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J Gana

Publications and source records attributed to J Gana.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

[Practicability of the vaginal prolapse surgery in the elderly woman].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the vaginal prolapse cure in the elderly woman. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study is carried out on 38 patients of more than 80 years, operated for a vaginal genital prolapse cure between November 1997 and October 2004. The patients' general state of health, the type of analgesia, the operative type and time, the per- and postoperative complications and the evolution of the patients one month after the intervention, had been assessed. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 84.2 (80-95). The patients' general state of health, according to the ASA classification was about 55.3% ASA II, and about 44.7% ASA III. The anaesthesia was general in 92.1% and spinal in 7.9%. The operating type was vaginal hysterectomy associated to a Marion-Kelly and a posterior perineorrhaphy in 68.4%; and a simple vaginal hysterectomy, associated more or less to the installation of a TVT in 13.1%; an intervention of Lefort, a case of Richter and a case of simple colpectomy in 10.5%. The average operative time is about 43 minutes. The peroperative complications can be summed up in a conversion in laparotomy due to haemorrhage, and a case of ligation of the right urethra. The transfer in an intensive care unit during 24 hours is necessary only for one case in 38. The postoperative complications are in one case death at eleventh day as a result of a pulmonary embolism, and a case of temporospatial disorientation and a prolapse relapse at 6 months. The duration of stay in hospital is about 7 days (2-18). The surgery did not affect the autonomy of the patients at one month. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Vaginal prolapse concerning the elderly woman is workable in quite common practice; it involves a good cooperation between anaesthetist and surgeon. The vital risk is really present but relative. This functional surgery must not be delayed by the installation of a pessary which must be used only for the inoperable patients.

Aged, 80 and over↗

Detection of the sentinel lymph node under local anaesthesia in early-stage breast cancer: feasibility study in a series of 78 unselected patients.

AIMS: To evaluate the feasibility of excision of the sentinel lymph node under local anaesthesia in early-stage breast cancer. METHODS: Sentinel lymph node detection under local anaesthesia was carried out on all patients presenting with breast cancer at Stage T0, T1 or T2 < 3 cm and N0, M0. The lymph node was mapped using a radioisotope and patent blue dye and lymphoscintigraphy was routinely performed. No premedication was given, and local anaesthesia was carried out with xylocaine. The patients underwent tumorectomy one week later under general anaesthesia, with or without complete axillary dissection, depending on the results of the definitive histopathological examination of the sentinel lymph node. RESULTS: 78 patients underwent this procedure over a period of 20 months. The procedure was successful in 76 out of the 78 patients, with one failure in mapping and one failure in detection (detection rate = 97.4%). The mean time to detection was 21 min (range: 6-45). It was unnecessary to interrupt the procedure due to patient discomfort in any of the cases. One allergic reaction to patent blue dye was noted and required corticosteroid therapy without interruption of the procedure. The time to detection was correlated with the experience of the surgeon carrying of the procedure, the patient's body mass index and the number of labelled lymph nodes found at lymphoscintigraphy. CONCLUSION: We have shown that it is feasible to detect the sentinel lymph node under local anaesthesia in an unselected population. Using this procedure, patients can undergo surgery with the knowledge of their axillary lymph node status while at the same time avoiding the uncertainties of an intraoperative examination of the sentinel lymph node--a source of many false negatives, particularly in the event of micrometastases.

Anesthesia, Local↗

Infections caused by Escherichia coli resistant to norfloxacin in hospitalized cirrhotic patients.

Selective intestinal decontamination with norfloxacin is useful to prevent bacterial infections in several groups of cirrhotic patients at high risk of infection. However, the emergence of infections caused by Escherichia coli resistant to quinolones has recently been observed in cirrhotic patients undergoing prophylactic norfloxacin. Our aim is to determine the characteristics of the infections caused by E. coli resistant to norfloxacin in hospitalized cirrhotic patients. One hundred and six infections caused by E. coli in 99 hospitalized cirrhotic patients were analyzed and distributed into two groups: group I (n = 67), infections caused by E. coli sensitive to norfloxacin, and group II (n = 39), infections caused by E. coli resistant to norfloxacin. The clinical and analytical characteristics at diagnosis of the infection were similar in both groups. Previous prophylaxis with norfloxacin was more frequent in group II (15/67, 22.4% vs. 32/39, 82%, P <.0001), as a result of a higher number of patients submitted to continuous long-term prophylaxis in this group, whereas previous short-term prophylaxis was similar in both groups. Infections were more frequently nosocomial-acquired in group II than in group I (17/67, 25.3% vs. 20/39, 51.2%, P =.01). The type of infections was similar in both groups: urinary tract infections 38 in group I and 24 in group II, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis 8 and 2, spontaneous bacteremia 4 and 4, and bacterascites 1 and 0, respectively (pNS). Mortality during hospitalization was similar in the two groups (4/67, 5.9% vs. 5/39, 12.8%, pNS). None of the E. coli resistant to norfloxacin were also resistant to cefotaxime and only one of them was resistant to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. Prophylaxis with norfloxacin, usually continuous long-term prophylaxis, favors the development of infections caused by norfloxacin-resistant E. coli. Long-term antibiotic prophylaxis should therefore be restricted to highly selected groups of cirrhotic patients at high-risk of infection. Infections caused by E. coli resistant to norfloxacin show a severity similar to those caused by sensitive E. coli. No significant associated resistance between norfloxacin and the antibiotics most frequently used in the treatment of bacterial infections in cirrhotic patients has been observed.

Aged↗

Total paracentesis in cirrhotic patients with tense ascites and dilutional hyponatremia.

OBJECTIVE: The safety of large-volume paracentesis with plasma expander infusion in ascitic cirrhotic patients with advanced liver disease, hyponatremia, or renal failure has not been elucidated. Our aim was to investigate the safety of total paracentesis in cirrhotic patients with ascites and severe hyponatremia. METHODS: Forty-five cirrhotic patients with tense ascites were treated with total paracentesis and infusion of plasma expanders. At inclusion, 20 patients showed severe hyponatremia (serum sodium <130 mEq/L). In the remaining 25 patients, serum sodium was >130 mEq/L (range, 133-146 mEq/L). RESULTS: Plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) were significantly higher in patients with hyponatremia (PRA: 19.7 +/- 5.8 ng/mL/h; PAC: 217 +/- 35 ng/dL) than in those patients without hyponatremia (PRA: 4.9 +/- 1.1 ng/mL/h; PAC: 95 +/- 31 ng/dL), indicating a more severe systemic hemodynamic deterioration. After paracentesis, PRA and PAC increased similarly in both groups of patients. Serum sodium levels remained unchanged after paracentesis in patients with hyponatremia (127 +/- 0.5 to 128 +/- 1.5 mEq/L) and decreased slightly in patients without hyponatremia (137 +/- 1 to 135 +/- 1 mEq/L; p < 0.005). The incidence of complications during the first hospitalization, the probability of readmission for complications of cirrhosis, and the probability of survival at 1 yr were similar in both groups of patients. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that therapeutic paracentesis is a safe treatment for tense ascites in cirrhotic patients with severe hyponatremia.

Adult↗

Hemodynamic changes in patients developing effective hypovolemia after total paracentesis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In many centers paracentesis is considered the treatment of choice for tense ascites. However, the mechanism of effective hypovolemia after paracentesis, the main complication associated with this procedure, remains unknown. In the current study, systemic hemodynamics was sequentially studied before and after total paracentesis in 46 patients with cirrhosis and tense ascites. The aim of the study was to assess the mechanism of effective hypovolemia after paracentesis. METHODS: Plasma renin activity and aldosterone, mean arterial pressure, cardiac output (ECO-Doppler) and systemic vascular resistance were measured before, and 3 h, 6 h and 6 days after total paracentesis associated with plasma volume expansion. RESULTS: Effective hypovolemia after paracentesis (defined as 50% increase in plasma renin activity up to a level over 4 ng x m(-1) x h(-1) at the 6th day after paracentesis) occurred in 20 cases [plasma renin activity increased from 8+/-17 to 19+/-2.7 ng x m(-1) x h(-1)]. In the remaining 26 cases no changes in plasma renin activity [8.5+/-2.4 vs. 8.7+/-2.2 ng x m(-1) x h(-1)] were observed. The amounts of ascitic fluid volume removed were similar. Effective hypovolemia after paracentesis was associated with a significant decrease in mean arterial pressure (89+/-2 vs. 81+/-3 mmHg) and systemic vascular resistance [1263+/-67 vs. 1014+/-80 dyn x s(-1) x cm(-5)] 6 days after treatment. In contrast, no significant changes in these parameters were observed in patients not developing this complication. In the whole group of patients a significant inverse relation was observed between changes in plasma renin activity and in systemic vascular resistance (r=0.74;p< 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that effective hypovolemia after paracentesis in cirrhosis is predominantly due to an accentuation of the arteriolar vasodilation already present in these patients.

Adult↗

[The cervix uteri in pregnancy].

It is during labor that the most dramatic changes to the cervix are apparent, yet the cervix begins its process of adapting early on in pregnancy. From an anatomic perspective, the gravid cervix is changed little in the beginning of pregnancy. It is strikingly less muscular than the rest of the uterus and its connective tissue is comprised essentially of collagen fibers and a matrix rich in proteoglycans. Cervical maturation begins imperceptibly during pregnancy but does not become noticeable until shortly before labor. These changes result from biochemical modifications of the cervical constituents with dissolving of collagen fibers and changes in the respective levels of different proteoglycans. The regulation of this maturation is still poorly understood; steroid hormones, prostaglandins, and collagenases have all been implicated. The effacement and dilatation of the cervix occur with labor. Effacement corresponds with thinning and opening of the internal os and dilatation corresponds with opening of the external os. These phenomena are passive, resulting from physical pressure from fetal engagement under the effects of uterine contractions. Our material understanding of cervical maturation and dilatation are still insufficient, for although we are better and better able to guide the induction and course of labor, it still is impossible for us to arrest premature cervical maturation in the setting of a threatened abortion or premature delivery.

Cervix Uteri↗

Continuous versus inpatient prophylaxis of the first episode of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis with norfloxacin.

Cirrhotic patients with ascites and low ascitic fluid total protein and/or high serum bilirubin levels are at high risk to develop the first episode of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis during long-term follow-up. The aim of the present study was to determine the efficacy of continuous long-term selective intestinal decontamination with norfloxacin in the prevention of this complication. One hundred nine cirrhotic patients with ascites and ascitic fluid total protein levels of < or = 1 g/dL or serum bilirubin levels of > 2.5 mg/dL without previous spontaneous bacterial peritonitis were prospectively randomized into two groups: group 1 (n = 56) received norfloxacin, 400 mg daily administered orally, and group 2 (n = 53) was the long-term control group, receiving norfloxacin only during hospitalization. During a mean follow-up of 43 +/- 3 weeks, there was one spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (1.8%) in group 1 and 9 (16.9%) in group 2 (P < .01). The incidence of community-acquired spontaneous bacterial peritonitis was lower in group 1 (1.8% vs. 13.2%, P < .05), whereas the incidence of nosocomial spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (0% vs. 3.7%) and the incidence of extraperitoneal infections (25% vs. 24.5%) were similar in both groups (P = NS). The actuarial probability of survival at 18 months was 75% in group 1 and 62% in group 2 (P = NS). Resistance to norfloxacin was observed in 9 of 10 (90%) Escherichia coli isolated in infections from group 1 and in 4 of 11 (36.3%) from group 2 (P < .05). The overall incidence of infections caused by norfloxacin-resistant bacteria was higher in group 1 (19.6% vs. 15%), but it did not reach statistical significance. Continuous long-term selective intestinal decontamination with norfloxacin is effective in preventing the first spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic patients at high risk. However, the emergence of infections caused by norfloxacin-resistant bacteria must be weighed carefully against the benefits of continuous long-term prophylaxis.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

Total paracentesis with dextran 40 vs diuretics in the treatment of ascites in cirrhosis: a randomized controlled study.

The aim of the current study was to compare total paracentesis associated with dextran-40 infusion with diuretics in the treatment of tense ascites in patients with cirrhosis. Eighty patients were randomly allocated to two groups: 40 patients were treated with paracentesis plus dextran-40 infusion (8 g per liter of ascitic fluid removed), and 40 patients with diuretics. After treatment patients were discharged with diuretics, and patients developing tense ascites during follow up (54 +/- 4 weeks) were treated according to their initial schedule. Paracentesis was more effective than diuretics in mobilizing the ascitic fluid. The incidence of complications was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the diuretic group (38%) than in the paracentesis group (15%). This difference was mainly due to a higher incidence of hepatic encephalopathy in the former group (30% vs. 2.5%). A significantly higher incidence of hepatic encephalopathy was also observed in the diuretic group during the follow-up readmissions for ascites recurrence. There were no significant differences between the two treatment groups in the probability of survival after inclusion. Plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone concentration measured before and 2 and 6 days after paracentesis in 20 randomly selected patients increased significantly (p < 0.05) (baseline values: 5.3 +/- 1.4 ng.ml-1.h-1 and 63 +/- 21 ng/dl; 48 h after paracentesis: 11.7 +/- 3.9 ng.ml-1.h-1 and 99 +/- 31 ng/dl; 6 days after paracentesis: 10.9 +/- 3 ng.ml-1.h-1 and 110 +/- 27 ng/dl).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗