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Biomedical subjects

S M Fleming

Publications and source records attributed to S M Fleming.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Partial laryngectomy: analysis of associated swallowing disorders.

Evaluation of postoperative swallowing ability in thirty-eight patients having had partial laryngectomy indicates that there are marked differences in the degree of dysphagia among individuals with similar surgical defects. This variation in swallowing disability, however, appears to have definable limits. Rehabilitation is possible for many patients disabled by postoperative dysphagia. A transoral surgical technic for reconstruction of the obliterated pyriform sinus is described.

Deglutition Disorders↗

Tongue mobility in speech after partial glossectomy.

Recovery of tongue mobility in speech was investigated in 5 partial glossectomy patients. Jaw range of motion used in speech, and tongue contour changes relative to the jaw, were assessed using sequential videofluoroscopic data recorded presurgery, postsurgery, and postradiotherapy. Data from 2 normal controls were included for comparison. Tongue mobility relative to the jaw was found to be restricted postsurgery. Approximately 4 months later, following radiotherapy, tongue mobility increased. Range of jaw motion used in speech was unchanged. Results are interpreted as preliminary evidence that in this small group of cancer patients, radiotherapy following surgery did not prevent continued recovery of tongue function for speech in the early postradiation period.

Adult↗

The role of cardiac troponin I in determining the necessity for exercise electrocardiography in low risk patients with chest pain.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of non-cardiac chest pain places a considerable burden on healthcare resources. The current practice of serial electrocardiographs (ECGs), serum creatinine phosphokinase and by pre-discharge exercise electrocardiography gives an average in-hospital stay of 3.7 days. AIMS: This study assess the use of a sensitive assay for cardiac troponin I (cTnI) to identify a low risk group for whom exercise ECG may not be indicated. METHOD: Ninety-five patients with acute chest pain and with peak cTnI < 0.1 ng/ml and a non-diagnostic resting ECG were studied. Patients were divided into two groups. Group one had normal range cTnI (< 0.03 ng/ml). Group two had minimal elevation of cTnI (0.03-0.099 ng/ml). Average follow-up was 172 days. RESULTS: Nineteen patients had minimal elevation in cTnI of whom five developed significant ST shift on exercise and five had adverse events. No patient with a normal range cTnI had a positive stress test and none suffered an adverse event (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: CTnI in the normal range can identify patients with acute chest pain who have a negligible event rate and for whom exercise electrocardiography is not required.

Chest Pain↗

Cardiac troponin I and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in umbilical artery blood in relation to fetal heart rate abnormalities during labor.

The use of continuous fetal heart rate (FHR) recordings to monitor fetal well-being during labor is standard clinical practice in developed countries. Little is known about the relationship, if any, that exists between these FHR abnormalities and the fetal cardiac musculature and function. The aim of this study was to investigate umbilical artery serum levels of cardiac troponin I, a sensitive and specific marker of myocardial necrosis, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP), a sensitive marker of left ventricular dysfunction, in relation to FHR abnormalities. Umbilical artery blood samples were taken from 27 cases immediately after delivery of the infant. There was evidence of significant FHR abnormalities in 11 of these cases (group 2) and the FHR recording was normal in 16 cases (group 1). The mean N-terminal pro-BNP level in umbilical artery serum in group 2 was 413 fmol/L (SEM = 85) and in group 1 was 223 fmol/L (SEM = 28)(p = 0.022). There was no significant difference observed in cardiac troponin I levels between the two groups. Umbilical artery serum N-terminal pro-BNP is elevated in association with fetal heart rate abnormality in the late stage of labor. This finding suggests that some degree of cardiac compromise accompanies FHR abnormality.

Female↗