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Biomedical subjects

E Shemesh

Publications and source records attributed to E Shemesh.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in differentiating pancreatic cancer coexisting with chronic pancreatitis.

The pancreatographic appearance and the clinical presentation of ten patients presenting with adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas coexisting with chronic pancreatitis were compared with those of 45 patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP), without malignancy, investigated at the same time period. All ten patients, had typical pancreatographic findings of CP, combined with an elongated narrowing of the duct of Wirsung. Marked localized irregularity of the adjacent main duct and of side branches were found in all ten patients. Such findings were not detected in the other 45 patients with CP only. Ultrasonography or computed tomography have detected a definite pancreatic mass in only five of these patients, and in six patients with CP without malignancy. It is concluded that endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is highly accurate in detecting pancreatic cancer coexisting with CP. It is primarily helpful in elderly patients having severe degrees of CP to rule out cancer.

Aged↗

Invasive colorectal adenomas: surgery versus colonoscopic polypectomy.

Of 6,426 colonoscopies performed in 1978-1987, 66 invasive colorectal adenomatous polyps were removed in 58 examinations. The study group included 36 (62%) men and 22 (38%) women with an age range of 42-96 years. Forty-three patients had invasive pedunculated polyps and 15 had invasive sessile polyps. Following the colonoscopic polypectomy, secondary surgical resection was done in 19 patients with pedunculated polyps and in 13 patients with sessile polyps. The operative specimens showed that the colonoscopic polypectomy removed the entire cancerous focus in all patients with pedunculated polyps, including those with stalk invasion. In contrast, most cases with sessile polyps turned out on operation to be Dukes' B or C carcinoma. Follow-up (mean 4.4 years) was available for 53 (93%) patients: none of 24 unoperated patients with pedunculated polyps suffered from local recurrence. We conclude that colonoscopic polypectomy is sufficient for invasive pedunculated polyps, provided that histology shows that the resection margins are free of tumoral cells. Surgery is recommended for all invasive sessile polyps.

Adult↗

A comparison between emergency and delayed endoscopic injection sclerotherapy of bleeding esophageal varices in nonalcoholic portal hypertension.

To study whether or not emergency sclerotherapy was more effective than a program of stabilization and elective sclerosis, we studied 84 patients with bleeding esophageal varices. They underwent 332 sessions of endoscopic injection sclerotherapy, 134 of which were performed for acute variceal bleeding. Most patients (90.5%) had nonalcoholic portal hypertension. Emergency sclerotherapy (1-6 h after presentation) was performed in 65 bleeding episodes in 43 patients, and delayed sclerotherapy (more than 24 h from presentation) was performed in 69 episodes in 41 patients. The selection of patients was randomized. Emergency sclerotherapy arrested active variceal bleeding in all patients and resulted in an earlier eradication of varices and for a longer period than delayed sclerotherapy. Larger volumes of sclerosant (a mean of 26 ml compared to 13 ml) were more effective in arrest of bleeding and in an early eradication of varices. We conclude that emergency sclerotherapy, mainly with a large sclerosant volume, is highly effective in arresting active variceal bleeding. Such earlier arrest of bleeding was associated with reduced morbidity and mortality.

Adolescent↗

Early endoscopic sphincterotomy in the management of acute gallstone pancreatitis in elderly patients.

Eighteen elderly patients with acute attacks of gallstone pancreatitis underwent early endoscopic sphincterotomy of the papilla of Vater. Eleven patients were considered to be at high risk for surgery due to chronic cardiorespiratory or renal problems. The outcome of these patients was compared with that of 20 consecutive elderly patients with gallstone pancreatitis treated at the same time by means other than endoscopic sphincterotomy. Endoscopic sphincterotomy resulted in an immediate clinical improvement in all patients, except in one patient who developed transient cholangitis; there was no mortality. In contrast, there was one death (5%) and 20% morbidity in the controls. Mean hospitalization period was shorter in patients undergoing sphincterotomy (6 compared with 9.5 days), although the patients managed by sphincterotomy were initially more seriously ill than controls. Only two of the 11 high-risk patients underwent elective cholecystectomy; all others were well during a mean follow-up of 22 months. It is concluded that early endoscopic sphincterotomy is highly effective and safe in acute attacks of gallstone pancreatitis in elderly high-risk patients.

Acute Disease↗

Endoscopic sphincterotomy in patients with gallbladder in situ: the influence of periampullary duodenal diverticula.

Forty-four elderly patients (mean age, 77.2 years; range, 65 to 95) with acute bile duct obstruction, with gallbladder in situ, underwent endoscopic sphincterotomy without subsequent cholecystectomy during the same hospitalization. Thirty patients had periampullary duodenal diverticula, and 14 had no diverticula. Because periampullary diverticula were associated with biliary and pancreatic complications, possibly as a result of stasis in the diverticula, the clinical course in patients with and without diverticula was compared. Endoscopic sphincterotomy was well tolerated and resulted in a rapid clinical improvement in all patients. There were four complications related to the procedure (pancreatitis, two, and cholangitis, two), all were treated conservatively, and there were no deaths. The clinical outcome was similar in both groups of patients. During a mean follow-up of 25 months (range, 6 to 58), only two patients (one of each group) underwent elective cholecystectomy 2 and 3 months after initial presentation. It is concluded that endoscopic sphincterotomy is a safe and effective alternative to surgery as an initial treatment in elderly patients with choledocholithiasis and gallbladder in situ. Periampullary duodenal diverticulum does not interfere with the favorable results of endoscopic sphincterotomy in patients with gallbladder in situ.

Aged↗

The feasibility of in vivo resection of the left lobe of the liver and its use for transplantation.

The anatomical possibility of resecting the left lobe of the liver (segments II and III) in living subjects and using it for transplantation was evaluated. A group of 60 cadaveric livers were dissected at autopsy. The vascular and biliary elements of the left lobe were isolated and the lobe was resected and evaluated for possible grafting. The left lobe was 12-28% (mean 19.4%) of the liver mass. An extrahepatic segment of the left hepatic vein was isolated in 95% of specimens. Arterial blood supply to the left lobe consisted of a single artery (92%) or two arteries (8%). A single portal vein segment to the left lobe (type I) was found in 35% livers. Portal vein branches originated from a common orifice (type II, 35%) or separately (type III, 30%) from the left portal vein, and in these instances, preparation of a portal segment necessitated partial section of the left portal vein wall. Biliary drainage was extrahepatic in 56 livers and consisted of a single duct (type I, 78%), or two ducts (type II, 15%). The resected left lobe was evaluated as satisfactory (single hepatic vein and artery, types I or II portal vein, type I bile duct) in 48% of cases, while a less-satisfactory lobe (type III portal vein or type II bile duct) was obtained in 33%. It was found anatomically difficult or impossible to resect the left lobe for possible transplantation in 11 (19%) liver specimens.

Adolescent↗

Isolated gallbladder rupture due to blunt abdominal trauma.

Traumatic injury to the extrahepatic biliary system is rare and usually diagnosed at laparotomy when it is associated with other visceral injuries. Isolated gallbladder rupture due to blunt abdominal trauma is even rarer. The clinical presentation of gallbladder injury is variable, resulting in a delay in diagnosis and treatment. Awareness to the possibility of trauma to the extrahepatic biliary system enables early surgical intervention and eliminates the high morbidity associated with delated diagnosis. A 5 year old child with isolated gallbladder rupture caused by blunt abdominal trauma is presented.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Is there an association between gastric polyps and colonic neoplasms?

The association between colonic neoplasms and gastric polyps (GP) was evaluated. Two hundred and sixty patients with known colonic neoplasms undergoing gastroduodenoscopy for abdominal symptoms, with or without anemia, were evaluated for the occurrence of synchronous GP. There were 100 patients with 1-4 colonic adenomas, 80 patients with multiple (5 or more) colonic adenomas and 80 patients with colorectal cancer. One hundred patients free from colonic neoplasms, investigated for abdominal pain or anemia, served as controls. The overall occurrence of GP in patients with colonic neoplasms was 18.8% compared to 1% in the control group. Hyperplastic GP were found in 4, 22.5, 18.7 and 1% of these patients, respectively, while gastric adenomas occurred in 2, 3.7, 3.5 and 0%, respectively. Patients with colorectal cancer or multiple colonic adenomas had significantly more GP than patients with 0-4 colonic adenomas. It is suggested that gastroduodenoscopic evaluation should be performed in patients with colorectal cancer or with 5 or more colonic adenomas.

Adenoma↗

Choledocholithiasis: a comparison between the clinical presentations of multiple and solitary stones in the common bile duct.

The clinical presentations of 20 patients with four or more choledochal stones were compared with those of 68 patients who had one to three choledochal stones, investigated during the same time period. All patients underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic sphincterotomy. Patients with multiple choledochal stones usually presented with insidious onset of painless jaundice, simulating malignant bile duct obstruction, in contrast to the abrupt onset of cholangitis or pain experienced by patients with one to three stones. The latter patients had an increased number of duodenal diverticula, higher bilirubins, smaller stones, and fewer positive stones as detected by ultrasound of the bile ducts. Cholesterol crystals were more numerous in duodenal aspirates of patients with multiple choledochal stones. We conclude that multiple choledochal stones have a unique, more smoldering clinical presentation, and that ERCP is the diagnostic procedure of choice. Endoscopic sphincterotomy is an efficient, simple, and safe alternative to surgery when there is no cholecystitis.

Adult↗

Endoscopic sphincterotomy and endoscopic fulguration in the management of adenoma of the papilla of Vater.

Adenoma of the papilla of Vater is a rare premalignant lesion usually treated by local surgical resection. Five patients with adenomas of the papilla, presenting with obstructive jaundice, underwent endoscopic sphincterotomy with reversal of hepatic biochemistry to normal. Thereafter, four patients underwent local surgical excision. The adenoma recurred in all four patients within six to 18 months after the operation. The recurrent adenomas were eradicated by diathermic fulguration through the endoscope and were not found during a 12 to 24 month follow-up period. Snare polypectomy was performed upon one patient (who refused surgical treatment) who had a flat, broad-based adenoma, with an incomplete resection of the adenoma. This patient had adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas develop 40 months later. We conclude that endoscopic sphincterotomy is effective for biliary decompression of adenoma of the papilla of Vater presenting with acute obstructive jaundice. Endoscopic snare polypectomy of the adenoma combined with fulguration may be used as an alternative to surgical treatment in high risk patients.

Adenoma↗

Effectiveness and absorption of rectal hydrocortisone acetate foam in nonspecific proctocolitis.

A 3-week open trial of rectal hydrocortisone acetate foam (Colifoam, Stafford Miller, UK) was conducted in 19 patients with active, nonspecific distal proctocolitis. Complete or near complete remission was observed in nine patients (47.4%). Absorption of hydrocortisone acetate from Colifoam was evaluated in 13 patients by measuring early morning serum cortisol before treatment and 12 and 36 h after the final dose. Normal cortisol values were observed in every instance, suggesting that the steroid component of Colifoam was not significantly absorbed. Colifoam seems to be an effective remedy for distal proctocolitis. Its specific advantages include ease of retention and apparent nonabsorption of the active component.

Administration, Rectal↗

Effects of autonomic denervation on canine exocrine pancreatic secretion and blood flow.

The effect of autonomic denervation on the exocrine pancreatic secretion and blood flow was studied in a group of dogs. Pancreatic secretion was collected and analyzed for volume and bicarbonate by direct cannulation of the main papilla through a duodenotomy prior to and following truncal vagotomy and celiac plexus denervation. Pancreatic blood flow was determined by the radioisotope distribution method (141Ce). Truncal vagotomy causes a reduction in pancreatic secretion of volume and bicarbonate by 25-30%, while celiac denervation caused a reduction of 70% in the secretion. The mean baseline pancreatic blood flow was 0.5 ml/g pancreas/min. Truncal vagotomy did not cause any significant flow changes, while celiac denervation caused a significant increase in blood flow of 350% (to 1.75 ml/g/min). These results suggest that both the parasympathetic and the sympathetic system affect pancreatic secretion independently of their effect upon pancreatic blood flow.

Animals↗

The role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the diagnosis and treatment of adult choledochal cyst.

Five patients with adult choledochal cyst were diagnosed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Four patients had type I and one patient had type III choledochal cyst with abnormal pancreaticobiliary duct anatomy. One patient had a tubular adenoma of the distal common bile duct. All patients were treated surgically (excision of cyst with biliary and enteric reconstruction in two patients; cystojejunostomy, two, and transduodenal sphincterotomy, one patient). The follow-up period ranged from two to nine years, with a mean of four years. One patient had recurrent cholangitis develop and was treated successfully by nasobiliary tube flushing. ERCP should be used when choledochal cyst is suspected by ultrasonography, aiming at demonstrating both biliary and pancreatic duct anatomy and enabling the planning of the surgical procedure. Nasobiliary tube flushing provides an alternative therapeutic modality in patients in whom surgical treatment is contraindicated.

Adolescent↗

The association of biliary and pancreatic anomalies with periampullary duodenal diverticula. Correlation with clinical presentations.

Fifty-eight symptomatic patients with periampullary duodenal diverticula (PDD) were examined for pancreatic and biliary anomalies using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), ultrasonography, and other imaging modalities. The pathologic findings in these patients were compared with those in a matched group of 58 patients without PDD, who were simultaneously undergoing a similar investigation for the same clinical presentations. Pathologic findings in the pancreas and/or biliary tree were detected in 70.7% of all patients with PDD, compared with 39.7% in the control group. In patients with PDD, pancreatobiliary anomalies were detected in all patients who presented with jaundice, 85% of patients with pancreatitis, and 27.8% of patients with abdominal pain, as compared with 60%, 40%, and 17%, respectively, in the control group. In 23 patients, ERCP findings demonstrated pancreatobiliary abnormalities that were not detected by other imaging modalities. Fifteen of the patients with PDD and pancreatobiliary anomalies had undergone cholecystectomy between six months and five years previously. We conclude that ERCP is essential in the investigation of all patients with PDD, especially those presenting with jaundice or pancreatitis. Biliary surgery in patients with PDD and a dilated bile duct should include a biliary drainage procedure to prevent recurrence of pancreatobiliary disease.

Aged↗