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Biomedical subjects

T M Feeley

Publications and source records attributed to T M Feeley.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Anatomical variation at the saphenofemoral junction.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to document the surgical anatomy of the saphenofemoral junction (SFJ). METHODS: The anatomy of the SFJ was recorded diagrammatically in 2089 consecutive groin dissections performed to treat primary varicose veins. The number of primary tributaries, bifid systems, junctional tributaries and the relationship of the external pudendal artery (EPA) to the long saphenous vein (LSV) were recorded. RESULTS: The LSV was bifid in 18.1 per cent of legs. The number of tributaries at the SFJ varied from one to ten. In 33.4 per cent one or more (junctional) tributaries joined the LSV or common femoral vein deep to the deep fascia. The EPA crossed anterior to 16.8 per cent of LSVs. In 4.6 per cent it passed posterior to one large tributary or trunk of a bifid LSV and anterior to the second trunk, making identification of the second trunk particularly difficult. CONCLUSION: A thorough understanding of the anatomical variations of the SFJ is important in ensuring that the junction is managed safely and adequately in patients with varicose veins. Failure to appreciate these variations may account for a significant proportion of inadequate primary varicose vein surgery.

Adult↗

Current treatments for axillary hyperhidrosis.

Primary hyperhidrosis affects up to 1% of the population and has a significant negative impact on quality of life. It affects the axillae in approximately 80% of cases. Hyperhidrosis results from excessive sympathetic stimulation of the eccrine sweat glands: the various treatment modalities available target points along the pathway between the central nervous system and the peripheral gland. The first line of treatment is topical aluminium chloride, which is effective in the majority of cases. Alternative treatments such as systemic anti-cholinergics and iontophoresis have significant disadvantages, while surgical sympathectomy has been regarded as the gold-standard in treatment of this condition. Recently, attention has focused on the use of intradermal botulinum toxin for the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis. This is a highly effective, minimally-invasive treatment with few side effects, and is now recommended as the treatment of choice in isolated axillary hyperhidrosis

Axilla↗

Endothelium derived relaxing factor is absent in experimental in situ vein grafts.

Endothelium derived relaxing factor (EDRF) is a local modulator of vasomotor tone in most blood vessels. Reversed vein grafts in several animal models do not produce EDRF when stimulated, and have been shown to have altered responses to several vasoconstrictors. The preservation of EDRF production and vasomotor function in in situ vein grafts was examined in this study. In situ vein grafts of the right carotid artery were performed in five mongrel dogs using external jugular vein. The contralateral jugular vein was used as a control. The vessels were harvested after 6 weeks and rings from the central portion of each vessel studied in vitro in an organ bath. Following cumulative dose response curves to noradrenaline, the rings were precontracted with the estimated ED50 (50% effective dose) dose of noradrenaline, and cumulative doses of acetylcholine added to induce EDRF release. The vein grafts were hypersensitive to noradrenaline, the ED50 being reduced from 8.7 +/- 2.7 x 10(-7) M in the jugular veins to 1.7 +/- 0.7 x 10(-7) M in the vein grafts (p < 0.05). All of the jugular vein segments relaxed in response to acetylcholine with a mean maximal relaxation of 42 +/- 6% of precontraction. None of the vein graft segments relaxed in response to acetylcholine despite the presence of an intact endothelium on scanning electron microscopy, but did relax in response to calcium ionophore. The results indicate that in situ vein grafts, like reversed grafts, fail to produce EDRF in response to acetylcholine. The grafts are also hypersensitive to noradrenaline.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Colorectal carcinoma over 30 years at one hospital: no evidence for a shift to the right.

Many recent reports in the North American literature have documented an increase in the ratio of proximal to distal colorectal cancers with an increase in right-sided lesions. In order to assess trends in the distribution of large bowel carcinoma at our hospital we reviewed the files of 1553 patients who presented with primary colorectal carcinoma over a 30-year period. Thirty-nine percent of patients were over 70 years old and 51% were in the 50-69 year age group. Seventy five percent of the carcinomas were left-sided, 22% right-sided and caecal carcinomas accounted for 18%. This distribution varied only slightly over the study period. Left-sided lesions were more common in males (55%: p less than 0.005), and right-sided lesions were more common in females (57%: p less than 0.005). Caecal carcinoma was more common in patients over 69 years old than in younger patients (p less than 0.001). In elderly females (greater than 69 years) 30% of colorectal carcinomas occurred in the caecum. These findings may have important implications for the investigation of patients with suspected colorectal disease or for screening programmes.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Infrainguinal polytetrafluoroethylene grafts: saved limbs or wasted effort? A report on ten years' experience.

Two-hundred and twenty-four infrainguinal polytetrafluoroethylene reconstructions were performed for critical ischemia over a 10 year period: 48 to the above-knee popliteal artery, 113 to the below-knee popliteal artery, and 63 to the tibial vessels. The cumulative patency rates were 84 +/- 6% and 63 +/- 9% for above-knee popliteal, 53 +/- 5% and 35 +/- 7% for below-knee popliteal, 45 +/- 6% and 30 +/- 9% for tibial vessels at one and five years respectively. Limb salvage rates were 81 +/- 6% and 73 +/- 9% (above-knee popliteal), 69 +/- 5% and 57 +/- 9% (below-knee popliteal), 64 +/- 7% and 32 +/- 10% (tibial vessels) at one and five years respectively. Graft occlusion did not result in limb loss in 32 cases. Preoperatively, 54% of the patients had limited mobility while 43% were regarded as severely restricted. At follow-up, 57% of the patients were considered to be independent, 26% had limited mobility, and 17% were still severely restricted. Polytetrafluoroethylene provides good short-term limb salvage and improved mobility in patients with critical ischemia and poor life expectancy. Its use is well worth the effort.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Histologic characteristics of carotid artery plaque.

Carotid plaque characteristics associated with the production of symptoms were identified with quantification of carotid plaque constituents in high-grade stenotic asymptomatic (n = 8) and symptomatic (n = 44) plaques. Asymptomatic plaques contained significantly more fibrous/collagen material (88%) than symptomatic plaques (66%) (p less than 0.05). Hemorrhage constituted 2% and 1% of asymptomatic and symptomatic plaques, respectively. The predominant nonfibrous material was a pink amorphous material mixed with cholesterol, which composed 7% of asymptomatic and 27% of symptomatic plaques (p less than 0.05). No relationship was found between plaque composition and the number of ipsilateral ischemic neurologic events, nor was there evidence of a healing process. B-mode ultrasound scanning had a sensitivity of 94% in identifying plaque with greater than 80% fibrous content. We believe that plaque composition may be a useful discriminating factor in selecting asymptomatic patients for carotid endarterectomy.

Arteriosclerosis↗

The use of infrared laser therapy in the treatment of venous ulceration.

Management of intractable venous ulceration remains an unrewarding task which is increasingly delegated to the realm of the vascular surgeon. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the ulcer-healing effects of the newest form of biostimulation--the low power laser. Twelve patients with chronic venous ulcers unresponsive to conservative measures were treated with infrared laser irradiation for twelve weeks. Two ulcers healed completely and there was a 27% (p less than 0.01) reduction in size of the remaining ulcers. Treatment resulted in a 44% (p less than 0.01) increase in ulcer floor area occupied by healthy granulation tissue. The most dramatic effect of laser treatment was the reduction in ulcer pain, from 7.5 to 3.5 (linear analogue scale) (p less than 0.001). Laser irradiation had no effect on TcPO2, number of skin capillaries or pericapillary fibrin deposition in the lipodermatosclerotic area around the ulcer. The results of this pilot study are encouraging and a carefully controlled randomized study is indicated to compare low power laser irradiation to conventional treatment in the management of venous ulcers.

Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous↗

A new technique for bilateral iliac vein and inferior vena cava reconstruction using reinforced polytetrafluoroethylene.

We report on the management of a patient with intractable venous claudication and ulceration due to bilateral iliac vein and inferior vena cava occlusion. An inverted V graft was constructed from two 8 mm diameter reinforced PTFE grafts. The upper end was anastomosed to the inferior infrarenal vena cava and the lower ends anastomosed to the common femoral veins. Bilateral arteriovenous fistulas were fashioned. Nine months later the graft is patent and the patient's only symptom is mild ankle edema. The theoretical advantage of this type of graft is that occlusion of one limb will not compromise the other, thus leaving a number of secondary options open if this should happen.

Aged↗

"Haemorrhagic" carotid plaque does not contain haemorrhage.

The presence of haemorrhage in carotid bifurcation atheromatous plaques is widely believed to be associated with the production of ischaemic neurological events. This study set out to characterise plaque composition in symptomatic (SYM) and asymptomatic (ASYM) patients and to identify, if possible, the origin of intra-plaque haemorrhage. Fifty-nine plaques (50 SYM and 9 ASYM) were serially sectioned and examined for haemorrhage, haemosiderin, fibrin, cholesterol and collagen. Immunoperoxidase and electron microscopy studies were carried out on sections from five plaques in order to identify blood breakdown products. Intra-plaque haemorrhage was identified in 40 (68%) plaques and was similar in SYM and ASYM plaques. In only one did it constitute more than 15% of plaque content, and in the remainder it consisted of small collections of erythrocytes constituting greater than 1% of plaque content in only 21 (35%) plaques. The predominant non-fibrous component was a pink amorphous material mixed with cholesterol. Apart from traces of platelet breakdown products there was no evidence of haemorrhage in this pink material. Plaque roof rupture or ulceration was seen in 39 (66%) and in almost all cases overlay the amorphous/cholesterol material. Blood vessels were identified in 51 87%) plaques but were in close proximity to haemorrhage in only nine (15%).

Arteriosclerosis↗

Home parenteral nutrition using a totally implanted subcutaneous venous access device.

Despite advances in the design and care of in-dwelling catheters, sepsis remains a significant problem in patients on long-term parenteral nutrition. In recent years there have been a number of reports concerning the successful use of totally implanted subcutaneous venous access devices in the management of patients requiring long-term intermittent intravenous administration of cytotoxic therapy and frequent blood sampling. The use of such a system for the administration of supplementary home parenteral nutrition in a patient with short-bowel syndrome is reported.

Catheters, Indwelling↗

Duplex ultrasonography and selection of patients for carotid endarterectomy: plaque morphology or luminal narrowing?

Percentage of carotid stenosis and plaque morphology as determined by duplex scanning were correlated with symptoms and CT evidence of infarction in 108 patients. Severity of carotid stenosis less than 49% or greater than 50% narrowing was not associated with an increased risk of ipsilateral symptoms or CT infarction. However, a heterogeneous plaque appearance, suggesting intraplaque hemorrhage, did correlate with ipsilateral cerebral symptoms. Heterogeneous plaque appearance may be a more reliable indication for carotid endarterectomy than a hemodynamically significant stenosis.

Aged↗

Contractility of human gallbladder muscle in vitro.

This study examined the effects of transmural nerve stimulation, acetylcholine, adrenoceptor agonists and several peptides on the contractility of strips of human gallbladder in vitro. Acetylcholine caused concentration-related contractions of the tissues and the sensitivity to acetylcholine was similar in gallbladders with mild and severe chronic cholecystitis. Noradrenaline and adrenaline relaxed gallbladder strips, probably via beta 2-adrenoceptor stimulation. Transmural nerve stimulation always caused contractions, but in the presence of atropine inhibitory responses were demonstrable and these were antagonized by propranolol. There was no evidence of non-adrenergic inhibitory neural responses. Of the peptides tested, only cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-OP), gastrin, pentagastrin, substance P and caerulein caused contractions. Responses to CCK-OP, gastrin and pentagastrin were antagonized by dibutyryl cyclic GMP. Hormones which had no effect upon human gallbladder strips included motilin, secretin, bombesin, neurotensin, glucagon, vasopressin, VIP and somatostatin. Considerable differences therefore exist between human tissues and those from experimental animals with respect to the direct actions of neural and hormonal stimuli on gallbladder contractility.

Electric Stimulation↗