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Biomedical subjects

M L Ramenofsky

Publications and source records attributed to M L Ramenofsky.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Pediatric maxillofacial trauma: unique features in diagnosis and treatment.

The purpose of this study was to review mechanisms, etiologies, associated injuries, and treatment of maxillofacial trauma in children and to compare them to similar adult injuries. Thirty blunt injuries (1984-1986) comprised the children's group, and 176 injuries, the adult group. Multiple associated injuries were more common in children, the most frequent being CNS and orthopedic injuries. Detailed anatomy of mandibular fractures required pleuridirectional tomography in 63% of the pediatric cases compared to 12% in adults. In the children's group, the mandibular fractures were favorable in 56% of cases compared to 15% in adults. Children required shorter periods of intermaxillary fixation with no child requiring reapplication of fixation. Based on these comparisons, a protocol for the management of pediatric maxillofacial injuries has been developed.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1986

Gastroesophageal reflux. pH probe-directed therapy.

Two groups of newborns and infants with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) were retrospectively analyzed for the diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic guidance offered by extended intraesophageal pH monitoring. There were 28 patients in group I whose major presenting sign was recurrent pneumonia due to GER, and 22 patients in group II, with apnea caused by GER. The pH probe was 100% accurate in identifying the presence of GER. Barium esophagram was accurate 46% of the time. The pH probe accurately identified the appropriate mode of therapy in all patients. In the medically treated GER/Pneumonia group, the mean number of episodes of GER per 24 hours was 24, whereas in the surgical group the mean number was 63. Similarly, in the medically treated GER/Apnea group, the mean number of reflux episodes per 24 hours was 26, whereas the surgical group experienced 64. Had the pH probe been used to guide therapy, no patient would have been treated inappropriately. The number of patients in this report is not large. Prospective verification of these observations is required before this methodology can be utilized routinely in patients with GER.

Apnea↗
PubMed1984

Maximum survival in pediatric trauma: the ideal system.

One hundred consecutive pediatric trauma deaths (0.01-18 yrs) were analyzed for their survival potential in an optimally functioning EMS/Trauma system in Mobile, Alabama (1980-1982). Thorough evaluation of all phases of care by paramedic run sheets, ER records, hospital records, and autopsy reports, revealed that 47/100 victims could have never survived due to the extreme nature of their injuries, and 53/100 victims had the potential of surviving if the EMS/Trauma system functioned optimally. Errors in care were identified in those cases deemed potentially salvageable. Identification phase errors were found in 79% of potentially salvageable victims. Field treatment errors occurred in 36%, transport errors in 23%, and definitive care errors in 17% of those considered to be potentially salvageable. By evaluating where in an EMS/Trauma system errors occur and then by correcting those errors, it should be possible to minimize the mortality rate in pediatric trauma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

The child with peptic esophagitis: a correlation of radiologic signs with esophageal pathology.

Thirty-five children with gastroesophageal reflux were examined in a prospective study in which radiologic findings were correlated with the esophageal biopsy. No consistent radiologic abnormality was found in 24 children with minimal to moderate esophagitis and in three children with normal histology. Positive radiologic findings were found in five out of seven patients with severe, or severe ulcerative, esophagitis and in one child with moderate esophagitis. The positive radiologic findings consisted of signs of mucosal inflammation (mucosal edema, ulceration, esophageal narrowing) in five cases and abnormalities of esophageal function (aperistalsis, continuous reflux) in three. In children with peptic esophagitis, the barium examination of the esophagus appeared to be of diagnostic value only in the small number of patients with advanced disease; the absence of radiologic signs (with one exception) excluded severe inflammation. A statistically significant correlation was found between age and the histologic severity of esophagitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Esophageal biopsy in the diagnosis of reflux esophagitis.

Esophagitis in infancy and childhood produces characteristic histologic changes in the mucosa and lamina propria of the distal esophagus. The use of biopsy in addition to endoscopic evaluation considerably enhances the accuracy of the diagnosis of esophagitis, particularly when the degree of inflammatory change is mild. In the absence of severe inflammatory changes, such as ulceration or mucosal slough, esophageal biopsy appears to be essential for the accurate diagnosis of esophagitis. In children of any age with GER who have symptoms of esophagitis, antacid therapy and vigorous efforts to control reflux are indicated. Failure to respond to this program is an indication for esophageal biopsy to confirm or rule out the presence of esophagitis. The degree of inflammatory change in the biopsy is a reliable guide to expected response to antiacid therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux in children. Results of Nissen's fundoplication in 100 children.

One hundred children underwent Nissen's fundoplication for complications of gastroesophageal reflux. Indications for fundoplication included refractory pneumonia, apneic spells, intractable vomiting, failure to thrive, esophagitis, esophageal stricture, and Sandifer's syndrome. Except for those with life-threatening complications, fundoplication was performed only in those who had failure with a strict medical antireflux regimen. Four patients were not helped by operation or had a recurrence of symptoms. Of these, three with refractory pneumonia were judged to be failures of selection since reflux was absent postoperatively. The fourth had massive reflux and recurrent vomiting. Eight other patients had radiologic evidence of reflux postoperatively. Six of these were asymptomatic and two had minor symptoms. There was one death and 11 postoperative complications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Laparoscopy for questionable appendicitis: can it reduce the negative appendectomy rate?

Laparoscopy has been performed in 32 patients in whom the diagnosis of appendicitis was suspected, but in whom clinical findings were equivocal and insufficient to establish the diagnosis. These patients represented 13.6% of the total group of patients admitted with questionable appendicitis during this period. Fifty per cent of these 32 patients had unusual clinical features, such as a prolonged history of symptoms, significant intercurrent disease, prior treatment with antibiotics or steroids, etc. At laparoscopy, the diagnosis of acute appendicitis was made in 17 patients. Another disease was diagnosed in 8 patients, and 7 were judged to have no pathologic abnormalities. There were two false negative examinations and one false positive, but no ruptured appendices resulted. Twelve patients (37.5%) were spared operation by laparoscopy. The negative appendectomy rate was decreased from 10 to 1%.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Laparoscopy in children.

Laparoscopy has been performed in 120 infants and children for a variety of indications including chronic abdominal pain, debatable appendicitis, liver biopsy, biliary atresia, and abdominal trauma. A specific diagnosis was made in 71% of patients and 59% were spared laparotomy. There were one complication and four errors in interpretation (3.3%). Laparoscopy represents a considerable advantage over laparotomy in the diagnosis and management of a number of pediatric disorders and deserves wider application.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1979

The effects of intrapleural pressure on respiratory insufficiency.

Newborns with congenital diaphragmatic hernia generally survive operative repair of the hernia but develop progressive respiratory insufficiency that proves fatal. One cause for the progressive respiratory insufficiency may be the overexpansion of the contralateral lung. It is postulated that the overexpansion occurs due to the empty space created by the lack of expansion of the hypoplastic lung on the side of the hernia. To test this theory, an animal experiment was devised to mimic the postoperative state in patients with diaphragmatic hernia. It was concluded that (1) A decrease in intrapleural pressure below normal in an empty hemithorax causes the opposite lung to overexpand into the empty hemithorax in neonatal Beagle puppies. (2) The overexpansion resulted in progressive respiratory insufficiency. (3) Increasing the intrapleural pressure by insufflation of air into the empty hemithorax stopped the overexpansion of the contralateral lung. (4) By not allowing the contralateral lung to overexpand, progressive respiratory insufficiency was prevented. (5) This may be a useful technique in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Bronchogenic cyst.

Two recent patients with bronchogenic cysts, presenting in an atypical manner, stimulated our review of this subject. Twenty patients with bronchogenic cysts have been treated at the Boston Floating Hospital over the past 20 yr. Of these patients, 19 out of 20 were symptomatic, the most common symptom being fever (6 out of 20). Half of our patients had no respiratory symptoms but only one was found to have an asymptomatic mass on chest x-ray. The majority of theses cysts were found within the pulmonary parenchyma, the right lung being affected three times more commonly than the left. These facts are at odds with the reports in the literature. Three were found in the neck. Bronchogenic cysts are generally thought to be small, solitary, and limited in area. However, a significant number in our series (8 out of 20) were large, multiple or multicystic, and involved segments, lobes, multiple lobes, and, on one occasion, an entire lung. The correct pre-operative diagnosis was made in only 30% of the cases. The fact that the diagnosis was often missed led to long delays in treatment resulting in recurrent infectious complications and repeated hospitalizations. The most common cause of error in diagnosis was failure to follow a pneumonia to complete resolution. Despite the frequent delays in diagnosis, surgical treatment was curative in all patients.

Bronchial Diseases↗
PubMed1978

Anterior ectopic anus: a common cause of constipation in children.

Anterior ectopic anus is increasingly being recognized as a cause of constipation in infancy. Experience is reported with surgical treatment of 20 patients with anterior ectopic anus. This form of anal ectopia is associated with a syndrome of constipation that begins at birth, straining on defecation, and anterior displacement of an otherwise normal anus and sphincter. It is seen almost exclusively in females. Posterior anoplasty with sphincterotomy is curative.

Anal Canal↗
PubMed1978

Computed tomography in diagnosis of abdominal masses in infancy and childhood. Comparison with excretory urography.

Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis was performed in 26 instances of suspected mass in 24 infants and children. The information obtained was compared to that of standard abdominal radiography and excretory urography (IVP). Results were analyzed prospectively. CT was able to detect and define masses more precisely than abdominal radiography and IVP. The information obtained by CT, in a single noninvasive examination emitting minimal ionising radiation, seems comparable to that offered by a combination of multiple radiological and other imaging procedures. It is conceivable that with accumulating experience and further technological improvement CT may become an excellent screening procedure in the investigation of abdominal and pelvic masses. The high cost of CT scanning may be offset by the benefits cited.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1978

Ventilation-perfusion scans in neonatal regional pulmonary emphysema complicating ventilatory assistance.

Two cases of ventilator-related neonatal lobar overexpansion with similar radiographic appearance, but probably different pathogenesis, are presented. In one infant, persistent interstitial lobar emphysema was confirmed by markedly decreased perfusion shown on scintigraphy; this information was of great value in predicting the beneficial effect of lobectomy. In the other case, ventilation and perfusion scans indicated functional value of the emphysematous lobe and correctly suggested conservative management. Radioisotope lung scans may provide valuable information regarding lung function in regional pulmonary emphysema associated with assisted ventilation in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, and thus determine patient management.

Humans↗