Biomedical subjects

Sharon L Weintraub

Publications and source records attributed to Sharon L Weintraub.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Treatment of superior mesenteric and portal vein thrombosis with direct thrombolytic infusion via an operatively placed mesenteric catheter.

Acute superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and portal vein (PV) thrombosis can be a complication of hypercoagulable, inflammatory, or infectious states. It can also occur as a complication of medical or surgical intervention. Management of mesenteric and portal vein thrombosis includes both operative and nonoperative approaches. Operative interventions include thrombectomy with thrombolysis; this is often employed for patients who present with signs of peritoneal irritation. Nonoperative approaches can be either noninvasive or invasive. Treatment with anticoagulation has been shown to be efficacious, though its rate of recanalization is not as high as with intravascular infusion of thrombolytics. Intravenous catheterization and thrombolytic infusion has the advantage of direct pharmacologic thrombolysis of clot, with decreased infusion required and the possibility to carry out dilation or thrombectomy concurrently. We report the use of recombinant tissue-plasminogen activator (rt-PA) infusion via an operatively placed multi side-hole catheter/5-Fr introducer sheath into the right portal and superior mesenteric vein clot, inserted through a small jejunal vein, in a patient who presented with acute gangrenous appendicitis and thrombosis of the main portal trunk and superior mesenteric vein. A temporary abdominal closure was maintained until 36 hours after the start of infusion of the rt-PA. At this time venous system had normal flow, with complete recanalization of the right portal and superior mesenteric veins.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2003

The AIDS patient with abdominal pain: a new challenge for the emergency physician.

As the prevalence of HIV infection continues to increase, EPs will be called upon to evaluate increasing numbers of AIDS patients who have abdominal pain, some of whom will require emergent surgical intervention. In addition to the myriad causes of abdominal pain in the nonimmunocompromised patient, the differential diagnosis in the AIDS patient includes a wide variety of opportunistic infections and neoplasms (Table 5). Evaluation frequently requires extensive laboratory studies and cultures and advanced imaging (CT, ultrasound, and so forth). A low threshold for surgical and other subspecialty consultation should be in place because of the often subtle presentation of surgical emergencies in AIDS patients.

Abdominal Pain↗

PubMed2002

Stoma complications: a multivariate analysis.

Construction of a gastrointestinal stoma is a frequently performed surgical procedure. We sought to analyze a large cohort to document the frequency and types of ostomy complications and the risk factors associated with them. The charts of patients undergoing a procedure which resulted in ostomy during a 3-year period were reviewed. Demographics, indication, ostomy type/location, perioperative risk factors, and complications were recorded. Case-control methodology was used to determine crude odds ratios and multiple logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. An ostomy was constructed in 204 patients and records were available for 164. Forty-one patients (25.0%) had ostomy complications. Sixteen of these complications (39.0%) occurred within one month of the procedure. Complications included prolapse in nine (22%), necrosis in nine (22%), stenosis in seven (17%), irritation in seven (17%), infection in six (15%), bleeding in two (5%), and retraction in two (5%). Gender, cancer, trauma, diverticulitis, emergency surgery, ileostomy, and ostomy location/type were not associated with a stoma complication. Significant predictors of ostomy malfunction are presented as odds ratios (ORs) with 95 per cent confidence intervals (CIs) and include inflammatory bowel disease (OR = 4.49; 95% CI = 1.16-17.36) and obesity (OR = 2.66; 95% CI = 1.15-6.16). The care of an enterostomal nurse was found to prevent complications (OR = 0.15; 95% CI = 0.03-0.69). We conclude that ostomies have a high risk of complication, which is not related to stoma location or type. Obesity and inflammatory bowel disease predispose to complications. Enterostomal nursing may be instrumental in preventing complications.

Adolescent↗