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E A Wanek

Publications and source records attributed to E A Wanek.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Portal venous velocity in biliary atresia.

From December 1986 to April 1989, 38 patients with biliary atresia (eight newly diagnosed) were evaluated with doppler ultrasound of the portal venous system. Peak and mean velocities were computer derived from the spectral waveform. Good velocity was greater than 15 cm/s, intermediate velocity was 8 to 14 cm/s, abnormal velocity was less than 7 cm/s or hepatofugal. Patients were grouped according to clinical status: group 1 (n = 14), normal liver function; group 2 (n = 15), recurrent cholangitis; group 3 (n = 2), established bile drainage but complicated cirrhosis; group 4 (n = 7), failed portoenterostomy. All patients with normal liver function (group 1) had good or intermediate velocities. Thirteen of 15 patients with recurrent cholangitis (group 2) had good or intermediate velocities. Both patients in this group with abnormal velocities required transplantation. In group 3 the patient with abnormal velocity is on the transplant waiting list. In group 4, abnormal velocities preceded or coincided with deterioration of liver function in five of seven patients. Doppler ultrasound provides useful anatomic information, determines direction of flow, quantitates velocity of flow, and, when performed serially, provides adjunctive information on liver status in children with biliary atresia. These preliminary results suggest that patients with abnormal or significantly decreasing velocity are destined for transplantation. Patients with good portal venous velocity warrant ongoing, aggressive surgical management.

Adolescent↗

The surgery of biliary atresia.

One hundred thirty-one consecutive infants with biliary atresia were operated on during the 15-year period between 1973 and 1988. Six patients did not have biliary reconstruction because of advanced cirrhosis or transplant preference. The other 125 infants had excision of all nonpatent extrahepatic bile ducts; biliary drainage was provided by a gallbladder-common bile duct conduit in 14 patients and by a Roux-en-Y portoenterostomy in 111 infants (including the seven patients with correctable biliary atresia). The bilioenteric conduit was temporarily exteriorized and, for the past 2 years, a conduit intussusception valve was incorporated. Immediate postsurgical bile drainage was achieved in 103 infants (82%). Reoperation during the first 6 postoperative weeks restored bile flow in 14 of 18 infants who had shut down. Seventy-two patients (57%) had sustained (more than 1 year) relief of biliary obstruction. Postoperative morbidity was substantial. The six children not having corrective surgery died within 19 months. Three patients were lost to follow-up. Sixty-eight patients having Kasai's operation died, 55 from complications of liver disease, 1 from a coexisting malformation, and 12 after liver transplantation. Fifty-seven patients are alive, 13 by virtue of liver replacement, 9 with mild-to-moderate hepatic sequelae, and 35 (28%) with normal to near-normal liver function. Although none is considered "cured," the 35 children are anicteric, have normal growth and development, and participate in full school activities (including contact sports). Average follow-up is 85.8 months (range 1 to 15 years).

Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y↗

Biliary atresia.

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Biliary Atresia↗

Infected femoral artery false aneurysms in drug addicts: evolution of selective vascular reconstruction.

Fifty-four infected femoral artery false aneurysms resulting from chronic drug addiction were managed surgically with an 11% amputation rate and no mortality. Angiography localized the arterial segment involved, which in turn influenced the type of operation performed. Twenty-six aneurysms of anatomically isolated femoral artery segments were ligated and excised without resultant amputation. However, of the 28 aneurysms involving the common femoral bifurcation, 18 required triple ligation and excision that led to six amputations. Six of the 28 aneurysms were reconstructed with autogenous saphenous vein grafts, three by prosthetic grafts, and one by primary anastomosis. No amputations followed vascular reconstruction. However, all synthetic grafts eventually developed septic complications that required graft removal. On the basis of this experience we recommend ligation and excision for single artery segment aneurysms and immediate autogenous reconstruction for selected common femoral bifurcation lesions. This approach has proved safe and has reduced our amputation and graft complication rates. Extensive uncontrollable wound sepsis may contraindicate revascularization. Under these circumstances we estimate a 33% risk of amputation when the common femoral bifurcation is excised.

Adult↗