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Biomedical subjects

S C Fell

Publications and source records attributed to S C Fell.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

CT detection of asymptomatic pancreatitis following ERCP.

Presence or absence of pancreatitis without symptoms attributable to pancreatitis was assessed by computed tomography (CT) in 31 patients who underwent CT following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) within a time interval of 0-9 days. Presence or absence of pancreatitis was proven by elevated or normal amylase, and/or surgery, and by symptoms related to pancreatitis. Twenty-five of the patients underwent ERCP without and six with sphincterotomies. Among the six patients, additional procedures included two stent placements, two balloon dilatations, and one basket retrieval. Eleven of 31 patients developed pancreatitis following ERCP. The incidence of pancreatitis was higher in the group with maneuvers (four of six patients or 66.7%) than that without maneuvers (seven of 25 or 28%). Asymptomatic pancreatitis was present in five of 31 patients or 16.1%, and three of these had CT evidence of severe pancreatitis. CT demonstration of pancreatitis following ERCP with or without maneuvers may not always indicate clinically relevant disease.

Acute Disease

Ileoanal pouches: comparison of CT, scintigraphy, and contrast enemas for diagnosing postsurgical complications.

The value of CT of the pelvis, 111In-labeled leukocyte scintigraphy, and contrast enema (pouchography) for detecting postsurgical complications was assessed in 44 patients with total colectomy, rectal mucosectomy, and ileoanal pouches. Ileoanal pouches were created as reservoirs from an ileal loop that was anastomosed to the dentate line of the anus and stayed connected to the remainder of the ileum. This pouch preserves the normal defecatory pathway and eliminates disease-producing mucosa. A total of 57 sets of examinations revealed 22 cases of normal postoperative findings, 22 of pouchitis, 13 of abscess, and three of fistula. Overall sensitivity for detecting complications with pouchography was 60% (18 of 30 findings); with CT, 78% (28 of 36 findings); and with scintigraphy, 79% (23 of 29 findings). Pouchitis was best diagnosed by scintigraphy (sensitivity, 80%), followed by CT (sensitivity, 71%) and pouchography (sensitivity, 53%). Only CT correctly diagnosed all cases of abscess. Fistulas were frequently missed by all three methods. If tests were combined, the overall sensitivity rose to 93% for the combination CT/scintigraphy and to 86% for CT/pouchography, but did not improve for pouchography/scintigraphy (78%). For evaluation of complications in patients with ileoanal pouches, CT should be the initial test. If an abscess is found, no further tests are needed. If CT findings are negative, a scintigram should be obtained. Our data did not establish a clear role for pouchography.

Abscess

Replacement of upper esophagus: results with myocutaneous flap and with gastric transposition.

The authors reviewed 25 cases of pharyngoesophageal replacement. A tubed pectoralis major myocutaneous flap was employed in ten cases where an adequate distal resection margin could be obtained above the thoracic inlet. Total gastric transposition was used in 15 cases where resection extended into the mediastinum. The overall rates of complications (52%), postoperative mortality (20%), and satisfactory deglutition (80%) were similar for both operations and were superior to those achieved with reconstructive procedures previously used by the authors. The choice of method is influenced by the length of the pharyngoesophagus to be replaced and the general condition of the patient. Gastric transposition is a more versatile operation and is adaptable to replacement of the entire esophagus if necessary, while the tubed pectoralis major myocutaneous flap has proven particularly effective for the rehabilitation of elderly and severely debilitated patients.

Aged

The maintenance of total ventilatory requirements through a chronic bronchopleural cutaneous fistula.

In patient with a chronic post-tuberculous bronchopleural cutaneous fistula (BPCF), minute ventilation, dead space, flow rates, arterial blood gas tensions, and oxygen consumption were measured during mouth breathing and after 30 min of steady-state breathing solely through the BPCF. Despite a 390-ml (18%) decrease in dead space when breathing took place through the BPCF, there were no significant changes in minute ventilation or respiratory rate. BPCF breathing was also associated with an increase in airways resistance as reflected by a 300-ml (35%) decrease in the FEV1 and a 16% decrease in the FEV1/FVC ratio. The increased resistance resulted in a 20 ml/min (18%) increase in oxygen consumption. Arterial blood gas tensions remained constant. We conclude that although ventilatory efficiency was not improved, this patient was able to satisfy his total minute ventilatory requirements, for the 30-min period, solely through BPCF breathing.

Bronchial Fistula

Revascularization of ischemic bronchial anastomoses by an intercostal pedicle flap.

Ischemia of the donor bronchus, perfused solely by retrograde collaterals from the pulmonary circulation, is an important factor in the impaired healing of the bronchial anastomosis of transplanted lungs. The healing of two experimental models of bronchial anastomotic ischemia, the bronchial segmental autograft and the postpneumonectomy bronchial autograft, was assessed in dogs. The application of a polytetrafluoroethylene wrap to the bronchial segmental autograft and the application of an intercostal pedicle flap to the postpneumonectomy bronchial autograft, with and without concomitant administration of corticosteroids, were also studied to elucidate factors that affect bronchial anastomotic healing. The bronchial segmental autograft healed normally without stricture, but isolation of this autograft from the mediastinum and lung by the polytetrafluoroethylene wrap resulted in necrosis of the autograft. All dogs that had a postpneumonectomy bronchial autograft died of bronchopleural fistulas due to autograft necrosis. Application of an intercostal pedicle flap to the autograft resulted in healing in all animals. Arteriography and Microfil injection demonstrated revascularization of the postpneumonectomy bronchial autograft by the pedicled intercostal artery. Several conclusions can be drawn: With the lung in situ the bronchial segmental autograft survives, probably as a free composite graft. In contrast, the postpneumonectomy bronchial autograft is an excellent model of bronchial anastomotic ischemia. The intercostal pedicle flap is a reliable method for providing neovascularity and mechanical reinforcement to an ischemic bronchial anastomosis. Its effect on bronchial anastomotic healing was not diminished by administration of corticosteroids. The intercostal pedicle flap may be useful in preventing bronchial anastomotic complications in clinical lung transplantation.

Bronchi

Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene grafts in reconstructive arterial surgery. Preliminary report of the first 110 consecutive cases for limb salvage.

One hundred ten arterial reconstructions, including several new and extended bypasses, were performed with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts and were observed for three to 16 months. Patency rates were 100% with 15 bypasses to the femoral artery, 95% with 66 bypasses to the popliteal artery, and 76% with 29 bypasses to the arteries of the leg and foot. These encouraging preliminary results justify continued use and evaluation of PTFE as an arterial prosthesis.

Arteries

Comparison of expanded polytetrafluroethylene and autologous saphenous vein grafts in high risk arterial reconstructions for limb salvage.

Polytetrafluoroethylene bypasses were used in a series of 56 reconstructions, to the popliteal artery in 45 instances or below in 11 instances. These were performed in high risk situations in patients who usually did not have a suitable saphenous vein. Autologous saphenous vein bypass grafts were performed in a comparable series of 56 high risk situations. The polytetrafluoroethylene reconstruction was patent at four to 14 months in 43 of 45 patients having femoropopliteal bypasses, with limb salvage in 39 of the 45. The saphenous vein bypass was patent at eight to 14 months in 39 of 45 patients having femoropopliteal reconstructions, with limb salvage in 36 of the 45. Distal--small vessel--bypass patency rates were similar for reconstructions with polytetrafluoroethylene and saphenous vein. No increase in the number of deaths or complications was observed in the polytetrafluoroethylene group, rather, a general reduction was noted in the operating time and in the incidence of wound complications. These results justify the continued use of polytetrafluoroethylene grafts in patients without saphenous veins who require arterial reconstructions of the lower extremity for limb salvage. The exact place of polytetrafluorethylene grafts in reconstructive surgery of arteries in the lower extremity awaits definition based upon longer periods of observation.

Blood Vessel Prosthesis

New approaches to limb salvage by extended extra-anatomic bypasses and prosthetic reconstructions to foot arteries.

Because our femoropopliteal reconstructions with expanded polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) and saphenous vein have comparable patency rates up to 22 months, we used this prosthetic for longer, more complex bypasses for limb salvage. Fourteen axillopopliteal or cross-over axillopopliteal bypasses were performed largely because groin infection or deep femoral artery disease precluded standard procedures; 12 are patent up to 14 months. Five patients required a bypass from one femoral artery to an opposite leg artery; four are patent up to 17 months. Because of progressive necrosis, eight patients required a secondary extension from a femoropopliteal bypass to a distal artery; five are patent up to 12 months. Three patients required extra-anatomic bypass for leg or popliteal space infections; all achieved limb salvage up to 12 months. Twenty patients without other suitable proximal arteries required a bypass to the dorsalis pedis or anterior tibial artery at the ankle; 10 are patent up to 14 months. Eleven patients required posterior tibial bypass at or below the ankle; seven are patent up to 18 months. One postoperative death followed these 61 procedures. Thus these operaions with long PTFE grafts that cross multiple joints can salvage limbs for important periods of time with low risk.

Aged

Five year experience with axillopopliteal bypasses for limb salvage.

Over the last 5 years, we have performed 34 axillopopliteal bypasses to salvage threatened limbs of patients in whom standard anatomic or extra-anatomic bypasses had either failed or were not feasible. The indications for these axillopopliteal bypasses, all of which were performed with 6 mm polytetrafluoroethylene grafts, were: (1) severe atherosclerotic disease of the common, superficial and deep femoral arteries which precluded use of these vessels for inflow or outflow for a standard vascular procedure (15 cases); (2) failed aortofemoral bypass with sufficient fibrosis or disease progression in the profunda femoris artery to prevent its use in a reoperation (7 cases); (3) insufficient hemodynamic improvement and failure to heal a foot lesion after an axillofemoral bypass (9 cases); and (4) sepsis in the groin from a previously infected bypass (3 cases). Graft patency was determined by objective measures. Cumulative life table graft patency rates were 77% at 1 year, 51% at 3 years, and 45% at 5 years. Although these rates are not as good as those for our axillofemoral bypasses (75% at 5 years), 22 limbs revascularized by axillopopliteal bypasses were salvaged with function for 1 year and 9 were salvaged with function for 2 years or longer in situations in which no option other than amputation was available. This justifies the continuing use of axillopopliteal bypass in an effort to salvage those limbs imminently threatened with amputation and in which no standard reconstruction is feasible because of disease or infection.

Aged

Comparison of expanded PTFE and vein grafts in lower extremity arterial reconstructions.

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) bypasses were used in a series of arterial reconstructions to the popliteal artery (45) and to arteries below that level (11). These were performed in high-risk situations in patients who lacked a suitable saphenous vein. Vein bypasses were performed in a comparable series of high-risk situations in patients having a suitable autologous saphenous vein (45 to the level of the popliteal artery and 11 to an artery below that level). PTFE patency rates at 4-14 months were 43 to 45 (96%) for the femoro-popliteal reconstructions (with a limb salvage rate of 39 to 45 or 87%) and 5 of 11 (45%) for the distal bypasses. Saphenous vein bypass patency rates at 8-14 months were 39 of 45 (87%) for the femoropopliteal reconstructions (with a limb salvage rate of 36 of 45 or 80%) and 5 of 11 (45%) for the distal bypasses. These results justify continued use of PTFE grafts in patients without saphenous veins who require lower extremity arterial reconstructions for limb salvage. The exact place of PTFE grafts in arterial reconstructive surgery of the lower extremity definition based on longer periods of observation.

Arteries