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Biomedical subjects

D K Brief

Publications and source records attributed to D K Brief.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Luteinizing hormone receptor expression in leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata.

BACKGROUND: Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata has been attributed to estrogen stimulation and is seen only rarely in postmenopausal women. In such cases, pathogenesis is uncertain. CASE: Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata tumors were resected from a postmenopausal woman. She was receiving tamoxifen therapy for breast cancer and had bilateral ovarian Brenner tumors. Estrogen and progesterone receptors were detected. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that LH receptors were present. CONCLUSION: Luteinizing hormone receptors were identified in leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata in one woman. Levels of FSH and LH increase after menopause, and immunohistochemical analysis showed the presence of LH receptors, so gonadotropin rather than estrogen stimulation might have contributed to development of leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata in this uncommon case.

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal↗

Chondrosarcoma of the aorta: a rare source of bowel and lower extremity emboli.

Malignant aortic tumors occur infrequently. At least 70 cases of primary aortic malignancies have been reported in the literature. Within this group, chondrosarcoma is exceedingly rare, with only 1 case having been reported. An aortic chondrosarcoma developed in our patient and embolized to the small bowel and lower extremities. Although initially thought to arise from the abdominal aorta, this tumor, in fact, originated from the thoracic aorta. This case illustrates the need for complete aortic imaging when unexplained recurrent embolization occurs. In general, the survival rates with chondrosarcoma are diminished, but this patient survived 69 months after he was initially seen.

Aged↗

Breast cancer after radiation exposure in childhood.

Reports in the literature link radiation in childhood to some form of breast cancer in later life. The authors present a report on the carcinogenic effects of chemotherapy and radiation on the pubescent breast of a 12-year-old female treated for Wilms' tumor of the left kidney.

Adult↗

Treatment of upper airway obstruction associated with goiter.

The authors examined the resolution of spirometric indices of upper airway obstruction (UAO) following surgical treatment for goiter. The results of a recent study suggest that the integrity of the upper airway remains intact but prolonged recovery is required.

Adult↗

Defining the role of subtotal colectomy in the treatment of carcinoma of the colon.

Seventy-two patients with colon cancer were treated by primary subtotal colectomy, including 23 patients with acute and subacute left colon obstruction. There were two operative deaths and no cases of disabling diarrhea. One death occurred in the group with colon obstruction. Other indications for subtotal colectomy included multiple polyps associated with the primary tumor (32), synchronous carcinomas (15), a previous transverse colostomy for obstruction (8), associated severe sigmoid diverticular disease (2), age less than 50 years with a positive family history (3), adherence of the sigmoid loop to a cecal tumor (2), and metachronous carcinoma (2). There were multiple indications in several patients. Subtotal colectomy has a defined role in a wide variety of clinical settings associated with colon cancer, including management of obstruction of the left and sigmoid colon, particularly if the proximal colon cannot be evaluated before operation by colonoscopy or barium enema. Segmental or regional colonic resections are appropriate if the entire colon can be evaluated before operation and no associated neoplasms are revealed.

Adult↗

Treatment of acute vascular occlusions with intra-arterial urokinase.

This study reviewed 57 patients with 71 vascular occlusions treated with urokinase from 1985 to 1988. Of these patients, 89% were candidates for urgent surgery. Total clot lysis was achieved in 73% of cases. The success rate rose with increasing experience (p less than 0.05), and recent occlusions had more favorable outcomes than older ones (p less than 0.05). The length and type of occluded conduit (graft or vessel), age, sex, other medical conditions, and concurrent use of heparin had no influence on success. Of 18 cases successfully lysed and not subjected to any adjunctive therapy directed at the cause of occlusion, 9 (50%) reoccluded within 1 to 88 days (mean: 25 days). Cases successfully treated with thrombolysis and surgery or dilation of the causative stenosis had poor 1-year patencies: 17%, 20%, and 55% for vein grafts, prosthetic grafts, and native arteries, respectively. With additional urokinase treatments, surgical operations, and percutaneous procedures, 1-year patencies were 22%, 45%, and 65%, respectively.

Acute Disease↗

Femorofemoral grafts for lower limb ischemia caused by intra-aortic balloon pump.

From January 1975 to December 1985, 1454 patients had an intra-aortic balloon inserted for cardiac assistance. Eighty balloon-dependent patients had severe limb ischemia and required a femorofemoral graft (FFG) (5% of the total group of patients). Twenty-nine of the 80 patients with grafts (or 36%) left the hospital and 28 were followed up for an average of 40 months to determine late complications associated with the crossover grafts. All grafts remained patent. The 28 patients were classified into five groups according to the degree and type of lower limb ischemia. Group I consisted of 13 asymptomatic patients (46%); group II had four (14%) patients with mild claudication caused by preexisting peripheral arteriosclerosis; group III comprised four patients (14%) without preexisting disease but claudication subsequent to the FFG; group IV had five patients with irreversible ischemic sequelae before grafting ending in amputation, foot drop, or persistent paresthesia; and group V consisted of two patients with graft infection (7%). The perioperative mortality rate of the balloon-dependent patients with an FFG (64%) reflects the gravity of the cardiac condition. Placement of an FFG to relieve limb ischemia in these patients is followed by few immediate or late complications in the survivors and any persistent limb changes were related to the prolonged ischemia present before revascularization. Our data suggest that in balloon-dependent patients with limb-threatening ischemia, aggressive use of the FFG is limb-saving, durable, and allows continuation of balloon support.

Adult↗

The risk of stroke in patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis undergoing cardiac surgery: a follow-up study.

During a 7-year period, 4047 patients underwent a battery of noninvasive carotid tests before cardiac surgery. Two thirds of the patients with abnormal studies underwent carotid angiography. One hundred fifty-three patients (3.8%) had significant carotid disease, narrowing the luminal diameter by greater than 50%. The incidence of transient ischemic attack or cerebrovascular accident following cardiac surgery was 1.9% in those patients with no carotid disease and 9.2% in those patients with carotid lesions. The incidence of transient ischemic attack or cerebrovascular accident in 32 patients with inoperable (occluded) carotid vessels was 15.6% and in 121 patients with operable (stenotic) lesions was 7.4%. In the group of patients with stenosis, 57 patients underwent carotid operation with an 8.8% incidence of neurologic deficit. During the last 1 1/2 years, no patient with asymptomatic carotid stenosis underwent simultaneous carotid and coronary surgery. Four of 64 patients with combined lesions but no carotid surgery (6.3%) had a neurologic deficit, one of which was severe and permanent. The highest incidence of neurologic dysfunction occurred in patients with unilateral occlusions and contralateral stenosis. Four of 12 patients in this group had a deficit (three of seven patients underwent operation; one of five did not), one of which was permanent. The operative mortality rate after cardiac surgery was three times higher in patients with carotid disease than in those patients with normal carotid arteries. Combined carotid and coronary surgery is currently reserved for patients with neurologic symptoms and severe cardiac disease.

Angiography↗

A four-year experience with preoperative noninvasive carotid evaluation of two thousand twenty-six patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

From January 1979 through December 1982, 2026 patients scheduled to undergo open heart surgery were evaluated by a preoperative battery of noninvasive carotid tests including phonoangiography, oculopneumoplethysmography, pulse-timing oculoplethysmography, periorbital Doppler examination, and during the last 12 months, continuous-wave Doppler ultrasonography with spectral analysis. The incidence of hemispheric neurologic deficit following cardiac surgery in the 47 patients with carotid disease was 14.9%; the incidence in patients with no carotid disease was 1.9% (p less than 0.001). Fourteen of the 47 patients were not candidates for carotid surgery because of unilateral occlusion in 13 and bilateral occlusion in one. Three of the 14 (21.4%) had intraoperative strokes on the appropriate side. Thirty-three of the 47 had operable carotid disease. Four with unilateral stenosis had no carotid surgery; one had a postoperative deficit on the side referable to the nonstenotic artery. Eighteen with unilateral stenosis underwent simultaneous cardiac and carotid surgery; one (5.6%) had a transient deficit. Seven patients with bilateral stenosis underwent cardiac and unilateral carotid surgery; no deficits occurred. Four patients with unilateral stenosis and contralateral occlusion underwent combined surgery; one had a transient ischemic attack and one a fatal stroke, both referable to the hemisphere ipsilateral to the occlusion. It appears that the presence of carotid disease increased the risk of stroke during heart surgery. Proof that carotid endarterectomy lowers this risk awaits a prospective randomized trial.

Angiography↗

Carotid endarterectomy and completion contact arteriography.

Intraoperative angiography in carotid extracranial surgery demonstrates technical defects in 5% to 8% of patients. A simple and safe method of completion contact angiography (CCA) has been perfected by adapting dental x-ray equipment, small dental film cassettes, and a "shoe box" type of developing unit. The method is not technician dependent, requires only 5 ml of contrast medium, has a completion time of less than 5 minutes, and produces no measurable radiation to the operating team. CCA was performed with no complications in 40 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. Two unsuspected internal carotid artery defects (5%) were discovered: in one a stenosis was immediately repaired, and in the other small thrombi that were seen but not removed were probably the cause of a postoperative transient ischemic attack. Two complete occlusions and one prominent intimal flap in the external carotid artery were also identified. We believe that CCA after carotid surgery should be used routinely because it is safe and simple and reveals unsuspected operative defects that can be corrected immediately.

Angiography↗

Current attitudes in the management of thyroid cancer.

The opportunity to assess the current attitudes of surgeons in the management of thyroid cancer was afforded by the responses to a questionnaire that was part of a "Questionnaire Course." The majority of the 72 respondents have a conservative surgical approach to thyroid cancer, find frozen section useful, recommend total thyroidectomy for medullary cancer, seldom or never split the sternum in performing thyroidectomy, and recommend visualization of the recurrent laryngeal nerves and the parathyroids. Opinions however, are divided on several other issues. Forty-two per cent (versus 34%) request ultrasound before removal of a "cold nodule." For follicular carcinoma, 44 per cent perform lobectomy with isthmustectomy, 29 per cent perform total ipsilateral lobectomy and subtotal contralateral lobectomy, and 23 per cent perform total thyroidectomy. Following lobectomy for follicular carcinoma, recommended treatments are radioactive iodine (25%), thyroid suppression (21%), and total thyroidectomy (48%). For anaplastic cancer, 44 per cent perform total thyroidectomy and 40 per cent perform radiation therapy. Histologically positive nodes are managed by modified radical neck dissection (61%) or by "berry picking" (23%). It is concluded that despite agreement on several therapeutic approaches for thyroid cancer, certain controversial issues remain unresolved.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

An argument for increased use of subtotal colectomy in the management of carcinoma of the colon.

Subtotal colectomy (STC) is a safe operation because operative mortality rates are as good as, if not better than, conventional segmental colon resections. It is no more difficult to perform than conventional segmental resections. Suture line complications, such as fecal fistulas and suture line recurrences, are not as common before as they are after colocolic anastomoses. In addition to being used in cases with known synchronous carcinomas, and carcinoma associated with polyps, STC should be considered in selected patients with obstructing or partially obstructing lesions of the sigmoid or left colon when complete evaluation of the proximal colon has not been possible. STC can be combined with a preliminary transverse colostomy for obstructing left colon lesions when appropriate evaluation demonstrates suitable indications for the resection of the colostomy as a one-stage procedure with ileocolic anastomosis. It also should be considered if there is significant distal sigmoidal diverticular disease associated with proximal carcinomas. Statistically, STC does not appear to be indicated as a prophylactic operation to avoid the development of metachronous colon cancer when the entire colon can be surveyed colonoscopically to assure that there is no associated neoplasm.

Adult↗

Infected aneurysms of the abdominal aorta.

Infected aneurysms of the abdominal aorta are relatively uncommon, but potentially lethal if improperly managed. Two case reports emphasize the importance of the preoperative aortogram for accurate diagnosis. We stress the principles of total excision of infected tissue and revascularization in uninfected tissue planes. A useful vascular reconstructive technique consisting of unilateral axillofemoral bypass and an ilioiliac anastomosis was used in both patients.

Aged↗

A 12-year experience with femorofemoral crossover grafts.

One hundred thirty-three patients with unilateral iliac artery obstruction were treated with crossover femorofemoral grafts and followed up for one to 12 years. Cumulative patency was 73.3% at five years and 63.6% at ten years. There were 17 early closures with ten unsuccessful revisions and 22 late failures between three and 122 months. Inability to establish adequate runoff was the primary cause of early failure, and the progression of distal disease was the major cause of late failures. In only five cases did progressive disease of the donor artery cause failure of the graft. Operative morbidity and mortality were low (6%), and the results compare favorably with alternative methods of treating unilateral iliac artery occlusions.

Adult↗