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Biomedical subjects

I M Macintyre

Publications and source records attributed to I M Macintyre.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

After laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the patient can expect a hospital stay of < 2 days and a return to work within 2 weeks. The associated operative mortality rate is low at < 0.2 per cent. The increased incidence of bile duct injury with the laparoscopic technique compared with open cholecystectomy is a cause for concern but such injuries should decrease with proper training in laparoscopic surgery. The use of operative cholangiography (whether routine, selective or never) is controversial but there is no evidence that routine cholangiography will prevent major bile duct injury.

Bile Ducts↗

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy as a safe and effective treatment for severe acute cholecystitis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in severe acute cholecystitis. DESIGN: Analysis of data collected prospectively from a consecutive series of 350 laparoscopic operations. SETTING: Two general surgical units in a teaching hospital. SUBJECTS: 31 patients with a diagnosis of severe acute cholecystitis based on clinical examination, investigation results, and operative findings. INTERVENTIONS: Initial intravenous fluids and broad spectrum antibiotics followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy within 72 hours of presentation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Failure to complete the operation laparoscopically, length of postoperative stay in hospital, early postoperative morbidity, interval from operation to full activity, and return to work. RESULTS: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was attempted in 19 patients with empyema of the gall bladder and 12 who had severe cholecystitis which failed to settle on medical management. A total of 29 operations were successfully completed with two conversions to open surgery. Two minor postoperative complications occurred, and one case of retained common bile duct stones with jaundice was treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and papillotomy. Median postoperative hospital stay was two days, with return to normal activity in seven days and to work in two weeks. There were no deaths related to the operation. CONCLUSIONS: In the presence of severe acute cholecystitis laparoscopic cholecystectomy is feasible in most patients, with minimal risk of injury to surrounding structures and considerable benefits. It is recommended that laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be attempted in these patients when appropriate surgical skill is available.

Acute Disease↗

Improving survival in gastric cancer: review of 5-year survival rates in English language publications from 1970.

In this review of English language publications from 1970, 5-year survival rates after surgery for gastric cancer have been analysed. While the proportion of patients coming to operation has fallen from 92 per cent before 1970 to 71 per cent by 1990, the proportion of operated patients undergoing resection has increased from 37 per cent before 1970 to 48 per cent before 1990. This change suggests improved preoperative staging leading to better patient selection for operation. The 5-year survival rate following all resections has increased significantly from 20.7 per cent before 1970 to 28.4 per cent before 1990, an increase of 7.7 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval 7.1-8.3 per cent). The 5-year survival rate following curative or radical resection has risen from 37.6 to 55.4 per cent over the same period, an increase of 17.8 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval 17.1-18.5 per cent). It is likely that this improvement has contributed to the decrease in the mortality rate from gastric cancer. Comparison of Japanese series with others suggests that diagnosis and treatment of the disease at an earlier stage will result in an even greater increase in 5-year survival rates outside Japan. Of the papers studied, 56 per cent were excluded from analysis, the majority because the data provided about 5-year survival rates were insufficient or the survival calculations inappropriate. Results of survival after operations for gastric cancer should be calculated and presented in a standardized manner.

Humans↗

Gastric cancer in Scotland: changing epidemiology, unchanging workload.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the changes in incidence of and mortality from gastric cancer in Scotland between 1978 and 1987 and in the operative workload in Lothian between 1979 and 1988. DESIGN: Analysis of national incidence statistics for gastric cancer derived from the Scottish national cancer registry, deaths from gastric cancer recorded by the registrar general for Scotland, and Lothian surgical audit data. SETTING: Scotland and Lothian Health Board area. PATIENTS: Patients in Scotland with gastric cancer during 1978 to 1987 inclusive; patients in Scotland with gastric cancer recorded on their death certificate as cause of death during 1978 to 1987; patients who had an operation in Lothian for gastric cancer during 1979 to 1988. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in incidence of and mortality from gastric cancer in Scotland from 1978 to 1987 and in the number of operations performed for gastric cancer in Lothian from 1979 to 1988. RESULTS: Mortality from gastric cancer in Scotland fell by about 25% over the 10 years. The incidence and standardised incidence of gastric cancer showed a marginal decline of about 9%. The differences in trends between incidence and mortality were significant (p less than 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the surgical workload associated with gastric cancer is not declining. This is because the incidence has remained almost static, which may be due to the relative increase in the numbers of older people in the population, who are at greater risk of developing gastric cancer. Gastric cancer should not be regarded as a disease in decline. Incidence and workload should determine resources allocated to this disease rather than mortality statistics.

Adult↗

Improving results in the treatment of gastric cancer: an 11-year audit.

Of 280 patients presenting to one hospital with gastric cancer between 1975 and 1985, 97 (35 per cent) did not undergo surgery and 29 per cent (54 out of 183) of those who did had no resection performed. The 30-day operative mortality rate in the study period was 15 per cent (28 out of 183) but in the subsequent 4-year period this fell to 7 per cent (5 out of 69). The survival rate correlated significantly with depth of invasion but not with tumour site or degree of differentiation. The incidence of early gastric cancer in this series was 5 per cent but the 5-year survival rate in this group was 52 per cent suggesting that the true incidence might be even lower. The overall 5-year survival rate in our area 20 years ago was only 5.2 per cent but in this series it was 11 per cent overall and 24 per cent after resection, and with actuarial correction 15 per cent overall and 28 per cent after resection. The continuing improvement in operative mortality rates and in 5-year survival rates gives grounds for optimism, but the disease must be diagnosed earlier if this improvement in outlook is to continue.

Adult↗

Improving survival in gastric cancer: review of operative mortality in English language publications from 1970.

In this review of English language publications from 1970, operative mortality following surgery for gastric cancer has been analysed. Operative mortality has declined in series reporting operations in successive decades to 1970, 1980 and 1990. Series reporting patients having surgery for gastric cancer in the decade to 1990 show a mean operative mortality rate of 7.8 per cent (median 4.6 per cent). This improvement may have contributed to the declining mortality rates for gastric cancer in the face of unchanging surgical workload. Results of operations for gastric cancer should be reported in a standard manner.

Humans↗

Highly selective vagotomy--a safe operation for duodenal ulcer. Immediate and long-term complications and sequelae in 500 patients.

The safety and efficacy of highly selective vagotomy were assessed in a prospective series of 500 patients who underwent the operation during a 15-year period. There was no peroperative or immediate postoperative mortality. None of the 22 late deaths was attributable to the operation. In six cases complications prolonged the hospital stay beyond 21 days, requiring a second laparotomy in four. The rate of ulcer recurrence was 18.5% by 15 years. Bloating was the commonest long-term complication (8.8%), but half of these patients regarded the operation as successful. Less common were dumping (5.4%), diarrhoea (3.8%) and gastric stasis (1.4%). Revisional surgery was performed on 37 patients--for recurrent ulcer in 28, for gastric stasis in seven and for perforation in two. Although almost 20% of the reviewed patients continue to require regular or frequent medication, the study shows that highly selective vagotomy can be therapeutically effective for duodenal ulcer, particularly in preventing haemorrhage and perforation in patients who have previously suffered these complications. Above all it is a safe operation with low long-term morbidity.

Adolescent↗

Highly selective vagotomy 5-15 years on.

Highly selective vagotomy for duodenal ulcer was performed on 307 patients between 1973 and 1983 without operative mortality. Of these, 283 (92.2 per cent) were followed up prospectively for a minimum of 5 years. Recurrent ulcer was diagnosed in 49 (17.3 per cent). The recurrent ulcer rate increased from 13.2 per cent at 5 years to 19.4 per cent at 12 years. Age, length of history, previous haemorrhage or perforation and preoperative acid output were not associated with increased risk of recurrent ulceration. The risk in men and smokers was higher but not significantly so. The recurrence rate for individual surgeons varied from 5.3 to 25.6 per cent. Failure of healing with H2-receptor antagonists was not associated with a higher recurrent ulcer rate. Patients with a strong family history (more than one first degree relative affected) had a significantly higher recurrence rate (33.2 per cent at 10 years) than those without (13.5 per cent at 10 years). Of the 49 recurrent ulcer patients, 30 (61.2 per cent) required either an operation or regular H2-receptor antagonists. Of the 250 patients (81.4 per cent) available in 1988 for review of symptoms 5-15 years after operation, 5.4 per cent had dumping, 8.9 per cent epigastric pain, and 11.8 per cent heartburn every day or most days. H2-receptor antagonists were required by 10.7 per cent of patients on a frequent or regular basis. Of 239 patients who answered the question, 218 (91.2 per cent) felt that their symptoms had been cured or greatly improved and 203 (84.9) considered the operation a success. Despite the high recurrence rate, the operation was successful in controlling ulcer symptoms in around 90 per cent of patients and produced postvagotomy symptoms--none severe--in around 5 per cent of patients.

Adolescent↗

Complications of diverticular disease and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: a prospective study.

Previous retrospective studies have suggested an association between consumption of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and the complications of diverticular disease. Ninety-two patients were entered into a prospective study of the complications of diverticular disease over a 3 year period; 31 were taking NSAIDs, compared with only four age- and sex-matched controls from a representative general practice (P less than 0.001). A second control group comprised 306 patients with cancer of the colon in whom NSAID consumption was again significantly lower than in patients with diverticular disease (22 of 306 versus 31 of 92, P less than 0.001). Of the 31 patients taking NSAIDs, 19 presented with a perforation or peritonitis. By contrast, only eight of the 61 patients not taking NSAIDs had such complications (P less than 0.001). Eleven patients presented with bleeding of whom five were taking NSAIDs and six were not. Patients admitted with complications of diverticular disease have a high incidence of NSAID intake, and it appears that NSAID consumption is associated with a more severe form of the disease.

Adult↗

Impact of H2-receptor antagonists on the outcome of treatment of perforated duodenal ulcer.

One hundred and eighty-five patients were perforated duodenal ulcer were treated at one hospital over the 21-year period which straddled the introduction of H2-receptor antagonists. Of these 107 had simple closure, 58 simple closure with immediate H2-receptor antagonists and 20 immediate definitive surgery. The overall operative mortality rate was 5.4%. The rate of subsequent definitive surgery declined significantly in the years after the introduction of H2-receptor antagonists. Only a minority of those who came to subsequent definitive surgery had done so within the first year, the percentage rising from 16% at 1 year to 43.7% at 10 years. Of the patients treated by simple closure alone, 44.3% had subsequent definitive surgery compared with 24.1% having H2-receptor antagonists in addition, but this difference was not statistically significant using life table analysis. Review of the 104 patients available in 1989 showed no significant differences in symptoms between the treatment groups. The only preoperative predictor of subsequent definitive operation was non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug consumption which showed a negative correlation. A 3-month history of dyspepsia before perforation did not predict the need for subsequent surgery. The symptomatic results in a different group of patients who had undergone highly selective vagotomy subsequent to a previous perforation were no different from patients treated by simple closure alone or with immediate prescription of H2-receptor antagonists. Bloating, however, was significantly more common after highly selective vagotomy. We believe that perforated duodenal ulcer should be treated by simple closure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗

Long-term results after Nissen fundoplication: a 5-15-year review.

In a study of 154 consecutive patients who had a Nissen fundoplication performed by 12 surgeons over a 10-year period, 117 (76%) were available for review of symptoms 5-15 years after the procedure. Heartburn, the most common presenting symptom, was abolished in 85.5% and epigastric pain in 84.6% of patients. Fifteen patients (12.8%) considered the operation a failure because of dysphagia (17%), bloating (17%), pain (13%), heartburn (13%) or diarrhoea (6%). Comparison of possible risk factors between successes and failures showed no difference between these two groups in terms of age, sex, rank of surgeon, smoking, or accompanying crural repair. Prior response to H2-receptor antagonists did not influence outcome. Nissen fundoplication is successful in some 85% of patients over a period of 5-15 years after operation.

Adolescent↗