9 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The standard way to identify landmarks in the spine before inserting a needle for a lumbar puncture is to feel by touch. The purpose of this research is to determine if doing an ultrasound to identify landmarks before performing a lumbar puncture will improve the first-time success rate of the needle insertion in pediatric patients.
The purpose of this study is to determine the learning curve associated with Ultrasound (US) guided axillary vein access for cardiac device implantation based on length of procedure among operators of various levels of experience and to assess the 30-day complication rate for patients undergoing US guided device placement versus traditional implant methods.
The purpose of this study is to determine the rate of tissue temperature increase in the triceps surae during an ultrasound treatment using the Chattanooga Intelect Legend XT. The following parameters will be used: 3 MHz frequency, 1.0 W/cm2 intensity, 15 minute treatment time. Thermocouples will be inserted at 1.0, 1.75, and 2.5 cm depths to determine the heating rates. Most modality textbook recommendations for therapeutic ultrasound are based on studies performed with the Omnisound ultrasound machine. Previous research has shown variations in power output across manufacturers, producing differences in tissue temperature increases. No information has been published regarding the heating rates of the Chattanooga Intelect Legend XT machine for ultrasound treatments. By determining the heating rates for this machine, clinicians will be better able to utilize the Chattanooga Intelect Legend XT to help reach therapeutic goals.
The purpose of this study is to assess the accuracy of ultrasound and traditional fluoroscopy to find the residual fragments before retrograde intrarenal surgery is complete. This would ultimately limit the need for radiation exposure and improve the quality of clinical care given to patients and healthcare teams.
Researchers are trying to determine if the Mayo marker is easily seen with ultrasound making it easier, faster, and more accurate for preoperative localization of the biopsied positive lymph node.
Obtaining intravenous access (IVA) is the most common procedure performed in the emergency department (ED). Placement of IVA allows for blood work and delivery of intravenous fluids and medications. The implementation of ultrasound guided peripheral IVs (UGPIV) have allowed for ultrasound to be used to place an IV into patients with difficult vein access (DVA). An alternative device to place is a midline catheter (MC). The use of MCs against UGPIV has not been compared in a randomized study. Aim 1: To determine if UGPIVs have a higher failure rate than midline catheters within 72 hours of placement. Aim 2: To collect information to perform a direct cost analysis of UGPIV against that of the midline catheter. Aim 3: Assess patient satisfaction.
This prospective study will be quantitatively analyzing the effectiveness of platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) injections into the sacroiliac (SI) joint in relieving sacroiliitis and low back pain originating from the SI joint. The effectiveness of PRP injections on joint pain has been well studied in the knee and shoulder. PRP injections are performed on the SI joint commonly, but there is little research documenting their effectiveness when compared to other interventions. This study will be a small pilot study to aid in closing this knowledge gap. Additionally, these injections will be performed under ultrasound guidance. Ultrasound has been proven to be of equal reliability to fluoroscopy and has the advantage of shorter time to administer and no radiation. There will be one arm to this study. The data collected will be compared to existing studies on corticosteroid SI joint injection. The experimental arm consists of the PRP injection. The PRP will be injected into the joint using the exact same technique via physical exam, special tests, and ultrasound guidance as performed in our previous studies. The outcomes will be measured with the Numeric Rating Scale for Pain (NRS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) prior to the injection, immediately post-injection, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post-injection. The investigators hypothesis is, "Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections in the Sacroiliac Joint using ultrasonography in conjunction with physical examination and Point of Maximal Tenderness will produce statistically significant pain relief for more than 3 months as measured by the Numeric Rating Scale for Pain (NRS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)."
Chronic liver disorders (CLD) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality for individuals in the US. Though serologic analysis will often lead to a conclusive diagnosis, liver biopsy remains an important method for helping to determine the etiology and stage of LD. Percutaneous liver biopsy (PLB), transjugular liver biopsy (TLB) and surgical liver biopsy (SLB) are alternative methods for obtaining hepatic tissue. In recent years endoscopic ultrasound guided-liver biopsy (EUS-LB) has come to the forefront as a safe and effective method for obtaining tissue in CLD. There are several studies of the safety of EUS-LB as well as the adequacy of specimens obtained in this fashion. Most studies involve a 19-gauge needle, therefore in this study the investigators hope to compare the tissue yields of a 22-gauge fine needle biopsy (FNB) needle, in comparison to conventional 19-gauge. The investigators predict that 19 and 22 gauge FNB needle will demonstrate similar diagnostic accuracy, with less visible blood artifact. Similarly the investigators predict the safety to be equal.
The purpose of this research study is to understand how radiation therapy may affect blood vessels in the neck called the carotid arteries. Investigators want to look at narrowing of the artery or thickening of the walls of the arteries.