PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Ronald L Levine

Publications and source records attributed to Ronald L Levine.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Insufflation techniques in gynecologic laparoscopy.

Our objectives were to assess the safety and efficacy of different insufflation methods in women undergoing laparoscopy and to develop a model for selection of the appropriate insufflation technique based on the patient's characteristics and surgeon's experience. We performed a retrospective analysis of laparoscopic procedures on 3086 women over a 13-year period at the University of Louisville Hospital, Louisville, KY. All laparoscopic procedures were performed on an outpatient basis by residents under faculty supervision. Five different insufflation techniques were evaluated: standard transumbilical insufflation, open laparoscopy, transuterine insufflation, subcostal insufflation, and direct trocar insertion technique. Body mass index and previous abdominal surgeries were identified as the most important factors in the selection of the most successful insufflation method based on the surgeon's experience, using data mining techniques. During the first insufflation attempt, we were successful at achieving a pneumoperitoneum 94.7% of the time. This number increased to 98.1% when we switched to a second alternative insufflation method. In all, there were 5 complications out of 3086 patients (0.16%) after all insufflation techniques.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Left upper quadrant entry during gynecologic laparoscopy.

The use of the left upper quadrant technique in establishing a pneumoperitoneum during gynecologic laparoscopy was reviewed retrospectively in 267 patients who underwent gynecologic laparoscopy. The study population included all patients presenting to the University of Louisville Hospital outpatient surgery unit for laparoscopic gynecologic surgery from January 1994 to March 2002. Data sheets were prospectively compiled for each patient that included their demographics as well as the intraoperative insufflation technique used and the number of attempts necessary to achieve successful insufflation. All recognized complications associated with establishment of the pneumoperitoneum or insertion of the primary trocar were recorded. The database included 3314 patients of which 267 underwent insufflation via the left upper quadrant technique. Failure to achieve insufflation using this technique occurred in 4 patients (1.5%). There were no bowel or vessel injuries. Puncture of the left lobe of the liver occurred in 3 patients (1.12%). All injuries were managed without laparotomy, and the patients fully recovered without sequelae. The left upper quadrant entry technique is an effective means of establishing a pneumoperitoneum in patients undergoing gynecologic laparoscopic procedures.

Abdominal Wall↗
PubMed2002

Age-related reference ranges for complexed prostate-specific antigen and complexed/total prostate-specific antigen ratio: results from East Texas Medical Center Cancer Institute screening campaign.

The East Texas Medical Center Cancer Institute conducted a regional prostate cancer screening campaign over a 3-year period from 1998 through 2000. Total prostate-specific antigen (tPSA), complexed PSA (cPSA), and cPSA/tPSA ratio (c/tPSA) values were determined. To better define prostate cancer in the population, we chose to determine age-based reference ranges for these PSA isoforms in apparently healthy men. Participants (N = 12,902) between the ages of 20 and 94 were screened and demographic information and serum tPSA and cPSA values were collected across 41 centers throughout East Texas. Men with an abnormal digital rectal examination, a follow-up biopsy indicating prostatic disease, or any clinical signs and symptoms of prostatic disease were excluded. Sera from 7541 evaluable men were tested with the Bayer Immuno 1 PSA and cPSA methods at East Texas Medical Center. The resulting PSA data were then stratified by decade of age to determine age-related reference ranges for each PSA species. The cPSA values increased across all age decades: 40 to 49 years, 1.45 ng/mL; 50 to 59, 1.92 ng/mL; 60 to 69, 2.49 ng/mL; and 70 to 79, 2.77 ng/mL (95th percentile). tPSA levels also increased with age: 1.81 ng/mL, 2.45 ng/mL, 3.17 ng/mL, and 3.57, respectively. Comparatively, the c/tPSA levels remained constant (0.87), regardless of age. The upper limits of tPSA and cPSA values reported here suggest that men should be screened using lower cutoff values than are currently in use. These limits may more accurately identify prostate cancer among otherwise healthy men.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The use of lightly embalmed (fresh tissue) cadavers for resident laparoscopic training.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The value of a cadaver training program in laparoscopic surgery has rarely been studied. As there is a dearth of cadaver training programs, it is important to evaluate them. The goal of this study was to estimate if our cadaver training program significantly and relatively rapidly taught residents laparoscopic surgical skills. DESIGN: Observational, timed comparative study (Canadian Task Force classification II-3). SETTING: University of Louisville School of Medicine, Fresh Tissue Laboratory, Louisville, KY. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-nine obstetric/gynecology residents (15 postgraduate year PGY 2 and 14 PGY 3) participated in the study. INTERVENTION: During 5 half days, we compared the performance of each postgraduate year (PGY) 2 and PGY 3 obstetric/gynecology resident to his or her own results on five outcome skills before and after training in lightly embalmed cadavers. The testing was performed at the beginning and at the end of the week so that all improvement was secondary only to the training experience with the cadaver. Residents were assessed using laparoscopic techniques in a physical-reality simulator for three outcomes: bead transfer time, number of beads transferred, and suturing time on a stuffed vinyl glove and in two specific areas of the cadaver pelvis, with one slightly more difficult than the other. Assessment of suturing time was made on the two distinct tasks using the embalmed cadavers. Although the number of residents was relatively small, it covered two levels for one year. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The residents were assessed on a simulator before and after laparoscopic surgical training on the cadaver. The median decrease in bead transfer time (task I, simulator) was 38.5 seconds (p=.02); 69% of the residents showed some reduction in time to complete this task. The median increase in the number of beads transferred (task II, simulator) was 2.5 beads (p=.0001); 72.4% of the residents transferred at least one more bead after training. The median decrease in suture time (task III, simulator) was 63.5 seconds (p=.001); 79.3% of the residents performed this task more quickly after training. The median decrease in suture time (task IV, cadaver) was 54.5 seconds (p=.001); 72.4% of the residents showed improved performance on this task after training. The median reduction in suture time (task V, cadaver) was 53.5 seconds (p<.001); 82.8% of the residents completed this task more quickly after training. CONCLUSIONS: This cadaver surgical training program appeared to significantly improve laparoscopic surgical techniques in PGY 2 and PGY 3 obstetric/gynecology residents in a relatively short time. This model teaches residents specific training in the handling and manipulation of tissue as well as practice in surgical techniques for adnexal surgery, pelvic dissection, laparoscopic hysterectomy, and dissection within the space of Retzius that is not possible with mechanical trainers.

Cadaver↗