PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Beauchant

Publications and source records attributed to M Beauchant.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Endoscopic management for hepatic duct injury in children].

Non-operative management of hepatic injury in children with abdominal trauma represents a standard of care. A major duct injury with persistent bile leakage may result from trauma to the liver. This injury is of concern in patients treated non operatively because it generally requires major hepatic surgery. We report on a case of a 13-year-old boy with an hepatic duct injury from trauma in which healing occurred without surgical repair or resection.

Adolescent↗

Polyethylene stent blockage: a porcine model.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic insertion of biliary stents is a useful treatment for obstructive jaundice resulting from unresectable tumors of the pancreas and biliary tree. The main drawback is the recurrence of jaundice due to clogging. The aim of this study was to establish an experimental model of polyethylene stent clogging in large white pigs. METHODS: A straight polyethylene stent of 5F (group I), 7F (group II) or 10F size (group III) was inserted in the common bile duct. Animals were killed at 2 months, or earlier if physical signs suggesting stent clogging occurred. Chemicophysical analysis of stent deposition combined stereomicroscopy and identification of the contents by means of Fourrier transform infrared spectroscopy. Bacteriologic analyses included identification of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and measurement of beta-glucuronidase, lecithinase and lipase activities. RESULTS: Physical signs suggesting stent obstruction or death occurred in 8 of 8 animals in group I, 11 of 12 in group II, and 2 of 8 in group III (p < 0.001). The proportion of mucoprotein in the stent contents tended to fall with increasing stent diameter (mean 82%, 58% and 47% for 5F, 7F and 10F, respectively), whereas wheat starch and calcium bilirubinate content increased with increasing stent diameter (9% and 4%, 18% and 10%, and 29% and 23% for 5F, 7 F, and 10F, respectively), although none of these differences were statistically significant. A variety of bacteria were cultured from the stent deposits, including anaerobic strains. Clostridium species were associated with the highest enzyme activities. CONCLUSIONS: In this model the major component of early stent deposits was mucoprotein, and numerous aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were isolated. Formation of calcium bilirubinate was a late phenomenon and poorly related to bacterial enzymatic activities.

Animals↗

Prevention of biliary stent occlusion by ursodeoxycholic acid plus norfloxacin: a multicenter randomized trial.

We report a prospective randomized multicenter trial that tested the efficacy of combining ursodeoxycholic acid and norfloxacin in the prevention of polyethylene stent clogging in patients with obstructive jaundice due to an unresectable malignancy at the level of the common bile duct. After insertion of a 10-Fr straight polyethylene stent, patients were allocated to receive oral treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid and norfloxacin, or conservative treatment. The primary outcome measure was stent blockage within six months. Thirty-three patients (group I) received ursodeoxycholic acid and norfloxacin, and 29 received conservative treatment (group II). At six months, cumulative stent patency rate did not differ significantly between group I (47+/-11%, mean +/- SE, median 149 days) and group II patients (24+/-10%, mean +/- SE, median 100 days, P = 0.23, log-rank test). Four stents were clogged by ursodeoxycholic acid. Survival did not differ between the two groups. Combined therapy with ursodeoxycholic acid and norfloxacin failed to improve stent patency. Moreover, ursodeoxycholic acid can cause stent obstruction.

Aged↗

Lack of effect of propranolol in the prevention of large oesophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis: a randomized trial. French-Speaking Club for the Study of Portal Hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: Beta-blockers have been shown to reduce portal pressure in patients with cirrhosis and limit the development of portosystemic shunts in portal hypertensive animals. Thus, a randomized double-blind trial was conducted to evaluate propranolol in the prevention of the development of large oesophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis without varices or with small varices. METHODS: One hundred and two patients received long-acting propranolol (160 mg/day) and 104 patients received a placebo. At inclusion, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of clinical characteristics or biochemical tests. At 2 years, the size of varices was estimated on video recordings. RESULTS: One-third of the patients were lost to follow-up, and 95%/97% of the remaining patients were compliant in the propranolol and placebo groups, respectively. At 2 years, the proportion of patients with large varices was 31% in the propranolol group and 14% in the placebo group (P< 0.05). Three and four patients bled in the propranolol and placebo groups, respectively, and nine and ten died, respectively. CONCLUSION: This trial suggests that propranolol administration cannot be recommended for the prevention of the development of large oesophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis; thus other studies are needed in selected subgroups of patients.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Anti-inflammatory drugs and variceal bleeding: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can have severe gastrointestinal effects and cause peptic ulcers to bleed. Acute bleeding from oesophageal varices is a major complication of cirrhosis of the liver. AIMS: To investigate the role, using a case-control study, of NSAIDs in first bleeding episodes associated with oesophageal or cardial varices in cirrhotic patients. PATIENTS/METHODS: A structured interview was conducted of 125 cirrhotic patients with bleeding mainly related to oesophageal varices and 75 cirrhotic controls with oesophageal varices who had never bled. RESULTS: Cirrhotic patients who were admitted for bleeding related to portal hypertension were more likely to have used NSAIDs during the week before the index day (31 of 125 (25%)) than the cirrhotic controls (eight of 75 (11%); odds ratio = 2.8, p = 0.016). Use of aspirin alone or combined with other NSAIDs was also more prevalent in the cases (21 of 125 (17%)) than in the controls (three of 75 (4%); odds ratio = 4.9, p = 0.007). Logistic regression analysis showed that NSAID use (p = 0.022, odds ratio = 2. 9, 95% confidence interval = 1.8 to 4.7) and variceal size (p<0.001, odds ratio = 4.0, 95% confidence interval = 1.4 to 11.5) were the only variables independently associated with the risk of bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Aspirin, used alone or combined with other NSAIDs, was associated with a first variceal bleeding episode in patients with cirrhosis. Given the life threatening nature of this complication, the possible benefit of this treatment should be weighed against the risk shown here. No firm conclusions could be drawn on non-aspirin NSAIDs used alone.

Adult↗

Effects of octreotide on lower esophageal sphincter in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

We investigated the effects of octreotide infusion on the contractile activity of the esophageal body and lower esophageal sphincter in cirrhotic patients with esophageal varices. Esophageal manometry was performed in 36 alcoholic cirrhotic patients. They were randomly allocated to three groups and received the following treatments blindly for 90 min: an initial 100-microg intravenous bolus followed by a continuous 25 microg/hr octreotide infusion (group I, N= 13), a continuous 25 micro/hr octreotide infusion without an initial bolus (group II, N=13), and a continuous placebo infusion (group III, N=10). Before drug infusion, mean lower esophageal sphincter pressure and mean esophageal body contraction pressure and duration were similar in the three groups. Compared to the placebo group, lower esophageal sphincter pressure increased significantly in groups I and II, 30 min (30%, 22%, 3% respectively; P= 0.006), 60 min (44%, 35%, 0.6%; P=0.0002), and 90 min (67%, 41%, 2.5%; P=0.0001) after octreotide infusion, as did esophageal body contraction pressure and duration. We conclude that octreotide has a potent effect on LES tone in cirrhotic patients.

Adult↗

Predictive factors of variceal bleeding control by emergency sclerotherapy. Multicenter Group.

OBJECTIVES: Acute bleeding from esophageal varices is a major complication of cirrhosis. Despite the large number of published studies no predictive factors of control of bleeding have been identified. We assessed the clinical and biological factors predictive of bleeding control within the first 2 weeks after a bleeding episode in a homogeneous group of patients enrolled in a large multicenter trial, who underwent a standardized emergency sclerotherapy session. METHODS: 101 patients with cirrhosis were enrolled. All had endoscopy-proven variceal bleeding, and the interval between hematemesis or melena and emergency sclerotherapy was always less than 24 hours. A second sclerotherapy session and other methods for the prevention of rebleeding were allowed after 5 days. RESULTS: Treatment failed in 16 patients after 24 hours and in a total of 33 patients after 15 days. Three of the 17 variables included in multivariate logistic analysis were associated with failure at 24 hours: encephalopathy (P = 0.006, OR = 4.0), blood transfusion prior to sclerotherapy (P = 0.012, OR = 6.2) and previous propranolol therapy (P = 0.022, OR = 4.6). Two variables were associated with failure between 24 hours and day 15 in patients successfully controlled after 24 hours: an interval between the onset of bleeding and sclerotherapy of less than 12 hours (P = 0.010) and blood transfusion (P = 0.018). After 15 days, three variables were associated with failure in a multivariate Cox model: encephalopathy (P = 0.0025, OR = 2.3), time to sclerotherapy (P = 0.022, OR 2.3) and blood transfusion before sclerotherapy (P = 0.0005, OR = 4.0). CONCLUSION: Encephalopathy, the severity of bleeding, assessed in terms of transfusion requirements, and the time between clinically overt bleeding and sclerotherapy are the main predictive factors of failure of the control of bleeding after emergency sclerotherapy for acute bleeding from esophageal varices.

Emergencies↗

[Peripheral neuropathies and chronic hepatitis C: a frequent association?].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the prevalence of the peripheral neuropathies associated with chronic hepatitis C and their clinical, electrophysiological and histological characteristics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty six patients admitted from December 1994 to January 1996 for chronic hepatitis C were prospectively investigated. Laboratory data included liver blood tests, serum cryoprecipitate immunoelectrophoresis, assays for anti-nuclear antibody, rheumatoid factor, circulating immune complexes, anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies. For each patient, a clinical neurological evaluation as well as an electrophysiological evaluation were performed by the same operator. In presence of peripheral neuropathy, a neuromuscular biopsy was performed. RESULTS: In seven patients (19%), a peripheral neuropathy was diagnosed related to hepatitis C virus in 3 patients. In these 3 patients presenting with leg paresthesia, an axonal sensitive neuropathy was evidenced by electromyography. A neuromuscular biopsy performed in two of these patients showed a severe diminution of the myelinated fibers associated with vasculitis lesions in one patient. A skin biopsy was performed in the third patient with leg purpura revealing a leukocytoclasic vasculitis. A positive cryoglobulinemia was found in two of these patients. CONCLUSION: In chronic hepatitis C, the prevalence of peripheral neuropathy is 8% and usually associated with cryoglobulinemia. It is an axonal neuropathy with diminution of the myelinated fibers and vasculitis lesions in the absence of cryoglobulinemia.

Adult↗

Early feeding or enteral nutrition in patients with cirrhosis after bleeding from esophageal varices? A randomized controlled study.

The aim of this randomized controlled study was to assess the nutritional and clinical effects of early enteral nutrition (EN) in cirrhotic patients with bleeding from esophageal varices. From August 1994 through August 1995, all patients admitted for acute variceal bleeding underwent emergency sclerotherapy or banding ligation and continuous infusion of octreotide and were randomized in two groups. In group A, patients received from day 1 discontinuous polymeric EN (1665 kcal/day, through nasogastric tube) and in group B, patients were nil by mouth. On day 4, all patients received oral diet. Nutritional status, liver function, and rebleeding were evaluated on days 4, 7, and 35. Twenty-two patients (17 men, 5 women, mean age 56 years) were included. On day 0, patients in group A (N = 12) and group B (N = 10) were comparable. On day 4, nitrogen balance was 0.7 +/- 2.5 g/day in group A and -11.2 +/- 6.7 g/day in group B (P = 0.01, Mann-Whitney test). On days 4, 7, and 35, no significant differences between the two groups were observed for nutritional status and liver function. Four (33%) group A patients rebled compared with one (10%) group B patient (NS). Hospital stay (14.5 +/- 4.1 days vs 12.9 +/- 5.3 days) and mortality (3 vs 2 patients), were comparable between the two groups. In conclusion, our study failed to demonstrate any favorable effect of short-term EN on nutritional status and liver function in cirrhotic patients hospitalized for variceal bleeding.

Adult↗

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and variceal bleeding: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of this case-control study was to assess the risk of bleeding from esophageal varices associated with aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug consumption. METHODS: Between January 1992 and May 1994, patients admitted for bleeding from esophageal or gastric lesions related to portal hypertension were matched with a control patient of the same age and sex, who was free of gastrointestinal bleeding. A structured interview was conducted with the cases and controls to determine drug consumption during the 2 weeks preceding admission. Fifty-nine cases and 59 controls were recruited. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Use of aspirin was more prevalent among the cases than the controls (odds ratio 3.81; 95% confidence interval 1.36-11.64; p = 0.004). This difference remained significant in the subgroups of patients with a first episode of variceal bleeding (odds ratio 3.9; 95% confidence interval 1.2-13.9, p = 0.01), but was not significant in the subgroups of patients with a recurrent episode of variceal bleeding. The use of aspirin was associated with a high risk of a first episode of variceal bleeding, suggesting that patients with portal hypertension should avoid taking these drugs.

Adult↗