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PubMed1996

[Primary renal tubular dysfunction and short stature in children].

Impaired growth in children without constitutional growth delay or known chronical disease is often linked to endocrine or gastrointestinal disorders. A rare cause is primary renal tubular dysfunction. A brother and a sister who were diagnosed as having Barter's syndrome, later corrected to Gitelman's syndrome, are presented. Both of these syndromes include hypokalemia, hypochloremia, metabolic alkalosis, usually hypomagnesemia, increased activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, normal blood pressure and impaired growth. Patients with the classical Bartter's syndrome are treated with potassium chloride and a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, and patients with Gitelman's syndrome with magnesium chloride supplementation. We emphasize that measurement of serum electrolytes should be included in the investigation of children with impaired growth.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Upper gastrointestinal tract motility in children with progressive muscular dystrophy.

Gastric emptying was evaluated in 15 children (mean age, 8.0 years) with progressive muscular dystrophy to detect early gastrointestinal smooth muscle involvement; 10 of the children also underwent esophageal manometry. Clinical evidence of skeletal muscle dysfunction was minimal in 14 of the 15 patients; 10 of them had no gastrointestinal symptoms. Gastric emptying studies were performed by using 500 muCi of technetium 99m-sulfur colloid bound to a scrambled egg, and scintigraphic measurements were made continuously for 60 to 90 minutes. Gastric emptying studies and manometric tracings were compared with those from 11 children (mean age, 8.4 years) without gastrointestinal or muscular disorders. Mean (+/- SD) percentage retention of gastric isotope was significantly greater in patients with muscular dystrophy than in control subjects. No differences were found between the two groups in distal esophageal motility or in upper and lower esophageal sphincter pressures or relaxation. Contraction amplitudes in the upper portion of the esophagus, however, were significantly lower in patients with myopathy than in control subjects. These data suggest that dysfunction of smooth muscle of the upper gastrointestinal tract is detectable in children with muscular dystrophy early in the course of the disease, even when gastrointestinal symptoms are absent and skeletal muscle symptoms are minimal.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Early volume expansion for prevention of morbidity and mortality in very preterm infants.

BACKGROUND: Reduced perfusion of organs such as the brain, heart, kidneys and the gastrointestinal tract may lead to acute dysfunction and be associated with permanent injury. Various strategies have been used to provide cardiovascular support to preterm infants including inotropes, corticosteroids and volume expansion. OBJECTIVES: In very preterm infants, does early volume expansion reduce morbidity and mortality. If volume expansion is effective, what type of volume expansion is most effective. SEARCH STRATEGY: The standard search strategy of the Neonatal Review Group was used. See Review Group details for more information. This was supplemented by additional searches of the Oxford Database of Perinatal Trials, and updated search performed of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, Cochrane Library Issue 1, 2004), MEDLINE (1996-January 2004), EMBASE (1980-January 2004), previous reviews including cross references (all articles referenced), abstracts and conferences (Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand, and Pediatric Academic Societies and American Academy of Pediatrics meetings 1998-2003). SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised trials of early volume expansion with normal saline, fresh frozen plasma, albumin, plasma substitutes or blood compared to no treatment or another form of volume expansion in preterm infants < 32 weeks gestation or < 1500g were included. Volume expansion was defined as at least 10 mls/kg given in the first 72 hours of life. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Standard methods of the Neonatal Review Group with use of relative risk (RR), risk difference (RD) and weighted mean difference (WMD). The fixed effects model using RevMan 4.1 was used for meta-analysis. Data from individual studies were only eligible for inclusion if a least 80% of infants were reported for that outcome. MAIN RESULTS: Seven studies were included. Five studies, four with data for mortality, compared volume to no treatment. Most studies enrolled very preterm infants on the basis of gestation or birthweight. Two studies comparing different types of volume expansion enrolled very preterm infants with hypotension. No study enrolled infants on the basis of low blood flow. One study examined the effect of volume expansion on blood flow but in normotensive very preterm infants. Comparing volume and no treatment, 4 studies with a total of 940 very preterm infants reported no significant difference in mortality (RR 1.11, 95% CI 0.88, 1.40). The large NNNI 1996 study reported no significant difference in severe disability (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.52, 1.23), cerebral palsy (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.48, 1.20) and combined death or severe disability (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.80, 1.24). Although one small study (Beverley 1985) reported reduced P/IVH with volume expansion, this was not supported by any other study. No significant difference was reported in grade 3-4 P/IVH and combined death or grade 3-4 P/IVH. One study (NNNI 1996) reported no significant difference in the incidence of hypotension. The finding of decreased necrotising enterocolitis and increased sepsis in infants who received fresh frozen plasma compared to a gelatin-based plasma substitute or no treatment in one study should be treated with caution. No significant differences in mortality or disability were found in this study. Comparing albumin and saline in hypotensive infants, one study (Lynch 2002) reported a significant increase in mean BP and reduced incidence of treatment failure (persistent hypotension). The other study (So 1997) and the meta-analysis of the two studies found no significant difference in treatment failure (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.53, 1.06) or in any other clinical outcome. REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence from randomised trials to support the routine use of early volume expansion in very preterm infants without cardiovascular compromise. There is insufficient evidence to determine whether infants with cardiovascular compromise benefit from volume expansion. There is insufficient evidence to determine what type of volume expansion should be used in preterm infants (if at all) or for the use of early red cell transfusions. The significance of the finding of a significant increase in blood pressure in hypotensive preterm infants in one trial comparing albumin and saline is unclear, but the overall meta-analyses found no other significant clinical benefit in using albumin compared to saline.

Blood Volume↗
PubMed2001

Early volume expansion versus inotrope for prevention of morbidity and mortality in very preterm infants.

BACKGROUND: Reduced perfusion of organs such as the brain, heart, kidneys and the gastrointestinal tract may lead to acute dysfunction and be associated with permanent injury. Various strategies have been used to provide cardiovascular support to preterm infants including inotropes, corticosteroids and volume expansion. OBJECTIVES: In very preterm infants, to determine the effect of early volume expansion compared to inotrope in reducing morbidity and mortality. Subgroup analysis was planned according to method of diagnosis of poor perfusion, postnatal age of treatment and type of volume expansion and inotrope used. SEARCH STRATEGY: The standard search strategy of the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group was used. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised trials that compared volume expansion to an inotrope in preterm infants in the first days of life were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data were extracted independently by each author and analysed using the standard methods of the Cochrane Collaboration and its Neonatal Review Group using relative risk (RR), risk difference (RD) and weighted mean difference (WMD). MAIN RESULTS: Two small studies comparing volume expansion, using albumin, with dopamine were included. Both studies were adequately randomised, unblinded studies of albumin versus dopamine with no losses to follow up and analysed by intention to treat. Data for clinical outcomes were available from one study in hypotensive preterm infants in the first day of life. In this study, albumin had a higher failure rate for correcting hypotension (RR 5.2, 95% CI 1.3, 20.6). As 49% of these infants had already been given volume, the question of which treatment should be given first was not answered. A second study compared albumin with dopamine in preterm infants with a normal mean blood pressure at a mean age of 32 hours. Dopamine produced a significant increase in mean blood pressure when compared to infants who received albumin or no treatment, although the difference between the dopamine and albumin groups did not reach significance. Albumin and dopamine produced similar increases in left ventricular output but no significant change in cerebral blood flow. No difference was found in mortality (RR 1.5, 95% CI 0.5, 4.0) or morbidity including any P/IVH, chronic lung disease or retinopathy. There was a higher rate of grade 2-4 P/IVH of borderline statistical significance in infants who received albumin in one study (RR 1.47; 95% CI 0.96 to 2.25: RD 0.27, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.54). No data were available for neurodevelopmental outcomes. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Dopamine was more successful than albumin at correcting low blood pressure in hypotensive preterm infants, many of whom had already received volume. Neither intervention has been shown to be superior at improving blood flow, or in improving mortality and morbidity in preterm infants. The trials do not allow any firm conclusions to be made as to whether or when volume or dopamine should be used in preterm infants.

Albumins↗
PubMed1989

Abnormal cough reflex in canine acrylamide neuropathy.

Coughing in response to irritation of the airways is a fundamental protective reflex that is dependent on rapidly adapting bronchopulmonary receptors and their vagal afferent fibers; reflex airway constriction, which is effected by vagomotor efferent fibers, usually accompanies coughing. Although dysfunction of vagally mediated cardiovascular and gastrointestinal reflexes is a well-documented complication of autonomic neuropathy, to date there have been no studies of the effect of peripheral autonomic failure on the cough reflex. In the study reported here, we examined the effect of acrylamide-induced neuropathy, a distal axonopathy, on the ventilatory and tracheomotor components of the cough reflex in conscious dogs. There was a reduction in the cough reflex in response to mechanical irritation of the large airways in the preclinical phase of the neuropathy, and the cough reflex was virtually abolished when the dogs had moderate neuropathy. Following withdrawal of the neurotoxin, there was a substantial recovery of the cough reflex in surviving animals. It is possible that the cough reflex may be reduced in patients with vagal neuropathy and that this might compromise protection of the airway.

Acrylamide↗
PubMed1990

An individualized approach to the management of gastroschisis.

A 93% survival rate was achieved in 80 neonates treated for gastroschisis between 1979 and 1986. Uncomplicated gastroschisis occurred in 70 infants (88%); 51% underwent staged silo reduction and 49% had primary fascial closure. Gastroschisis associated with intestinal atresia or volvulus was present in 10 neonates (12%), half of whom had a residual jejunoileum between 10 and 55 cm. Major postoperative complications included gastrointestinal problems (infarction, obstruction, and prolonged dysfunction), wound infection, and catheter-associated difficulties (sepsis, infiltration, and malposition). Three of the six deaths were related to associated conditions (extreme prematurity, trisomy 13, and multiple anomalies) and three were caused by intraoperative hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, and extensive short-bowel syndrome. No statistical difference in morbidity, mortality, and length of hospitalization was demonstrated between infants treated by silo reduction and primary closure. Safe management of gastroschisis should include an individualized assessment of visceroabdominal disproportion and degree of intraabdominal tension. Vigilant expectation of potentially life-threatening complications is required to decrease postoperative morbidity, irrespective of the technique of abdominal wall closure.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed2004

Effect of training on outcomes following coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

OBJECTIVE: We examined our coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) experience to assess the effect of training on mortality and morbidity outcomes. METHODS: Between April 1997 and September 2002, 5678 consecutive patients underwent isolated CABG. Five hundred and fifty-five (9.9%) were performed by trainee surgeons. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the effect of training on adverse outcomes, while adjusting for patient and disease characteristics (treatment selection bias). Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to adjust Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Treatment selection bias was controlled for by constructing a propensity score from core patient characteristics including the additive EuroSCORE. The propensity score was the probability of CABG performed by trainee, with a C-statistic of 0.79, and was included along with the comparison variable (trainee vs Consultant) in a multivariable analysis of outcome. The propensity score is used as the sole variable for adjustment due to the low number of events, providing a more complete risk adjustment. RESULTS: CABG procedures performed by trainee surgeons were less likely to be female, hypertensive, obese, triple-vessel disease, redo and emergency cases. Also, trainee surgeons were less likely to operate on patients with cerebrovascular disease, renal dysfunction, and previous myocardial infarctions, prior gastrointestinal surgery, and poor left ventricular ejection fraction. The additive EuroSCORE was 2.9 in trainee cases compared to 3.5 in Consultant led cases (P<0.001) Crude outcomes were significantly better in trainee CABGs due to selection bias. In-hospital results were no longer significantly different between both groups after adjusting for the propensity score. The adjusted freedom from death in the trainee cases at 30 days, 1, 2, 3, and 4 years was 98.1, 96.2, 94.7, 93.2 and 91.8%, respectively, compared to 97.9, 95.7, 94.1, 92.3 and 90.8% for the Consultant led cases (P=0.53). CONCLUSIONS: After adjusting for case-mix, with careful case selection, training does not adversely affect the early and mid-term outcomes of CABG.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Are patients with Hirschsprung's disease prediabetic?

Hirschsprung's disease (HD) is considered a focal disease usually confined to the distal colon and rectum. However, autonomic dysfunction and dysmotility in the upper gastrointestinal tract have been reported, suggesting that this disease is not only confined to the distal gastrointestinal tract. This study examines the fasting and postprandial levels of glucose and insulin in adult patients with HD to elucidate whether there might also be an endocrine involvement in this disease. Sixteen patients with surgically treated HD during early childhood and 17 healthy subjects were studied. All subjects ingested a caloric liquid meal containing glucose, lactose, maize oil, and water (2,020 kJ) after an overnight fast. Blood samples were collected at regular intervals for insulin and glucose analyses. Fasting levels of both glucose (P <.05) and insulin (P <.02) were significantly higher in patients compared with healthy controls. Peak concentration of insulin following meal intake was significantly higher in the patient group (P <.05), and peak concentration of glucose tended to be higher in patients compared with controls (P =.06). There was no correlation between body mass index and serum levels of glucose or insulin. The present study shows that adult patients treated for HD during childhood have an impaired glucose and insulin homeostasis, indicating a mild degree of insulin resistance. This may imply susceptibility towards development of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Successful control of massive coumarol-induced acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding and correction of prothrombin time by recombinant active factor VII (Eptacog-alpha, NovoSeven) in a patient with a prosthetic aortic valve and two malignancies (chronic lymphoid leukaemia and lung cancer).

Severe, life-threatening acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding may occasionally occur in patients receiving coumarol prophylaxis for prosthetic heart valves. These patients are exposed to two potential, serious risks: bleeding due to the severe blood loss induced by excessive anticoagulant effect or as a consequence of the cessation of anticoagulation subsequent thrombotic occlusion of the valve and loss of patency. Herein a short case report is presented. The elderly male patient had a prosthetic valve in the aortic position and also suffered from two malignant diseases: chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and a more recently developed lung cancer with metastatic spread into both lungs. The patient had a major gastrointestinal bleed, leading to a sudden fall of haematocrit (0.09), and to a collapse of peripheral circulation due to too excessive a coumarol effect (International Normalized Ratio > 8). An acute left ventricular failure developed during the early period of the emergency blood transfusion, so the correction of prothrombin time by fresh-frozen plasma (due to the large volume requirement) was not feasible. The patient received 50 microg/kg intravenous bolus of NovoSeven (recombinant active factor VII) in an almost desperate situation. The International Normalized Ratio changed to 2.1 in 30 min; bleeding had stopped immediately. There was neither evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (in spite of the age and underlying diseases) nor loss of valve patency or infective endocarditis during follow-up. This modest report may call attention to the potential use of recombinant active factor VII in the coumarol-induced severe bleeding episodes of prosthetic heart valve patients.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Salvage therapy with regimens containing ritonavir and saquinavir in extensively pretreated HIV-infected patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of salvage regimens containing ritonavir and saquinavir in patients failing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), and to correlate outcome with plasma concentrations of protease inhibitors. DESIGN: Prospective, non-randomized interventional study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty extensively pretreated HIV-infected patients with virological failure under HAART were treated with ritonavir (400 mg twice daily) and saquinavir (600 mg twice daily) and at least one reverse transcriptase inhibitor. HIV-RNA, CD4 cell counts and plasma concentrations of protease inhibitors were determined, and patients were monitored for toxicity at monthly intervals. RESULTS: Six patients showed complete virological success (HIV-RNA <200 copies/ml at week 12) which was sustained for a median follow-up of 6.3 months. Partial virological response (decrease of HIV-RNA of >1 log10 at week 12) was achieved by a further three patients. Patients with a virological response had significantly higher CD4 cell increases than patients without virological response (mean increase at week 12: 66x10(6) cells/l versus 6x10(6) cells/l; P = 0.01). No clinical events were observed during 6 months of follow-up. Neither the use of a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) nor the number of newly introduced drugs influenced the virological response. Plasma concentrations of protease inhibitors did not statistically differ between patients with and without success. Toxicity included gastrointestinal disturbances, lipid abnormalities and liver dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: In extensively pretreated patients, salvage regimens containing ritonavir and saquinavir had only limited and short-term anti-HIV activity and were associated with substantial toxicity. Plasma concentrations of saquinavir were not predictive for virological response.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Moclobemide: therapeutic use and clinical studies.

Moclobemide is a reversible inhibitor of monoamine-oxidase-A (RIMA) and has been extensively evaluated in the treatment of a wide spectrum of depressive disorders and less extensively studied in anxiety disorders. Nearly all meta-analyses and most comparative studies indicated that in the acute management of depression this drug is more efficacious than placebo and as efficacious as tricyclic (or some heterocyclic) antidepressants or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). There is a growing evidence that moclobemide is not inferior to other antidepressants in the treatment of subtypes of depression, such as dysthymia, endogenous (unipolar and bipolar), reactive, atypical, agitated, and retarded depression as with other antidepressants limited evidence suggests that moclobemide has consistent long-term efficacy. However, more controlled studies addressing this issue are needed. For patients with bipolar depression the risk of developing mania seems to be not higher with moclobemide than with other antidepressants. The effective therapeutic dose range for moclobemide in most acute phase trials was 300 to 600 mg, divided in 2 to 3 doses. While one controlled trial and one long-term open-label study found moclobemide to be efficacious in social phobia, three controlled trials subsequently revealed either no effect or less robust effects with the tendency of higher doses (600 - 900 mg/d) to be more efficacious. Two comparative trials demonstrated moclobemide to be as efficacious as fluoxetine or clomipramine in patients suffering from panic disorder. Placebo-controlled trials in this indication are, however, still lacking. A relationship between the plasma concentration of moclobemide and its therapeutic efficacy is not apparent but a positive correlation with adverse events has been found. Dizziness, nausea and insomnia occurred more frequently on moclobemide than on placebo. Due to negligible anticholinergic and antihistaminic actions, moclobemide has been better tolerated than tri- or heterocyclic antidepressants. Gastrointestinal side effects and, especially, sexual dysfunction were much less frequent with moclobemide than with SSRIs. Unlike irreversible MAO-inhibitors, moclobemide has a negligible propensity to induce hypertensive crisis after ingestion of tyramine-rich food ("cheese-reaction"). Therefore, dietary restrictions are not as strict. However, with moclobemide doses above 900 mg/d the risk of interaction with ingested tyramine might become clinically relevant. After multiple dosing the oral bioavailability of moclobemide reaches almost 100%. At therapeutic doses, moclobemide lacks significant negative effects on psychomotor performance, cognitive function or cardiovascular system. Due to the relative freedom from these side effects, moclobemide is particularly attractive in the treatment of elderly patients. Moclobemide is a substrate of CYP2C19. Although it acts as an inhibitor of CYP1A2, CYP2C19, and CYP2D6, relatively few clinically important drug interactions involving moclobemide have been reported. It is relatively safe even in overdose. The drug has a short plasma elimination half-life that allows switching to an alternative agent within 24 h. Since it is well tolerated, therapeutic doses can often be reached rapidly upon onset of treatment. Steady-state plasma levels are reached approximately at one week following dose adjustment. Patients with renal dysfunction require no dose reduction in contrast to patients with severe hepatic impairment. Cases of refractory depression might improve with a combination of moclobemide with other antidepressants, such as clomipramine or a SSRI. Since this combination has rarely been associated with a potentially lethal serotonin syndrome, it requires lower entry doses, a slower dose titration and a more careful monitoring of patients. Combination therapy with moclobemide and other serotonergic agents, or opioids, should be undertaken with caution, although no serious adverse events have been published with therapeutic doses of moclobemide to date. On the basis of animal data the combined use of moclobemide with pethidine or dextropropoxyphene should be avoided. There is no evidence that moclobemide would increase body weight or produce seizures. Some preclinical data suggest that moclobemide may have anticonvulsant property.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Acute renal failure in an elderly woman following intramuscular ketorolac administration.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of ketorolac tromethamine-induced acute renal failure and to discuss the risk factors that make patients more susceptible to the renal effects of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). DATA SOURCES: Case reports and review articles identified by MEDLINE. Indexing terms included ketorolac, renal failure, and NSAIDs. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were abstracted from pertinent published English-language sources and were reviewed by all authors. DATA SYNTHESIS: Ketorolac is an intramuscularly administered NSAID with many of the same adverse effects associated with other oral NSAIDs. Although reversible depression of renal function has been associated with several NSAIDs, to date there have been no published reports of acute renal failure secondary to ketorolac administration. A 71-year-old woman received three doses of ketorolac to control the pain associated with pelvic and T11-T12 compression fractures. Over the next two days, the patient developed signs and symptoms of acute renal failure, including significant increases in blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and peripheral edema. These signs and symptoms resolved over the next three to four days. Certain risk factors, several of which were present in this woman, make individual patients more susceptible to the renal affects of NSAIDs. These risk factors include advanced age, cirrhosis, volume depletion, congestive heart failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, and preexisting mild renal dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Caution should be taken when initiating ketorolac or any NSAID therapy with specific attention to risk factors that predispose a patient to renal dysfunction.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Clinical experience with ketorolac in children.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of parenteral ketorolac in a large population of children, focusing on dosing patterns, efficacy, and safety. DESIGN: Observational, prospective study conducted over a four-month period. SETTING: A 122-bed children's medical center located within an academic medical center hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Children receiving ketorolac during their hospitalization. MAIN OUTCOME PARAMETERS: Indications for treatment, dose, dosing interval, use of a loading dose, length of therapy, efficacy (subjective response and use of concomitant therapy), and adverse effects (bleeding, gastrointestinal ulceration or vomiting, and renal dysfunction). RESULTS: Of 112 children evaluated, 110 received ketorolac for analgesia, and 2 were given ketorolac as an antipyretic. The children ranged in age from 6 months to 19 years. Doses of 0.5 mg/kg q6h were used for most children (range 0.17-1.0). The average length of therapy was 3.4 days (range 1-12). The most frequent reason for discontinuing ketorolac therapy was a change to oral therapy. Therapy was discontinued because of a lack of efficacy in only 2 children. Adverse reactions were unusual, with only 2 patients having bleeding potentially associated with ketorolac use. CONCLUSIONS: Ketorolac appears to be a safe and effective therapy for children when given in appropriate doses for a limited duration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Treating cancer patients. Practical monitoring and management of therapy-related complications.

OBJECTIVE: To review investigation and management of some common long-term complications associated with cancer chemotherapy and radiation therapy. QUALITY OF EVIDENCE: Databases searched using MeSH key words "cancer chemotherapy," "cancer chemotherapy complications," "radiation therapy," and "radiation therapy complications" included Ovid and CANCERLIT. Overall the literature in this area is not strong; treatment guidelines and consensus conferences generally are lacking. Recommendations in this paper are mainly based on the results of individual studies and case reports, as few randomized controlled trials have been performed. Where appropriate, recommendations incorporate results of published treatment guidelines and consensus conferences. MAIN MESSAGE: For most solid tumours, patients should be most frequently monitored during the first 3 years after completing initial treatment for cure. Follow-up monitoring usually incorporates physical examination as well as radiologic and laboratory investigations. Patients should not be lost to follow up once treatment is completed, but monitored regularly, especially while they are at highest risk for disease recurrence. Long-term complications associated with cancer therapy include postsplenectomy sepsis syndrome; central and peripheral nervous system toxicities; ocular complications; thyroid, pituitary, testicular, or ovarian dysfunction; pulmonary toxicity; vascular or lymphatic, gastrointestinal, or osseous complications; genitourinary problems; and possible secondary malignancy. CONCLUSION: Primary care physicians are key to facilitating appropriate follow up of treated cancer patients. To do this, they must be aware of practical aspects of monitoring and management of therapy-related complications.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[X-ray and radiological aspects of primary and reconstructive jejunal interposition].

The late outcomes of primary and reconstructive jejunogastroplasty for motor and evacuatory dysfunctions of the graft and the gastrointestinal tract as whole were studied. Based of X-ray and radioisotopic findings, the paper shows the procedure used to form an artificial stomach from the large intestinal loop to obtain an invaginational valve at the site of jejunoduodenal atastomosis to be beneficial. This procedure makes it possible to recover the evacuatory function of the stomach removed, to prevent a number of postgastrectomic and postresectional disorders in the late postoperative period. Dynamic hepatobiliary scintigraphy was shown to be effective in examining the functional outcomes of gastric surgery and in diagnosing suspected reflux.

Digestive System Diseases↗