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F Froehlich

Publications and source records attributed to F Froehlich.

65 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Practice and complications of liver biopsy. Results of a nationwide survey in Switzerland.

Studies on the complication rate of liver biopsy have hitherto been conducted in referral hospital centers. They are therefore not representative for general practice where liver biopsy is performed by specialists and nonspecialists. In a postal nationwide survey, we approached all gastroenterologists and hospital internists to assess the complication rate and practice (setting, needle type, use of ultrasonography) of percutaneous liver biopsy performed in 1989 in Switzerland for diffuse liver disease. Two hundred eighty questionnaires were mailed and 252 were returned (response rate 90.0%) 165 respondents (65.5%) performed 3501 biopsies while 87 respondents (34.5%) did not practice liver biopsy; 67.7% of biopsies were executed blindly and 32.3% were guided. Eight nonfatal and three fatal complications occurred. Hemorrhage was the most frequent complication (five cases) and was responsible for all three fatal outcomes. The overall complication rate was 0.31%, being distinctly lower in the group of gastroenterologists (0.11%) as compared to the group of internists (0.55%; P = 0.031). The complication rate was 1.68% in the group of internists performing fewer than 12 biopsies per year, while there was no complication in the group of internists performing more than 50 biopsies per year (P = 0.036). Complications were not related to the needle diameter or to the absence of ultrasonography before biopsy. In conclusion, this representative survey in Switzerland shows that the complication rate of liver biopsy is mainly related to the experience and training of the operator.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1992

[Value of monitoring in endoscopic studies].

Gastrointestinal endoscopy is frequently associated with a fall in oxygen saturation and ECG abnormalities. Nevertheless, clinically relevant complications are rare (0.03-0.54%). To date, there is no evidence that electronic monitoring of oxygen saturation or ECG reduces the complication rate of endoscopic procedures, and therefore the routine use of these does not seem justified. However, in high risk patients we recommend prophylactic administration of oxygen (2-4 l/min), if possible combined with pulse oximetry.

Electrocardiography↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Palatability of a new solution compared with standard polyethylene glycol solution for gastrointestinal lavage.

The salty unpleasant taste of the standard polyethylene glycol electrolyte lavage solution constitutes a major drawback, which limits patient compliance. Recently, a new low-sodium cleansing solution was described and introduced as a major advance, allegedly providing a distinctly better taste and improving compliance. We compared the taste of both solutions, seeking a possible preference applying a double-blind randomized design. Twenty-eight healthy volunteers tasted one of the two solutions without a direct comparison. Both solutions were found to have a similar palatability and an equal salty taste. A different group of 50 volunteers compared the two solutions. Twenty-one preferred the standard solution, 25 preferred the new solution (not significant), and 4 subjects had no preference. Among the subjects basing their preference on the saltiness of the solutions, 18 estimated the standard solution to taste more salty than the new low sodium solution, while 18 volunteers found the new solution to taste more salty than the standard solution. This study does not confirm a taste preference for the new low-salt polyethylene glycol electrolyte lavage solution as compared with the standard solution for colonic cleansing. The difference in the salt concentrations of the two solutions could not regularly be distinguished by a group of healthy volunteers.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Low sodium solution for colonic cleansing: a double-blind, controlled, randomized prospective study.

The standard polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution for colonic cleansing has a salty unpleasant taste resulting in limited patient acceptance. Introduced as a major advance allegedly providing a distinctly better taste, a new low sodium cleansing solution was recently described. In a double-blind controlled fashion, 66 colonoscopy outpatients were interviewed about general palatability and tolerance of the solution they had ingested for the preparation of endoscopy. Preparation quality was assessed endoscopically. Similar results were obtained for both solutions concerning palatability, tolerance, and cleansing quality. Furthermore, a small quantity of both solutions was tasted and directly compared for taste qualities before endoscopy. Fifty-one and one-half percent of patients preferred the new solution and 48.5% preferred the standard solution or had no preference (not significant). Of the patients, 39.2% were unable to differentiate between the more and the less salty solution. Moreover, 39.6% of patients preferred the solution they judged more salty. We conclude that the new low sodium lavage solution is not superior to the standard solution regarding patient acceptance, compliance, and cleansing quality. Thus, the reduction of salt concentration does not appear to be the appropriate approach to improve patients compliance with colonic cleansing solutions.

Colonoscopy↗