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Biomedical subjects

G D Bell

Publications and source records attributed to G D Bell.

167 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

A comparison of winged steel needles and Teflon cannulas in maintaining intravenous access during gastrointestinal endoscopy.

We have conducted a prospective study in 142 consecutive patients undergoing either gastroscopy or colonoscopy. The patients were randomized to have either a 23-gauge winged steel needle or a 23-gauge Teflon cannula inserted. The two groups were well matched, with 71 patients receiving each device. Intravenous access was achieved in every case. The steel needle was inserted at the first attempt in 65 of 71 cases (91.6%) compared with 67 of 71 cases (94.4%) for the Teflon cannula. Extravasation occurred in only 1 of 71 cases (1.4%) with Teflon cannulas compared with 18 of 71 cases (25.5%) of steel needle use (p < 0.01). Additionally, no Teflon cannula blocked completely, whereas 1 of 71 steel needles (1.4%) did so. Only 1 of 71 (1.4%) of the Teflon cannulas became difficult to flush compared with 12 of 71 steel needles (16.9%). The Teflon cannula was as easy to insert and provided significantly more reliable intravenous access than the steel needle.

Adult↗

Prospective evaluation of the McMurray test.

The accuracy and interexaminer reliability of the McMurray test for the diagnosis of meniscal tears were compared with arthroscopic findings in a prospective study of 104 consecutive patients awaiting elective arthroscopy. The only significant McMurray sign found to correlate with meniscal injury was a "thud" elicited on the medial joint line with a medial meniscal tear (P = 0.05) that had a fair interexaminer reliability (kappa = 0.35). The sensitivity of a medial thud was 16%, and the specificity was 98% with a positive predictive value of 83%. Examiner experience had little effect on the accuracy of diagnosis of medial meniscal tears. This study supports the continued but limited emphasis on the McMurray test in the clinical diagnosis of meniscal tears.

Arthroscopy↗

Does Cybex testing increase knee laxity after anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions?

Long-term stability of the knee after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is imperative. Testing protocols that use isokinetic systems are commonly performed despite controversies as to their safety. The purpose of this study was to test whether one episode of isokinetic testing would cause an increase in anterior tibial translation. Twenty-four subjects who had anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions 153 to 300 days earlier volunteered for the study. Initially, subjects walked on a treadmill at 5 km/hr for 10 minutes to test the effect of exercise on displacement measurements. One week later, subjects performed a maximal knee flexion-extension test on the Cybex dynamometer at 60, 150, and 240 deg/sec. Anterior tibial displacement at 133.5 N was obtained from force-displacement curves produced by KT-2000 arthrometer testing at nine intervals: before exercise on the treadmill, at four intervals after treadmill exercise, and at four intervals after Cybex testing. Repeated measures analysis of variance did not show a significant exercise effect, interaction between type of exercise and time interval, or change after Cybex testing for the reconstructed knee displacement, the contralateral knee displacement, or side-to-side difference. The average difference before and after Cybex testing was 0.1 mm for the reconstructed knee. In conclusion, a single Cybex test, performed at least 6 months after surgery, did not affect anterior tibial displacement in this study sample.

Adolescent↗

Audit of patients' experiences after endoscopy of the upper alimentary tract.

This study comprises an audit of the experiences of upper alimentary endoscopy by 400 patients examined in 15 hospitals. The patients were asked to complete a 19-section questionnaire regarding their experience of the endoscopy before, during and after the procedure. The audit was carried out in order to evaluate the patients' understanding of the investigation and to determine the impact of the findings on the patients' level of anxiety. Of the 400 patients, 304 (76.0%) returned the questionnaire; overall satisfaction was revealed with the decision to proceed with endoscopy and with the procedure itself, as well as the reassurance provided by the investigation. The study thus supports the role of open-access endoscopy.

Adolescent↗