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Biomedical subjects

A J Rich

Publications and source records attributed to A J Rich.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Comparison of saphenous versus jugular veins for central venous access in children with malignancy.

A retrospective analysis was carried out to compare the performance and complications of central catheters inserted into either the saphenous (27) or jugular (52) veins. The saphenous route may be preferred in certain circumstances including extensive mediastinal pathology, prior neck surgery, previous catheter(s), and cosmetic reasons. There was no difference in complications (local or systemic catheter-related infections, catheter occlusions, or venous thrombosis). The incidence of catheter removal due to complications was also not different between sites. Hence, the saphenous route can provide an additional portal of vascular access in selected patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

The impact of an endoscopic laser service on gastroenterological practice.

During the 18 months following the introduction of a neodymium yttrium aluminium garnet laser in Newcastle upon Tyne 48 patients were treated, 23 for haemorrhage from peptic ulcers or vascular anomalies of the gut and 25 for palliation of inoperable tumours of the oesophagus, stomach and rectum. The treatment was tolerated well and was effective both for the arrest of haemorrhage and relief of dysphagia. Laser treatment has now entered the realms of routine clinical practice but its high cost and the operator expertise required suggest that its availability should be limited to designated centres.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ketosis and nitrogen excretion in undernourished surgical patients.

Hormonal and substrate profiles and urinary nitrogen and urea excretion were measured in 78 underweight patients admitted for surgical investigation, who were placed into either a normo- or a hyperketonemic group, depending upon their levels of acetoacetate and beta-hydroxybutyrate. The two groups were otherwise similar in terms of weight loss, arm muscle circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, and serum protein levels. Before surgery only one-quarter of them were hyperketonemic displaying mean glucose, insulin, and glucagon levels characteristic of starvation-adaption, and excreted significantly less urinary nitrogen than in normoketonemic group. Those patients who underwent surgery tended to retain their presurgery hormonal and substrate profile. The normoketonemic group excreted significantly greater amounts of urinary nitrogen, depleted body protein to a greater extent as evidenced by larger changes in arm muscle circumference and serum protein levels, and mortality was greater. Interference with insulin-glucagon balance by sepsis and disease is suggested as a possible explanation for the failure of three-quarters of the patients to become starvation-adapted. The implications of this finding on the parenteral feeding of undernourished patients are discussed.

Acidosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nutritional status in cancer.

A decline in nutritional status is seen in many, but not all cancer patients. The factors leading to this decline are complex and include anorexia, malabsorption and alterations in energy expenditure. The end result of this decline is cachexia, but it is questionable whether this syndrome differs materially from that seen in severe undernutrition arising from other causes. Of the measurable changes in body composition taking place in cancer patients those of most importance are losses of lean tissue, which result in a reduced functional capacity for organ systems. Such losses are difficult to detect because accumulated water may mask many of the early changes in composition and make conventional assessment of nutritional status unreliable. Nutritional support should be provided for undernourished patients, irrespective of the primary cause of their poor nutrition, but there is no convincing evidence that the treatment of nutritional deficiencies alone improves the outcome in cancer patients.

Body Composition↗