PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A L Beal

Publications and source records attributed to A L Beal.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Traumatic hemorrhage of occult pheochromocytoma: a case report and review of the literature.

Pheochromocytoma usually presents with gradual onset and mild to moderate symptoms, but may present acutely with severe symptoms. Hemorrhage into pheochromocytoma is a rare cause of acute presentation that is often devastating to patients. We describe the case of a 34-year-old woman with hemorrhage into a previously undiscovered pheochromocytoma following a fall on a patch of ice. This is the first reported case of hemorrhagic pheochromocytoma associated with traumatic injury. Despite removal of the tumor within 18 hours of presentation, the patient suffered severe complications of massive catecholamine excess, including shock, cardiomyopathy, and adult respiratory distress syndrome. Animal studies have shown that early treatment with alpha blockers can prevent some, if not all of these complications. Proper management of hemorrhagic pheochromocytoma should include a high index of suspicion with early diagnosis and treatment with alpha blockers and surgical resection of the tumor when the patient is stable enough to tolerate the procedure.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed1998

Chylous ascites: a manifestation of blunt abdominal trauma in an infant.

This report presents an infant in whom a unique case of chylous ascites developed after blunt abdominal trauma. Unfortunately, this case was complicated by Pseudomonas peritonitis, likely from a distant source. Our patient was treated medically and had a good overall outcome.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed1995

Post-traumatic stress disorder in prisoners of war and combat veterans of the Dieppe Raid: a 50-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: This paper presents the first 50-year study of the differential effects of incarceration and combat on the development and persistence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Canadian veterans and prisoners of war (POWs) from the Dieppe Raid. METHOD: A large sample of Dieppe POWs and nonPOWs completed a questionnaire diagnosing PTSD and other psychological and health problems of the veterans in 1946 and in 1992. RESULTS: The POWs showed a higher incidence of PTSD and other psychological symptoms than veterans with the same combat exposure. The POWs' experiences of malnutrition, maltreatment and torture, and mental suffering showed strong links to PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: For many veterans, PTSD has lasted 50 years. Failure to be eligible for psychological disability pensions demonstrates that PTSD and other psychological disorders in these veterans have been greatly unrecognized by the Canadian Department of Veteran's Affairs.

France↗
PubMed1994

Multiple organ failure syndrome in the 1990s. Systemic inflammatory response and organ dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE--This review of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) provides an overview of a common but complex problem found in critically ill patients. It emphasizes definitions, common clinical patterns, metabolic responses, and pathophysiological changes. A brief discussion of treatment concepts is also included. DATA SOURCES--Data for this review were gathered from peer-reviewed journals, review articles by experts in SIRS/MODS, and selections from reference volumes written on SIRS/MODS. STUDY SELECTION--Reference selections were chosen on the basis of quality of research. Peer-reviewed journals were given primary consideration. Those review articles cited were felt to be essential to any discussion of SIRS/MODS. DATA EXTRACTION--Where possible, randomized, controlled, prospective studies were reviewed and conclusions used in this overview of SIRS/MODS. CONCLUSION--Our ability to care for critically ill patients has led to a new problem, SIRS and eventually MODS, which may become progressive organ failure and death. Unfortunately, these conditions are extremely frequent and carry high mortality rates. Increased oxygen consumption demands highlight the physiological response. The typical metabolic responses are characterized by hyperglycemia and accelerated protein catabolism. Unrecognized perfusion deficits, an uncontrolled septic focus, a persistent source of inflammation, or injured tissue is commonly present with SIRS/MODS and should be corrected. Restoration of oxygen transport and metabolic support are also important components of treatment. The cause of SIRS/MODS is complex and not fully understood, but multiple mediators and stimulated macrophages likely are important components and areas where treatment may well be focused.

Critical Illness↗
PubMed1994

Food restriction and binge eating: a study of former prisoners of war.

Food restriction is correlated with binge eating, but evidence that restriction leads to binge eating is scanty. In this study we investigated postwar binge eating in 67 World War II combat veterans and 198 former prisoners of war. As predicted, binge eating was relatively rare in combat veterans but was significantly more prevalent in veterans who, as prisoners in German prisoner of war camps, lost significant amounts of weight during their captivity. Our data thus support the contention that starvation or dieting seems to precede binge eating.

Aged↗