Biomedical subjects

E Helms

Publications and source records attributed to E Helms.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

Can the Platelet Function Analyzer (PFA)-100 test substitute for the template bleeding time in routine clinical practice?

The bleeding time (BT) is widely used in clinical medicine as a screening test of platelet function, although its deficiencies in such a role are well recognized. The Platelet Function Analyzer (PFA)-100 measures the ability of platelets activated in a high-shear environment to occlude an aperture in a membrane treated with collagen and epinephrine (CEPI) or collagen and ADP (CADP). The time taken for flow across the membrane to stop (closure time) is recorded. This study compared the PFA-100 with the BT as a screening test of platelet dysfunction in 113 hospital inpatients. The PFA-100 test was performed initially using the CEPI cartridge; CADP tests were performed on those with abnormal (> 163 s) CEPI closure times. Whole blood platelet aggregation studies and chart review were performed on patients in whom the BT and PFA-100 results did not agree.Abnormal bleeding times and PFA-100 results were obtained in 20.4% and 35.4% of patients, respectively. The results of BT and PFA-100 agreed in 74.3% of patients. Of the 29 patients in whom the BT and PFA-100 results were discordant, whole blood platelet aggregation studies supported the PFA-100 result in 25 (86.2%). The PFA-100 was more sensitive to aspirin-induced platelet dysfunction and was more rapidly and cheaply performed than the BT. Since the PFA-100 test reflects platelet function better than the BT, we conclude that this test could replace the BT as a first-line screening test for platelet dysfunction in clinical practice.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1996

Are postoperative activity restrictions necessary after posterior lumbar discectomy? A prospective study of outcomes in 50 consecutive cases.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective clinical trial was conducted. OBJECTIVES: To determine if removing activity restrictions after surgery and encouraging early return to work would affect clinical outcomes after lumbar discectomy. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Current practice usually recommends several weeks to months of restricted activities after lumbar discectomy. No formal studies have been done to determine the optimal period of restriction, if any, after surgery. METHODS: Fifty consecutive patients undergoing limited open discectomy for herniated lumbar intervertebral disc were prospectively treated with no restrictions at all after surgery and were urged to return to full activities as soon as possible. The patients were followed for a minimum of 2 years. At follow-up evaluation, an independent examiner evaluated each patient. RESULTS: The mean time from surgery to return to work was 1,7 weeks. Eleven of 44 (25%) patients returned to work on the next work day. Ninety-seven percent of patients who were working before surgery returned to their previous work. Forty-three of 44 (97%) patients had returned to full duty by 8 weeks after surgery. At follow-up evaluation (3.8 years), five patients had changed work; three patients increased their work level, and two decreased their work level. No patient changed employment because of back or leg pain. There were three reherniations at the operative level (6%), all occurring more than 1 year after surgery. One patient required reoperation. Back and leg pain scores at follow-up evaluation were very low. CONCLUSION: Lifting of postoperative restrictions after limited discectomy allowed shortened sick leave without increased complications. Postoperative precautions in these patients may not be necessary.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

[Aortic dissection and pregnancy. Apropos of a case].

Aortic dissection is a serious disease which rarely affects young women. In this context, it occurs in nearly one out of two cases during pregnancy, usually during the third term. The authors report acute dissection of the ascending aorta (de Bakey type 2) during pregnancy for which rapid cardiothoracic surgical management as a semi-emergency resulted in a favourable outcome for mother and child.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Determinants of family care giver reaction. New and recurrent cancer.

PURPOSE: The authors examined the interaction of patient and care giver variables and identified whether changes in new and recurrent patients' levels of symptoms, functioning, and depression were related to changes in care givers' reactions to providing care. DESCRIPTION OF STUDY: During a 6-month observation period, the psychosocial status and burden of a matched sample of patients with either new or recurrent cancer and their family care givers were assessed and compared. RESULTS: Care givers of patients with recurrent disease experienced a marginally significantly different impact on depression over time. The type of disease (new or recurrent) did not impact care givers reactions to the care they were providing for patients. Instead, patients' symptoms and symptom experience incurred a greater impact on care giver depression. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The impact of cancer on patients and family care givers must be evaluated carefully and thoroughly, regardless of whether the diagnosis is new or recurrent. Patients' symptoms and symptom experience, mobility, and dependencies in instrumental activities of daily living are primary influences in creating emotional burden and depression in the family care giver of the patient diagnosed with new and with recurrent cancer.

Activities of Daily Living↗