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Biomedical subjects

A L Davies

Publications and source records attributed to A L Davies.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Risk factors for Neisseria meningitidis carriage in a school during a community outbreak of meningococcal infection.

As part of the management of an outbreak of meningococcal infection, 119 school contacts of an index case were swabbed for nasopharyngeal carriage. In a cohort study, risk factors for Neisseria meningitidis carriage were ascertained by means of a questionnaire, completed by 114 (96%) of those swabbed. Twenty five (21%) cultures were identified as "neisseria positive'; of which there were 18 (15%) Neisseria meningitidis isolates, 2 (2%) Neisseria lactamica isolates and 5 (4%) showed contaminants only. Two (2%) carriers were identified as harbouring the implicated outbreak strain. Single variable analysis identified six statistically significant risk factors for meningococcal carriage; increasing age, female sex, manual social class, personal smoking, regular attendance at a discotheque and rhinorrhoea. Multivariate analysis, using logistic regression modelling, found that of these six variables only age, sex and social class remained statistically significant when the other factors were controlled for. Nevertheless the role of smoking, social events and respiratory/viral infections in nasopharyngeal carriage, and other plausible mechanisms whereby age, sex and social class might exert their effect, could usefully be investigated further.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Video-assisted thoracic surgery: experience with 126 cases.

VATS was performed in 126 patients at the Medical Center of Delaware from December 1991 to August 1993, with no major complications and no mortality. A definitive diagnosis was made in all cases. Results with VATS therapeutic procedures appear to equal those of the standard open technique. Operating time was comparable to that with the open technique. Length of stay and pain and suffering were dramatically reduced when compared with those associated with the open technique. We now consider VATS to be the preferred procedure in cases of: 1. Undiagnosed pulmonary infiltrate in the nonventilator-dependent patient 2. Indeterminate pulmonary nodule 3. Undiagnosed disease of the pleural space 4. Recurrent or persistent pneumothorax 5. Mediastinal or pericardial cystic tumors 6. Thoracic sympathectomy 7. Selected patients requiring esophagocardiomyotomy. The utilization of VATS for resection of a pulmonary mass in patients with cardiopulmonary compromise (i.e., FEV < 1) is being studied. Further development of this technique and expansion to formal pulmonary resection and cardiovascular procedures must follow the philosophy presented in our conclusion. The place of VATS in the management of penetrating thoracic trauma has been studied at several centers, with excellent results when precise guidelines have been followed. Obviously, one-lung anesthesia is not well tolerated when a patient is in profound shock, but if the patient can be stabilized before thoracotomy, the introduction of a camera to diagnose a carotid or internal mammary artery laceration or to staple an easily accessible pulmonary tear could obviate the need for a thoracotomy and its consequences for the patient. Again, as in all surgical operations, common sense and good judgment must prevail.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Video-assisted thoracic surgery: our first 20 cases.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery has been performed in 20 patients at the Medical Center of Delaware. Operations included seven pulmonary wedge resections, one mediastinal procedure, and 12 pleural procedures. In all cases, a definitive diagnosis was made or the lesion was removed. One postoperative atypical pneumonia occurred. One patient whose wedge resection proved to be squamous cell carcinoma on frozen section underwent a formal thoracotomy and lobectomy. Estimated savings in the eight patients who formerly would have undergone a thoracotomy incision is estimated at $30,000 for room cost alone. We foresee a markedly expanded role for this technique in major pulmonary resections, esophageal procedures, and cardiac surgery in the near future.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Chyloptysis.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Chyle↗
PubMed1989

The gothic arch tracing and the upper canine teeth as guides in the positioning of upper posterior teeth.

The relationship between the position of the buccal cusps of the natural upper posterior teeth and the distance between the lateral arms of the Gothic arch tracing or the distance between the upper canine teeth has been found to be constant to within +/- 2 mm. This may be of value when setting up artificial teeth for denture patients, enabling them to be positioned close to the natural predecessors.

Adult↗