Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to B P Bliss.
A female patient who underwent a carotid endarterectomy, died following a hypertensive crisis which may have been due to an unknown phaeochromocytoma.
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Intravenous streptokinase infusions (100,000 units/h) have been used to treat 48 patients, with 50 episodes of acute limb ischaemia who were unlikely to benefit from a surgical approach. These included 17 acute thromboses, 14 late or distal emboli and 19 bypass graft occlusions. Overall, 17 (34 per cent) instances had complete lysis with reappearance of distal pulses and a further 28 per cent had clinical improvement without change in pulse status. Final outcome after 30 days was limb salvage in 60 per cent, amputation in 24 per cent and death in 16 per cent, but this was achieved after eight patients without lysis had vascular reconstructive surgery. Serious complications were infrequent, but included a fatal stroke, a haematemesis and two episodes of distal embolization. The outcome was not related to the duration of ischaemia or the site of occlusion. Lysis was more frequent with emboli (50 per cent) and graft occlusions (47 per cent) than arterial thromboses (6 per cent). Limb salvage was more likely in patients with no neurological deficit in the limb (70 per cent) than if a deficit was present (37 per cent). In conclusion, intravenous streptokinase produced a moderate benefit with low morbidity and has a role in acute limb ischaemia if surgery is inappropriate and intra-arterial lysis unavailable. In particular, selected patients with emboli or graft occlusions without a neurological deficit may be most suitable.
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We present a case of cystic myxomatous degeneration of the femoral vein. The features are similar to those found in the equivalent disease of arteries. It is suggested that it may occur in veins as an unusual and rare late sequel of venous thrombosis and recanalisation. A search of the literature has revealed only one previously reported case.
Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is a well established technique with wide application, but its place in the overall management of peripheral vascular disease is not well defined. This study compares similar groups of patients with peripheral vascular disease in 1981 and 1984, before and after the introduction of the technique to a district general hospital. More patients are now being investigated and treated and this is almost entirely due to the availability of angioplasty. The rates for surgery have not changed. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty should therefore be seen as a new and separate form of treatment for peripheral vascular disease, not necessarily influencing or replacing surgery, and requiring its own allocation of resources in accordance with the increase in the level of care afforded by the technique.
A 66-year-old man is reported who was found to have acquired von Willebrand's disease, which presented when the patient was 63 with iron deficiency anaemia and gastrointestinal bleeding. He subsequently bled from various sites in the gastrointestinal tract including an angiodysplasia of the right colon, which was successfully treated by right hemicolectomy. This is the second reported association between acquired von Willebrand's disease and angiodysplasia of the intestinal tract.
Fasting blood levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose insulin and fibrinogen were measured preoperatively in 44 patients who had reconstructive operations for occlusive disease in the femoral and popliteal arteries. Comparison of these preoperative biochemical measurements with the results of surgery over a 4-year period indicated that failure was associated with significantly higher mean preoperative levels of both glucose (P less than 0.01) and fibrinogen (P less than 0.01). High fasting blood glucose was associated with early failure (occlusion between 3 and 12 months) and high plasma fibronogen was associated with late failure (occlusion between 1 and 4 years). The results of operation were not influenced significantly by preoperative blood levels of cholesterol, triglyceride or insulin.
A technique of arterial reconstruction suitable for patients with extensive arterial occlusions and for previous failed arterial surgery is described. The "hitch-hike" graft consists of a proximal limb of 6-mm velour Dacron prosthesis and a distal limb of autogenous vein. The intermediate prosthesis-to-vein anastomosis is made into an endarterectomized segment of upper popliteal artery. The results in the first 16 limbs are described. Eleven grafts are functioning from 2 to 14 months after operation and 5 of these have functioned for more than 1 year. The advantages of the technique are: long arterial occlusions may be bridged; autogenous vein is used to cross the knee joint; good measured blood flows may be demonstrated at operation; acceptable patency rates may be obtained up to 1 year.
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We report a series of cases of late infection in Dacron arterial grafts. Late infection is defined as that presenting de novo 6 months or more after the patient's discharge from hospital with a clean healed wound. One hundred and ten patients were followed up and 6 cases of this type of infection occurred. The diagnosis was made on clinical grounds and usually pain, suppuration in the line of graft, or graft exposure were the presenting features. Secondary haemorrhage, common in early infection, did not occur. Conservative management failed in most cases and removal of the infected graft was necessary. The difficult problems associated with revascularization are discussed.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
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