Biomedical subjects

T Muraji

Publications and source records attributed to T Muraji.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

Diaphragmatic eventration in infants and children: is conservative treatment justified?

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the justification of diaphragmatic plication to treat diaphragmatic eventration. A retrospective review of 50 patients who underwent diaphragmatic plication for phrenic nerve injury (PNI) or congenital muscular deficiency (CMD) of the diaphragm was conducted. METHODS: During the last 26 years, 50 patients, aged 4 days to 7 years, were surgically treated for diaphragmatic eventration. Twenty-five patients had iatrogenic PNI and another 25 had CMD. Respiratory distress developed in all patients who had PNI and 10 required mechanical ventilatory support for 13 to 78 days (mean, 41 days) before operation. Respiratory symptoms developed in 17 of 25 patients who had CMD, and four required ventilatory support. In those who were asymptomatic, we justified surgical repair to optimize future lung growth. All patients underwent diaphragmatic plication by a thoracic approach. Reefing mattress sutures on pledgets were used for the plication. RESULTS: In patients who had PNI, ventilatory support could be discontinued within 0 to 6 days (mean, 3 days) after operation, with a dramatic improvement in their respiratory status. Two patients required reoperation because the plication was not tight enough. Seven patients died in this series, but none because of the diaphragmatic plication. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that symptomatic patients who have diaphragmatic eventration should be operated on immediately with an expected dramatic resolution of their respiratory problems.

Decision Making↗

PubMed1997

Biliary atresia: current management and outcome.

Between 1986 and 1994, 42 patients with BA were treated at the Kobe Children's Hospital. These patients underwent a wider excision of the hilar fibrous remnant with Roux-Y reconstruction (with or without intussuscepted valve) without stoma. Corticosteroids were used postoperatively when the stool was acholic or unsteadily cholic. The daily dose was reduced from 20 mg/day by half down. The patients were divided into two groups; in Group I (n = 17, before October 1990), a single course of corticosteroid therapy was employed. In Group II (n = 25, from November 1990 on), this regimen was repeated whenever the stool appeared less cholic. The bile flow improved significantly (excellent in 29% and 60%, and poor in 71% and 32% in Groups I and II, respectively.) Corticosteroids were used in 15 Group I patients with good response in 10 and in 21 Group II patients, 15 of whom had multiple courses. Sixteen of the 21 Group II patients had a good response. The incidence of the cholangitis was not significantly different between the 19 patients with valve and the 23 patients without valve. A 5 year survival significantly improved from 70% in Group I to 96% in Group II. In both groups, the survival rate significantly increased, when compared with the survival rate figured out with an assumption of OLT survivors as dead. On the same assumption, the survival rate of Group II is significantly more than that of the Group II. These suggest a positive contribution of liver transplantation and an aggressive corticosteroid therapy on better survival of Group II.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

PubMed1997

[Community and care].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1997

[Recent advance in the treatment of congenital esophageal atresia and congenital tracheal stenosis].

Advances in anesthetic management, neonatal intensive care and cardiovascular techniques for severe cardiac defects have permitted improved survival rate for esophageal atresia (EA) and/or tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) during the last two decades. In the treatment of EA-TEF, primary esophageal repair without staging or preliminary gastrostomy becomes popular among pediatric surgeons. In pure EA and long-gap EA with TEF, options for esophageal reconstruction include use of the native esophagus or replacement with colon or stomach. In considering the esophageal motility in patient's whole life, native esophageal reconstruction is the procedure of choice rather than esophageal replacement. Improved survival rates are noted irrespective of the traditional Waterson criteria, which now seem outdated. The surgical treatment of congenital tracheal stenosis have started in the early '80s. Resection of the stenotic trachea with end-to-end anastomosis has been available in the stenosis ranging less than 30% of the entire trachea. However, the treatment of long segment tracheal stenosis is still controvertial. Various surgical techniques including balloon tracheal split, slide tracheoplasty, implantation of autografts of pericardium and costal cartilage have been attempted. In this review, we described our own experience in tracheoplasty using costal cartilage.

Esophageal Atresia↗

PubMed1996

Successful endoscopic balloon dilatation for hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.

The authors successfully applied endoscopic balloon dilatation for the treatment of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS). The patient was an infant girl who had undergone repair of a giant omphalocele. Endoscopic balloon dilatation was performed using a 9-mm endoscope and an 8-mm polyethylene terephthalate (PET) balloon dilator. Dilatation was performed three times for 10 minutes. Vomiting continued after the dilatation. At the second session, dilatation was performed using a 12-mm PET balloon dilator. The 9-mm endoscope then passed through the pylorus. The patient has had no episodes of vomiting since the second treatment. This procedure is an important therapeutic option for selected patients with HPS.

Catheterization↗

PubMed1996

[MR imaging in patients with bone marrow metastases of neuroblastoma].

Sixty patients with neuroblastoma or ganglioneuroblastoma underwent MRI 87 procedures to detect and follow up bone marrow metastases. The detection of bone marrow metastases by MRI was evaluated with aspiration cytology. Relationships were investigated between bone metastases and bone marrow metastases that were morphologically classified as nodular and diffuse by MRI findings. The usefulness of MRI was also studied in evaluating the effect of chemotherapy. MRI showed bone marrow metastases in all of 17 patients, but aspiration cytology proved metastases in only 7 of 17. Bone metastases were proven by bone scintigraphy or bone X-ray in 5 of 15 patients, and only diffuse bone marrow metastases were accompanied with bone metastases. After or during chemotherapy, 10 patients were examined by MRI more than two times. Bone marrow metastases disappeared in 9, decreased in size in 3, did not change in one and recurred at another site in one. It was observed from MRI findings that in the early stage, bone marrow metastases are nodular, but along with progress of the disease, they become diffuse and invade the bone cortex. If chemotherapy was effective, bone marrow metastases were decreased in size or disappeared completely.

Bone Marrow Neoplasms↗

PubMed1995

Posterior plication of the rectum for rectal prolapse in children.

Fourteen patients with rectal prolapse (age range, 1 to 12 years) underwent posterior plication of the rectum for rectal prolapse. The procedure consisted of (1) natal cleft incision, (2) midline separation of the levator muscle, (3) dissection of two thirds of the circumference of the rectum, (4) plication of the posterior wall of the rectum using U-shaped mattress sutures, and (5) fixation of the sutures of the rectal wall to the coccyx. There has been no recurrence of prolapse in any of the patients. The authors' experience suggests that an elongated rectum is responsible for prolapse. This simple but definitive technique is recommended.

Child↗

PubMed1993

Combined determination of N-myc oncogene amplification and DNA ploidy in neuroblastoma. Complementary prognostic indicators.

BACKGROUND: N-myc gene amplification is a well-established prognostic indicator in neuroblastoma. Flow cytometric analysis of nuclear DNA content has shown that an abnormal nuclear DNA content in neuroblastoma is associated with a better prognosis. Because some patients with N-myc unamplified tumors have a poor prognosis, factors other than N-myc amplification may play a role in determining the clinical behavior of neuroblastoma. In the current study, the authors correlated N-myc gene amplification and flow cytometric nuclear DNA content with respect to prognosis. METHODS: Forty-one patients with neuroblastoma, including 15 screened patients, served as subjects. The copy number of the N-myc gene was determined by Southern blot analysis. DNA ploidy analysis was done on nuclei isolated from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks. RESULTS: Of 40 specimens of neuroblastoma, 7 involved tumors containing amplification of the N-myc gene and 33 did not; 13 specimens showed DNA diploidy, and 27 showed DNA aneuploidy (including 4 with DNA tetraploidy). The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated a significantly better prognosis in patients with unamplified N-myc tumors compared with those with N-myc amplified tumors (87.3% versus 28.6%, P < 0.05) and in patients with DNA aneuploid tumors compared with those with DNA diploid tumors (96.3% versus 43.0%, P < 0.001). The difference in the survival of the two extreme combinations, (e.g., 25 with N-myc unamplified and DNA aneuploidy [4 tetraploidy] versus 5 with N-myc amplified and DNA diploidy) was more significant (96.0% versus 20.0%, P < 0.001) than any other combination. CONCLUSION: Evaluations of N-myc gene amplification and DNA ploidy are complementary, and the combined determination of these two factors may be one of the most powerful prognostic indicators in neuroblastoma.

Child, Preschool↗

PubMed1993

[Hemorrhagic vascular lesions in facial injuries treated by intravascular embolization: report of two cases].

We have encountered 2 cases of hemorrhagic vascular lesion in the external carotid artery system caused by facial injury. In case 1, treatment of epistaxis by nasal packing was unsuccessful. Good result was obtained by intravascular embolization in the internal maxillary artery using polyvinyl alcohol particles and gelatin sponge pieces. In case 2, massive subgaleal hemorrhage due to tearing of the middle meningeal artery caused by a skull base fracture appeared following surgery for open skull fracture. Hemostasis was performed successfully by intravascular embolization in the middle meningeal artery using microcoils and gelatin sponge pieces. In cases of facial injuries with hemorrhagic lesions in the external carotid artery system, hemostasis is generally difficult. Referring to these two cases, we think that the treatment of choice is angiography followed by intravascular embolization.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

[Two cases of hepatobiliary scintigraphy of liver transplantation in rejection].

We reported two patients with liver transplantation who are performed hepatobiliary scintigraphy in rejection. In one patient hepatobiliary scintigraphy shows dilatation of bile duct but it shows good clearance from liver. In another patient hepatobiliary scintigraphy shows delayed clearance from liver. Both patients recovered from rejection. There are four main complications--vascular and biliary abnormality, infection, rejection--after liver transplantation. Hepatobiliary scintigraphy shows almost same findings except biliary complication, so it is difficult to distinguish between infection and rejection. But hepatobiliary scintigraphy may be useful to evaluate transplanted liver function in rejection.

Biliary Tract↗

PubMed1991

The use of omental pedicle flap for tracheobronchial reconstruction in infants and children.

For the surgical repair of long-segment tracheal stenosis, costal cartilage graft or extensive resection with end-to-end anastomosis has often been used. Both procedures have a risk of developing anastomotic leakage, which is potentially a lethal complication, or stenosis resulting from compromised blood supply to the tissue at the anastomosis. We have used omental pedicle flap (OPF) to seal the anastomotic line and to restore the vascularity of the graft and the trachea in an attempt to avoid fatal complications. During the period between 1986 and 1990, OPF technique was used in tracheobronchial reconstruction in six patients aged 4 months to 3 years; cartilage graft for extensive tracheal stenosis (4), tracheal resection and anastomosis (1), and bronchial resection and anastomosis (1). The omentum was separated from the colon to form an OPF with the right gastroepiploic vessels preserved. The OPF was brought to the upper trachea in the mediastinum through the retrosternal space. There was no immediate postoperative death due to anastomotic leak. Endotrachial tubes were removed in all patients. Four of the six are totally free of airway problems. One patient showed persistent stridor because of remaining stenosis at the cervical trachea. The remaining one patient who underwent bronchial resection developed anastomotic stenosis probably due to the compression of the floppy left main bronchus by adjacent aorta. The OPF seems to be an important surgical adjunct in order to eliminate fatal complications in tracheobronchial reconstruction.

Bronchi↗

PubMed1990

Diamond-shaped anastomosis for duodenal atresia: an experience with 44 patients over 15 years.

During the period between 1974 and 1988 44 patients were treated for congenital intrinsic duodenal obstruction using a diamond-shaped anastomosis (35 atresias, including two multiple atresias and nine stenoses). Neither gastrostomy nor transanastomotic tube was used. Postoperatively, oral feeding was started on days 2 to 6 (3.66 +/- 1.41 day). Intravenous fluid administration was discontinued on days 3 to 20 (7.54 +/- 3.58 day). Fourteen patients died, none related to the operative procedure. Of 30 survivors, 21 patients have been followed from 6 months to 15 years. Body weight was within the normal range at the latest visit. Current barium study performed in 19 patients showed no blind loop, megaduodenum, or anastomotic malfunction. The diamond-shaped anastomosis provides the following advantages: (1) early recovery of anastomotic function, and (2) avoidance of later complications, such as formation of a blind loop or anastomotic stenosis.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

PubMed1990

Extensive resection of the distal trachea and bilateral bronchi for the tumor arising from the carina: a successful reconstruction of the carina.

This paper reports the case of an 8-year-old girl who successfully underwent tracheobronchial reconstruction for neoplastic obstruction at the carina. Reconstruction of the carina was performed using an end-to-end type anastomosis between the trachea and bronchi.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

PubMed1989

Gastroschisis: a 17-year experience.

From 1970 to 1987, 23 neonates with gastroschisis were treated at Kobe Children's Hospital. One patient died and 22 survived (96%). Seven patients were hypothermic upon arrival at the hospital, with body temperatures of 31.8 to 35.4 degrees C. Six patients were successfully managed by warm saline bathing (40 to 42 degrees C for one minute) to improve hypothermia. One patient who did not receive this rewarming procedure (body temperature, 31.8 degrees C) died of intractable metabolic disorders related to hypothermia. Ten patients were treated by primary fascial closure of the abdominal wall defect, eight by the skin flap method with secondary closure of the deliberately created abdominal hernia, and five by the silastic sac technique. Two patients required creation of intestinal stomas for ileal atresia. After surgery, 19 patients required ventilatory care with total paralysis (average 6.0 days). Nine patients required total parenteral nutrition (TPN), while 13 tolerated enteral feeding on days 3 to 11 (average, 6.0 days). In the latter 13 patients, intravenous fluid therapy was discontinued on day 11. Our experience suggests that (1) rewarming in a saline bath is effective treatment for hypothermia, (2) ventilatory assistance with total paralysis is mandatory, and (3) TPN can be avoided in 60% of the patients.

Abdominal Muscles↗

PubMed1989

Effect of esophageal ligation on the growth of fetal rabbits.

Controversy continues regarding the nutritional value to the fetus of swallowed amniotic fluid. To clarify this issue further, esophageal ligations were performed to prevent deglutition in utero in 63 fetal rabbits during the final trimester of pregnancy. Compared with sham-operated littermate controls, the fetuses that were ligated for periods of 4, 5, or 6 days showed significant reductions in weight of 6.1, 18.9, and 9.2%, respectively. These results compare well with the magnitude of weight reduction seen clinically in patients with esophageal atresia. Significant but less consistent reductions were also noted in crown-rump length and biparietal diameter. No significant differences were seen in either body composition or gastrointestinal tract histology. These results indicate that swallowed amniotic fluid does play a role in fetal nutrition and may be particularly important in the later stages of gestation when placental function is limited.

Amniotic Fluid↗

PubMed1989

[Late complications after successful Kasai's operation for biliary atresia].

The late complications in 25 patients more than 3 years after successful Kasai's operation for biliary atresia were presented. Nine (36%) of these 25 patients had episodes of variceal hemorrhage with portal hypertension, and biliary reobstruction in 3 (12%), bleeding from duodenal ulcer in 2, bleeding from gastric erosion in one, and diffuse pulmonary arterio-venous shunt in one were observed. Recently esophageal varices have been well controlled by endoscopic sclerotherapy, and the surgical treatment may be indicated in older children complicated with severe hypersplenism and marked splenomegaly, which are resistant for sclerotherapy. As a surgical procedure, splenectomy with periesophago-gastric devascularization (Hassab's operation) seems to be very useful for portal hypertension by biliary cirrhosis. The reoperation, hepaticoenterostomy, was performed in 3 patients with biliary reobstruction. All three patients are alive and well, and two of them are at 19 years (university student) and 24 years (married life) of age. Hepatic Rehepaticoenterostomy is well indicated rather than liver transplantation, if biliary reobstruction is incurable with conservative therapy. Many of the patients with complications were able to carry on an almost normal life, if suitable treatments for complications were taken.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

[A case of tracheal agenesis].

A case of neonate boy with tracheal agenesis and other anomalies, which is very rare, is reported. This case belongs to VATER association. No radiolucent area of trachea could be seen and esophagography demonstrated tracheoesophageal fistula and defects of trachea.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

PubMed1988

Congenital stenosis involving a long segment of the trachea: further experience in reconstructive surgery.

Since we introduced the surgical technique for the repair of congenital stenosis involving the entire trachea with a successfully treated patient in 1982, four more patients have undergone a tracheoplasty employing the same technique for congenital stenosis involving a long segment of trachea. This article describes the refinement of surgical technique, the management of patients during and after operation, and the long-term outcome.

Female↗