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Biomedical subjects

B V MacFadyen

Publications and source records attributed to B V MacFadyen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Laparoscopic repair of duodenal ulcer and gastroesophageal reflux.

The low morbidity and early recovery associated with laparoscopic procedures have heralded a new era for many types of surgery. In addition to the initial promising reports for duodenal ulcer disease and gastroesophageal reflux discussed above, there is a growing body of reports of gastric procedures performed laparoscopically, including omentopexy for perforated duodenal ulcer and laparoscopic repair of full-thickness stomach injury. Laws et al recently described the use of transthoracic vagotomy in recurrent peptic ulcer disease for four patients who had previously undergone a gastric drainage procedure. As with any new procedure, laparoscopic techniques for duodenal ulcer and Nissen fundoplication reviewed in this section need to be evaluated further for long-term effectiveness and comparability to existing therapy. At least one controlled multicenter trial is ongoing to compare the long-term results and cost-effectiveness of laparoscopic surgery for duodenal ulcer with those of standard medical therapy, and as surgeons gain more experience with these laparoscopic procedures, it is likely that other similar trials will be initiated.

Duodenal Ulcer

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy with jejunal extension: a new technique.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomies (PEG) with jejunal extensions are placed in patients at risk for aspiration of gastric contents. Current methods used are difficult and often ineffective in preventing aspiration, and frequently result in substantial morbidity and mortality. In this study, a new method of jejunal extension from a PEG was evaluated with regard to efficacy and prevention of aspiration of gastric contents while providing adequate enteral nutrition. Twelve patients with recent aspiration pneumonitis underwent PEG placement with a jejunal extension by this new method. The technique was accomplished rapidly and without difficulty in an average time of 26.2 min (range 17-31 min). In all instances, the jejunal extension remained functional for the first 8 wk after placement, and there were no instances of aspiration of gastric contents while nutritional requirements were met. None of the patients died from complications of the procedure. The method described was effective in preventing aspiration of gastric contents, was easily performed, and was associated with minimal complications.

Enteral Nutrition

Percutaneous cholecystostomy and lithotripsy of gallstones.

Extracorporeal lithotripsy has a high incidence of postprocedure biliary colic and slow disappearance of gallstones. This situation has led to the development of a new technique which has been successful in four patients and consists of percutaneous cholecystostomy, direct stone visualization, and fragmentation of gallstones with a percutaneous lithotripter. All patients had a functioning gallbladder, stone diameter less than 30 mm, and abdominal pain secondary to cholelithiasis. The procedure was performed in a two day hospitalization. Initially, under general anesthesia, the gallbladder was intubated with a 21 gauge needle and guidewire and the tract dilated to #30 French. A nephroscope was advanced into the gallbladder through a rigid sheath. All gallstones were visualized, fragmented with a percutaneous lithotripter, and extracted. After a postoperative cholecystocholangiogram, an self-retaining catheter was placed in the gallbladder for an average of 2.5 days. Three of the four patients were discharged from the hospital in two days without any complications. A fourth patient had a small bile leak treated with antibiotics. After an average of 13 months follow-up, all patients had a normal ultrasound or oral cholecystogram and no biliary tract symptoms. This technique is safe and efficient in removing gallstones and has no recurrence of gallstones in the 13 month follow-up period.

Adult

A vest for ambulatory patients receiving hyperalimentation.

There have been no significant complications related to the use of this ambulatory hyperalimentation vest. The potential positive impact that increased use of this vest at home might have upon hospital stay and cost containment is obvious. It is further anticipated that, as advances are made in the technology of plastic bags, tubing, miniature pumps and microprocessors, ambulatory or home hyperalimentation delivery systems exemplified by this vest will achieve a much higher degree of sophistication, practical application, economy and favorable clinical results.

Ambulatory Care

Intravenous hyperalimentation as an adjunct to radiation therapy.

Radiation therapy may induce anorexia with resultant weight loss and inanition that can limit the dose of radiation therapy administered. The purpose of this study was to evaluate 39 nutritionally-depleted patients who had a variety of malignant diseases treated with radiation therapy and concomitant nutritional support with intravenous hyperalimentation (IVH). The average dose of radiation delivered was 3827 rads in an average of 3.5 weeks. Ninety-five percent of the patients completed their planned course of radiation therapy and improved symptomatically. Fifty-four percent of the patients responded with a greater than 50% reduction in tumor size. Responding patients gained an average weight of 13.0 +/- 6.5 lbs. during IVH (av. 36.2 days) and radiation therapy (av. 3832 rads), whereas non-responding patients gained only 4.9 +/- 8.8 lbs. (p less than 0.001) during IVH (av. 42.8 days) and radiation therapy (av. 3819 rads). Serum albumin concentrations rose from 3.12 +/- 0.49 gm/100 ml to 3.51 +/- 0.68 gm/100 ml (p less than 0.05) during treatment in responding patients but did not rise significantly from 3.09 +/- 0.48 gm/100 ml in non-responding patients. In conclusion, IVH allowed a planned course of radiation therapy to be delivered to a group of poor-risk, malnourished cancer patients, and a positive correlation between tumor response and nutritional status was identified. Moreover, IVH was a valuable adjunct in the treatment of six patients who had enteric fistulas that originated from radiated bowel.

Aged

Parenteral nutrition techniques in cancer patients.

If a patient is expected to respond optimally to one or more forms of oncologic therapy, he should simultaneously be in the best possible nutritional and metabolic condition. When the alimentary tract cannot be used effectively for feeding cancer patients, parenteral nutrition can be lifesaving. Moreover, patients who are poor candidates or noncandidates for any antineoplastic therapy because of their debility or cachexia can be converted to reasonable candidates following a course of i.v. hyperalimentation. This i.v. hyperalimentation can significantly reduce the morbidity and mortality of cancer patients without stimulating tumor growth when applied conscientiously according to the established principles and techniques and when integrated with specific tumor therapy. With the use of ambulatory or home hyperalimentation techniques, normal nutritional status can be restored or maintained during prolonged periods of antineoplastic therapy on a practical and relatively economical outpatient basis. It is anticipated that specific nutrient substrate formulas and parenteral therapy techniques will be developed to maintain optimal host nutrition while adversely affecting the neoplasm.

Adult

Hyperalimentation in infants.

Experiences gained in 150 newborns and infants receiving a complete parenteral nutrition are summarized. An infusion pattern for the complete parenteral nutrition of newborns is presented. Technical questions of parenteral nutrition are discussed. Finally the treatment of 2 newborns with inborn errors of the gastrointestinal tract is reported.

Abdominal Muscles

Intravenous hyperalimentation in patients with head and neck cancer.

Intravenous hyperalimentation was utilized to support nutritionally 23 malnourished patients with major head and neck tumors during surgical treatment, radiotherapy, or the convalescent period. Fifteen patients were treated during the perioperative period and 12 survived. Six patients received convalescent nutritional support successfully 4 to 24 months following operation or radiation treatment. Two patients received treatment with hyperalimentation throughout a protracted course of radiation therapy. Weight gain, wound healing, and recovery were achieved in all but 3 patients. Subclavian vein thrombosis occurred in 1 patient, and catheter-related sepsis occurred in 2 patients. Otherwise, hyperalimentation was safe and efficacious in the debilitated patients. These patients may now become acceptable risks for surgical treatment or radiation therapy by nutritional repletion with intravenous hyperalimentation.

Body Weight

Intravenous hyperalimentation as an adjunct to cancer chemotherapy.

A 36 per cent response rate was obtained in fifty-eight nutritionally depleted patients with cancer who would otherwise have been denied adequate antitumor therapy because of the fear of complications from malnutrition and inanition. A positive correlation between the nutritional status of the patient and the chemotherapeutic tumor response was identified. Intravenous hyperalimentation can be a valuable adjunct to cancer chemotherapy by improving the nutritional status, increasing the total deliverable dose of anticancer agent per unit of time, and reducing the incidence and severity of the toxic gastrointestinal side effects without adversely stimulating malignant cell growth or producing septic complications.

Adenocarcinoma

Concomitant placement of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and jejunostomy.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomies have gained wide use for long-term enteral nutrition. However, gastroesophageal reflux and aspiration pneumonia have occurred following this procedure. Initial enthusiasm concerning the ability of intrajejunal feeding to negate the risk of aspiration has been challenged by some reports. In this report, a new method is described for concomitant placement of endoscopic gastrostomy and feeding jejunostomy wherein the tip of the feeding jejunostomy is placed at least 40 cm distal to the pylorus while the gastrostomy tube is used for drainage. Twenty critically ill patients underwent the procedure utilizing general or local anesthesia. Sixty-day follow-up showed one uneventful episode of pulmonary aspiration (5%) after retrograde migration of the jejunal tube into the duodenum. All but two patients (90%) tolerated their tube feedings well. This technique can be easily performed with accurate placement of the PEJ tube distal to the pylorus and is associated with minimal risk of aspiration.

Adolescent

Status evaluation: endoscopic ultrasonography. American Society for Gastroenterology Endoscopy. Technology Assessment Committee.

Endoscopic ultrasound is a new technology that improves the local staging of esophageal, gastric, and rectal carcinomas. In addition, EUS may provide useful information which will affect management in individual patients with subepithelial masses (e.g., varices, leiomyomas) and pancreatic diseases. Other imaging studies such as transcutaneous ultrasonography and CT are still necessary to detect distant metastatic disease. At present, EUS may be best reserved for use by individuals who have sufficient patient materials to provide broad experience with the technique. Physicians at centers where large numbers of patients with gastrointestinal cancer are evaluated may find this technology most useful. Even in patients with malignancy, however, studies are needed to show that the improved local staging by EUS will translate into changes in patient management and improved outcome.

Digestive System

Status evaluation: hot biopsy forceps. American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Technology Assessment Committee.

Monopolar hot biopsy forceps were developed for simultaneous tissue biopsy and electrocoagulation. Many endoscopists used these forceps for coagulation of diminutive polyps of the colon. The rationale for diminutive polyp eradication is to destroy neoplastic tissue and possibly prevent colon cancer. However, convincing data to document a reduction in the incidence of colorectal cancer or even complete obliteration of all treated diminutive polyps with hot biopsy forceps are lacking. Complications of hot biopsy include hemorrhage, perforation, and post-coagulation syndrome. Tissue injury is deeper with monopolar hot biopsy forceps than bipolar forceps. The right colon is particularly susceptible to transmural injury and perforation. For small polyp obliteration, comparative studies of hot biopsy (monopolar and bipolar) with other techniques such as cold biopsy combined with thermal probes, large cup cold biopsy removal, and snare electrocoagulation are warranted. The necessity to biopsy typical appearing angiomata does not seem warranted on a routine clinical basis. The expected obliteration rates of small angiomata or rates of controlling lower gastrointestinal bleeding from colon angiomata after monopolar hot biopsy electrocoagulation have not been well documented. Heater probe or bipolar electrocoagulation have been safely and effectively applied to bleeding colon angiomata. These newer coagulation probes are recommended as an alternative to hot biopsy forceps for treatment of bleeding colonic angiomata.

Biopsy