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Biomedical subjects

G S Raju

Publications and source records attributed to G S Raju.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Gastric pacing is a new surgical treatment for gastroparesis.

BACKGROUND: Gastroparesis is a chronic gastric motility disorder affecting mostly young and middle-aged women who present with nausea, abdominal pain, early satiety, vomiting, fullness, and bloating. METHODS: From April 1998 to September 2000, 25 patients underwent gastric pacemaker placement. All had documented delayed gastric emptying by a radionucleotide study. Nineteen patients had diabetic gastroparesis, 3 had developed postsurgical gastroparesis, and 3 had idiopathic gastroparesis. Baseline and postoperative follow-ups were done by a self-administered questionnaire on which the patients rated the severity and frequency of nausea and vomiting. Gastric emptying times were also followed up using a radionucleotide technique. RESULTS: Both the severity and frequency of nausea and vomiting improved significantly at 3 months and was sustained for 12 months. Gastric emptying time was also numerically faster over the 12-month period. Three of the devices have been removed. One patient died of causes unrelated to the pacemaker 10 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: After placement of the gastric pacemaker, patients rated significantly fewer symptoms and had a modest acceleration of gastric emptying.

Adult↗

Direct observation of counseling on colorectal cancer in rural primary care practices.

To better understand colorectal cancer (CRC) screening practices in primary care, medical students directly observed physician-patient encounters in 38 physician offices. CRC was discussed with 14% of patients >or=50 years of age; 87% of discussions were initiated by the physician. The rate of discussions varied among the practices from 0% to 41% of office visits. Discussions were more common for new patient visits, with younger patients, and in the 24% of offices that utilized flow sheets. The frequency of CRC discussions in physician offices varies widely. More widespread implementation of simple office systems, such as flow sheets, is needed to improve CRC screening rates.

Colorectal Neoplasms↗

Giant gastric ulcer: its natural history and outcome in the H2RA era.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to study the natural history and outcome of medical treatment of giant gastric ulcer in the histamine H2-receptor antagonist era. METHODS: All patients with gastric ulcer were prospectively followed. We assessed the special features (in particular, demography and treatment outcome) in patients with giant gastric ulcer, defined as ulcers large enough to occupy at least one wall. RESULTS: Between 1976 and 1991, 537 patients with gastric ulcer were seen, of whom 129 (24%) had giant gastric ulcer. Giant gastric ulcer patients were significantly older (p < 0.05) than patients with smaller ulcers and had more aggressive disease, reflected by a higher incidence of bleeding, anorexia, weight loss, and emergency admission. More giant gastric ulcers were located in the body of the stomach and a higher proportion looked malignant. Four of 129 patients died immediately (bleed n = 3, unrelated cause n = 1), 15 had urgent surgery (bleed n = 11, perforation n = 2, suspected cancer n = 2) and 110 were treated medically, mainly with cimetidine 1 g daily. Healing occurred in 97 of 110 (88%), including 14 of 15 with refractory disease, i.e., healing took >3 months and/or needed cimetidine 2-3 g daily. Of the remaining 13 patients, six died (from unrelated causes), three had surgery for failed medical treatment, two defaulted, and two were still on treatment (one with refractory ulcer). Refractoriness was more common in patients with associated major medical illness (42% vs 12%, p < 0.01) or with giant gastric ulcers that looked malignant although they were benign (53% vs 21%, p < 0.01). Relapse off treatment was higher (13 of 26) than on maintenance treatment with cimetidine 0.4-2 g daily (14 of 70). Complications occurred in six patients: four off treatment and two on maintenance treatment. Only two giant gastric ulcers finally proved to be malignant. Of the 129 patients, 47 (36%) died, 14 within 3 months (two from bleeding, three postoperatively, nine from unrelated causes) and 33 later (two with gastric cancer and 31 from unrelated causes). CONCLUSIONS: Giant gastric ulcer is uncommon. Patients are more seriously ill than those with smaller ulcers. Most giant gastric ulcers heal with histamine H2-receptor antagonist treatment. The condition is a marker of poor general health, reflected by the high long term mortality.

Adult↗

Pneumoperitoneum and ascites secondary to bacterial overgrowth.

Abdominal bloating, weight loss, pneumoperitoneum, and ascites developed in a 73-year-old woman. She had scleroderma, megajejunum, small bowel dysmotility, and bacterial overgrowth. After treatment with a course of antibiotics, the pneumoperitoneum and ascites resolved, but her symptoms and the pneumoperitoneum recurred after the antibiotics were stopped. She was placed on cyclical antibiotics, and during a 2-year follow-up period she has remained well. The pneumoperitoneum and ascites may have been secondary to small bowel bacterial overgrowth. Ours is the first case that demonstrates this association.

Aged↗