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Biomedical subjects

J F Perry

Publications and source records attributed to J F Perry.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Splenic preservation following splenic trauma.

Increased awareness of the problem of overwhelming post-splenectomy sepsis has aroused interest in methods of splenic preservation in patients with abdominal trauma. In the past 6 years, we have treated 272 patients for splenic trauma at our institution, 41 of whom underwent splenic preservation. Mortality rates in those undergoing splenectomy vs. preservation were 23.4% and 4.9%, respectively, severe head injuries constituting cause of death in the latter. Overall morbidity in the two groups was not significantly different (40.7% vs. 39%). Pulmonary complications were predominant in both groups (splenectomy, 27.7%; splenic preservation, 23.1%) with atelectasis more common in the latter. Three subphrenic abscesses occurred in the splenectomy group, none in the repair group. Sepsis was twice as frequent in the splenectomy group (8.7% vs. 4.9%). Mode of injury was slightly more severe in the splenectomy group with these patients sustaining mor chest, spine, associated intra-abdominal, and vascular injuries, thus accounting for the high mortality. Average operative time was not increased by addition of repair (2 hr 54 min vs. 2 hr 33 min). Only on repair required return to the operating room, because of a missed hilar laceration at the original laparotomy, emphasizing the importance of care in technique. Postoperative scans in selected patients showed good functional activity. We conclude that splenic preservation is a technically safe procedure in patients exhibiting hemodynamic stability.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Significance of repeating diagnostic peritoneal lavage.

The value of repeating diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) when initial results are indeterminate or negative has not been defined. From January 1974 to June 1980, 1884 patients underwent DPL. Ninety-six had repeat DPL. Eighty-eight (4.7%) patients with indeterminate initial DPL results had repeat DPL. Results were true positive in 20, false positive in non, false negative in three, and true negative in 64 patients. If results for all 88 patients had initially been considered positive and all had undergone operation, the additional yield would have been low, three patients (3.4%); 64 patients would have undergone unnecessary laparotomy. If all 88 results had been considered negative, 20 patients (23%) with intra-abdominal injuries would have been diagnosed late or not at all. Eight patients with initial negative DPL but with persistent abdominal pain underwent repeat DPL. Results were true positive in three, false negative in one, and true negative in four. Repeat lavage has an accuracy of 95.8%, sensitivity of 85.2%, and specificity of 100%; with repeat lavage, DPL overall has high accuracy (98.4%), sensitivity (94.2%), and specificity (99.7%). Repeat lavage can be helpful in evaluating patients with initial negative lavage but with persistent abdominal pain. Repeat lavage is also indicated when initial results are indeterminate.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed1982

Reappraisal of diagnostic peritoneal lavage criteria for operation in penetrating and blunt trauma.

The criteria for declaring the results of a diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) positive have been controversial. Lowered cell count criteria result in increased sensitivity, decreased specificity, and altered accuracy. Consecutive lavages on 105 patients with penetrating trauma (PT) to the lower chest and abdomen (48 gunshot wounds and 57 stab wounds) and 1812 patients with blunt abdominal trauma (BT) were studied. Varied cell count criteria were analyzed. The best criteria for BT were as follows: positive, lavage fluid red blood cells (LRBCs) greater than 100,000/mm3 or lavage fluid white blood cells (LWBCs) greater than 500/mm3; indeterminate, LRBCs 50,000/mm3 to 100,000/mm3 or LWBCs 100 to 500/mm3; and negative, LRBCs less than 50,000/mm3 and LWBCs less than 100/mm3. Based on these criteria the accuracy of the test was 99.1%. The highest accuracy would be achieved for PT if the criteria were as follows: positive, LRBCs greater than 50,000/mm3 or LWBCs greater than 500/mm3; indeterminate, LRBCs 25,000 to 50,000/mm3 or LWBCs 100 to 500/mm3; negative, LRBCs less than 25,000/mm3 and LWBCs less than 100/mm3. Based on these criteria the accuracy of the test for PT would range from 96.2% (101 of 105) to 98.1% (103 of 105), depending on the results of repeat lavage for two patients with indeterminate initial lavages. The standard lavage criteria were the best for BT and achieved the highest accuracy. However, the LRBC criteria should be lowered for PT.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed1981

Value of quantitative cell count and amylase activity of peritoneal lavage fluid.

From January 1974 through July 1979, 1,588 patients underwent diagnostic peritoneal lavage. The test had an accuracy of 98.6%, sensitivity of 94.3%, and specificity of 99.8%. It was true positive in 21.9%, false positive in 0.1%, false negative in 1.3%, and true negative in 76.6%. Fifty-nine patients from the true-positive group had grossly equivocal tests, but had positive lavage results based on quantitative cell count. Thus without cell count the test would have a sensitivity of 78.3%, accuracy of 94.8%, and specificity of 99.8. Eight patients had positive lavage based on WBC count but negative RBC count; all of these patients had bowel injuries. Measurement of lavage fluid amylase resulted in minimal or no improvement in the accuracy (0.06%), sensitivity (0.3%), or specificity (0.0%). Five of six patients with positive amylase levels but grossly negative tests had concomitant positive WBC count. The added cost of the amylase measurement is estimated to be $154,472. Peritoneal lavage has high accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. Cell counts significantly improve sensitivity. Patients with a grossly equivocal test but with a positive cell count should undergo laparotomy. The lavage-fluid amylase measurement is costly and is of insignificantly yield.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed1981

Injuries associated with splenic trauma.

Renewed interest in conservative nonoperative management of splenic trauma in children led us to review our experience with this injury in 258 patients over the past 5 1/2 years. Blunt trauma was the predominant type of injury, occurring in 241 patients: 80% of these patients had associated extra-abdominal injuries, predominantly involving the head, chest, and extremities; 59% of patients with penetrating trauma had concomitant extra-abdominal injuries, mainly of the thorax. Serious concomitant intra-abdominal injuries requiring operative therapy were found in 36.5 and 94%, respectively, of patients sustaining splenic injury from blunt and penetrating trauma. Children under the age of 16 years exhibited a similar incidence (32.6 and 100%), respectively). Renal, hepatic, diaphragmatic, intestinal, mesenteric, and vascular injuries were most frequent. The pitfall of conservative nonoperative management lies in missing these concomitant serious intra-abdominal injuries. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage is most useful in defining the patients who should undergo exploratory laparotomy, therefore reducing morbidity and mortality secondary to neglected injuries.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed1981

Postconcussive hospital observation of alert patients in primary trauma center.

The medical justification for many postconcussive hospital admissions (one fourth of all trauma admissions) is unsettled, as are the potential legal consequences of nonadmission. Three hundred thirty-three patients with Class I level of consciousness (9) (alert, responsive to questions and complex commands, may be disoriented and/or confused) were admitted during a 6-month period. Seventy-nine per cent had sustained loss of consciousness. Eighty-one per cent were admitted solely for neurologic observation. Thirteen per cent of the patients had skull fractures. Patients admitted with localized neurologic findings were most likely to have skull fractures (8/16). Thirty per cent of the confirmed skull fractures occurred in patients without 'high yield' criteria for skull roentgenograms. No deaths and no neurologic sequelae occurred among the patients without skull fractures. In contrast, among the 43 patients with skull fractures, one patient died of neurologic injuries, seven patients developed major neurologic sequelae, and eight patients required neurosurgical intervention. In our series, only the presence of a skull fracture was of grave prognostic significance among patients with Class I level of consciousness following closed head injuries. No benefit was derived from the precautionary admission of patients with Class I level of consciousness following closed head injuries who did not sustain skull fractures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Persistence of vacuolated RBCs after splenectomy in adults.

Children undergoing splenectomy after trauma commonly have few vacuolated RBCs, suggesting a recurrence of splenic activity. We assayed RBCs with vacuoles in 17 adults who had splenectomies for trauma and 15 adults who underwent splenectomy for nontraumatic indications. Vacuolated cells averaged 29.0% +/- 1.0% (SE) in adults having emergency splenectomies and 32.3% +/- 2.0% in those having elective splenectomies. One adult who had a splenectomy for trauma had few RBCs with vacuoles, and a technetium Tc 99m sulfur colloid spleen scan showed one accessory spleen. These findings suggest that recurrence of splenic activity in adults, unlike in children, is an uncommon sequela of splenic rupture.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Retroperitoneal hematoma following trauma: its clinical importance.

Records of 100 consecutive patients treated in 1973 through 1977 with post-traumatic retroperitoneal hematomas (RH) were studied. Eighty RH followed blunt injury and 20 were due to penetrating trauma. Overall mortality was 26%. The worst prognosis was associated with RH from automobile accidents and pedestrian injuries. Pelvic RH were almost uniformly associated with pelvic fracture and were the primary cause of 39% of deaths. Blunt perinephric RH required renal exploration in 47% of patients. Blunt RH in other locations were associated with major visceral or vascular injury in half the patients and were the cause of death in five. Sixty-five per cent of RH due to penetrating trauma had visceral or vascular injury requiring operative correction. Contained rupture of descending choracic aorta presented as retrogastric RH in two patients. RH from penetrating trauma should be explored routinely, since 65% are associated with visceral or vascular injury.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1980

Arterial injuries of the extremities following blunt trauma.

Thirty-three peripheral arterial injuries were observed in 29 patients following blunt trauma. Motor vehicle accidents were the most common initiating event. The mechanism of injury was fracture or dislocation in 21 patients, acute traction on the extremity in five patients, and contusion in three patients. Pulses were absent distal to the site of arterial injury in all patients. Complete arterial disruption was documented in 19 arteries; intimal or intimal and medial tears were observed in 10 arteries. Four arteries not surgically explored. If possible, debridement and primary anastomosis was the preferred method of revascularization. Saphenous vein interposition grafts were the second choice. Five amputations, four major and one minor, were required. Although patient vascular reconstructions may be uniformly achieved, long-term functional results are frequently affected by the duration of limb ischemia before revascularization, and concomitant injuries to bone, nerve, and soft tissue.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Pelvic open fractures.

Thirty-one of 738 patients with pelvic fracture (1970--1978) had open pelvic fractures. Eight per cent of all pelvic fractures due to pedestrian accidents and 12.5% due to motorcycle accidents were open. The mortality for open pelvic fractures was 42% compared with 10.3% for closed pelvic fractures. The open pelvic fracture was the primary or an important secondary cause of death in 85% of patients who died. Major causes of death related to open pelvic fracture are (1) hemorrhage and (2) sepsis and/or renal failure. Major vascular injury is common with open pelvic fracture (19%) and compounds the problem of blood loss. Therapy is directed to blood volume replacement, repair of major vascular injury and to control of diffuse retroperitoneal hemorrhage. Any drainage should be by a closed system. This procedure plus colostomy with perineal, vaginal or rectal injury should decrease septic complications. The high mortality reflects the inadequacy of current methods of treatment of open pelvic fractures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

The management of human bite injuries of the hand.

Three hundred twenty-seven bite injuries of the hand were reviewed for incidence of infectious complications. A policy to hospitalize all patients with human bite injuries was maintained, but noncompliance was high. Patients with uninfected or superficially infected bites (131) were hospitalized and treated with parenteral penicillin, cephalosporins, or clindamycin (mean duration, 45 hours). Among the 62 patients not lost to followup three minor septic complications occurred. Of similar patients not hospitalized (134), only two thirds received antibiotic therapy but no complications were observed. These data suggest that human bite hand infections can be averted and that established superficial infections can be successfully treated with outpatient antibiotic therapy. Of the 62 patients with moderately to severely infected human bites, 77% were injured by striking an opponent; 52% suffered injury over metacarpophalangeal joints. The mean delay in seeking medical attention was 2 1/2 days, compared to 1/2 day in the less severely infected group. Of the patients with more seriously infected bites, 94% received parenteral antibiotic therapy. Of 30 patients with known outcome in the latter group 27% suffered complications (stiffness; recurrent infection; other infectious complication), confirming the high morbidity of established deep hand infections secondary to human bites.

Bites and Stings↗
PubMed1979

The unchanged mortality of flail chest injuries.

Six hundred eighty-five patients with major blunt thoracic injuries from 1968 through 1977 were retrospectively studied. This series was compared to a similar series from 1959 through 1964. Between 1964 and 1968 a vastly improved hospital was built, laboratory support improved, pressure-controlled ventilators replaced by volume-controlled ventilators and the trauma service was reorganized. The treatment regimen for flail chest injuries during the last decade evolved from the previous early tracheostomy and prolonged ventilator support to an avoidance of tracheostomy and brief ventilator support. The overall mortality in the present series was 20% compared to 35% for the 1959--1964 series; however, improved mortality occurred only among patients with hemothorax who had one or more major concomitant extrathoracic injuries. The mortality for flail chest injuries did not improve (29.5 vs 35.0%). Mortality was unchanged for isolated flail chest injuries, isolated pneumothorax, isolated hemothorax, and for flail chest injuries, and pneumothorax in patients with concomitant major extrathoracic injuries. In both series deaths from isolated thoracic injuries were rare. It is evident that the continued high mortality for blunt thoracic trauma principally relates to concomitant extrathoracic injuries and that recent treatment innovations have not reduced the mortality of flail chest injuries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Intracranial pressure monitoring in the acute neurologic assessment of multi-injured patients.

The trauma victim with a severe closed head injury, who requires general anesthesia for emergency repair of concomitant exigent major injuries, poses a clinical dilemma. During general anesthesia and during the immediate postoperative period, the status of the patient's central nervous system cannot be clinically monitored, and emergency cerebral arteriograms and/or CAT scans are not easily obtained. Under these circumstances, delays in the diagnosis of intracranial blood accumulations frequently occur, and occult cerebral edema often goes untreated. In an attempt to avoid these management problems, we have employed intraoperative intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring in such patients, using a subarachnoid screw. Following placement of this screw, several clinical courses may occur: 1) The patient maintains a normal pressure; thus a significant mass lesion and/or cerebral edema requiring decompression is unlikely. 2) The patient's ICP is elevated but controlled by medical management. 3) The patient's ICP cannot be controlled below 20 to 25 mm Hg using medical management, and exploratory burr holes are made. 4) If intracranial blood is encountered during placement of the ICP monitor, immediate exploratory craniotomy is indicated.

Adolescent↗