PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

S Attar

Publications and source records attributed to S Attar.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Penetrating cardiac injuries.

One hundred nine penetrating cardiac injuries were reviewed: 49 gunshot wounds and 60 stab wounds. They were classified into four groups: group 1 (lifeless), 38; group 2 (agonal), 16; group 3 (shock), 33; and group 4 (stable), 22. Thirty-six patients in group 1 (94%) and 8 of 16 patients in group 2 (50%) underwent emergency room thoracotomy; 24 of 33 in group 3 (73%) and 20 of 22 (90%) underwent thoracotomy in the operating room. Twenty-one (38%) of 55 patients undergoing emergency room thoracotomy survived, whereas 47 (87%) of 54 patients undergoing operating room thoracotomy survived. Survival was 12 of 38 (31%) in group 1, 11 of 16 (69%) in group 2, 26 of 33 (79%) in group 3, and 18 of 22 (82%) in group 4 with an overall survival of 67 of 109 (61%). Gunshot wounds of the heart portend a worse prognosis than stab wounds. Survival of gunshot wounds was 20 of 49 (40%) compared with 47 survivors of 60 stab wounds (78%). Aggressive treatment, including emergency room thoracotomy, is justified for lifeless and deteriorating cardiac injury victims.

Adolescent

Esophageal perforation: a therapeutic challenge.

The records of 64 patients with esophageal perforation treated since 1958 were reviewed. There were 19 cervical perforations, 44 thoracic perforations, and one abdominal perforation. Thirty-one perforations (48%) were due to injury from intraluminal causes. Twenty (31%) resulted from extraluminal causes: penetrating wounds, 11; blunt trauma, 3; and paraesophageal operations, 6. Eleven (17%) were spontaneous perforations, and two (3%) were caused by perforation of an esophageal malignancy. Ten (91%) of 11 patients with cervical perforations treated less than 24 hours after injury survived compared with 6 (75%) of 8 patients treated more than 24 hours after injury; hence 16 (84%) of the 19 patients in the cervical group survived. In the thoracic group, 19 patients were treated within 24 hours with 16 survivors (84%) compared with 25 patients treated beyond 24 hours with 12 survivors (48%); hence 28 (64%) of the 44 patients in the thoracic group survived. The patient with an abdominal perforation survived. Thirty patients underwent primary suture closure of the perforation, and 25 (83%) lived. Seventeen patients had drainage, and 10 (59%) lived. Total esophagectomy was performed in 9 patients, 7 (78%) of whom survived. Exclusion-diversion procedures were performed in 5 patients, and 1 (20%) survived.

Adult

Rupture of thoracic aorta caused by blunt trauma. A fifteen-year experience.

During the 15 years from 1971 through 1985, 114 patients with rupture of the thoracic aorta caused by blunt trauma were admitted to the Shock Trauma Center of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems. Mean age was 31.3 years (range, 15 to 80). Ninety were male and 24 were female, a 3.75:1 ratio. Of the 114, 89 (78.1%) survived initial resuscitation in the admitting area. Twenty five of the 89 initial survivors (28.1%) died during or after surgical repair. Paraplegia occurred in 11 of the 78 operating room survivors (14.1%). Further analysis was done of the 83 patients admitted in the 10-year period from 1976 through 1985. Mean Injury Severity Score, excluding aortic injury, was 18.2. Twenty-five of the 83 (30.1%) died during resuscitation in the admitting area or operating room. Seven others died during surgical repair and 12 died postoperatively, leaving 39 survivors (39/83 [47%] of total admissions and 39/58 [67.2%] of survivors of resuscitation). Paraplegia/paresis developed postoperatively in six of 34 (17.6%) cases involving shunt and four of 17 (23.5%) without shunt. Other major complications occurred in 21 of the operating room survivors. Statistically significant risk of death or major complication was associated with female sex, higher Injury Severity Score, lower admission blood pressure, larger hemothorax on admission, less qualified surgeon, major operation before aortic repair, use of shunt, and transfer directly from scene of injury. There was no advantage in this series to using or not using a shunt in preventing paraplegia. Mortality rates are realistic for a highly developed trauma system. Better techniques are needed to manage exsanguination and prevent paraplegia.

Adolescent

Carcinoma of the esophagus: a comparison of the results of transhiatal versus transthoracic resection.

The cases of 78 patients with primary esophageal carcinoma treated from 1977 to mid-1987 were retrospectively analyzed. Fifty-two of the patients underwent transthoracic esophagogastrectomy (TTE) and 26, transhiatal esophagectomy (THE). The two groups were statistically similar in preoperative characteristics except that more of the THE group had received chemotherapy; this group had relatively more tumors of the upper esophagus; and 20 (77%) of the THE group, compared with 50 (96%) of the TTE group, had tumors in stages III and IV. The incidence of major postoperative complications did not differ significantly between the two groups. There were five (19%) anastomotic leaks in the THE group, but only one led to a prolongation of hospital stay by more than 14 days, whereas all three (6%) of the leaks in the TTE group caused hospital stay to be prolonged several weeks. Overall morbidity was high: 75% (39/52) for the TTE patients and 85% (22/26) for the THE patients (p greater than 0.10). Hospital mortality was 6% (3/52) in the TTE group and 8% (2/26) in the THE patients (p greater than 0.10). There was no significant difference in actuarial survival either between the two groups as a whole or between those patients in each group who had stage III or IV tumors. We conclude that THE, among the types of patients for whom we used the procedure, provides long-term survival comparable with that provided by TTE without causing a significant increase in hospital mortality or morbidity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Actuarial Analysis

Surgical management of lung cancer with solitary cerebral metastasis.

Between 1964 and 1986, 19 patients underwent resection of both a primary lung cancer and the associated brain metastasis. One patient underwent resection of 2 separate primary lung cancers and the associated metastases. The 12 men and 7 women ranged in age from 42 to 67 years (mean, 54.6 years). The cell type was adenocarcinoma in 12 tumors, squamous or adenosquamous cell in 5, large cell undifferentiated or anaplastic in 2, and malignant carcinoid in 1 tumor. The types of resection were as follows: lobectomy for 12 neoplasms, pneumonectomy for 5, bilobectomy for 2, and wedge resection for 1 neoplasm. Radiotherapy to the brain was given in connection with sixteen of the twenty craniotomies. The patient with 2 separate primary neoplasms survived 19 years before dying 5 months after the second craniotomy. The mean survival is 8.0 +/- 2.1 years (+/- the standard error), and the median survival is 1.67 years. Survival at 1 year was 65 +/- 10.7% and at 5 years, 45 +/- 11.1%. On univariate analysis, the following factors were found to correlate significantly with longer survival: a lung tumor in Stage I or II; negative mediastinal nodes; curative rather than palliative resection of the lung tumor; and age younger than 55 years. However, on multivariate analysis, only curative resection was a significant factor (p less than 0.01). We believe these results justify continued application of this combined surgical approach to patients having limited-stage lung cancer with a solitary brain metastasis.

Adenocarcinoma

Transhiatal esophagectomy for carcinoma of the esophagus: experience with 26 patients.

Transhiatal esophagectomy was performed in 26 patients with esophageal carcinoma. The patients were selected for this procedure by means of transhiatal palpation of the tumor at laparotomy. Twenty had squamous cell carcinoma and 6, adenocarcinoma. The tumor locations were the upper third in 8, middle third in 12, and lower third in 6. On postoperative staging, 15 patients had Stage III and 6, Stage IV neoplasms. Among 25 elective resections there was 1 hospital death, which was due to severe coronary artery disease. One patient who had an urgent resection for a perforated carcinoma died of multisystem failure 32 days postoperatively. Complications included splenic injury requiring splenectomy in 5 patients; tracheal laceration in 2 patients (only 1 requiring a thoracotomy); azygos vein laceration requiring sternotomy for repair in 1 patient; chylothorax in 1; recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis in 3 (temporary in 2); and transient anastomotic leaks in 3. Five patients had pneumonia with transient respiratory failure. Twelve of the operative survivors died of cancer 3.2 to 32 months postoperatively, and 12 are alive 3 to 28 months after operation. The actuarial survival is 53 +/- 11% (+/- standard error) at one year and 46 +/- 12% at two years. Transhiatal esophagectomy is a reasonable, safe operation that should be considered for tumors at all levels of the esophagus.

Actuarial Analysis

Bronchial adenoma: a review of 51 patients.

The cases of 51 patients with bronchial adenomas were reviewed. There were 43 bronchial carcinoids, 5 adenoid cystic carcinomas, 2 mixed tumors, and 1 mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The carcinoid group was divided into typical (31, 72%) and atypical (12, 28%) subgroups. Nine carcinoids (20%) were categorized as metastasizing adenomas; in this group, 7 lesions were atypical and 2 were typical. Thirty-two lobectomies, 7 bilobectomies, 8 pneumonectomies, 2 sleeve resections, and 2 tracheal resections were performed. Ten-year survival was 88% for patients with typical carcinoids and 59% for those with atypical carcinoids. In the group with adenoid cystic carcinoma, 1 patient died postoperatively, 1 had recurrence of the tumor, 2 were alive and free from disease 16 and 23 years later, and 1 died of heart disease at 11 years. The patient with mucoepidermoid carcinoma was alive without recurrence 15 years after operation. In conclusion, bronchial adenomas of the carcinoid type are potentially malignant. Their prognosis depends on the histology of the tumor, and on the presence of metastasis to the regional lymph nodes and distant organs.

Adenoma

Thymectomy for myasthenia gravis: 14-year experience.

Forty-eight consecutive patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) attended by generalized weakness were treated by complete thymectomy, performed transsternally in 46 patients and through a left thoracotomy in two with thymomas. There were no operative deaths. A 12-year-old child with fulminating MG died of acute pneumonia shortly after hospital discharge. Of the remaining 47 evaluable patients, thymectomy resulted in complete remission in six, marked improvement with a reduced need for medication in 20, and mild improvement on the same dosage of medication in 18. Neither the age of the patient, nor the histopathology of the excised thymus, nor the postoperative change in acetylcholine receptor antibody titer were found to have a significant influence on the response to thymectomy. If the ten patients who were 20 years of age or younger were excluded, the patients with a shorter duration of MG achieved a better response to operation. The authors conclude that thymectomy is effective treatment for MG, regardless of the age of the patient or the type of thymic pathology.

Adolescent

Migration of Kim-Ray Greenfield umbrella to the heart.

We have described a case of migration of a Kim-Ray Greenfield umbrella from the inferior vena cava to the heart for unknown reason. The umbrella was surgically removed and the patient recovered fully. This complication has not been previously reported. Despite this complication, we believe that the Kim-Ray Greenfield umbrella, when placed with particular attention to technique, effectively prevents pulmonary emboli and offers minimal associated morbidity.

Aged

Carcinoma of the esophagus: twelve years' experience with a philosophy for palliation.

Twelve years of experience have now been gained with a new therapeutic approach to carcinoma of the esophagus. In this approach, the primary goal of treatment is palliation, with cure an important but secondary objective. Carcinomas in the upper third of the esophagus are treated by radiation therapy unless there is severe obstruction or tracheal invasion, in which case colon interposition is performed. Limited resection with esophagogastrostomy is performed through a right thoracotomy and midline laparotomy for neoplasms in the middle third of the esophagus and through a left thoracotomy for carcinomas in the lower third. Since 1969, 161 patients have been evaluated, of whom 107 (66%) have been managed according to the new protocol. Twenty patients with carcinomas of the upper third of the esophagus were treated primarily by radiotherapy and 7 by colon interposition. Resection was performed in 78 of the 80 patients with carcinomas of the middle and lower thirds. There were 9 operative deaths (10%). Palliation, of superior quality to that obtained by previous methods, was provided to 95 of the 107 patients. Survival also is at least on a par with that obtained before.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell

Palliation of esophageal carcinoma with intraluminal tubes: experience with 30 patients.

Between 1968 and 1978, 26 patients with carcinomas of the thoracic esophagus and 4 with adenocarcinomas involving the esophagogastric junction were treated by the insertion of indwelling intraluminal (endoesophageal) tubes. Four different types of tube were inserted by the pull-through technique. Thirteen of the 30 patients died in the hospital within 30 days. However, among the 20 patients who did not have neoplasms of the upper third of the thoracic esophagus or who had not had a prior resection, only 5 died. The principal cause of death was aspiration pneumonia. Survival averaged 2.5 months. Four patients survived 5 to 7 months. Deglutition was adequate in most patients but was not as satisfactory as after esophagogastrectomy. Our best results were obtained in patients with carcinoma of the middle or lower third of the esophagus, with or without an esophagorespiratory fistula, who had not had a previous resection.

Adenocarcinoma

Pancoast's tumor: irradiation or surgery?

Seventy-three patients with Pancoast's tumor treated at the University of Maryland Hospital between 1955 and 1978 were reviewed. Three were 34 squamous cell carcinomas, 13 undifferentiated, 10 adenocarcinomas, 4 mixed adenosquamous, 1 alveolar cell, and 11 undetermined. Twenty-nine patients received irradiation, with 7% survival at 3 years; 19 patients underwent preoperative irradiation followed by en bloc resection of chest wall, with 23% survival at 3 years; 5 patients underwent extended resection, with 60% survival at 3 years; and 18 patients underwent operation followed by irradiation, with 7% survival at 3 years. Retrospective staging of 42 patients undergoing operation indicated that 22 (52%) were inoperable. Prognosis was related to staging of the disease, the extent of local invasion, nodal involvement, cell type, and adequacy of operation.

Adult

Bronchial adenoma--benign or malignant?

Bronchial adenomas grow slowly and are potentially malignant. Of the 45 cases reviewed, 36 were carcinoids, six were adenocystic carcinomas, two were mixed tumors, and one was mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The carcinoid group is subdivided into histologically typical 27(75%), atypical 9 (25%), and metastasizing 9 (25%) adenomas. There were 32 lobectomies, seven pneumonectomies, one sleeve resection, and two tracheal resections for adenocystic carcinoma. Ten-year survival rate was 88% for typical carcinoids, 66% for atypical carcinoids, and 44% for metastasizing carcinoids. In the cylindroma group, one patient was lost to follow-up, one died postoperatively, and one developed recurrence of the tumor eight years later. The only patient with mucoepidermoid carcinoma is alive without evidence of recurrence nine years after operation.

Adenoma

Bronchopleural fistula. Thirteen-year experience with 77 cases.

Bronchopleural fistula, although reduced in incidence in recent years, remains a grave complication of pulmonary disease and of pulmonary resection. In a series of 77 patients treated for bronchopleural fistula over a 13 year period, 49 of whom had postresection fistulas, only 44 (57.1 percent) were cured of the fistula and 15 (19.5 percent) died. Prevention assumes great importance. Key factors in prevention are avoidance of pulmonary resection in tuberculous patients with positive sputum; overzealous dissection of the bronchus; a long bronchial stump; tumor in the bronchial stump; contamination of the pleural cavity; and too little tissue left behind to fill the pleural space. Treatment should be surgical. In none of the six patients treated conservatively was the fistula obliterated. Seventy-one patients were treated surgically, and 133 operations were needed to effect fistula obliteration in the 44 patients (62 percent) in whom this was achieved. Adequate surgical drainage has always been the sine qua non of effective treatment, and yet this alone brought about closure of the fistula in only nine patients. Early resuture of the bronchial stump succeeded in only two of five patients. Thoracoplasty combined with drainage effected closure in seven of 11 patients. The highest rate of fistula closure with the lowest mortality occurred among the 20 patients who underwent myoplasty, usually combined with a limited thoracoplasty. In this group, the fistula was obliterated in 16 patients, with one death.

Bronchial Fistula

Carcinoma of the esophagus: experience with a philosophy for palliation.

The preliminary results of a new therapeutic approach to carcinoma of the esophagus were reported in 1972. The primary objective of treatment should be palliation, with cure an important but secondary goal. Lesions in the upper third of the esophagus are treated by irradiation unless there is severe obstruction or tracheal involvement, in which case colon bypass is carried out. Limited resection and esophagogastrostomy is performed through a right thoractomy and midline laparotomy for middle-third lesions and through a left thoracotomy for lower-third carcinomas. Since 1969, 85 patients have been evaluated, of whom 65 (76%) have been treated according to the new protocol. Thirteen patients with upper-third carcinomas were treated primarily by radiation therapy and 6 by colon bypass. Resection was performed in 45 of the 46 patients with middle- and lower-third lesions. There were 5 operative deaths (9.8%). The quality and duration of palliation have been far superior to that achieved by previous methods of treatment and, perhaps surprisingly, survival rates have improved.

Adult