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Biomedical subjects

G E Pierce

Publications and source records attributed to G E Pierce.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Therapeutic alternatives in patients with esophageal cancer.

The records of 52 patients treated either with surgery alone (Group A), preoperative radiotherapy (Group B), or combined preoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy (Group C) were reviewed to determine the optimal management of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. There was a significant difference in the number of patients with stage III disease between Groups A and C (100 percent and 48 percent, respectively). With the decrease in patients with stage III disease, both resectability rates in Groups A and C (21 percent and 62 percent) and 2 year cumulative survival (0 and 52 percent) increased. Eleven patients in Group C (53 percent) had apparent total resolution of the primary tumor after preoperative therapy. Microscopic tumor was present but was not detected by repeat endoscopy in 35 percent of these patients. The survival rate was higher in patients with apparent total tumor regression who underwent esophageal resection. These results suggest that patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus are best treated with preoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy followed by esophagectomy regardless of their response to preoperative therapy.

Adult↗

Success of profundoplasty: the role of the extent of deep femoral artery disease.

A review of 64 profundoplasties performed in conjunction with inflow procedures for multilevel vascular occlusive disease of the lower extremity revealed that the extent of deep femoral artery disease had a strong influence on results. Profundoplasty for proximal deep femoral artery disease resulted in an 80 percent success rate when carried out for claudication, and an approximately 65 percent success rate for limb salvage and in limbs with poor runoff. In contrast, profundoplasty for diffuse or distal deep femoral artery diseases resulted in a 62 percent success rate for claudication and decreased to approximately 20 percent for limb salvage or in extremities with poor runoff.

Adult↗

Ultrasonographic and angiographic evaluation of polytetrafluoroethylene aortic bifurcation grafts.

Arterial reconstruction in 50 consecutive male patients with aortoiliac aneurysmal or occlusive disease was performed with PTFE bifurcation grafts. Follow-up intervals ranged from 1 to 39 months. All patients were evaluated by physical examination at 19.5 +/- 1.3 months. In addition, 46 patients were evaluated by ultrasonography at 18.2 +/- 1.2 months, 19 by angiography at 19.8 +/- 2.2 months, and 4 by computerized axial tomography at 21.5 +/- 5.2 months. Intraluminal thrombus or pannus was found in one graft in a patient with compromised outflow, but all graft limbs were patent. There were no accumulations of perigraft fluid, graft dilatations, or anastomotic aneurysms. The results of this study provide support for the continued use of PTFE bifurcation grafts for aortic reconstruction.

Aneurysm↗

Noninvasive measurement of femoral artery pressure for evaluating aortoiliac occlusive disease.

Femoral systolic pressures measured by a compression technique (FSCP), were compared with proximal thigh systolic pressures (PTSP), for evaluation of aortoiliac occlusive disease. In phase I FSCP were measured by compressing the artery with a pressure cuff rolled into a cylinder and using disappearance of the profunda femoris Doppler signal (FSCP-D), or flattening of thigh plethysmographic waveforms (FSCP-P), as sensors. In normal extremities the compression techniques yielded false high values. The mean ratio of FSCP-D to brachial systolic pressure, FSCP-D/BSP, was 1.25 +/- 0.06 and the mean FSCP-P/BSP was 1.37 +/- 0.15, a value approximately equal to the mean PTSP/BSP, 1.38 +/- 0.20. In patients with aortoiliac occlusive disease linear regression analysis revealed a good correlation between FSCP-D/BSP and direct intraoperative measurements of femoral/aortic systolic pressure, FSP/ASP, (R = 0.79 and R2 = 0.63), a fair correlation between FSCP-P/BSP and FSP/ASP (R = 0.49, R2 = 0.24) but a poor correlation between PTSP/BSP and FSP/ASP (R = 0.35, R2 = 0.12). In phase II studies a soft bladder was used for arterial compression. In normal extremities the mean FSCP-D/BSP was 1.07 +/- 0.06, close to the predicted normal value of 1.00. In a second group of patients with occlusive disease a better correlation was observed between values of FSCP-D/BSP and FSP/ASP (R = 0.91, R2 = 0.82), than any of the correlations of noninvasive measurements with direct intraoperative values of FSP/ASP obtained in the first phase of the study.

Adult↗

Sublethal fractionated total-body irradiation and donor bone marrow infusion for induction of allograft tolerance.

Tolerance to skin allografts across the strong histocompatibility barrier H-2b to H-2d was achieved with sublethal fractionated total-body irradiation, FTBI, delivered to H-2d mice in 3 doses of 250 rads within 24 hr, followed by transfusion of 3 X 10(7) H-2b donor bone marrow (BM) cells. H-2b skin allografts were applied within 48 hr after the initial radiation. 70% of the mice became long-term (greater than 180-day) survivors with fur-bearing grafts. Marked interexperiment variability in survival rates suggested that infection was the major cause of death in this model and lower weight gain and survival rates for allogenic BM vs. media-treated controls suggested that graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was also a factor. The observation, however, that long-term survivors (70% of all mice) gained weight and appeared healthy suggested that the GVHD might be self-limiting. Chimeric analysis revealed that approximately 25% of spleen cells were of donor origin, both at short-term (6 weeks) and long-term (greater than 1 year) intervals after tolerance induction. In spite of hematopoietic chimerism, a low incidence of spontaneous tumors, less than 1%, occurred in the long-term survivors.

Actuarial Analysis↗

The role of donor lymphoid cells in the transfer of allograft tolerance.

Tolerance to murine skin allografts across a MHC disparity was induced by conditioning primary hosts with sublethal fractionated total-body irradiation (FTBI) and transfusion of allogeneic bone marrow (BM). Tolerance could be adoptively transferred to secondary hosts conditioned by FTBI with infusion of spleen cells from hosts bearing intact skin allografts greater than 60 days. Tolerance could not be transferred by tolerant host spleen (THS) preparations from which cells of the donor genotype had been deleted by cytotoxic alloantisera. Deletion of host genotype cells, however, did not diminish the capability of THS to transfer tolerance. All of the tolerizing activity of THS appeared to reside within cells of the donor genotype. Small numbers of normal donor spleen cells could induce tolerance in FTBI hosts but only at the expense of very high mortality, in contrast to the low mortality observed with tolerizing injections of allogeneic donor cells from THS or injections of normal semiallogeneic F1 hybrid spleen cells. If an active immune response is responsible for tolerance induction/transfer in this model, allogeneic donor lymphoid cells derived from BM, in contrast to donor spleen cells, must be capable of mounting this response without concomitant severe GVHD. In future experiments, cells of donor genotype can be isolated from THS and purified in sufficient numbers to compare their tolerizing efficiency vs. that of normal donor cells, detect possible suppression of normal host cell alloreactivity in vitro and identify the donor cell phenotypes involved.

Animals↗

A study of the techniques of cardiac massage with the abdomen open.

The present study compares the hemodynamic effectiveness of closed-chest cardiac massage (CCCM) with closed subdiaphragmatic massage (CSDM) and four open transdiaphragmatic cardiac massage techniques during cardiac arrest with an open abdomen. In 10 dogs CCCM resulted in the lowest cardiac index (CI), mean arterial pressure (MBP), and carotid blood flow (CBF) of all cardiac massage techniques tested. CSDM was not statistically superior to CCCM in the dog (p greater than 0.05) but did result in a 23% increase in CI and a 54% increase in CBF. Transdiaphragmatic retrocardiac massage through an incision in the diaphragm resulted in the highest CI, MBP, and CBF of all the four open transdiaphragmatic techniques and had significantly higher values than those for CCCM in the dog (p less than 0.05). In three cadaveric renal donors, all four open transdiaphragmatic techniques and CSDM were noted to be equal to or superior to CCCM. Three patients have been successfully resuscitated with diaphragmatic cardiac massage techniques for cardiac arrest while undergoing abdominal operations. These studies reveal that all subdiaphragmatic or transdiaphragmatic techniques for cardiac massage are hemodynamically equivalent to or superior to the standard CCCM without such complications as fractured ribs and should be considered the treatment of choice for cardiac arrest in the patient with an open abdomen.

Abdomen↗

Effect of biliary decompression on morbidity and mortality of pancreatoduodenectomy.

To evaluate the effect of levels of serum bilirubin on morbidity and mortality after pancreatoduodenectomy, a prospective study was designed to compare patients who underwent preoperative biliary decompression to those who did not. Preoperative biliary decompression decreased the mean serum bilirubin level from 15.8 to 5.8 mg/dl in one group of 10 patients (Group A). The only statistical differences between this group and the two other groups of patients (Groups B and C) who were not treated with preoperative biliary decompression was the level of serum bilirubin before pancreatoduodenectomy (5.8, 22, and 1.3 mg/dl in Groups A, B, and C, respectively). Only one death occurred in each group of patients. The numbers of nonfatal complications were comparable. These results suggest that there is no decrease in morbidity or mortality after pancreatoduodenectomy when the serum bilirubin level is decreased by preoperative biliary drainage.

Aged↗

Incidence of recurrent stenosis after carotid endarterectomy determined by digital subtraction angiography.

The results of recent reports of nonselected patients studied by noninvasive techniques suggest there is a 10 to 36 percent rate of restenosis within the first 1 to 2 years after carotid endarterectomy. In the present study of nonselected patients examined by intravenous digital subtraction angiography, only 6.7 percent of operated vessels had recurrent stenosis with a 50 percent or greater decrease in vessel diameter at a mean of 28.5 months postoperatively. These data, when compared with the results of most noninvasive studies, suggest that many of the early lesions regress after 1 to 2 years, as suggested by Zierler et al [8] or that there is a true difference in the rates of restenosis between centers, possibly due to subtle differences in surgical technique or patient risk factors, or both. A symptomatic recurrence rate of only 2.7 percent and a 6.7 percent overall rate of hemodynamically significant recurrent stenosis support the conclusions from earlier and larger series that carotid endarterectomy is a highly effective and durable operation. Although it is important that research centers continue to study the natural history of carotid artherosclerosis and serial changes after carotid endarterectomy, these results suggest that for routine clinical follow-up, frequent and expensive periodic tests to detect recurrent stenosis may not be warranted.

Aged↗

Trends in reconstruction for atherosclerotic renal vascular disease.

Twenty-eight patients underwent renal vascular reconstruction for atherosclerotic renal vascular stenosis. Ten patients had therapeutic renal artery reconstruction for isolated renal artery stenosis causing severe hypertension, nine patients had therapeutic renal artery reconstruction for severe hypertension combined with simultaneous aortic reconstruction, and nine patients had prophylactic renal artery reconstruction for renal artery stenosis combined with simultaneous aortic reconstruction. Ninety percent of patients undergoing therapeutic renal revascularization procedures for hypertension were cured or improved. The 10 patients undergoing prophylactic renal artery reconstruction combined with aortic reconstruction had an average 72 percent reduction in the diameter of the vessel. Dacron side grafts sutured to the aortic graft were used for revascularization in each of the patients with prophylactic revascularization and was found to be an expedient means of reconstruction with good patency rates. No increased morbidity or mortality rate was noted in the prophylactic group. We believe that prophylactic revascularization should be carried out in patients with atherosclerotic high-grade stenosis of the renal arteries to prevent hypertension and preserve renal function.

Aged↗

Subtotal parathyroidectomy for secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Controversy exists regarding the relative merits of subtotal parathyroidectomy (SPTX) versus total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation in the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPT). Fourteen patients who underwent SPTX for secondary HPT were evaluated to determine the efficacy of this treatment in view of modern dialysis, diet, and drug treatment. Indications for operation included intractable symptoms (two patients), progressive renal osteodystrophy (eight patients), or both (four patients). Duration of renal failure ranged from 3 to 15 years (mean 7.8 years) before SPTX. The operative serum calcium level was normal in 10 patients, elevated in three patients, and low in one patient. Preoperative parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels ranged from 3.9 to 144 ng/ml (average 41 ng/ml) and decreased after operation to an average of 3.6 ng/ml (normal PTH less than 1 ng/ml). There were no deaths or major postoperative complications. Clinical or radiographic improvement occurred in 80% of patients but did not correlate with absolute reductions in PTH levels. Our results reveal that SPTX is a simple and effective treatment in the initial surgical management of uremic, secondary HPT and appears to be comparable to those obtained with more complicated surgical approaches such as total parathyroidectomy and autotransplantation.

Adult↗

Late results of an extended devascularization procedure for patients with bleeding esophageal varices.

A procedure for control of variceal bleeding has been described that involves devascularization of the distal one-third of the esophagus and upper one-half of the stomach combined with a Nissen fundoplication performed through a left lateral thoracotomy and an incision in the left diaphragm. Transection of the truncal vagi is required to devascularize effectively the distal esophagus, and thus a pyloromyotomy or pyloroplasty is added. Twelve patients who were moderately high-risk candidates underwent this procedure for control of persistent hemorrhage. There were two postoperative deaths. Four late deaths occurred at 30, 32, 36, and 48 months in patients who continued drinking. Cause of death was uncontrolled esophageal bleeding (2) and liver failure (2). The six survivors have not rebled and are living and well at 24, 48, 54, 55, 55, and 92 months.

Adult↗

Renal microembolization syndrome. A cause for renal dysfunction after abdominal aortic reconstruction.

Moderate renal dysfunction due to renal microembolization developed in eight patients who underwent abdominal aortic reconstruction for aneurysmal or occlusive disease. In each patient, the aorta around the renal arteries was thrombus-lined or severely ulcerated and was therefore the source of embolization, and aortic clamping near the renal arteries was required and provided the mechanism for embolization. Renal failure was moderate and did not require dialysis. Renal dysfunction appeared to be largely reversible, although some degree of permanent damage did occur. Similar changes in renal function were noted in a dog model of renal microembolization. Prevention of this complication depends on awareness of aortic lesions that increase the risk of renal embolization.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Aortoiliac reconstruction combined with nonvascular operations.

Seventy-six patients with aortoiliac reconstruction and associated intraabdominal procedures were compared with 445 patients with aortoiliac revascularization alone to provide information about the associated morbidity and mortality of adding a nonvascular procedure to aortic reconstruction. Patients with aortoiliac reconstruction for limb salvage had a significant increase in complications when an abdominal procedure was performed in association with aortoiliac reconstruction (66 percent versus 14 percent, p less than 0.01). Additionally, patients with elective aortoiliac reconstruction had a significant increase in mortality when an abdominal procedure was performed in addition to aortoiliac reconstruction (9 percent versus 3 percent, p less than 0.01). A small bowel obstruction and a pancreatic pseudocyst occurred as a direct result of the associated abdominal procedure. None of the deaths could be directly attributed to a concomitant abdominal procedure. The demonstration of an increase in morbidity and mortality with the addition of nonvascular procedures to aortoiliac reconstruction, even though certain subgroups of patients underwent aortic revascularization, suggest that the surgeon must carefully weigh the benefits and risks before combining vascular and nonvascular operations.

Adult↗

Transmesocolic omentoplasty.

Transmesocolic omentoplasty is a simple technique for covering prosthetic aortic grafts and preventing aortoenteric fistulas. It is especially valuable in repeat aortic procedures when mobilization of periaortic tissues and graft coverage may be impossible.

Aorta↗

Open renal biopsy. Surgical technique and results.

This report describes our experience with a new modified approach for open renal biopsy. The biopsy is performed under general anesthesia through a small anterior incision and extraperitoneal approach. A generous incisional biopsy of the lower pole is obtained, and bleeding is controlled with mattress sutures. Thirty biopsies were obtained in 30 patients. The pathologic diagnoses included glomerulonephropathy (16), necrotizing vasculitis (5), degenerative phase of acute tubular necrosis (4), congenital nephrotic syndrome (2), interstitial nephritis (1), renal invasion by reticulum cell sarcoma (1), and juxtaglomerular cell hyperplasia (1). Ages ranged from 12 months to 75 years. There were no intra- or postoperative complications. There was one late postoperative death secondary to a ventricular arrhythmia. This approach is rapid, safe, and provides more adequate tissue for histologic and electron microscopic examination than does percutaneous needle biopsy.

Adolescent↗

Evaluation of end-to-side v end-to-end proximal anastomosis in aortobifemoral bypass.

The cumulative graft-limb patency rate was significantly higher after aortobifemoral bypass with a proximal end-to-end anastomosis (E-E-AN) than with a proximal end-to-side anastomosis (E-S-AN), 100% v 93%, respectively, after 1.5 years in a consecutive series of 38 E-S-ANs followed by 41 E-E-ANs. The two operations were equally effective in relieving hip claudication, but impotence occurred more frequently after E-E-AN (27%) than after E-S-AN (13%). This difference was not significant, but six of ten patients with E-E-AN who became impotent had arteriographic patterns predicting that graft flow into hypogastric arteries might be compromised. Intraoperative studies demonstrated that acute bilateral occlusion of hypogastric arteries significantly decreases penile BP, but branches of the external iliac arteries also contribute to penile flow and may become the major route of supply in patients with hypogastric occlusive disease.

Aortic Diseases↗