their effectiveness. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of changing the plantarflexion resistance of an articulated ankle-foot orthosis on genu recurvatum in patients post stroke. Methods Gait analysis was performed on 6 individuals post stroke with genu recurvatum using an articulated ankle-foot orthosis whose plantarflexion resistance was adjustable at four levels. Gait data were collected using a Bertec split-belt instrumented treadmill in a 3-dimensional motion analysis laboratory. Gait parameters were extracted and plotted for each subject under the four plantarflexion resistance conditions of the ankle-foot orthosis. Gait parameters included: a) peak ankle plantarflexion angle, b) peak ankle dorsiflexion moment, c) peak knee extension angle and d) peak knee flexion moment. A non-parametric Friedman test was performed followed by a post-hoc Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test for statistical analyses. Findings All the gait parameters demonstrated statistically significant differences among the four resistance conditions of the AFO. Increasing the amount of plantarflexion resistance of the ankle-foot orthosis generally reduced genu recurvatum in all subjects. However, individual analyses showed that the responses to the changes in the plantarflexion resistance of the AFO were not necessarily linear, and appear unique to each subject. Interpretations The plantarflexion resistance of an articulated AFO should be adjusted to improve genu recurvatum in patients post stroke. Future studies should investigate what clinical factors would influence the individual differences. PMID:27136122

  8. Permanent right-to-left shunt is the key factor in managing patent foramen ovale.

    PubMed

    Rigatelli, Gianluca; Dell'Avvocata, Fabio; Cardaioli, Paolo; Giordan, Massimo; Braggion, Gabriele; Aggio, Silvio; Chinaglia, Mauro; Mandapaka, Sangeeta; Kuruvilla, John; Chen, Jack P; Nanjundappa, Aravinda

    2011-11-15

    We sought to prospectively evaluate risk of stroke and impact of transcatheter patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure in patients with permanent right-to left shunt compared with those with Valsalva maneuver-induced right-to-left shunt. Pathophysiology and properly management of PFO still remain far from being fully clarified: in particular, the contribution of permanent right-to-left shunt remains unknown. Between March 2006 and October 2010, we enrolled 180 (mean age 44 ± 10.9 years, 98 women) of 320 consecutive patients referred to our center for transcatheter PFO closure, who had spontaneous permanent right-to-left shunt on transcranial Doppler and transthoracic/transesophageal echocardiography. All patients fulfilled the standard current indications for transcatheter closure and underwent preoperative transesophageal echocardiography and brain magnetic resonance imaging, with subsequent intracardiac echocardiographic-guided transcatheter PFO closure. We compared the clinical echocardiographic characteristics of these patients (Permanent Group) with the rest of 140 patients with right-to-left shunt only during Valsalva maneuver (Valsalva Group). Compared with the Valsalva Group patients, patients of the Permanent Group had increased frequency of multiple ischemic brain lesions on magnetic resonance imaging, previous recurrent stroke, previous peripheral arteries embolism, migraine with aura, and-more frequently-atrial septal aneurysm and prominent Eustachian valve. The presence of permanent shunt confers the highest risk of recurrent stroke (odds ratio: 5.9, 95% confidence interval: 2.0 to 12, p < 0.001). No differences were recorded between the 2 groups with regard to recurrence of ischemic events after the closure procedure. Despite its small-sample nature, our study suggests that patients with permanent right-to-left shunt have potentially a higher risk of paradoxical embolism compared with those without. Copyright © 2011 American College of Cardiology

  9. [Normal pressure hydrocephalus: prognostic value of height in patients treated with an identical shunt system].

    PubMed

    Aguas, Jesús; Rodrigo, Victor; Estupiñan, Francisco; Nogues, Pere; Villalba, Gloria; Villagrasa, Javier; Caral, Luis

    2013-01-01

    Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a clinical entity frequently managed by means of a cerebrospinal fluid shunt. Hydrodynamic hypotheses consider hydrostatic pressure (as well as height) a very important variable for shunt system function. However, we did not find empirical studies supporting the influence of height on clinical response in the literature. Our objective was to study the prognostic value of height, as a variable related to hydrostatic pressure, when an identical shunt system is used. A prospective series of 61 idiopathic NPH cases was analyzed. All cases were shunted by means of a ventricle-peritoneal system with a 100mmH2O opening pressure valve. Anthropometric, clinical, radiological and pressure variables were registered, as well as delay for treatment, improvement and complications. 78.7% of cases improved after shunting. This group of patients was significantly taller (P=.005) than the group without response (median value 165cm versus 152cm). There was also a significant correlation between height and ventricular size decrease after the shunt. In our series opening valve pressure was a constant (100mmHg) and we could consequently focus on the effect of hydrostatic pressure (height). Moreover, we found a positive predictive value for taller patients, probably because we had selected an opening pressure especially suitable for them. Current gravitational valve shunt systems also recommend considering patient height when customising the system. Our study empirically supports this idea. Copyright © 2012 Sociedad Española de Neurocirugía. Published by Elsevier España. All rights reserved.

  10. Sweeping shunted electro-magnetic tuneable vibration absorber: Design and implementation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Turco, E.; Gardonio, P.

    2017-10-01

    This paper presents a study on the design and implementation of a time-varying shunted electro-magnetic Tuneable Vibration Absorber for broad-band vibration control of thin structures. A time-varying RL-shunt is used to harmonically vary the stiffness and damping properties of the Tuneable Vibration Absorber so that its mechanical fundamental natural frequency is continuously swept in a given broad frequency band whereas its mechanical damping is continuously adapted to maximize the vibration absorption from the hosting structure where it is mounted. The paper first recalls the tuning and positioning criteria for the case where a classical Tuneable Vibration Absorber is installed on a thin walled cylindrical structure to reduce the response of a resonating flexural mode. It then discusses the design of the time-varying shunt circuit to produce the desired stiffness and damping variations in the electro-magnetic Tuneable Vibration Absorber. Finally, it presents a numerical study on the flexural vibration and interior sound control effects produced when an array of these shunted electro-magnetic Tuneable Vibration Absorbers are mounted on a thin walled cylinder subject to a rain-on-the-roof stochastic excitation. The study shows that the array of proposed systems effectively controls the cylinder flexural response and interior noise over a broad frequency band without need of tuning and thus system identification of the structure. Therefore, the systems can be successfully used also on structures whose physical properties vary in time because of temperature changes or tensioning effects for example.

  11. Unusual spontaneous porto-systemic shunt: The importance of diagnosing non-anatomical porto-systemic shunts to improve portal flow in pediatric living-related liver transplantation. Case report.

    PubMed

    Rubio, Juan S; Rumbo, Carolina; Farinelli, Pablo A; Aguirre, Nicolás; Ramisch, Diego A; Paladini, Hugo; D Angelo, Pablo; Barros Schelotto, Pablo; Gondolesi, Gabriel E

    2018-03-01

    Collateral circulation secondary to liver cirrhosis may cause the development of large PSSs that may steal flow from the main portal circulation. It is important to identify these shunts prior to, or during the transplant surgery because they might cause an insufficient portal flow to the implanted graft. There are few reports of "steal flow syndrome" cases in pediatrics, even in biliary atresia patients that may have portal hypoplasia as an associated malformation. We present a 12-month-old female who received an uneventful LDLT from her mother, and the GRWR was 4.8. During the early post-operative period, she became hemodynamically unstable, developed ascites, and altered LFT. The post-operative ultrasound identified reversed portal flow, finding a non-anatomical PSS. A 3D CT scan confirmed the presence of a mesocaval shunt through the territory of the right gonadal vein, draining into the right iliac vein, with no portal inflow into the liver. The patient was re-operated, and the shunt was ligated. An intraoperative Doppler ultrasound showed adequate portal inflow after the procedure; the patient evolved satisfactorily and was discharged home on day number 49. The aim was to report a case of post-operative steal syndrome in a pediatric recipient due to a mesocaval shunt not diagnosed during the pretransplant evaluation. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  12. Cavo-pulmonary shunt: from the first experiments to clinical practice.

    PubMed

    Konstantinov, I E; Alexi-Meskishvili, V V

    1999-09-01

    The cavo-pulmonary anastomosis is often referred to as Glenn shunt today. The concept of cavo-pulmonary shunting, however, was developed independently by many surgeons. While the work of some of them is widely recognized, the pioneering contributions of many others fall into oblivion. Nonetheless, each of them contributed something original and precious to the total sum of our modern knowledge. It seems timely, as we enter the new millennium, to give due credit to those individuals who put their minds and efforts into helping sick children. These people deserve recognition.

  13. Controversy about Management of Hydrocephalus - Shunt vs. Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy.

    PubMed

    Kumar, Vikas; Bodeliwala, Shaam; Singh, Daljit

    2017-08-01

    The best management of hydrocephalus is still controversial in the twenty-first century. Shunt treatment for hydrocephalus is the most common procedure performed in neurosurgical practice and is associated with the highest complications rate. But during the last 2 decades, the treatment of hydrocephalus has improved with better shunt devices available today, increased facilities for investigations and newer approaches like endoscopic third ventriculostomy. The recent advances in development of better endoscopes have provided the patient and treating doctor with an option for an alternative surgery for treatment of hydrocephalus.

  14. Radiographic evaluation of pancreatico-jejunal shunts.

    PubMed Central

    Miller, E W; Goldberg, H I; Goldberg, S B; Shapiro, H

    1976-01-01

    This paper describes opacification and identification of two surgically constructed pancreatico-jujunal shunts. A fibreoptic panendoscope was used with retrograde injection via the ampulla of Vater (ERCP). This procedure makes possible more accurate anatomical evaluation and so more precise clinical appraisal of both pre- and post-surgical states. Images Fig. 1 Fig. 2 PMID:955500

  15. Cerebral blood flow velocity and vasomotor reactivity before and after shunting surgery in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus.

    PubMed

    Lee, E J; Hung, Y C; Chang, C H; Pai, M C; Chen, H H

    1998-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to evaluate pre- and post-shunting haemodynamic changes and their correlation with the clinical results in normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). Accordingly, eleven demented patients with clinical signs suggestive of NPH received examinations of cerebral blood flow velocity (BFV) and vasomotor reactivity (VMR) by transcranial Doppler sonography with carbogen testing before and after shunt treatment. Computerized tomography (CT), clinical assessment and neuropsychological grading were performed prior to and at 3 months following surgery. A control group consisting of 10 patients was included to establish baseline data. The pre-operative CBF studies in the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) and the middle cerebral artery (MCA) revealed the NPH patients did not have significant decreases of BFVs, but had significant decreases of carbogen VMR (P < 0.05). After shunting, there were no significant changes of the BFVs as compared with the pre-shunting data. The post-shunting VMR of the ACA was significantly higher than the pre-shunting one (p < 0.05), but there was no variation in that of the MCA. Both the values of post-shunting VMR in ACA and the post-shunting increase in VMR in MCA of the 7 shunt-responsive patients who improved mentally and in other symptoms were significantly higher than those of patients without improvement (p < 0.05). In addition, the five patients with gait improvement showed significantly higher values of post-shunting VMR of ACA and the post-shunting increase of VMR for both ACA and MCA when compared with those patients without gait improvement (p < 0.05, respectively). Our study supports the view that patients with NPH had various degrees of impaired VMR in both the ACA and the MCA, but showed insignificant reduction in BFVs, indicating a compensatory mechanism of CBF over time to accommodate the subnormal state of cerebral perfusion pressure. Shunt placement would improve the VMR in responsive patients. Postoperatively

  16. Long-term results of small-diameter proximal splenorenal venous shunt: A retrospective study

    PubMed Central

    Chen, Hao; Yang, Wei-Ping; Yan, Ji-Qi; Li, Qin-Yu; Ma, Di; Li, Hong-Wei

    2011-01-01

    AIM: To investigate recurrent variceal hemorrhage and long-term survival rates of patients treated with partial proximal splenorenal venous shunt. METHODS: Patients with variceal hemorrhage who were treated with small-diameter proximal splenorenal venous shunt in Ruijin Hospital between 1996 and 2009 were included in this study. Shunt diameter was determined before operation using Duplex Doppler ultrasonography. Peri-operative and long-term results in term of rehemorrhage, encephalopathy and mortality were followed up. RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients with Child A and B variceal hemorrhage received small-diameter proximal splenorenal venous shunt with a diameter of 7-10 mm. After operation, the patients’ mean free portal pressure (P < 0.01) and the flow rate of main portal vein (P < 0.01) decreased significantly compared with that before operation. The rates of rebleeding and mortality were 6.12% (6 cases) and 2.04% (2 cases), respectively. Ninety-one patients were followed up for 7 mo-14 years (median, 48.57 mo). Long-term rates of rehemorrhage and encephalopathy were 4.40% (4 cases) and 3.30% (3 cases), respectively. Thirteen patients (14.29%) died mainly due to progressive hepatic dysfunction. Five- and ten-year survival rates were 82.12% and 71.24%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Small-diameter proximal splenorenal venous shunt affords protection against variceal rehemorrhage with a low occurrence of encephalopathy in patients with normal liver function. PMID:21876638

  17. Chatter reduction in boring process by using piezoelectric shunt damping with experimental verification

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yigit, Ufuk; Cigeroglu, Ender; Budak, Erhan

    2017-09-01

    Chatter is a self-excited type of vibration that develops during machining due to process-structure dynamic interactions resulting in modulated chip thickness. Chatter is an important problem as it results in poor surface quality, reduced productivity and tool life. The stability of a cutting process is strongly influenced by the frequency response function (FRF) at the cutting point. In this study, the effect of piezoelectric shunt damping on chatter vibrations in a boring process is studied. In piezoelectric shunt damping method, an electrical impedance is connected to a piezoelectric transducer which is bonded on cutting tool. Electrical impedance of the circuit consisting of piezoceramic transducer and passive shunt is tuned to the desired natural frequency of the cutting tool in order to maximize damping. The optimum damping is achieved in analytical and finite element models (FEM) by using a genetic algorithm focusing on the real part of the tool point FRF rather than the amplitude. Later, a practical boring bar is considered where the optimum circuit parameters are obtained by the FEM. Afterwards, the effect of the optimized piezoelectric shunt damping on the dynamic rigidity and absolute stability limit of the cutting process are investigated experimentally by modal analysis and cutting tests. It is both theoretically and experimentally shown that application of piezoelectric shunt damping results in a significant increase in the absolute stability limit in boring operations.

  18. Single-Session Percutaneous Endovascular Mesocaval Shunt Creation and Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration for the Treatment of Gastric Varices.

    PubMed

    Srinivasa, Ravi Nara; Majdalany, Bill S; Chick, Jeffrey Forris Beecham; Meadows, J Matthew; Fenlon, Jordan Bruce; Brewerton, Charles; Saad, Wael E

    2018-01-01

    In the setting of portal hypertension, the body responds by creating portosystemic venous shunts, which may lead to the development of varices. Endoscopic treatment of these varices is often warranted to prevent catastrophic bleeding. During the course of variceal treatment, 1 or more portosystemic shunts may be sacrificed, which may acutely exacerbate portal hypertension and reduce systemic venous return. This report describes percutaneous creation of a mesocaval shunt and balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) in a patient with cavernous transformation of the portal vein. The patient had previously undergone an unsuccessful attempt at transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation with postoperative bleeding requiring splenectomy. As TIPS was not feasible, creation of a percutaneous mesocaval shunt provided an alternate pathway for portosystemic decompression, facilitating safe treatment of gastric varices with BRTO via a gastrorenal shunt. These procedures were performed simultaneously to reduce the risk of variceal bleeding from acute changes in portal venous pressures and redirect blood flow through the shunt to maintain patency. This is the first reported case of combined mesocaval shunt placement and BRTO in a single session. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  19. Tube shunt complications and their prevention.

    PubMed

    Sarkisian, Steven R

    2009-03-01

    Glaucoma drainage devices (GDDs) have been generally accepted as a treatment of refractory glaucoma. GDDs have their own unique set of complications that are important to evaluate to prevent them. Tube shunts are typically used in eyes with refractory glaucoma. There is increased interest in studying the efficacy of GDDs. Most of the attention has been focused on comparing trabeculectomy with the Baerveldt implant (Advanced Medical Optics, Inc., Santa Anna, California, USA). The other leading implant is the Ahmed Glaucoma Valve. There are several retrospective studies comparing these two devices and a prospective study is ongoing. There is great interest in the complication rate of tube shunts and these have been published both retrospectively and prospectively. Complications such as hypotony, diplopia, strabismus, proptosis, tube erosion, failure, corneal decompensation, endophthalmitis, and visual loss are all important and some have recently been reviewed in the literature. Moreover, the use of glaucoma drainage implants in the pediatric population has been evaluated. Glaucoma drainage implants have been a powerful tool in our surgical fight to prevent blindness; however, they are not without complications or controversy.

  20. Haematology and coagulation profiles in cats with congenital portosystemic shunts.

    PubMed

    Tzounos, Caitlin E; Tivers, Michael S; Adamantos, Sophie E; English, Kate; Rees, Alan L; Lipscomb, Vicky J

    2017-12-01

    Objectives The objectives of this study were, first, to report the haematological parameters and coagulation times for cats with a congenital portosystemic shunt (CPSS) and the influence of surgical shunt attenuation on these parameters; and, second, to identify any association between prolongation in coagulation profiles and incidence of perioperative haemorrhage. Methods This was a retrospective clinical study using client-owned cats with a CPSS. Signalment, shunt type (extra- or intrahepatic), degree of shunt attenuation (complete or partial), haematological parameters, prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) test results, and occurrence of any perioperative clinical bleeding complications were recorded for cats undergoing surgical treatment of a CPSS at the Royal Veterinary College, UK, between 1994 and 2011. Results Forty-two cats were included. Thirty-six (85.7%) had an extrahepatic CPSS and six (14.3%) had an intrahepatic CPSS. Preoperatively, mean cell volume (MCV) and mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) were below the reference interval (RI) in 32 (76.2%) and 31 (73.8%) cats, respectively. Red blood cell count and mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were above the RI in 10 (23.8%) and eight (19.1%) cats, respectively. Postoperatively, there were significant increases in haematocrit ( P = 0.044), MCV ( P = 0.008) and MCH ( P = 0.002). Despite the significant increase in MCV postoperatively, the median MCV postoperatively was below the RI, indicating persistence of microcytosis. Preoperatively, PT was above the upper RI in 14 cats (87.5%), and aPTT was above the upper RI in 11 cats (68.8%). No cat demonstrated a perioperative clinical bleeding complication. Conclusions and relevance Cats with a CPSS are likely to present with a microcytosis, but rarely present with anaemia, leukocytosis or thrombocytopenia. Surgical attenuation of the CPSS results in a significant increase in the HCT and MCV. Coagulation profiles in cats with a

  1. Amyloid deposits and response to shunt surgery in idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus.

    PubMed

    Hiraoka, Kotaro; Narita, Wataru; Kikuchi, Hirokazu; Baba, Toru; Kanno, Shigenori; Iizuka, Osamu; Tashiro, Manabu; Furumoto, Shozo; Okamura, Nobuyuki; Furukawa, Katsutoshi; Arai, Hiroyuki; Iwata, Ren; Mori, Etsuro; Yanai, Kazuhiko

    2015-09-15

    In previous studies, patients with idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) occasionally showed Alzheimer's pathology in frontal lobe cortical biopsy during cerebrospinal fluid shunt surgery or intracranial pressure monitoring. In clinical practice, the differential diagnosis of iNPH from Alzheimer's disease (AD) can be problematic, particularly because some iNPH cases exhibit AD comorbidity. In this study, we evaluated amyloid deposition in the brains of patients with iNPH before shunt surgery, and investigated the association between brain amyloid deposits and clinical improvement following the surgery. Amyloid imaging was performed in patients with iNPH or AD and also in healthy control subjects by using positron emission tomography (PET) and a radiolabeled pharmaceutical compound, (11)C-BF227. Using the cerebellar hemispheres as reference regions, the standard uptake value ratio (SUVR) of the neocortex was estimated and used as an index for amyloid deposition. In patients with iNPH, clinical symptoms were assessed before shunt surgery and 3 months after surgery. Five of the 10 patients with iNPH had neocortical SUVRs that were as high as those of AD subjects, whereas the SUVRs of the 5 patients were as low as those of healthy controls. A significant inverse correlation between neocortical SUVRs and cognitive improvements after shunt surgery was observed in iNPH. The amount of amyloid deposits ranges widely in the brains of patients with iNPH and is associated with the degree of cognitive improvement after shunt surgery. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  2. Infectious complications related to external ventricular shunt. Incidence and risk factors.

    PubMed

    López-Amor, L; Viña, L; Martín, L; Calleja, C; Rodríguez-García, R; Astola, I; Forcelledo, L; Álvarez-García, L; Díaz-Gómez, C; Fernández-Domínguez, J; Vázquez, F; Escudero, D

    2017-10-01

    Infectious complications related to external ventricular shunt (ICREVS) are a main problem in neurocritical intensive care units (ICU). The aim of the review is to assess the incidence of ICREVS and to analyse factors involved. Retrospective analysis, adult polyvalent ICU in a third level reference hospital. Patients carrying external ventricular shunt (DVE) were included. Those patients with central nervous system infection diagnosed prior DVE placement were excluded. 87 patients were included with 106 DVE. Most common admittance diagnosis was subarachnoid haemorrhage (49.4%). 31 patients with 32 DVE developed an ICREVS. Infection rate is 19.5 per 1000 days of shunt for ICREVS and 14 per 1000 days for ventriculitis. 31.6% of the patients developed ICREVS and 25.3% ventriculitis. Patients who developed ICREVS presented higher shunt manipulations (2.0 ± 0.6 vs. 3.26 ± 1.02, p=0.02), shunt repositioning (0.1 ± 0.1 vs. 0.2 ± 0.1) and ICU and hospital stay (29.8 ± 4.9 vs 49.8 ± 5.2, p<0.01 y 67.4 ± 18.8 vs. 108.9 ± 30.2, p=0.02. Those DVE with ICREVS were placed for longer not only at infection diagnosis but also at removal (12.6 ± 2.1 vs. 18.3 ± 3.6 and 12.6 ± 2.1 vs. 30.4 ± 7.3 days, p<0.01). No difference in mortality was found. One out of three patients with a DVE develops an infection. The risk factors are the number of manipulations, repositioning and the permanency days. Patients with ICREVS had a longer ICU and hospital average stay without an increase in mortality.

  3. Systematic Occlusion of Shunts: Control of Early Postoperative IOP and Hypotony-related Complications Following Glaucoma Shunt Surgery.

    PubMed

    Sharkawi, Eamon; Artes, Paul H; Oleszczuk, Justyna D; Bela, Cyrielle; Achache, Farid; Barton, Keith; Bergin, Ciara

    2016-01-01

    Evaluation of a protocol of total intraluminal occlusion of Baerveldt shunts and its effects on early postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) control and hypotony-related complications. This was a noncomparative, prospective, and interventional study. Glaucoma patients were recruited to undergo Baerveldt shunt surgery. A total of 116 eyes of 112 patients were enrolled. During shunt implantation, aqueous outflow was restricted using an intraluminal occluding stent inserted through the entire tube length, with and without external ligation, to halt aqueous flow. Postoperatively, eyes underwent ligature laser suture lysis and partial or complete stent removals, at predetermined time intervals. Loss of postoperative IOP control was categorized as transient or persistent hypotony (IOP≤5 mm Hg) or hypertony (IOP>21 mm Hg). Patients were followed up for 1 year. Preoperatively median IOP was 23 mm Hg (mean 26 mm Hg, SD 12 mm Hg), median number of glaucoma medications was 3.0 (mean 3.0, SD 1.2). During year 1, laser suture lysis was performed in 30 eyes (26%) and stent removal in 93 eyes (80%) (23 partial; 70 complete). There was 1 case of transient hypotony, no cases of persistent hypotony, 10 of transient hypertony, and 3 of persistent hypertony. Nine eyes had IOP≤5 mm Hg at ≥1 time points and hypotony-related complications occurred in 8 eyes (7%). At 1 year, median IOP was 12 mm Hg (mean 13 mm Hg, SD 4 mm Hg) with a median of 1.0 glaucoma medications (mean 1.1, SD 1.3). The cumulative probability of failure during the first 12 months follow-up was 6% (n=7). Overall postoperative complications occurred in 11 eyes (9%). The surgical and postoperative protocol resulted in controlled, step-wise reductions of IOP with low rates of hypotony and related complications.

  4. AC resistance measuring instrument

    DOEpatents

    Hof, P.J.

    1983-10-04

    An auto-ranging AC resistance measuring instrument for remote measurement of the resistance of an electrical device or circuit connected to the instrument includes a signal generator which generates an AC excitation signal for application to a load, including the device and the transmission line, a monitoring circuit which provides a digitally encoded signal representing the voltage across the load, and a microprocessor which operates under program control to provide an auto-ranging function by which range resistance is connected in circuit with the load to limit the load voltage to an acceptable range for the instrument, and an auto-compensating function by which compensating capacitance is connected in shunt with the range resistance to compensate for the effects of line capacitance. After the auto-ranging and auto-compensation functions are complete, the microprocessor calculates the resistance of the load from the selected range resistance, the excitation signal, and the load voltage signal, and displays of the measured resistance on a digital display of the instrument. 8 figs.

  5. Shunt flow evaluation in congenital heart disease based on two-dimensional speckle tracking.

    PubMed

    Fadnes, Solveig; Nyrnes, Siri Ann; Torp, Hans; Lovstakken, Lasse

    2014-10-01

    High-frame-rate ultrasound speckle tracking was used for quantification of peak velocity in shunt flows resulting from septal defects in congenital heart disease. In a duplex acquisition scheme implemented on a research scanner, unfocused transmit beams and full parallel receive beamforming were used to achieve a frame rate of 107 frames/s for full field-of-view flow images with high accuracy, while also ensuring high-quality focused B-mode tissue imaging. The setup was evaluated in vivo for neonates with atrial and ventricular septal defects. The shunt position was automatically tracked in B-mode images and further used in blood speckle tracking to obtain calibrated shunt flow velocities throughout the cardiac cycle. Validation toward color flow imaging and pulsed wave Doppler with manual angle correction indicated that blood speckle tracking could provide accurate estimates of shunt flow velocities. The approach was less biased by clutter filtering compared with color flow imaging and was able to provide velocity estimates beyond the Nyquist range. Possible placements of sample volumes (and angle corrections) for conventional Doppler resulted in a peak shunt velocity variations of 0.49-0.56 m/s for the ventricular septal defect of patient 1 and 0.38-0.58 m/s for the atrial septal defect of patient 2. In comparison, the peak velocities found from speckle tracking were 0.77 and 0.33 m/s for patients 1 and 2, respectively. Results indicated that complex intraventricular flow velocity patterns could be quantified using high-frame-rate speckle tracking of both blood and tissue movement. This could potentially help increase diagnostic accuracy and decrease inter-observer variability when measuring peak velocity in shunt flows. Copyright © 2014 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  6. Splenorenal shunt via magnetic compression technique: a feasibility study in canine and cadaver.

    PubMed

    Xue, Fei; Li, Jianpeng; Lu, Jianwen; Zhu, Haoyang; Liu, Wenyan; Zhang, Hongke; Yang, Huan; Guo, Hongchang; Lv, Yi

    2016-12-01

    The concept of magnetic compression technique (MCT) has been accepted by surgeons to solve a variety of surgical problems. In this study, we attempted to explore the feasibility of a splenorenal shunt using MCT in canine and cadaver. The diameters of the splenic vein (SV), the left renal vein (LRV), and the vertical interval between them, were measured in computer tomography (CT) images obtained from 30 patients with portal hypertension and in 20 adult cadavers. The magnetic devices used for the splenorenal shunt were then manufactured based on the anatomic parameters measured above. The observation of the anatomical structure showed there were no special structural tissues or any important organs between SV and LRV. Then the magnetic compression splenorenal shunt procedure was performed in three dogs and five cadavers. Seven days later, the necrotic tissue between the two magnets was shed and the magnets were removed with the anchor wire. The feasibility of splenorenal shunt via MCT was successfully shown in both canine and cadaver, thus providing a theoretical support for future clinical application.

  7. Oral glutamine challenge and magnetic resonance spectroscopy in three patients with congenital portosystemic shunts.

    PubMed

    Ortiz, María; Córdoba, Juan; Alonso, Juli; Rovira, Alex; Quiroga, Sergi; Jacas, Carlos; Esteban, Rafael; Guardia, Jaume

    2004-03-01

    Congenital portosystemic shunts are rare abnormalities of liver vasculature that can cause neurological symptoms, probably secondarily to the effects of the metabolism of ammonia in the brain. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between capillary blood ammonia after oral glutamine challenge and magnetic resonance spectroscopy in three patients with congenital portosystemic shunts. Neuropsychological tests, oral glutamine challenge and magnetic resonance spectroscopy were performed at baseline and after 6 months of follow-up in three patients with congenital portosystemic shunts. The results were compared to those obtained in a group of six cirrhotic patients with prior episodes of hepatic encephalopathy and healthy controls. Patients with congenital portosystemic shunts exhibited abnormalities of neuropsychological tests, magnetic resonance spectroscopy and a response to the oral glutamine challenge similar to those observed in patients with cirrhosis. The intensity of the rise of brain glutamine was correlated to the area under the curve of ammonia after the oral glutamine challenge (R=0.72). Neurological manifestations of patients with congenital portosystemic shunts are mediated through similar mechanisms that are involved in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy. The area under the curve appears to be the better parameter that defines the response to the oral glutamine challenge.

  8. A program for calculation of intrapulmonary shunts, blood-gas and acid-base values with a programmable calculator.

    PubMed

    Ruiz, B C; Tucker, W K; Kirby, R R

    1975-01-01

    With a desk-top, programmable calculator, it is now possible to do complex, previously time-consuming computations in the blood-gas laboratory. The authors have developed a program with the necessary algorithms for temperature correction of blood gases and calculation of acid-base variables and intrapulmonary shunt. It was necessary to develop formulas for the Po2 temperature-correction coefficient, the oxyhemoglobin-dissociation curve for adults (withe necessary adjustments for fetal blood), and changes in water vapor pressure due to variation in body temperature. Using this program in conjuction with a Monroe 1860-21 statistical programmable calculator, it is possible to temperature-correct pH,Pco2, and Po2. The machine will compute alveolar-arterial oxygen tension gradient, oxygen saturation (So2), oxygen content (Co2), actual HCO minus 3 and a modified base excess. If arterial blood and mixed venous blood are obtained, the calculator will print out intrapulmonary shunt data (Qs/Qt) and arteriovenous oxygen differences (a minus vDo2). There also is a formula to compute P50 if pH,Pco2,Po2, and measured So2 from two samples of tonometered blood (one above 50 per cent and one below 50 per cent saturation) are put into the calculator.

  9. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation for cirrhotic portal hypertension is well tolerated among patients with portal vein thrombosis.

    PubMed

    Merola, Jonathan; Fortune, Brett E; Deng, Yanhong; Ciarleglio, Maria; Amirbekian, Smbat; Chaudhary, Noami; Shanbhogue, Alampady; Ayyagari, Rajasekhara; Rodriguez-Davalos, Manuel I; Teperman, Lewis; Charles, Hearns W; Sigal, Samuel H

    2018-06-01

    Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) develops in cirrhotic patients because of stagnation of blood flow. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creates a low-resistance conduit that restores portal venous patency and blood flow. The effect of PVT on transplant-free survival in cirrhotic patients undergoing TIPS creation was evaluated. A multicenter, retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent TIPS creation for cirrhotic portal hypertension was carried out. A Cox model with propensity score adjustment was developed to evaluate the effect of PVT on 90-day and 3-year transplant-free survival. A subgroup analysis examining mortality of those with superior and inferior PVT was also carried out. A total of 252 consecutive TIPS creations were assessed, including 65 in patients with PVT. Survival of patients with high Model for End-stage Liver Disease scores (≥18) and PVT was not statistically different compared with patients with low Model for End-stage Liver Disease scores (<18) and no PVT at 90 days (P=0.46) and 3 years (P=0.42). Those with superior PVT had improved 90-day and 3-year survival both compared with patients with a inferior PVT and those without a PVT (P<0.01, all cases). The presence of PVT does not impair the prognosis of patients following TIPS creation, particularly in patients with superior portal occlusion.

  10. A Multi-Mode Blade Damping Control using Shunted Piezoelectric Transducers with Active Feedback Structure

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Choi, Benjamin; Morrison, Carlos; Min, James

    2009-01-01

    The Structural Dynamics and. Mechanics branch (RXS) is developing smart adaptive structures to improve fan blade damping at resonances using piezoelectric (PE) transducers. In this presentation, only one shunted PE transducer was used to demonstrate active control of multi-mode blade resonance damping on a titanium alloy (Ti-6A1-4V) flat plate model, regardless of bending, torsion, and 2-stripe modes. This work would have a significant impact on the conventional passive shunt damping world because the standard feedback control design tools can now be used to design and implement electric shunt for vibration control. In other words, the passive shunt circuit components using massive inductors and. resistors for multi-mode resonance control can be replaced with digital codes. Furthermore, this active approach with multi patches can simultaneously control several modes in the engine operating range. Dr. Benjamin Choi presented the analytical and experimental results from this work at the Propulsion-Safety and. Affordable Readiness (P-SAR) Conference in March, 2009.

  11. Value of the Application of Neuroendoscope in the Treatment of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Blockage.

    PubMed

    Wei, Quantang; Xu, Yimin; Peng, Kaiwen; Qi, Songtao; Peng, Yuping; Ji, Huangyi; Li, Yu; Qiu, Mingxing; Ying, Yanyi; Qiu, Xiaoyu

    2018-05-10

    To explore the value of the application of neuroendoscope techniques in the treatment of ventriculoperitoneal shunt blockage. Our study included 3 plans for revision surgeries for ventriculoperitoneal shunt blockage. In Plan A, the choroid plexus or ependyma that grew inside the ventricular catheter was completely removed. In Plan B, the terminal part of the ventricular catheter was clipped and removed. In Plan C, the ventricular catheter was carefully extracted with the assistance of neuroendoscope, and the tissues that blocked the catheter were removed. Then, the ventricular catheter was reinserted into the lateral ventricle. The side holes of the tube may be blocked by cerebral tissue, granulation tissue, newly formed blood vessels, choroid plexus or ependymal. Five patients successfully underwent the Plan A revision surgery. Eight patients underwent the Plan B revision surgery. The remaining 22 patients underwent the Plan C revision surgery. After the operation, 34 patients exhibited relieved symptoms with high intracranial pressure. In all patients, the shunts became unobstructed. Neuroendoscope techniques can be used to reveal the various causes of shunt obstruction. Any attempt to extract the tube should be performed with the assistance of neuroendoscope. There are 3 revision surgery plans for a blocked catheter. These revision surgeries for shunt obstruction are mentioned for the first time in the literature. These methods could reduce the operation time, the incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage and the risk of infection. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  12. Managing Budd-Chiari syndrome: a retrospective review of percutaneous hepatic vein angioplasty and surgical shunting

    PubMed Central

    Fisher, N; McCafferty, I; Dolapci, M; Wali, M; Buckels, J; Olliff, S; Elias, E

    1999-01-01

    BACKGROUND—The role of percutaneous hepatic vein angioplasty in the management of Budd-Chiari syndrome has not been well defined. Over a 10 year period at our unit, we have often used this technique in cases of short length hepatic vein stenosis or occlusion, reserving surgical mesocaval shunting for cases of diffuse hepatic vein occlusion or failed angioplasty. 
AIMS—To review the outcome of angioplasty and surgical shunting to define their respective roles. 
PATIENTS—All patients treated by angioplasty or surgical shunting for non-malignant hepatic vein obstruction over a ten year period from 1987 to 1996. 
METHODS—A case note review of pretreatment features and clinical outcome. 
RESULTS—Angioplasty was attempted in 21 patients with patent hepatic vein branches and was succesful in 18; in three patients treatment was unsuccessful and these patients had surgical shunts. Fifteen patients were treated by surgical shunting only. Mortality according to definitive treatment was 3/18 following angioplasty and 8/18 following surgery; in most cases this reflected high risk status prior to treatment. Venous or shunt reocclusion rates were similar for both groups and were associated with subtherapeutic warfarin in half of these cases. Most surviving patients in both groups are asymptomatic although one surgical patient has chronic hepatic encephalopathy. 
CONCLUSION—With appropriate case selection, many patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome caused by short length hepatic vein stenosis or occlusion may be managed successfully by angioplasty alone. Medium term outcome is good following this procedure provided that anticoagulation is maintained. Further follow up is required to assess for definitive benefits but we suggest that this should be included as a valid initial approach in the algorithm for management of Budd-Chiari syndrome. 

 Keywords: Budd-Chiari syndrome; short length hepatic vein stenosis; hepatic vein occlusion; percutaneous hepatic vein

  13. Prevalence of patent foramen ovale with right-to-left shunting in dogs with pulmonic stenosis.

    PubMed

    Fujii, Y; Nishimoto, Y; Sunahara, H; Takano, H; Aoki, T

    2012-01-01

    Right-to-left (R-L) shunt caused by patent foramen ovale (PFO) concurrent with pulmonic stenosis (PS) is considered common, although there is a lack of published evidence. To investigate the prevalence of R-L shunt caused by a PFO in dogs with PS. Thirty-one client-owned dogs with PS, without obvious extracardiac disease detected on the clinical examinations. Case control study: R-L shunt probably caused by PFO was diagnosed when IV injected microbubbles appeared at the left atrial level with an intact atrial septum on echocardiography (bubble-positive dogs). The severity of PS concurrent tricuspid regurgitation (TR), relative thickness of the right ventricle, and relative right atrial area were compared between bubble-positive and bubble-negative dogs. The prevalence of R-L shunts caused by PFO was 39% (12 of 31 cases). The instantaneous pressure gradient (PG) across the pulmonic valve and relative thickness of the right ventricle were significantly increased in bubble-positive compared with those in bubble-negative dogs. None of the dogs with mild or moderate PS (pressure gradient < 80 mm Hg, n = 2) demonstrated R-L shunt. The prevalence of TR in bubble-positive dogs was significantly higher than that in bubble-negative dogs. DISCUSSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Patent foramen ovale PFO with R-L shunt was more common in dogs with very severe PS and absent in dogs with mild PS. Copyright © 2011 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

  14. Design and analysis of optimised class E power amplifier using shunt capacitance in the output structure

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hayati, Mohsen; Roshani, Sobhan; Zirak, Ali Reza

    2017-05-01

    In this paper, a class E power amplifier (PA) with operating frequency of 1 MHz is presented. MOSFET non-linear drain-to-source parasitic capacitance, linear external capacitance at drain-to-source port and linear shunt capacitance in the output structure are considered in design theory. One degree of freedom is added to the design of class E PA, by assuming the shunt capacitance in the output structure in the analysis. With this added design degree of freedom it is possible to achieve desired values for several parameters, such as output voltage, load resistance and operating frequency, while both zero voltage and zero derivative switching (ZVS and ZDS) conditions are satisfied. In the conventional class E PA, high value of peak switch voltage results in limitations for the design of amplifier, while in the presented structure desired specifications could be achieved with the safe margin of peak switch voltage. The results show that higher operating frequency and output voltage can also be achieved, compared to the conventional structure. PSpice software is used in order to simulate the designed circuit. The presented class E PA is designed, fabricated and measured. The measured results are in good agreement with simulation and theory results.

  15. [Feto-amniotic shunting for lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO)--a case report].

    PubMed

    Lautmann, K; Staboulidou, I; Schippert, C; Hillemanns, P; Wüstemann, M

    2007-12-01

    Posterior urethral valves are the main cause of fetal lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO) with typical sonographic signs like urinary tract dilatation and reduction of amniotic fluid. LUTO is associated with a high rate of perinatal mortality and is the main cause of kidney failure in early childhood. In such cases vesico-amniotic shunting is a common but risky procedure of fetal surgery to prevent anhydramnion and lethal lung hypoplasia. This case report demonstrates that lung hypoplasia can be prevented by vesico-amniotic shunting of the fetal megacytis in the 23rd week of gestation in a fetus with lower urinary tract obstruction and anhydramnion. The prenatal measured concentration of cystatin C in the fetal urine correlated with the postnatal impaired kidney function. The indication and therapeutic benefit of vesico-amniotic shunting remain controversially discussed in the literature because until today there is no evidence for a reduction in perinatal or long-term morbidity due to early fetal kidney damage. The earlier ultrasound detection of LUTO during the first trimester of pregnancy proposes the possibility of earlier intervention and protection of nephrogenesis. First case studies about first trimester vesico-amniotic shunting have been published; the influence on the postnatal kidney function merits further well-structured investigation.

  16. Association of ischemic stroke, hormone therapy, and right to left shunt in postmenopausal women.

    PubMed

    Greep, Nancy C; Liebeskind, David S; Gevorgyan, Rubine; Truong, Tam; Cua, Bennett; Tseng, Chi-Hong; Dodick, David W; Demaerschalk, Bart M; Thaler, David E; Tobis, Jonathan M

    2014-09-01

    Postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) increases the risk of venous thrombosis and ischemic stroke. We postulated that HT might increase the risk of ischemic stroke by promoting venous clots that travel to the brain through a right to left shunt (RLS). A total of 2,389 records were studied. After eliminating the premenopausal patients, and those with TIAs and non-ischemic strokes, the medical records of 1846 postmenopausal women hospitalized at four institutions for ischemic stroke were reviewed to identify those who had undergone an adequate study to assess for RLS. The proportion of women with a shunt in users and non-users of HT was compared in stroke patients and in a reference population consisting of postmenopausal women undergoing elective cardiac catheterization. There were 363 (20%) records that had complete data and were included in the analysis. A shunt was more prevalent in patients with a cryptogenic stroke than in patients with a stroke of known cause (55/88 (63%) vs. 53/275 (19%), P < 0.001). In patients with a stroke of known cause, the frequency of a shunt was similar to that in reference women 31/136 (23%), and the proportion of women with a shunt was similar in non-users and current users of HT (14% vs. 20%, P = 0.40). However, among patients with a cryptogenic stroke, the prevalence of a shunt was 1.5 times higher in current users than non-users of HT (82% vs. 56%, P = 0.04). Approximately 23% of older women have a RLS. HT in these women may increase the risk of ischemic stroke by promoting paradoxical embolism. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  17. Surgical Outcomes of Ahmed or Baerveldt Tube Shunt Implantation for medically Uncontrolled Traumatic Glaucoma.

    PubMed

    Yadgarov, Arkadiy; Liu, Dan; Crane, Elliot S; Khouri, Albert S

    2017-01-01

    To describe postoperative surgical success of either Ahmed or Baerveldt tube shunt implantation for eyes with medically uncontrolled traumatic glaucoma. A review was carried out to identify patients with traumatic glaucoma that required tube shunt implantation between 2009 and 2015 at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey, USA. Seventeen eyes from 17 patients met inclusion criteria, including at least 3-month postoperative follow-up. The main outcome measure was surgical success at 1-year follow-up after tube implantation. Mean preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) was 34.1 ± 8.2 mm Hg on 3.1 ± 1.6 ocular hypotensive medications. Nine eyes (53%) sustained closed globe injury. Ten eyes (59%) received an Ahmed valve shunt and seven eyes (41%) received a Baerveldt tube shunt. Surgical success rate at 1 year postoperatively was 83%. Compared to preoperative, the mean postoperative IOP was significantly lower (16.1 ± 3.5 mm Hg, p < 0.001) on significantly fewer ocular hypertensive medications (1.3 ± 1.6, p = 0.001) at a mean follow-up of 10 months. Mean IOP reduction at last follow-up was 49%. There were three cases of surgical failures: One case of hypotony, one case of tube extrusion with subsequent explan-tation, and one case requiring second tube insertion for IOP control. Implantation of an Ahmed or Baerveldt tube shunt provided successful control of IOP in patients with medically uncontrollable traumatic glaucoma. Yadgarov A, Liu D, Crane ES, Khouri AS. Surgical Outcomes of Ahmed or Baerveldt Tube Shunt Implantation for medically Uncontrolled Traumatic Glaucoma. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2017;11(1):16-21.

  18. The internal mammary artery as a shunt in a noncyanotic infant with hemitruncus: surgical and anesthetic management.

    PubMed

    Mahan, Vicki L; Stevens, Randy M; Mesia, Cesar I; Schwartz, Roy E; Moulick, Achintya N

    2016-08-01

    The internal mammary artery (IMA) has been used as a systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt in selected patients with congenital heart disease. Growth and development of hypoplastic pulmonary arteries have been described. We discuss the surgical and anesthetic management of an infant with an atretic-thrombosed right pulmonary artery originating from the ascending aorta in whom the IMA was used to create a systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt after failure of a previous shunt and later successful pulmonary artery reconstruction. The IMA should be considered as an alternative conduit in patients requiring a systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt for growth of pulmonary arteries. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  19. A Shunt Model of the Inner Medullary Nephron with Pre-Bend Transitions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gonzalez, M. T.; Hegarty, A. F.; Thomas, S. R.

    2009-09-01

    Mathematical models of the renal medulla face the problem of representing water and solute transfer among tens of thousands of nephrons and blood vessels of various lengths, arranged in countercurrent fashion. Published models fall into two broad categories with respect to this issue: multi-nephron models, which explicitly represent a large number of individual nephrons, or lumped models with virtual shunts that represent the turning back of nephrons and vessels at varying depths. Shunt models have the advantage of a compact description and relatively rapid execution time but are ill-suited to faithfully represent features such as prebend transitions of epithelial permeabilities in nephrons of different lengths. A new shunt model approach that can accommodate pre-bend transitions of nephrons at all medullary depths is presented in this work together with the results of simulation of predicted flows and concentrations.

  20. Right-to-left shunt may be prone to affect the white matter integrity of posterior circulation in migraine without aura.

    PubMed

    Xie, Hui; Bian, Yitong; Jian, Zhijie; Huo, Kang; Liu, Rui; Zhu, Dan; Zhang, Lihui; Wu, Jun; Yang, Jian; Liu, Jixin; Luo, Guogang

    2018-01-01

    Numerous studies have indicated an association between migraine and right-to-left shunt. However, little is known about whether right-to-left shunt has an effect on the migraine brain. This observational study aims to explore the impact of right-to-left shunt on the brain of migraine without aura on microstructural level. Thirty-five patients with migraine without aura were enrolled in this study. Contrast-enhanced Transcranial Doppler was performed to evaluate the status of right-to-left shunt. Three-dimensional T1-weighted and diffusion tensor images were acquired for data analysis. We employed voxel-based morphometry and tract-based spatial statistical analyses to assess the differences of gray and white matter between migraineurs with and without right-to-left shunt, respectively. Among the 35 patients, 19 (54.3%) patients had right-to-left shunt. There were no significant differences in headache features between migraineurs with and without right-to-left shunt. There were significant increases of mean and radial diffusivity in migraineurs with right-to-left shunt compared with migraineurs without right-to-left shunt. The alterations were primarily located in the right posterior thalamic radiation, secondly in the body of corpus callosum and the right superior corona radiata. No significant differences were observed in values of fractional anisotropy and axial diffusivity. No significant between-group differences were found in gray matter volume. Right-to-left shunt may cause alterations of white matter integrity in migraine without aura, and the alterations are more likely to be located at the posterior circulation.

  1. The design and implementation of on-line monitoring system for UHV compact shunt capacitors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tao, Weiliang; Ni, Xuefeng; Lin, Hao; Jiang, Shengbao

    2017-08-01

    Because of the large capacity and compact structure of the UHV compact shunt capacitor, it is difficult to take effective measures to detect and prevent the faults. If the fault capacitor fails to take timely maintenance, it will pose a threat to the safe operation of the system and the life safety of the maintenance personnel. The development of UHV compact shunt capacitor on-line monitoring system can detect and record the on-line operation information of UHV compact shunt capacitors, analyze and evaluate the early fault warning signs, find out the fault capacitor or the capacitor with fault symptom, to ensure safe and reliable operation of the system.

  2. Scrotal migration of ventriculoperitoneal shunt: a case report at Haji Adam Malik hospital, Medan

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dharmajaya, R.

    2018-03-01

    Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting is one of the most common pediatric neurosurgery operations performed for dealing with hydrocephalus. We report an unusual case of a 1-year-old child with communicating hydrocephalus, who experienced right scrotum swelling after 11 months of shunting. Abdominal x-ray showed the shunt tubing, which was kinked in its distal portion of thescrotum. Ultrasound examination was performed, revealing hydrocele along with the presence of thedistal catheter in the scrotum. The patient underwent distal catheter trimming via laparoscopic approach with general surgery and managed with asuccessful outcome. Prompt surgical management of catheter repositioning is recommended to avoid the risk of further complications.

  3. Lack of shunt response in suspected idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus with Alzheimer disease pathology.

    PubMed

    Hamilton, Roy; Patel, Sunil; Lee, Edward B; Jackson, Eric M; Lopinto, Joanna; Arnold, Steven E; Clark, Christopher M; Basil, Anuj; Shaw, Leslie M; Xie, Sharon X; Grady, M Sean; Trojanowski, John Q

    2010-10-01

    To determine the impact of cortical Alzheimer disease pathology on shunt responsiveness in individuals treated for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH), 37 patients clinically diagnosed with iNPH participated in a prospective study in which performance on neurologic, psychometric, and gait measures before and 4 months after shunting was correlated with amyloid β plaques, neuritic plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles observed in cortical biopsies obtained during shunt insertion. No complications resulted from biopsy acquisition. Moderate to severe pathology was associated with worse baseline cognitive performance and diminished postoperative improvement on NPH symptom severity scales, gait measures, and cognitive instruments compared to patients lacking pathology.

  4. Lack of Shunt Response in Suspected Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus with Alzheimer Disease Pathology

    PubMed Central

    Hamilton, Roy; Patel, Sunil; Lee, Edward B.; Jackson, Eric M.; Lopinto, Joanna; Arnold, Steven E.; Clark, Christopher M.; Basil, Anuj; Shaw, Leslie M.; Xie, Sharon X.; Grady, M. Sean; Trojanowski, John Q.

    2010-01-01

    To determine the impact of cortical Alzheimer disease pathology on shunt responsiveness in individuals treated for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH), 37 patients clinically diagnosed with iNPH participated in a prospective study in which performance on neurologic, psychometric, and gait measures before and 4 months after shunting was correlated with amyloid β plaques, neuritic plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles observed in cortical biopsies obtained during shunt insertion. No complications resulted from biopsy acquisition. Moderate to severe pathology was associated with worse baseline cognitive performance and diminished postoperative improvement on NPH symptom severity scales, gait measures, and cognitive instruments compared to patients lacking pathology. PMID:20687117

  5. Chemotherapy-induced cerebrospinal fluid malabsorption in a shunted child: case report and review of the literature

    PubMed Central

    O'Halloran, Philip J; Kaliaperumal, Chandrasekaran; Caird, John

    2013-01-01

    Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt insertion is one of the most common neurosurgical procedures for the treatment of chronic hydrocephalus. Although regarded as a relatively benign procedure, several complications including obstruction, infection and mechanical failure can be seen during the postoperative stage. Symptomatic sterile cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) ascites and hydrothoracies are rare complications of VP shunt surgery. The paucity of cases makes identifying the aetiological factors difficult, particularly without catheter tip migration. It is most likely that several factors interact to reduce the absorption of CSF. The authors discuss the case of a 5-year-old girl who developed CSF ascites and a pleural effusion after starting chemotherapy for a suprasellar pilocytic astrocytoma, 2 years post-VP shunt insertion, due to a secondary obstructive hydrocephalus. After the initial management of the presenting symptoms, the child's VP shunt was subsequently changed to a ventriculo-atrial shunt and the patient made an unremarkable recovery. We also review the literature pertaining to this rare complication, assessing identifiable risk factors and surgical management options. PMID:23396932

  6. Selection of patients with idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus for shunt placement: a single-institution experience.

    PubMed

    Anile, Carmelo; De Bonis, Pasquale; Albanese, Alessio; Di Chirico, Alessandro; Mangiola, Annunziato; Petrella, Gianpaolo; Santini, Pietro

    2010-07-01

    The ability to predict outcome after shunt placement in patients with idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) represents a challenge. To date, no single diagnostic tool or combination of tools has proved capable of reliably predicting whether the condition of a patient with suspected NPH will improve after a shunting procedure. In this paper, the authors report their experience with 120 patients with the goal of identifying CSF hydrodynamics criteria capable of selecting patients with idiopathic NPH. Specifically, they focused on the comparison between CSF-outflow resistance (R-out) and intracranial elastance (IE). Between January 1977 and December 2005, 120 patients in whom idiopathic NPH had been diagnosed (on the basis of clinical findings and imaging) underwent CSF hydrodynamics evaluation based on an intraventricular infusion test. Ninety-six patients underwent CSF shunt placement: 32 between 1977 and 1989 (Group I) on the basis of purely clinical and radiological criteria; 44 between 1990 and 2002 (Group II) on the basis of the same criteria as Group I and because they had an IE slope > 0.25; and 20 between 2003 and 2005 (Group III) on the basis of the same criteria as Group II but with an IE slope > or = 0.30. Outcomes were evaluated by means of both Stein-Langfitt and Larsson scores. Patients' conditions were considered improved when there was a stable decrease (at 6- and 12-month follow-up) of at least 1 point in the Stein-Langfitt score and 2 points in the Larsson score. Group I: while no statistically significant difference in mean R-out value between improved and unimproved cases was observed, a clear-cut IE slope value of 0.25 differentiated very sharply between unimproved and improved cases. Group II: R-out values in the 2 unimproved cases were 20 and 47 mm Hg/ml/min, respectively. The mean IE slope in the improved cases was 0.56 (range 0.30-1.4), while the IE slopes in the 2 unimproved cases were 0.26 and 0.27. Group III: the mean IE slope was

  7. [A case of non-traumatic tension pneumocephalus 12 years after initial ventriculo-peritoneal shunt].

    PubMed

    Idei, Masaru; Yamane, Kanji; Okita, Shinji; Kumano, Kiyoshi; Nakae, Ryuta; Nishizawa, Shigeru

    2009-10-01

    The authors presented a patient with non-traumatic tension pneumocephalus 12 years after initial ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. A 60-year-old man had a past history of subarachnoid hemorrhage. At ÿtime, he underwent clipping surgery and emplacement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt with a low pressure valve, and was discharged from hospital in a bedridden condition. After 12 years, he was transferred to our hospital because of dysarthria and right hemiparesis. On admission, he had multiple dimples of the scalp in the left frontal area where craniotomy had been carried out 12 years before. Head CT scan revealed air located mainly in bilateral subdural space and collapsed ventricles. We suspected that he had a tension pneumocephalus through a scalp-subdural fistula induced by long-term low intracranial pressure. Operation for closure of the fistula was intended. During the operation a subdural abscess was found so, artificial bone and the shunt system was removed. We were able to detect the fistula from the defect of the scalp to the subdural space and closed it by repairing a scalp defect, using dural plasty. Postoperative clinical course was uneventful and the patient was discharged. About 6 month after the operation, cranioplasty and lumbo-peritoneal shunt was performed. We must recognize that appropriate management of intracranial pressure after installation of a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt is necessary for prevention of tension pneumocephalus.

  8. Thinking outside the shunt-sterile CSF malabsorption in pilocytic astrocytomas: case series and review of the literature.

    PubMed

    Johnson, J A; O'Halloran, P J; Crimmins, D; Caird, J

    2016-11-01

    Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt insertion is the most common cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversionary procedure used for the treatment of chronic hydrocephalus. Sterile CSF ascites is a rare complication of VP shunt insertion. This can arise from either an overproduction of CSF or inadequate filtration of CSF at the level of the peritoneum. By either mechanism, the development of CSF ascites requires an intact VP shunt. The authors discuss two paediatric cases diagnosed with suprasellar pilocytic astrocytomas treated with platinum-based chemotherapy, who subsequently developed sterile CSF ascites. We review the literature with regard to CSF malabsorption and discuss it as a contributing factor to shunt malfunction. CSF malabsorption with resultant ascites is a rare complication of VP shunting with many etiologies. Two common predisposing factors included the use of platinum-based chemotherapeutic agents, as well as the specific neuropathology. Further analysis of these two entities is needed in order to elucidate their role in contributing to the development of CSF ascites in this patient cohort.

  9. [Application of degree of portal systemic shunting in assessing upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with schistosomiasis cirrhosis].

    PubMed

    Shuai, Ju; Ying, Li; Chang-Xue, Ji; Biao, Zhang

    2017-03-27

    To discuss the application of the degree of portal systemic shunting in assessing the upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with hepatic schistosomiasis. Thirty-three patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding caused by hepatic schistosomiasis (a bleeding group) and 29 schistosomiasis cirrhosis patients without bleeding (a non-bleeding group) were enrolled as investigation subjects in Jinshan Hospital. The subjects were scanned by the 128 abdominal slice spiral CT. The portal systemic shunting vessels were reconstructed by using thin slab maximum intensity projection (TSMIP) and multiplanar reconstruction (MPR). The degrees of the shunting vessels of the subjects were evaluated and compared, and the relationship between upper gastrointestinal bleeding and the degree of the shunting was analyzed. In the bleeding group, the occurrence rates of the shunting vessels were found as follows: 86.4% in left gastric varices, 68.2% in short gastric varices, 50.0% in esophageal varices, 50.0% in para-esophageal varices, 37.9% in gastric varices, 69.7% in gastric-renal varices, 51.5% in spleen-renal varices, 25.8% in abdominal wall varices, 15.2% in omentum varices, 63.6% in para-splenic varices, 34.8% in umbilical varices, 40.9% in retroperitoneal-paravertebral varices, and 36.4% in mesenteric varices. In the bleeding group, the occurrence rates and the degree of shunt were significantly higher than those in the non-bleeding group in esophageal varices, esophageal vein, left gastric vein and gastric varices (all P < 0.05). CT portal vein reconstruction can accurately display the location, degree and walking of all kinds of shunting vessels. Esophageal varices, esophageal vein, left gastric vein and gastric varices can accurately predict the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with hepatic schistosomiasis. The patents with higher degree of the shunting vessels have a higher risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.

  10. Successful transcatheter closure of a congenital high-flow portosystemic venous shunt with the Amplatzer vascular plug II.

    PubMed

    Guneyli, Serkan; Cinar, Celal; Bozkaya, Halil; Parildar, Mustafa; Oran, Ismail; Akin, Yigit

    2012-12-01

    Congenital portosystemic venous shunt is extremely rare and should be treated. Advances in treatment techniques allow for patients to be treated safely. We present a 9-year-old boy with a large congenital portosystemic venous shunt. The shunt was occluded interventionally with the Amplatzer vascular plug II. Our case was unique with its clinical manifestation, the use of a 22-mm Amplatzer vascular plug II, and the presence of the patient's 1-year follow-up.

  11. Liver size, bodyweight, and tolerance to acute complete occlusion of congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts in dogs.

    PubMed

    Doran, Ivan P; Barr, Frances J; Hotston Moore, Alasdair; Knowles, Toby G; Holt, Peter E

    2008-10-01

    To investigate the relationship between preoperative liver size, bodyweight, and tolerance to shunt occlusion in dogs with congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt(s) (CPSS). Longitudinal cohort study. Dogs with CPSS (n=35). Ultrasonography was used to measure preoperative maximum transverse dimension of the liver (TS) of each dog. Intraoperative portal pressures were measured, before and after CPSS occlusion, via a jejunal vein catheter. Tolerance to shunt occlusion was judged on gross visceral observations, and on changes in portal pressure, central venous and mean arterial pressures. TS was significantly related to bodyweight (P<.05). Mean ratios for TS/bodyweight were calculated for dogs tolerant and intolerant of acute complete shunt occlusion. Dogs tolerant to occlusion had significantly higher TS/bodyweight ratios than dogs intolerant to occlusion (P=.025). Dogs with a TS/bodyweight ratio of >7 were more likely to tolerate CPSS occlusion than dogs with a TS/bodyweight ratio of <5 (P=.036). A model was generated to predict portal pressure rise after shunt occlusion, based on liver dimensions and bodyweight (R=0.668). Intestinal oxygenation did not correlate significantly with tolerance to CPSS occlusion (P=.29). In dogs with CPSS, liver size (relative to bodyweight) is significantly greater (P=.025) in dogs that are tolerant of full ligation than intolerant of occlusion. Preoperative measurement of bodyweight and liver size help indicate the likelihood of tolerance to acute complete occlusion of CPSS in dogs.

  12. The value of programmable shunt valves for the management of subdural collections in patients with hydrocephalus.

    PubMed

    Pachatouridis, Dimitrios; Alexiou, George A; Mihos, Evaggelos; Fotakopoulos, George; Voulgaris, Spyridon

    2013-01-01

    The aim of the present study was to assess the value of electromagnetic programmable shunt valves for the treatment of subdural collections. Adult patients with hydrocephalus of various causes that were treated with programmable shunt valves during the last ten years were retrospectively studied. In 127 patients, 139 electromagnetic programmable shunt valves were implanted. A nontraumatic subdural fluid collection was detected in 12 patients. The treatment of these patients consisted of reprogramming of the valve's opening pressure. In 5 patients small subdural hematomas were detected; 4 of these patients were treated by raising the opening pressure alone and one patient required surgical drainage and change of the pressure setting. Traumatic chronic subdural hematomas were detected in 6 patients. These patients were treated by surgical drainage and readjustment of the valve's opening pressure. The ability to treat a shunt-related complication, such as a subdural fluid collection, by reprogramming the valve's opening pressure to a higher setting is an advantage over nonprogrammable valves, and it enables the opening pressure to be slowly lowered once the fluid collection is reabsorbed. Based on our results, we believe that programmable shunt valves should be preferred.

  13. The Value of Programmable Shunt Valves for the Management of Subdural Collections in Patients with Hydrocephalus

    PubMed Central

    Alexiou, George A.; Mihos, Evaggelos; Fotakopoulos, George; Voulgaris, Spyridon

    2013-01-01

    Background. The aim of the present study was to assess the value of electromagnetic programmable shunt valves for the treatment of subdural collections. Methods. Adult patients with hydrocephalus of various causes that were treated with programmable shunt valves during the last ten years were retrospectively studied. In 127 patients, 139 electromagnetic programmable shunt valves were implanted. Results. A nontraumatic subdural fluid collection was detected in 12 patients. The treatment of these patients consisted of reprogramming of the valve's opening pressure. In 5 patients small subdural hematomas were detected; 4 of these patients were treated by raising the opening pressure alone and one patient required surgical drainage and change of the pressure setting. Traumatic chronic subdural hematomas were detected in 6 patients. These patients were treated by surgical drainage and readjustment of the valve's opening pressure. Conclusion. The ability to treat a shunt-related complication, such as a subdural fluid collection, by reprogramming the valve's opening pressure to a higher setting is an advantage over nonprogrammable valves, and it enables the opening pressure to be slowly lowered once the fluid collection is reabsorbed. Based on our results, we believe that programmable shunt valves should be preferred. PMID:24453855

  14. Superconducting FCL using a combined inducted magnetic field trigger and shunt coil

    DOEpatents

    Tekletsadik, Kasegn D.

    2007-10-16

    A single trigger/shunt coil is utilized for combined induced magnetic field triggering and shunt impedance. The single coil connected in parallel with the high temperature superconducting element, is designed to generate a circulating current in the parallel circuit during normal operation to aid triggering the high temperature superconducting element to quench in the event of a fault. The circulating current is generated by an induced voltage in the coil, when the system current flows through the high temperature superconducting element.

  15. Incarceration of umbilical hernia after radiological insertion of a Denver peritoneovenous shunt.

    PubMed

    Ohta, Kengo; Shimohira, Masashi; Hashizume, Takuya; Kawai, Tatsuya; Kurosaka, Kenichiro; Suzuki, Kazushi; Watanabe, Kenichi; Shibamoto, Yuta

    2013-03-01

    We report a rare complication of incarceration of an umbilical hernia after Denver peritoneovenous shunt placement. A 50-year-old man presented with refractory ascites from liver cirrhosis. He also had an umbilical hernia. Because the ascites became uncontrollable, Denver peritoneovenous shunting was performed. The operation was successful and the ascites decreased. Ten days later, however, incarceration of the umbilical hernia occurred. A surgical repair was performed, but he died 2 days later. The cause of death was considered to be sepsis.

  16. Neuropsychological Assessment of Adult Patients with Shunted Hydrocephalus

    PubMed Central

    Bakar, Emel Erdogan

    2010-01-01

    Objective This study is planned to determine the neurocognitive difficulties of hydrocephalic adults. Methods The research group contained healthy adults (control group, n : 15), and hydrocephalic adults (n : 15). Hydrocephalic group consisted of patients with idiopathic aquaduct stenosis and post-meningitis hydrocephalus. All patients were followed with shunted hydrocephalus and not gone to shunt revision during last two years. They were chosen from either asymptomatic or had only minor symptoms without motor and sensorineural deficit. A neuropsychological test battery (Raven Standart Progressive Matrices, Bender-Gestalt Test, Cancellation Test, Clock Drawing Test, Facial Recognition Test, Line Orientation Test, Serial Digit Learning Test, Stroop Color Word Interference Test-TBAG Form, Verbal Fluency Test, Verbal Fluency Test, Visual-Aural Digit Span Test-B) was applied to all groups. Results Neuropsychological assessment of hydrocephalic patients demonstrated that they had poor performance on visual, semantic and working memory, visuoconstructive and frontal functions, reading, attention, motor coordination and executive function of parietal lobe which related with complex and perseverative behaviour. Eventually, these patients had significant impairment on the neurocognitive functions of their frontal, parietal and temporal lobes. On the other hand, the statistical analyses performed on demographic data showed that the aetiology of the hydrocephalus, age, sex and localization of the shunt (frontal or posterior parietal) did not affect the test results. Conclusion This prospective study showed that adult patients with hydrocephalus have serious neuropsychological problems which might be directly caused by the hydrocephalus; and these problems may cause serious adaptive difficulties in their social, cultural, behavioral and academic life. PMID:20379471

  17. Optimizing the Shunting Schedule of Electric Multiple Units Depot Using an Enhanced Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm

    PubMed Central

    Jin, Junchen

    2016-01-01

    The shunting schedule of electric multiple units depot (SSED) is one of the essential plans for high-speed train maintenance activities. This paper presents a 0-1 programming model to address the problem of determining an optimal SSED through automatic computing. The objective of the model is to minimize the number of shunting movements and the constraints include track occupation conflicts, shunting routes conflicts, time durations of maintenance processes, and shunting running time. An enhanced particle swarm optimization (EPSO) algorithm is proposed to solve the optimization problem. Finally, an empirical study from Shanghai South EMU Depot is carried out to illustrate the model and EPSO algorithm. The optimization results indicate that the proposed method is valid for the SSED problem and that the EPSO algorithm outperforms the traditional PSO algorithm on the aspect of optimality. PMID:27436998

  18. Cognitive changes after cerebrospinal fluid shunting in young adults with spina bifida and assumed arrested hydrocephalus

    PubMed Central

    Mataro, M.; Poca, M. A.; Sahuquillo, J.; Cuxart, A.; Iborra, J.; de la Calzada, M. D.; Junque, C.

    2000-01-01

    OBJECTIVES—To establish whether surgery can improve the neuropsychological functioning of young adult patients with spina bifida and apparent clinically arrested hydrocephalus showing abnormal intracranial pressure.
METHODS—Twenty three young adults with spina bifida and assumed arrested hydrocephalus (diagnosed as active or compensated by continuous intracranial pressure monitoring) underwent surgery. All patients received neuropsychological examination before surgery and 6 months later. Neuropsychological assessment included tests of verbal and visual memory, visuospatial functions, speed of mental processing, and frontal lobe functions.
RESULTS—Shunt placement in this subgroup of patients improves neuropsychological functioning, especially in verbal and visual memory and attention and cognitive flexibility.
CONCLUSIONS—Young adults with spina bifida and suspected non-functioning shunt or non-shunted ventriculomegaly should be carefully monitored to identify those who could benefit from shunting.

 PMID:10766893

  19. PI and fuzzy logic controllers for shunt Active Power Filter--a report.

    PubMed

    P, Karuppanan; Mahapatra, Kamala Kanta

    2012-01-01

    This paper presents a shunt Active Power Filter (APF) for power quality improvements in terms of harmonics and reactive power compensation in the distribution network. The compensation process is based only on source current extraction that reduces the number of sensors as well as its complexity. A Proportional Integral (PI) or Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC) is used to extract the required reference current from the distorted line-current, and this controls the DC-side capacitor voltage of the inverter. The shunt APF is implemented with PWM-current controlled Voltage Source Inverter (VSI) and the switching patterns are generated through a novel Adaptive-Fuzzy Hysteresis Current Controller (A-F-HCC). The proposed adaptive-fuzzy-HCC is compared with fixed-HCC and adaptive-HCC techniques and the superior features of this novel approach are established. The FLC based shunt APF system is validated through extensive simulation for diode-rectifier/R-L loads. Copyright © 2011 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Vibration reduction of a woven composite fan blade by piezoelectric shunted devices

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Thierry, Olivier; De Smet, Olivier; Deü, Jean-François

    2016-09-01

    This study concerns the vibration reduction in the low frequency range of a composite fan blade of a turbojet engine with piezoelectric devices. The interest is to increase lifespan and avoid flutter phenomena by reducing the vibration amplitude. The solution considered in the work consists in using piezoelectric elements connected to a passive electric circuit usually called shunt. The use of woven composite materials for fan blades enables to plan on embedding piezoelectric materials, for instance in the form of patches inserted between the composite and the coating material. The work presented during this conference will illustrate the feasibility of a piezoelectric shunted device integrated in an industrial application that doesn't require electrical supply. For such a structure, it is shown that a purely passive resonant shunt can significantly reduce the level of vibration of the second bending mode and that a good correlation between experiments and simulations validates the best fitting finite element model.

  1. Initial shunt type at the Norwood operation impacts myocardial function in hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

    PubMed

    Ruotsalainen, Hanna K; Pihkala, Jaana; Salminen, Jukka; Hornberger, Lisa K; Sairanen, Heikki; Ojala, Tiina

    2017-08-01

    We investigated the impact of initial shunt type, a Blalock-Taussig (BT) shunt versus a right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit (RV-PA) on myocardial function at different stages of surgical palliation in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). A population-based cohort of 63 Finnish children with HLHS (BT n  = 23, RV-PA n  = 40) born between 2003 and 2010 were studied retrospectively by echocardiography prior to Stages 1, 2 and 3 palliation and 0.5-3 years after Stage 3. For comparison of systolic myocardial function, we evaluated the RV fractional area change (FAC), strain, strain rate and mechanical synchrony from the apical 4-chamber view by velocity vector imaging. There were no intergroup differences in demographics during the study period. At baseline, no intergroup differences were detected in RV systolic myocardial function. Before Stage 2, RV FAC was higher ( P  = 0.03) in the RV-PA conduit group. At Stage 3, an increase in all systolic myocardial functional parameters was observed in the BT shunt group. After Stage 3, the BT shunt group had better RV systolic function. In multiple regression analysis, the shunt type and the stage of palliation had an impact on myocardial function. Although patients with HLHS initially palliated with a BT shunt demonstrate lower RV FAC after Stage I, RV FAC improves after Stage 2 with better systolic performance after Stage 3 compared with those initially palliated with an RV-PA conduit. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.

  2. Percutaneous vesicoamniotic shunting versus conservative management for fetal lower urinary tract obstruction (PLUTO): a randomised trial.

    PubMed

    Morris, Rachel K; Malin, Gemma L; Quinlan-Jones, Elisabeth; Middleton, Lee J; Hemming, Karla; Burke, Danielle; Daniels, Jane P; Khan, Khalid S; Deeks, Jon; Kilby, Mark D

    2013-11-02

    Fetal lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO) is associated with high perinatal and long-term childhood mortality and morbidity. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of vesicoamniotic shunting for treatment of LUTO. In a randomised trial in the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands, women whose pregnancies with a male fetus were complicated by isolated LUTO were randomly assigned by a central telephone and web-based randomisation service to receive either the intervention (placement of vesicoamniotic shunt) or conservative management. Allocation could not be masked from clinicians or participants because of the invasive nature of the intervention. Diagnosis was by prenatal ultrasound. The primary outcome was survival of the baby to 28 days postnatally. All primary analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis, but these results were compared with those of an as-treated analysis to investigate the effect of a fairly large proportion of crossovers. We used Bayesian methods to estimate the posterior probability distribution of the effectiveness of vesicoamniotic shunting at 28 days. The study is registered with the ISRCTN Register, number ISRCTN53328556. 31 women with singleton pregnancies complicated by LUTO were included in the trial and main analysis, with 16 allocated to the vesicoamniotic shunt group and 15 to the conservative management group. The study closed early because of poor recruitment. There were 12 livebirths in each group. In the vesicoamniotic shunt group one intrauterine death occurred and three pregnancies were terminated. In the conservative management group one intrauterine death occurred and two pregnancies were terminated. Of the 16 pregnancies randomly assigned to vesicoamniotic shunting, eight neonates survived to 28 days, compared with four from the 15 pregnancies assigned to conservative management (intention-to-treat relative risk [RR] 1·88, 95% CI 0·71-4·96; p=0·27). Analysis based on treatment received showed a larger effect (3·20, 1

  3. Percutaneous vesicoamniotic shunting versus conservative management for fetal lower urinary tract obstruction (PLUTO): a randomised trial

    PubMed Central

    Morris, Rachel K; Malin, Gemma L; Quinlan-Jones, Elisabeth; Middleton, Lee J; Hemming, Karla; Burke, Danielle; Daniels, Jane P; Khan, Khalid S; Deeks, Jon; Kilby, Mark D

    2013-01-01

    Summary Background Fetal lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO) is associated with high perinatal and long-term childhood mortality and morbidity. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of vesicoamniotic shunting for treatment of LUTO. Methods In a randomised trial in the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands, women whose pregnancies with a male fetus were complicated by isolated LUTO were randomly assigned by a central telephone and web-based randomisation service to receive either the intervention (placement of vesicoamniotic shunt) or conservative management. Allocation could not be masked from clinicians or participants because of the invasive nature of the intervention. Diagnosis was by prenatal ultrasound. The primary outcome was survival of the baby to 28 days postnatally. All primary analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis, but these results were compared with those of an as-treated analysis to investigate the effect of a fairly large proportion of crossovers. We used Bayesian methods to estimate the posterior probability distribution of the effectiveness of vesicoamniotic shunting at 28 days. The study is registered with the ISRCTN Register, number ISRCTN53328556. Findings 31 women with singleton pregnancies complicated by LUTO were included in the trial and main analysis, with 16 allocated to the vesicoamniotic shunt group and 15 to the conservative management group. The study closed early because of poor recruitment. There were 12 livebirths in each group. In the vesicoamniotic shunt group one intrauterine death occurred and three pregnancies were terminated. In the conservative management group one intrauterine death occurred and two pregnancies were terminated. Of the 16 pregnancies randomly assigned to vesicoamniotic shunting, eight neonates survived to 28 days, compared with four from the 15 pregnancies assigned to conservative management (intention-to-treat relative risk [RR] 1·88, 95% CI 0·71–4·96; p=0·27). Analysis based on treatment

  4. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection caused by Bifidobacterium breve.

    PubMed

    Suwantarat, Nuntra; Romagnoli, Mark; Wakefield, Teresa; Carroll, Karen C

    2014-08-01

    Bifidobacterium breve is a rare cause of human infections. Previously, bacteremia and meningitis caused by this organism linked to probiotic use have been reported in a neonate. We report the first case of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection caused by B. breve in an adult without a history of probiotic use. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Hybrid approach to surgical correction of tetralogy of Fallot in all patients with functioning Blalock Taussig shunts.

    PubMed

    Sivakumar, Kothandam; Krishnan, Prasad; Pieris, Rajeeva; Francis, Edwin

    2007-08-01

    In total surgical correction of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) with functioning Blalock Taussig shunts (BTS), shunt take down increased surgical time, bleeding, and might injure phrenic and recurrent laryngeal nerve and thoracic duct. A routine hybrid approach using transcatheter BTS closure immediately before total surgical correction of TOF in all patients might reduce these problems. We analyze the safety and feasibility of this approach. Transcatheter BTS closure was achieved using single or multiple stainless steel embolization coils, Amplatzer vascular plugs, or duct occluders. When coils were released without control by bioptome forceps, coil migration in larger shunts was prevented by proximal or distal balloon occlusion. This routine hybrid strategy was followed in 22 consecutive patients aged 1-13 years over 4-year-period and 21 procedures were successful. Among the 16 patients attempted with coils, 13 had successful closure, 2 needed Amplatzer duct occluder devices, and 1 sent for surgical shunt takedown due to acute angulation of the shunt. New Amplatzer vascular plugs were used in six patients. Bioptome was used in six patients and proximal or distal balloon occlusion of flow was used in three patients. Four patients had closure of associated aortopulmonary or chest wall collaterals. Hybrid approach using routine transcatheter closure of all BTS immediately before surgical correction of TOF shunts with coils/plugs/devices is safe, feasible, and reproducible. Copyright (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  6. Pilot Comparisons of Temporary Open Revascularization Using Stent Grafts vs. Standard Shunts in a Sheep (Ovis aries) Model

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-03-14

    using stent grafts vs. standard shunts in a sheep (Ovis aries) model." PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (Pl) I TRAINING COORDINATOR (TC): Lt Col James Sampson...Objectives: Pilot study and development of an experimental model to test and compare the performance of endovascular stent -graft as an arterial shunt...FDG2015001 OA 2 Results: Exposure and placement of vascular stent -grafts and shunts into the common carotid artery was feasible. Stent -graft and

  7. Detection of cardiovascular shunts by transesophageal echocardiography in patients with pulmonary hypertension of unexplained cause.

    PubMed

    Chen, W J; Chen, J J; Lin, S C; Hwang, J J; Lien, W P

    1995-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to validate the usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the assessment of cardiovascular shunts in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) of unexplained cause. Twenty-four adult patients, 16 women, 8 men; 15 to 70 years of age, with PH of unexplained cause were studied. All were examined by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and TEE. TTE showed the ventricular septal defect in two patients, muscular type in one and perimembranous type in the other. TEE showed the atrial septal defect in eight patients (secundum type in six and primum type in the remaining) and the patient ductus arteriosus in six patients, which were not seen by TTE. The ventricular septal defect shown by TTE was also found by TEE. Patients with a ventricular septal defect were also associated with a patient ductus arteriosus. Among 14 patients with cardiovascular lesions, nine patients displayed a pattern of bidirectional shunt, four a pure left-to-right shunt, and the remaining one a pure right-to-left shunt. All of the cardiovascular defects could be confirmed by passage of the catheter across the defect at cardiac catheterization. In light of PH, transthoracic identification of cardiovascular shunts is difficult because of the low velocity across the defect. In this study, we found that TEE was superior to TTE in detecting and localizing cardiovascular malformations in patient with PH.

  8. [The use of labelled albumin microspheres in the study of arteriovenous shunting in varicosities of the lower limbs (author's transl)].

    PubMed

    Serise, J M; Le Héron, D; Le Héron, G; Bonnet, A; Busquet, J; Basse-Cathalinat, B; Tingaud, R

    1982-01-01

    The greater proportion of oxygen in the blood circulating in veins of the lower limbs bought to attention the possibility of pre-capillary arteriovenous shunting. The intra-arteriel injection of Technetium labelled serum albumin microspheres enables one to quantify arteriovenous shunts greater than 25 microns. The authors made a comparative study of arterio-venous shunting by blood gases analysis and isotopic techniques in twenty patients. The results seem to deny the existence of arteriovenous shunts in the genesis of essential varicose veins in the lower limb.

  9. Shunting inhibitory cellular neural networks with chaotic external inputs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Akhmet, M. U.; Fen, M. O.

    2013-06-01

    Taking advantage of external inputs, it is shown that shunting inhibitory cellular neural networks behave chaotically. The analysis is based on the Li-Yorke definition of chaos. Appropriate illustrations which support the theoretical results are depicted.

  10. High Isolation Single-Pole Four-Throw RF MEMS Switch Based on Series-Shunt Configuration

    PubMed Central

    Khaira, Navjot

    2014-01-01

    This paper presents a novel design of single-pole four-throw (SP4T) RF-MEMS switch employing both capacitive and ohmic switches. It is designed on high-resistivity silicon substrate and has a compact area of 1.06 mm2. The series or ohmic switches have been designed to provide low insertion loss with good ohmic contact. The pull-in voltage for ohmic switches is calculated to be 7.19 V. Shunt or capacitive switches have been used in each port to improve the isolation for higher frequencies. The proposed SP4T switch provides excellent RF performances with isolation better than 70.64 dB and insertion loss less than 0.72 dB for X-band between the input port and each output port. PMID:24711730

  11. Turning crocodilian hearts into bird hearts: growth rates are similar for alligators with and without right-to-left cardiac shunt

    PubMed Central

    Eme, John; Gwalthney, June; Owerkowicz, Tomasz; Blank, Jason M.; Hicks, James W.

    2010-01-01

    The functional and possible adaptive significance of non-avian reptiles' dual aortic arch system and the ability of all non-avian reptiles to perform central vascular cardiac shunts have been of great interest to comparative physiologists. The unique cardiac anatomy of crocodilians – a four-chambered heart with the dual aortic arch system – allows for only right-to-left (R–L; pulmonary bypass) cardiac shunt and for surgical elimination of this shunt. Surgical removal of the R–L shunt, by occluding the left aorta (LAo) upstream and downstream of the foramen of Panizza, results in a crocodilian with an obligatory, avian/mammalian central circulation. In this study, R–L cardiac shunt was eliminated in age-matched, female American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis; 5–7 months of age). We tested the hypothesis that surgical elimination of R–L cardiac shunt would impair growth (a readily measured proxy for fitness) compared with sham-operated, age-matched controls, especially in animals subjected to exhaustive exercise. While regular exercise caused a decrease in size (snout-to-vent length, head length and body mass), elimination of the capacity for R–L cardiac shunt did not greatly reduce animal growth, despite a chronic ventricular enlargement in surgically altered juvenile alligators. We speculate that, despite being slightly smaller, alligators with an occluded LAo would have reached sexual maturity in the same breeding season as control alligators. This study suggests that crocodilian R–L cardiac shunt does not provide an adaptive advantage for juvenile alligator growth and supports the logic that cardiac shunts persist in crocodilians because they have not been selected against. PMID:20639429

  12. Hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia with congenital portosystemic shunt.

    PubMed

    Cho, Yuki; Shimono, Taro; Morikawa, Hiroyasu; Shintaku, Haruo; Tokuhara, Daisuke

    2014-12-01

    Hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is a rare benign tumor in children. Vascular anomalies have been identified as pathological features of FNH, but the etiology remains unclear. We describe a rare case including the time course of formation of hepatic FNH in response to congenital portosystemic shunt (PSS). A 4-month-old girl was identified on newborn mass screening to have hypergalactosemia, but no inherited deficiencies in galactose-metabolizing enzymes were found. Ultrasonography and per-rectal portal scintigraphy showed intrahepatic PSS of the right lobe as a cause of the hypergalactosemia. At age 12 months, the patient had elevated hepatic enzymes and small hypoechoic hepatic lesions around the shunt. On abdominal contrast-enhanced ultrasonography spoke-wheel sign and central stellate scar were seen, which are typical features of hepatic FNH without biopsy. Congenital intrahepatic PSS should be evaluated on abdominal contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and observed over time because of its potential to develop into hepatic FNH. © 2014 Japan Pediatric Society.

  13. Stability of Programmable Shunt Valve Settings with Simultaneous Use of the Optune Transducer Array: A Case Report.

    PubMed

    Chan, Andrew K; Birk, Harjus S; Winkler, Ethan A; Viner, Jennifer A; Taylor, Jennie W; McDermott, Michael W

    2016-07-07

    The Optune® transducer array (Novocure Ltd., Haifa, Israel) is an FDA-approved noninvasive regional therapy that aims to inhibit the growth of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells via utilization of alternating electric fields. Some patients with GBM may develop hydrocephalus and benefit from subsequent shunt placement, but special attention must be paid to patients in whom programmable valves are utilized, given the potential effect of the magnetic fields on valve settings. We present the first case report illustrating the stability of programmable shunt valve settings in a neurosurgical patient undergoing therapy with the Optune device. In this study, shunt valve settings were stable over a period of five days despite Optune therapy. This is reassuring for patients with GBM who require simultaneous treatment with both the Optune device and a programmable shunt system.

  14. [The 2,3-diphosphoglycerate shunt and stabilization of the ATP level in mammalian erythrocytes].

    PubMed

    Ataullakhanov, A I; Ataullakhanov, F I; Vitvitskiĭ, V M; Zhabotinskiĭ, A M; Pichugin, A V

    1985-06-01

    The mechanisms of regulation of energy metabolism in erythrocytes of various mammalian species were investigated. In native erythrocytes of man, sheep, cow, dog and mouse the dependencies of the rates of glucose uptake on ATP concentration (i.e., regulatory parameters of glycolysis) were measured. These parameters plotted in normalized coordinates are not species-specific (invariant). The dependence of the rate of ATP-consuming processes on ATP concentration has been studied for the first time in intact mammalian erythrocytes. This dependence was found to be linear only in the species, in whose erythrocytes the activity of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate shunt is practically zero. In all species under study, the stabilization of ATP level is provided for mainly by the hexokinase-phosphofructokinase system. A comparison of regulatory mechanisms of energy metabolism in mammalian (sheep, cow) erythrocytes, in which the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate shunt is absent, with human and animal erythrocytes, in which this pathway is active, points to the important role of the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate shunt in regulation of energy conversion in erythrocytes. This shunt operates as an additional stabilizer protecting the cell from extremal influences.

  15. Electrospun polyurethane as an alternative ventricular catheter and in vitro model of shunt obstruction

    PubMed Central

    Suresh, Supraja

    2015-01-01

    Intracranial pressure and volume vary considerably between hydrocephalic patients, and with age, health and haemodynamic status; if left untreated, intracranial pressure rises and the ventricular system expands to accommodate the excess cerebrospinal fluid, with significant morbidity and mortality. Cerebrospinal fluid shunts in use today have a high incidence of failure with shunt obstruction being the most serious. Conventional proximal shunt catheters are made from poly(dimethyl)siloxane, the walls of which are perforated with holes for the cerebrospinal fluid to pass through. The limited range of catheters, in terms of material selection and flow distribution, is responsible in large part for their poor performance. In this study, we present an alternative design of proximal catheter made of electrospun polyether urethane, and evaluate its performance in the presence of glial cells, which are responsible for shunt blockage. The viability and growth of cells on catheter materials such as poly(dimethyl)siloxane and polyurethane in the form of cast films, microfibrous mats and porous sponges were studied in the presence of proteins present in cerebrospinal fluid after 48 h and 96 h in culture. The numbers of viable cells on each substrate were comparable to untreated poly(dimethyl)siloxane, both in the presence and absence of serum proteins found in cerebrospinal fluid. A cell culture model of shunt obstruction was developed in which cells on electrospun polyether urethane catheters were subjected to flow during culture in vitro, and the degree of obstruction quantified in terms of hydraulic permeability after static and perfusion culture. The results indicate that a catheter made of electrospun polyether urethane would be able to maintain cerebrospinal fluid flow even with the presence of cells for the time period chosen for this study. These findings have implications for the design and deployment of microporous shunt catheter systems for the treatment of

  16. Retinal complications after aqueous shunt surgical procedures for glaucoma.

    PubMed

    Law, S K; Kalenak, J W; Connor, T B; Pulido, J S; Han, D P; Mieler, W F

    1996-12-01

    To assess retinal complications and to identify risk factors for retinal complications following aqueous shunt procedures. Records of 38 consecutive aqueous shunt procedures that were performed on 36 patients at the Eye Institute of the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, from June 1993 to March 1995 (minimum follow-up, 6 months) were reviewed. The mean +/- SD follow-up was 11.4 +/- 5.2 months (median, 10.5 months). Twelve patients (32%) had the following retinal complications: 4 serous choroidal effusions (10%) that required drainage, 3 suprachoroidal hemorrhages (8%), 2 vitreous hemorrhages (5%), 1 rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (3%), 1 endophthalmitis (3%), and 1 scleral buckling extrusion (3%). Surgical procedures for retinal complications were required in 8 (67%) of these 12 patients. Visual acuity decreased 2 lines or more in 9 (75%) of these 12 patients. The median onset of a postoperative retinal complication was 12.5 days, with 10 patients (83%) experiencing complications within 35 days. Serous choroidal effusions developed in 10 other patients (26%), and these effusions resolved spontaneously. Visual acuity decreased 2 lines or more in 2 (20%) of these additional 10 patients. Patients who experienced serious retinal complications were significantly older, had a higher rate of hypertension, and postoperative ocular hypotony. Serious retinal complications were distributed evenly among patients with Krupin valves with discs and Molteno and Baerveldt devices. Experience with the Ahmed glaucoma valve implant was limited. Aqueous shunt procedures may be associated with significant retinal complications and subsequent visual loss.

  17. Alumina shunt for precooling a cryogen-free 4He or 3He refrigerator

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Uhlig, Kurt

    2016-10-01

    In this technical report a cryogen-free 1 K cryostat is described where the pot of the 4He refrigeration unit is precooled by the 2nd stage of a pulse tube cryocooler (PTC) from room temperature to T ∼ 3 K via a shunt made from sintered alumina (SA); the total mass of the 1 K stage is 3.5 kg. SA has high thermal conductivity at high temperatures; but below ∼50 K the thermal conductivity drops rapidly, almost following a T3-law. This makes SA an interesting candidate for the construction of a thermal shunt, especially as the heat capacity of metals drops by several orders of magnitude in the temperature range from 300 K to 3 K. At the base temperature of the PTC, the heat conduction of the shunt is so small that the heat leak into the 1 K stage is negligible.

  18. Multiple acquired portosystemic shunts secondary to primary hypoplasia of the portal vein in a cat.

    PubMed

    Sugimoto, Satoko; Maeda, Shingo; Tsuboi, Masaya; Saeki, Kohei; Chambers, James K; Yonezawa, Tomohiro; Fukushima, Kenjiro; Fujiwara, Reina; Uchida, Kazuyuki; Tsujimoto, Hajime; Matsuki, Naoaki; Ohno, Koichi

    2018-06-06

    A 6-year 5-month-old spayed female Scottish Fold cat presented with a one-month history of gait abnormalities, increased salivation, and decreased activity. A blood test showed hyperammonemia and increased serum bile acids. Imaging tests revealed multiple shunt vessels indicating acquired portosystemic shunt. Histopathologic analysis of liver biopsy showed features consistent with liver hypoperfusion, such as a barely recognizable portal vein, increased numbers of small arterioles, and diffuse vacuolar degeneration of hepatocytes. These findings supported the diagnosis of primary hypoplasia of the portal vein/microvascular dysplasia, (PHPV/MVD). To our knowledge, this is the first case of feline PHPV/MVD that developed multiple acquired portosystemic shunts and presented with hepatic encephalopathy.

  19. Dual microcather-dual detachable coil technique in embolization for a congenital intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt (IPSVS).

    PubMed

    Suzuki, Kazushi; Shimohira, Masashi; Hashizume, Takuya; Suzuki, Yosuke; Shibamoto, Yuta

    2013-09-01

    We report a 14-year-old boy with a large intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt. The shunt seemed to be difficult to coil embolize because it was so large and short. However, it was successfully treated by coil embolization with a new dual microcatheter-dual detachable coil technique.

  20. [Effects of Losartan on expression of heme oxygenases in volume-overloaded rats with left-to-right shunt].

    PubMed

    Yuan, Li-Xing; Liu, Han-Min; Li, Mi; Gao, Ju; Zhou, Tong-Fu

    2005-09-01

    To study the expression of heme oxygenase-1 mRNA and pulmonary remodeling before and after surgical establishment of left-to-right shunt in volume-overloaded SD rats and rats with Losartan intervention. Left-to-right shunt volume-overloaded SD rat models were established by aortocaval shunt operation. Seven rats with shunt were placed on Losartan (Losartan group), 7 rats with but not given Losartan were included in the operation group, and 4 rats after sham operation served as controls. Pulmonary pressure and right ventricular pressure were measured during catheterization. The relative weights ventricles were determined after execution of the rats. Pulmonary vascular remodeling parameters, including percentage arterial wall thickness and percentage muscularized small arteries, were assessed by morphometry. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA expression and heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2) mRNA expression were detected RT-PCR method. Pulmonary artery pressure and right ventricular relative weight decreased significantly in the rats of Losartan group; in addition, the percentage arterial wall thickness and percentage of muscularized small arteries in the Losartan group were reduced as compared with those in the operation group. The level 1 mRAN expression in rats with shunt was significantly higher than that in rats without shunt. The level mRNA expression in the Losartan group decreased remarkably as compared against that in the operation The level of HO-1 mRNA expression in lungs was significantly higher than that in ventricles. There statistically significant differences in HO-2 mRNA expression levels between the three rat groups. Losartan intervention can markedly reduce pulmonary pressure, inhibit vascular remodeling in volume-overloaded left-to-right shunt rats, and result in down-regulation of HO-1 mRNA expression.

  1. Usefulness of a pleuroperitoneal shunt for treatment of refractory pleural effusion in a patient receiving maintenance hemodialysis.

    PubMed

    Habuka, Masato; Ito, Toru; Yoshizawa, Yuta; Matsuo, Koji; Murakami, Shuichi; Kondo, Daisuke; Kanazawa, Hiroshi; Narita, Ichiei

    2018-03-23

    Refractory pleural effusion can be a life-threatening complication in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis. We report successful treatment of refractory pleural effusion using a Denver® pleuroperitoneal shunt in one such patient. A 54-year-old Japanese man, who had previously undergone left nephrectomy, was admitted urgently to our department because of a high C-reactive protein (CRP) level, right pleural effusion, and right renal abscess. Because antibiotics proved ineffective and his general state was deteriorating, he underwent emergency insertion of a thoracic drainage tube and nephrectomy, and hemodialysis was started. Although his general state improved slowly thereafter, the pleural effusion, which was unilateral and transudative, remained refractory and therefore he needed to be on oxygenation. To control the massive pleural effusion, a pleuroperitoneal shunt was inserted. Thereafter, his respiratory condition became stable without oxygenation and he was discharged. His general condition has since been well. Although pleural effusion is a common complication of maintenance hemodialysis, few reports have documented the use of pleuroperitoneal shunt to control refractory pleural effusion. Pleuroperitoneal shunt has been advocated as an effective and low-morbidity treatment for refractory pleural effusion, and its use for some patients with recurrent pleural effusion has also been reported, without any severe complications. In the present case, pleuroperitoneal shunt improved the patient's quality of life sufficiently to allow him to be discharged home without oxygenation. Pleuroperitoneal shunt should be considered a useful treatment option for hemodialysis patients with refractory pleural effusion.

  2. Improvement in lower urinary tract symptoms across multiple domains following ventriculoperitoneal shunting for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.

    PubMed

    Krzastek, Sarah C; Robinson, Samuel P; Young, Harold F; Klausner, Adam P

    2017-11-01

    The purpose of this study was to evaluate the change in lower urinary tract symptoms following ventriculoperitoneal shunting in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). Lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with new-onset iNPH were prospectively evaluated using validated questionnaires from the International Consultation on Incontinence to assess overactive bladder (ICIq-OAB), incontinence (ICIq-UI), and quality of life (ICIq-LUTqol), as well as the American Urological Association Symptom Score bother scale, prior to and following ventriculoperitoneal shunting for iNPH. Sub-analysis was performed based on gender, age, and medical comorbidities. Twenty-three consecutive patients with new-onset iNPH were evaluated prior to, and following, surgical intervention for iNPH via ventriculoperitoneal shunting. Shunting resulted in a significant improvement in urinary urgency, urge incontinence, ability to perform physical activities, and overall quality of life. Women had improvement across more domains than men following shunting, particularly in terms of urinary urgency and overall quality of life. Younger patients experienced significant improvement in scores following shunting as compared to older patients. Patients with two or more medical comorbidities, as well as those with fewer than two comorbidities, reported a significant improvement in overall quality of life. Surgical intervention for iNPH results in significant improvement in urinary symptoms, specifically in terms of urinary urgency and urge incontinence as well as overall quality of life, particularly in women and younger patients. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  3. Listeria monocytogenes: a Rare Complication of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt in Children ▿

    PubMed Central

    Le Monnier, Alban; Blanot, Stéphane; Abachin, Eric; Beretti, Jean-Luc; Berche, Patrick; Kayal, Samer

    2011-01-01

    We report a case of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt infection in a 3-year-old boy caused by the food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, subsequent to acute peritonitis. This unusual presentation of central nervous system (CNS) listeriosis underlines the ability of the bacteria to form and survive within biofilms on indwelling medical devices. Bacterial persistence may lead to treatment failure and spreading. We highlight the helpfulness of specific quantitative real-time PCR for the hly gene (PCR-hly) for the diagnosis and follow-up of such infections in detecting bacterial persistence within medical devices despite effective antibiotic treatment. Only the surgical replacement of the VP shunt will resolve the infection. PMID:21918024

  4. A novel method for stereotactic, endoscope-assisted transtentorial placement of a shunt catheter into symptomatic posterior fossa cysts.

    PubMed

    Turner, Michael S; Nguyen, Ha Son; Payner, Troy D; Cohen-Gadol, Aaron A

    2011-07-01

    Posterior fossa cysts are usually divided into Dandy-Walker malformations, arachnoid cysts, and isolated and/or trapped fourth ventricles. Shunt placement is a mainstay treatment for decompression of these fluid collections when their expansion becomes symptomatic. Although several techniques to drain symptomatic posterior fossa cysts have been described, each method carries its own advantages and disadvantages. This article describes an alternative technique. In 10 patients, the authors used an alternative technique involving stereotactic and endoscopic methods to place a catheter in symptomatic posterior fossa cysts across the tentorium. Discussion of these cases is included, along with a review of various approaches to shunt placement in this region and recommendations regarding the proposed technique. No patient suffered intracranial hemorrhage related to the procedure and catheter implantation. All 3 patients who underwent placement of a new transtentorial cystoperitoneal shunt and a new ventriculoperitoneal shunt did not suffer any postoperative complication; a decrease in the size of their posterior fossa cysts was evident on CT scans obtained during the 1st postoperative day. Follow-up CT scans demonstrated either stable findings or further interval decrease in the size of their cysts. In 1 patient, the postoperative head CT demonstrated that the transtentorial catheter terminated posterior to the right parietal occipital region without entering the retrocerebellar cyst. This patient underwent a repeat operation for proximal shunt revision, resulting in an acceptable catheter implantation. The patient in Case 8 suffered from a shunt infection and subsequently underwent hardware removal and aqueductoplasty with stent placement. The patient in Case 9 demonstrated a slight increase in fourth ventricle size and was returned to the operating room. Exploration revealed a kink in the tubing connecting the distal limb of the Y connector to the valve. The Y

  5. Injury of leg somatotopy of corticospinal tract at corona radiata by ventriculoperitoneal shunt

    PubMed Central

    Jang, Sung Ho; Kwon, Younghyeon

    2018-01-01

    Abstract Rationale: A 45-year-old right-handed female patient suffered head trauma after being hit by a truck that ran into a house. Patient concerns: The patient lost consciousness for 1 hour and experienced posttraumatic amnesia for 1 month after the accident. Diagnoses: She underwent conservative management for a subdural hematoma in the left frontotemporal lobes and intracerebral hematoma in the left frontal lobe. Interventions: The patient's Glasgow Coma Scale score was 11. She underwent a VP shunt operation, approached through the right posterior parietal area of the brain, at 4 months after onset. Approximately, 6 months after onset, she was admitted to the rehabilitation department of a university hospital. She presented with moderate weakness of the left leg: Medical Research Council scores: hip flexor; 3, knee extensor; 3+, ankle dorsiflexor; 3–. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed a leukomalactic lesion in the right posterior corona radiata along the shunt. Outcomes: On 6-month (2 months after the shunt operation) diffusion tensor tractography, the left CST showed partial injury in the posterior portion compared with the right CST. On 6-month transcranial magnetic stimulation study, the motor-evoked potential obtained at the left tibialis anterior muscle revealed lower amplitude than that on the right side. Lessons: Injury of leg somatotopy of a CST was demonstrated in a patient with leg weakness following a VP shunt operation. PMID:29517704

  6. Unilateral Versus Bilateral Laparoscopic Ovarian Drilling Using Thermal Dose Adjusted According to Ovarian Volume in CC-Resistant PCOS, A Randomized Study.

    PubMed

    El-Sayed, Mohamed Lotfy Mohamed; Ahmed, Mostafa Abdo; Mansour, Marwa Abdel Azim; Mansour, Shymma Abdel Azim

    2017-10-01

    This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of unilateral laparoscopic ovarian drilling versus bilateral laparoscopic ovarian drilling with thermal dose adjusted according to ovarian volume in clomiphene citrate (CC)-resistant PCOS patients in terms of endocrine changes, menstrual cycle resumption, ovulation and pregnancy rates. This study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zagazig university hospitals. One hundred CC-resistant PCOS patients were divided into two groups. Group (I) (50 patients) underwent unilateral laparoscopic ovarian drilling with thermal dose adjusted according to ovarian volume (60 J/cm 3 of ovarian tissue), and group (II) (50 patients) underwent bilateral laparoscopic ovarian drilling using the same previously mentioned thermal dose. Endocrinal changes and menstrual cycle resumption were assessed within 8 weeks postoperatively, but the ovulation and pregnancy rates were estimated after 6-month follow-up period. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups as regards demographic data ( p  > 0.05). As regards menstruation cycle resumption (62.5 vs. 81%) ( p  = 0.047), total ovulation rate (54.2 vs. 78.7%) ( p  = 0.011) and cumulative pregnancy rate (33.3 vs. 55.3%) ( p  = 0.031), there was statistically significant difference between both groups. After drilling, there were highly statistically significant decrease in the mean serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and significant decrease in the mean serum levels of testosterone in both groups. Mean serum level of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) did not change significantly in both groups after drilling. Bilateral laparoscopic ovarian drilling with thermal dose adjusted according to ovarian volume is more effective than the right-sided unilateral technique with thermal dose adjusted according to ovarian volume in terms of menstrual cycle resumption, ovulation and cumulative pregnancy rates in CC-resistant PCOS patients.

  7. Use of new Intrauterine Shunt for fetal fluid accumulations. Single Center experience from first 17 cases.

    PubMed

    Nørgaard, L N; Søgaard, K; Jensen, L N; Ekelund, C; Kahrs, B H; Tabor, A; Sundberg, K

    2018-04-27

    Pleural effusion is the most common fluid-accumulation in the fetus with a prevalence of 1:15.000-24.000 pregnancies. 1 The clinical picture is highly variable ranging from spontaneous resolution to lung hypoplasia, hydrops and death. 1 Treatment options include thoracocentesis, thoraco-amniotic shunting and pleurodesis using OK-432. 2 The conventional thoraco-amniotic shunts are applied using a 13-16G trochar. 3,4 Somatex® Intrauterine Shunt (IUS) was launched in 2014 and consists of a self-expanding nitinol wire mesh with an inner silicone coating to be inserted through an 18G/1.2 mm needle. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

  8. Three-dimensional minority-carrier collection channels at shunt locations in silicon solar cells

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Guthrey, Harvey; Johnston, Steve; Weiss, Dirk N.

    2016-10-01

    In this contribution, we demonstrate the value of using a multiscale multi-technique characterization approach to study the performance-limiting defects in multi-crystalline silicon (mc-Si) photovoltaic devices. The combination of dark lock-in thermography (DLIT) imaging, electron beam induced current imaging, and both transmission and scanning transmission electron microscopy (TEM/STEM) on the same location revealed the nanoscale origin of the optoelectronic properties of shunts visible at the device scale. Our site-specific correlative approach identified the shunt behavior to be a result of three-dimensional inversion channels around structural defects decorated with oxide precipitates. These inversion channels facilitate enhanced minority-carrier transport that results in themore » increased heating observed through DLIT imaging. The definitive connection between the nanoscale structure and chemistry of the type of shunt investigated here allows photovoltaic device manufacturers to immediately address the oxygen content of their mc-Si absorber material when such features are present, instead of engaging in costly characterization.« less

  9. Histological findings of failed gold micro shunts in primary open-angle glaucoma.

    PubMed

    Agnifili, Luca; Costagliola, Ciro; Figus, Michele; Iezzi, Giovanna; Piattelli, Adriano; Carpineto, Paolo; Mastropasqua, Rodolfo; Nardi, Marco; Mastropasqua, Leonardo

    2012-01-01

    To describe the histological features of failed gold micro shunts (GMS) in unsuccessful implantations for refractory primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). This was an interventional case series study. Five eyes of five glaucomatous patients with unsuccessful GMS implantation underwent shunt removal. Each device was sectioned into three portions: proximal or anterior chamber (AC) portion, middle or scleral portion and distal or suprachoroidal (SC) portion. The histological analysis was performed throughout the whole extent of the shunt, describing both the inner spaces and the outer surface. At the moment of removal all devices were correctly located into the SC space and in AC, with the exception of a case presenting corneal endothelial contact. The mean intra-ocular pressure before GMS removal was 30.4 ± 5.3 mmHg, and the mean time of GMS removal after implantation was 6.8 ± 2.5 months. No significant histological differences were documented among the five analyzed devices. The main feature was the presence of a thick connective capsule-like reaction surrounding both the proximal and distal ends and invading the posterior and anterior grid holes, whereas a more loosely arranged connective tissue was observed within the inner channels. Signs of surface fibrosis of the middle-scleral portion and inflammatory cell infiltration of the device were not documented in any of the cases. Failed GMS implantations presented connective tissue filling all the inner spaces and creating a thick fibrotic capsule surrounding the ends of the device. This modification isolated the GMS from the AC and SC space, impeding aqueous flows throughout the shunt.

  10. Risk factors for stent graft thrombosis after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation.

    PubMed

    Jahangiri, Younes; Kerrigan, Timothy; Li, Lei; Prosser, Dominik; Brar, Anantnoor; Righetti, Johnathan; Schenning, Ryan C; Kaufman, John A; Farsad, Khashayar

    2017-12-01

    To identify risk factors of stent graft thrombosis after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation. Patients who underwent TIPS creation between June 2003 and January 2016 and with follow-up assessing stent graft patency were included (n=174). Baseline comorbidities, liver function, procedural details and follow-up liver function tests were analyzed in association with hazards of thrombosis on follow-up. Competing risk cox regression models were used considering liver transplant after TIPS creation as the competing risk variable. One-, 2- and 5-year primary patency rates were 94.1%, 91.7% and 78.2%, respectively. Patient age [sub-hazard ratio (sHR): 1.13; P=0.001], body mass index (BMI) <30 (sHR: 33.08; P=0.008) and a higher post-TIPS portosystemic pressure gradient (sHR: 1.14; P=0.023) were significantly associated with TIPS thrombosis in multivariate analysis. A higher rate of TIPS thrombosis was observed in those for whom the procedure was clinically unsuccessful (P=0.014). A significant increase in incidence of thrombosis was noted with increasing tertiles of post-TIPS portosystemic gradients (P value for trend=0.017). Older age, lower BMI and higher post-TIPS portosystemic gradients were associated with higher hazards of shunt thrombosis after TIPS creation using stent grafts. Higher rates of shunt thrombosis were seen in patients for whom TIPS creation was clinically unsuccessful. The association between TIPS thrombosis and higher post-TIPS portosystemic gradients may indicate impaired flow through the shunt, a finding which may be technical or anatomic in nature and should be assessed before procedure completion.

  11. Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Placement in Patients with Cirrhosis and Concomitant Portal Vein Thrombosis

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ha, Thuong G. Van, E-mail: tgvanha@radiology.bsd.uchicago.edu; Hodge, Justin; Funaki, Brian

    2006-10-15

    Purpose. To determine the safety and efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation in patients with liver cirrhosis complicated by thrombosed portal vein. Methods. This study reviewed 15 cases of TIPS creation in 15 cirrhotic patients with portal vein thrombosis at our institution over an 8-year period. There were 2 women and 13 men with a mean age of 53 years. Indications were refractory ascites, variceal hemorrhage, and refractory pleural effusion. Clinical follow-up was performed in all patients. Results. The technical success rate was 75% (3/4) in patients with chronic portal vein thrombosis associated with cavernomatous transformation and 91%more » (10/11) in patients with acute thrombosis or partial thrombosis, giving an overall success rate of 87%. Complications included postprocedural encephalopathy and localized hematoma at the access site. In patients with successful shunt placement, the total follow-up time was 223 months. The 30-day mortality rate was 13%. Two patients underwent liver transplantation at 35 days and 7 months, respectively, after TIPS insertion. One patient had an occluded shunt at 4 months with an unsuccessful revision. The remaining patients had functioning shunts at follow-up. Conclusion. TIPS creation in thrombosed portal vein is possible and might be a treatment option in certain patients.« less

  12. Patent Foramen Ovale: Association between the Degree of Shunt by Contrast Transesophageal Echocardiography and the Risk of Future Ischemic Neurologic Events

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Stone, David A.; Godard, Joel; Godard, Joel; Corretti, mary C.; Kittner, Steven J.; Sample, Cindy; Price, Thomas R.; Plotnick, Gary D.

    1996-01-01

    This study investigated whether there is an association between the degree of interatrial shunting across a patent foramen ovale, as determined by saline contrast transesophageal echocardiography, and the risk of subsequent systemic embolic events, including stroke. Thirty-four patients found to have patent foramen ovale during transesophageal echocardiography were divided into two groups on the basis of the maximum number of microbubbles in the left heart in any single frame after intravenous saline contrast injection: group 1 (n = 16) with a "large" degree of shunt (220 microbubbles) and group 2 (n = 18) with a "small" degree of shunt (23 but <20 microbubbles). Patients were followed up over a mean period of 21 months for subsequent systemic embolic events, including transient ischemic attack and stroke. Five (31%) of the patients with large shunts had subsequent ischemic neurologic events, whereas none of the patients with small shunts had embolic events (p= 0.03). These events occurred in spite of antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy. We conclude that patients with a large degree of shunt across a patent foramen ovale, as determined by contrast transesophageal echocardiography, are at a significantly higher risk for subsequent adverse neurologic events compared with patients with a small degree of shunt.

  13. Induced resistance in tomato fruit by γ-aminobutyric acid for the control of alternaria rot caused by Alternaria alternata.

    PubMed

    Yang, Jiali; Sun, Cui; Zhang, Yangyang; Fu, Da; Zheng, Xiaodong; Yu, Ting

    2017-04-15

    The study investigated the effect of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on the control of alternaria rot in tomato fruit and the possible mechanism involved. Our results showed exogenous GABA could stimulate remarkable resistance to the alternaria rot, while it had no direct antifungal activity against Alternaria alternata. Moreover, the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase, along with the expression of these corresponding genes, were significantly induced in the GABA treatment. The obtained data suggested GABA induced resistance against the necrotrophic pathogen A. alternata, at least in part by activating antioxidant enzymes, restricting the levels of cell death caused by reactive oxygen species. Meanwhile, the key enzyme genes of GABA shunt, GABA transaminase and succinic-semialdehyde dehydrogenase, were found up-regulated in the GABA treatment. The activation of the GABA shunt might play a vital role in the resistance mechanism underpinning GABA-induced plant immunity. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  14. The prognostic value of clinical characteristics and parameters of cerebrospinal fluid hydrodynamics in shunting for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.

    PubMed

    Delwel, E J; de Jong, D A; Avezaat, C J J

    2005-10-01

    It is difficult to predict which patients with symptoms and radiological signs of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) will benefit from a shunting procedure and which patients will not. Risk of this procedure is also higher in patients with NPH than in the overall population of hydrocephalic patients. The aim of this study is to investigate which clinical characteristics, CT parameters and parameters of cerebrospinal fluid dynamics could predict improvement after shunting. Eighty-three consecutive patients with symptoms and radiological signs of NPH were included in a prospective study. Parameters of the cerebrospinal fluid dynamics were measured by calculation of computerised data obtained by a constant-flow lumbar infusion test. Sixty-six patients considered candidates for surgery were treated with a medium-pressure Spitz-Holter valve; in seventeen patients a shunting procedure was not considered indicated. Clinical and radiological follow-up was performed for at least one year postoperatively. The odds ratio, the sensitivity and specificity as well as the positive and negative predictive value of individual and combinations of measured parameters did not show a statistically significant relation to clinical improvement after shunting. We conclude that neither individual parameters nor combinations of measured parameters show any statistically significant relation to clinical improvement following shunting procedures in patients suspected of NPH. We suggest restricting the term normal pressure hydrocephalus to cases that improve after shunting and using the term normal pressure hydrocephalus syndrome for patients suspected of NPH and for patients not improving after implantation of a proven well-functioning shunt.

  15. Repeated assessment of suspected normal pressure hydrocephalus in non-shunted cases. A prospective study based on the constant rate lumbar infusion test.

    PubMed

    Czepko, Ryszard; Cieslicki, Krzysztof

    2016-05-01

    Only a few reports have been published on the natural history of non-shunted patients suspected of having NPH. The aim of this study is to follow up a group of such cases. It was possible to follow up 27 patients who had not been qualified for shunting after the primary diagnosis. An assessment of Hakim's triad was performed, together with an analysis of radiological parameters and the results of lumbar infusion tests (LITs), both on admission and at the later date (on average, after 5.6 months). All parameters were analyzed with respect to periventricular lucency (PVL), atrophy, type of NPH, and the age of the patients. There were no deteriorations and six patients improved. Those who were over 50 and who had no PVL or secondary NPH tended to improve more frequently. Significant improvement of dementia was noted (p = 0.042) in all cases, and in the group of patients without PVL (p = 0.04). The size of the ventricles did not change significantly. The values of the resistance to outflow (R), elastance (E), and ICP remained stable. Analysis of our series revealed that the patients suspected of having NPH who had not been qualified for shunting did not deteriorate, while some of them even improved significantly as far as the level of dementia was concerned. As the CT and LIT parameters remained stable, there were no indications for repeating these examinations, at least within the period of nearly 6 months, which followed the primary diagnosis.

  16. Evaluation of hepatic steatosis in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts using Oil Red O staining.

    PubMed

    Hunt, G B; Luff, J A; Daniel, L; Van den Bergh, R

    2013-11-01

    The aims of this prospective study were to quantify steatosis in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts (CPS) using a fat-specific stain, to compare the amount of steatosis in different lobes of the liver, and to evaluate intra- and interobserver variability in lipid point counting. Computer-assisted point counting of lipid droplets was undertaken following Oil Red O staining in 21 dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts and 9 control dogs. Dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts had significantly more small lipid droplets (<6 μ) than control dogs (P = .0013 and .0002, respectively). There was no significant difference in steatosis between liver lobes for either control dogs and CPS dogs. Significant differences were seen between observers for the number of large lipid droplets (>9 μ) and lipogranulomas per tissue point (P = .023 and .01, respectively). In conclusion, computer-assisted counting of lipid droplets following Oil Red O staining of liver biopsy samples allows objective measurement and detection of significant differences between dogs with CPS and normal dogs. This method will allow future evaluation of the relationship between different presentations of CPS (anatomy, age, breed) and lipidosis, as well as the impact of hepatic lipidosis on outcomes following surgical shunt attenuation.

  17. Hepatic encephalomyelopathy in a calf with congenital portosystemic shunt (CPSS)

    PubMed Central

    Oevermann, Anna; Bley, Tim; Pfister, Patrizia; Miclard, Julien

    2008-01-01

    A 4-month-old female Holstein Friesian calf was referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Berne, Switzerland for evaluation of ataxia, weakness, apathy and stunted growth. Clinical examination revealed generalized ataxia, propioceptive deficits, decreased menace response and sensibility. Postmortem examination did not reveal macroscopic changes of major organs. Histologically, the brain and the spinal cord lesions were characterized by polymicrocavitation, preferentially affecting the white matter fibers at the junction of grey and white matter and by the presence of Alzheimer type II cells. The liver revealed lesions consistent with a congenital portosystemic shunt, characterized by increased numbers of arteriolar profiles and hypoplasia to absence of portal veins. The pathological investigations along with the animal history and clinical signs indicated a hepatic encephalomyelopathy due to a congenital portosystemic shunt. PMID:18296896

  18. Adjusted drug treatment is superior to renal sympathetic denervation in patients with true treatment-resistant hypertension.

    PubMed

    Fadl Elmula, Fadl Elmula M; Hoffmann, Pavel; Larstorp, Anne C; Fossum, Eigil; Brekke, Magne; Kjeldsen, Sverre E; Gjønnæss, Eyvind; Hjørnholm, Ulla; Kjaer, Vibeke N; Rostrup, Morten; Os, Ingrid; Stenehjem, Aud; Høieggen, Aud

    2014-05-01

    We aimed to investigate for the first time the blood pressure (BP)-lowering effect of renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) versus clinically adjusted drug treatment in true treatment-resistant hypertension (TRH) after excluding patients with confounding poor drug adherence. Patients with apparent TRH (n=65) were referred for RDN, and those with secondary and spurious hypertension (n=26) were excluded. TRH was defined as office systolic BP (SBP) >140 mm Hg, despite maximally tolerated doses of ≥3 antihypertensive drugs including a diuretic. In addition, ambulatory daytime SBP >135 mm Hg after witnessed intake of antihypertensive drugs was required, after which 20 patients had normalized BP and were excluded. Patients with true TRH were randomized and underwent RDN (n=9) performed with Symplicity Catheter System versus clinically adjusted drug treatment (n=10). The study was stopped early for ethical reasons because RDN had uncertain BP-lowering effect. Office SBP and diastolic BP in the drug-adjusted group changed from 160±14/88±13 mm Hg (±SD) at baseline to 132±10/77±8 mm Hg at 6 months (P<0.0005 and P=0.02, SBP and diastolic BP, respectively) and in the RDN group from 156±13/91±15 to 148±7/89±8 mm Hg (P=0.42 and P=0.48, SBP and diastolic BP, respectively). SBP and diastolic BP were significantly lower in the drug-adjusted group at 6 months (P=0.002 and P=0.004, respectively), and absolute changes in SBP were larger in the drug-adjusted group (P=0.008). Ambulatory BPs changed in parallel to office BPs. Our data suggest that adjusted drug treatment has superior BP lowering effects compared with RDN in patients with true TRH. Clinical Trial Registration- URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01673516.

  19. Does a meso-caval shunt have positive effects in a pig large-for-size liver transplantation model?

    PubMed

    Tannuri, Ana Cristina Aoun; de Albuquerque Rangel Moreira, Daniel; Belon, Alessandro; Coelho, Maria Cecília Mendonça; Gonçalves, Josiane Oliveira; Serafini, Suellen; Tannuri, Uenis

    2017-08-01

    In pediatric liver transplantations with LFS grafts, higher incidences of graft dysfunction probably occur due to IRI. It was postulated that increasing the blood supply to the graft by means of a meso-caval shunt could ameliorate the IRI. Eleven pigs underwent liver transplantation and were divided into two groups: LFS and LFS+SHUNT group. A series of flowmetric, metabolic, histologic, and molecular studies were performed. No significant metabolic differences were observed between the groups. One hour after reperfusion, portal flow was significantly lower in the recipients than in the donors, proving that the graft was maintained in low portal blood flow, although the shunt could promote a transient increase in the portal blood flow and a decrease in the arterial flow. Finally, it was verified that the shunt promoted a decrease in inflammation and steatosis scores and a decrease in the expression of the eNOS gene (responsible for the generation of nitric oxide in the vascular endothelium) and an increase in the expression of the proapoptotic gene BAX. The meso-caval shunt was responsible for some positive effects, although other deleterious flowmetric and molecular alterations also occurred. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  20. Short ORF-Dependent Ribosome Shunting Operates in an RNA Picorna-Like Virus and a DNA Pararetrovirus that Cause Rice Tungro Disease

    PubMed Central

    Pooggin, Mikhail M.; Rajeswaran, Rajendran; Schepetilnikov, Mikhail V.; Ryabova, Lyubov A.

    2012-01-01

    Rice tungro disease is caused by synergistic interaction of an RNA picorna-like virus Rice tungro spherical virus (RTSV) and a DNA pararetrovirus Rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV). It is spread by insects owing to an RTSV-encoded transmission factor. RTBV has evolved a ribosome shunt mechanism to initiate translation of its pregenomic RNA having a long and highly structured leader. We found that a long leader of RTSV genomic RNA remarkably resembles the RTBV leader: both contain several short ORFs (sORFs) and potentially fold into a large stem-loop structure with the first sORF terminating in front of the stem basal helix. Using translation assays in rice protoplasts and wheat germ extracts, we show that, like in RTBV, both initiation and proper termination of the first sORF translation in front of the stem are required for shunt-mediated translation of a reporter ORF placed downstream of the RTSV leader. The base pairing that forms the basal helix is required for shunting, but its sequence can be varied. Shunt efficiency in RTSV is lower than in RTBV. But in addition to shunting the RTSV leader sequence allows relatively efficient linear ribosome migration, which also contributes to translation initiation downstream of the leader. We conclude that RTSV and RTBV have developed a similar, sORF-dependent shunt mechanism possibly to adapt to the host translation system and/or coordinate their life cycles. Given that sORF-dependent shunting also operates in a pararetrovirus Cauliflower mosaic virus and likely in other pararetroviruses that possess a conserved shunt configuration in their leaders it is tempting to propose that RTSV may have acquired shunt cis-elements from RTBV during their co-existence. PMID:22396650

  1. [Liver transplantation preserving the vena cava and a temporary portocaval shunt].

    PubMed

    Hesse, U J; Berrevoet, F; Troisi, R; Mortier, E; Decruyenaere, J; Pattyn, P; de Hemptinne, B

    1999-02-01

    The experience with laterolateral cavocavostomy for hepatovenous reconstruction in liver transplantation is reviewed with and without the use of a temporary portocaval shunt. A total of 65 liver transplantations were analyzed. In 49 transplantations a laterolateral cavocaval anastomosis was performed (group I). In group II (n = 16) the same technique was used after a temporary portal caval shunt was constructed. Mean arterial pressure (mmHg): group I 128 +/- 34; group II 109 +/- 32. Cardiac output (l/min) decrease during the anhepatic phase was 2.3 +/- 1.9 and 1.2 +/- 1.5, respectively (P < 0.05). The peroperative blood loss measured as the number of packed cells transfused was 16.4 +/- 15.8 versus 1.2 +/- 2.3 (P < 0.04) and fresh frozen plasma 19.0 +/- 14.7 versus 3.7 +/- 4.0 (P < 0.02). Course on ICU (days), liver function tests, renal function and the need for reoperation because of bleeding were not statistically significantly different between the groups. One-year patient survival was 82.7 and 85.7%, respectively. In conclusion, we found that despite preservation of the caval flow during hepatectomy, the additional use of a temporary portocaval shunt was advantageous with regard to peroperative hemorrhage and hemodynamic stability and can potentially facilitate implantation of the liver graft.

  2. Shunting normal-pressure hydrocephalus: do the benefits outweigh the risks? A multicenter study and literature review.

    PubMed

    Vanneste, J; Augustijn, P; Dirven, C; Tan, W F; Goedhart, Z D

    1992-01-01

    We performed a multicenter retrospective study in 166 consecutive patients shunted for presumed normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) in the four neurosurgical departments of Amsterdam. Overall improvement occurred in 36%, substantial improvement in 21%. In the subgroup of idiopathic NPH (N = 127), marked improvement was only 15%. The incidence of shunt-responsive NPH in our area was 2.2/million/year. The rate of severe and moderate shunt-related complications was 28%, leading to death or severe residual morbidity in 7%. The substantial benefit/serious harm ration in the whole group was only three (21%/7%), decreasing to 1.7 in idiopathic NPH. By excluding patients at high surgical risk, this ratio might have risen to 10 in the whole group and to six in idiopathic NPH. Our experience is much less favorable than that encountered in the literature, reporting overall improvement in 74% and marked improvement in 55% of the shunted patients. We conclude that NPH is probably a very rare and still overdiagnosed syndrome and that the overall morbidity rate for each patient demonstrating meaningful improvement is high.

  3. Focal Nodulary Hyperplasia of the Liver Due to Congenital Portosystemic Shunt: A Rare Condition Mimicking Hepatocellulary Carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Yazal Erdem, Arzu; Emir, Suna; Demir, Haci A; Özyörük, Derya; Çetin, İlker; Turan, Aynur; Karakuş, Esra

    2017-01-01

    Congenital portosystemic shunts are rare vascular malformations that lead to several complications including liver tumors, pulmonary hypertension, and metabolic encephalopathy. We describe a rare case of a 17-year-old girl with an extrahepatic portosystemic shunt presenting recurrent syncope episodes and a liver mass mimicking hepatocellulary carcinoma.

  4. Interventional Therapies for Resistant Hypertension: A Brief Update

    PubMed Central

    Brandon, Lisa

    2016-01-01

    Resistant hypertension remains a clinical challenge with few management options beyond maximisation of medications. Catheter- based renal artery denervation (RDN) was proposed in 2009 as a possible therapy for resistant hypertension and early feasibility trials caused excitement among cardiologists and antihypertensive specialists, showing remarkable and sustained blood pressure reductions. In 2014, enthusiasm for RDN dampened following the SYMPLICITY 3 trial results, which showed no statistically significant difference in blood pressure between the intervention and control arms. However, hope remains for the improved management of resistant hypertension; procedural understanding, technological advancements and alternative targets – such as baroreceptor activation therapy and arteriovenous shunts – may aid the identification of those patients for whom specific interventional therapies will be effective. PMID:29588709

  5. Shunting outcomes in posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus: results of a Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network prospective cohort study.

    PubMed

    Wellons, John C; Shannon, Chevis N; Holubkov, Richard; Riva-Cambrin, Jay; Kulkarni, Abhaya V; Limbrick, David D; Whitehead, William; Browd, Samuel; Rozzelle, Curtis; Simon, Tamara D; Tamber, Mandeep S; Oakes, W Jerry; Drake, James; Luerssen, Thomas G; Kestle, John

    2017-07-01

    OBJECTIVE Previous Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (HCRN) retrospective studies have shown a 15% difference in rates of conversion to permanent shunts with the use of ventriculosubgaleal shunts (VSGSs) versus ventricular reservoirs (VRs) as temporization procedures in the treatment of hydrocephalus due to high-grade intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) of prematurity. Further research in the same study line revealed a strong influence of center-specific decision-making on shunt outcomes. The primary goal of this prospective study was to standardize decision-making across centers to determine true procedural superiority, if any, of VSGS versus VR as a temporization procedure in high-grade IVH of prematurity. METHODS The HCRN conducted a prospective cohort study across 6 centers with an approximate 1.5- to 3-year accrual period (depending on center) followed by 6 months of follow-up. Infants with premature birth, who weighed less than 1500 g, had Grade 3 or 4 IVH of prematurity, and had more than 72 hours of life expectancy were included in the study. Based on a priori consensus, decisions were standardized regarding the timing of initial surgical treatment, upfront shunt versus temporization procedure (VR or VSGS), and when to convert a VR or VSGS to a permanent shunt. Physical examination assessment and surgical technique were also standardized. The primary outcome was the proportion of infants who underwent conversion to a permanent shunt. The major secondary outcomes of interest included infection and other complication rates. RESULTS One hundred forty-five premature infants were enrolled and met criteria for analysis. Using the standardized decision rubrics, 28 infants never reached the threshold for treatment, 11 initially received permanent shunts, 4 were initially treated with endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), and 102 underwent a temporization procedure (36 with VSGSs and 66 with VRs). The 2 temporization cohorts were similar in terms of sex, race

  6. Successful living donor liver transplant in a child with Abernethy malformation with biliary atresia, ventricular septal defect and intrapulmonary shunting.

    PubMed

    Singhal, Ashish; Srivastava, Ajitabh; Goyal, Neerav; Vij, Vivek; Wadhawan, Manav; Bera, Motilal; Gupta, Subash

    2009-12-01

    Congenital portosystemic shunts are the anomalies in which the mesenteric venous drainage bypasses the liver and drains directly into the systemic circulation. This is a report of a rare case of LDLT in a four-yr old male child suffering with biliary atresia (post-failed Kasai procedure) associated with (i) a large congenital CEPSh from the spleno-mesentric confluence to the LHV, (ii) intrapulmonary shunts, (iii) perimembranous VSD. The left lobe graft was procured from the mother of the child. Recipient IVC and the shunt vessel were preserved during the hepatectomy, and the caval and shunt clamping were remarkably short while performing the HV and portal anastomosis. Post-operative course was uneventful; intrapulmonary shunts regressed within three months after transplantation and currently after 18 months following transplant child is doing well with normal liver functions. CEPSh has been extensively discussed and all the published cases of liver transplantation for CEPSh were reviewed.

  7. Risk factors for stent graft thrombosis after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation

    PubMed Central

    Jahangiri, Younes; Kerrigan, Timothy; Li, Lei; Prosser, Dominik; Brar, Anantnoor; Righetti, Johnathan; Schenning, Ryan C.; Kaufman, John A.

    2017-01-01

    Background To identify risk factors of stent graft thrombosis after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation. Methods Patients who underwent TIPS creation between June 2003 and January 2016 and with follow-up assessing stent graft patency were included (n=174). Baseline comorbidities, liver function, procedural details and follow-up liver function tests were analyzed in association with hazards of thrombosis on follow-up. Competing risk cox regression models were used considering liver transplant after TIPS creation as the competing risk variable. Results One-, 2- and 5-year primary patency rates were 94.1%, 91.7% and 78.2%, respectively. Patient age [sub-hazard ratio (sHR): 1.13; P=0.001], body mass index (BMI) <30 (sHR: 33.08; P=0.008) and a higher post-TIPS portosystemic pressure gradient (sHR: 1.14; P=0.023) were significantly associated with TIPS thrombosis in multivariate analysis. A higher rate of TIPS thrombosis was observed in those for whom the procedure was clinically unsuccessful (P=0.014). A significant increase in incidence of thrombosis was noted with increasing tertiles of post-TIPS portosystemic gradients (P value for trend=0.017). Conclusions Older age, lower BMI and higher post-TIPS portosystemic gradients were associated with higher hazards of shunt thrombosis after TIPS creation using stent grafts. Higher rates of shunt thrombosis were seen in patients for whom TIPS creation was clinically unsuccessful. The association between TIPS thrombosis and higher post-TIPS portosystemic gradients may indicate impaired flow through the shunt, a finding which may be technical or anatomic in nature and should be assessed before procedure completion. PMID:29399518

  8. Surgical approach for systemic-pulmonary shunt in neonates with functionally univentricular heart: comparison between sternotomy and thoracotomy.

    PubMed

    Sasaki, Takashi; Takeda, Yuko; Ohnakatomi, Yasuko; Asou, Toshihide

    2016-09-01

    The preferred surgical approach for systemic-pulmonary shunts has changed from thoracotomy to sternotomy in our institution, to concomitantly manage the ductus arteriosus during surgery. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of systemic-pulmonary shunts for neonates with functionally univentricular hearts based on surgical approach. Fifty-two neonates with functionally univentricular hearts underwent systemic-pulmonary shunt via sternotomy (n = 28) or thoracotomy (n = 24). Patient characteristics, achievement rates of right heart bypass, and survival rates were compared for the different approaches. Prenatal diagnosis was made more common in the sternotomy group (p = 0.006). The shunt was placed more centrally in the sternotomy group. The ductus arteriosus was ligated or banded in most patients in the sternotomy group (26/28) and in a few patients in the thoracotomy group (6/24). Frequency of ductal management in the early postoperative phase was not different between the groups (21 vs 25 %), but three new incisions had to be made in the thoracotomy group. No differences were seen in the achievement rates of bidirectional cavopulmonary shunts (86 vs 87 % at 10 months of age) and total cavopulmonary connection (81 vs 81 % at 2 years of age), or in the survival rates (92 vs 96 % at 8 years). There were no differences in short- and long-term outcomes between the groups. The sternotomy approach might be preferable in the current era of prenatal diagnosis, to allow simultaneous duct management during systemic-pulmonary shunt surgery, particularly in patients with large ducts associated with functionally univentricular hearts.

  9. Thromboresistant surface coatings for the measurement of cardiac output through continuous low flow peripheral A-V shunts.

    PubMed Central

    Deeb, G M; Borovetz, H S; Griffith, B P; Hardesty, R L

    1980-01-01

    The dilution technique for determining cardiac output using indocyanine green dye is limited in patients weighing less than 20 kg because of the obligatory volume loss. Reproducible achieved using the green dye dilution method by the establishment of a low flow peripheral arteriovenous shunt. The shunt materials were treated with thromboresistant agents--TDMAC (7%) and albumin (1 g/dl)--to facilitate the use of this technique without heparin. For A-V shunt flow rates of 8-30 cc/min reproducible values of cardiac output were obtained for up to 38 hours which were in good agreement with determinations made using the conventional technique of dye dilution. PMID:6986120

  10. Scaling of electromagnetic transducers for shunt damping and energy harvesting

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Elliott, Stephen J.; Zilletti, Michele

    2014-04-01

    In order for an electromagnetic transducer to operate well as either a mechanical shunt damper or as a vibration energy harvester, it must have good electromechanical coupling. A simple two-port analysis is used to derive a non-dimensional measure of electromechanical coupling, which must be large compared with unity for efficient operation in both of these applications. The two-port parameters for an inertial electromagnetic transducer are derived, from which this non-dimensional coupling parameter can be evaluated. The largest value that this parameter takes is approximately equal to the square of the magnetic flux density times the length of wire in the field, divided by the mechanical damping times the electrical resistance. This parameter is found to be only of the order of one for voice coil devices that weigh approximately 1 kg, and so such devices are generally not efficient, within the definition used here, in either of these applications. The non-dimensional coupling parameter is found to scale in approximate proportion to the device's characteristic length, however, and so although miniaturised devices are less efficient, greater efficiency can be obtained with large devices, such as those used to control civil engineering structures.

  11. Novel type of peritoneocentesis trocar-assisted distal ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement with supervision via a one-port laparoscope

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Guangming; Yu, Jinlu; Luan, Yongxin; Han, Yanwu; Fu, Shuanglin

    2017-01-01

    Ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPS) are the primary treatment for hydrocephalus and are associated with a high risk of complications, specifically in patients who are obese or have abdominal adhesions or shunt revisions. The present study describes the use of a novel type of peritoneal catheter peritoneocentesis trocar insertion with the assistance of a one-port laparoscope. A total of 36 patients with hydrocephalus underwent this novel type of peritoneocentesis trocar-assisted VPS. The distal shunt catheter was placed into the right subdiaphragmatic space and the catheter was traversed through a single hole drilled through the liver falciform ligament. The duration of the laparoscopic surgery ranged from 6–18 min (mean 10.4±1.6 min). No shunt-related infections or catheter malfunctions or injuries to the intra-abdominal organs occurred. The total abdominal incision length was 1.0 cm (0.5+0.5 cm). No laparoscopy-related complications were observed during follow-up assessments. The novel approach used in the current study is very easy to perform, and this method may significantly reduce the risk of malfunction complications. The presented method also has the advantages of reduced trauma and a simpler surgery. The current study indicated that this simple, minimally invasive procedure was beneficial for patients with hydrocephalus, specifically in cases of patients with obesity, peritoneal adhesions or shunt revisions. PMID:29042927

  12. Novel type of peritoneocentesis trocar-assisted distal ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement with supervision via a one-port laparoscope.

    PubMed

    Wang, Guangming; Yu, Jinlu; Luan, Yongxin; Han, Yanwu; Fu, Shuanglin

    2017-10-01

    Ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPS) are the primary treatment for hydrocephalus and are associated with a high risk of complications, specifically in patients who are obese or have abdominal adhesions or shunt revisions. The present study describes the use of a novel type of peritoneal catheter peritoneocentesis trocar insertion with the assistance of a one-port laparoscope. A total of 36 patients with hydrocephalus underwent this novel type of peritoneocentesis trocar-assisted VPS. The distal shunt catheter was placed into the right subdiaphragmatic space and the catheter was traversed through a single hole drilled through the liver falciform ligament. The duration of the laparoscopic surgery ranged from 6-18 min (mean 10.4±1.6 min). No shunt-related infections or catheter malfunctions or injuries to the intra-abdominal organs occurred. The total abdominal incision length was 1.0 cm (0.5+0.5 cm). No laparoscopy-related complications were observed during follow-up assessments. The novel approach used in the current study is very easy to perform, and this method may significantly reduce the risk of malfunction complications. The presented method also has the advantages of reduced trauma and a simpler surgery. The current study indicated that this simple, minimally invasive procedure was beneficial for patients with hydrocephalus, specifically in cases of patients with obesity, peritoneal adhesions or shunt revisions.

  13. Current status and future possibilities of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts in the management of portal hypertension.

    PubMed

    Radosevich, P M; LaBerge, J M; Gordon, R L

    1994-01-01

    Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is an exciting new method for treating complications of cirrhosis. Technical advances have allowed TIPS to be widely applied in the treatment of variceal bleeding. This article presents and discusses the results of recent experiences in TIPS placement. TIPS can be successfully placed in almost all patients. The complication rate of the procedure is low. TIPS is an effective means of controlling variceal bleeding and is especially useful for controlling bleeding in patients awaiting liver transplantation. It may also have a role in the treatment of ascites and other conditions related to portal hypertension. The most important issue facing TIPS is the long-term patency of the shunt. Potential solutions to the problem of long-term shunt patency are discussed.

  14. Magnetic Resonance Characterization of Cardiac Adaptation and Myocardial Fibrosis in Pulmonary Hypertension Secondary to Systemic-To-Pulmonary Shunt.

    PubMed

    Pereda, Daniel; García-Lunar, Inés; Sierra, Federico; Sánchez-Quintana, Damián; Santiago, Evelyn; Ballesteros, Constanza; Encalada, Juan F; Sánchez-González, Javier; Fuster, Valentín; Ibáñez, Borja; García-Álvarez, Ana

    2016-09-01

    Pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction are strong predictors of morbidity and mortality among patients with congenital heart disease. Early detection of RV involvement may be useful in the management of these patients. We aimed to assess progressive cardiac adaptation and quantify myocardial extracellular volume in an experimental porcine model of PH because of aorto-pulmonary shunt using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). To characterize serial cardiac adaptation, 12 pigs (aorto-pulmonary shunt [n=6] or sham operation [n=6]) were evaluated monthly with right heart catheterization, CMR, and computed tomography during 4 months, followed by pathology analysis. Extracellular volume by CMR in different myocardial regions was studied in 20 animals (aorto-pulmonary shunt [n=10] or sham operation [n=10]) 3 months after the intervention. All shunted animals developed PH. CMR evidenced progressive RV hypertrophy and dysfunction secondary to increased afterload and left ventricular dilatation secondary to volume overload. Shunt flow by CMR strongly correlated with PH severity, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, and left ventricular dilatation. T1-mapping sequences demonstrated increased extracellular volume at the RV insertion points, the interventricular septum, and the left ventricular lateral wall, reproducing the pattern of fibrosis found on pathology. Extracellular volume at the RV insertion points strongly correlated with pulmonary hemodynamics and RV dysfunction. Prolonged systemic-to-pulmonary shunting in growing piglets induces PH with biventricular remodeling and myocardial fibrosis that can be detected and monitored using CMR. These results may be useful for the diagnosis and management of congenital heart disease patients with pulmonary overcirculation. © 2016 American Heart Association, Inc.

  15. Evaluation of hepatic steatosis in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts using Oil-Red-O staining

    PubMed Central

    Hunt, GB; Luff, J; Daniel, L; Van den Bergh, R.

    2015-01-01

    The aims of this prospective study were to quantify steatosis in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts using a fat-specific stain, to compare the amount of steatosis in different lobes of the liver, and to evaluate intra- and inter-Observer variability in lipid point counting. Computer-assisted point counting of lipid droplets was undertaken following Oil-Red-O staining in 21 dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts and 9 control dogs. Dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts had significantly more small lipid droplets (< 6 μ) than control dogs (p = 0.0013 and 0.0002, respectively). There was no significant difference in steatosis between liver lobes for either control dogs and CPS dogs. Significant differences were seen between observers for the number of large lipid droplets (> 9 μ) and lipogranulomas per tissue point (p = 0.023 and 0.01, respectively). In conclusion, computer-assisted counting of lipid droplets following Oil Red O staining of liver biopsy samples allows objective measurement and detection of significant differences between dogs with CPS and normal dogs. This method will allow future evaluation of the relationship between different presentations of CPS (anatomy, age, breed) and lipidosis, as well as the impact of hepatic lipidosis on outcomes following surgical shunt attenuation. PMID:23528942

  16. Congenital intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt and liver mass in a child patient: successful endovascular treatment with an amplatzer vascular plug (AVP).

    PubMed

    Lee, Sae Ah; Lee, Young Seok; Lee, Kun Song; Jeon, Gyeong Sik

    2010-01-01

    A congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunt is a rare anomaly; but, the number of diagnosed cases has increased with advanced imaging tools. Symptomatic portosystemic shunts, especially those that include hyperammonemia, should be treated; and various endovascular treatment methods other than surgery have been reported. Hepatic masses with either an intra- or extrahepatic shunt also have been reported, and the mass is another reason for treatment. Authors report a case of a congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunt with a hepatic mass that was successfully treated using a percutaneous endovascular approach with vascular plugs. By the time the first short-term follow-up was conducted, the hepatic mass had disappeared.

  17. Congenital Intrahepatic Portosystemic Venous Shunt and Liver Mass in a Child Patient: Successful Endovascular Treatment with an Amplatzer Vascular Plug (AVP)

    PubMed Central

    Lee, Sae Ah; Lee, Young Seok; Lee, Kun Song

    2010-01-01

    A congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunt is a rare anomaly; but, the number of diagnosed cases has increased with advanced imaging tools. Symptomatic portosystemic shunts, especially those that include hyperammonemia, should be treated; and various endovascular treatment methods other than surgery have been reported. Hepatic masses with either an intra- or extrahepatic shunt also have been reported, and the mass is another reason for treatment. Authors report a case of a congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunt with a hepatic mass that was successfully treated using a percutaneous endovascular approach with vascular plugs. By the time the first short-term follow-up was conducted, the hepatic mass had disappeared. PMID:20808706

  18. AltitudeOmics: effect of reduced barometric pressure on detection of intrapulmonary shunt, pulmonary gas exchange efficiency, and total pulmonary resistance.

    PubMed

    Petrassi, Frank A; Davis, James T; Beasley, Kara M; Evero, Oghenero; Elliott, Jonathan E; Goodman, Randall D; Futral, Joel E; Subudhi, Andrew; Solano-Altamirano, J Manuel; Goldman, Saul; Roach, Robert C; Lovering, Andrew T

    2018-05-01

    Blood flow through intrapulmonary arteriovenous anastomoses (Q IPAVA ) occurs in healthy humans at rest and during exercise when breathing hypoxic gas mixtures at sea level and may be a source of right-to-left shunt. However, at high altitudes, Q IPAVA is reduced compared with sea level, as detected using transthoracic saline contrast echocardiography (TTSCE). It remains unknown whether the reduction in Q IPAVA (i.e., lower bubble scores) at high altitude is due to a reduction in bubble stability resulting from the lower barometric pressure (P B ) or represents an actual reduction in Q IPAVA . To this end, Q IPAVA , pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), cardiac output (Q T ), and the alveolar-to-arterial oxygen difference (AaDO 2 ) were assessed at rest and during exercise (70-190 W) in the field (5,260 m) and in the laboratory (1,668 m) during four conditions: normobaric normoxia (NN; [Formula: see text] = 121 mmHg, P B  = 625 mmHg; n = 8), normobaric hypoxia (NH; [Formula: see text] = 76 mmHg, P B  = 625 mmHg; n = 7), hypobaric normoxia (HN; [Formula: see text] = 121 mmHg, P B  = 410 mmHg; n = 8), and hypobaric hypoxia (HH; [Formula: see text] = 75 mmHg, P B  = 410 mmHg; n = 7). We hypothesized Q IPAVA would be reduced during exercise in isooxic hypobaria compared with normobaria and that the AaDO 2 would be reduced in isooxic hypobaria compared with normobaria. Bubble scores were greater in normobaric conditions, but the AaDO 2 was similar in both isooxic hypobaria and normobaria. Total pulmonary resistance (PASP/Q T ) was elevated in HN and HH. Using mathematical modeling, we found no effect of hypobaria on bubble dissolution time within the pulmonary transit times under consideration (<5 s). Consequently, our data suggest an effect of hypobaria alone on pulmonary blood flow. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Blood flow through intrapulmonary arteriovenous anastomoses, detected by transthoracic saline contrast echocardiography, was reduced during exercise

  19. PLUTO trial protocol: percutaneous shunting for lower urinary tract obstruction randomised controlled trial.

    PubMed

    Kilby, Mark; Khan, Khalid; Morris, Katie; Daniels, Jane; Gray, Richard; Magill, Laura; Martin, Bill; Thompson, Peter; Alfirevic, Zarko; Kenny, Simon; Bower, Sarah; Sturgiss, Stephen; Anumba, Dilly; Mason, Gerald; Tydeman, Graham; Soothill, Peter; Brackley, Karen; Loughna, Pamela; Cameron, Alan; Kumar, Sailesh; Bullen, Phil

    2007-07-01

    The primary objective is to determine whether intrauterine vesicoamniotic shunting for fetal bladder outflow obstruction, compared with conservative, noninterventional care, improves prenatal and perinatal mortality and renal function. The secondary objectives are to determine if shunting for fetal bladder outflow obstruction improves perinatal morbidity, to determine if improvement in outcomes is related to prognostic assessment at diagnosis and, if possible, derive a prognostic risk index and to determine the safety and long-term efficacy of shunting. A multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT). Fetal medicine units. Pregnant women with singleton, male fetus with isolated lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO). Following ultrasound diagnosis of LUTO in a male fetus and exclusion of other structural and chromosomal anomalies, participation in the trial will be discussed with the mother and written information given. Consent for participation in the trial will be taken and the mother randomised via the internet to either insertion of a vesicoamniotic shunt or expectant management. During pregnancy, both groups will be followed with regular ultrasound scans looking at viability, renal measurements and amniotic fluid volume. Following delivery, babies will be followed up by paediatric nephrologists/urologists at 4-6 weeks, 12 months and 3 and 5 years to assess renal function via serum creatinine, renal ultrasound and need for dialysis/transplant. The main outcome measures will be perinatal mortality rates and renal function at 4-6 weeks and 12 months measured via serum creatinine, renal ultrasound and need for dialysis/transplant. Wellbeing of Women. ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: September 2010. TRIAL ALGORITHM: [flowchart: see text].

  20. The effect of shunt surgery on neuropsychological performance in normal pressure hydrocephalus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

    PubMed

    Peterson, Katie A; Savulich, George; Jackson, Dan; Killikelly, Clare; Pickard, John D; Sahakian, Barbara J

    2016-08-01

    We conducted a systematic review of the literature and used meta-analytic techniques to evaluate the impact of shunt surgery on neuropsychological performance in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). Twenty-three studies with 1059 patients were identified for review using PubMed, Web of Science, Google scholar and manual searching. Inclusion criteria were prospective, within-subject investigations of cognitive outcome using neuropsychological assessment before and after shunt surgery in patients with NPH. There were statistically significant effects of shunt surgery on cognition (Mini-Mental State Examination; MMSE), learning and memory (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test; RAVLT, total and delayed subtests), executive function (backwards digit span, phonemic verbal fluency, trail making test B) and psychomotor speed (trail making test A) all in the direction of improvement following shunt surgery, but with considerable heterogeneity across all measures. A more detailed examination of the data suggested robust evidence for improved MMSE, RAVLT total, RAVLT delayed, phonemic verbal fluency and trail making test A only. Meta-regressions revealed no statistically significant effect of age, sex or follow-up interval on improvement in the MMSE. Our results suggest that shunt surgery is most sensitive for improving global cognition, learning and memory and psychomotor speed in patients with NPH.