PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

P Wara

Publications and source records attributed to P Wara.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Randomised trial of single and repeated fibrin glue compared with injection of polidocanol in treatment of bleeding peptic ulcer.

BACKGROUND: Although injection treatments for ulcer haemostasis seem to be effective, recurrent bleeding remains a serious problem. Large randomised clinical trials are required to show differences between treatment modalities for gastrointestinal bleeding. The aim of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of repeated endoscopic injection of fibrin glue (FG) with that of single endoscopic injection of polidocanol in the prevention of recurrent bleeding. METHODS: 854 patients with active gastroduodenal bleeding (spurting, oozing), or ulcers with a visible non-bleeding vessel, were randomly assigned one of three endoscopic treatments: single application of polidocanol 1%, single application of FG, or daily repeated application of FG until the visible vessel had disappeared. All patients were pretreated with local injection of epinephrine (1/10,000), and had daily repeat endoscopies until the vessel observed at initial endoscopy was no longer visible. FINDINGS: Recurrent bleeding rates among the 790 patients in whom the rates could be assessed were 58 (22.8%) of 254 in the polidocranol group, 51 (19.2%) of 266 in the FG-single group, and 41 (15.2%) of 270 in the FG-repeated group. The difference between FG-repeated treatment and polidocanol was significant (p = 0.036). Treatment failed, making other treatments (including surgery) necessary, in 34 (13.0%) of 261 in the polidocanol group, 34 (12.4%) of 274 in the FG-single group, and 21 (7.7%) of 274 in the FG-repeated group. The difference between FG-repeated treatment and polidocanol was significant (p = 0.046). The 30-day-mortality rates were low in all three treatment groups (polidocanol 4.7%; FG-single treatment 5.3%, FG-repeated treatment 4.3%). The safety profiles of the three treatment strategies were similar. INTERPRETATION: Repeated injection with FG glue is significantly more effective than injection with polidocanol 1% in the treatment of bleeding from gastroduodenal ulcers.

Adult

Bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective nationwide series.

BACKGROUND: The risk of bile duct injury in laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been a concern since the procedure became part of the surgical armamentarium. Our study assesses the incidence, types, and treatment for laparoscopic bile duct injury. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective case registration in a national database with participation by all departments of surgery performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy in Denmark since the first operation in January 1991. The case notes for bile duct injury have been reviewed. RESULTS: From 1991 through 1994, 57 of 7,654 patients sustained bile duct injury (0.74 percent; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.55 percent to 0.94 percent), including nine injuries occurring after conversion. The annual incidence did not decrease. Thirty-nine percent of the laparoscopic bile duct injuries were incisions, 39 percent were transections, and 12 percent were clip injuries or strictures. One patient, who sustained transection during open reoperation for bleeding after a converted procedure, died. Bile leaks for reasons other than bile duct injury occurred in 2.1 percent; 71 percent of these were cystic duct leaks. Acute cholecystitis was the indication for laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 968 patients, with 1.3 percent sustaining laparoscopic bile duct injury (95 percent confidence interval, 0.62 percent to 2.08 percent), while the incidence in patients with other indications for laparoscopic cholecystectomy was 0.62 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 0.44 percent to 0.82 percent) (p > 0.05). Preoperative knowledge of bile duct anatomy was available by means of preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography or intravenous cholangiography in 26 percent of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy but this did not reduce the risk of bile duct injury. The frequency of bile duct injury in patients who had intraoperative cholangiography was not significantly different from those who did not. Intraoperative cholangiography was done in 14 cases of injury (diagnostic for injury in 8, misinterpreted in 2, and normal in 4 patients). The case notes described operative difficulties in 11 of 48 cases of laparoscopic bile duct injury, most often because of fibrosis or difficulty delineating the anatomy. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of bile duct injury in laparoscopic cholecystectomy is higher than previously generally anticipated and did not decrease from 1991 through 1994. Risk factors and possible preventive measures should be evaluated in prospective studies.

Bile Ducts

[Laparoscopy in suspected acute appendicitis. Experiences with the first 233 laparoscopies at a university hospital department].

In an initial stage of introducing laparoscopic appendicectomy, 233 patients with indication for surgical treatment were evaluated in an open prospective trial. Surgery was done by a total of 39 trainees on duty. The procedure was started as a diagnostic laparoscopy followed by laparoscopic appendicectomy if the appendix was macroscopically inflamed. If the appendix was normal, it was left in place. There were 51 patients with a macroscopically normal appendix. Subsequently, none of them suffered from appendicitis or any other disorder requiring surgery. In 182 patients with laparoscopically assessed inflamed appendix, laparoscopic appendicectomy was attempted. One hundred and forty-eight proved successful, whereas 34 were converted to an open operation, mainly because of limited experience with the laparoscopic technique. Wound infection occurred in two and intraperitoneal abscess in four patients (0.9% and 1.7%), respectively. There was only one complication (0.4%) directly related to the laparoscopic procedure, namely a coecal leak. In conclusion, in a teaching hospital, laparoscopic appendicectomy can be safely offered to patients where surgery is indicated due to suspicion of appendicitis.

Abdomen, Acute

Bleeding ulcer.

A review is presented on theory and practice in the handling of gastroduodenal bleeding in the presurgical era with emphasis on the Meulengracht treatment. A description is thereafter given of the development of criteria for emergency surgery in the preendoscopic period with special mention of the circulatory evaluation using measurements of central venous pressure. A survey is given on the development in endoscopic diagnosis and treatment with a critical evaluation of the predictive value of clinical factors and endoscopic stigmata of haemorrhage. Finally the sparse knowledge on the haemostatic mechanisms of current endoscopic therapies is presented.

Blood Transfusion

Endoscopic treatment of oesophagoairway fistula with oesophageal balloon prosthesis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe our experience with a cuffed oesophageal prosthesis in the management of malignant oesophagoairway fistulas. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Teaching hospital, Denmark. SUBJECTS: Nine patients treated with a balloon cuffed oesophageal prosthesis during the period 1987-93. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Endoscopic assessment of the fistula compared with the results and complications of treatment. RESULTS: The prosthesis were inserted without complications. Eight patients had total relief of aspiration and were able to eat a semisolid diet. Three patients needed reintervention. Patients with little or no stenosis of the tumour seemed to be at considerable risk of dislodgement of the tube and those with large fistulas developed protrusion of the balloon into the tracheal lumen. CONCLUSION: Intubation with the cuffed oesophageal prosthesis is safe and relatively inexpensive. Other treatments should be considered in patients with minor stenosis of the tumour or a large fistula.

Adult

[Non-surgical treatment of bleeding gastric ulcer. A follow-up after 5-8 years].

UNLABELLED: Gastric ulcer haemorrhage is associated with a high immediate mortality, but few data exist on the late prognosis of these patients. The aim of this study was to determine the long-term recurrence rate and late outcome in patients with gastric ulcer complicated by bleeding. In a prospective follow-up study 90 consecutive patients with a bleeding gastric ulcer discharged after non-operative treatment (bleeding controlled by endoscopic electrocoagulation or ceased spontaneously) were followed up once every year for five to eight years (median 6.5 years). Recurrent ulcer was seen in 17 patients, repeat haemorrhage being the presenting symptom in 13. The estimated cumulative recurrence rate after two, five and eight years was 10%, 19% and 33%, respectively. Recurrence rate was unaffected by sex, complicating disease, and NSAID ingestion before and after the index bleeding episode. The recurrence rate of patients with a history of ulcer before the index bleeding episode did not differ from that of patients with no previous ulcer history. A significantly increased risk of recurrence was seen in patients with previous bleed as opposed to patients with previous non-bleeding ulcer (p < 0.05). The cumulative survival rate was significantly reduced compared to the expected survival rate of the sex- and age-matched background population (p < 0.01), primarily due to diseases not related to the ulcer disease. CONCLUSION: Bleeding gastric ulcer is associated with a relatively low long-term recurrence rate, except in a few patients with a history of previous bleeding ulcer, who have an increased risk of recurrence. Patients with bleeding gastric ulcer have an excess mortality not related to the ulcer disease.

Adult

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in Denmark. A prospective registration].

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) was introduced in Denmark in 1991, and a prospective case register was established. All departments performing LC agreed to participate. In 1991-1992, 2,415 patients underwent LC in 44 departments. The median number of procedures was 32 (interquartile range 18-58, range 1-370), performed by a median of four surgeons per department (3-5, 1-23). Two hundred and forty-two patients (10%) had acute cholecystitis. Eighteen point five percent had had an ERCP performed prior to LC. The rate of conversion to open operation was 10.5%, occurring significantly more often in acute cholecystitis (25.6%) than in patients with other indications (8.8%) (p < 0.001). Intraoperative cholangiography was used in 22.4%. The median duration of LC was 90 minutes (70-120, 25-415). The postoperative course was without complications in 90.4%. Laparotomy for complications was necessary in 43 patients (2.0%), mainly because of bile leaks. Twelve patients (0.6%) were treated endoscopically for complications. Bile duct injury occurred in 16 patients (0.66%, 95% CI 0.34-0.99%), including three transsections, one stricture, and 12 minor injuries. Six patients (0.25%, 95% CI 0-0.45%), three of whom had procedure-related complications, died postoperatively. All were > or = 72 years of age. Median time to discharge was two days, while median time to resumed work/normal activity was eight days. A comparison with the number of LC registered in the National Patient Register indicates that reporting is complete.

Adolescent

Late outcome of bleeding gastric ulcer. Five to eight years' follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Gastric ulcer haemorrhage is associated with a high immediate mortality, but few data exist on the late prognosis of these patients. The aim of this study was to determine the long-term recurrence rate and late outcome in patients with gastric ulcer complicated with bleeding. METHODS: In a prospective follow-up study 90 consecutive patients with a bleeding gastric ulcer discharged after non-operative treatment (bleeding controlled by endoscopic electrocoagulation or ceased spontaneously) were followed up once every year for 5-8 years (median, 6.5 years). RESULTS: Recurrent ulcer was seen in 17 patients, repeat haemorrhage being the presenting symptom in 13 of them. The estimated cumulative recurrence rate after 2, 5, and 8 years was 10%, 19% and 33%, respectively. Recurrence rate was unaffected by sex, complicating disease, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) ingestion before and after the index bleeding episode. The recurrence rate of patients with a history of ulcer before the index bleeding episode did not differ from that of patients with no previous ulcer history. A significantly increased risk of recurrence was seen in patients with previous bleed as opposed to patients with previous non-bleeding ulcer (p < 0.05). The cumulative survival rate was significantly reduced compared with the expected survival rate of the sex- and age-matched background population (p < 0.01), primarily because of diseases not related to the ulcer disease. CONCLUSION: Bleeding gastric ulcer is associated with a relatively low long-term recurrence rate, except in a few patients with a history of previous bleeding ulcer, who have an increased risk of recurrence. Patients with bleeding gastric ulcer have an excess mortality not related to the ulcer disease.

Aged

Peptic ulcer hemorrhage: factors predisposing to recurrence.

Two hundred and eighty patients with stigmata of recent or active bleeding from a peptic ulcer were followed up after endoscopic or conservative medical treatment. Of the patients 53% had no history of dyspeptic symptoms, but 17% and 10% had a history of uncomplicated ulcer or bleeding ulcer, respectively, before the index admission. After 8 years of follow-up the estimated recurrence rate was 29% (95% confidence limits, 12-47%). At recurrence 65% of the patients presented with a rebleed and 12% with a perforation. By means of a logistic regression analysis, a previous history of ulcer haemorrhage was identified as the only predictor associated with a significantly increased risk of recurrence. The recurrence rate in 253 patients presenting with a first bleed at the index admission was 23%, compared with 73% in 27 patients with a history of bleeding before the index admission (p = 0.001). The rate of recurrence was not influenced by a history of previous uncomplicated ulcer disease or dyspeptic symptoms, the severity of the index bleed, the methods of management of the index bleed, age, use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or long-term treatment with cimetidine.

Adult

[Laparoscopic parietal cell vagotomy. Preliminary results].

The results from 11 laparoscopic parietal cell vagotomies are presented. The procedure could be carried out in all patients. The median day of discharge after the procedure was day 1 (range 1-16), median convalescence time 7 (range 4-50) days. One patient required re-operation due to a perforation at the lesser curvature. This complication is ascribed to the learning phase. If a sufficient reduction in gastric acid secretion can be documented in a larger series of patients, laparoscopic parietal cell vagotomy should be considered a serious alternative to conservative treatment.

Adult

A double-blinded multicenter trial of somatostatin in the treatment of acute pancreatitis.

To evaluate the effect of somatostatin in the treatment of acute pancreatitis, 63 patients were randomly allocated to continuous intravenous infusion for three days of 250 micrograms of somatostatin (Dura Scan, Odense, Denmark) per hour (n = 33), or placebo (n = 30). Patients with a first attack of pancreatitis, serum amylase level of more than 450 units per liter and symptoms for less than 24 hours were eligible for participation in the study. Apart from a slightly significant faster decrease in serum amylase concentrations, we were unable to demonstrate any significant benefit from somatostatin with regard to paraclinical values and clinical course.

Acute Disease

Burst abdomen--clinical features and factors influencing mortality.

The hospital records of 198 patients with wound dehiscence following gastrointestinal surgery were reviewed (median age 66 years, male:female ratio 2.5:1). The median time from primary surgery to wound dehiscence was six days (1-24 days). The postoperative course prior to dehiscence was uneventful in half of the patients, and two-thirds had evidence of bowel function. The overall mortality rate following dehiscence was 24%. The most common cause of death was cardiorespiratory insufficiency (58%) and peritoneal sepsis (15%). Factors without influence on mortality were: 1) Complicating illness prior to surgery. 2) Primary disease. 3) Emergency surgery. 4) Contamination of the wound. 5) Postoperative complications prior to rupture. 6) Absence of bowel function. 7) Complete or incomplete rupture of the wound. Mortality, however, was higher in females, in patients with longitudinally versus transverse incisions, and in elderly patients. Late incisional hernia or sinus reactions occurred in 34 patients (23%).

Abdomen

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The first 45 operations].

During a period of 13 weeks, 45 patients with symptom-producing gall bladder stones (attacks of gall stone colic n = 39 (87%); acute cholecystitis n = 6 (13%)), corresponding to approximately 85% of the total number of gall bladder stone patients during the period were selected for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Two patients had previously undergone upper abdominal operations and had adhesions and one patient suffered from cirrhosis of the liver with portal hypertension. It proved necessary to convert five of the laparoscopic cholecystectomies to open cholecystectomies (11%) on account of technical difficulties (severe acute changes due to cholecystitis (n = 3), indeterminable anatomical conditions (n = 1) and one case of liver metastases (n = 1)). The median duration of operation was 90 minutes with a range from 30 to 360 minutes. Peroperative cholangiography was not undertaken routinely. No cases of forgotten stones in the common bile duct occurred. No deaths occurred and, in all, three slight complications occurred (7%): two patients had haematoma in the abdominal wall and one patient minimal leakage of bile from the stump of the gall bladder on account of insufficient ligation of the cystic duct. This patient was treated with an endoscopically placed drain in the common bile duct for two weeks, after which she was well. No lesions of the common bile duct occurred. None of the complications required laparotomy. The median duration of hospitalization was 24 hours with a range from one to 14 days. All of the patients were at work or could manage their usual activities after 14 days. The median duration of sick leave was seven days.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

Endoscopic treatment of bleeding peptic ulcer.

Several endoscopic modalities have the potential of controlling major, life-threatening ulcer bleeding. Although none of the modalities has emerged to be more efficacious than the other, current evidence favours thermal methods and injection therapy. When successful, the endoscopic methods are equally safe (associated with a risk of perforation less than 2%), although a rebleeding rate of 10-30% is of concern. Endoscopic therapy is in general operator-dependent, and the experience of a team is probably more important than the choice of equipment. Selection of patients for endoscopic therapy should be based on the identification of high-risk patients who tolerate rebleeding or surgery poorly, and high-risk lesions likely to rebleed. Endoscopic therapy for ulcer bleeding is simply a new way of applying surgery. Realizing this, it is difficult to understand why therapeutic endoscopy for bleeding ulcer has not yet been widely adopted by surgeons.

Duodenoscopy

Late radiation injury of the colon and rectum. Surgical management and outcome.

After a median latency of 2 years, the initial late colorectal radiation injuries in 182 patients were: stricture (37 percent), minor lesions (36 percent), rectovaginal fistula (22 percent), and gangrene or other fistulas (5 percent). Due to progression, new colorectal injuries, primarily stricture (55 percent) and fistula (42 percent), occurred in 68 patients (37 percent). Resection provided the best results. However, the resectability rate was low (46 percent) and resection was primarily performed in patients with a circumscript well-defined stricture of the proximal rectum or sigmoid colon with an anastomotic leakage rate of 5 percent. The prevailing management of 78 patients with fistula or stricture with synchronous fistula was defunctioning colostomy, primarily end-sigmoidostomy, providing fair results in half of the patients. Stomal complications occurred in 15 percent. The radiation-induced colorectal mortality was 8 percent. Colorectal fistula and associated radiation injuries of the urinary tract, and especially of the small bowel, were the major determinants of fatal outcome, yielding an overall radiation-induced mortality of 25 percent. After a median observation time of 13 years, half of the patients were alive at follow-up; 56 percent of these had a fair outcome whereas the remaining patients continued to have mild symptoms responding to conservative measures (34 percent) or disabling symptoms (10 percent).

Adult

Late radiation injuries of the small intestine--management and outcome.

A series of 86 patients with late radiation-induced lesions, mainly stricture, of the small bowel is reviewed. The median interval from radiotherapy to manifestation of enteropathy was 2 (1/4 to 43) years. Progression of the lesions necessitated further treatment in 35 of the 70 patients who survived the initial attack. Bowel resection was followed by leakage from 12% of ileo-ileal and ileo-colic anastomoses. Mortality was 34% from the enteropathy and 8% from coexisting damage to the rectum or urinary tract. Factors significantly influencing mortality were pre-irradiation laparotomy, emergency surgery, and surgery to deal with a segment of irradiated intestine left in situ at initial operation. Age, stage of primary malignancy and coexisting rectal or urinary tract lesions did not significantly influence the outcome. After a median of 10 years' observation the outcome was classified as favourable in only 28% of cases, while 30% had slight to moderate symptoms or had died of unrelated causes. When surgery is required for radiation-related lesions of the small intestine, the aim should be a one-stage definitive procedure, as management of subsequently progressing lesions is associated with substantially increased mortality.

Adolescent