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Biomedical subjects

G E Brannen

Publications and source records attributed to G E Brannen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Endopyelotomy: review of results and complications.

Percutaneous endopyelotomy augmented by balloon dilation was performed on 27 of 40 patients for the treatment of symptomatic, primary ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Percutaneous ultrasonic lithotripsy was performed simultaneously on 12 of 27 patients (44%) for associated calculi. After endopyelotomy 24 of 27 patients became asymptomatic (clinical success rate 89%). Three clinically improved patients demonstrated only radiographic stability, while radiographic improvement was documented in 21 of 27 (radiographic success rate 78%). Adjuvant percutaneous ultrasonic lithotripsy was successful from the standpoint of stone removal in all patients and no increased morbidity could be identified. Of 27 patients 3 (11%) suffered major complications and are considered failures. Reasons for failure varied and are discussed. Included is a patient who at nephrostography and stent capping became septic and subsequently died. To decrease the risk of sepsis perioperative antibiotics to include at the time of nephrostomy tube capping are recommended. Angiography was performed in 19 of 40 patients to rule out an accessory crossing vessel at the ureteropelvic junction, and such a vessel was found in 6. From analysis of presenting excretory urograms (IVPs) we conclude that a crossing vessel cannot predictably be identified on an IVP.

Catheterization↗

Pulsed dye laser fragmentation of ureteral calculi: a review of the first 50 cases performed at Virginia Mason Medical Center.

During the preceding 2 1/2 years 50 patients have undergone laser fragmentation of ureteral calculi at our medical center. Of these 50 patients 48 (96%) became free of stones without the need for an open operation: 44 (88%) were managed in 1 setting and 4 required adjunctive extracorporeal shock wave or ultrasonic lithotripsy, or a repeat session with the laser. Two patients (4%) eventually required an open operation: 1 required ureterolithotomy for a large impacted stone overlying the bony pelvis after a ureteroscope could not be advanced to this level and 1 had a good initial result with the laser but a persistent ureteral stricture developed and he required ureteroureterostomy 4 months later. Both open procedures were necessitated by mid ureteral stones, and the ureteral stricture was believed to be related to ureteroscopy and the impacted nature of the stone, rather than any damage by the laser probe.

Adult↗

Suppressed antidonor MLC responses in renal transplant candidates conditioned with donor-specific transfusions that carry the recipient's noninherited maternal HLA haplotype.

Forty-seven patients with end-stage renal disease were entered into a donor-specific transfusion protocol consisting of three infusions of whole blood every two weeks prior to transplantation. Fourteen of the patients became sensitized following transfusion and were not transplanted. Thirty-one patients received a transplant from the DST donor and have an estimated two-year graft survival of 97%, three-year survival of 88%, and four-year survival of 69%. Cells of eleven of the 36 recipients tested in one-way MLC before and two weeks after completion of DST exhibited a significantly decreased antidonor MLC response. Deletion of CD8+ positive lymphocytes from suppressed MLCs resulted in restoration of antidonor MLC reactivity in four of six patients. An analysis of the family HLA profile in patients exhibiting a decreased donor-directed MLC response revealed a significant (P less than 0.02) association between decreased MLC reactivity following DST and the expression of noninherited maternal HLA antigens by cells of the transfusion donor. These alterations in cellular immune responses noted in some patients following DST are consistent with the appearance of specific antidonor T suppressor cells as a result of donor-specific transfusion.

Blood Transfusion↗

Total prostatectomy for clinically localized prostatic cancer: long-term results.

The fate of the first 52 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer who underwent total perineal prostatectomy at our clinic and have been followed for a minimum of 15 years is reviewed to evaluate the long-term impact of this operation on the disease. None of these patients received any adjuvant therapy. Nine patients (17 per cent) had recurrence and 5 (10 per cent) died of disease during this interval. The actual observed over-all survival at 15 years was 64 per cent, the actuarial survival was 67 per cent and the cause-specific survival was 90 per cent.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Ureteropelvic junction obstruction: treatment with percutaneous endopyelotomy.

The authors review their experience with percutaneous endopyelotomy in the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Twenty-four patients with symptoms of ureteropelvic junction obstruction underwent excretory urography, which revealed nonspecific narrowing in several cases. Angiography was performed in 14 patients suspected of having a vessel crossing at the junction, but such a vessel was found in only four, who subsequently underwent dismembered pyeloplasty. One patient was treated with decompression, but later required endopyelotomy. Nineteen patients underwent percutaneous endopyelotomy; in 11 of them, dilation with a balloon catheter was required to ensure complete disruption of the stenosis. After 6-36 months follow-up, 17 of the 19 patients were asymptomatic with no obstruction and two were asymptomatic with mild obstruction.

Adult↗

Endopyelotomy for primary repair of ureteropelvic junction obstruction.

A total of 12 patients underwent primary repair of ureteropelvic junction obstruction between November 1, 1985 and December 31, 1986. Ten patients underwent percutaneous incision of the ureteropelvic junction (endopyelotomy) as the initial effort to correct the obstruction. Two patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction associated with an aberrant lower pole renal artery underwent dismembered pyeloplasty (Anderson-Hynes) via a flank incision. Of the 10 patients who underwent endopyelotomy 8 (80 per cent) have shown radiographic improvement. Radiographic stability of the obstructed ureteropelvic junction was demonstrated in the remaining 2 patients. No patient exhibited evidence of increased obstruction or decreased renal function. No patient required prolonged or rehospitalization for complications, and none required additional endoscopic or surgical procedures. All patients have remained clinically well after the initial release from the hospital.

Adult↗

Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) of pelvic kidney calculus. Use of C-arm fluoroscopy for correct patient positioning.

Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is the preferred treatment modality for renal and upper ureteral calculi. It is usually reserved, however, for urinary tract calculi above the iliac crest of the bony pelvis. A calyx calculus in a pelvic kidney was successfully treated with ESWL by using a C-arm fluoroscope to simulate the exact direction of the shock waves. The patient was then positioned so that the shock waves entered below the sacrosciatic notch. This same technique of exact patient positioning may have application in the treatment of some lower ureteral calculi.

Adult↗

Adjuvant radiotherapy following radical prostatectomy: results and complications.

Between 1954 and 1978, 148 patients underwent radical perineal prostatectomy for adenocarcinoma clinically confined to the prostate gland. This report is based on 45 of these patients with microscopic extension of disease beyond the gland and a minimum 5-year followup. Of the patients 22 received adjuvant external beam radiation therapy and 23 did not. The groups were comparable with regard to significant prognostic variables. Patient selection was by surgeon preference. Local recurrences were seen in 1 of 22 patients (5 per cent) receiving adjuvant radiotherapy and 7 of 23 (30 per cent) undergoing an operation alone (p less than 0.05). Of 8 patients with local recurrence 7 died of the disease. Delayed radiotherapy of a local recurrence generally was not effective in controlling the disease. Of the 11 patients who died of prostatic cancer with a mean followup of 9.2 years 3 received adjuvant radiotherapy and 8 did not. Severe but nonfatal long-term complications were seen in 14 per cent of the irradiated patients and 6 per cent of those treated with an operation alone. Most of the complications occurred in the earlier years of the study in patients who received 60cobalt radiotherapy. When clinical stage B cancer of the prostate is found to be pathological stage C following radical perineal prostatectomy, adjuvant radiotherapy can decrease the incidence of subsequent local recurrence. The potential risk of adjuvant radiation therapy should be weighed and its use considered, particularly in patients whose tumor extends to the surgical margins or who have seminal vesicle invasion.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Caliceal calculi.

Primary nonobstructive caliceal calculi were removed by nephrostolithotomy in 51 patients. Among the patients with caliceal stones indications for removal included pain in 36 (71 per cent), associated infection in 11 (21 per cent), progressive stone growth in 2 (4 per cent), hematuria in 1 (2 per cent) and flight status eligibility in 1 (2 per cent). Over-all, 300 patients have undergone percutaneous removal of upper urinary tract calculi, with a 97 per cent success rate. Successful removal was completed percutaneously in 49 patients (96 per cent). One patient remains asymptomatic with retained caliceal fragments and surgical stone removal was required in 1 additional patient. Complications occurred in 4 patients (8 per cent). One patient underwent transcatheter embolization of an intralobar artery to control renal bleeding. Three patients required placement of an internal Double-J ureteral stent to permit resolution of ureteral edema. Following recovery 34 of 36 patients (95 per cent) reported complete resolution of the preoperative pain for which the calculus was removed. Two patients had persistent urinary infection. The remaining patients reported no residual complaints. These observations suggest that pain and discomfort occasionally may be associated with nonobstructive caliceal calculi. Removal of caliceal calculi may permit resolution of associated discomfort in more than 90 per cent of all carefully selected patients.

Adult↗

Impact of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy on percutaneous stone procedures.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is now the primary urologic treatment for symptomatic renal calculi; it is responsible for a substantial decrease in percutaneous stone removal procedures. Three hundred patients treated since ESWL became available are compared with the preceding 300 patients who were treated percutaneously. Since it became available, ESWL has been used alone on over 90% of patients. The cost of ESWL (average $7500) is similar to that of percutaneous removal procedures, and it causes less morbidity. Percutaneous techniques are still necessary before ESWL is performed (2%) for patients with a large number of stones or staghorn calculi, especially when there is obstruction. Percutaneous techniques alone (2%) may be necessary, especially if high-grade ureteropelvic junction obstruction is present. After ESWL, percutaneous drainage or retrieval of stone fragments may be required (2%). The need for interventional uroradiology persists, although its role is changing. For optimal patient care, the radiologist should provide the urologist with imaging consultation, radiation protection advice, and continued assistance in the less frequently used, though still essential, percutaneous calculus removal techniques.

Adolescent↗

Efficacy of radical prostatectomy for stage A2 carcinoma of the prostate.

Optimal management of men with diffuse incidental prostatic cancer (Stage A2) is an unresolved issue. Current forms of therapy include radical prostatectomy, external beam radiation therapy, and no treatment. Long-term results with curative therapy have been unreported because of the relatively recent substaging of Stage A into incidental and diffuse disease. The results of radical prostatectomy in 25 patients with Stage A2 prostatic cancer were reviewed. Incontinence was the most serious complication and occurred in four patients (16%). Pathologically, 24 patients (96%) had residual carcinoma present in the radical prostatectomy specimen. In 22 men (88%) the tumor was entirely confined to the prostate. Two patients (8%) demonstrated seminal vesicle invasion, and one (4%) had capsular penetration. In follow-up metastatic disease has developed in one patient, and another died without evidence of cancer. The remaining patients are alive without evidence of disease. Since 88% of men with Stage A2 disease have their tumor entirely confined to the prostate, radical prostatectomy offers an excellent chance of long-term cure, as in Stage B prostatic cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Kidney stone removal: percutaneous versus surgical lithotomy.

Percutaneous removal of most urinary tract calculi may be performed as a 1-stage effort with techniques and skills developed recently in the specialties of urology and radiology. Ultrasonic fragmentation of most calculi was done to permit their extraction. Percutaneous ultrasonic lithotripsy was performed on 250 consecutive (a single exception) patients bearing stones that required removal. Targeted calculi were removed successfully from 97 per cent of these patients. One patient required surgical lithotomy. The previous 100 patients with stones underwent surgical lithotomy with 96 per cent success. Complications of percutaneous ultrasonic lithotripsy appeared equitable with those of surgical lithotomy. Of the patients who underwent percutaneous ultrasonic lithotripsy 6 (6 per cent) required extended hospital days or additional procedures for management of complications. None of these patients required a surgical incision. Anesthesia times were similar for both groups--average 159 plus or minus 4 (standard error) minutes for percutaneous ultrasonic lithotripsy and 193 plus or minus 8 minutes for surgical lithotomy. Hospital recovery days averaged 5.5 plus or minus 0.3 for percutaneous ultrasonic lithotripsy and 8.4 plus or minus 0.5 for surgical lithotomy (p less than 0.01). Associated costs averaged $7,203 plus or minus 55 for lithotripsy and $8,849 plus or minus 660 for lithotomy (p less than 0.01). The number of narcotic administrations per patient (days 1 to 5 postoperatively) averaged 9.88 plus or minus 0.70 for lithotripsy and 16.82 plus or minus 0.78 for lithotomy (p less than 0.01). The average patient who underwent percutaneous ultrasonic lithotripsy felt capable of full activity 2.0 plus or minus 0.2 weeks following stone removal, whereas no patient who underwent previous surgical lithotomy recalls a recovery period of less than 3 weeks (p less than 0.01). We believe that most upper urinary tract calculi may be removed cost-effectively with a percutaneous approach. Compared to surgical lithotomy, percutaneous ultrasonic lithotripsy may result in rapid convalescence with diminished pain.

Adolescent↗

Percutaneous removal of caliceal calculi.

Of 170 patients who underwent percutaneous nephrostolithotomy, 61 had stones located in a calix. Direct access to the calix containing the calculus optimizes removal. Special maneuvers during and after percutaneous stone removal (e.g., parallel-tract push and loop snare retrieval system) facilitate removal of caliceal calculi from more difficult locations; 46% of patients with caliceal calculi required adjuvant radiologic techniques. Complete calculus removal was achieved in 90% of patients with caliceal calculi.

Adult↗

Upper ureteral calculi: extraction via percutaneous nephrostomy.

Symptomatic calculi in the upper ureter are usually removed using surgical and endoscopic techniques. Extraction via percutaneous nephrostomy was successful in 35 of 37 patients using sequentially the techniques of retrograde catheter push, basket sheath exchange, and steerable loop-snare. In 12 patients, the calculus was dislodged into the renal pelvis by the retrograde ureteral catheter; extraction was then easily done. Stone basket retrieval was used for an additional 17 patients. A steerable loop-snare was necessary in six other patients when basket retrieval failed.

Adult↗

Radiation dose to personnel during percutaneous renal calculus removal.

Radiation dose to the radiologist and other personnel was measured during 102 procedures for percutaneous removal of renal calculi from the upper collecting system. A mobile C-arm image intensifier was used to guide entrance to the kidney and stone removal. Average fluoroscopy time was 25 min. Exposure to personnel was monitored by quartz-fiber dosimeters at the collar level above the lead apron. Average radiation dose to the radiologist was 10 mrem (0.10 mSv) per case; to the surgical nurse, 4 mrem (0.04 mSv) per case; to the radiologic technologist, 4 mrem (0.04 mSv) per case; and to the anesthesiologist, 3 mrem (0.03 mSv) per case. Radiation dose to the uroradiologic team during percutaneous nephrostolithotomy is similar to that from other interventional fluoroscopic procedures and is within acceptable limits for both physicians and assisting personnel.

Fluoroscopy↗