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Biomedical subjects

G H Welch

Publications and source records attributed to G H Welch.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Infected false aneurysms in the groin of intravenous drug abusers.

The hazards of dealing with infected false femoral aneurysms resulting from intra-arterial narcotic injection are highlighted in six patients. Two patients were human immunodeficiency virus positive and three patients were hepatitis B surface antigen positive. Because of these infections exploration of groin swellings as presumed soft tissue abscesses is potentially hazardous without proper proximal vascular control. All patients underwent reconstruction following arterial ligation and five grafts became infected, with life threatening haemorrhage occurring in four patients. Five grafts have subsequently occluded or have been removed without loss of limb viability, although two patients have been regrafted. A high index of suspicion and assessment by a vascular surgeon, with angiography if indicated, is required in any intravenous drug abuser presenting with a groin swelling following injection. Because of the great risk of graft infection, it is suggested that ligation and debridement alone be carried out, with immediate arterial reconstruction only for non-viability.

Adult↗

Abdominal aortic aneurysm: a preventable cause of death?

Abdominal aortic aneurysm as a cause of death may be preventable by surgery. This paper reviews current theories of aetiology, incidence and detection with particular reference to population screening for aneurysm and to reducing the operative mortality rate by detecting the correctable risk factors of surgical treatment.

Aorta, Abdominal↗

Neoplastic transformation in longstanding fistula-in-ano.

A case in which an infiltrating mucinous carcinoma developed within a suprasphincteric fistula-in-ano is presented. The diagnosis was suspected on biopsy and confirmed by repeat biopsy. The clinical and histological features of this case establish with certainty that the carcinoma arose within the fistula and was not a secondary manifestation of the tumour. It is suggested that this rare complication of chronic fistula-in-ano may be prevented by prompt expert management of complex primary fistula.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗

Total colonic ischemia.

The involvement of the entire colon in an ischemic process is unusual because of the dual source of blood supply to the large bowel. Three cases of total ischemic colitis are presented. A precipitating cause to account for the distribution of ischemia was identified in each patient.

Aged↗

Failure of Doppler ankle pressure to predict healing of conservative forefoot amputations.

Fifty minor foot and transmetatarsal amputations were studied to assess the reliability of Doppler ankle blood pressure (DABP) and skin blood flow (SBF) to predict healing. The level of amputation was determined solely on clinical criteria. Thirty-six (72 per cent) of the amputations healed. There was no statistical difference between mean DABP in healed 89 +/- 8 mmHg mean +/- s.e.m.) and non-healed (91 +/- 12 mmHg mean +/- s.e.m.) amputations. SBF was assessed by 125I-iodoantipyrine clearance in 28 patients. There was no correlation between DABP and SBF (r = 0.038). SBF in patients with healed amputations was 14.8 +/- 1.2 (mean +/- s.e.m.) ml 100 g-1 min-1 in contrast to SBF of 5.9 +/- 0.3 (mean +/- s.e.m.) ml 100 g-1 min-1 in the patients with non-healing (P less than 0.01). Where the flow was in excess of 8 ml 100 g-1 min-1 healing was always obtained while a flow of less than 7 ml 100 g-1 min-1 was associated with healing failure. These results suggest that DABP should be interpreted with caution as this technique fails as an accurate means of identifying those patients suitable for forefoot amputations. Skin blood flow assessment appears to provide an absolute value for the prediction of healing potential at this level.

Aged↗

Volvulus of the splenic flexure of the colon.

Volvulus of the splenic flexure is a rare cause of large-bowel obstruction. Three cases are presented and the features of 17 previously reported cases reviewed. Resection with or without primary anastomosis is the procedure of choice to prevent recurrence.

Acute Disease↗

Small bowel stricture following abdominal trauma.

A case of small bowel stricture developing 2 months after blunt abdominal trauma from a lap seat belt is presented. The cause of the stricture was probably a small perforation sustained at the time of the injury but overlooked clinically. At operation an abscess around the terminal ileum was found. The patient made an uneventful recovery following resection of the strictured small bowel.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Cutaneous blood flow in the foot following lumbar sympathectomy.

Cutaneous blood flow in the foot was assessed by 125I iodoantipyrine clearance in patients with peripheral vascular disease. Three groups were studied: group (a) consisted of 10 controls, Group (b) of 10 patients who had arterial reconstruction, and Group (c) of 10 patients having lumbar sympathectomy. Skin blood flow remained constant in the control patients. In Group (b) arterial reconstruction increased skin blood flow from mean 4.3 ml/100g/min to a mean of 14.9 ml/100g/min (p less than 0.001). In group (c) skin blood flow did not significantly change from a mean preoperative value of 7.6 ml/100g/min to a mean postoperative value of 8.1 (ml/100g/min). These results suggest that lumbar sympathectomy does not affect nutritional blood flow.

Arteries↗