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Biomedical subjects

R J Moorehead

Publications and source records attributed to R J Moorehead.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Screening for colorectal cancer.

Colorectal carcinoma represents a major cause of cancer deaths in the United Kingdom. Tumours detected at an early or even premalignant stage have a better prognosis. In this review we consider the argument for screening for colorectal carcinomas and discuss the means available and the implications of implementing screening programmes using some of these methods. A suggestion is made for the more rational use of limited resources to target those at greatest risk.

Colorectal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1994

Intraperitoneal rupture of ectopic varices--a rare complication of portal hypertension.

A 50 year old man presented with sudden abdominal pain, abdominal distension and shock. At emergency laparotomy a large amount of blood was found in the peritoneal cavity. There was micronodular cirrhosis of the liver and the spleen was enlarged. The bleeding was traced to distended veins in the right paracolic gutter which were oversewn and the abdomen closed. A coagulopathy was diagnosed and treatment including high dose aprotinin commenced. However, he continued to bleed and at a second laparotomy the area of previous haemorrhage was packed. Further deterioration continued until death 12 hours later. Intraperitoneal haemorrhage from ectopic varices is a rare occurrence. There is a high mortality rate usually due to an advanced coagulopathy. This is the first report of aprotinin being used in an attempt to treat this. On the basis of this report aprotinin would not seem to be of benefit for this condition.

Hemorrhage↗
PubMed1994

The need for closer control of warfarin therapy.

Warfarin therapy is associated with a variety of haemorrhagic complications. We report a representative series of six cases of warfarin-induced bleeding in non-cerebral sites admitted to one unit. In all of these cases, there was inadequate control of anticoagulation, resulting in major morbidity and one death. In particular, closer attention must be paid to the indications for and duration of warfarin treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Colorectal carcinoma: importance of clinical and pathological factors in survival.

A series of clinicopathological variables was assessed on 312 patients undergoing surgical resection for primary colorectal cancer. Although the presence of venous invasion was related to mortality (P = 0.02), classifying invasion into involvement of thick-walled or thin-walled veins did not produce a variable of prognostic value. Intestinal obstruction (P = 0.04) and the macroscopic appearance of the tumour (P = 0.04) were related to mortality from colorectal cancer, but not from all causes of death. Duke's stage, increasing patient age and poorly differentiated tumours were the variables which were individually most significantly related to poor prognosis (P < 0.001 for each analysis). Cox's regression analysis identified these three variables as independent predictors of outcome in colorectal cancer. This study confirms that Duke's stage, patient age and tumour differentiation are still the most important clinicopathological variables in colorectal cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Adjuvant therapy for colorectal cancer--is there a place for a Northern Ireland study?

Survival from colorectal cancer has not improved over the last four decades despite advances in surgery and anaesthesia. The answer to the question whether adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy will improve survival from the disease can only come from randomised, controlled trails. In the future, immunotherapy and gene therapy may be of benefit but these are still many years from the clinical arena. We believe that current evidence suggests that patients with Dukes B and C colorectal cancer should be entered into trials of adjuvant therapy. This evidence is reviewed below among with estimates of the impact that adjuvant therapy would have on the outcome from this disease in Northern Ireland.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗
PubMed1992

Management of splenic trauma.

This article examines the current management of trauma to the spleen. The incidence, mechanism, classification, diagnosis, treatment and complications of splenic trauma are reviewed. Modern radiological investigations are assessed in view of the recent vogue for non-operative management. The effects of splenectomy and particularly of overwhelming postsplenectomy sepsis are discussed. The role of non-operative management of splenic injuries in children and in adults without associated injuries is emphasized. Means of repairing and preserving the spleen are detailed. Prompt splenectomy is necessary in seriously traumatized patients, especially those with head or multiple injuries.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Current management of trauma to the pancreas.

This review examines pancreatic trauma and its management in the light of recent experience. The incidence, mechanism, classification, diagnosis, treatment and complications of pancreatic trauma are discussed. The difficulty in establishing the diagnosis is addressed and possible solutions are provided. The case for conservative surgery in the absence of pancreatic duct damage is outlined. The importance of draining all pancreatic injuries is emphasized.

Abscess↗
PubMed1991

Hepatic trauma and its management.

This review examines the current management of trauma to the liver. The incidence, mechanism, classification, diagnosis, treatment and complications of hepatic trauma are discussed. Diagnosis of hepatic injury may be difficult and specific investigations are suggested. Non-operative treatment and the strict criteria necessary to identify suitable patients for this are assessed. The recent trend to conservative surgery in hepatic trauma is reviewed. Aggressive resuscitation and early control of bleeding are crucial and are emphasized.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

Carcinoma of the gallbladder: a diagnostic challenge.

Since the introduction and availability of abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography, 38 patients have been admitted to the Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong with a subsequently confirmed histological diagnosis of carcinoma of the gallbladder. The majority of patients presented with abdominal pain, anorexia or weight loss, jaundice, and anaemia or an abdominal swelling. Abnormal liver function tests were found in 70-90%. Cholangiography, ultrasound and particularly computed tomography helped to confirm clinical suspicion when performed but 23 patients (61%) had an inaccurate diagnosis made before surgery. Operative intervention was only of benefit when the carcinoma was confined to the gallbladder (median survival after cholecystectomy alone 13 months; other procedures 2 months; P less than 0.01). Carcinoma of the gallbladder carries a poor prognosis but ultrasound and computed tomography can help select patients for appropriate treatment (surgery, endoscopic stenting, radiotherapy, chemotherapy) if clinical suspicion is raised.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Does preoperative computed tomography scanning aid assessment of oesophageal carcinoma?

In this study 50 patients (36 male, 14 female) with oesophageal carcinoma have been examined preoperatively by computed tomography. Three parameters were assessed, nodal involvement, invasion of adjacent organs, and metastatic disease. For all patients the computed tomography findings were correlated with the subsequent surgical and pathological findings. Sensitivity for both invasion and node involvement is low (36% to 67%). Specificity however, is high (85% to 95%). Computed tomography is therefore relatively reliable when it predicts a 'negative result' for either invasion or node involvement. However, its predictive value for a positive result is not as reliable.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Gangrene in esophageal substitutes after resection and bypass procedures for carcinoma of the esophagus.

In 760 resection and bypass procedures for esophageal cancer, 30 patients (3.9%) developed gangrene in the esophageal substitute. The incidence in resection cases was similar to those who were bypassed. The important factors in its development were the length and type of organ used as an esophageal substitute. Gangrene was almost exclusively seen when the upper anastomosis was in the neck; the lowest incidence occurred when stomach was used (1%), while the highest was seen with jejunum (11.3%) and colon (13.3%).

Anastomosis, Surgical↗