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Biomedical subjects

I C Funnell

Publications and source records attributed to I C Funnell.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Endoscopic balloon dilatation of peptic pyloroduodenal strictures.

A through-the-scope endoscopic balloon dilatation technique and acid-reducing medication was used in 46 consecutive patients (median age, 55; range, 21-88 years) with benign gastric outlet obstruction. In five patients, dilatation was not technically possible. In 41 patients, 122 dilatations (median, 2; range, 1-9 per patient) were performed without morbidity. Ninety-four procedures were successful (77%) at the initial attempt (able to pass a 12-mm endoscope into the duodenum at the end of the procedure). Median follow-up in the 41 patients was 19 (range, 1-78) months. Thirteen patients (32%) required subsequent surgery; 8 had delayed operation for persistent symptoms (1-28 months after the first dilatation), 1 had surgery during the initial hospital admission, and 4 required emergency surgery for other ulcer complications (3 perforation, 1 bleeding). Of the 28 patients who had only balloon dilatation and medical therapy, 11 are asymptomatic (4 with active ulceration), 9 have mild symptoms (Visick 2), and 3 have persistent symptoms (Visick 3). One patient was lost to follow-up and four patients have died (one from an ulcer-related complication). Balloon dilatation and sustained acid-reducing therapy with regular endoscopic surveillance should be first-line treatment of peptic pyloroduodenal strictures, because the procedure is safe and is likely to be successful in half of the patients in whom dilatation is technically possible.

Catheterization↗
PubMed1994

Endoscopic drainage of traumatic pancreatic pseudocyst.

Pancreatic pseudocyst following trauma is usually caused by a major duct injury and may present late. The outcome of endoscopic treatment in five patients with post-traumatic pseudocyst is described. Diagnosis was made from 3 weeks to 1 year after injury by ultrasonography and computed tomography. A distinct bulge was visible in the stomach or duodenum using endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography, and a cyst enterostomy was established with a knife or standard papillotome. Successful drainage was achieved without complications. One patient developed a recurrence, which was redrained endoscopically, but surgical intervention was required for persistent pain. Early results suggest that endoscopic drainage for selected pancreatic pseudocysts is feasible and safe.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Obesity: an important prognostic factor in acute pancreatitis.

Ninety-nine patients with acute pancreatitis in whom body mass index (BMI = weight (kg)/height2 (m2)) was measured were studied prospectively to determine the importance of obesity as a prognostic factor in this disease. Of 19 obese patients (BMI > or = 30 kg/m2), 12 developed severe pancreatitis; seven had abscesses, of whom five died, and two further patients died. In 80 non-obese patients, the incidence of severe pancreatitis (n = 5), abscess formation (n = 4) and death (n = 4) was significantly less (P = 0.0007). The mean(s.d.) BMI of 17 patients with severe acute pancreatitis was significantly higher than that in 82 patients with mild acute disease (31.2(5.6) versus 23.3(5.6) kg/m2, P < 0.001). As a single prognostic factor, obesity had a sensitivity of 63 per cent and a specificity of 95 per cent for predicting disease severity. When five obese women with gallstone pancreatitis were excluded, the sensitivity of obesity increased to 86 per cent. Severe pancreatitis occurred in all eight obese patients with disease of an alcoholic aetiology. These data suggest that increased fat deposits in the peripancreatic and retroperitoneal spaces in obese patients may increase the risk of peripancreatic fat necrosis, abscess and death. Consideration should be given to including obesity as a prognostic factor in acute pancreatitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

Does surgical experience influence mastectomy complications?

Mastectomy remains the most commonly performed surgical procedure for breast cancer, and complications such as infection or wound breakdown (which may relate to the experience of the operator) could expensively prolong hospital stay and retard the administration of additional therapy. We examined the complications, hospital stay and cost of therapy of total mastectomy and axillary node clearance in 164 women, comparing these between four grades of surgeon: registrar (67 operations), senior registrar (58), part-time consultant (21) and professor (18). Our policy, for local reasons, was to perform mastectomy whenever possible rather than select lesser surgical or non-surgical management options. There was no significant difference between operators when the percentage of seromas requiring aspiration (9, 3, 5, 6), infection (16, 7, 23, 11), or wound breakdown (7, 3, 5, 6) were compared. Neither the length of hospital stay (9.3 +/- 6.9, 8.2 +/- 4.7, 9 +/- 7.3, 9.2 +/- 11.2 days), nor cost (2005, 1939, 1966, 1927 rands) differed. Surgical experience did not significantly influence mastectomy complications.

Aged↗