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Biomedical subjects

F N Obeid

Publications and source records attributed to F N Obeid.

48 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Bilharzial portal hypertension.

Schistosomiasis is a major world health problem that is being encountered more frequently in North America as the immigration patterns from endemic areas change. At Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, only two admissions for active schistosomiasis were recorded before 1970, but since then there have been 43 such cases. Of these 45 patients, six required seven portasystemic shunts, primarily to treat the complication of esophageal variceal hemorrhage, which is associated with portal hypertension secondary to presinusoidal hepatic fibrosis. No operative deaths occurred, and follow-up averaging 6.6 years revealed no late deaths and minimal encephalopathy. These excellent results are attributed to successful portal decompression and the well-preserved liver function that is typical of these patients. Bilharzial portal hypertension should be suspected in immigrants from endemic areas who have bleeding esophageal varices.

Africa↗
PubMed1983

Resuscitative thoracotomy for patients with traumatic injury.

The clinical course and final outcome were determined for 63 trauma victims who underwent resuscitative thoracotomy (RT) for hypovolemic cardiac arrest in the Department of Emergency Medicine during a 24-month period. The objectives of the study were to determine the efficacy of and indications for RT and to define the prognostic signs for survival. Of 63 patients, six were successfully resuscitated (9.5%), and five of these were discharged from the hospital (7.9%). The presence of pupillary reactions was an extremely reliable indicator of successful outcome (P = 0.0009), as was the presence of some respiratory effort (P = 0.025). None of the victims of blunt trauma (n = 6) or severe head injury (n = 13) survived. Three of 17 patients (17.6%) with stab wounds and two of 36 (5.6%) with gunshot wounds survived the procedure. RT was beneficial in 13.6% of patients who had isolated organ system injuries, but no patient with injuries to more than two organ systems survived. Victims of isolated penetrating thoracic trauma had an 11.8% survival rate, as opposed to a 0% survival rate for those with abdominal trauma. The best prognosis was in victims with penetrating cardiac injuries, who had a 22.7% survival rate. The cost of RT averaged $1660 per patient, exclusive of physician charges. In our experience, RT is most beneficial for victims of penetrating thoracic trauma, especially those with cardiac injuries. However, routine use of this high cost/low benefit procedure cannot be recommended for patients who have cardiac arrest secondary to blunt trauma or severe head injuries. Also, it is not recommended for patients whose pupillary reflexes and respiratory movements are absent.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Spectrum of myocardial contusion.

During a consecutive period of 26 months, 42 patients with blunt chest trauma were diagnosed as having a myocardial contusion on the basis of an abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) in 36 patients, elevated creatine phosphokinase (CPK) in 39 patients, and positive CPK-Muscle Brain (CPK-MB) isoenzyme in 33 patients. Using these screening modalities, the incidence of myocardial contusion in patients with blunt chest trauma increased from 7 per cent when viewed retrospectively to 17 per cent when viewed prospectively. Eight patients had cardiac index determinations only; of these, three were less than 2.9 1/min/M2. An additional 21 patients underwent a standard fluid challenge of 500 cc of 5 per cent plasmanate infused over 30 minutes allowing construction of a Starling Curve. Five patterns of ventricular function curves were observed. Six patients had biventricular dysfunction, six patients had isolated right ventricular dysfunction, three patients had isolated left ventricular dysfunction, three patients had an "unslope-peak-downslope" pattern, and three patients had normal ventricular function studies. Multiple gated acquisition (MUGA) scans were abnormal in ten patients and normal in 12 patients. Major morbidity and mortality due to myocardial contusion occurred in 17 per cent of the (7/42) patients; of these, three had biventricular dysfunction, one had left ventricular dysfunction, and two had a low cardiac index. This experience suggests that screening tests are sensitive in detecting myocardial contusion in blunt chest trauma, but are not predictive of major morbidity or mortality. Only direct hemodynamic measurement with construction of a Starling Curve was useful in determining the severity of the myocardial injury and identifying those patients at greatest risk.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Complications of attempted central venous injections performed by drug abusers.

Intravenous abuse of drugs has become an integral part of various subcultures within American communities. The continued use of peripheral veins in this setting eventually leads to their obliteration through a sclerotic or infectious process. Inveterate drug abusers often turn to using larger veins in the groin and neck. Some real or imagined technical aspects of subclavian and internal jugular venous injections are well known to drug abusers in many locales. Undoubtedly as these skills are passed from one user to another, the fine points of anatomy and needle positioning are distorted with resultant mishaps. Twelve patients have been seen with complications arising from attempted supra- or subclavicular injections of drugs in the "street" setting: unilateral pneumothorax, six cases; bilateral pneumothorax, one case; mycotic subclavian carotid artery aneurysm, two cases; neck abscesses, three cases (one also listed under pneumothorax); and paraplegia, one case. Since this type of injury may occur in greater frequency due to increasing drug abuse, recognition and proper treatment of these potentially life-threatening problems may prevent mortality and reduce morbidity.

Abscess↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Antibiotics for penetrating abdominal trauma: a prospective comparative trial of single agent cephalosporin therapy versus combination therapy.

In this prospective, comparative study, 129 patients who sustained penetrating abdominal trauma were randomized to receive preoperatively, and for 3-5 days postoperatively, one of three antibiotic regimens: Group I--cefotaxime (CTX) (2 Gm Q8H), Group II--cefoxitin (2 Gm Q6H), or Group III--clindamycin (900 mg Q8H) and gentamicin (3-5 mg/kg/day in divided doses Q8H). The three groups were similar in terms of the following: age, sex, severity of injury, number of organs injured, colon injuries, shock, blood transfusions, or positive intraoperative cultures. Septic complications occurred as follows: Group I--6.9%, Group II--2.3%, and Group III--6.9%. The three regimens ranked as follows in terms of therapy costs: CTX less than cefoxitin less than clindamycin and gentamicin. It is concluded that single agent therapy with a cephalosporin is preferable to combination therapy on the basis of equivalent effectiveness, lower toxicity, and lower costs.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Perforation of the small bowel after insertion of feeding jejunostomy: a case report.

Feeding jejunostomy has become a useful method of feeding many patients with upper digestive tract dysfunction from a variety of causes. Although problems infrequently do occur with the tube itself, such as dislodgement or obstruction, most patients tolerate the procedure well. We report here a case of perforation of the jejunum that was caused by the tube itself and required reoperation. As with many problems in surgery, careful attention to technical details should help prevent this and other problems after feeding tube insertion.

Enteral Nutrition↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Twice-daily moxalactam versus gentamicin and clindamycin in patients with penetrating abdominal trauma.

The effectiveness and total costs of moxalactam administered every 12 hours versus a combination of gentamicin and clindamycin for prophylactic use in patients with penetrating abdominal trauma were compared. Fifty patients scheduled for laparotomy after penetrating abdominal wounds were randomly assigned to receive either clindamycin phosphate 600 mg every six hours with gentamicin (as the sulfate salt) 3-5 mg/kg/day in three divided doses or moxalactam disodium 2 g every 12 hours. Therapy was begun preoperatively and continued for a minimum of three days in patients without hollow-organ injury and five days in patients with hollow-organ injury; total duration of therapy could not exceed four weeks. Patients receiving moxalactam also received phytonadione 10 mg intramuscularly once a week. Although wound cultures from several patients were positive for Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and enterococci, no symptomatic infections developed. No direct toxic effects of moxalactam or gentamicin-clindamycin were seen; transient abnormalities in blood-coagulation tests or serum creatinine concentration occurred in several patients. Although mean drug costs per patient for moxalactam and gentamicin-clindamycin were similar, the mean cost of therapy per patient was $125.23 higher for the combination regimen than for moxalactam when laboratory, personnel-time, and supply costs were added to drug costs. Moxalactam given every 12 hours was a safe and effective alternative to the combination of gentamicin and clindamycin for preventive use in the study patients with penetrating abdominal trauma.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Accuracy of two-hour urine urea nitrogen determinations in critically ill patients.

The accuracy of two-hour versus 24-hour urine urea nitrogen (UUN) determinations in critically ill patients was compared. A 24-hour urine collection for UUN determinations was obtained each day for five days in 20 patients who had been receiving parenteral nutrition at a constant rate for at least 36 hours. For each patient, the UUN value obtained from a two-hour sample was projected using the actual 24-hour urine output to determine an estimated daily UUN excretion. Creatinine clearance determinations were performed to evaluate the effects of impaired renal function on the correlation of two-hour and 24-hour UUN excretion. A significant correlation (r = 0.889) was found between the two-hour and 24-hour UUN excretions. However, in three patients with creatinine clearances less than 30 ml/min and two patients with gram-negative sepsis, correlations between two-hour and 24-hour UUN excretion were poor. Total urine volumes in the 20 patients varied considerably but did not affect the correlation between UUN determinations. A two-hour UUN determination may be a valuable tool for monitoring the nutritional status of critically ill patients. The rate of intravenous nutrition must be kept constant, however, to minimize diurnal variations in nitrogen excretion. Conditions such a shock, sepsis, or acute renal failure may limit the use of a shorter urine collection period for urea nitrogen determination.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cost-effectiveness of enoxaparin versus low-dose heparin for prophylaxis against venous thrombosis after major trauma.

We attempted to determine health and economic outcomes from the perspective of an integrated health system of administering enoxaparin 30 mg twice/day versus heparin 5000 U twice/day for prophylaxis against venous thrombosis after major trauma. A decision-analytic model was developed from best literature evidence, institutional data, and expert opinion. We assumed that 40% of proximal deep vein thromboses (DVTs) and 5% of distal DVTs are diagnosed and confirmed with initial or repeat duplex scanning; 50% of undiagnosed proximal DVTs result in pulmonary embolism; 2% and 1% of undiagnosed proximal DVTs will lead to readmission for DVT and pulmonary embolism, respectively, and pulmonary embolism-related mortality rates range from 8-30%. Length of hospital stay data and 1996 institutional drug use and acquisition cost data were used to estimate the cost of enoxaparin and heparin therapy. Diagnosis and treatment costs for DVT and pulmonary embolism were derived from institutional charge data using cost:charge ratios. A second analysis of patients with lower extremity fractures was completed. One-way and multiway sensitivity analyses were performed. For 1000 mixed trauma patients receiving enoxaparin versus heparin, our model showed that 62.2 (95% CI -113 to -12) DVTs or pulmonary emboli would be avoided, resulting in 67.6 (8 to 130) life-years saved at a net cost increase of $104,764 (-$329,300 to $159,600). Enoxaparin versus heparin resulted in a cost of $1684 (-$3600 to $9800) for each DVT or pulmonary embolus avoided and a discounted cost/life-year saved of $2303 (-$8100 to $19,000). For 1000 patients with lower extremity fractures, enoxaparin versus heparin resulted in a cost of $751 (-$4200 to $3300) for each DVT or pulmonary embolus avoided and a discounted cost/life-year saved of $1017 (-$10,200 to $6300). Although enoxaparin increases overall health care costs, it is associated with a cost/additional life-year saved of only $2300, which is generally lower than the commonly used hurdle rate of $30,000/life-year saved. The cost-effectiveness ratio is more favorable in patients with lower extremity fractures than in the general mixed trauma population.

Anticoagulants↗