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R T Schlinkert

Publications and source records attributed to R T Schlinkert.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Corticotropin-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia: a clinicopathologic correlation.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical presentation, laboratory findings, and pathologic characteristics of patients with corticotropin (ACTH)-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia. DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: Academic medical center. PATIENTS: All patients with bilateral adrenocortical nodules associated with ACTH-independent hypercortisolism without clinicopathologic features of primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease with atrophic internodular adrenal cortex. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Compare and contrast our findings with those previously reported; assess response to adrenalectomy. RESULTS: Nine patients met the criteria for corticotropin-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia. All patients had biochemical evidence of Cushing syndrome, although repetitive testing was frequently required. As a result, the diagnosis was delayed from 1 to 20 years. In all patients, both the low- and high-dose dexamethasone suppression tests failed to suppress cortisol secretion. No patient had elevated ACTH levels, and following curative bilateral adrenalectomy, no patient subsequently developed Nelson syndrome, with follow-up ranging from 1 to 8.5 years. Unique histologic features were identified in all cases. CONCLUSION: Amalgamating this series with other clinical reports plus basic research information, corticotropin-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia must be considered a separate and legitimate cause of Cushing syndrome.

Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital↗
PubMed1997

Laparoscopic splenectomy for immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate laparoscopic splenectomy as a treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). DESIGN: Retrospective review of 18 patients followed up from 1 to 30 months. SETTING: Referral center using community hospital. PATIENTS: Consecutive series of patients undergoing laparoscopic splenectomy for ITP. INTERVENTION: Laparoscopic splenectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Surgical and hematologic results. RESULTS: Eighteen patients underwent laparoscopic splenectomy for ITP. All procedures were completed laparoscopically. There was no perioperative mortality. Pancreatitis developed in 1 patient (6%); 17 (94%) of 18 patients responded to splenectomy. The mean platelet count increased from 29 x 10(9) to 461 x 10(9)/L after laparoscopic splenectomy and stabilized at 327 x 10(9)/L (mean follow-up period, 15 months). Mean (+/- SEM) operative blood loss was 214 +/- 52 mL, necessitating no transfusions. Mean hospital stay was 2 days (range, 1-7 days). Most patients tolerated a liquid diet the day of the operation and a solid diet the next day. Parenteral narcotic usage averaged 12.3 morphine equivalent units, and 6 patients (33%) required no parenteral analgesia. An accessory spleen was identified in 1 patient (6%). Mean (+/- SEM) operative time was 130 +/- 8 minutes and was significantly less in the second half of our experience (117 vs 144 minutes, P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic splenectomy is safe and effective for the management of ITP and allows rapid recovery. With increasing experience, operative times decrease. Laparoscopic splenectomy should be the treatment of choice for patients with ITP who require splenectomy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Factors that predict malignant thyroid lesions when fine-needle aspiration is "suspicious for follicular neoplasm".

OBJECTIVE: To assess clinical factors that may improve the ability to predict the presence of a malignant lesion in thyroid nodules that are found to be "suspicious for follicular neoplasm" by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We undertook a retrospective review of the medical records of all patients at the three Mayo Clinic facilities who underwent a thyroid surgical procedure between January 1992 and December 1994 and had a preoperative FNA report of "suspicious for follicular neoplasm." Patient and nodule characteristics were analyzed statistically for associations with the presence of cancer. RESULTS: The study cohort consisted of 219 patients with a mean age of 54.3 years. Eighty-four percent of resections were done for benign disease. Of the 35 malignant lesions, 9 were incidental papillary cancers separate from the primary nodule; thus, only 26 cancers were found in the index nodule, and only 19 (9% of the total group) were follicular carcinomas. Clinical findings associated with a malignant index nodule were larger diameter, fixation of the mass, and younger age of the patient. CONCLUSION: Clinical characteristics may be used for more accurate assessment of the risk of the presence of a malignant lesion when FNA cytology of a thyroid nodule is reported as "suspicious for follicular neoplasm."

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗
PubMed1997

Laparoscopic versus open posterior adrenalectomy: a case-control study of 100 patients.

BACKGROUND: Few controlled studies have compared laparoscopic transabdominal adrenalectomy (LA) to conventional open posterior adrenalectomy (PA). METHODS: Five patients have undergone successful LA at our institution between 1992 and 1996. A matched case-control study of 50 PA patients was performed during a similar time period. RESULTS: Follow-up was complete in 82% of patients with a mean follow-up time of 25 months. There were no statistically significant differences between the LA and PA groups with regard to the following demographic features: age, gender, endocrine disorder, side and size of tumor, and body habitus. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05), however, were present (LA vs PA) when we compared the following results: mean hospital stay (3.1 versus 5.7 days), narcotic equivalents (28 versus 48), return to normal activity (3.8 versus 7 weeks), patient satisfaction (9 versus 7 [scale 1 to 10, 10 being most satisfied]), late morbidity (0 versus 54%), and operating room time (167 versus 127 minutes). Median hospital charges ($7,000 versus $6,000) were slightly higher in the LA group (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although LA is technically more demanding and slightly more expensive to perform, advances appear to exist for LA with regard to patient comfort, patient satisfaction, hospital stay, and return to normal daily activities. Late incisional complications are dramatically less in the LA group.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1996

Laparoscopic management of paraesophageal hernia: early results.

The objective was to review our early results with laparoscopic repair of paraesophageal hernias to determine the safety, technical feasibility, and short-term outcome of the operation. Twelve patients with a mean age of 75 +/- 1 years underwent laparoscopic repair of a paraesophageal hernia. Principles of open repair, including sac excision, primary crural repair, and pexy, were accomplished laparoscopically in 83%, 83%, and 100% of patients, respectively. In two patients the diaphragmatic defect was closed with mesh. Fundoplication was also performed in seven patients with symptoms of reflux disease. No laparoscopic procedure was converted to an open repair; however, one patient required a postoperative celiotomy to control hemorrhage. Short-term evaluation of all patients postoperatively detected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in five patients (42%), four of whom did not undergo fundoplication. Two major complications were esophageal perforation and bleeding. Minor complications included atrial fibrillation in two patients, meat impaction in one patient, and a small asymptomatic recurrence in a single patient. Overall patient satisfaction was high. Laparoscopic repair of paraesophageal hernias was safe and technically feasible and warrants further investigation. The incidence of postoperative esophageal reflux, however, is high if an antireflux procedure is not performed. Extensive preoperative evaluation for reflux should objectively identify patients requiring fundoplication and decrease the incidence of postoperative GERD.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Role of laparoscopy in colorectal surgery. A prospective evaluation of 200 cases.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the role of laparoscopic-assisted surgery in patients presenting for routine colorectal surgical procedures. METHODS: Two hundred consecutive patients were assessed for the possible use of laparoscopic surgery. The decision regarding suitability of the patient for the procedure was made by the operator. For the purpose of analysis, patients were assigned to open, converted, and laparoscopic groups. RESULTS: Ninety-five of 200 patients were considered appropriate for laparoscopic surgery, 62 (65.3 percent) being successfully completed. These completed operations included right colectomy (24/30), sigmoid colectomy (22/36), appendectomy (9/10), anterior resection (3/8), abdominoperineal resection (3/5), and left colectomy (1/2). Complications attributable to laparoscopy were infrequent (6.3 percent) and were not responsible for any deaths. Patients in the laparoscopic group required less analgesia, tolerated oral intake earlier, and were discharged from the hospital earlier than those who were converted or who had open procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic-assisted surgery is safe, effective, and applicable to many of the standard colorectal procedures. Observed benefits include less postoperative pain and shorter hospital stay.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Laparoscopic splenectomy offers advantages in selected patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

BACKGROUND: Splenectomy plays a crucial role in the management of selected patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Laparoscopic splenectomy has been suggested as an alternative to open techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was made for all patients undergoing splenectomy for ITP at our institution from June 1987 to August 1994. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients underwent splenectomy for ITP. Fourteen open procedures (group 1) and 7 laparoscopic procedures (group 2) were performed. Eleven of 14 patients in group 1 and all 7 patients in group 2 had appropriate increases in platelet count following surgery. There were 3 complications in group 1 and no major complications in group 2. Operative time was longer in group 2 (154 versus 68 minutes, P < 0.05), but decreased with experience (210 to 135 minutes). Compared with patients in group 1, patients in group 2 tolerated liquids sooner (0.7 versus 2.6 days, P < 0.05), required less parenteral narcotic (14 versus 65 morphine equivalents, P < 0.05), and were discharged sooner (2.1 versus 5 days, P < 0.05). All patients in group 2 remain well and require no medication after a mean follow-up of 11 months. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic splenectomy is safe and effective in the management of select patients with ITP and offers advantages over open techniques.

Humans↗
PubMed1995

Laparoscopic left adrenalectomy for aldosteronoma: early Mayo Clinic experience.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate early results with laparoscopic left adrenalectomy in patients with an aldosteronoma. DESIGN: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records to Mayo patients in whom laparoscopic left adrenalectomy had been attempted for presumed aldosteronoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data on the diagnosis, details about the procedure, occurrence of associated complications, and duration of recovery period were analyzed for all study patients. RESULTS: Of the nine patients who underwent attempted laparoscopic left adrenalectomy, seven had aldosteronoma. In six of the seven patients, the procedure was successful. No preoperative mortality occurred, and morbidity was limited to prolonged ileus in one patient. Of the other five patients with successful results, all tolerated liquids within 24 hours after the procedure. The mean postoperative hospital stay for the six patients with successful laparoscopic procedures was 2.3 days, and four patients were dismissed within 48 hours after the procedure. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a safe alternative for the management of aldosteronoma of the left adrenal gland.

Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms↗
PubMed1995

General surgical laparoscopic procedures for the "nonlaparologist".

OBJECTIVE: To assess our initial experience with a variety of laparoscopic procedures that can be performed by general surgeons with the basic skills used for laparoscopic cholecystectomy and without advanced laparoscopic expertise. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a 36-month experience (1991 through 1994) at our institution with a consecutive series of patients who underwent basic laparoscopic surgical procedures but specifically excluding cholecystectomy, appendectomy, herniorrhaphy, and colectomy. RESULTS: Procedures performed laparoscopically included gastrostomy, jejunostomy, small bowel resection, intra-abdominal and retroperitoneal biopsy, staging of intra-abdominal malignant lesions, and adhesiolysis for relief of small bowel obstruction. During the 3-year study period, 106 patients underwent 107 procedures, 89 of which were successful. Four patients had substantial complications, two of whom underwent surgical repair. CONCLUSION: A spectrum of procedures may be safely performed with the skills learned from laparoscopic cholecystectomy and without the need for advanced laparoscopic skills such as intracorporeal suturing or tying of knots.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1994

Laparoscopic assisted splenectomy for treatment of presumed immune thrombocytopenic purpura: initial results.

OBJECTIVE: To present the initial results of performance of laparoscopic splenectomy in two patients at Mayo Clinic Scottsdale. DESIGN: We describe two 18-year-old patients with idiopathic immune thrombocytopenic purpura and the technique of laparoscopic splenectomy used for treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: For adequate visualization of the spleen and exposure of the upper midline area should urgent laparotomy become necessary, we position the patient supine with a sandbag under the left lower costal margin. Insertion of five 10-mm trocars facilitates placement of instruments. Dissection of the spleen is begun inferiorly. The splenic flexure of the colon is reflected inferiorly, and the spleen is rotated anterolaterally to allow division of the gastrosplenic ligament and the splenic hilum. Individual vessels are divided between clips, as are the short gastric vessels. Cautery is used for dividing the splenophrenic ligament. The spleen is placed in a plastic bag, and the open end of the bag is delivered through the umbilical incision, after which the spleen is morcellated and then removed. Considerable care must be exercised to ensure that the plastic bag is not punctured and that no ectopic splenic tissue is present. RESULTS: Both laparoscopic splenectomies were successful, and no intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. After dismissal on postoperative day 3, the patients quickly resumed all activities. The platelet counts returned to normal. CONCLUSIONS: These encouraging results support the use of laparoscopic splenectomy for immune thrombocytopenic purpura and suggest that this procedure may have a role in patients with other conditions of the spleen.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Laparoscopic-assisted segmental colectomy: early Mayo Clinic experience.

OBJECTIVE: To present a large initial series of patients who underwent laparoscopic-assisted segmental colectomy and to assess the feasibility and safety of this procedure. DESIGN: We summarized the clinical outcome data for 122 Mayo Clinic patients selected for laparoscopic-assisted resection of the right, left, or sigmoid colon between 1991 and 1993. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Preexisting factors (such as obesity and prior abdominal operations), indications for surgical treatment, and intraoperative and postoperative complications were analyzed statistically in two groups of patients--those in whom the laparoscopic procedure was completed and those in whom conversion to an open surgical technique was necessary. RESULTS: Laparoscopic-assisted colectomy was successfully completed for a variety of colonic pathologic conditions, including polyps, cancer, and diverticulitis. No operative deaths occurred in this series, and the overall complication rate was low (11%). Patients in whom laparoscopic-assisted colectomy was completed had a more rapid return of bowel function and a briefer hospital stay than did those who required conversion to the traditional open surgical technique. Neither obesity nor previous abdominal surgical procedures precluded successful laparoscopic-assisted colectomy, although the conversion rate to open colectomy was 75% in patients whose weight exceeded 90 kg. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that laparoscopic-assisted segmental colectomy is safe and feasible, and the procedure may offer patient-related advantages. Oncologic concerns, including recent reports of trocar site recurrences, suggest a cautious approach to its application for resection of colonic cancer.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Complete abdominal exploration is unnecessary during the treatment of cholelithiasis.

The development of laparoscopic and non-operative methods for the management of cholelithiasis has been based on the premise that abdominal exploration during cholecystectomy is unnecessary. In the current study, 305 patients undergoing complete abdominal exploration during routine cholecystectomy were evaluated to assess the incidence and significance of intraabdominal pathology found at the time of exploration. While 41 patients (13.4%) were found to have additional diagnosis at the time of exploration, the majority of these were either minor in nature or would easily have been recognized utilizing laparoscopic techniques. Only one patient would have had significant intraabdominal pathology missed by laparoscopic techniques. It can be concluded that abdominal exploration at the time of treatment of cholelithiasis is unnecessary and that laparoscopic cholecystectomy will not compromise patient care in this regard.

Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic↗
PubMed1992

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: clinical aspects, pathology and treatment.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common primary tumor of the liver. To further define its clinicopathology and surgical management, we reviewed our experience. Clinical presentations of 32 patients with ICC was similar to that with hepatocellular carcinoma. Jaundice occurred in only 27 percent. ICC was unresectable due to advanced disease stage in 81 percent. Six patients had curative resections with two 5 year disease free survivors. Underlying liver disease was associated with ICC in 34 percent of patients.

Adenoma, Bile Duct↗