Biomedical subjects

J C Díaz

Publications and source records attributed to J C Díaz.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1998

Histological findings of gallbladder mucosa in 95 control subjects and 80 patients with asymptomatic gallstones.

The histological appearance of gallbladder mucosa in 95 control subjects and in 80 patients with asymptomatic gallstones separated according to age and sex was determined in a prospective study. The number and size of stones in the latter group were also analyzed. Among controls, 33% showed abnormal histological findings, mainly chronic cholecystitis, which increased with age and was frequently seen among women. All patients with asymptomatic gallstones showed chronic cholecystitis and/or cholesterolosis, and 5% showed acute inflammatory changes. In 55% of them a single stone was found. These findings suggest that chronic inflammatory changes can occur in the gallbladder mucosa prior to the appearance of macroscopic stones at the gallbladder.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Long-term results of classic antireflux surgery in 152 patients with Barrett's esophagus: clinical, radiologic, endoscopic, manometric, and acid reflux test analysis before and late after operation.

BACKGROUND: The classic surgical procedure for patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE) has been either Nissen fundoplication or posterior gastropexy with calibration of the cardia. METHODS: The purpose of our study was to determine late subjective and objective results of these classic surgical techniques in a large number of patients with BE. A total of 152 patients were included in this prospective protocol. RESULTS: There was 1 death (0.7%) after operation. The late follow-up of 100 months demonstrated a high percentage of failures among patients with noncomplicated BE (54%) and an even higher figure in patients with complicated BE (64%). In 15 patients low grade dysplasia appeared at 8 years of follow-up and an adenocarcinoma in 4 patients. Twenty-four-hour pH monitoring demonstrated a decrease in acid reflux into the esophagus, and Bilitec studies also demonstrated a decrease of duodenoesophageal reflux, but in all cases with a higher value than the normal limit. CONCLUSIONS: Classic antireflux surgery in patients with BE results in a high percentage of failures at very late follow-up because it cannot completely avoid acid and duodenal reflux into the esophagus.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

A new physiologic approach for the surgical treatment of patients with Barrett's esophagus: technical considerations and results in 65 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the results of a new surgical procedure for patients with Barrett's esophagus. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: In addition to pathologic acid reflux into the esophagus in patients with severe gastroesophageal reflux and Barrett's esophagus, increased duodenoesophegeal reflux has been implicated. The purpose of this study was to establish the effect of a new bile diversion procedure in these patients. METHODS: Sixty-five patients with Barrett's esophagus were included in this study. A complete clinical, radiologic, endoscopic, and bioptic evaluation was performed before and after surgery. Besides esophageal manometry, 24-hour pH studies and a Bilitec test were performed. After surgery, gastric emptying of solids, gastric acid secretion, and serum gastrin were determined. All patients underwent highly selective vagotomy, antireflux procedure (posterior gastropexy with cardial calibration or fundoplication), and duodenal switch procedure, with a Roux-en-Y anastomosis 60 cm in length. RESULTS: No deaths occurred. Morbidity occurred in 14% of the patients. A significant improvement in symptoms, endoscopic findings, and radiologic evaluation was achieved. Lower esophageal sphincter pressure increased significantly (p < 0.0001), as did abdominal length and total length of the sphincter (p < 0.0001). The presence of an incompetent sphincter decreased from 87.3% to 20.9% (p < 0.0001). Three of seven patients with dysplasia showed disappearance of this dysplasia. Serum gastrin and gastric emptying of solids after surgery remained normal. Basal and peak acid output values were low. Twenty-four hour pH studies showed a mean value of 24.8% before surgery, which decreased to 4.8% after surgery (p < 0.0001). The determination of the percentage time with bilirubin in the esophagus was 23% before surgery; this decreased to 0.7% after surgery (p < 0.0001). Late results showed Visick I and II gradation in 90% of the patients and grade III and IV in 10% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: This physiologic approach to the surgical treatment of patients with Barrett's esophagus produces a permanent decrease of acid secretion (and avoids anastomotic ulcer), decreases significantly acid reflux into the esophagus, and abolishes duodenoesophageal reflux permanently. Significant clinical improvement occurs, and dysplastic changes at Barrett's epithelium disappear in almost 50% of the patients.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

[Subjective and objective evaluation of the results of laparoscopic antireflux surgery in patients with gastroesophageal reflux].

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic antireflux surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that should have similar results than classical surgical treatment. AIM: To report the results of a prospective study of laparoscopic antireflux surgery in patients with gastroesophageal reflux. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty two patients with gastroesophageal reflux and without Barret's esophagus, were subjected to endoscopy, manometry and measurement of intraesophageal pH before and after laparoscopic surgery. RESULTS: There were no postoperative deaths or complications. Gastroesophageal sphincter pressure and abdominal sphincter length increased from 9.1 +/- 3.9 to 13.0 +/- 3.5 mm Hg and from 8.1 +/- 6.2 to 13.5 +/- 5.4 cm after surgery (p < 0.01). There was a decrease in acid reflux in 82% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic antireflux surgery reproduces exactly the results of open surgical procedures.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

A computer system for epidemiological surveillance.

In epidemiological surveillance, it is imperative that any unusual increase in reported cases be detected as quickly as possible. In the surveillance unit at "Pedro Kourí," it was necessary to create a computer system for the surveillance of transmissible diseases in order to manage such variables as morbidity, mortality, and the circulation of causal agents. As usage flexibility is a fundamental requirement, we developed VIGILA as a system readily adaptable to any level of the country's health organizations (national, provincial, or municipal). VIGILA permits the storage, validation, and statistical analysis of morbidity and mortality data, and it also allows the user to apply these features to causal agent information. These manipulations are all performed in the context of a specific transmissible disease. The stored information can be displayed in different types of statistical formats, such as calculated rates, accumulates and medians. The user can also design his/her own tables for display. In addition, the program offers graphics that depict the endemic forecast for a specific region and age group. Reliable forecasts based on temporal models of an epidemiological indicator are necessary for the prediction of the non-epidemic indicator and for the elaboration of an alert threshold. The endemic forecast or endemic channel is calculated by means of a modified version of R. Serfling's model [1] which adapts to data series with stationary characteristics. In this case, the model is fixed for the medical attention protocol and the circulation of agents of a specific transmissible disease. The parameters of the model are estimated by the least square method. The confidence limits are calculated with the T-Student distribution [2]. To enter information about a specific disease and level of health concern, the user must define the disease under analysis, the principal territory under surveillance and its dependencies, the causal agents of the disease, and the frequency with which the disease is reported. This system stores the number of cases (morbidity) and death (mortality) that occurred in the territories and age groups defined during entry. To facilitate the calculation of morbidity and mortality rates, information pertaining to the number of territory habitants and their age groups is also stored. The laboratory data includes the number of analyzed samples in the territories and age groups defined in the data entry, and the samples that were positive to the defined agents. Among the principal uses of the system are: calculation of cumulative cases, rates, and cumulative rates for the specific period of analysis, territory, and age group; comparison of these health indicators with the previous year's indicators or with the median of the previous years' indicators' calculation of the endemic forecast that permits the user to observe the epidemiological situation by territories and age groups; and the early detection of an increase in disease occurrence. The system also offers a geographical representation of the epidemiological situation in the territories, showing a map with the evaluation of each territory with respect to four possible risk factors. VIGILA is available in both DOS and WINDOWS 3.1 formats. This system allows the evaluation of the situation at a specific point in time in the analyzed territories, and may alert the infection control team to an epidemic early enough to allow implementation of control measures.

Computer Systems↗

PubMed1994

Late results of primary repair and follow-up in 53 patients with injuries to the common bile duct occurring during cholecystectomy (distal perforation, tears, ligation or suture).

The late results of primary repair of accidental injuries to the common bile duct occurring during cholecystectomy were evaluated in 53 cases. These lesions occurred in 20 patients who had distal perforation produced by the Bakes dilator, in 17 cases with accidental tearing of the anterior or posterior wall of the common bile duct, and in 16 cases in whom the common bile duct was accidentally ligated or sutured. In cases of perforation, choledochostomy plus suturing of the perforation had a high operative mortality and 4 out of 6 cases developed benign stricture soon after surgery. When sphincteroplasty or choledochoduodenostomy was added, a stricture developed in only 1 out of 7 cases. In cases with accidental tears, suturing of the lesion plus choledochostomy produced very good late results. In patients with accidental ligation or suturing of the common bile duct, two different postoperative complications were seen: seven cases had biliary fistula and all developed benign stricture 2 years after surgery. In nine cases jaundice appeared 6 months after surgery, and a benign stricture developed in 7 of them. The most important "treatment" of these lesions is to prevent them from occurring during cholecystectomy by employing a meticulous surgical technique.

Cholecystectomy↗

PubMed1990

Classification and treatment of anastomotic leakage after extended total gastrectomy in gastric carcinoma.

A new classification of anastomotic fistulas of esophagojejunostomy after total extended gastrectomy for advanced gastric carcinoma is presented. In a group of 230 consecutive patients submitted to total gastrectomy within a 10-year period, there were 20 patients with Type I fistula (8.8%) and 18 cases with Type II (7.8%). Type I or subclinical fistula corresponded to a local leakage around the anastomosis, with no septic complications, which heals with prolongation of enteral feeding up to 20 days after surgery. The mortality rate was 5% in this group. Type II or clinical leakage corresponded to patients with early septic manifestations after surgery, in whom the methylene blue test was positive, that is, immediate appearance of the stain in any drain was observed after oral ingestion, confirmed by radiological studies. The mortality rate in this group was 78%. Resuturing of the fistula was a complete failure. Cervical lateral esophagostomy produced complete healing in two cases. Parenteral and enteral feeding, antibiotics and successful surgical drainage are measured that can provide good results in these cases.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

PubMed1989

Mirizzi syndrome and cholecystobiliary fistula: a unifying classification.

A new classification of patients with Mirizzi syndrome and cholecystobiliary fistula is presented. Type I lesions are those with external compression of the common bile duct. In type II lesions a cholecystobiliary fistula is present with erosion of less than one-third of the circumference of the bile duct. In type III lesions the fistula involves up to two-thirds of the duct circumference and in type IV lesions there is complete destruction of the bile duct. A total of 219 patients were identified with these lesions from 17,395 patients with benign biliary tract diseases undergoing surgery. The incidence of type I lesions was 11 per cent, type II 41 per cent, type III 44 per cent and type IV 4 per cent. The majority had obstructive jaundice. In type I lesions, cholecystectomy plus choledochostomy is effective. In type II lesions, suture of the fistula with absorbable material or choledochoplasty with the remnant of gallbladder can be performed. In type III lesions suture is not indicated and choledochoplasty is recommended. In type IV lesions, bilioenteric anastomosis is preferred. Operative mortality rate increases according to the severity of the lesion, as does postoperative morbidity. During cholecystectomy, partial resection is recommended in order to extract the stones, visualize the common bile duct and define the type and location of the fistula. T tubes should be placed distal to the fistula.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

[Primary motor disorders of the non-achalasic esophagus: a manometric analysis].

We studied 85 patients with esophageal symptoms of a motor abnormality in whom esophagitis, achalasia or other organic lesions were ruled out by endoscopy. Main symptoms were dysphagia and severe retrosternal pain. Cardiac origin of the pain was ruled out by clinical and EKG evaluation in 72% of patients. Mean age was 43 years and female to male ratio was 3:1. Manometric study, performed in all patients, revealed diffuse spasm in 42, hypertensive sphincter in 16, nutcraker esophagus in 11 and nonspecific motor abnormalities in 16 patients. Only manometric studies can identify these esophageal disturbances. These studies should be performed in patients with non cardiac retrosternal pain.

Esophageal Motility Disorders↗

PubMed1989

Results of surgical treatment in patients with "western" intrahepatic lithiasis.

The results of the surgical treatment in 251 patients with intrahepatic stones are discussed. The mean age of the group was 48 years, with a predominance of females. Gallstones were observed in 72% of the cases, because 28% had had previous cholecystectomy. Associated common bile duct stones were present in 222 (88%) cases, while primary intrahepatic stones were seen in 29 patients. The intrahepatic stones were usually bilateral. Three main operations were employed. Choledochostomy with or without cholecystectomy was performed in 166 (66%) cases with 6 deaths (3.6%). Bilioenteric anastomosis such as sphincteroplasty or choledochoduodenostomy were used in the rest with similar results. However, residual stones were documented in 32% after choledochostomy, while only 4% were seen after choledochoduodenostomy. In our groups, intrahepatic stones originated from migrated stones from the gallbladder, and surgical treatment should be orientated towards complete extraction of the stones and prevention of their further appearance.

Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic↗

PubMed1989

Histological analysis of liver parenchyma and choledochal wall, and external diameter and intraluminal pressure of the common bile duct in controls and patients with common bile duct stones with and without acute suppurative cholangitis.

The purpose of this prospective controlled study was to determine the changes in intraluminal pressure and diameter of the common bile duct in a total of 121 bile patients with choledocholithiasis, and the consequences of these alterations for choledochal mucosa and liver histology. In fact, the reflux of bacteria from the obstructed biliary tract into the bloodstream is responsible for producing the clinical syndrome of acute suppurative cholangitis. Group I (26 patients) served as controls, Group II (50) had choledocholithiasis with clear green bile, and Group III (45) were patients with acute suppurative cholangitis with pus in the biliary tract. Ultrasonography revealed gallstones in all the patients. The external diameter of the common bile duct in patients with choledocholithiasis and acute suppurative cholangitis was significantly greater than in those of the other groups. Patients with acute suppurative cholangitis also had a higher intraluminal pressure than those of Groups I or II.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1989

Indications and results of choledochoduodenostomy in benign biliary tract diseases.

During a 12-year period ending December 1987, 17,200 operations for biliary tract disease were performed at the Dept. of Surgery of the University of Chile. Choledochoduodenostomy was performed in 140 of these patients operated upon for benign biliary tract and/or gallbladder diseases. The indications for this procedure were choledocholithiasis, stenosis of the sphincter of Oddi, compression of the extrahepatic biliary duct, stenosis of the distal biliary duct and duodenal diverticula. The postoperative course was uncomplicated in 126 patients (90%). The mortality rate was 4.2%. Although the mortality was somewhat greater in patients with acute cholangitis, the difference was not significant, and no significant relation could be established with other factors that might affect mortality. Choledocholithiasis is the main cause of benign obstruction of the biliary tract in Chile. This is also the most frequent indication for external choledochoduodenostomy and is a promising method even in the presence of an infection of the biliary duct.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Late results of immediate primary end to end repair in accidental section of the common bile duct.

The late results of 43 patients with accidental section of the common bile duct are presented. Injuries located high at the hepatic duct were three times more frequent than those located more distally. A complete section occurred in 36 while incomplete section was observed in seven patients. The final results of end to end repair revealed good late results in eight while 29 had a benign stricture four years postoperatively.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1988

Common bile duct pressure in patients with common bile duct stones with or without acute suppurative cholangitis.

Resting common bile duct pressure was measured in three groups of patients: group 1, 53 patients with gallstones but without common duct stones; group 2, 35 patients with common bile duct stones unaccompanied by cholangitis; and group 3, 36 patients with common duct stones and acute suppurative cholangitis. A significantly higher pressure in the common bile duct was documented in patients with cholangitis when compared with the other two groups. Twenty-four patients with cholangitis had common duct pressure values above 20 cm H2O, the maximal values of normal. Additionally, patients with cholangitis with pressure values over 30 cm H2O (nine patients) showed absence of green bile in the extrahepatic biliary tract, suggesting cessation of bile excretion into biliary duct. In all these cases, an impacted stone at the distal end of the common bile duct was documented.

Acute Disease↗