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Biomedical subjects

L D Jee

Publications and source records attributed to L D Jee.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Four decades of conjoined twins at Red Cross Children's Hospital--lessons learned.

Conjoined twins represent a rare but fascinating congenital condition, the aetiology of which remains obscure. Over the past four decades, the paediatric surgeons at Red Cross Children's Hospital have been involved in the management of 46 pairs of conjoined twins, of which 33 have been symmetrical and 12 asymmetrical. Seventeen symmetrical twins have undergone separation with 22 children (65%) surviving; all of the live asymmetrical twins survived separation. We describe the important features of this unique cohort, outline our approach to management and present the results of this approach. We consider some of the ethical and moral dilemmas we have confronted, and discuss the prenatal diagnosis, obstetric implications and postnatal care of these children, including the relevant investigations and anaesthetic and surgical management. Specific aspects related to the cardiovascular system, hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal tracts, urogenital tract, central nervous system and musculoskeletal system are highlighted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

The value of laparoscopy for impalpable testes.

Impalpable testes constitute up to 20% of cases of undescended testes and present both a diagnostic and a therapeutic problem. Knowledge of testicular site prior to orchidopexy is useful in planning surgical strategy. Misdirected blind inguinal exploration can be avoided. Many imaging techniques are time-consuming and expensive and can neither confidently locate an impalpable testis nor exclude its absence. Recently laparoscopy has been advocated as a safe and efficient method of identifying presence and site of an impalpable testis. The first stage of a divided-vessel orchidopexy may also be performed simultaneously. Fifty children with 60 impalpable testes--40 unilateral and 10 bilateral--underwent laparoscopic examination prior to groin exploration. In 5 (8%) an inguinal testis was found which had been missed on pre-operative palpation. The testis was absent in 23 (38%), of whom 13 had a limited negative groin exploration because cord structures were seen entering the internal ring. In 30 (50%) an intra-abdominal testis was identified; 14 were relocated into the scrotum with a standard orchidopexy, 16 required a divided-vessel orchidopexy. In 2 (4%) intra-abdominal testicular remnants were removed. There was no operative morbidity. We conclude that laparoscopy is a useful technique in the management of children with impalpable testes. Open perumbilical insertion of the trochar is a safe method of introducing the telescope into the peritoneal cavity. In addition to accurately identifying a testis in 60%, 40% were spared the pain and morbidity of an extensive groin exploration.

Child↗
PubMed1995

Congenital testicular maldescent: significance of the complete hernial sac.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that testicular maldescent is rarely congenital in the absence of a complete hernial sac. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study comprised 110 boys undergoing orchidopexy. Operative findings (complete hernial sac versus no hernial sac) were compared with recorded testicular descent at birth. RESULTS: Among 70 testes recorded as maldescended neonatally there was no example without a complete hernial sac at orchidopexy. Among 60 recorded as descended neonatally, 43 had no sac at orchidopexy. CONCLUSIONS: The findings are consistent with the hypothesis, though not with the proposition, that the presence of a complete hernial sac at orchidopexy constitutes proof of congenital testicular maldescent.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1993

Experience with duplex system anomalies detected by prenatal ultrasonography.

We reviewed 39 neonates with prenatally diagnosed duplex system anomalies. Principal diagnoses were ureterocele in 15 patients, ureteral ectopia in 15, lower polar vesicoureteral reflux in 6, lower pole ureteropelvic junction stasis in 2 and yo-yo reflux in an incompletely duplicated system in 1. Several patients had other ipsilateral and contralateral urinary anomalies. Ten patients (26%) had relevant physical signs and only 1 became symptomatic, with urosepsis, neonatally. At initial assessment, before any accounted urinary tract infection, renal polar function as judged by radionuclide examinations almost always was severely impaired in the presence of major ureteral ectopia or severe reflux. By contrast, function was usually well preserved when there was obstruction, or lesser degrees of ectopia or reflux. A total of 19 patients underwent surgery (14 electively and 5 after episodes of urosepsis), while 20 have been managed nonoperatively for 12 to 84 months (mean 34) during which time the appearances and function of the upper renal tracts have remained stable. We conclude that the natural history of these anomalies is often benign and that a policy of routine surgical intervention, developed when most cases presented symptomatically, may not be appropriate in patients who present antenatally.

Female↗
PubMed1993

Posterior urethral valves. Does prenatal diagnosis influence prognosis?

Forty-eight boys with posterior urethral valves were reviewed to assess the impact on prognosis of prenatal ultrasonography, which had been the method of diagnosis in 17 of them; the remaining 31 presented postnatally. Renal function before treatment was mildly to moderately impaired in 59% of those presenting prenatally, 42% presenting before 3 months of age and 25% of those first presenting when older than 3 months. All but one of the infants diagnosed prenatally had clinical signs and/or elevated serum creatinine in the early neonatal period. Eight had associated maternal oligohydramnios, of whom 6 presented prenatally and 2 postnatally: this factor was associated with a poor prognosis, with renal impairment persisting in 6 of these patients after treatment. Renal function did not relate consistently to the presence or otherwise of vesicoureteric reflux (unilateral or bilateral). Twelve of the patients who presented postnatally had normal fetal ultrasonography late in pregnancy, of whom 11 had upper tract dilatation when investigated. Six of these patients who currently have impaired renal function did not have maternal oligohydramnios, and it is argued that antenatal detection of the condition would have been beneficial in less than 20% of patients presenting postnatally with posterior urethral valves.

Child↗
PubMed1992

Natural history of obstructed and pseudo-obstructed megaureters detected by prenatal ultrasonography.

In a series of 38 patients with non-refluxing megaureters detected by prenatal ultrasonography, 89% were males and 16% had associated ipsilateral or contralateral urinary anomalies. By renographic criteria, 36% of ureters were not obstructed; renal function was never impaired initially and, on follow-up, spontaneous resolution of dilatation was common. Infective urinary calculi developed in 3 of the boys. In ureters obstructed by renographic or pressure-perfusion criteria, 79% exhibited normal renal function initially. Most such patients were managed expectantly; on follow-up, functional deterioration occurred in 2 patients, while in the remainder dilatation usually persists but without change in function.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1986

Acute effect of nifedipine on blood pressure and left ventricular ejection fraction in severely hypertensive outpatients: predictive effects of acute therapy and prolonged efficacy when added to existing therapy.

Nifedipine is known to reduce blood pressure both acutely and chronically. However, the following questions remain to be answered: can nifedipine be given acutely and safety to patients with severe hypertension in an outpatient setting, would its efficacy be retained with long-term therapy, and is nifedipine safe in the presence of cardiomegaly? Nifedipine (10 mg capsule sublingually) was given to 46 outpatients with severe or apparently refractory hypertension; 19 were followed-up for 18 months and 18 for 24 months. Nifedipine reduced blood pressure acutely and safely in 43 of 46 outpatients (mean control diastolic pressure 137 mm Hg), irrespective of prior treatment regimen. Blood pressure levels after 2 to 24 months of twice daily oral nifedipine (10 mg) were similar to 20-minutes levels, showing that tolerance did not occur. In a separate series of 37 patients, who had radiologic cardiomegaly in addition to hypertension, the control ejection fraction was 62%. Nifedipine, when used acutely, slightly increased the ejection fraction to 65% (p less than 0.005). Our studies show that in outpatients with severe hypertension, sublingual nifedipine is an antihypertensive agent which acts swiftly and safely, without causing a decrease in the ejection fraction when it is used for acute blood pressure reduction, and that subsequent therapy with oral nifedipine results in a predictive long-term hypotensive effect.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1985

Double-blind trial comparing labetalol with atenolol in the treatment of systemic hypertension with angina pectoris.

Some theoretical arguments suggest that added vasodilation could be beneficial in the management of patients with systemic hypertension and angina pectoris. Ten patients were studied in a double-blind crossover trial in which the severity of hypertension and angina pectoris was monitored. The initial run-in period of 2 to 6 weeks consisted of therapy with fixed-dose atenolol, 100 mg once daily, a thiazide diuretic drug, and any other agents required to control the hypertension. Patients were then randomized for 4 weeks to active atenolol plus 2 tablets of labetalol placebo, or active labetalol (200 mg twice daily) plus atenolol placebo, then crossed over and then changed back to active atenolol without labetalol placebo; the observers were unblinded in the last period. Labetalol and atenolol were equivalent in control of blood pressure at rest, exercise tolerance and use of nitroglycerin; however, heart rates at rest and during exercise were higher with labetalol (p less than 0.01), whereas the heart rate-blood pressure product at the end of the exercise test was unchanged with labetalol. The higher heart rates for the same antianginal efficacy may give an advantage to labetalol treatment in some patients. Conversely, atenolol is cardioselective, hydrophilic, and can be given as a single daily dose. Thus, each agent has some advantages in the therapy of patients with hypertension and effort angina.

Adult↗