Endoscopic gastrointestinal laser therapy.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to N Vo.
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A retrospective review of endoscopic procedures using the Nd:YAG laser was carried out for patients treated between October 1985 and March 1989. During this 42-month period 165 procedures were performed on 100 patients. The study encompasses a unique period of time in this center, as it includes the initial application, and finally, the time when its use became routine. Indications for laser surgery included the treatment of tumors, bleeding, benign strictures, arterial occlusions, and hemorrhoids. Nd:YAG laser was found to be effective in the treatment of these lesions. The overall success rate was 81 per cent. Patients who are poor surgical candidates would especially benefit from this therapeutic alternative.
Isoniazid overdose is known to result in the rapid onset of seizures, metabolic acidosis, and prolonged obtundation. Pyridoxine has been reported to be effective in treating isoniazid-induced seizures. We report three cases of obtundation secondary to isoniazid overdose that was immediately reversed by intravenous pyridoxine. In two of these cases, status seizures were stopped by intravenous pyridoxine administration, but the patients remained comatose for prolonged periods. The comas were immediately reversed by the administration of additional pyridoxine. In the third case, the patient's lethargy was treated by intravenous pyridoxine on presentation and was followed by immediate awakening. Pyridoxine is effective in treating not only isoniazid-induced seizures, but also the mental status changes associated with this overdose. The dose required to induce awakening may be higher than that required to control seizures.
Two hundred patients assessed for nutritional deficiencies were analyzed for reaction to skin testing with common antigens and the incidence of sepsis and death. Only 39% of all skin tests were positive, though 50% of the patients had at least one positive test. Associated diagnoses revealed a high incidence of malnutrition, cancer, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Analysis using Chi-square and Gamma shows good statistical correlation between skin tests and sepsis and death. Those with negative tests (anergic) using PPD, Candida, and mumps had a threefold higher mortality. Major sepsis also increased in the skin negative group (+80%), but here the incidence varied directly with the number of positive skin tests. Mortality, unlike sepsis, was influenced only by the presence of delayed hypersensitivity and was not related to the number of positive reactions. The basic rate of infection or mortality was not influenced by major surgery.
Lower extremity pain caused by exercise but relieved by rest is usually a reliable symptom of chronic arterial insufficiency. However, similar discomfort often occurs in patients who have neurospinal compression. Furthermore, both arterial occlusive disease and neurogenic causes of lower extremity discomfort may present simultaneously. Forty patients with symptoms that suggested intermittent claudication comprised our study group. All had non-arterial cause of their complaint. The nonvascular origin of the symptoms was suggested initially by clinical evaluation in 30 patients and by noninvasive evaluation in 25 patients. The neurospinal origin of symptoms was obscured in 15 patients because of the concomitant presence of significant arterial occlusive disease as demonstrated by noninvasive arterial testing. Twelve of these 15 patients underwent arterial reconstruction, which did not relieve their symptoms. Subsequently, the neurospinal origin of their symptoms was proven by appropriate evaluation and therapy. Forms of evaluation that proved helpful in the differential diagnosis were lumbosacral spine x-rays, electromyography, nerve conduction velocity studies, computerized tomography, Doppler noninvasive assessment and, at times arteriography and contrast myelography.