Assessment of medical care.
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Community Health Services↗
Biomedical subjects
B Benjamin
Publications and source records attributed to B Benjamin.
High incidence of breast cancer in thyroid cancer patients.
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Adult↗
Coronary heart disease. 30-year experience of 1,160 men.
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Adult↗
Giant Teflon granuloma of the larynx.
Endolaryngeal injection of Teflon paste to augment and medialize the paralyzed hemilarynx aims to improve dysphonia and relieve aspiration. After an initial short-lived inflammatory reaction in the laryngeal tissues, a foreign body granuloma forms around the Teflon. In most cases the results are good but it may occasionally be necessary to consider removal of the granuloma if too large a volume has been injected, if it is inappropriately placed, or if the paralyzed vocal cord subsequently recovers. Surgical removal is difficult and the results are unpredictable. This case illustrates, for the first time, that evaluation using both a high-resolution computed tomographic (CT) scan and endoscopy with telescopes permits satisfactory assessment before removal of Teflon.
Granuloma, Foreign-Body↗
Demographic aspects of ageing.
The first part of this paper examines future changes in the age structure of the population of England and Wales which are likely to occur as a result of past and future changes in fertility and mortality. These changes in fertility and mortality are examined in some detail. Different methods of projecting future changes in mortality are discussed. On the basis of conservative estimates of these changes, estimates are made of the future economic strain of dependency and there is some discussion of the way in which this might be best handled to the advantage of both the active and the elderly populations. The second part of the paper looks at different ways of examining improvements in longevity and also discusses some of the biological and environmental factors involved. Reference is made to the limited morbidity data available and the tentative conclusion is reached that improvement in longevity, so far, owes less to the reduction of disease incidence than to medical maintenance. This review paper, which relates to England and Wales, is in two main parts: (1) a general discussion of the population factors and changes which have led to a focusing of attention upon the ageing of the population and associated economic problems; and (2) a consideration of the implications of current health advances for individual survival.
Aging↗
Osteoarticular complications of childhood brucellosis: a study of 57 cases in Saudi Arabia.
Fifty-seven (36%) of a cohort of 157 children with brucellosis from Saudi Arabia had arthritis. Most gave a history of contact with farm animals or drinking unpasteurized milk. Associated features included pyrexia, arthralgia, hepatosplenomegaly, and lymphadenopathy. A subacute presentation with peripheral oligoarthritis predominantly affecting hips or knees was common. Specific chemotherapy resulted in rapid defervescence followed by slower resolution of the arthritis. Children with osteoarticular brucellosis had a higher relapse rate and a longer hospital stay. Supervised combination chemotherapy for at least 6 weeks was effective in preventing relapse. A brucellar etiology should be considered in any child from an endemic area who has osteoarticular manifestations.
Arthritis, Infectious↗
Acute epiglottitis in infants and children.
Sixty-one cases of acute epiglottitis at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, Sydney, from July 1968 to December 1974 are reviewed. The average age of 2.7 years is lower than previously reported. The average time from the initial symptom to arrival at the hospital was 14 hours. The average time from arrival to performance of tracheotomy was two hours. The diagnosis was made when first seen and assessed in 50 of the 61 cases. There were eight respiratory arrests in the Casualty and five of these were successfully resuscitated. We believe that an artificial airway is necessary in most cases, and in this series, tracheotomy was performed, with minimal complications. Particular emphasis is given to diagnosis from the history, and a detailed description is given of physical examination of the oropharynx. Although x-ray examination is usually unnecessary when the diagnosis is in doubt, a plain lateral x-ray may be useful, with due precaution not to increase the respiratory obstruction. We consider that a patient with acute epiglottitis should be transferred immediately to a major pediatric hospital, and that in almost every case an artificial airway should be established.
Acute Disease↗
Treatment of infantile subglottic hemangioma with radioactive gold grain.
Congenital subglottic hemangioma causes life-threatening airway obstruction during the first few months of life. The mortality rate of recognized and untreated cases justifies active treatment, and although radiation therapy is currently most favored, it carries a risk of inducing malignant change in the thyroid gland later in life. A series of 11 patients with laryngeal hemangiomata is reported, conventional radiotherapy was utilized in the first seven patients, and placement of a radioactive gold grain directly into the lesion was used in the last four patients. This technique offers maximal tumor dose with minimal thyroid gland irradiation compared to treatment by conventional radiotherapy, and its successful use in these four patients is reported as worthy of further trial.
Female↗
Congenital laryngeal hemangioma.
Congenital subglottic hemangioma consistently occurs in a site below the vocal cord. It is a distinct clinical entity with typical clinical features. However, congenital hemangioma in other sites can cause airway obstruction. An anatomical classification is proposed on the basis of review of 23 consecutive cases. It is important to accurately identify the site and distribution of the lesion before commencing treatment. Radiation has been an acknowledged form of treatment, and in our hospital we have confirmed that radiation therapy, either by external beam, or by insertion of a radioactive gold grain, gives good results. The theoretical possibility of radiation-induced malignancy in the thyroid gland is reduced to an absolute minimum by use of a radioactive grain for localized tumor-dose with minimum radiation of surrounding tissue.
Female↗
Anesthesia for laryngoscopy.
The requirements of anesthesia for laryngoscopy and microlaryngeal surgery must be compatible with maximum safety and minimum patient discomfort. Some techniques require the use of an endotracheal tube while some do not. Others use a modified tube or a jetting system. In general, for pediatric endoscopy we prefer spontaneous respiration with inhalational anesthesia supplemented by topical lignocaine (lidocaine), and in adults, a relaxant technique with controlled jet ventilation supplemented by topical lignocaine. A new pediatric microlaryngoscope and a new tube for jet ventilation in older children and adults are described.
Age Factors↗
Tracheomalacia in infants and children.
The clinical features of tracheomalacia depend on the location, length, and severity of the weakness of the tracheal wall. There is firm evidence that tracheomalacia in association with tracheoesophageal fistula is due to malformation and deficiency in the tracheal wall, but in other types of tracheomalacia the evidence is less conclusive. A classification is proposed, based on the known histopathologic and endoscopic changes. Endoscopy is considered the most reliable diagnostic examination.
Arteriovenous Malformations↗
A new pediatric microlaryngoscope.
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Adolescent↗
Technique of laryngeal photography.
Many techniques for photography during direct laryngoscopic examination have been described over the years. At present the best quality laryngeal photographs are obtained using a modern 35-mm single-lens reflex camera with the Hopkins telescopes and a synchronized electronic flash generator. This versatile system gives consistently reliable results.
Anesthesia↗
Evaluation of choanal atresia.
A series of 65 cases of choanal atresia seen in 19 years is reviewed. We use a wisp of cotton fiber held under the nose and a plastic catheter passed into each nasal cavity to test nasal patency. Horizontal computerized tomography is confirmed as the radiological study of choice, and a standard endoscopic technique used during surgical correction is described.
Airway Obstruction↗
Vocal cord granulomas.
A series of 16 vocal cord granulomas in adults and children were studied; of these, seven occurred postintubation. All granulomas were removed at least once and the recurrence rate was high. On average, there were three removals, and some patients are still under observation. The recurrence rate did not seem to be related to removal by surgical excision or by laser. We postulate, contrary to conventional teaching, that vocal ulcer and vocal cord granuloma should be regarded as separate entities which occur at the same anatomical site.
Adolescent↗
A new adult microlaryngoscope.
A new "slimline" binocular microlaryngoscope has been designed for use in adults in whom the larynx is difficult or impossible to visualize with standard microlaryngoscopes.
Equipment Design↗
Vocal nodules in children.
We reviewed 27 pediatric patients who had vocal nodules removed surgically in a 5-year period. Age of operation, duration of symptoms, indications for operation, and the results of removal are analyzed. The techniques of laryngoscopic assessment with telescopes and of microsurgical removal are described in detail. The 27 children had 53 nodules removed. Almost all had normal or improved voices as judged by the parents' answers to a written questionnaire. From the results of this series, microsurgical removal of vocal nodules in children is justified in selected patients.
Adolescent↗
New endoscope for (laser) endoscopic diverticulotomy.
In the United States, traditional treatment of the hypopharyngeal (Zenker's) diverticulum has been single stage transcutaneous diverticulectomy. Complications following this procedure include mediastinitis, vocal cord paralysis, esophageal stenosis, fistula, and recurrent or persistent diverticulum. Endoscopic diverticulotomy, widely used throughout Europe, is relatively straightforward and efficacious. Transoral management of these diverticulae has allowed symptomatic relief with a low incidence of complications. A new endoscope has been developed to facilitate use of the carbon dioxide laser for endoscopic diverticulotomy. The instrument combines the characteristics of the Dohlman endoscope (bilateral distal slots) with a wider proximal end for microscopic endoscopy, a smoke evacuator channel, a fiberoptic light carrier, and a handle adaptable for suspension microendoscopy.
Aged↗