Cricothyroidotomy
Cricothyroidotomy Sam T. Windham III DEFINITION Cricothyroidotomy is an emergency procedure to establish airway access when orotracheal intubation is not possible or attempts have failed. As cricothyroidotomy has a high…
GENERAL SURGERY
Open Tracheostomy
Open Tracheostomy Sam T. Windham III John Christopher McAuliffe DEFINITION Tracheostomy is a procedure defined as the creation of a communication between the trachea and the skin of the neck…
Quality and Managerial Issues
Quality and Managerial Issues Introduction Clinical and laboratory services do not operate in isolation but are integrated into the clinical and managerial framework of a hospital, and in the UK…
Tissue Typing
Tissue Typing Introduction Key elements Key elements for successful transplantation are: ability to correctly identify tissue types of recipients and donors prediction of graft rejection (host versus graft) in the…
Cellular Investigations
Cellular Investigations Introduction Cellular investigations include: identification of cell-surface phenotype identification of intracellular proteins identification of cellular function, including activation identification of secreted products (cytokines, chemokines) identification of abnormal cellular…
Allergy Tests
Allergy Tests Introduction The techniques used for allergy diagnosis in vitro are those already discussed in Chapters 17 and 18, and include RIA and EIA. Flow cytometry, as discussed in…
Autoantibodies
Autoantibodies Introduction There are many hundreds of reported autoantibodies, not all of clinical value. The repertoire of the typical regional immunology laboratory will cover most of those described below. Some…
Immunochemistry
Immunochemistry Techniques Electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis, immunofixation, isoelectric focusing, and immunoblotting Serum electrophoresis The most basic technique for the detection of serum proteins. Serum is applied to an electrolyte containing agarose gel…
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy Introduction The aim of this chapter is to give an overview of the very complex but exciting area of immunotherapy. Despite great advances in the basic science, the results…
Miscellaneous Conditions
Miscellaneous Conditions Sarcoidosis Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease characterized by non-caseating granulomata. Presentation Common presentations include: asymptomatic bihilar lymphadenopathy erythema nodosum, arthritis, and hilar lymphadenopathy (Löfgren’s syndrome) uveo-parotid fever (von…
