Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown

About: Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown is a healthcare organization based out in Dublin, Ireland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Ambulatory blood pressure. The organization has 302 authors who have published 213 publications receiving 3858 citations. The organization is also known as: James Connolly Memorial Hospital.

A review of the propriety of thyroid ultrasound referrals and their follow-up burden

Abstract: The overdiagnosis of thyroid nodules and indolent thyroid cancers represents an increasing burden on health services, with thyroid ultrasound (US) imaging often representing the initial entry point into the thyroid nodule diagnostic pathway. The aim of this study was to retrospectively review thyroid US referrals to a single Irish hospital to determine if the stated indications for imaging had been appropriate, to review the results of the scans, and to assess the follow-up required in each case. Patient demographics, scan indications, results, and outcomes were retrospectively reviewed for all patients undergoing thyroid ultrasound from 2012 to 2016. Data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism and expressed in mean ± standard deviation. In total, 318 patients (mean age 53 ± 15 years, 85% female) had at least one ultrasound. Most US scans were performed for appropriate indications in order to follow up known thyroid nodular disease and/or malignancy (34.3%), to assess new thyroid goiters or discrete neck lumps (33.3%), and to follow up incidental findings from other imaging modalities (12.6%). However, scans were also requested (in the absence of any palpable goiter or mass) for choking/neck pain/swallowing complaints (12.3%), hypo/hyperthyroidism (6.6%), and miscellaneous reasons (0.6%) that were deemed either potentially or likely inappropriate. Of these scans, approximately half of the identified nodule(s) were deemed unlikely to be related to the stated symptoms, but which subsequently required follow-up imaging ± biopsy. No cases of malignancy were identified. In our center, a significant percentage of thyroid US scans along with their subsequent follow-up were potentially avoidable.

Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae: significance of local bone marrow edema at the transverse processes.

Abstract: To evaluate the association between low back pain and bone marrow edema in lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV) transverse processes, and to assess the prevalence of LSTV in a physically active population. Individuals with LSTV on coronal MRI studies were identified in a retrospective review by keyword search from PACS. In total, 140 cases were reviewed by two fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists. Data on associated low back pain were collected from patient records at the time of the imaging. Bone marrow edema was observed in 44% of the cases, but no correlation with low back pain was found. On coronal MRI, the prevalence of LSTV was 2.6%, with type II LSTV being the most common subtype. No correlation with bone marrow edema at the transverse processes of the LSTV and low back pain was observed. In our selected study population, the prevalence of LSTV was low.

Multi-modality imaging in transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy

Abstract: Transthyretin amyloid (TTR) cardiomyopathy is a disease of insidious onset, which is often accompanied by debilitating neurological and/or cardiac complications. The true prevalence is not fully known due to its elusive presentation, being often under-recognized and usually diagnosed only late in its natural history and in older patients. Because of this, effective treatment options are usually precluded by multiple comorbidities and frailty associated with such patients. Therefore, high clinical suspicion with earlier and better detection of this disease is needed. In this review, the novel applications of multimodality imaging in the diagnostic pathway of TTR cardiomyopathy are explored. These include the complimentary roles of transthoracic echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, nuclear scintigraphy and positron emission tomography in quantifying cardiac dysfunction, diagnosis and risk stratification. Recent advances in novel therapeutic options for TTR have further enhanced the importance of a timely and accurate diagnosis of this disease.

Predictors of emergency department attendance following ureterorenoscopy for urolithiasis

Abstract: We sought to determine the rate of emergency department (ED) attendance for complications after ureterorenoscopy (URS) for stone disease and to identify risk factors for ED attendance after URS. An analysis of all patients undergoing URS over 12 months at a single institution was performed. Patient demographics, preoperative and intraoperative variables associated with postoperative complications and subsequent ED attendance were collected. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine predictors of URS complications presenting to ED. In total, 202 ureteroscopies were performed on 142 patients for urolithiasis. The mean age was 50.73 ± 13.93 and 66% were male. The incidence of re-presentation to ED was 14.8% (n = 30). Patients presented with postoperative pain (n = 10; 4.95%), pyrexia (n = 9; 4.46%), urinary tract infection (UTI) (n = 7, 3.47%), haematuria (n = 3, 1.49%) and urosepsis (n = 1; 0.5%). Significant risk factors for ED attendance included preoperative stent dwell time > 30 days (P = 0.004), recently treated positive preoperative urine culture (P < 0.0001), stone size ≥ 13 mm (P = 0.043), stone location mid-ureter (P = 0.036) and female gender (P = 0.005). The following factors did not predict ED attendance, stent omission, access sheath utilization and operation duration. Risk factors for ED attendance after URS include prolonged pre-stent dwell time, stone size ≥ 13 mm, treatment for a positive preoperative urine culture, mid-ureteric stone location and female gender. Urologists should be aware of these findings to decrease the risk of emergency re-presentation after elective URS surgery.