Vacuum bell (medicine)

Vacuum bell (medicine)

The vacuum bell is a medical device used in the treatment of pectus excavatum, one of the most common chest wall defects. [cite web |url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3225/is_n1_v46/ai_12450746 |title=Pectus excavatum - pathophysiology, clinical presentation, surgical repair | American Family Physician | Find Articles at BNET.com |format= |work= |accessdate=] The bell is mainly used to treat the cosmetic problems associated with the condition, as symptomatic cases of pectus excavatum are usually more severe, and may require surgery.It was invented by a German engineer named Klobe, and is sold online in Europe by Klobe himself, and in the US by Costa.
A 2006 study of 34 patients (31 male and 3 female), aged between 6-52 years, who used the bell for 1-18 months showed immediate improvements. The patients were followed up with clinical examination, photography and CT scans. After 3 months, 27 of the patients displayed an elevation of the sternum of more than 1.5cm, and after 12 months the sternum was lifted to a normal level within 5 of the patients. Studies showing long term improvements are currently lacking, but so far research appears promising.cite journal | last=Haecker | first=FM | coauthors=Mayr J | title=The vacuum bell for treatment of pectus excavatum: an alternative to surgical correction? | journal=European Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery | volume=29 | issue=4 | pages=557–561 | date=April 2006 | pmid=16473516 ]

Method of usage

The rubber bell is placed onto the chest wall so that a seal is created, and a hand pump connected to the bell by an air tube is used to reduce pressure inside the bell to up to 15% below atmospheric pressure. The drop in pressure results in the sternum being lifted upwards and a temporary resolution of the deformity.cite journal |author=Schier F, Bahr M, Klobe E |title=The vacuum chest wall lifter: an innovative, nonsurgical addition to the management of pectus excavatum |journal=J. Pediatr. Surg. |volume=40 |issue=3 |pages=496–500 |year=2005 |month=March |pmid=15793724 |doi=10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2004.11.033 |url=]

Contraindications

Use of the bell is not advised if any of the following conditions are present in a patient:
*Angiopathy
*Aneurysm
*Blood coagulation disorders (e.g. Hemophilia).
*Disorders affecting bone firmness (e.g. Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Osteoporosis).

ide effects

Possible side effects from using the device include:
*Pneumothorax-collapsed lung
*Hematoma
*Backache
*Drops of blood appearing on the skin
*Local edema
*Excoriation

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • bell jar — bel .jär n a bell shaped usu. glass vessel designed to cover objects or to contain gases or a vacuum * * * a glass vessel, closed at top, open at bottom, used in laboratory vacuum experiments …   Medical dictionary

  • Pectus excavatum — Classification and external resources An example of a severe case. ICD 10 Q67.6 …   Wikipedia

  • phenomenon — 1. A symptom; an occurrence of any sort, whether ordinary or extraordinary, in relation to a disease. 2. Any unusual fact or occurrence. [G. phainomenon, fr. phaino, to cause to appear] adhesion p. a p. manifested by the adherence of antigen… …   Medical dictionary

  • Nobel Prizes — ▪ 2009 Introduction Prize for Peace       The 2008 Nobel Prize for Peace was awarded to Martti Ahtisaari, former president (1994–2000) of Finland, for his work over more than 30 years in settling international disputes, many involving ethnic,… …   Universalium

  • china — /chuy neuh/, n. 1. a translucent ceramic material, biscuit fired at a high temperature, its glaze fired at a low temperature. 2. any porcelain ware. 3. plates, cups, saucers, etc., collectively. 4. figurines made of porcelain or ceramic material …   Universalium

  • China — /chuy neuh/, n. 1. People s Republic of, a country in E Asia. 1,221,591,778; 3,691,502 sq. mi. (9,560,990 sq. km). Cap.: Beijing. 2. Republic of. Also called Nationalist China. a republic consisting mainly of the island of Taiwan off the SE coast …   Universalium

  • Business and Industry Review — ▪ 1999 Introduction Overview        Annual Average Rates of Growth of Manufacturing Output, 1980 97, Table Pattern of Output, 1994 97, Table Index Numbers of Production, Employment, and Productivity in Manufacturing Industries, Table (For Annual… …   Universalium

  • Timeline of historic inventions — The timeline of historic inventions is a chronological list of particularly important or significant technological inventions. Note: Dates for inventions are often controversial. Inventions are often invented by several inventors around the same… …   Wikipedia

  • technology, history of — Introduction       the development over time of systematic techniques for making and doing things. The term technology, a combination of the Greek technē, “art, craft,” with logos, “word, speech,” meant in Greece a discourse on the arts, both… …   Universalium

  • acoustics — /euh kooh stiks/, n. 1. (used with a sing. v.) Physics. the branch of physics that deals with sound and sound waves. 2. (used with a pl. v.) the qualities or characteristics of a room, auditorium, stadium, etc., that determine the audibility or… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”