Biomedical subjects

W Flynn

Publications and source records attributed to W Flynn.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Winter storm warning! Are you ready?

All of us are at the mercy of nature. Disasters can occur quickly and without warning. Recent disasters have revealed a lack of preparedness and a need for improvement in response. No matter what the disaster may be, there are common problems in all. These include communication, water, power, supplies, transportation, and safety. The ice storm of 1998 that struck the extreme Northeast portion of New York state tested all of these areas.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1997

Prospective study of blunt aortic injury: Multicenter Trial of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma.

BACKGROUND: Blunt aortic injury is a major cause of death from blunt trauma. Evolution of diagnostic techniques and methods of operative repair have altered the management and posed new questions in recent years. METHODS: This study was a prospectively conducted multi-center trial involving 50 trauma centers in North America under the direction of the Multi-institutional Trial Committee of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma. RESULTS: There were 274 blunt aortic injury cases studied over 2.5 years, of which 81% were caused by automobile crashes. Chest computed tomography and transesophageal echocardiography were applied in 88 and 30 cases, respectively, and were 75 and 80% diagnostic, respectively. Two hundred seven stable patients underwent planned thoracotomy and repair. Clamp and sew technique was used in 73 (35%) and bypass techniques in 134 (65%). Overall mortality was 31%, with 63% of deaths being attributable to aortic rupture; mortality was not affected by method of repair. Paraplegia occurred postoperatively in 8.7%. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated clamp and sew (p = 0.002) and aortic cross clamp time of > or = 30 minutes (p = 0.01) to be associated with development of postoperative paraplegia. CONCLUSIONS: Rupture after hospital admission remains a major problem. Although newer diagnostic techniques are being applied, at this time aortography remains the diagnostic standard. Aortic cross clamp time beyond 30 minutes was associated with paraplegia; bypass techniques, which provide distal aortic perfusion, produced significantly lower paraplegia rates than the clamp and sew approach.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Morgagni hernias: an uncommon cause of chest masses in adults.

Morgagni hernia is a congenital diaphragmatic hernia that occurs secondary to potential anterior medial defects in the diaphragm. Although the hernia usually is diagnosed incidentally, appearing as a mass on chest radiograph, symptoms of bowel obstruction may occur. Surgical repair is required in all cases and may be performed with either the abdominal or transthoracic approach.

Abdominal Pain↗

PubMed1995

Fracture of the femoral head after ceramic-on-polyethylene total hip arthroplasty.

Four of 184 ceramic femoral heads that the authors used in total hip arthroplasty fractured from 5 to 9 months after surgery. A polyethylene-lined acetabular component was used in all cases. The fracture rate, 2.2%, was much higher than previously reported for ceramic head fractures when used with a polyethylene cup. The fractures occurred during normal daily activities. Possible causes included manufacturing defects, neck length (short in all cases), bearing diameter (28 mm in all cases), cone-trunnion mismatch, excess hoop stresses from impaction, or material deterioration. All patients were treated by removal of debris, wide excision of capsular tissue containing tiny abrasive fragments, exchange of the modular polyethylene liner, and implantation of a cobalt-chrome femoral head. The trunnion had been somewhat damaged by relatively brief exposure to the ceramic particles in every case. The authors' experience suggests that ceramic femoral heads be used with caution.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Prospective evaluation of epidural versus intrapleural catheters for analgesia in chest wall trauma.

Severe blunt chest trauma can produce multiple rib fractures, flail segments, and pulmonary contusions. All of these injuries produce pain and diminished pulmonary function. The effectiveness of intrapleural and epidural administration of bupivacaine was prospectively evaluated in 19 patients with severe chest trauma. Pain relief and pulmonary function were evaluated for 72 hours after catheter placement. Epidural administration of bupivacaine significantly reduced pain at rest and with motion compared with the intrapleural route (p < 0.05). Parenteral narcotic use was also significantly less in the epidural group (p < 0.05). Negative inspiratory pressure and tidal volume were significantly increased with epidural anesthesia (p < 0.05). Vital capacity, FIO2, minute ventilation, and respiratory rate were not affected. Mild hypotension was a common complication with epidural catheters. We conclude that continuous epidural analgesia is superior to intrapleural block and significantly improves tidal volume and negative inspiratory pressure.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Combining the von Langenbeck and the Wardill-Kilner operations in certain clefts of the palate.

The rationale for combining two standard cleft palate procedures is set forth. The circumstances in which this combination is recommended are outlined and diagrammed. By joining the positive qualities of two established and popular methods, it is possible in certain cases to facilitate palate closure while reducing common minor complications by incorporating the good qualities of each procedure and reducing the negative.

Cleft Palate↗

PubMed1991

A controlled study of disruptive vocalizations among geriatric residents in nursing homes.

This paper reports the results of a controlled study comparing geriatric residents in nursing homes who displayed disruptive vocalizations with residents in a comparison group. Two 350-bed nursing homes were surveyed, and it was found that 11% of the residents engaged in disruptive vocalizations, at least once per week, of sufficient severity to require consideration in the resident's care plan. Results show that disruptive vocalizers were more functionally impaired and were more likely to receive a diagnosis of dementia. They were also more likely to display a higher activity level and to experience sleep disturbance and to be prescribed neuroleptic medications. Descriptive data are presented on typology of disruptive vocalizations, likely situations for their occurrence, and the utilization and perceived efficacy of common interventions. Suggestions are made regarding behavioral treatments for this vexing problem.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1989

Development of a bacteria-independent model of the multiple organ failure syndrome.

Criteria that allow definition of the multiple organ failure syndrome include pulmonary, hepatic, renal, and gut barrier dysfunction along with characteristic histopathologic changes. It has been difficult to study multiple organ failure due to lack of a satisfactory experimental model that would reproduce the pathophysiologic and histopathologic characteristics, would be stable enough to allow study over several days, and would be free of exogenous primary bacterial infection. We have studied pathophysiologic and histopathologic alterations in a potential model of multiple organ failure. Wistar rats received one of the following solutions by intraperitoneal injection: 4 mL of saline, 4 mL of mineral oil, or 1 mg per gram of body weight of zymosan A in 4 mL of mineral oil. Animals that received zymosan developed hypoxia, decreased creatinine clearance, and changes in hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450 content and aniline hydroxylase activity. Bacterial translocation occurred in the zymosan group. The lungs, liver, and kidneys of the animals that received zymosan exhibited histopathologic changes. We conclude that this model fulfills our criteria for a model of multiple organ failure.

Animals↗

PubMed1986