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Biomedical subjects

R W Marcuson

Publications and source records attributed to R W Marcuson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Microembolism from aortic aneurysm and ventricular thrombus: a complication of intravenous streptokinase.

Two patients sustained the rare complication of skin infarction following administration of intravenous streptokinase for acute myocardial infarction. We report evidence that dissolution of thrombus from an unsuspected source and subsequent microembolization of the skin may be responsible for this complication. In patients known to have an aortic aneurysm or ventricular thrombus, careful consideration should be given to the use of intravenous streptokinase following myocardial infarction.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Relationships between skin temperature and perfusion in the arm and leg.

Relationships between skin temperature (Tsk) and perfusion have been studied to provide a basis for the use of Tsk in the non-invasive assessment of limb circulation in peripheral vascular disease. Raising the ambient temperature (Ta) from 20 to 30 degrees C increased the perfusion of the glabrous skin of the hands and feet without changing that of the skin of the forearm or calf. On a fractional basis the response in the hand and foot was the same. Tsk was higher in the arms than the legs and in the proximal than distal parts of the limbs. A fall in Tsk was often seen when Ta rose from 20 to 25 degrees C and was attributed to counter-current cooling. Subsequently Tsk rose even in regions where there was no increase in skin perfusion. Tsk can only be related to its perfusion in the fingers, palm and toes. Forearm Tsk was related to the perfusion of the digits. This relationship implies a link with the arterial inflow to the limb which determines the size of its thermal core. Heat conduction from the core seemed important for the skin of areas like the forearm and calf where the constant, low perfusion limited the amount of heat which could be transported to it directly by the blood. The importance of conduction was supported by studies, at Ta 20 degrees C, on subjects during calf muscle exercise and on patients with arterio-venous fistulae. Here an increase in the arterial inflow to the limb was associated with a rise in Tsk of the forearm/calf unrelated to the perfusion of its skin.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

The value of skin temperature measurements in forecasting the healing of a below-knee amputation for end-stage ischaemia of the leg in peripheral vascular disease.

In order to forecast the healing of a Burgess type below-knee amputation the skin temperature of the leg has been studied before operation in 39 instances using infra-red thermography in a 26 degrees C environment. Healing bore no relation to the mean skin temperature of the calf or that of the skin at the site of the anterior incision. However, when the skin temperature at the site of the incision for the long posterior flap was greater than 30.4 degrees C or when the ratio of the temperatures at the posterior and anterior incision sites (P/A) was greater than 0.98 healing was significantly more likely to occur. It is proposed that the temperatures at these sites should be used to assess the prospect of such an amputation healing.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Prevention of wound infection following vasectomy.

A prospective study on 90 patients undergoing vasectomy as day cases is reported. The use of a chlorhexidine gluconate bath or shower on day 1 and day 2 post-operatively reduced the wound infection rate from 37.8 to 6.7%. It is suggested, therefore, that this technique is an economical and successful way of reducing the incidence of infection in these patients.

Baths↗
PubMed1983

Vascular plasminogen activator and deep vein thrombosis.

In attempts to determine the aetiology of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) it has been established that some patients with a history of lower limb DVT have a low level of vascular plasminogen activator (VPA) in their superficial hand veins and this combined with a poor VPA release is thought to predispose to thrombosis (1). Hand veins rarely develop thrombosis and so the level of VPA has been measured quantitatively in the more commonly at risk veins of the lower limb. In 6 limbs operated on for varicose veins, paired samples of vein from the groin and from the calf were examined. The median activity score for the groin veins (8138 cpm/micrograms) was significantly higher than the activity in the calf veins (2353 cm/micrograms)(P = 0.01). In 9 limbs amputated for critical ischaemia, paired samples of calf long saphenous vein and soleal vein were examined. The VPA in the former was 1675 cpm/micrograms compared with 6796 cpm/micrograms in the soleal veins. This difference is significant at the 1 per cent level. A correlation has been shown between the VPA content of these two sets of veins (R = 0.87). The low level of VPA in the superficial calf veins may be an aetiological factor in superficial thrombophlebitis, but the commonest site for DVT, the soleal veins of the calf, have a high level of VPA.

Groin↗
PubMed1983

Wound infection following vasectomy.

Ninety-four patients undergoing vasectomy as day cases were studied prospectively. An overall infection rate of 32.9% was recorded and, apart from haematoma formation and the nasal carriage of organisms, no factors were found that increased the risk of infection. A preoperative hibiscrub shower did not affect the infection rate, even though it was responsible for a significant reduction in skin flora. This raises the possibility of infection following vasectomy being secondary, not occurring at the time of surgery.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1983

The fate of the below knee amputee.

A retrospective study of 47 patients undergoing 51 below-knee amputations over a six year period on one unit is reported. An overall success rate of 84.4% was achieved and the factors influencing this are discussed. Diabetics had equally good results as those patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

A simple quantitative assay of tissue plasminogen activator.

A simple method for the quantitative assay of tissue plasminogen activator is described. Human veins and uterus obtained at operation are disintegrated in a membrane disintegrator at -70 degrees C and a known weight of the powder, suspended in buffered saline and thoroughly mixed. Assay of the dilutions of this homogenate on isotope-labelled fibrin clots gives straight line plots of log weight against log activity of the dilution and the sample activity is calculated from this. The method has been compared with the conventional histochemical technique. A highly significant correlation between the results of the two methods has been obtained (r = 0.79; p less than 0.001).

Female↗
PubMed1972

Experimental venous lesions of the colon.

This experimental work has shown that structural changes in the colon may be produced following inferior mesenteric vein thrombosis. Whilst there are certain radiological similarities, sigmoidoscopic appearances and histological studies show that the pathogenesis of venous lesions differs from that of arterial lesions. The possible relationship of these experiments to clinical lesions is discussed.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗