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Biomedical subjects

G E Foster

Publications and source records attributed to G E Foster.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Long-term results of the Angelchik prosthesis for gastro-oesophageal reflux.

INTRODUCTION: Between 1982 and 1989, 46 patients had insertion of an Angelchik prosthesis for gastro-oesophageal reflux. Eleven patients (24 per cent) subsequently had the prosthesis removed, all but one for intractable dysphagia. METHODS: Thirty-six of the original patients were followed by questionnaire, and 32 of these had a barium marshmallow swallow investigation. RESULTS: A high proportion of patients (20 of 26) with a prosthesis in situ had symptoms of dysphagia. On objective evaluation by marshmallow swallow, the transit time was significantly slower than that of an age-matched control group (P < 0.01), but showed no significant deterioration with time compared with previous postinsertion studies. CONCLUSION: The Angelchik prosthesis causes long-term dysphagia in a high proportion of patients, severe enough in one-quarter to necessitate its removal. Its continued use cannot, therefore, be recommended.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

A trial of glucagon in the treatment of painful biliary tract disease.

Seventy-one patients with a clinical diagnosis of painful biliary tract disease have been entered into a double-blind trial of glucagon. Twenty-eight were excluded as gallstones were not proved: of the remainder, 21 patients received glucagon and 22 placebo. Glucagon-treated patients were pain free 14.26 h (+/- 2.77 s.e.m.) after commencing treatment compared to 29.14 h (+/- 6.01 s.e.m.) for the placebo group (P less than 0.05). Tenderness in the right hypochondrium showed a significant improvement when assessed at 12 h (P less than 0.02) and 24 h (P less than 0.1) for those given glucagon. A significant difference in blood glucose levels was seen between the two groups (P less than 0.05). No serious side effects were observed. Glucagon relieves the pain and tenderness associated with painful biliary tract disease more effectively than conventional therapy.

Biliary Tract Diseases↗
PubMed1982

The action of porcine glucagon on the motility of the canine duodenum and jejunum.

1 Intravenous bolus doses of porcine glucagon of 0.001-0.05 mg kg-1 caused intense stimulation of the duodenum and jejunum of the dog. 2 Intravenous infusion of porcine glucagon at 0.025-0.05 mg kg-1 h-1 caused similar stimulation. In both cases the stimulation was phasic in nature. 3 Stimulation of the duodenum and jejunum following glucagon was accompanied by a decrease in frequency of the intestinal basic electrical rhythm (BER). No change was seen in the intervals between successive periods of phase III motor activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Clinical and economic consequences of wound sepsis after appendicectomy and their modification by metronidazole or povidone iodine.

The effects of intrarectal metronidazole and intraincisional povidone iodine on sepsis after emergency appendicectomy were compared in a double-blind randomised controlled trial in 496 patients. Wound sepsis occurred in 12.3% of metronidazole-treated patients compared with 24% in the povidone-iodine group and 23.5% in an untreated control group. The metronidazole-treated patients left hospital approximately 2 days earlier than patients in the other two groups. They returned to work sooner and receiver fewer visits from the district nursing service. A short six-dose course of metronidazole significantly reduces the wound-infection rate in patients over the age of 12 undergoing emergency appendicectomy. If the clinical and economic benefits of metronidazole shown by this study are confirmed, the drug should be considered for routine use in emergency appendicectomy.

Appendectomy↗
PubMed1981

Outpatient flexible fibreoptic sigmoidoscopy, diagnostic yield and the value of glucagon.

One hundred patients had flexible fibreoptic sigmoidoscopy in an outpatient clinic after preparation with a phosphate enema but without sedation. Patients were randomized to receive 1 mg of glucagon intravenously or a matching placebo. The discomfort of the patients and the ease of the procedure were similar in both groups. Nine patients were excluded from the final analysis as they had low rectal or anal lesions. In the remaining 91 patients, abnormalities were found in 27 (29.6 per cent) including 16 adenomatous polyps and 1 carcinoma. Only 3 lesions were below 20 cm and might have been easily visualized using a rigid sigmoidoscope.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1981

Effect of some i.v. anaesthetic agents on canine gastrointestinal motility.

Thiopentone 20 mg kg-1, ketamine 8 mg kg-1 and minaxolone 2 mg kg-1 were administered to fasting greyhound dogs. Mechanical and electrical activities from stomach, duodenum, jejunum and ileum were recorded using strain gauge force transducers and implanted bipolar electrodes. Thiopentone and minaxolone caused intense activity in the duodenum and jejunum (phase I and phase II of the interdigestive cycle), but not the stomach or ileum. The activity following injection of thiopentone or minaxolone was prevented by premedication with either atropine 0.05 mg kg-1 or pentolinium 0.2 mg kg-1. Ketamine had no influence on gastrointestinal activity or the response to thiopentone or minaxolone. None of these drugs altered the basal electrical rhythm of the intestine.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1980

Dose beta-blockade affect surgical performance? a double blind trial of oxprenolol.

Heart rates of surgeons rise when they carry out operations and this rise is abolished by beta-blockade. In an assessment of the effect of oxprenolol on surgical performance a group of surgeons took double blind either oxprenolol 40 mg or a matching placebo. Oxprenolol abolished increases in heart rate (P < 0.001) but had no effect on a profile of performance test assessing tremor, suturing accuracy and co-ordination. Reaction time of the surgeons was significantly slowed by oxprenolol (P < 0.01). Using a self-administered visual analogue scoring system the surgeons recorded no subjective changes in mood after beta-blockade and were surprisingly unaware of whether they had taken oxprenolol or placebo.

Attention↗
PubMed1978

Heart-rates of surgeons during operations and other clinical activities and their modification by oxprenolol.

The heart-rates of surgeons were recorded by ambulatory monitoring methods while they operated and while they conducted surgical outpatient clinics. Heart-rates during operations were also monitored 1 hour after the surgeons had taken an oral dose of 40 mg oxprenolol. During operations the mean heart-rate of 8 surgeons was 121/min with maximum rates in some cases of over 150/min. The tachycardia was abolished by 40 mg of oxprenolol which reduced heart-rates during operations to below those recorded during surgical outpatient clinics. Physical work necessary to reproduce the mean heart-rate whilst operating could not be sustained for more than 10--15 min.

Depression, Chemical↗
PubMed1977

Subcuticular suturing after appendicectomy.

The results of using interrupted nylon skin sutures or subcuticular polyglycolic acid (P.G.A.) sutures after appendicectomy were compared in a prospective controlled trial in 127 patients. Wound infections were significantly more common when subcuticular skin closure was used.

Appendectomy↗