PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Cardi

Publications and source records attributed to M Cardi.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Cardial achalasia and emotional stress. Considerations on 47 clinical cases].

Reference is made to personal experience of psycholability is most patients with cardiac achalasia in presenting the results of a preliminary study of the relation between psychic trauma and the onset of this affection, in which a retrospective investigation was made of 47 clinical records prepared for surgical purposes, and hence poorly oriented. It was found that 16 patients (34%) spontaneously reported that dysphagia was closely related to a psychic trauma in terms of time. While no aetiopathogenetic theories can be founded on this observation, it suggests that the question can be usefully examined further by means of more specific psychological investigations that are more appropriate for employment in subsequent cases, the aim being to determine whether the trauma in question triggers the disease, or is simply a sign revealing the presence of an already existing condition.

Adolescent↗

Pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas: a case report.

An 11 year old boy had a congenital pulmonary arteriovenous fistula, which was previously mistaken for a congenital cyanotic cardiopathy. After the diagnosis was established, the patient was successfully operated. Considering the high mortality of the untreated cases and the recent advances in pulmonary surgery techniques, the importance of a correct diagnosis and an early surgical treatment of these lesions, is reaffirmed.

Arteriovenous Malformations↗

Surgical treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

The role of surgery in the treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is still discussed. The aim of this study was to verify our criteria of patient selection for splenectomy, to analyze the results of a protocol for the evaluation of the hemorrhagic risk, and to discuss long-term results of 70 patients with ITP who underwent surgical treatment from 1984 to 1990. All patients received steroid therapy. Sixty-two patients were given high doses of IgG (600 mg/kg/iv bolus) pre-operatively in order to obviate the need for intra-operative platelet transfusions. Forty-three patients showed a significant increase in the platelet count, 8 a moderate increase, while 11 patients did not respond. No operative mortality was observed, however postoperative minor complications occurred in 14 (20%) patients. Accessory spleens were found in 11 (15.7%) patients. Mean follow-up was 21 months. Response to splenectomy was considered as complete (platelets greater than 150,000 mm3 with no need for medical treatment) in 63 (90%) patients. No response was observed in 7 patients. In 2 of the non-responders postoperative indium-111 scan revealed accessory spleens and ITP remitted after accessory splenectomy. All non-responders were in the group of patients who did not respond to the pre-operative infusion of high dose IgG. It can be concluded that splenectomy is a safe and effective treatment for ITP and that response to pre-operative infusion of IgG may be considered as predictive for the outcome after splenectomy.

Adolescent↗

Gastrointestinal surgical emergencies in patients treated for hemathological malignancies.

BACKGROUND: Upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms are major and serious complications in patients who undergo chemotherapy for hematological malignancies. Their most frequent causes are acute intestinal graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after bone marrow transplant, infections, toxicity or preexisting gastrointestinal diseases. Mortality can reach 30-60% of cases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report 15 cases operated on for abdominal emergencies: 3 severe gastrointestinal bleeding and 12 acute abdomen. RESULTS: We performed 10 bowel resections, one cholecystectomy, one splenectomy, two laparotomy with pancreatic debridement and peritoneal lavage, and one suture of perforated peptic ulcer. Operative mortality was 33.3% (5/15). Deaths have been reported only in the group of patients with acute abdomen. In all cases death was correlated to generalized sepsis related to immunosuppression. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that an aggressive approach, consisting of close monitoring and early laparotomy combined with vigorous supportive therapy, should be used when dealing with suspected gastrointestinal complications in patients with hematological malignancies.

Adolescent↗

Results of emergency surgery in patients with Moschowitz's disease refractory to hematological treatment: is splenectomy always advisable?

BACKGROUND: Patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), Moschowitz's disease, run a high risk of perioperative bleeding and need intensive hematologic support. In some patients, TTP is associated with cancer but the surgical role in these patients is still unclear. To illustrate the surgical problems and outcome we present the case histories of three patients with TTP observed in our emergency department. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two patients had TTP secondary to cancer and one patient with primary TTP (no evidence of neoplasia) had emergency operation for gastric hemorrhage, occlusion and TTP unresponsive to plasmapheresis. RESULTS: The first two patients who had not radical resection of cancer and no splenectomy, died for TTP complications. The third patient who underwent emergency splenectomy, had an uneventful postoperative course and TTP completely regressed. CONCLUSIONS: These case reports suggest that patients with TTP should be screened to rule out cancer. In patients with acute cancer-related complications emergency surgery should aim to resect the cancer. An associated splenectomy may increase the effectiveness of postoperative hematologic therapy.

Adult↗

Videoassisted transhiatal esophagectomy for cancer.

Blunt transhiatal esophagectomy is largely performed in selected cases of esophageal cancer according to the experience of Mark Orringer. We have recently performed eleven consecutive videolaparoscopy assisted transhiatal esophagectomies in order to help esophageal dissection and to avoid injuries to mediastinal structures. In our experience the routine use of laparoscopic assistance during transhiatal esophageal dissection improves the safety of this technique and lowers postoperative complications. The results of neoadjuvant treatments (radio-chemotherapy) recently reported emphasize the role of transhiatal esophagectomy for cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗