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Biomedical subjects

Peter Petros

Publications and source records attributed to Peter Petros.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Role of internal anal sphincter damage in the causation of idiopathic faecal incontinence: a prospective study.

This prospective study aimed to examine the relationship between internal anal sphincter (IAS) damage and 'idiopathic' faecal incontinence (FI) in 50 consecutive patients, using endoanal ultrasound examination. The external anal sphincter (EAS) was intact on direct and ultrasonic assessment in all patients. IAS damage was defined as complete rupture or attenuation, less than 2 mm thickness in some part of the sphincter. Complete rupture was found in one patient and damage in a further 17 (total 36%). All three nulliparous patients had normal IAS and EAS. IAS damage was only minimally associated with 'idiopathic' FI, suggesting IAS per se is unlikely to be a direct cause of FI in the 'idiopathic' group of FI patients. Its role might be analogous to the periurethral striated horse-shoe shape muscle in the urethra, which is thought to act as a mucosal sealant.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Histological studies of monofilament and multifilament polypropylene mesh implants demonstrate equivalent penetration of macrophages between fibrils.

The tissue reaction to implanted monofilamentous and multifilamentous polypropylene mesh was compared in samples removed at operation from the perivaginal area of a 58 year old patient. The fibrils of both were surrounded by collagenous connective tissue, collagen types I and III, and proteoglycans. Smaller, less compacted bundles were seen in the vicinity of the monofilamentous mesh than around the multifilamentous mesh, and in addition, a greater number of inflammatory cells and larger multinucleate giant cells were seen apposed to the monofilamentous mesh. Following this, eight rats were implanted with multifilamentous synthetic polypropylene tape and examined at two, four, six and eight weeks after surgery. Macrophages and multinucleated giant cells were seen in the immediate vicinity of the fibrils, while fibrovascular connective tissue surrounded the implantation site. These observations do not support the prevailing hypotheses that macrophages cannot penetrate between the fibrils of multifilament tape. They do suggest that differences in tensile strength may be present in the artificial neoligaments created by the two tapes.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Synergistic non-surgical management of pelvic floor dysfunction: second report.

The normal pelvic floor functions as a balanced synergistic system composed of muscle, connective tissue (CT), and nerve components, with CT being the most vulnerable. The aim was to address a wide range of pelvic floor dysfunctions by strengthening all possible components of the system with minimal time loss, weaving every element of treatment seamlessly into a daily routine. The study group consisted of patients from a tertiary referral pelvic floor clinic who, after testing, opted for nonsurgical treatment of their problem. There were no exclusion criteria. The patients had presented with symptoms which included stress, urge, frequency, nocturia, abnormal emptying and pelvic pain, and the fate of these was tracked prospectively. The regime comprised four visits in 3 months. An anatomical classification guided diagnosis of anatomical defects in the anterior, middle and posterior compartments of the vagina. HRT was administered to all patients, electrotherapy 20 min per day for 4 weeks, squeezing 3 x 12 per day, reverse pushdowns 3 x 12 per day and squatting or equivalent up to 20 min per day. Of 147 patients (mean age 52.5 years), 53% completed the programme. Median QOL improvement reported was 66%, mean cough stress test urine loss reduced from 2.2 g (range 0-20.3 g) to 0.2 g (range 0-1.4 g), p =<0.005, and 24-h pad loss from a mean of 3.7 g (range 0-21.8 g) to a mean of 0.76 g (range 0-9.3 m), p =<0.005. Frequency, nocturia and pelvic pain were significantly improved ( p=<0.005). Residual urine reduced from mean 202 ml to mean 71 ml ( p=<0.005). This method extends indications for nonsurgical therapy beyond stress incontinence, and the results appear to encourage this approach. Confirmation by other investigators is required.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

The split labium minus flap graft technique.

The split labium minus flap graft technique was used to restore tissue volume and therefore elasticity into the bladder neck area of vagina in eight patients. Three full-thickness vaginal incisions were made, a longitudinal incision extending from external urethral meatus to 3-4 cm beyond the bladder neck, and two transverse incisions, one just below the external urethral meatus and the other at the level of the bladder neck. The vagina, urethra and bladder neck were mobilized widely and the suburethral flaps rotated downwards, leaving a bare area below the urethra. A transverse incision was made across the base of one labium minus (LM) and the incision carried up on each side to the ridge of the LM. The inner wall was dissected clear of the outer wall, creating a flap. This was then rotated into the bare area formed by dislocation of the suburethral vagina. The flap was attached to the pubococcygeus muscles laterally, to the external meatus superiorly and to the vaginal skin inferiorly. All the cut surfaces of the vagina and LM were joined with 00 Dexon sutures. Postoperative pain was minimal. All patients were discharged within 48 h, and there was excellent anatomical restoration at 6 weeks' follow-up. The technique works well in patients with adequately large labia minora, and has potential uses for patients who have deficient vaginal tissue in the hammock or bladder neck areas of the vagina.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Changes in bladder neck geometry and closure pressure after midurethral anchoring suggest a musculoelastic mechanism activates closure.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the anatomical origins and clinical significance of cough pressure transmission ratio (CTR) by using virtual-operation (VO) techniques. METHODS: Thirty-four patients underwent perineal ultrasound examination, standard urethral pressure cough testing both with and without unilateral midurethral anchoring (VO), all tests being performed without urethral elevation. In eight patients where there was no change in CTR, a one-sided fold of suburethral vagina (VO) was taken (pinch test) and the CTR repeated. RESULTS: After midurethral anchoring, maximal urethral pressure increased from a mean of 33.25 cm H2O to a mean of 58.06 cm H2O (P < 0.0001) and restoration of anatomy was noted in all 11 patients who had obvious funneling on straining. Conversion of a <100% CTR to >100% CTR in the proximal urethra was observed in 14 of 22 patients (P < 0.005), with no significant change noted in the distal urethra. Further conversion of CTR was noted in six of the remaining eight patients with unilateral plication of suburethral vagina (pinch test). CONCLUSIONS: A musculoelastic closure mechanism most likely activates urethral closure. CTR is most likely an index of changed intraurethral area, not necessarily closure, and may be a more sensitive objective test than perineal ultrasound for diagnosing urethral narrowing, especially when used with virtual-operation techniques.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Non-linearity in clinical practice.

The whole spectrum of medicine consists of complex non-linear systems that are balanced and interact with each other. How non-linearity confers stability on a system and explains variation and uncertainty in clinical medicine is discussed. A major theme is that a small alteration in initial conditions may have a major effect on the end result. In the context of non-linearity, it is argued that 'evidence-based medicine' (EBM) as it exists today can only ever be relevant to a small fraction of the domain of medicine, that the 'art of medicine' consists of an intuitive 'tuning in' to these complex systems and as such is not so much an art as an expression of non-linear science. The main cause of iatrogenic disease is interpreted as a failure to understand the complexity of the systems being treated. Case study examples are given and analysed in non-linear terms. It is concluded that good medicine concerns individualized treatment of an individual patient whose body functions are governed by non-linear processes. EBM as it exists today paints with a broad and limited brush, but it does promise a fresh new direction. In this context, we need to expand the spectrum of scientific medicine to include non-linearity, and to look upon the 'art of medicine' as a historical (but unstated) legacy in this domain.

Biomedical Research↗