Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to P J Broe.
Retroperitoneal liposarcoma is a rare tumour that often presents late due to its indolent nature and large potential growing space. Total resection is the aim, including adjacent organs if necessary. Recurrence is common, and 5-year disease-free interval is not regarded as a cure. We present a case of a 57 year old man who had a 17 kg liposarcoma surgically excised.
OBJECTIVE: To review our experience of a non-selective policy for the treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm to see if the policy was justified, and to identify any preoperative risk factors that adversely influenced outcome. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Teaching hospital, Republic of Ireland. SUBJECTS: 258 patients admitted with abdominal aortic aneurysms between January 1982 and December 1993. INTERVENTIONS: Definitive surgical treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Morbidity, mortality, and risk factors. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality for all patients was 43% (110/258). Overall, women did worse than men (28/44, 64%, died, compared with 96/214, 45%, p=0.03). The mortality among patients over the age of 80 (23/45, 51%) was not significantly different from that among younger patients (97/202, 48%). Blood pressure, platelet count, and haemoglobin concentration were all significantly lower preoperatively among those who died (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Age alone cannot be used to justify witholding definitive surgical treatment. Treatment should be aimed towards reversing haematological and haemodynamic abnormalities preoperatively to try to improve outcome.
A European Conference on Continuing Medical Education (CME) in Oncology was designed and organised in Dublin (Ireland), on 12th and 13th October 1995 by the European School of Oncology in collaboration with University College Dublin and with the financial support of the European Commission (Europe Against Cancer Programme). Two experts were invited from each Member State and all attended the Conference with the sole exception of the representatives of Luxembourg, who did not attend due to unexpected important commitments. Observers were invited to contribute to the discussion as representatives of organisations that were involved either directly or indirectly in CME. The Conference took the format of a plenary session coupled with the identification of five discussion groups formed to debate key areas in CME at a European level in oncology (Table 1). As a result of these discussions and subsequent consultations, an agreement was reached on the following statements: (a) Continuing Medical Education (CME) is an ethical duty and an individual responsibility for each doctor. Although CME should remain voluntary at the present time, it is nevertheless a professional obligation since almost 50% of medical knowledge becomes obsolete after ten years. It should be organised with clear guidelines for medical personnel working in hospitals, in primary health care and in private practice. (b) The CME system within the European Union (EU) should remain self-directed without the necessity for interval examinations: it should be interdisciplinary and must be driven and controlled by the profession itself. (c) A common concept and system within a CME framework may have a considerable impact on EU integration. It should certainly be developed, maintained and monitored at national level but on the basis of a common European model to ensure scientific and cultural interchange among Member States. (d) It was agree that a credit system is needed to help doctors keep track of their CME activities: the system should be based on the accumulation of credit points (one credit equalling one hour of continuing medical education) and monitored at a national level. Credit transfer among Member States is vital to facilitate exchange between Member States. (e) Oncology provides a very useful model of CME within which guidelines can be proposed and tested. Harmonisation of CME systems among the different European cancer organisations and scientific societies within this model system may represent a useful basis that other specialities can follow.
In a study of the best approach to the infrarenal abdominal aorta, 47 patients were compared retrospectively: 15 underwent a standard transperitoneal incision, 15 a retroperitoneal left flank incision and 17 a new modified lateral pararectus incision, the Risberg approach. Operating time, length of postoperative intubation and hospital stay, mortality rate, morbidity rate and cost were assessed. There was a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in mean(s.d.) operating time (141(21) versus 198(41) min), intraoperative cross-clamping time (74(13) versus 104(46) min) and postoperative intubation time (6.5(8.0) versus 13.3(7.3) h) associated with the Risberg retroperitoneal incision compared with the left flank retroperitoneal route. There was also a significant decrease (P < 0.02) in mean(s.d.) postoperative intubation time (6.5(8.0) versus 17.5(12.0) h), time after operation to discharge (11.0(2.4) versus 17.3(7.6) days) and hospital cost (4885(670) pounds versus 7732(580)) pounds associated with the Risberg incision compared with the transperitoneal approach. The Risberg incision gives better access to the infrarenal abdominal aorta while maintaining the advantages of other retroperitoneal approaches. This technique is recommended as the incision of choice for the retroperitoneal approach to the aorta.
The effect of oxygen free radical suppression was studied in the taurocholate model of acute pancreatitis in the rat using systemic allopurinol, superoxide dismutase (S.O.D.) and catalase. None of the treatments were beneficial which suggests that oxygen free radical suppression is unlikely to be clinically beneficial in acute pancreatitis.
This study assessed the ability of biochemical tests and ultrasound to predict the presence of ductal calculi, and thereby refine the indications for ERCP, in patients before or after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Thirteen of fifty-three patients investigated before laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and four of seventeen investigated after had stones confirmed at ERCP. The most sensitive indices for stones were raised serum alkaline phosphatase (0.76), aspartate transferase (0.75) and alanine transferase (0.76). The most specific indices were an abnormal ultrasound (0.92), raised serum amylase (0.78) and raised bilirubin (0.75). Serum bilirubin, amylase and ultrasound were all normal in twenty-seven patients and all of these had normal ERCPs. If patients with normal bilirubin, amylase and ultrasound were not referred for ERCP, no stones would have been overlooked and the number of ERCPs could have been reduced by 39%.
Abdominal symptoms persist in up to 40% of patients after laparotomy cholecystectomy and biliary lithotripsy. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is now the treatment of choice for symptomatic gallstone disease. However, no data exist as to the influence of laparoscopic cholecystectomy on symptoms. We analysed 100 patients who had undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy at a median of 12 months (range 10-19 months) previously. Pre- and postoperative symptoms were compared and patient satisfaction was graded from 1 (best) to 5 (worst). Time to resumption of full activity (mean +/- SD) was recorded. All patients had more than two symptoms preoperatively. Postoperatively, 61 patients had complete absence of symptoms, 14 patients complained of only one symptom during the postoperative period and 25 patients continued to have at least two symptoms. The mean time taken to return to full activity was 2.4 +/- 1.7 weeks. In patients without any symptoms postoperatively, time taken to return to full activity was 2.3 +/- 1.5 weeks, 2.7 +/- 1.4 weeks for patients with one symptom postoperatively, while patients with two or more symptoms returned to full activity in 2.3 +/- 1.3 weeks and 2.6 +/- 1.7 weeks, respectively. Notwithstanding that 25% of patients reported two or more symptoms postoperatively, most patients (n = 84) considered the procedure to be a complete success. A further 10 patients had significant improvement after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Five patients considered themselves only slightly improved, while a single patient was no better off postoperatively. These data indicate that after laparoscopic cholecystectomy most patients return to full activity within 3 weeks. Thus, the incidence of post-cholecystectomy symptoms is similar after laparoscopic and laparotomy cholecystectomy and biliary lithotripsy.Patients should be advised of the risk of persistent symptoms after these procedures.
When the kidney is removed from cold storage for implantation into the recipient it gradually rewarms (second warm ischaemic time) and a prolonged second warm ischaemic time is a risk factor for delayed graft function. A cooling jacket has been designed to prevent this rewarming during transplantation. This study evaluates the efficacy of this device. Surface and core temperatures of less than 15 degrees Centigrade were maintained for 120 minutes. Renal function was significantly better in cooled than in uncooled kidneys in a single kidney canine model. Induced renal hypothermia, using a device such as this, should be a routine manoeuvre in renal transplantation.
Clinical reports of increased graft primary non function in patients receiving cyclosporine in whom the anastomosis time is prolonged (greater than 30 minutes) suggest a synergism between the nephrotoxic effects of cyclosporine and the ischaemia occurring during transplantation. Using unilaterally nephrectomised greyhound dogs, sixty minutes ischaemia and cyclosporine 10 mg./kg./day we have produced an animal model of cyclosporine enhanced ischaemia renal failure. Structural and functional data suggests the proximal tubule is the main site of injury.
Cyclosporine is associated with an increased incidence of graft primary non function and poorer long term graft function in patients with prolonged ischaemia times. We evaluated the role of hypothermia in preventing this synergism between the nephrotoxic effects of cyclosporine and ischaemia in a canine model. Induced renal hypothermia prevented this synergism.
Penetrating vascular injury which is associated with a satisfactory response to treatment occurs more commonly than blunt injury in the upper limb. Blunt trauma is a complex entity with associated soft tissue and skeletal injuries that may determine outcome irrespective of successful vascular repair. We reviewed 50 patients with upper limb vascular injury of which 43 were due to blunt trauma and seven to penetrating trauma. All patients with penetrating trauma had a good result without loss of limb function. Eight amputations and residual poor limb function in ten patients confirm the poor results of blunt injury. Associated nerve damage, responsible for nine of the ten poorly functioning limbs, is the most important determinant of outcome in limbs surviving the peri-traumatic period.
Currently there is little information available about the efficacy of heparin during vascular surgery or of the effects of surgical trauma on heparin kinetics. This study was undertaken to evaluate the kinetics of heparin therapy during vascular surgery. Nine patients undergoing major vascular surgery (one carotid, one common iliac and seven aortic operations) were studied both preoperatively and intra-operatively, each patient acting as his own control. Following determination of control activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and plasma heparin levels, heparin (100 u/kg body weight) was administered intravenously. Heparin dosage ranged form 4500 units to 8600 units with a mean dose of 6500 units. Plasma heparin and APTT levels were then measured at 10 minute intervals for 1 hour and 20 minute intervals for a second hour. The mean pre-operative and intra-operative APTT levels at ten minutes attained maximal values of 6.6 +/- 3.7 and 8.8 +/- 1.7 times the control respectively. At the end of 2 hours the mean APTT remained greater than 2.5 times the control in both groups. Mean plasma heparin level was 0.83 +/- 0.04 units at 10 minutes and was almost identical in both groups. Heparin level was not a reliable indicator of anticoagulant effect as most patients achieved the same levels but had markedly differing APTT results. The results of this study suggest that excessive doses of heparin may be used in vascular surgery and that surgical trauma does not significantly alter sensitivity to heparin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
This study reviews the surgical management of adrenal disease over a 23 year period in a Dublin teaching hospital. Nineteen patients were diagnosed as having either Medullary or Cortical disease. Ultrasound and CAT Scan proved highly accurate in pre-operative tumour localisation. This analysis highlights the atypical presentation of phaeochromocytoma, the accuracy of Ultrasound and CAT Scan in tumour localisation and the importance of peri-operative monitoring.
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Digital ischaemia in the presence of an otherwise well-perfused foot in the non-diabetic patient presents diagnostic problems especially as the manifestations are frequently evanescent. Eighty such patients (sixty men and twenty women aged 55-84 years) who presented to St. Laurence's Hospital from 1982 to 1985 inclusive were evaluated. Micro-embolization was inferred from the demonstration of a cardiac (20) or an arterial source (42) in 62 of 80 patients. In 14 of the remaining 18 patients a malignancy was diagnosed, which was found to be visceral cancer in 11 cases. Indium platelet scanning revealed platelet aggregation in 14 of 26 patients examined. Laboratory evidence of abnormalities of platelet aggregation or blood coagulation was found in only 6 patients. There have been no further symptoms in 37 patients who have been treated surgically or in 17 of 21 patients who have been treated with either anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy.
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