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Biomedical subjects

M D Lamblin

Publications and source records attributed to M D Lamblin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Indications of electroencephalogram in the newborn].

The electroencephalogram (EEG), an easy-to-use and non invasive cerebral investigation, is a useful tool for diagnosis and early prognosis in newborn babies. In newborn full term babies manifesting abnormal clinical signs, EEG can point focal lesions or specific aetiology. EEG background activity and sleep organization have a high prognostic value. Tracings recorded over long period can detect seizures, with or without clinical manifestations, and differentiate them from paroxysmal non epileptic movements. The EEG should therefore be recorded at the beginning of the first symptoms, and if possible before any seizure treatment. When used as a neonatal prognostic tool, EEG background activity is classified as normal, abnormal (type A and type B discontinuous and hyperactive rapid tracing) or highly abnormal (inactive, paroxysmal, low voltage plus theta tracing). In such cases, the initial recording must be made between 12 and 48 h after birth, and then between 4 and 8 days of life. Severe EEG abnormalities before 12 h of life have no reliable prognostic value but may help in the choice of early neuroprotective treatment of acute cerebral hypoxia-ischemia. During presumed hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, unusual EEG patterns may indicate another diagnosis. In premature newborn babies (29-32 w GA) with neurological abnormalities, EEG use is the same as in term newborns. Without any neurological abnormal sign, EEG requirements depend on GA and the mother's or child's risk factors. Before 28 w GA, when looking for positive rolandic sharp waves (PRSW), EEG records are to be acquired systematically at D2-D3, D7-D8, 31-32 and 36 w GA. It is well known that numerous and persistent PRSW are related to periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) and indicate a bad prognosis. In babies born after 32 GA with clinically severe symptoms, an EEG should be performed before D7. Background activity, organization and maturation of the tracing are valuable diagnosis and prognosis indicators. These recommendations are designed (1) to get a maximum of precise informations from a limited number of tracings and (2) to standardize practices and thus facilitate comparisons and multicenter studies.

Electroencephalography↗

[Primary esophageal motor disorders in childhood, genuine achalasia excluded].

AIM: Esophageal manometry has been increasingly used in children allowing better description of esophageal primary disorders as partial achalasia. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe clinical manifestations of partial achalasia, to look for their specificities and to follow clinical and manometric evolution in response to treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighteen patients (mean age four years: range one month-13.5 years) presenting with partial achalasia were examined from 1990 to 1998. The symptomatology leading to esophageal manometry was: dysphagia (n = 9), gastroesophageal reflux (n = 6), swallowing disorder (n = 3). pH-metry (n = 8), esophageal endoscopy (n = 11) and barium transit (n = 12) were also performed. RESULTS: Twelve children were treated with nifedipine, (dysphagia n = 6, gastroesophageal reflux n = 5, swallowing disorder n = 1). At follow-up, a good clinical response was observed in six children while no effect or transient improvement were observed in two and four children respectively. Two of them presented spontaneous clinical resolution of symptoms after nifedipine was stopped but four children needed Heller procedure. Six of 18 patients (dysphagia n = 3, gastroesophageal reflux n = 2, swallowing disorder n = 1) developed achalasia or recurrent symptoms which required Heller surgery. At the first examination, no clinical or manometric features could differentiate these six patients from the remainders who presented a favorable outcome. CONCLUSION: Esophageal primary disorders as partial achalasia in children are observed in various clinical conditions. The possible development of achalasia and persistence of symptoms in some children justify both attentive clinical and manometric follow-up.

Adolescent↗

[Chiari type I malformation in children: presentation in 34 cases].

UNLABELLED: Incidental diagnoses of Chiari I malformation are more and more frequent in pauci or asymptomatic children. The value of neurophysiological investigations for surgical indications is discussed. OBJECTIVE: To determine clinical presentations of Chiari I malformation and relative frequencies of severe and incidental forms, and to evaluate the usefulness of neurophysiological investigations for surgical indications. METHODS: This retrospective study included 34 patients admitted from 1984 to 2000, with Chiari I malformation diagnosis in different pediatric (intensive care, neurology and neurosurgery) units of a university hospital. RESULTS: The clinical presentation was severe (two children died) in four cases (12%). Signs of brain stem compression were found in 41% of cases, scoliosis in 21%, and incidental diagnosis in 26%. The polysomnography, performed in 12 cases, showed sleep-apneas in six cases. One child with an incidental diagnosis of Chiari I malformation had many sleep-apneas which required a surgical treatment. A surgical decompression was performed in 69% of cases, with clinical improvement in 77%. CONCLUSION: The high incidence (12%) of severe forms revealing Chiari I malformations justifies systematic neurophysiological investigations for the initial evaluation and the follow-up of Chiari 1 malformations, including the less symptomatic forms.

Adolescent↗

Incontinence and constipation after low anorectal malformations in a boy.

BACKGROUND: Low anorectal malformations are considered to be a benign type of anorectal malformations. Their treatment is simple in the neonatal period and gives good results as far continence is concerned. METHODS: We studied a group of 55 boys with low anorectal malformations which had been surgically treated between the 1st January 1975 and the 31st December 1992. We studied the initial treatment and the associated anomalies, 5 patients have died. 27 were seen for an interview and a clinical examination. Extra investigations (anorectal manometry or electromyography of external sphincter) were only offered to consenting patients with an ongoing problem. RESULTS: 3 to 20 years had passed since their operations. Associated anomalies had been found in 11 children. The initial treatment was a perineal procedure in 20 cases and a colostomy in 8 cases. Dilatations were carried out on 11 children. Faecal and urinary continence had been acquired before 30 months of age. 13 children (48%) had problems of soiling and/or chronic constipation. There was no difference between these children and the 14 continent ones regarding the type of malformation, the initial treatment and the follow-up. Anorectal manometry (performed on 9 cases) showed 4 anorectal dyssynergies. It was normal in 3 cases. The Recto Anal Inhibitory Reflex was always present. CONCLUSION: Problems of continence are not rare in the evolution of low anorectal malformations. We suggest therefore a long-term clinical follow-up for those children, with one anorectal manometry control being performed after continence is acquired.

Anal Canal↗

[Electroencephalography of the premature and term newborn. Maturational aspects and glossary].

From the first publication of C. Dreyfus-Brisac and N. Monod, a strong tradition combined with tremendous development of neonatal EEG has taken place in France. After 3 years of collaborative work, 12 clinical neurophysiologists trained at the Port-Royal medical school in Paris detail in this paper the currently available neonatal EEG recording techniques. They have synthesized the criteria of maturational state analysis and have defined the normal and pathological neonatal EEG patterns, including descriptions already present in the French as well as the English literature. In this review one may find a complete description of neonatal EEG patterns according to the states of vigilance and to gestational age. Furthermore, definitions of all normal and pathological patterns are provided in a glossary. Both chapters are illustrated by numerous figures. This detailed terminology in neonatal EEG should allow a better homogeneity in EEG reports, and could lead to multicentric studies on normal, unusual or pathological patterns, according to etiology. Although based on analogic EEG data, this work can equally be applied to digitized EEG tracings.

Electroencephalography↗

[Indications for emergency EEG in perinatal pain].

EEG is a basic tool in neurological evaluation of fullterm or premature newborn. An emergency recording (in hours following birth) is required in two circumstances: a suspicion of seizure (especially before starting specific therapy), and a major behavioral disorder. The main cause is, in fullterm newborn, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. More precise informations are provided by recording between 10 and 48 hours after birth. In premature, emergency EEG may be recorded between 24 and 48 hours after birth. Some particular EEG features suggest specific causes such as metabolic or infectious diseases and focal lesions. In some cases, especially during seizures, conventional EEG can be completed by continuous monitoring.

Adult↗

[Benign reflex myoclonic epilepsy in infants].

BACKGROUND: Myoclonic epilepsy of infancy are seldom benign. CASE REPORT: A 25-month old girl developed myoclonic jerks either spontaneously either as reflex responses to auditory and tactile stimuli, such as sudden touching of the face or trunk from the age of 4 months. The jerks disappeared after valproate therapy. Neurological examination was normal with a follow-up of 9 months. CONCLUSION: This condition resembles that described in 1995 by Ricci et al. In must be differentiated from other myoclonic epilepsies of infancy, reflex epilepsies and hyperekplexia. It could be the earliest from of idiopathic generalized epilepsy.

Age Factors↗

[Gastroesophageal reflux and esophageal motility disorders in infants with vagal hyperreflectivity presenting severe syncope].

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux and abnormalities of esophageal motility in a population of neonates referred for apparently life threatening event (ALTE) and presenting vagal hyperreflectivity. POPULATION AND METHODS: The study included 17 infants, who were examined after an ALTE. They were admitted at a mean age of 11.7 weeks (range 1-40 weeks). Vagal hyperreflectivity was confirmed in each infant by oculocardiac reflex. Before treatment, 24-hour intraesophageal pH-monitoring and esophageal manometry were performed. RESULTS: pH-monitoring and esophageal manometry were both normal in only two patients. pH-monitoring showed pathological reflux (% of time with pH < 4 more than 4.8%) in 10/17 (59%) patients. Manometric studies showed esophageal dysmotility in 12/17 (71%) of patients. Hypertensive lower sphincter was noted in 11/17 (65%) infants. Patients with normal manometry were older than patients presenting with esophageal dysmotility (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study shows a high frequency of gastroesophageal reflux and dysmotility in infants with vagal hyperreflectivity. Hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter as well as vagal hyperreflectivity may correspond to dysmaturity of autonomous nervous system and facilitate the occurrence of ALTE.

Esophageal Motility Disorders↗

[Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy of the full term newborn. Contribution of the electroencephalogram and trans-fontanelle echography to the prognostic evaluation. Report of 29 cases].

This study was aimed at assessing by EEG recording and cranial imaging the cerebral function of 29 full term newborns presenting with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and at establishing a correlation between the results and the neurological outcome. A correlation between the Sarnar's classification and the neurological outcome was observed, except for the intermediate grade. In this case, impairment of the EEG was variable and neurological prognosis was sometimes evidenced by cranial imaging. Unfavorable neurological outcome occurred when thalamic lesions were present, independently of clinical signs and EEG abnormalities.

Brain Ischemia↗

Biofeedback for the treatment of fecal incontinence. Long-term clinical results.

UNLABELLED: Biofeedback therapy has been proposed as a treatment for fecal incontinence with good, short-term results. PURPOSE: This study was designed to assess long-term clinical results of biofeedback therapy compared with medical therapy alone and to assess manometric results in patients treated with biofeedback. METHODS: Two groups of incontinent patients were studied. Group 1 consisted of 16 patients (3 males and 13 females; mean age, 59.9 years). Etiologies treated by biofeedback included descending perineum syndrome (7), postfistula or hemorroidectomy (4), and miscellaneous (5). Group 2 consisted of eight patients (two males, six females; mean age, 62.2 years). Etiologies treated with medical treatment alone (including enema and antidiarrheal therapy) included descending perineum syndrome (3), postfistula or hemorroidectomy (2), and miscellaneous (3). The incontinence score was initially 17.81 +/- 3.27 (standard deviation) in Group 1 and 17.0 +/- 2.77 in Group 2. Resting pressure of the upper and lower anal sphincter, maximum squeezing pressure, and duration of contraction were not initially different in Groups 1 and 2 but were significantly lower than in the control group of patients without incontinence (n = 12; 8 males, 4 females; mean age, 66.4 years) (P < 0.05). Follow-up duration was 30 months, with intermediate clinical score at 6 months for Group 1. RESULTS: After biofeedback therapy, the incontinence score at 30 months was lower in Group 1 (14.43 +/- 6.35 vs. 17.81 +/- 3.27; P < 0.035) and unchanged in Group 2 (18.0 +/- 2.72 vs. 17.0 +/- 2.77). However, in Group 1 the score at 6 months was much lower than at 30 months (6.31 +/- 7.81 vs. 14.43 +/- 6.35; P < 0.001). Only the amplitude of voluntary contraction and upper anal pressure (51.1 (range, 27-90) vs 36.7 (range, 20-80) mmHg) were significantly increased (81.5 (range, 55-120) vs. 62.1 (range, 30-90) mmHg; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Biofeedback improved continence at 6 months and at 30 months. However, the score at 6 months was much better, suggesting that the initial good results may deteriorate over a long time. These data suggest that it could be useful to reinitiate biofeedback therapy in some patients.

Adult↗

Prognostic value of esophageal manometry in antireflux surgery in childhood.

To assess the predictive value of preoperative esophageal manometric study in the outcome of antireflux surgery, 14 children with severe gastroesophageal reflux (GER) who underwent surgery were studied retrospectively. Five patients had neuromuscular disease; one had been operated on for esophageal atresia. After extended (> 20 h) esophageal pH monitoring and/or barium swallow study, all patients underwent preoperative manometric study. After surgery, the patients were followed for 4 months to 4 years. Functional complications were noted after mechanical complications were eliminated. All patients had normal upper esophageal sphincter pressure (UESp); the resting lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESp) was decreased in four patients, and seven had esophageal body motility trouble. Functional complications occurred in two patients. One was a neurologically involved patient who had had a normal preoperative manometric study; the other was the patient who had been operated on for esophageal atresia. No complications occurred in four patients who had had abnormal preoperative manometric studies. We conclude that, in this group of patients, esophageal manometric study has no predictive value in the outcome of the surgical procedure; however, it still would be interesting to elucidate the mechanisms of GER, especially in congenital abnormalities such as esophageal atresia.

Child↗

Action of in situ nitroglycerin on upper anal canal pressure of patients with terminal constipation. A pilot study.

Nitroglycerin (NTG) in situ reduces the pressure of the upper anal sphincter (UAS). We have tested the effects of NTG on the UAS of patients with terminal constipation. We studied two groups of constipated patients. Group 1 consisted of 11 patients (nine females and two males) with hypertonicity of the UAS (> 70 mm Hg); age was 49.5 +/- 15.6 years. Group 2 consisted of 10 patients (nine females and one male) without hypertonicity; age was 40.1 +/- 14.1 years. Group 3 consisted of eight asymptomatic controls (four females and four males); age was 51.7 +/- 6.9 years. After a 10-minute resting pressure recording of the UAS with a water-filled balloon, the probe was pulled through the outside and the UAS was assessed after spreading 5 mg of placebo and then 5 mg of NTG on the balloon. Resting pressure (RP), delay of the pressure decrease (DP), pressure after five minutes either during the NTG (PN5) or placebo (PP5) period, and mean duration of the pressure decrease (MD) were measured. None of the subjects experienced a decrease of PP5 vs. RP. All patients in Group 1 (106.2 vs. 38.4 mm Hg), Group 2 (57.9 vs. 31.4 mm Hg), and controls (62.2 vs. 33.7 mm Hg) experienced a significant decrease of pressure of the UAS (P < 0.005). Delay of the pressure decrease was less than two minutes, with wide interindividual variability of duration of the pressure decrease. Mild side effects--anal pain and transient headache--were reported in five patients. In situ NTG significantly reduced UAS Pressure in all groups. NTG has to be evaluated in anal pathology, especially in patients with hypertonic sphincter terminal constipation or acute hypertonicity of the sphincter due to a fissure.

Administration, Rectal↗

Reconstruction of the perineal body after recurrence of a recto-perineal fistula in an intermediate type of anorectal malformation in a young woman.

The appearance of a recto-perineal fistula post-operatively in an intermediate type of anorectal malformation is rare. It always gives rise to incontinence. However, the closure of this fistula is particularly difficult since recurrence is frequent. The following case report concerns a patient who after several unsuccessful attempts to close the fistula, had a local rotation flap which permitted good healing and a beneficial effect on continence thanks to a good reconstruction of the perineal body.

Adult↗

Functional assessment of coloanal anastomosis with reservoir and excision of the anal transition zone.

Conservation of the anal transition zone (ATZ) has been deemed necessary for continence after coloanal anastomosis (CAA) with reservoir. Therefore, we have studied functional and manometric results after CAA with reservoir and excision of the ATZ in 18 consecutive patients (mean age, 65.2 years; ten males and eight females), 17.4 months after closure of a temporary loop colostomy (Study 1). Twelve of the 18 initial patients were studied again 30.2 months after closure (Study 2). In Study 1, all patients underwent 1) a standardized interview, 2) a manometric study with measurement of anal pressure at rest (PR), voluntary contraction (VC), inhibitor anal reflex (IAR), conscious sensation (CS), and maximum tolerable volume (MTV), and 3) a liquid continence test (LCT) with measurement of colonic reservoir pressure during infusion. In Study 2, patients underwent all the same tests except the LCT. Results were compared with those of six controls (mean age, 65.8 years; two females and four males). In Study 1, 14/18 patients were continent; PR, VC, and CS did not differ among continent patients, incontinent patients, and controls. MTV was significantly lower in incontinent patients (mean +/- SD, 165 +/- 46.5 ml) than in continent patients and controls (mean +/- SD, 261 +/- 50.8 ml vs. 250.7 +/- 83 ml). IAR was not observed in continent or incontinent patients but was observed in controls. Contraction waves in the colonic reservoir during LCT were more frequent in incontinent patients (4/4) than in continent patients (4/14), and their amplitudes were higher (119 vs. 32 mm Hg). In Study 2, 12/12 patients were continent; PR and MTV remained unchanged except in the two initially incontinent patients, in whom MTV was increased. VC was slightly increased (94.7 vs. 116 mm Hg). IAR remained absent in all patients. We conclude that 1) excision of the ATZ did not increase the risk of incontinence, and 2) poor functional results were mainly due to small MTV and contraction waves in the colonic reservoir.

Aged↗