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Biomedical subjects

A C Beall

Publications and source records attributed to A C Beall.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Management of 1,590 consecutive cases of liver trauma.

Between 1939 and 1974, more than 1,500 patients have been treated for penetrating or blunt liver trauma at our institution. Gunshot wounds and major blunt trauma have increased, stab wounds decreased, as percent of total. In most cases techniques other than partial hepatic resection were used, although this was performed in 49 instances. Choledochostomy was infrequently employed. Intracaval shunts were useful in 15 selected patients with massive hepatic, concomitant suprarenal vena caval, or hepatic vein injuries. The overall mortality of this group was 13.1%. The improvement in mortality from liver injuries is attributable to (1) early exploration for suspected intra-abdominal traumatic injury, (2) a conservative approach to the liver injury, and (3) the limitation of lobar resection, vascular cannulae, and afferent vascular compression to highly selected cases.

Adolescent↗

Clinical experience with the Teflo disposable membrane oxygenator.

A simple, inexpensive, highly efficient disposable membrane oxygenator with low priming volume and a microporous membrane recently has become available. Animal and clinical investigations of its use have been most satisfactory, and clinical experience now has been extended to include 285 patients. Its primary advantage has been the ability to control oxygenation and carbon dioxide separately. Disadvantages have included the somewhat increased complexity of the system as compared with bubble oxygenator systems, the necessity of converting pumps for its use, and excessive condensation of water vapor in the gas phase of the oxygenator unless certain precautions are followed.

Adolescent↗

Resuscitation of the moribund patient using portable cardiopulmonary bypass.

The advancements in extracorporeal cardiopulmonary support through oxygenation and pumping units have permitted the explosive development of heart surgery. A battery-powered portable cardiopulmonary bypass machine has been used in 39 patients whose conditions precluded transport to the operating room. Nineteen patients with massive pulmonary emboli, 10 with extensive cardiopulmonary trauma, who had sustained massive drug overdose, and 2 with cardiogenic shock from acute myocardial infarction were successfully placed on cardiopulmonary bypass at the bedside within 15 minutes of cardiac arrest using femoral artery and femoral vein cannulation. Six patients who had cardiac arrest and suspected massive pulmonary emboli were found to have no mechanical cause for their arrest. Thirteen of the patients with massive pulmonary emboli were saved. Eight of the 10 patients who required portable cardiopulmonary bypass for massive traumatic thoracic injuries had control of hemorrhage and repair, allowing bypass to be discontinued. Two of these 8 patients had sustained transection of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. Sixteen patients survived for more than 30 days, and there are 15 long-term survivors.

Adolescent↗

Unimpaired renal, myocardial and neurologic function after cross clamping of the thoracic aorta.

Twelve patients who had sustained trauma presented at the emergency department with either asystole or profound hypotension. All underwent thoracotomy and temporary cross clamping of the descending thoracic aorta as part of the resuscitative measures; all received massive amounts of fluids and cold blood and underwent prompt surgical intervention. In none of these patients was there evidence of myocardial, peripheral nerve, neurologic or renal damage. One patient had residual cortical blindness. Measures were taken to preserve renal function before, during and after aortic cross clamping. These included the avoidance of nephrotoxic antibiotics, limit of clamping time to the minimum effective period, intermittent release of the aortic clamp, and intraoperative administration of osmotic diuretics or furosemide, or both. Other factors which may have contributed to these results were the youth of these patients, the absence of cardiac, renal or metabolic diseases and the hypothermia resulting from the administration of large amounts of cold blood. We concluded that temporary cross clamping of the descending thoracic aorta should be performed only for patients with massive exsanguine trauma who have cardiac arrest or who do not respond to other intensive resuscitative measures.

Adolescent↗

Penetrating wounds of the cervical esophagus.

To determine trends in management, twenty-two years' experience with penetrating wounds of the cervical esophagus in thirty-nine patients has been evaluated. There were three deaths, all as a result of delayed operative repair. Experience gained from the earlier years of this study led to a marked reduction in mortality in the later years as a result of an increased index of clinical suspicion, coupled with an aggressive operative approach with primary closure and adequate drainage. A nonoperative approach has been suggested by others for small esophageal perforations after endoscopy and perforation from foreign objects. For penetrating injuries of the esophagus, operation and definitive repair is mandatory.

Adolescent↗

Management of acute combined injuries to the aorta and inferior vena cava.

Major abdominal vascular injuries present problems in diagnosis, exposure, and management. Combined injuries to the abdominal aorta and vena cava are particularly lethal due to extensive blood loss, difficulty in sequential exposure, and the high incidence of associated injuries. Between 1953 and December 1974, ninety-one patients required emergency operations for abdominal aortic trauma at our city-county charity hospital. Twenty-nine of these had combined injuries to the abdominal aorta and vena cava, ten of whom had either an audible bruit preoperatively or a palpable thrill at exploration suggesting acute fistulas. Twenty-three injuries were secondary to gunshot wounds. Ten were located in the suprarenal aorta and vena cava. Management involved a variety of technics including intravascular shunts, adaptive exposures, Dacron prostheses, and autotransfusion. Survival rate was 27 per cent. Sixty-two per cent of the deaths were a function of extreme difficulty in controlling hemorrhage and exposure. There were no late recurrences of arteriovenous fistulas. Successful management of acute traumatic injury to both the abdominal aorta and vena cava requires rapid, aggressive surgical management, adaptive sequential control maneuvers, and application of technics and principles developed for elective vascular surgery.

Adult↗

Use of the activated coagulation time in intraoperative heparin reversal for cardiopulmonary operations.

Activated clotting time (ACT) was used in 300 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac operations to determine the adequacy of heparin reversal. Mean ACT prior to protamine sulfate administration was 9 minutes 40 seconds. A return to normal value (less than 2 min 10 sec) occurred in three-fourths of our patients following administration of 1.5 mg of protamine sulfate for each 100 units of heparin. Additional protamine sulfate was administered in 50 mg doses to those having abnormal ACT until normal clotting was obtained. Normal values for ACT usually coincided with clotting in the operative field. ACT proved to be a reliable guide to protamine sulfate administration.

Aortic Aneurysm↗

Membrane vs bubble oxygenator: clinical comparison.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the superiority of membrane oxygenators (MO) over the bubble oxygenators (BO) when used for prolonged cardiopulmonary support. However, there is little information available evaluating the MO for routine, short-term cardiopulmonary bypass. In this study the 5MO314 Modulung-Teflo (MO) was compared to 5M30314 Miniprime Variflo (BO). The data of 91 patients (46 MO and 45 BO) were analyzed according to the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (Group I less than 60 min., Group II 60-90 min. and Group III greater than 90 min.). Hemodynamic parameters, fluid and blood balance, as well as hematologic and blood gas studies were used for comparing the two oxygentors. The hemodynamic parameters were better, and the arterial blood gases were more physilogic with the MO. The postoperative blood loss was significantly less when using the MO. The other measurements documented the stability of the MO. All statements were based on statistical analysis with a DEC PDP-9 computer, using the MIIS language and operating system. Consequently, we are now using this MO for routine cardiopulmonary bypass.

Adult↗

Management of penetrating injuries of the suprarenal aorta.

Penetrating injuries of the thoracic and abdominal aorta are controlled and repaired successfully with increasing frequency. Penetration of the suprarenal abdominal aorta has been associated with a high mortality rate because of difficult exposure and associated injuries. Between January 1969 and July 1973, 28 patients have undergone operative treatment for traumatic injury to the suprarenal aorta and other associated thoraco-abdominal injuries with 10 long-term survivors. Eight survivors sustained their injuries during the last 3 years, when a medial mobilization of the viscera was the preferred approach. Dacron prosthetic material was employed in seven patients, and in two there was ligation of the celiac axis. With satisfactory exposure, control of exsanguinating hemorrhage, and utilization of available vascular reconstructive techniques, successful management of this relatively inaccessible intra-abdominal lesion can be accomplished in an increasing number of patients.

Adult↗

Current concepts in the management of penetrating neck trauma.

Six hundred thirty-two cases of penetrating wounds of the neck were analyzed in this study in order to re-evaluate our current concepts in the management of these injuries. There were 35 deaths in this series, an overall mortality rate of 5.5%. However, in the last 10 years there were only 13 deaths among 407 patients, a 3.2% mortality rate. Early exploration was performed in 507 patients, and 125 patients were observed. Explorations revealed a total of 625 separate injuries. In 142 explorations, no injury was found. There was no mortality or significant morbidity in these patients with negative explorations. Patients who presented with obvious vascular or visceral injury were immediately explored. Those wounds without obvious injury were either explored or observed, depending on the index of clinical suspicion based on awareness of the innocuous presentation and difficulty in diagnosing esophageal injuries. The mortality rate is a function of multiple factors. Its decrease over the past 25 years is related to many improvements in our health care system. Our own decrease in mortality rate can be attributed in part to decreased transportation time resulting in less blood loss. A greater awareness of esophageal injuries was another factor. No conclusions are possible as to the feasibility of conservative management based upon the mortality rates alone; however, on examination of our experiences with penetrating wounds of the neck, it appears that a significant number of patients when carefully selected by trained personnel can be safely managed with observation.

Adolescent↗

Cardiopulmonary bypass. Microembolization and platelet aggregation.

Particulate microemboli and in vitro platelet aggregation were studied in blood of patients during cardiac operations with an electronic particle size analyzer. A small gradient of microemboli developed on passage of blood through a bubble oxygenator but not through a membrane oxygenator. However, with both types of oxygenators, there was a sustained increase in the volume of microemboli in cardiotomy return blood which was much greater than in aterial blood. After cardiopulmonary bypass with both oxygenators, there was a comparable reduction in the volume of circulating platelets which exceeded that of the hemoglobin concentration, indicating platelet loss exceeded that that expected from hemodilution alone. However, the total volume and mean size of platelet aggregates induced in blood of patients after membrane oxygenation was significantly greater than similar measurements after bubble oxygenation. This study shows that membrane oxygenation reduces particulate microembolization and preserves platelet function in patients undergoing cardiac operations when compared to bubble oxygenation.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Immediate operative treatment for massive hemoptysis.

A series of 15 patients with life threatening, massive hemoptysis is reported. Thirteen of these patients underwent immediate operative treatment with only three deaths. One died after bronchoscopic identification of the bleeding site while awaiting elective thoracotomy. The other patient left the hospital against medical advice. Immediate identification of the site of bleeding by bronchoscopy followed by thoracotomy with resection of the bleeding source, is the preferred method of managing such patients, except when there are specific contraindications to resection.

Adult↗

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Societies, Medical↗

Platelet aggregation: effects of cardiopulmonary bypass.

This study was designed to determine whether reduction in platelet aggregate microembolization during the first 30 minutes of cardiopulmonary bypass is due to thrombocytopenia or to decreased ability of platelets to aggregate. The total volume of platelet aggregates induced in blood by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) was measured with a Coulter counter. The volume of platelets in blood was calculated by multiplying hemocytometry platelet counts by the mean platelet volume. Immediately before cardiopulmonary bypass, the total volume of aggregates induced in blood by ADP (2muM) was reduced when compared to normal donors because of (1) a slight fall in the volume of platelets, and (2) reduction in the percentage by volume of platelets which aggregated. After 30 minutes on bypass, the volume of both platelets and aggregates fell, but a greater percentage of platelets aggregated. This indicates that reduction of platelet aggregate formation during cardiopulmonary bypass is due to thrombocytopenia. It also suggests that anesthesia, surgical trauma and heparinization alter platelet reactivity more than cardiopulmonary bypass.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Logistic and technical considerations in the treatment of the wounded heart.

As improvements in the prehospital care of traumatically injured patients have paralleled advancements in cardiovascular surgery, changing concepts in the management of the patient with blunt and penetrating injuries of the heart have occurred. More critically injured patients now arrive at a hospital facility still alive than in former years. Between 1951 and 1974, 350 patients with heart injuries were treated at Harris County Hospital District facilities. Gunshot wounds now predominate, compared with stab wounds in former years. Thirteen patients had rupture of the heart secondary to blunt trauma. Patients arriving with cardiac arrest and cerebral signs of preterminal activity had a 67% survival rate when cardiorraphy was performed in the Trauma Center. In the last four years, 50 patients without cardiac arrest, but frequently with pericardiocentesis as a preoperative adjunct, had an 87% survival rate.

Female↗

Blood availability for the trauma patient-autotransfusion.

Recovery of intrathoracic and intraperitoneal blood and reinfusion by autotransfusion has been demonstrated to be safe and practical in selected trauma patients. Autotransfusion is ideally applicable to the trauma patient in whom replacement of six or fewer units of blood is required. In addition, autotransfusion provides readily available blood for patients with unusual blood types and for those in whom multiple transfusions may rapidly deplete available stores. The properties of an ideal autotransfusion device include rapid assembly, relatively low cost, ease of operation, in-line filtration, minimized air blood interface, simplified anticoagulation, and safety from air embolism and coagulopathies.

Bilirubin↗

Surgical management of penetrating injuries to the coronary arteries.

Among 76 patients with heart wounds treated over a 4 year period, nine had penetrating injuries to the coronary arteries with clinical presentations of pericardial tamponade, electrocardiographic abnormalities of bundle branch block or ST and T wave changes, and hemothorax. The right coronary artery was injured in two patients, the left anterior descending coronary artery in six patients, and the left circumflex coronary artery in one patient. All but one of these injured coronary arteries were treated by ligation. One patient with a proximal left anterior descending coronary artery transection presented with cardiac arrest and was managed successfully by emergency cardiopulmonary support and saphenous vein bypass with ligation of the transected ends of the artery. The only death occurred six days postoperatively in a patient with a right coronary artery laceration and was not related to the heart injury. No late symptomatic or hemodynamic sequelae have been noted among any of these patients. Principles of elective cardiac surgery are readily adaptable to the patient with a coronary artery injury.

Adult↗