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Biomedical subjects

E I Smith

Publications and source records attributed to E I Smith.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Lower esophageal pressure changes with tube gastrostomy: a causative factor of gastroesophageal reflux in children?

In children, Stamm tube gastrostomy can initiate gastroesophageal reflux (GER) or worsen preexisting GER. We identified a possible mechanism for this problem in 25 children with GER who had esophageal manometry performed in conjunction with an antireflux operation. Intraoperative lower esophageal high pressure zone (LEHPZ) pressure and length were recorded for a simulated gastrostomy in all patients prior to performing the antireflux operation. These same parameters were then recorded for a simulated (11 patients) or real gastrostomy (14 patients) following the antireflux procedure. The LEHPZ pressure decreased with simulated Stamm gastrostomy (7.8 +/- 1.1----6.6 +/- 1.1 mm Hg, NS: Normal = 11.2 +/- 0.9 mm Hg). This decrease was less significant than the decrease in LEHPZ length (1.1 +/- 0.1----0.8 +/- 0.1 cm, P less than .01: Normal = 1.3 +/- 0.1 cm). Following Boerema gastropexy, simulated gastrostomy produced a similar decrease in LEHPZ pressure (20.8 +/- 3.8----17.1 +/- 2.7 mm Hg, NS) and length (3.3 +/- 0.4----2.5 +/- 0.3 cm, P less than .025). The LEHPZ pressure and length were not decreased by real gastrostomy performed with modified Thal fundoplication or with Nissen fundoplication. Thus, a decrease in LEHPZ length may be one mechanism whereby GER is initiated or worsened by tube gastrostomy in children. Tube gastrostomy has a similar effect when performed with a Boerema gastropexy, but not when performed with a Nissen or modified Thal fundoplication.

Child↗

Postoperative small bowel obstruction in infants and children: a problem following Nissen fundoplication.

A serious consequence of antireflux surgery is postoperative small bowel obstruction in an infant who cannot speak and has been rendered unable to vomit. We reviewed the operative rate for small bowel obstruction following all antireflux operations (210 Nissen fundoplications, 16 Hill fundoplications, 12 modified Thal fundoplications, and 3 Boerema anterior gastropexies) performed on children at our institution between January 1977 and July 1984. Eighteen patients (17 Nissen fundoplications, one Hill fundoplication) were operated upon for small bowel obstruction within two years after the primary operation. The most consistent clinical findings in these children were abdominal distention and a decreased frequency of bowel movements. For operations performed between January 1982 and July 1984, reoperation for small bowel obstruction was needed in 6.1% (6/99) of children following Nissen fundoplication as compared to 0.9% (6/649), P less than 0.001) of children following other major laparotomies. A combination of our experience with that reported by others suggests an estimated incidence of postoperative adhesive small bowel obstruction of 5.5% (24/436) for Nissen fundoplication, 0.9% (3/347) for modified Thal fundoplication, and 0.8% (1/126) for Boerema anterior gastropexy. The performance of a Nissen fundoplication has led to a significant rate of reoperation for small bowel obstruction compared with other major laparotomies and antireflux operations performed in children.

Adolescent↗

The significance of gastric emptying in children with intestinal malrotation.

Persistent gastrointestinal symptoms are common postoperatively in children with intestinal malrotation. We investigated this problem in 14 children with intestinal malrotation who had a Ladd procedure (3 patients), gastroschisis repaired (6 patients), or omphalocele repaired (5 patients) between one month and 15 years prior to study. In 13 patients, gastric emptying was measured at 30 minutes (%GE30) and at 60 minutes (%GE60) following ingestion of 99m-Tc sulfur colloid in apple juice. We estimated the degree of gastric peristalsis using the %GE corrected for immediate postcibal gastroesophageal reflux (corrected %GE). Patients with vomiting exhibited slow gastric emptying compared to patients without vomiting (%GE30: 14.0 +/- 5.5 v 32.5 +/- 4.2, P less than .005). The slow gastric emptying was related to slow gastric peristalsis (corrected %GE30: 20.3 +/- 5.0 v 47.1 +/- 6.0, P less than .005). In all 5 patients with persistent bloating and diarrhea, gastric peristalsis was rapid at 30 minutes (corrected %GE30 = 56.7 +/- 4.2) and at 60 minutes (corrected %GE60 = 69.5 +/- 5.3). To assess the role of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in persisting symptoms, all children had extended (18 to 24 hours) esophageal pH monitoring. Eleven (79%) of the 14 patients demonstrated GER by esophageal pH monitoring, including four of six patients without reflux symptoms. All ten children under two years of age demonstrated GER regardless of symptoms or congenital anatomic abnormality. In conclusion, GER is common in patients under two years of age with intestinal malrotation, but clinical symptoms seem related more to extreme variations in gastric peristalsis than to GER.

Abdominal Muscles↗

Protective antireflux operation with feeding gastrostomy. Experience with children.

Regurgitation and aspiration of feedings is a significant problem in children with impaired oral intake fed via gastrostomy. Using extended (18-24 hour) esophageal pH monitoring to assess gastroesophageal reflux (GER), we studied prospectively 32 children (aged 2 to 16 years) referred for feeding gastrostomy. Twenty-five patients had repeat esophageal pH monitoring after surgery. Prior to surgery, GER was documented in 23 (72%) of the 32 children. Twenty-two of the 23 children with GER before surgery had an antireflux operation performed in conjunction with the feeding gastrostomy. Gastroesophageal reflux was clinically significant in the single failed antireflux operation and in the child with GER before surgery who only had a gastrostomy performed. All nine patients without GER only had gastrostomy performed. Six of these developed GER by pH monitoring after surgery, with significant vomiting in four. Of our 11 patients remaining at risk for GER after surgery, seven (64%) had persistent vomiting with gastrostomy feedings. Thus, 91% (29 of 32) of the children were potentially at risk for GER if a gastrostomy only was performed. We believe these data support the need for a "protective" antireflux operation in children referred for feeding gastrostomy.

Adolescent↗

Imperforate anus: the neurologic implication of sacral abnormalities.

The association of imperforate anus with bony sacral abnormalities and neurologic deficits is well recognized. These neurologic deficits have been considered static rather than progressive. However, recent experience indicates that some patients may develop progressive neurologic problems due to spinal cord lesions that are amenable to neurosurgical correction. To investigate the frequency of such lesions, routine myelography of imperforate anus patients with sacral anomalies was undertaken. The extraordinarily high incidence of unsuspected lesions known to cause progressive bowel, bladder, and musculoskeletal dysfunction is the basis of this interim report. Thirty percent of patients with anorectal abnormalities had sacral dysplasia. Of the nine patients undergoing myelography to date, eight have been abnormal. Six children had a tethered spinal cord, one had narrowing of the bony spinal canal and dural sac stenosis, and one an anterior meningocele. Spinal cord conditions that may cause deterioration of bowel, bladder, and extremity function should be defined and corrected before irreversible damage occurs. Because of the high incidence of spinal cord lesions detected in these patients with coexisting anorectal and sacral anomalies, routine screening for spinal cord lesions is recommended.

Anus, Imperforate↗

The accuracy of abbreviated esophageal pH monitoring in children.

Extended (18 to 24 hour) esophageal pH monitoring establishes the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) utilizing a pH score, and relates respiratory symptoms to GER when the mean duration of sleep reflux (ZMD) is prolonged. A disadvantage of this method is the expense of overnight hospitalization. We performed extended esophageal pH recordings in 66 consecutive children (1 week to 15 years old) being evaluated for GER. Six portions of the 18- to 24-hour esophageal pH recording were compared to the complete record in an attempt to define the relative accuracy of abbreviated monitoring periods. The abbreviated monitoring periods included the 30 minutes after apple juice feedings (30 minutes AJ), the 2 hours after apple juice feedings (2 hours PC AJ), the 2 hours after milk-formula feedings (2 hours PC MF), the 8 hours with two feedings of apple juice (8 hours AJ), the 8 hours with two feedings of milk formula (8 hours MF), and the first 12 hours of recording (1st 12 hours). The accuracy relative to the 18- to 24-hour recording was poor for 30 minutes AJ, 2 hours PC AJ, and 2 hours PC MF periods (30% to 58%). An improved accuracy occurred during 8-hour AJ periods (29/31, 94%) in children without respiratory symptoms. Although the accuracy in patients with respiratory symptoms was best during 8-hour MF (31/35, 89%) and 1st 12-hour (33/35, 94%) periods, a high false-negative rate for the ZMD (31% to 41%) during abbreviated pH monitoring indicates that many patients with reflux-induced respiratory symptoms will be unrecognized.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Leiomyoma presenting as prolonged fever, anemia, and thrombocytosis.

The manifestations of leiomyoma of the large bowel in a 2-year-old boy included prolonged fever, anemia, and thrombocytosis. This parallels the previously reported case in an adult. Awareness of these features may suggest the diagnosis in future patients, and thereby offer opportunities to study the pathogenesis of these abnormalities before surgery.

Anemia↗

Hepatic hemangiomatosis of infancy.

A 2-month-old female infant with congestive heart failure secondary to hepatic hemangiomatosis was treated with prednisone for five weeks without clinical improvement. She then underwent acute cardiac decompensation and required assisted ventilation. The hepatic artery was ligated to decrease the blood supply to the hemangiomata. Although the engorged liver softened dramatically, she continued to require mechanical ventilation for cardiac failure. Ten days postoperatively, she underwent digitalization with significant improvement in cardiac function, and she was then weaned from the respirator. Although, at 2 1/2 years of age, her liver has remained somewhat enlarged, her cardiovascular function has been normal. Our experience indicates that hepatic hemangiomatosis can be successfully treated via hepatic artery ligation and that cardiotonic measures might sometimes be required for recovery from coexisting congestive heart failure.

Angiomatosis↗

Neuroblastoma: therapy for infants with good prognosis.

Therapy was designed to achieve a high cure rate and to prevent serious therapeutic side effects for 11 infants younger than one year old with neuroblastoma who had a favorable prognosis (Evans Stages I, II, III, and IV-S). It consisted of surgery alone if the tumor was totally removed (one infant) and of surgery and low doses of cytoxan and vincristine for a period of 1 year if the tumor was incompletely removed (seven infants). In addition, radiation therapy was applied to unresected dumbbell tumors (three infants). All infants are alive without evidence of disease with the exception of one who died in an accident. The follow-up time varies from 2-8 years. The drug combination prevented recurrences in two infants whose tumor was reduced by surgery to less than 10% of the original size. In five infants, chemotherapy reduced the size of large residual tumor masses. Two of these masses were subsequently removed. The tumors of the three other infants recurred while on chemotherapy and were successfully eradicated by surgery or radiation therapy. Two infants were not treated according to this therapeutic plan. Although they had small residual masses after surgery, no chemotherapy was given. They are alive without recurrence of the disease 2 years or more after diagnosis. In summary, cure was achieved in these infants without intensive chemotherapy.

Cyclophosphamide↗

Gastroesophageal reflux in childhood. The dilemma of surgical success.

Successful surgical correction of gastroesophageal reflux has prompted frequent and early referral of children for antireflux surgery. This report describes the results and defines the complications in a series of children treated surgically for gastroesophageal reflux. Methods are suggested to reduce the occurrence of these postoperative complications. In five years (1977-1981), 117 children, 3 weeks to 16 years old, were operated on for gastroesophageal reflux at The Oklahoma Childrens Memorial Hospital. Nissen fundoplication was performed on 111 of them. Patients have been followed for 3 months to five years. At most recent examination, clinical success (remission of symptoms) has been accomplished in 81 of 92 patients (90%). In 86 patients evaluated radiographically, gastroesophageal reflux was absent in 83 and persistent in 3. There were no operative deaths. Twenty-three major complications occurred in 21 patients, 13 of whom required reoperation. These major complications were paraesophageal hiatal hernia (ten patients), small bowel obstruction (eight patients), and wrap malalignment (5 patients). Observations of and reoperation on these children suggests the following necessary steps for avoidance of complications in children: (1) Nissen fundoplication in childhood should be accompanied by an accurate multi-suture crural repair and by suture fixation of the fundal wrap to the crura and to the abdominal surface of the diaphragm; (2) appropriate alignment of the fundal wrap and of the crural repair is best accomplished with a large indwelling esophageal bougie of sufficient size to efface and blanche the esophageal musculature; and (3) appropriate care in avoiding small bowel obstruction mandates meticulous avoidance of trauma to the liver capsule and small bowel serosa.

Adolescent↗

Improved results with hepatic portoenterostomy: a reassessment of its value in the treatment of biliary atresia.

As reported in 1974, the initial experience at the Oklahoma Children's Memorial Hospital with the Kasai procedure for biliary atresia was unsatisfactory. A subsequent series of 20 patients, in which 50% of the patients are alive and improved and 25% jaundice-free, is described. Modifications of the initial operative technique have been utilized. Postoperative complications in the ten children with sustained bile flow included cholangitis in five, hyponatremia in four, esophageal variceal hemorrhage in two, stomal bleeding in two, and gallbladder conduit malfunction in two patients. The improved outcome is attributed to earlier diagnosis and correction, attention to operative details, intensive postoperative nutritional support, and prompt recognition and management of complications.

Adolescent↗

Differentiation of cholestatic jaundice in infants. Utility of diethyl-IDA.

Time-activity curves of technetium-labeled diethyl-IDA were used to evaluate 31 patients in an effort to differentiate infants with cholestatic jaundice. Results can be obtained rapidly with minimal radiation exposure and no known secondary effects. The combination of diethyl-IDA time-activity curves and gamma glutamyl transferase activity was found to discriminate biliary atresia from neonatal hepatitis. The group with neonatal hepatitis was characterized by abnormal, yet lower, gamma glutamyl transferase activities and diethyl-IDA time-activity curves which peaked within 1 minute of injection, yet decayed in a manner similar to cardiac activity. The group with biliary atresia was characterized by elevated gamma glutamyl transferase activities, hepatic peaks at 8 minutes and markedly delayed decay. In that early operative intervention is associated with increased survival in biliary atresia, prompt differentiation should improve prognosis.

Bile Ducts↗

Assessment of hepatic function after hepato-porto-enterostomy for biliary atresia using Tc-diethyl-IDA.

A quantifiable biliary function index has been developed from analysis of hepatic time--activity curves. Diethyl-IDA, a technetium-labeled iminodiacetic acid was given intravenously 27 times in 11 patients with proven biliary atresia. An estimated bile bilirubin clearance index derived from the inscribed hepatic absorption and elimination curves appears to be a reliable indicator of bile bilirubin clearance. The actual bile bilirubin clearance, previously shown to be a major determinant of survival, was clinically correlated in five patients studied before and after surgery and confirms the experimental findings. The clearance index should allow objective assessment of the efficacy of surgery for biliary atresia.

Adolescent↗

The international system of units (si)and medicine.

A major international movement is in progress to extend metrication using the International System of Units. Significantly involved is the field of medicine. Extensive changes adopted abroad now appear in foreign medical literature, and physicians in the United States commonly are unprepared to interpret medical information from abroad because the data are reported in unfamiliar terms. The system has broad immediate and future implications to American physicians.

International System of Units↗

Pediatric gastroesophageal reflux: age-specific indications for operation.

Pediatric gastroesophageal reflux is common and its complications may be serious. The diagnosis is being suspected and confirmed with increasing frequency in children because of heightened awareness of the symptoms peculiar to pediatric patients. Thirty-one children who underwent Nissen fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux are reviewed. Diagnosis was obtained by barium meal, isotope scanning, esophagoscopy and pH monitoring. Failure to thrive, recurrent pneumonia, apnea, feeding difficulty and esophageal stricture unresponsive to medical management were the indications for operation. Children with brain damage or previous repair of esophageal atresia are at high risk for gastroesophageal reflux and its complications. A protective fundoplication is a desirable adjunct to feeding gastrostomy in brain-damaged children. Fundoplication eliminated reflux in 30 of 31 patients, relieved symptoms in 28 and improved symptoms in 2. Nissen fundoplication is a safe and effective surgical procedure for correction of gastroesophageal reflux in children.

Adolescent↗

Nonoperative management of subcapsular hematomas of the liver.

The liver is the second most common organ injured in blunt abdominal trauma, and with the use of diagnostic techniques such as hepatic scanning, an increasing number of patients with intrahepatic lesions are being identified. Five patients with this type of lesion are presented. A plan of managament, including observation in an intensive care unit, repeated physical examinations, frequent reevaluation of laboratory values, bed rest, gastrointestinal tract decompression and broad spectrum antibiotics, is suggested as the treatment of choice for this type of injury. All patients in the series have done well with no abscess formation, delayed rupture of hemobilia, and all show resolution of the defect on following-up hepatic scanning.

Adult↗