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Biomedical subjects

R C Shamberger

Publications and source records attributed to R C Shamberger.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Surgical treatment of thoracic deformity in Poland's syndrome.

In 1841, Poland described congenital deficiency of the pectoralis major and minor muscles associated with syndactyly. This syndrome is a spectrum, often involving chest wall and breast deformity as well. Identification of the various musculoskeletal components involved permits optimal thoracic reconstruction in the small proportion of patients who will require it. From 1955 to 1988, 75 patients (40 males and 35 females) with Poland's syndrome were treated or evaluated. Patients with isolated deficiencies of the pectoral muscles, breast, or hand deformity were excluded. The complex was right-sided in 44 patients, left-sided in 30, and bilateral in one. The pectoralis minor and the costal portion of the pectoralis major muscle were absent in all patients. Hand anomalies were present in 50 patients. Athelia and/or amastia were noted in 37 patients. In ten patients, the rib cage deformity required reconstruction, and in three cases, rib or cartilage grafts were needed for complete repair. Often unappreciated in these cases is the significant rotation of the sternum toward the involved side and contralateral carinate deformity. Correction is achieved by bilateral subperichondrial costal cartilage resection and sternal osteotomy (seven of ten patients), thus allowing anterior displacement and orthorotation of the sternum. Chest wall reconstruction must be tailored to the requirements of each patient. No intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred in these ten patients. In males without rib cage deformity, generally no treatment is required to replace the absent pectoral muscles, although in two cases rotation of the latissimus dorsi muscle was performed. In all females, reconstruction of the ipsilateral breast is required at full development.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Resection of a tumor of the psoas muscle.

A 16-year-old boy presented with paresthesias and weakness of the right thigh. A computerized axial tomography scan identified a mass within the right psoas muscle, and a needle biopsy showed a primitive neuroectodermal tumor, which did not respond to two courses of chemotherapy (Adriamycin, vincristine, and cytoxan). An anatomic resection of the psoas muscle and femoral nerve was performed and radiotherapy administered. The boy remains ambulatory and free of disease 2.5 years after resection.

Adolescent↗

Surgical correction of chondromanubrial deformity (Currarino Silverman syndrome).

Chondromanubrial (arcuate) pectus carinatum is the rarest protrusion deformity of the chest. Its surgical correction was first described by Ravitch in 1952. We have recently encountered five patients with this deformity who have provided additional insight into the anatomy and optimal repair of this condition. It is notable for a short nonsegmented sternum with marked posterior angulation at the site of the normal chondromanubrial junction. It is optimally corrected by subperichondrial resection of the second to the seventh costal cartilages with a broad wedge-shaped osteotomy through the anterior cortex of the sternum at the point of maximal angulation. Anterior displacement of the sternum is achieved by closing the osteotomy with heavy silk sutures while the costal cartilages are regenerating.

Adolescent↗

Fate of the distal esophageal remnant following esophageal replacement.

When a colon segment is used for esophageal replacement in patients with esophageal atresia, the distal esophageal remnant is often left in place. We recently treated two patients who developed esophagitis in their esophageal remnants and did not respond to cimetidine and antacids. They were treated by esophagectomy at 22 and 37 years of age with relief of symptoms. One had an ulcer and stricture near the gastroesophageal junction and the second had gastric mucosa (Barrett's esophagus) replacing most of the squamous epithelium. Six additional patients were then reviewed who had resection of their distal esophageal segments between 1978 and 1987. Esophagitis was present in all. Also identified were two specimens with Barrett's esophagus and four with mural bronchial glands as well as surface respiratory and metaplastic squamous epithelium in two, and cartilagenous remnants in two. The findings of chronic inflammation in the esophageal remnant and three cases of Barrett's esophagus raise concern about the possible long-term complication of malignancy. Therefore, we recommend that esophagectomy be performed at the time of esophageal replacement if feasible, or later if symptoms occur or barium studies show esophagitis or ulceration.

Adult↗

Surgical repair of pectus excavatum.

From 1958 to March 1987 we corrected 704 patients with pectus excavatum. The condition occurred more frequently in boys (544 patients) than girls (160 patients). In the majority of patients (86%), the defect was evident at birth or within the first year of life. Musculoskeletal abnormalities were identified in 133 patients (scoliosis, 107; kyphosis, 4; myopathy, 3; Poland's syndrome, 3; Marfan's syndrome, 2; Pierre Robin syndrome, 2; prune belly syndrome, 2; neurofibromatosis, 3; cerebral palsy, 4; tuberous sclerosis, 1; and congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 2). Sixteen patients had associated congenital heart disease. A family history of chest wall deformity was present in 37% of the cases and a history of scoliosis in 11%. Surgical correction was performed using a uniform technique for bilateral subperichondrial resection of the deformed costal cartilages and sternal osteotomy resecting a wedge of the anterior cortex and fracturing the posterior cortex. Anterior displacement was maintained with silk sutures closing the osteotomy defect. In 28 early cases, the sternum was secured by intramedullary fixation with a Steinman pin. All repairs were completed with a low complication rate (4.4%; pneumothorax, 11; wound infection, 5; wound hematoma, 3; wound dehiscence, 5; pneumonia, 3; seroma, 1; hemoptysis, 1; hemopericardium, 1). Six complications were associated with Steinman pin fixation (hemoptysis, seroma, hemopericardium, pneumothorax, 3). Major recurrence occurred in 17 patients (2.7%) and led to revision in 12. Satisfactory long-term results were achieved in the remaining 687 patients, with follow-up ranging from 2 weeks to 27 years. Mean follow-up was 4.3 years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Cardiopulmonary function in pectus excavatum.

The results of recent studies clearly support a cardiopulmonary impairment resulting from pectus excavatum, but resolving the apparent discrepancies between studies is necessary. Several factors must be taken into consideration. The severity of the deformity of the chest wall must be defined, whether by the sternovertebral distance or by various means proposed by others. Without some index of the degree of sternal depression, it is impossible to compare patients or results among studies. No study has enrolled a sufficient number of patients to provide an accurate correlation between the severity of the deformity and the extent of the cardiopulmonary deficit, nor has any defined how severe the deformity must be to result in cardiopulmonary dysfunction. The second factor that is important in evaluating results is what controls were used. Studies in which each patient functioned as his own control after surgical repair are preferable. In the pediatric age group where growth and increased pulmonary parameters would be expected, the follow-up studies should be performed at a defined time after surgical treatment. Studies completed years later cannot assess the effect of surgical repair upon cardiopulmonary function. Studies wherein persons matched for age and height to serve as controls are available from the same laboratory are also needed. The degree of co-operation and effort of patients will vary, particularly in the pediatric age group. Constancy of the experimental protocol and personnel is important. Least reliable are reports of experimental findings compared with standardized normal values. In early studies, measurements of vital capacity and total lung capacity produced variable results when compared with normal persons matched for age. The wide range of "normal values" makes statistical comparison difficult, if not impossible. A wide spectrum of cardiopulmonary function exists among individuals, depending upon prior physical training and body habitus. Sufficient physiologic reserve is generally present, such that extensive impairment must exist before patients become symptomatic at rest. Physiologic reserve during exercise is rapidly consumed and differences can be more readily determined. Exercise studies must go beyond the measurement of intracardiac pressures and pulmonary volumes at rest.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Funnel Chest↗

Anterior chest wall deformities and congenital heart disease.

Pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum usually exist as isolated abnormalities. Only 19 cases of associated congenital heart defects have been reported. Significant complications related to uncorrected pectus excavatum have been described either during or after cardiac operations. Therefore we reviewed our experience with these coexisting lesions to assess the risk of surgical repair of chest wall deformities before and after correction of congenital cardiac anomalies. Among 20,860 infants and children with congenital heart disease seen at our institution, 36 (0.17%) had associated anterior thoracic deformities, 22 of whom underwent surgical correction of pectus excavatum or pectus carinatum. Ten of these 22 patients had pectus repair after a cardiac operation. Pleural or pericardial entry was avoided in all and none required a blood transfusion. Ten other patients had pectus repair either before cardiac repair (five patients) or without a subsequent cardiac operation. Another patient had a cardiac operation performed through a median sternotomy both before and after pectus repair, and the remaining patient, early in the series, had simultaneous banding of the main pulmonary artery and repair of pectus excavatum complicated by chest wall instability and a lethal intrathoracic hemorrhage. The experience indicates that congenital chest wall deformities can be safely and effectively repaired after early correction of congenital heart defects through a median sternotomy, although repair of the chest wall deformity after cardiac surgery also gives good results. However, in children who require an extracardiac conduit for repair of their congenital heart defect, we recommend initial repair of the pectus excavatum followed at 6 weeks or later by repair of the cardiac lesion to eliminate possible extrinsic compression of the conduit by the depressed sternum. We avoid simultaneous cardiac and pectus excavatum repair because of potential associated major complications.

Adolescent↗

Ilio-psoas abscess: diagnosis and management.

The triad of fever, limp, and pain in the flank, pelvis or leg often leads to the evaluation of the hip, genitourinary or gastrointestinal system. In the past 6 years, at our hospital, five adolescents and one young adult with these symptoms have had an ilio-psoas abscess, all diagnosed by ultrasonography. Once the diagnosis was established, four patients were treated successfully by percutaneous retroperitoneal drainage guided by ultrasonography or computed tomography. Catheter drainage averaged 11 days accompanied by appropriate antibiotics. The remaining two patients had surgical transperitoneal drainage. Growth of Staphylococcus aureus, from an ilio-psoas abscess indicates that the process is primary in origin. Growth of fecal flora suggests an intra-abdominal process and warrants further investigation. Ilio-psoas abscess can be readily diagnosed by ultrasonography or computed tomography and treated by percutaneous retroperitoneal drainage.

Abscess↗

Surgical correction of pectus carinatum.

Pectus carinatum is an infrequent but eminently correctable chest wall deformity. It is encountered much less frequently than pectus excavatum. In 12 years, from 1973 to 1985, 152 pectus carinatum (16.7%) and 758 pectus excavatum deformities (83.3%) were corrected. It occurs more frequently in boys (119 patients) than girls (33 patients). The majority, 89 cases, were symmetric, while 49 were asymmetric, and 14 were mixed deformities (ipsilateral carinatum, contralateral excavatum). In almost half the patients the deformity was not identified until after the 11th birthday. A family history of chest wall deformities was present in 26%, and of scoliosis in 12%. Associated musculoskeletal abnormalities were identified in 34 patients (scoliosis 23, Poland's syndrome 4, neurofibromatosis 2, Morquio's disease 2, vertebral anomalies 1, hyperlordosis 1, and kyphosis 1). Surgical correction required bilateral resection of the third through seventh costal cartilages in 143 patients, and unilateral resection in nine patients with an isolated abnormality. A single osteotomy was used in 88 patients and a double osteotomy in 53 patients. In 11 cases no osteotomy was required. Mixed deformity with posterior angulation of the sternum was managed by osteotomy and anterior displacement. The remaining cases had sternal osteotomy and fracture of the posterior cortex to correct anterior angulation. The operation was completed with a low complication rate 3.9% (pneumothorax 4, wound infection 1, atelectasis 1, and local tissue necrosis 1). Three patients required revision with additional unilateral lower cartilage resection for persistent malformation of the costal arch. All patients ultimately had a satisfactory result.

Adolescent↗

The medical and surgical management of typhlitis in children with acute nonlymphocytic (myelogenous) leukemia.

The treatment of acute leukemia in childhood has been increasingly successful. Infectious complications are the major cause of morbidity and mortality among these patients receiving aggressive chemotherapy. In particular, neutropenic enterocolitis or typhlitis has had a reported mortality of 50% to 100%. The authors reviewed a series of 77 previously untreated patients with acute myelogenous leukemia begun on treatment from March 1976 to June 1984 to better define the characteristics of typhlitis and its optimum management. Twenty-five patients had episodes of typhlitis, characterized by fever, abdominal pain, and tenderness, occurring during periods of neutropenia. Ten of these patients had watery diarrhea as a major additional symptom, and nine patients had a significant episode of gastrointestinal bleeding. In seven instances, blood culture results were positive, all for intestinal flora. The episodes of typhlitis occurred most frequently during the induction therapy (19 patients). Five patients experienced typhlitis during maintenance therapy, and one patient had acute appendicitis. Two patients had typhlitis during their reinduction therapy, and of note, one had had abdominal symptoms during her initial induction. All patients were treated initially with broad-spectrum antibiotics and bowel rest. Four criteria have been used for surgical intervention: (1) persistent gastrointestinal bleeding after resolution of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia and correction of clotting abnormalities; (2) evidence of free intraperitoneal perforation; (3) clinical deterioration requiring support with vasopressors, or large volumes of fluid, suggesting uncontrolled sepsis; and (4) development of symptoms of an intra-abdominal process, in the absence of neutropenia, which would normally require surgery. Using these criteria, five patients required surgical intervention for typhlitis or its sequelae and one for acute appendicitis. There was one perioperative death resulting from miliary tuberculosis. Among the 21 patients managed medically, there was 1 death resulting from typhlitis in a patient in whom surgery was deferred because of her multiple failures to enter remission.

Adolescent↗

The surgical management of fungal pulmonary infections in children with acute myelogenous leukemia.

Infections are the primary cause of complications and death in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia. Current aggressive treatment protocols have improved patient survival but produce extended periods of profound neutropenia during which the patients are particularly susceptible to opportunistic infections. Candida and Aspergillus species are the most common of the fungi causing invasive infections in these patients. In a group of 77 previously untreated children with acute myelogenous leukemia begun on treatment from March 1976 to June 1984, four patients developed localized fungal infections of the lung. These initially appeared as pulmonary infiltrates on chest roentgenograms during periods of severe neutropenia (three during remission induction and one after intensive consolidation therapy). Endobronchial cultures failed to identify the infectious organism in all cases. Computerized axial tomography best defined the cavitary nature of the lesions in 2 patients. All four patients underwent surgical resection, both to establish a diagnosis (three patients) and as part of therapy. There was no operative morbidity. The organisms involved were Aspergillus (2), Torulopsis (1), and Penicillium (1). Three patients were cured of their fungal infections. The fourth patient failed to enter remission and died of a cerebral fungal abscess that developed shortly after thoracotomy. We report these cases to encourage early surgical intervention in leukemics with a localized pulmonary process consistent with a fungal infection. Resection of the primary focus obviates the risk of life threatening pulmonary hemorrhage or dissemination of the fungus and allows for early reinstitution of chemotherapy which is vital to these patients' survival.

Adolescent↗

Traumatic pseudoaneurysms of the abdominal aorta.

The present report describes a patient with a traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the abdominal aorta and reviews the past literature. Traumatic aneurysms occur in a young patient population, and may present as late as 27 years after initial injury. Sonography and computed body tomograms (CBT) with contrast are especially useful screening tools. However, aortography is mandatory for complete preoperative evaluation. Aortic repair may require either suture aortorrhaphy, patch aortoplasty or graft replacement. Adequate exploration and repair at the time of initial injury will prevent pseudoaneurysm formation and the potential of delayed aortic rupture.

Adolescent↗

Arterial injuries during inguinal herniorrhaphy.

In all common forms of inguinal herniorrhaphy, stitches pass either just superficial to the internal iliac artery and vein or through their sheath. Despite the potential for arterial injury, documented cases seem to exist only in the foreign-language literature. We report four cases of arterial injury following inguinal herniorrhaphy in adults. The artery is placed in jeopardy when the transversalis fascia is incorporated in the stitches used to close the medial aspect of the internal inguinal ring. The depth of penetration of the needle and the proximity of the external iliac artery must be accurately judged. Injury can result from direct puncture of the artery or avulsion of one of its branches. Immediate repair of any arterial injury is paramount, and newly subnormal pulses below the inguinal injury are unacceptable. Exposure must be adequate, and division of the floor of the inguinal canal may be necessary for this purpose. Repair may require a simple hemostatic suture, a patch graft, or an interposition graft.

Adolescent↗

A prospective, randomized study of adjuvant parenteral nutrition in the treatment of sarcomas: results of metabolic and survival studies.

A prospective, randomized study was performed to evaluate the use of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in a group of young patients receiving aggressive chemotherapy for metastatic or locally recurrent sarcomas. Fourteen patients were randomly selected to receive TPN and 18 to receive conventional oral nutritional support (CN). During the study period (from first dose of chemotherapy to recovery from myelosuppression), the TPN patients received between 1020 and 2100 calories/m2/day (median 1650) and between 5.3 and 12.4 gmN/m2/day (median 8.9), while the CN patients received between 380 and 880 calories/m2/day (median 685) and between 0.0 and 3.7 gmN/m2/day (median 1.5). The mean daily nitrogen balance during the study period for the TPN group (-3.0 to + 1.3 gmN/m2/day, median -0.7) was significantly higher (p = 0.005) than that of the CN group (-6.2 to -0.7 gmN/m2/day, median -2.6). Serum protein levels (albumin, total protein, and transferrin) did not differ between the two treatment groups. The proportion of patients responding to therapy and the long-term survival rates were similar in the treatment groups. Thus despite established improvement in nitrogen balance, no survival or therapeutic advantage was demonstrated for the adjuvant parenteral nutrition group. Further studies of the role of parenteral nutrition as an adjuvant to cancer chemotherapy are needed to determine which populations of patients will benefit from its use.

Adolescent↗