Biomedical subjects

J T Pettersen

Publications and source records attributed to J T Pettersen.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1993

[Splenic neoplasms].

Carcinomas of the spleen are rare, whether primary or secondary. Two patients are described, one with a primary angiosarcoma. In this patient the first symptom was abdominal pain, caused by spontaneous rupture of the spleen. The other case was a woman with carcinoma of the breast which metastasized to the spleen. Both underwent splenectomy and adjuvant oncological treatment. Angiosarcomas constitute less than 1% of all sarcomas. Only about 60 cases of angiosarcomas in the spleen have been reported in the world literature. Spontaneous rupture of the spleen occurred in 30% of these cases. The prognosis for both untreated and treated splenic angiosarcomas is poor. Virtually all malignant tumours have been shown to metastasize to the spleen, most frequently from primary tumours localised to the breast, lung or ovary. Neoplasm should be considered for patients with splenomegaly having no apparent cause.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Endothelin-1 and endotoxemia.

Sepsis leads to changes in blood volume and distribution. In the experiments reported here we monitored circulatory changes during endotoxemia and their relation to portal and systemic levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1). Piglets were monitored cardiovascularly under ketamine anesthesia for 6 h after an endotoxin infusion (saline controls). ET-1 levels in plasma were analyzed by RIA. In both portal and systemic blood a twofold increase in ET-1 levels was found after 1 h. This level remained significantly elevated for a further 3 h. This increase was concurrent with a drop in cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, and blood pressure. In the portal circulation there was increased portal pressure and vascular resistance. There was no significant difference between the systemic and portal levels of ET-1.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

[Necrosis of the small intestine. A diagnostic and therapeutic challenge].

The paper describes three patients with small intestinal necrosis from different causes: One patient had diabetes, and severe ketoacidosis, which may cause microthrombosis in small intestinal vessels. This patient died in septic shock during laparotomy, removing the necrotic gut. The second patient was laparotomized because of free air in the abdomen originating from a clostridial intestinal infection. The third patient caught a salmonella infection during a holiday in the Canaries, thereafter peritonitis due to small intestinal necrosis. These three patients illustrate principal aspects of the surgical management of patients with intestinal necrosis. Firstly, necrotic intestinal segments must be removed as soon as possible. Delay represents a threat to the patient's life in all situations when intestinal segments are devascularized. Secondly, relaparotomy may be mandatory in clostridial intra-abdominal infections. We report these patients to illustrate that well known surgical principles may be life-saving if effectuated without delay. This applies also in the case of patients with uncommon diseases and complications.

Aged↗