SEARCH · PubMed Health
Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
A brief history of the surgical technique of tympanoplasty is provided, emphasizing the underlying principles and goals as defined by Wullstein. Based on clinical and surgical experience, a list of absolute and relative contraindications to tympanoplasty surgery is presented according to the presence or absence of active pathology.
Absolute and relative, systemic and regional contraindications are discussed under the topics of systemic illness, mumps, age, wet ear, traumatic perforation, only ear, perfect contralateral ear, and benefit unlikely.
Aural and non-aural disorders that are relative or are absolute contraindications to tympanoplasty surgery are discussed. Particular attention is focused on non-aural convert general medical conditions that may escape the otologist's attention as he is not daily concerned in the management of such conditions. The aural contra-indications are dealt with briefly because of the obvious and well known disorders that are familiar to all otologists.
STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine if the use of verapamil in patients with contraindications is associated with adverse sequelae, thereby assessing whether process measures of the quality of care are correlated with patient outcomes. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review comparing the incidence of adverse outcomes and drug failure in patients with and without contraindications to verapamil administration. SETTING: University hospital emergency department. PARTICIPANTS: All patients more than 12 years old who received IV verapamil during the study period. MEASUREMENTS: The presence or absence of contraindications to verapamil, the occurrence of complications, and the frequency of drug failure were determined by chart review. MAIN RESULTS: Patients with contraindications to verapamil experienced a significantly higher incidence of adverse outcomes and drug failures than those without contraindications. The presence of contraindicated rhythms, low pretreatment blood pressure, and signs of congestive heart failure were each specifically associated with an increased risk of adverse sequelae. CONCLUSION: Verapamil should not be administered to patients with contraindications to its use. In this instance, quality assurance process measures correlate with patient outcomes.
An audit of Leeds health professionals' knowledge of valid contraindications to measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine was undertaken by postal questionnaire, three months after its introduction. The health professional groups were health visitors, clinical medical officers, general practice trainers and general practice vocational trainees. The results indicate that some health professionals would give MMR vaccine to children when it was contraindicated (e.g. to a child receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy). However, a much greater problem was the number of health professionals stating that they would not vaccinate children with MMR vaccine in clinical situations where there were no valid contraindications to its use. Some health professionals were also applying contraindications to the use of pertussis vaccine to the use of MMR vaccine. The information contained in the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation handbook Immunisation against infectious disease on contraindications to MMR vaccine use is also reviewed. It is important that false contraindications are not used by health professionals to wrongly deny children the protection provided by MMR vaccine.
Plastic surgery has acquired an important place in primary breast cancer treatment (conservative or radical) and in the treatment of sequelae. The authors have tried to define, based on their experience, the contraindications for breast reconstruction. They are rare from a technical point of view. The carcinologic contraindications are relative: highly aggressive cancers, locally advanced cancers, cancers with metastases or recurrences. Radionecrosis and radio-induced sarcomas, treatment sequelae are also contraindications for breast reconstruction. General contraindications are relative (major obesity, smoking, diabetes, general weakness). Psychological contraindications must be taken into consideration. The authors conclude that contraindications for breast reconstruction are mainly carcinologic and the decision for reconstruction is usually taken by the patient after complete medical information.
The authors report on the results of the analysis of frequency, motives and possible consequences associated to the medical contraindication of inoculations with TPDV (thermal polio-destroyed virus) during the antipoliomyelitis vaccination in the spring of 1989 in District 3 of Bucharest. The failure share in the first antipoliomylitis vaccination was of 2.2% in the 2,500 children selected: 46 (83.6%) were CIM in one of the inoculations and 9 (16.4%) in both inoculations with TPDV of the vaccination. Infectious acute affections were the most numerous motives (89.1-57.1%) of the medical contraindications of inoculation with TPDV; in 59.6-31.2% of these causes the hospitalization of the cases was necessary. The false contraindications were at the basis of 10.9-42.9% of the medical decisions that contraindicated inoculation with TPDV. Of the children with contraindications at inoculation with TPDV, 41.8% met the risk criteria after the first stage and 12.7% after the second stage of the vaccination.
The two primary symptoms of chronic ear disease are otorrhea and hearing loss. The goal of any tympanoplasty is to eradicate disease and improve hearing. These are the primary indications for this procedure. The success or failure of the surgery is influenced by many factors such as the age and general health of the patient, the extent and type of disease present, and whether the upper airway is functioning properly. Contraindications to tympanoplasty will vary from one surgeon to another depending upon his training, philosophy, experience, and surgical skill. It is helpful to think of these contraindications as being either absolute or relative. Absolute contraindications consist of: 1. uncontrolled cholesteatoma; 2. malignant tumors; 3. unusual infections and/or extenuating circumstances; and 4. complications of chronic ear disease, such as meningitis, brain abscess, or lateral sinus thrombosis. Relative contraindications are less well defined: 1. eustachian tube insufficiency or non-function; 2. the uncooperative patient; 3. the dead ear; 4. the better hearing or only hearing ear; 5. the elderly patient; 6. the young child; and 7. the repeated failure case. The otologic surgeon must exercise good clinical judgment in selecting patients for tympanoplasty. This paper deals with some of the more common problems in decision making.
Acute cholecystitis, morbid obesity, and previous upper abdominal surgery have been reported as relative contraindications to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. An analysis of 706 laparoscopic cholecystectomies performed at our institution was undertaken to determine if these relative contraindications led to increased morbidity, an increased rate of conversion to the open technique, or longer operating time. One hundred ninety-seven patients demonstrated one or more relative contraindications to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Morbidity was not increased in patients with these risk factors, but conversion to open cholecystectomy was required in a greater percentage of patients with acute cholecystitis. We favor an attempt at laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with these risk factors; however, they should be counseled as to the increased risk of conversion to open cholecystectomy in the presence of acute cholecystitis.
Fifty-seven patients underwent heart transplantation at our hospital between April 1986 and April 1991. In an attempt to assess the result of and the influence of contraindications seen in transplant recipients before transplantation on the outcome after transplantation, we have analyzed six of these "relative" contraindications: (1) age over 55 years (21% of patients); (2) pulmonary hypertension (pulmonary vascular resistance of more than 5 Wood units, and/or transpulmonary gradient of more than 12 mm Hg; 26% of patients); (3) renal failure (serum creatinine level of more than 2 mg/dl, and/or creatinine clearance of less than 35 ml/min; 11% of patients); (4) active infection (9% of patients); (5) diabetes mellitus (7% of patients); and (6) critical/unstable clinical condition before transplantation (25% of patients). An overall "risk score," obtained by adding one point for each contraindication, was also analyzed. Risk score was 0 (the "ideal" recipient) in 38% of patients, 1 in 25% of patients; 2 in 23% of patients; and 3 or more in 14% of patients. Actuarial survival was significantly lower for patients over 55 years of age (45% versus 68% at 18 months; p less than 0.05), for patients with elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (38% versus 72%; p less than 0.01), and for patients with kidney failure (16% versus 70%; p less than 0.01). On the contrary, survival at 18 months was not significantly different for patients with or without diabetes mellitus (50% versus 63%; not significant [NS]), active infection (60% versus 63%; NS), or critical/unstable condition (45% versus 69%; p less than 0.1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The resurgence of enteral feeding, as both a more physiologic and cost-effective means of alimenting patients, has coincided with the increased popularity of endoscopically placed gastrostomies. Indeed, numerous retrospective studies have shown that percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is superior to its surgical counterpart. There are, however, both absolute and relative contraindications to percutaneous placement. Reported here are three patients who were poor surgical candidates, yet had contraindications to percutaneous placement. Described is a method of combined endoscopic and surgical placement under local anesthesia used successfully in these patients. General anesthesia and laparotomy were not required. A 2-cm incision with endoscopic guidance was used and the gastrostomy was placed under direct vision and secured with a gastric purse string and sutured to the abdominal wall. There was no morbidity or mortality among the three cases reported. All gastrostomies were considered functional within 48 hrs. The authors feel this method is an excellent alternative when PEG is contraindicated. In addition, it may represent the safest and most effective method of gastrostomy placement in the majority of patients requiring a gastrostomy.
At the inception of a general practice well child clinic, a checklist card was introduced into the clinic notes to summarize specific and relative contraindications to immunizations. This card was used by the practice nurses as they ran the immunization procedures during the clinic. A failure on the checklist led to a consultation with the clinic doctor who decided whether to proceed with the immunization. Of 155 immunizations given during the six-month period, only 23 (15%) failed the checklist and required the child to be assessed by the clinic doctor. Of these, nine (39%) were for simple upper respiratory tract infection. All the children were deemed fit to receive immunization. Only one child was found to have a specific contraindication to pertussis. The checklist cards allowed the smooth operation of the immunization procedures by practice nurses who were able to check comprehensively whether there were any contraindications and whether immunizations were being inappropriately refused.
With the help of an extensive review of the french and foreign literature, and personal statistics concerning 500 peridural anesthesias (PDA), the authors analyze the indications and contraindications of this type of anesthesia, in 1987. It is possible to differentiate well accepted indications: caesarean section, inducement, labor test, dynamic dystocia, delivery of fragile fetus, desire of the patient; definite contraindications: patient's refusal, coagulation disorders, emergency situations, some cardiopathies; debatable indications: breech delivery, scarred uterus, twin delivery, maternal medical problem, where each particular case must be evaluated. In his study, the authors demonstrate that indications tend to become broader and contraindications to become more infrequent. They stress a necessary co-operation between obstetrician and anesthetist to make this decision.
The immunization status and frequency of contraindications to immunization were studied in 446 children attending the paediatric clinic of a teaching hospital in south India. In all, 27% of the children were up to date in their immunizations, 19% had a contraindication, and 57% required and could safely be given immunizations. A policy of offering immunizations in paediatric clinics to all who require them and who do not have a contraindication would result in protection of a significant number of unimmunized children.
Dentists are aware of contraindications to the use of vasoconstrictors in patients with cardiovascular diseases. However, there are some other noncardiac conditions we should know. This article discusses the absolute contraindications to the use of vasoconstrictors in patients with a history of hyperthyroidism, diabetes, allergy to sulfites, asthma, and pheochromocytoma.
A total of 284 general practitioners (GPs), paediatricians and doctors of public vaccination centres (DPVC) were interviewed to investigate their willingness to immunize children with compulsory (diphtheria-tetanus, oral polio) and non-compulsory (measles, pertussis) vaccines in the presence of 19 different medical histories. We observed a reluctance to immunize in the case of false contraindications, a lack of information mainly about non-compulsory immunizations, and doubts about the real contraindications to polio, measles and pertussis vaccines. The frequency of correct answers to the question posed was significantly higher in the group with less than 20 years of experience, and the DPVCs proved better informed about immunization. However, the crucial role played by the GPs and paediatricians' advice can prejudice the correct use of active immunization.
The literature is replete with references regarding the use of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy to treat various human maladies. However, the oral and maxillofacial surgery literature is lacking in information regarding patient selection criteria and possible contraindications to HBO therapy, as well as possible risks and/or complications of such therapy. This article details patient selection criteria, discusses relative and absolute contraindications to HBO therapy, and describes the potential risks and complications of this therapy.
We recently were presented with a patient from the nephrology service, with the request to perform open renal biopsy because of a solitary functioning kidney. We performed the open biopsy and the patient subsequently had a wound infection, leading us to question the recommendation in the literature stating that a solitary kidney is an absolute contraindication for percutaneous renal biopsy. In a review of the literature from 1951 to 1990, a total of 19,459 percutaneous renal biopsies has been reported with an overall complication rate of 2.1 to 10.8%, the majority (90%) of which did not require definitive treatment. Only 13 nephrectomies (0.06%) were required secondary to complications. The overall mortality rate was 0.08%. We reviewed 157 percutaneous renal biopsies done at this institution from 1985 to 1990 with a minor complication rate of only 5% and no major complications or loss of kidney function. The mortality rate was 0. Based on our study and a review of the literature, both showing an extremely small percentage of permanent loss of kidney function or mortality, we propose that a solitary kidney no longer be recommended as an absolute contraindication to percutaneous renal biopsy.