Search Results (5)

Background: Small bowel obstruction (SBO) accounts for 12–16% of surgical hospital admissions and can lead to complications such as bowel ischemia. Traditional management requires transporting patients to the Radiology Department (RD) for a fluoroscopic small bowel series, occupying resources and time. This study evaluates the efficacy and efficiency of the Small Bowel Challenge Exam, a bedside alternative. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 85 SBO patients from January 2018 to December 2023 at an academic tertiary care facility, comparing the traditional fluoroscopic series (37 patients) to the bedside Small Bowel Challenge Exam (48 patients). Key metrics analyzed included hospital resource utilization, overall costs, and length of stay. Results: Gender and race distributions were similar between groups (p = 0.268 and p = 0.808, respectively). Median total costs were lower in the challenge group (USD 1243 vs. USD 1472; p = 0.1229), significantly so when excluding CT scan costs (USD 993.5 vs. USD 1270; p = 0.0500). Core costs also significantly favored the challenge group (USD 389.6 vs. USD 615; p < 0.0001). Length of stay and variable costs showed no significant differences (p = 0.3846 and p = 0.8065, respectively). Additional imaging frequencies were comparable (p = 0.96 for CT scans; p = 0.97 for XR exams). Conclusions: The Small Bowel Challenge Exam reduces certain costs and logistical burdens without prolonging length of stay, suggesting more efficient use of hospital resources. Further research is recommended to evaluate broader implementation and long-term impacts. Full article

Background and Objectives: The aim of our study is to compare the effects of pirfenidone and nintedanib on lung function and radiologic findings in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and to identify which drug is more appropriate for which patient group. Materials and Methods: The data of patients who were treated in our department for at least one year between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2022 and who were started on pirfenidone or nintedanib treatment with the diagnosis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups—the nintedanib and pirfenidone groups—and both groups were compared in terms of progression in lung function tests (changes in FEV1, FVC, 6 MWT and DLCO values at the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th months compared to baseline values) and radiological findings (the presence of progression in findings such as ground-glass opacity, reticulation, honeycomb and traction bronchiectasis) within 1 year after diagnosis. Results: The study included 109 patients. The number of patients treated with pirfenidone (IPF patients) was 82 (75.2%) and the number of patients treated with nintedanib was 27 (24.8%). When the PFT values at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months were compared with the baseline values in both groups, there was no statistically significant difference in any parameter between the two groups. No significant difference was found in terms of radiological progression at the end of 1 year in both groups. Conclusions: The results of our study show that pirfenidone and nintedanib are equivalent in their effectiveness in preventing disease progression in patients with IPF. Full article

Background/Objectives: IgG4-related ophthalmic disease (IgG4-ROD), characterized by lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, fibrosis, and elevated IgG4 levels, presents diagnostic challenges while offering insights into immune-mediated inflammatory disorders. The aim of this study was to comprehensively examine the clinical features and outcomes of IgG4-ROD. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 33 patients diagnosed with IgG4-ROD, fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) criteria. The demographic characteristics of the IgG4-ROD patients were compared with those of 37 patients diagnosed with IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) in departments other than ophthalmology (IgG4-nonROD) at the same hospital during the same period. The patients diagnosed with IgG4-ROD were initially treated with glucocorticosteroid (GCS) monotherapy, GCS combined with steroid-sparing agents (SSAs; mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, hydroxychloroquine), biologic agent (rituximab) monotherapy, or watchful waiting. The primary outcome was the assessed treatment response at 6 months, and the secondary outcome was the evaluation of recurrence at 1 year after initial treatment. A response was evaluated as the absence of ocular signs and symptoms, either clinically or radiologically. Results: Eyelid swelling (17 patients, 51.5%) was the most common symptom, and lacrimal gland (17 patients, 51.5%) was the most frequent site of involvement. The response rate for GCS monotherapy was 33.3% (3 out of 9 patients), while the response rate for GCS combined with SSA was 60.0% (9 out of 15 patients). The lacrimal gland group demonstrated a significantly higher treatment response compared to the non-lacrimal gland group (66.7% vs. 20.0%, p = 0.013), and the combination of GCS and SSA resulted in a significantly higher treatment response than the GCS monotherapy (77.8% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.045). The group including hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), which comprised 5 out of 33 patients (15.2%), showed no recurrence at 1 year. Conclusions: The combination therapy of GCS and SSA for IgG4-ROD can be considered an effective treatment approach and HCQ could be considered as a potential adjunctive therapy for IgG4-ROD. Full article

Effective control of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) involves a collaborative effort among various healthcare stakeholders, including healthcare workers, patients, and professionals. Radiographers, as essential members of the healthcare team, play a crucial role in HAI prevention by diligently adhering to standard infection control precautions (SICP) and maintaining a high level of knowledge regarding infection control procedures. The study aimed to assess the knowledge and practice of radiographers concerning infection control in radiology departments in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Saudi Arabia in the period from February to May 2022, with data collected using an online survey in the form of a google forms questionnaire disseminated through social media as an electronic link and including the patient’s demographic characteristic such as age, gender, education level, experience, and prior infection control training and multiple closed ended questions to assess knowledge of standard infection control precautions and the practice of infection control. Overall, 113 participants responded to the survey and entered their responses directly, and the data were analyzed using the SPSS (statistical package for social science). Results: The study revealed that the mean score of knowledge and awareness of the practice of infection control among radiographers in Saudi Arabia was (63.0 and 61.9, respectively), which were considered moderate levels. Females were significantly more knowledgeable about infection control and more aware of the practice than males (p-values = 0.019). The participants who previously attended courses of infection control training had a significantly higher score with a mean rank of (60.9) than those who had not (43.4), (p-value = 0.013). The radiographers’ level of experience, age, and academic qualification had no significant influence on overall knowledge and practice of infection control (p-values > 0.05). Conclusions: In Saudi Arabia, radiographers have a moderate level of knowledge and practice of infection control. There is a need for an ongoing training and education program for practicing radiographers to ensure they perform better in infection control measures. Full article

Purpose: The workload of the radiology department (RD) of a university hospital in northern Italy dramatically changed during the COVID-19 outbreak. The restrictive measures of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown influenced the use of radiological services and particularly in the emergency department (ED). Methods: Data on diagnostic services from March 2020 to May 2020 were retrospectively collected and analysed in aggregate form and compared with those of the same timeframe in the previous year. Data were sorted by patient type in the following categories: inpatients, outpatients, and ED patients; the latter divided in “traumatic” and “not traumatic” cases. Results: Compared to 2019, 6449 fewer patients (−32.6%) were assisted in the RD. This decrease was more pronounced for the emergency radiology unit (ERU) (−41%) compared to the general radiology unit (−25.7%). The proportion of investigations performed for trauma appeared to decrease significantly from 14.8% to 12.5% during the COVID-19 emergency (p < 0.001). Similarly, the proportion of assisted traumatic patients decreased from 16.6% to 12.5% (p < 0.001). The number of emergency patients assisted by the RD was significantly reduced from 45% during routine activity to 39.4% in the COVID-19 outbreak (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The COVID-19 outbreak had a tremendous impact on all radiology activities. We documented a drastic reduction in total imaging volume compared to 2019 because of both the pandemic and the lockdown. In this context, investigations performed for trauma showed a substantial decrease. Full article