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Biomedical subjects

M P Colgan

Publications and source records attributed to M P Colgan.

47 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Prevalence of asymptomatic carotid disease: results of duplex scanning in 348 unselected volunteers.

The risk of stroke in patients with asymptomatic carotid disease appears to be related to the presence of a high-grade stenosis. To determine the prevalence of such lesions, duplex scanning was performed on 348 unselected volunteers without symptoms who attended hospital-sponsored health fairs. There were 209 women and 139 men whose ages ranged from 24 to 91 years. Risk factors included hypertension (37%), diabetes (8%), and smoking (23%). One hundred seven subjects (31%) had evidence of extracranial carotid artery disease, 13 (4%) with greater than 50% stenosis, and three (1%) with greater than 80% stenosis of the internal carotid artery. Bilateral disease was present in 50 patients. Disease prevalence and severity were significantly correlated with age (p less than 0.001) and hypertension (p less than 0.01) but not with diabetes or smoking. The incidence of disease was similar in men and women. Although carotid plaques are common in people older than 50 years of age who do not have symptoms, the prevalence of high-grade stenosis--even in the elderly hypertension population--is low, casting doubt on the cost-effectiveness of generalized screening.

Adult↗

Asymptomatic carotid stenosis: is prophylactic endarterectomy justifiable?

Carotid endarterectomy is well established in the treatment of selected cases of atherosclerosis of the carotid bifurcation; however, its role in the management of asymptomatic stenosis of the internal carotid artery remains controversial. Over a 4 year period 190 patients with 209 asymptomatic stenoses of the internal carotid artery were prospectively studied by means of Doppler ultrasound in combination with real time spectral analysis to determine the natural history of asymptomatic carotid stenosis. We report a cumulative stroke-free survival of 97 per cent at 3 years and we therefore question the merit of prophylactic endarterectomy in the management of asymptomatic carotid disease.

Adult↗

Stenosis following carotid endarterectomy. Its implication in management of asymptomatic carotid stenosis.

Carotid endarterectomy is established in the treatment of atherosclerosis of the carotid bifurcation, but the incidence of restenosis and the role of endarterectomy in the management of asymptomatic carotid stenosis are variable. During a four-year period, we performed 80 endarterectomies of the internal carotid artery in 73 patients. Patients were prospectively studied by means of Doppler ultrasonography in combination with real-time spectral analysis to determine the incidence of restenosis postoperatively. A concomitant study of 116 patients with 79 asymptomatic carotid stenoses was undertaken. We found a 12.5% incidence of stenosis following carotid endarterectomy and a 3% risk of transient neurologic deficit in the patients with asymptomatic carotid stenoses.

Aged↗

Low dose intraarterial thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator: does it deliver as promised?

The widespread use of intraarterial thrombolytic therapy has been based on perceived benefits over operative treatment and the downgrading of the magnitude of subsequent surgery. Thirty-three patients who had thrombolysis for peripheral artery occlusion were retrospectively analyzed at St. James's Hospital from 1991 to 1997. One patient received streptokinase unsuccessfully. Five other patient's records were inadequate for analysis. Twenty-seven patient's notes were analyzed for risk, duration of occlusion, duration of treatment, dosage of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and conduits thrombolysed. There were 15 males and 12 females. The mean age was 62 years (range, 20-87). Fourteen were current or reformed smokers. Five were diabetic. Indications for treatment included acute graft occlusion (n=13), embolus (n=6), and primary and secondary arterial thrombosis (n=8). Duration of occlusion was less than 24 hours in seven, 1 to 7 days in ten, and more than 7 days in ten patients. Twelve (44.44%) patients had complete clot lysis, four (14.81%) had partial clearance, and 11 (40.74%) remained occluded. Eight (29.63%) had serious complications including one death. Eighteen (66.66%) patients needed further surgical intervention to maintain graft patency. Data were analyzed using the chi-square and pooled t test. No significant difference was observed in results from thrombolysis from different conduits, gender, etiology, or smoking history. Increased duration of tPA administration was associated with an increased risk of failure. Administration of total dosages greater than 60 mg was associated with a higher risk of failure. Diabetics had a poor outcome (p=0.0520). Only 44 % of patients successfully underwent lysis. A primary surgical option may be a more sensible course than lysis, given that the vast majority of patients ended up having surgery anyway.

Adult↗

Stenosis following carotid endarterectomy.

Carotid endarterectomy is well established in the treatment of selected cases of atherosclerosis of the carotid bifurcation but the incidence of restenosis is unknown. During a four year period 80 endarterectomies of the internal carotid artery were performed in 73 patients. Post-operatively we studied our patients prospectively by means of Doppler ultrasound in combination with real time spectral analysis and where indicated digital venous angiography to determine the incidence of restenosis. We report a 12.5% incidence of stenosis following carotid endarterectomy with a 1% incidence of symptomatic restenosis. We therefore question the role of carotid endarterectomy in the treatment of asymptomatic carotid stenosis.

Aged↗

Results and lessons to be learned from a waiting list initiative.

Varicose veins are a major and increasing burden on the health service with waiting lists growing in the majority of units. Most successive Governments have funded waiting list initiatives to deal with this problem. We report the results of a one year varicose vein waiting list initiative which dealt with a total of 1104 patients. A standard triage regime was established. Two hundred and eighty five patients were removed from the waiting list due to failure to attend, surgery performed elsewhere, medically unfit or no longer wishing to have surgery. There were 63 late cancellations and 23 operations were cancelled following admission due to unrelated medical complications. Planned operating lists worked well and complications were uncommon. Several important lessons were learnt during this initiative and recommendations are made with regard to the optimal method of dealing with the problem of varicose veins.

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