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Biomedical subjects

K Karam

Publications and source records attributed to K Karam.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Successful pregnancy outcome following Tompkins metroplasty done early in pregnancy.

A hysterosalpingogram revealed a septate uterus in a 29 year old nulliparous woman with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss. The patient underwent Tompkins metroplasty in the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle. One month after the operation she presented with a delay in her menses and a positive pregnancy test. Ultrasound revealed a viable fetus commensurate with 10 weeks gestation, making the gestation period 5 weeks at the time of surgery. After reviewing the patient's menstrual history it was found that the period the patient had before surgery was on time but with unusually minimal bleeding. A repeat ultrasound scan for anomaly done 7 weeks later was commensurate with 17 weeks gestation. The patient carried her pregnancy for the first time until approximately 37 weeks when she delivered by Caesarean section a healthy female baby weighing 3700 g.

Abortion, Habitual↗

Artificial endometrial preparation for oocyte donation using synthetic estrogen and progestogen.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of an oocyte donation program using synthetic estrogen and progestational agents for uterine preparation. METHODS: Conjugated estrogen, 1.25 mg per day at increasing doses and dydrogesterone, a synthetic progestogen, 30 mg per day were used for uterine priming. All embryo transfers were done on day 2 of progestogen supplementation. RESULTS: The pregnancy rates were 38% per embryo transfer. The ongoing pregnancy rate was 31% with an abortion rate of 20%. CONCLUSION: Endometrial preparation in an oocyte donation program using orally administered synthetic estrogen and progestogen gives pregnancy rates comparable to those reported with natural products.

Adult↗

Is there a safe anticoagulation protocol for pregnant women with prosthetic valves?

We studied the outcome of 41 pregnancies in an attempt to identify an appropriate and safe anticoagulant regimen for pregnant women with cardiac valve prosthesis. The cumulative number of events: (neonatal death, premature deliveries, intrauterine fetal death and spontaneous abortion) was 66.6%, 20%, 12.5% and 20% in the Coumadin, Fraxiparine, Heparin and porcine valve groups, respectively. We conclude that in pregnant women with mechanical heart valves, low molecular weight heparin therapy is a superior strategy compared to warfarin.

Adult↗

Anaphylactic shock during hysteroscopy using Hyskon solution: case report and review of adverse reactions and their treatment.

Dextran 70 (Hyskon) solution, as many other substances, is in current use as distension medium during hysteroscopy. The advantages of Hyskon solution are its nonconductivity and immiscibility with blood, allowing good visibility during operative hysteroscopy. Adverse reactions to Hyskon are mainly attributable to the drug's antigenic properties and include severe anaphylactic reactions and fatalities. We report a case of anaphylactic shock during hysteroscopy using Hyskon solution as the distension medium, review the adverse reactions of Hyskon and summarize the treatment modalities used to decrease the incidence of the rare but serious adverse reactions with its use.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Onset of vecuronium neuromuscular block is more rapid in patients undergoing caesarean section.

This investigation was carried out in ten patients undergoing elective Caesarean section and the results were compared with those of a control group of ten nonpregnant females of the same age group. The study investigated the onset of vecuronium neuromuscular block and the conditions of tracheal intubation when ketamine (1.5 mg.kg-1)-vecuronium 100 micrograms.kg-1) sequence was used for rapid-sequence induction of anaesthesia. The ulnar nerve was stimulated supra-maximally at the wrist with train-of-four stimuli every 20 sec, and the electromyographic response of the adductor pollicis muscle was displayed. The onset of 50% neuromuscular block as monitored by electromyography was shorter in the Caesarean group (80 +/- 30 sec) than in the control group (144 +/- 43 sec). The conditions of intubation at 50% block were adequate in both groups. Also, the onset of 90% block was shorter in the Caesarean group. The time of recovery to T1/control ratio of 25% was longer in the Caesarean group (46 +/- 10 min) than in the control patients (28 +/- 10 min). The results show that administration of vecuronium according to body weight results in a more rapid onset and delayed recovery of neuromuscular block in pregnant women undergoing Caesarean section than in the nonpregnant control patients.

Adult↗

Gonadotropin secreting pituitary microadenoma.

FSH and LH secreting pituitary adenomas may not be as rare as has been previously thought. Women in their reproductive years with a normal estrogenic state and hypergonadotropic amenorrhea should be suspected to harbor a pituitary microadenoma secreting gonadotropins. A computerized tomogram of the pituitary confirms the diagnosis. Two such cases who underwent transphenoidal resection of their adenomas are presented. Pituitary dynamic testing is normal in both. Laparoscopic directed ovarian biopsies show primordial follicles in one and a corpus luteum in the other. Transphenoidal resection, with the risk of permanent hypopituitarism, should be weighed against expectant management, with periodic evaluation of pituitary functions, until the natural history of these adenomas is uncovered.

Adenoma↗

Uterine unification procedures: post-operative obstetrical outcome.

Seventeen patients with different uterine anomalies underwent unification procedures for various indications. Preoperative obstetrical performance segregated them into three main groups: seven patients had only first trimester abortion (group A), seven patients had second trimester abortion with or without first trimester abortion (group B) and three patients were infertile (group C). Postoperatively, all seven patients in group A became pregnant with 100% viable pregnancy rate. Six patients in group B became pregnant (85.7%) and five (57%) had living children. All three patients with primary infertility (group C) became pregnant and two had living babies. The overall pregnancy rate was 94.1% and the viable pregnancy rate was 76.5%. Uterine unification procedures are recommended for patients with repeated first trimester abortions as well as for selected patients with infertility.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Hyperthecosis syndrome. Clinical, endocrinologic and histologic findings.

Five patients were found to have hyperthecosis ovarii as evidenced by the presence of large lipid containing thecal cells in the ovarian stroma. The clinical picture was similar in all of them, featuring mild virilization, obesity and oligomenorrhea, with refractoriness to clomid therapy. Plasma FSH levels were low normal, while LH levels were slightly elevated. Urinary 17-ketosteroids levels were elevated, and plasma testosterone concentrations were upper normal. The response to dexamethasone suppression and HCG stimulation is discussed. The effect of wedge resection on the clinical and endocrinologic pictures is evaluated.

17-Ketosteroids↗

Ovarian biopsy in the evaluation of amenorrhea.

Endoscopic ovarian biopsies were performed on 78 amenorrheic patients in an attempt to determine the etiology of their amenorrhea and predict its prognosis, correlating the histologic examination with physical findings, endocrine patterns and cytogenetic studies. Ovarian follicles were present while gonadotropins were high in 14 cases (6 primary, 8 secondary) and there were no follicles in 4 cases (3 primary, 1 secondary) whose gonadotropins were low. Secondary sex characteristics were well developed without prior estrogen stimulation in 5 cases of primary amenorrhea who had no follicles and whose gonadotropins were either low, 3, or high, 2. The mere presence of ovarian follicles was not enough to make them responsive to gonadotropin stimulation whether endogenous or exogenous; a phenomenon that had to do with the quality and quantity of germinal follicles available. The histologic examination of ovarian tissue for the evaluation of amenorrhea has been made feasible and relatively safe through recent advances in endoscopic techniques.

Adolescent↗