Phagaquosonogram (PASG) diagnosis for cancer of gastric cardia. A preliminary study of 223 patients

Phagaquosonographies (PASG) of 100 normal subjects and 223 patients with cardiac cancer (CC) were analyzed. The apparatus was self-designed and self-manufactured. The wave patterns and the pre-ejection period and other 8 quantitative indices in PASG were compared and patients with CC were found to have abnormal levels (P less than 0.01). The phagaquosonograms in 82 patients with esophageal, gastric or cardias (non-cancer) diseases served as controls. The PASG showed positive results in 97.3%, suspicious in 2.3% and negative in 0.4% of CC cases and 100% negative in the normal subjects. It was 1.2% positive, 8.5% suspicious and 90.3% negative in the esophageal, cardiac or gastric non-cancer diseases. PASG has high sensitivity (97.3%), and typical characteristics (98.8%). It is shown that this method can be used in screening, diagnosis, differential diagnosis and prediction of prognosis of cardiac cancer.

Electrocardiographic characteristics in EMD

Little has been written concerning the initial electrocardiographic (EKG) characteristics and/or changes which occur as the result of treatment in the electromechanical dissociation (EMD) patient. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine predictive indicators of successful resuscitation in EMD by evaluating various EKG parameters. During 72 months, ending December 31st, 1985, there were 503 non-poisoned, prehospital adult cardiac arrest patients whose initial rhythm was EMD. All patients had their initial prehospital EKG rhythm strip evaluated for rhythm type, rate, the presence of P waves, QT interval and QRS interval. In successfully resuscitated patients, the prehospital initial rhythm analysis and the rhythm analysis on emergency department presentation were compared. Successfully resuscitated patients presenting with EMD had significantly faster initial rates, higher incidences of P waves and average QRS and QT intervals shorter than patients not responding to therapy. Furthermore, successfully resuscitated patients had significantly increased heart rates, developed new onset of P waves, and shortened QT intervals in response to treatment. Successfully resuscitated and save patients had average initial and final QRS complex lengths within normal limits. Organized atrial activity on the initial EKG was also correlated with successful resuscitation. No patient with an initial EKG rhythm of second or third degree AV block survived to hospital discharge. No patient who presented to the emergency department with atrial fibrillation survived to hospital discharge. Similarly, supraventricular tachycaydia following resuscitative efforts appeared to be associated with a negative outcome. Rate normalization following treatment was correlated with save rate. Wide complex rhythms without atrial activity were most highly associated with unsuccessful resuscitation. We believe these observed electrocardiographic characteristics and/or changes in response to treatment may have predictive value in evaluating patients with EMD.

[Phagosonogram (PSG) in cancer of the gastric cardia--a preliminary study of 100 patients and 100 normal subjects]

Phagosonography of 100 normal subjects and 100 patients with cardiac cancer (CC) is described. The apparatus was self-designed and self-manufactured. The pre-ejection period and other 8 quantitative indexes in PSG were compared and abnormal level existed in patients with CC (P less than 0.01). The phagosonograms drawn in 54 patients with esophageal, cardiac or gastric benign diseases served as control. The diagnostic accuracy of PSG was 97% positive, 3% suspicious in CC and 100% negative in the normal subjects. It was 3.7% suspicious in the esophageal, cardiac or gastric diseases. PSG is very important in the early diagnosis of CC and is also of value in the prediction of a successful operation. The authors believe that PSG can reflect the changes in cardiac and esophageal motor function. In CC, the PSG changes are mainly due to the malfunction in the dilation and contraction of the lower esophageal sphincter. This malfunction shows itself earlier than the pathomorphology and provides a basis for the early diagnosis of CC. Phagosonography is a new method in the research on the motor function of the sound producing viscera, the diagnosis of their diseases and the observation of the treatment result. Being able to be performed with the patients in physiological and non-invasive state, it is suitable for screening.