PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S G Docimo

Publications and source records attributed to S G Docimo.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Cloacal exstrophy--improving the quality of life: the Johns Hopkins experience.

PURPOSE: Exstrophy of the cloaca is a multisystem anomaly involving the gastrointestinal, nervous, musculoskeletal and genitourinary tracts which should be managed with a multidisciplinary approach. Improvement in management has led to survival for the majority of infants, and the focus has shifted to improvement in quality of life. The experience with management of cloacal exstrophy at a large center is evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Demographic data as well as functional results of management of the multiple anomalies in 37 patients with cloacal exstrophy were evaluated. Surgical reconstruction was aimed at providing the best functional and cosmetic results. RESULTS: Average patient age at review was 13.6 years. Most patients (32 of 37) had undergone an initial attempt at bladder closure from birth to greater than 24 months of age. Colostomy was performed when possible and if initial ileostomy was performed, the bowel was augmented later with the hindgut segment. When the hindgut segment was not used for bowel reconstruction, it was preserved for bladder augmentation or genital reconstruction. While urinary continence was achievable in many children, it was usually after augmentation and/or continent diversion. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in perinatal management have increased survival in cloacal exstrophy. Therefore, the focus of reconstruction has shifted to reduction in the numbers of incontinent stomas, assistance with ambulation and improved cosmesis. All of these goals are achievable using a multidisciplinary approach to the management of this complex anomaly.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1998

International surgical telementoring: our initial experience.

INTRODUCTION: Telesurgical laparoscopic telementoring has successfully been implemented between the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and the Johns Hopkins Hospital in 27 prior operations. In this previously reported series, telerobotic mentoring was achieved between two institutions 3.5 miles away. We report our experience in performing two international surgical telementoring operations. PURPOSE: To determine the clinical utility of international surgical telementoring during laparoscopic surgical procedures. METHOD: A laparoscopic adrenalectomy was telementored between Innsbruck, Austria (5,083 miles) and Baltimore, MD. As well, a laparoscopic varicocelectomy was telementored between Bangkok, Thailand and Baltimore, MD (10,880 miles) both over three ISDN lines (384 kbps) with an approximate 1 sec delay. RESULTS: Both procedures were successfully accomplished with an uneventful postoperative course. CONCLUSION: International telementoring is a viable method of instructing less experienced laparoscopic surgeons through potentially complex laparoscopic procedures, as well as potentially improving patient access to specialty care.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1998

Percutaneous cystolithotomy after augmentation cystoplasty: comparison with open procedures.

Percutaneous procedures for the removal of calculi from reconstructed bladders have not been compared in a single institution with traditional open methods. The records of patients undergoing seven percutaneous and six open procedures for the removal of calculi from augmented bladders were reviewed. Operative time, hospitalization time, complications, stone burden, and recurrence were compared. All patients were stone-free at the end of either one or two procedures. Four of six patients in the percutaneous group and four of six patients in the open group had recurrent bladder calculi during average follow-up of 30 months. The average hospital stay was 1.1 days for patients undergoing percutaneous procedures and 3.7 days for those undergoing open cystolithotomy. Narcotic use was significantly lower in the percutaneous group. Percutaneous cystolithotomy is safe, effective, and currently the preferred method for removing stones from an augmented bladder.

Child↗
PubMed1997

Telesurgical mentoring. Initial clinical experience.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive surgical techniques yield significant individual, economic, and social benefits when performed by experienced surgeons. Unfortunately, many of these techniques, such as laparoscopy, are associated with steep learning curves, and the incidence of complications has clearly been shown to be inversely related to experience. The initial high complication rate and the dearth of experienced endoscopic surgeons have raised concerns over training, granting of hospital privileges, and most importantly patient safety. The goal of this study was to employ current telecommunications technology in a system for the mentoring of relatively inexperienced surgeons. Therefore, we created a telesurgical system that would allow an endoscopic specialist at a central site to offer guidance and assistance to a surgeon during a laparoscopic procedure. METHODS: We developed a system that connected a central site and an operative site, a distance of approximately 3.5 miles, via a single T1 (1.54 Mbs) point-to-point communications link. The system provided real-time video display from either the laparoscope or an externally mounted camera located in the operating room, full duplex audio, telestration over live video, control of a robotic arm that manipulated the laparoscope, and access to electrocautery for tissue cutting or hemostasis. RESULTS: Seven patients underwent laparoscopic procedures using the telesurgical consultation system over the communications link. In all cases, the primary surgeon had limited experience with the laparoscopic approach but still had the basic skills required to obtain intraperitoneal access. All seven cases were completed successfully without complications. CONCLUSION: These initial studies have demonstrated the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of telementoring. Telesurgical applications have the potential to greatly improve surgical education credentialing, and patient care by offering patients and their surgeons global access to surgical specialists.

Humans↗
PubMed1997

Metabolic complications secondary to obstruction of a Kock pouch afferent limb.

Metabolic complications are frequently seen following urinary diversion with an intestinal segment. Afferent limb complications are noted in 10% of patients undergoing continent Kock urinary diversion. We present a patient with cloacal exstrophy with developed significant hypocalcemic tetany and metabolic acidosis related to a nondraining afferent limb of a Kock pouch created to achieve continence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Immunohistochemical description of nitric oxide synthase isoforms in human clitoris.

PURPOSE: Our aim was to identify and localize nitric oxide synthase isoforms in the human clitoris in support of the hypothesis that nitric oxide mediates erectile function in this organ. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nitric oxide synthase immunohistochemistry studies specific for neuronal, inducible and endothelial isoforms of the enzyme were performed on human clitoral tissue obtained from 4 patients (3 with female pseudohermaphroditism and 1 with true hermaphroditism) at feminizing genitoplasty and from 1 phenotypically normal woman at autopsy. RESULTS: Neuronal nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity was detected in nerve bundles and fibers coursing within the glans clitoris and corpora cavernosa of the clitoris, predominating in the latter tissue. Specific inducible nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity was not identified. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity was detected in vascular and sinusoidal endothelium of these tissues with a predominance in the glans clitoris. CONCLUSIONS: The presence and anatomical localizations of nitric oxide synthase isoforms in the human clitoris indicate that nitric oxide is generated in this organ. These data suggest that nitric oxide may be involved in the erectile physiology of the clitoris as a modulator of clitoral smooth muscle activity. Functional studies are required to support this hypothesis.

Child↗
PubMed1997

Testicular implants.

Testicular implants have been in use for more than 50 years with an excellent record of safety and efficacy. The controversy concerning the use of silicone prosthetics in breast implants also affected testicular implants. There is no conclusive evidence associating connective tissue disorders, autoimmunity, or malignancy with silicone implants. Studies show silicone leakage from these implants, but long-term follow-up is required to identify the significance of this finding. Saline-filled silastic shell testicular prostheses will be implanted as part of an ongoing study to monitor various safety parameters, as required by the Food and Drug Administration.

Biocompatible Materials↗
PubMed1997

Renal ultrasonography in newborns with prenatally detected hydronephrosis: why wait?

PURPOSE: Published reports suggest the need to delay renal ultrasound for at least 1 week after birth to avoid a false-negative study due to oliguria. This recommendation has become standard. Considering the recent shift toward expectant management of prenatal hydronephrosis, there may be no advantage to the increased sensitivity of a delayed study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radiology records were reviewed for a 5-year period to identify renal ultrasound studies performed within 48 hours of birth. RESULTS: Of 101 neonates known to have hydronephrosis on prenatal ultrasound who underwent sonography within 48 hours of birth 33 had a normal study (including mild hydronephrosis) and documented followup studies. None of these patients had a significant obstructive renal lesion within the first year of life. One child had an obstructive pattern on diuretic renography at age 18 months after previous studies were unremarkable. Cystography in 26 patients demonstrated vesicoureteral reflux in 4 (14.3%). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that 1) there is no contraindication to early neonatal renal ultrasonography and 2) voiding cystourethrography is indicated for all infants with a history of prenatal hydronephrosis.

Female↗
PubMed1996

Telementoring of laparoscopic procedures: initial clinical experience.

BACKGROUND: To assess the feasibility of telementoring, a clinical telepresence system was developed. METHODS: Telementoring was attempted in 14 advanced and 9 basic urologic laparoscopic procedures. The remote surgeon located in a control room (> 1,000 feet from operating room) supervised an inexperienced surgeon. Mentoring was accomplished with real-time video images, two-way audio communication, a robotic arm used to control the videoendoscope, and a telestrator. The patient outcome, complications, and operative time were assessed and compared to patients undergoing matched procedures in which the experienced surgeon was working side by side with the primary surgeon. RESULTS: The overall telementoring success rate was 95.6% (22/23 cases) with no increase in complications. Telementoring of a laparoscopic radical nephrectomy failed secondary to improper positioning of the robotic arm. Operative times compared between telementored and traditionally mentored procedures were not statistically different for basic procedures but were longer for advanced cases. CONCLUSIONS: Telementoring of laparoscopic procedures is safe and feasible. Further clinical studies are needed prior to implementing telementoring in surgical training.

Education, Medical↗
PubMed1996

Testicular descent and ascent in the first year of life.

Ascent of the intrascrotal testis to an undescended position has been described, but it remains controversial. A case of a 1-year-old with bilateral ascended testes is presented. These testes were documented by a pediatric urologist to have been intrascrotal on two prior occasions. The right testis was intra-abdominal, and the left was peeping at the internal ring. Ascent has generally been seen in older children with a history of retractile testis and has never been reported to result in a testis located in an intra-abdominal position. This represents a rarely reported early testicular ascent, the mechanism of which is different than that of older children.

Cryptorchidism↗
PubMed1996

Bladder exstrophy from childhood into adult life.

Exstrophy of the bladder is rare and the incidence of bladder exstrophy is calculated to be from 1 per 30,000 to 50,000 live births with male to female ratio ranging from 1.5-5 to 1(1-4). It was found that persistence or overgrowth of the cloacal membrane on the lower anterior abdominal area, prevents normal mesenchymal ingrowth. This causes divergence of the lower abdominal muscular structures and forces the genital ridges to fuse caudal to the cloacal membrane. The stage of ingrowth of the urorectal septum at the time of rupture determines whether one will produce an exstrophic urinary tract alone (classic bladder exstrophy or epispadias) or cloacal exstrophy with the hindgut interposed between the hemibladders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Telesurgical consultation.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the feasibility of "telesurgical" consultation during laparoscopic surgery. Telesurgical consultation is a distinct application of telemedicine in which a surgeon at a primary operating site can consult another experienced surgeon or colleague for complex and/or unexpected problems encountered during surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Telesurgical consultation was used in 6 complex laparoscopic cases, including upper pole nephrectomy, diagnostic laparoscopy with inguinal hernia repair, orchiectomy, gastric augmentation with bladder suspension, bladder reconstruction and ureteral lithotomy. RESULTS: In each case an experienced laparoscopic surgeon at the primary operative site consulted a surgical specialist at the remote site who had expertise in the particular procedure being performed. All procedures were accomplished successfully without intraoperative or post-operative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Complex laparoscopic procedures that normally require a surgical specialist can be performed successfully by an experienced laparoscopic surgeon consulting a remote specialist via the tele-operative system.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Concealed umbilical stoma: description of a modified technique.

PURPOSE: We describe a technique for creating a concealed umbilical stoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The base of the umbilicus is used as a superiorly based skin flap that is incorporated into the spatulated stoma. Six patients have undergone diversion using this technique. The stoma was constructed from appendix in 4 cases, stomach in 1 and tapered ileum in 1. RESULTS: All patients achieved an easily catheterizable hidden umbilical stoma, are dry on clean intermittent catheterization and have had no stomatitis or peristomal hernia. CONCLUSIONS: This technique for creating a concealed umbilical stoma preserves the native appearance of the umbilicus and combines a superior cosmetic result with an easily catheterizable stoma.

Adolescent↗