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Biomedical subjects

A C Shah

Publications and source records attributed to A C Shah.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Bronchoscopic closure of bronchopleural fistula using gelfoam.

Management of a persistent bronchopleural fistula (BPF) can be a therapeutic challenge. The etiological factors responsible for BPF include pulmonary tuberculosis, post-thoracic resection surgeries, trauma, malignancy, necrotising infections and rupture of lung abscess. The immediate management of BPF is drainage of the pleural cavity with insertion of an intercostal drainage tube. Patients with BPF may also require surgical intervention in the form of a wedge resection or lobectomy or muscle flap surgery. We report a case of a peripheral BPF secondary to a bacterial infection, which was successfully managed by the instillation of gelfoam via flexible bronchoscopy.

Bronchial Fistula↗

[R-hirudin (lepirudin, refludan) as an alternative anticoagulant in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia during cardiopulmonary bypass connection].

A 72-year-old patient with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and global cardiac decompensation underwent cardiac surgery using an extracorporeal circuit (ECC). For systemic anticoagulation r-Hirudin (lepirudin, Refludan) was administered as a heparin substitute during extracorporeal circuit. During cardiopulmonary bypass (100 min) the concentration of r-Hirudin was between 2.9 and 4.6 mcg/ml under continuous infusion of r-Hirudin at between 1.5 and 4.5 mcg/kg/min. The operation was successful and during its course no abnormal bleeding or fibrin formation in the extracorporeal circuit was observed. One hour after operation haemorrhage occurred and rethoracotomy was performed without discovering the cause of the surgical bleeding. After substitution with fresh frozen plasma, thrombocytes and Prothromblex the bleeding stopped on the operation day. The further postoperative course was uncomplicated. After 3 days the patient came to nursing station and was discharged from hospital to a rehabilitation centre after 13 days. After a further 3 weeks he went home in a good general condition.

Aged↗

Clinical and pathological profile of 73 patients with lung carcinoma: is the picture changing?

OBJECTIVE: A prospective study was undertaken to study the clinical features and pathological cell type of primary lung carcinoma in our institute. METHODS: Seventy three patients were included in the study over a period of three years. These were investigated according to a study protocol which included a detailed history regarding the onset and progress of the disease, smoking habits, x-ray chest, computed tomography of the chest and upper abdomen, and flexible bronchoscopy with brushings and biopsy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: 32.85% of patients were non-smokers. The male-female ratio was 4.2:1. Male sex, age > 50 years and history of smoking are still a risk factor for lung carcinoma. Tobacco smoking of 20 pack-years or more is significantly associated with the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma compared to other cell types. Adenocarcinoma (28.8%) was the most common cell type observed. It was also the most common cell type in central location (32.8%). Adenocarcinoma was the most common cell type diagnosis amongst females (50%) and non-smokers (43.5%). Computed tomography done in 47 patients diagnosed additional eleven patients with rib or vertebral metastases in addition to the three diagnosed by chest roentgenology. Computed tomography diagnosed significant mediastinal lymphadenopathy in 16 patients in whom mediastinal lymphadenopathy was not suspected on chest roentgenology. Computed tomography confirmed liver metastases in four patients diagnosed by ultrasonography and additionally in three more patients. Bronchial brushing cytology yielded positive results in 51.72% of central tumours and 40% in peripheral tumors. Yield of endobronchial biopsy was 59% and transbronchial biopsy was sixty percent. At presentation 74.1% patients with non-small cell carcinoma were inoperable and in case of small cell carcinoma 75% had extensive disease. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy with brushings and biopsy, and computed tomography of the chest and upper abdomen are useful investigations in the diagnosis of lung carcinoma.

Adolescent↗

Approach to aerosol therapy in management of asthma at primary care level.

Present day management of bronchial asthma focuses on use of inhaled drugs. To find out the acceptability of aerosol therapy at primary care level, a questionnaire survey was conducted on practical acceptance of aerosol therapy in management of asthma. Seven clinically relevant questions were asked regarding management modalities followed in bronchial asthma. Amongst the group of general practitioners (n = 60) studied, it was found that in treatment of chronic stable asthma inhaled steroids are used by only 50% and inhaled bronchodilators by 86.7%, whereas 93.3% use oral bronchodilators and 60% use oral steroids to treat the same. During exacerbation injectable bronchodilators are preferred to inhaled drugs. Poor compliance to aerosol therapy was reported by 33.3%. Reasons for non-compliance are discussed, important ones are cost and technique. Spacer was reported to be useful by 20% and lung functions are carried out occasionally by only 5% of practitioners.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Determination of diclofenac sodium, famotidine and ketorolac tromethamine by flow injection analysis using dichloronitrophenol.

Diclofenac sodium, famotidine and ketorolac tromethamine were determined by flow injection analysis (FIA) with spectrophotometric detection. The sample solutions (5-50 micrograms ml-1 of diclofenac sodium, 10-80 micrograms ml-1 of famotidine and 10-120 micrograms ml-1 of ketorolac tromethamine) in methanol were injected into a flow system containing 0.01% (w/v) of 2,4,dichloro-6-nitrophenol (DCNP) in methanol. The colour produced due to the formation of a charge transfer complex was measured with a spectrophotometric detector set at 450 nm. A sampling rate of 40 per hour was achieved with high reproducibility of measurements (RSD below 1.6%). The FIA method was applied to the determination of diclofenac sodium, famotidine and ketorolac tromethamine in pharmaceutical formulations.

Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors↗

Enhanced rectal absorption of itazigrel formulated with polysorbate 80 micelle vehicle in rat: role of co-administered esterase.

We investigated the effect of esterase on rectal absorption in the rat of itazigrel using polysorbate 80 (PS-80) micelle as a vehicle to overcome the poor aqueous solubility of itazigrel. The itazigrel formulation prepared with PS-80 increased the absorption compared with a 0.25% carmellose sodium suspension, probably by supplying the itazigrel solute to keep a high concentration at the epithelial surface. When esterase was co-administered with the formulations containing PS-80, the absorption of itazigrel from rat rectum was accelerated further, by rapid release of itazigrel from the micelle vehicle after enzymatic degradation of the PS-80 micelle.

Absorption↗

Concurrent radiation therapy, 5-fluorouracil, and cisplatin for stage II, III, and IV, node-negative, squamous cell head and neck cancer. Results and surgical implications.

METHODS: Between 1983 and 1989, 42 patients with Stage II, III, and IV, node-negative, squamous cell head and neck cancer were treated with concurrent 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, and radiation therapy. Two courses of chemotherapy with 30 Gy of concurrent radiation therapy were to be followed in all patients by definitive surgery and then an additional 30 Gy of radiation therapy and one to two courses of chemotherapy. The patients who achieved a complete response to the initial induction treatment, however, did not undergo surgery. RESULTS: After the completion of all therapy, 41 of the 42 patients (98%) were considered disease-free. Only 4 of these 41 had relapses, for a projected Kaplan-Meier disease-free survival rate of 86%. Treatment failure occurred in no patients with Stage II, 1 of 17 patients with Stage III, and 4 of 14 patients with Stage IV disease. Of the 42 patients, 23 (55%) did not require surgery after achieving a complete response to induction therapy, and only 1 of these 23 patients subsequently had a relapse. CONCLUSIONS: Although the value of adding chemotherapy to conventional treatment remains unproven in squamous cell head and neck cancer, this treatment schedule appears promising in node-negative disease. Randomized trials will be necessary, however, to validate the efficacy of this approach and confirm the suggestion by the authors that surgery can be avoided in most patients with N0 disease.

Aged↗

Paranasal sinuses: low-dose CT.

While computed tomography (CT) has become an important imaging modality in the evaluation of the paranasal sinuses, the radiation dose remains higher than is necessary. With use of a head phantom and constant kilovolt peak setting, axial and coronal CT scans of the paranasal sinuses were obtained at each of six successively lower milliampere second settings than are commonly used in clinical practice. Although noise, as measured by the standard deviation of the CT numbers, did increase, images were of diagnostic quality even when dose levels were reduced by a factor of 28. In the same incremental manner, the milliampere second settings used in scanning 90 patients were reduced, with no loss of diagnostic quality. The authors discuss the methods of analysis and the advantages of use of lower milliampere second settings at CT scanning of the sinuses.

Humans↗

Simultaneous versus sequential combined technique therapy for squamous cell head and neck cancer.

Forty-eight patients with locally confined (M0) squamous cell head and neck cancer were prospectively randomized to receive either simultaneous (SIM) or sequential (SEQ) combined technique therapy with a 5-fluorouracil infusion, a cisplatin bolus injection, and radiation therapy. Patients with residual resectable disease underwent surgery after induction therapy, whereas those achieving a complete response to induction did not require surgery. Patients on the two treatment arms were equivalent in all measured variables, including disease extent. Toxicities of the SIM and SEQ arms also were equivalent except for mucositis and the resultant weight loss, which were more severe on the SIM arm (P = 0.002). With a follow-up time ranging from 9 to 41 months, seven of the 24 SIM patients and 14 of the 24 SEQ patients are considered treatment failures. The relapse-free survival is significantly better on the SIM arm (P = 0.03), although an overall survival advantage has not yet been demonstrated (P = 0.13). The achievement of a complete response after induction therapy correlates with both the relapse-free (P = 0.0005) and overall (P = 0.05) survival, and the likelihood of an induction complete response also is significantly better for those treated with the SIM schedule (P = 0.02). Eighteen patients did not require surgery after achieving an induction complete response. Relapse-free survival does not appear to be compromised in this patient subset.

Adult↗

Long-term results after chemoradiotherapy for locally confined squamous-cell head and neck cancer.

The long-term results after simultaneous chemoradiotherapy in 54 patients with previously untreated or minimally treated, locally confined (M0) squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck are presented. Multiple concurrent courses of radiation therapy and chemotherapy with cisplatin and a four-day 5-fluorouracil infusion were given. Twenty-eight patients underwent definitive surgery and 26 were treated without surgical resection. Treatment-associated toxicity was significant, including mucositis, myelosuppression, and a mean 12% loss of initial body weight. Of the 54 patients, 51 were ultimately rendered disease free by this combined modality protocol. With a follow-up ranging from 42-68 months, the projected Kaplan-Meier relapse-free survival for the entire patient cohort is 70%, with all relapses occurring within 17 months of patient entry. The projected Kaplan-Meier relapse-free survival for patients with Stage IV disease is 62%. The durability of these remissions suggests that there is a significant likelihood of cure in all patients with locally confined disease, and justifies comparative trials with standard treatment.

Adult↗

Intensive respiratory care service. Organisation, orientation, system and future. Our experience of management of 288 cases.

Between Jan. 1983 and Dec. 1986, 288 patients with acute respiratory failure of varied aetiologies were admitted to tetanus and respiratory care ward. One hundred and twenty patients (41.66%) had primary respiratory diseases, 107 (37.15%) of poisoning, 24 (8.3%) had neuromuscular diseases and 37 (12.48%) had miscellaneous disorders. Ventilatory support was given for more than 6 hours to 118 patients. The overall survival was 61.81% and on ventilator 38.13%. The mortality was high with ARDS (100%), miscellaneous (100%) pneumonia with septicaemia (75%) and COAD (54.28%). Patient with COAD had high mortality with acidosis (pH less than 7.1, P less than 0.01), hypotension (systolic BP less than 90 mm of Hg, p less than 0.05) and oliguria (urine out put less than 400 ml/24 hours, p less than 0.05). Organophosphorus compound was the commonest poison (89.75%) and patients who had moderate to severe hypoxia (pO2 less than 60 mm of Hg), hypotension and an interval of more than 4 hours between the consumption of poison and admission (all P less than 0.05) expired; 68.18% expired within the first 72 hours. All the patients with primary neuromuscular paralysis and bronchial asthma survived. Hospital acquired infections (160 patients), retained secretions (108 patients) and hypotension (64 patients) were the commonest complications seen in the 288 patients. Staphylococcus aureus (32.14%) was the commonest organism isolated. Financial constraints, drug shortages and frequent failure of machines were other major problems in the intensive respiratory care unit.

Acute Disease↗