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Biomedical subjects

P E Putnam

Publications and source records attributed to P E Putnam.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Laryngeal cleft and eosinophilic gastroenteritis: report of 2 cases.

Although laryngotracheoesophageal clefts are often found in association with other well-described anomalies, we know of no previous reported association with eosinophilic gastroenteritis, a disorder of unknown etiology characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract. We treated 2 children who had laryngeal clefts and eosinophilic gastroenteritis. Since the esophageal inflammatory changes found in eosinophilic gastroenteritis may persist despite aggressive therapy, management of the laryngotracheoesophageal clefts is more complicated. The diagnosis of eosinophilic gastroenteritis should not be overlooked in patients with laryngotracheoesophageal clefts and warrants prompt referral to a pediatric gastroenterologist.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed2000

The spectrum of pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis beyond infancy: a clinical series of 30 children.

OBJECTIVES: Eosinophilic esophagitis, previously confused with esophageal inflammation due to gastroesophageal reflux, has recently begun to be distinguished from it. We undertook this analysis of our large series of children with the condition to clarify its spectrum: its presenting symptoms; its relation to allergy, respiratory disease, and reflux; its endoscopic and histological findings; and its diagnosis and therapy. METHODS: We analyzed the details of our clinical series of 30 children with eosinophilic esophagitis, defining it as > or =5 eosinophils per high power field in the distal esophageal epithelium. Retrospective chart review was supplemented by prospective, blinded, duplicate quantitative evaluation of histology specimens, and by telephone contact with some families to clarify subsequent course. Presentation and analysis of the series as a whole is preceded by a case illustrating a typical presentation with dysphagia and recurrent esophageal food impactions. RESULTS: Presenting symptoms encompass vomiting, pain, and dysphagia (some with impactions or strictures). Allergy, particularly food allergy, is an associated finding in most patients, and many have concomitant asthma or other chronic respiratory disease. A subtle granularity with furrows or rings is newly identified as the endoscopic herald of histological eosinophilic esophagitis. Histological characteristics include peripapillary or juxtaluminal eosinophil clustering in certain cases. Association with eosinophilic gastroenteritis occurs, but is not common. Differentiation from gastroesophageal reflux disease is approached by analyzing eosinophil density and response to therapeutic trials. Therapy encompasses dietary elimination and anti-inflammatory pharmacotherapy. CONCLUSION: Awareness of the spectrum of eosinophilic esophagitis should promote optimal diagnosis and treatment of this elusive entity, both in children and in adults.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Anatomic variability of rejection in intestinal allografts after pediatric intestinal transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Rejection of the allograft is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in children who undergo a small intestinal transplant. Operational definitions for histologic rejection have been established, but little is known about the anatomic variability of the histologic abnormalities. STUDY DESIGN: Biopsy reports were reviewed retrospectively from more than 1200 endoscopies performed on the 41 children who received intestinal transplantation between 1990 and 1995. RESULTS: Biopsies were performed in the proximal jejunum and distal ileum allograft simultaneously on 248 occasions. In 168 biopsies, neither site was histologically abnormal; in 80, rejection was found. In 42, both regions were abnormal; however, in 17 only the jejunum was involved and in 21 the rejection exclusively involved the ileum. Among children whose allograft included colon, rejection was absent in colon and ileum in 34 biopsies, involved both in 6, involved ileum but not colon in another 6 and involved colon but not ileum in only one. When the allograft included stomach, rejection was absent in the stomach and jejunum 39 times, involved both sites 8 times, involved jejunum and not the stomach 10 times, but involved the stomach and not jejunum only once. Endoscopic appearance correctly predicted histologic rejection 63% of the time. CONCLUSION: Anatomic variability may exist in the rejection process. Sampling the jejunum and ileum seems to have similar sensitivity in detecting rejection, whereas sampling stomach and the colon is less sensitive. When allograft rejection is suspected on clinical grounds, sampling more than one area of the graft may be necessary for histologic confirmation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Endoscopies in pediatric small intestinal transplant recipients: five years experience.

OBJECTIVE: Intestinal transplantation has become an option as a treatment for permanent intestinal failure. Endoscopy is an essential tool in assessing the intestinal allograft after intestinal transplantation. The aim of this study was to analyze our experience using endoscopy in intestinal transplant recipients. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of endoscopic and histological reports in 41 children who received an intestinal transplant between 1990 and 1995 at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. RESULTS: A total of 1273 endoscopies was performed of which 760 were ileoscopies via allograft ileostomy, 273 were upper endoscopies, and 240 were colonoscopies. One hundred four rejection episodes were documented histologically in 32 patients, 6 days to >4 yr after transplantation. Most episodes were mild and easily treated with increased immunosuppression; however, severe rejection with mucosal exfoliation was seen in nine patients. Rejection sometimes involved only part of the allograft. Endoscopic appearance alone without biopsies was sensitive enough to diagnose only 63% of the rejection episodes. Epstein-Barr and cytomegalovirus infections occurred in 11 and eight patients, respectively, and involved both native bowel and allograft in some. Complications of endoscopy were few: one perforation, three episodes of bleeding, and three episodes of transient respiratory compromise. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopy is an essential tool in the postoperative assessment of intestinal transplant recipients. Frequent surveillance ileoscopies with biopsies should be performed after transplantation. If patients clinically deteriorate with fever, diarrhea, bacteremia, or gastrointestinal bleeding and a clear cause is not elucidated by ileoscopy, an upper endoscopy with biopsies is indicated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Postviral gastroparesis: presentation, treatment, and outcome.

We describe the clinical features and long-term outcome of 11 children who had persistent gastroparesis after an acute viral illness, eight of whom tested positive for rotavirus. Gastric emptying was delayed in the 10 children evaluated with scintigraphy. Antroduodenal manometry confirmed postprandial antral hypomotility in 10 subjects. All children recovered within 6 to 24 months.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

Gastroesophageal reflux disease and dysphagia in children.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common problem in children that is sometimes associated with dysphagia. Choking, food refusal, and food "getting stuck" are non-specific symptoms that may arise consequent to reflux and esophagitis. Swallowing plays a role in reflux physiology, functioning as a major clearance mechanism after reflux episodes. Therefore, failure of swallowing to effectively perform that function contributes to reflux pathophysiology. The diagnosis and treatment of GERD in children must be carried out systematically and thoroughly. Multiple interacting factors are common, thus complicating the process.

Child↗
PubMed1996

Rectal bleeding in Prader-Willi syndrome.

Individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome manifest severe skin picking behavior. We report three patients with this syndrome in whom an extension of this behavior to rectal picking resulted in significant lower gastrointestinal bleeding and anorectal disease. The recognition of this behavior is important to avoid misdiagnosing inflammatory bowel disease in this group of patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Chronic pancreatitis in a patient with cystic fibrosis and clinical pancreatic insufficiency.

Pancreatitis occurs in up to 15% of patients with cystic fibrosis and pancreatic sufficiency, but the possibility of its occurrence in patients with pancreatic insufficiency has not been recognized. We describe a patient with homozygous delta F508 cystic fibrosis and typical symptoms of pancreatic insufficiency (greasy, fatty stools) in whom pancreatitis developed.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1995

Gastrointestinal bleeding due to delayed perianastomotic ulceration in children.

Delayed perianastomotic ulcers are a poorly recognized complication of intestinal surgery. We report two patients with this complication of their remote intestinal surgery who developed significant iron deficiency anemia. Patient 1 had intestinal resection for perforated necrotizing enterocolitis as a newborn and presented at 16 yr of age with an ulcer at the ileocolonic anastomosis. Patient 2 had intestinal resection for strangulated internal hernia at 9 yr and was diagnosed with two ulcers at the ileoileal anastomosis at 14 yr of age. Fifteen patients with delayed anastomotic ulcers have so far been reported in the literature. We add two more cases and also emphasize the difficulty in establishing the diagnosis and importance of performing a retrograde ileoscopy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Imaging of post-transplant spindle cell tumors.

Spindle/smooth muscle cell proliferation is an additional neoplastic process related to immunosuppression and EBV infection. We describe four post transplant children with this diagnosis. Multiple organ systems may be involved, particularly the liver, gastrointestinal tract, and lungs. Lesions are radiographically, clinically, and endoscopically indistinguishable from those of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD).

Child↗
PubMed1993

Prevalence and characteristics of Blastocystis hominis infection in children.

Blastocystis hominis, a protozoan whose pathogenicity has been questioned, is sometimes found in the human gastrointestinal tract. We sought to determine the prevalence of Blastocystis in stool and to characterize clinical features of infection with Blastocystis in children. Forty-six (3%) of 1,736 patients undergoing fecal microscopy at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh between January 1, 1985, and December 31, 1988, harbored Blastocystis. Of these 46 children, 75% had exposure to well water or had been in developing countries. Thirty-nine of the 46 (85%) experienced gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss. Blastocystis was the only parasite found in 35 of those 39 symptomatic children. Symptoms resolved within one month in 90% of patients receiving antiparasitic pharmacotherapy, but in only 58% (P < .04) of those receiving no therapy. We conclude that children infected with Blastocystis often experience gastrointestinal symptoms and that treatment increases the rate of symptomatic improvement. We speculate that Blastocystis is a human pathogen.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Thickened feedings as a cause of increased coughing when used as therapy for gastroesophageal reflux in infants.

To determine whether thickening of infant formula feedings with rice cereal increases coughing, we studied 25 infants from birth to 6 months of age, referred for evaluation of gastroesophageal reflux. Coughing was blindly quantified after each of a pair of isocaloric meals (one thickened and one unthickened). Coughing was more frequent after thickened feedings than after unthickened feedings.

Cough↗
PubMed1992

Tardive dyskinesia associated with use of metoclopramide in a child.

Tardive dyskinesia is a chronic, often permanent, movement disorder that has been reported in elderly patients receiving metoclopramide. We describe an 8-year-old boy with tardive dyskinesia that developed when he received metoclopramide as part of therapy for gastroesophageal reflux and erosive esophagitis.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1992

Hoarseness in a child with gastroesophageal reflux.

Hoarseness is not generally appreciated to be a manifestation of pediatric gastroesophageal reflux. We describe a case in which treatment of well-documented gastroesophageal reflux and esophagitis in a young girl with hoarseness and nocturnal cough led to resolution of these symptoms. Possible pathogenetic mechanisms and the difficulty in associating hoarseness with reflux by standard reflux testing are discussed.

Child↗