Biomedical subjects

G H Tilve

Publications and source records attributed to G H Tilve.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Clinical and bacteriological profile of the ear in otogenic tetanus: a case control study.

Twenty two patients presented with otogenic tetanus. Seventeen patients had acute histories with only a single episode of otitis media with otorrhoea. Fifteen patients had unilateral central perforations, five had bilateral central perforations and two had no perforations but had acutely congested tympanic membranes which were bulging suggesting the presence of purulent fluid behind them. All patients with perforations had a purulent pulsatile discharge. A coexisting aerobic infection was seen in 85 per cent of the cultures and 59 per cent of these were due to staphylococcus aureus (versus 25 per cent in the controls). Only one patient had received partial immunization. Tetanus resulting from otitis media is not an indication for surgery.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1992

Gastric colonization and pneumonia in intubated critically ill patients receiving stress ulcer prophylaxis: a randomized, controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of pharmacologically increasing gastric pH on gastric colonization and the development of pneumonia in intubated critically ill patients. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: Medical ICU in a university hospital. PATIENTS: Thirty-four tracheotomized patients with tetanus. INTERVENTIONS: Sixteen patients received iv ranitidine to increase gastric pH greater than 4 (ranitidine group), while 18 patients received no prophylaxis for upper gastrointestinal bleeding (control group). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Mean gastric pH was higher in the ranitidine group (median 4.7, range 3.6 to 6.1) than in the control group (median 2.1, range 1.2 to 4.9; p less than .05). Gastric colonization occurred in 15 (94%) of 16 patients who received ranitidine, 2 days (median; range 1 to 5) after intubation; gastric colonization also occurred in all control patients (median 4 days, range 1 to 9; p less than .05). Pneumonia occurred in 13 (81%) of 16 patients who received ranitidine, 3 days (median, range 1 to 5) after intubation and in nine (50%) of 18 control patients (p less than .01) 5 days after tracheal intubation (median, range 3 to 14; p less than .01). Prior gastric colonization by the pathogen that caused pneumonia was demonstrable in nine (56%) of 16 patients who received ranitidine vs. eight (44%) of 18 control patients (p greater than .05). The risk for developing pneumonia in the ranitidine-treated group was highest in the first 4 days after tracheal intubation. There was no difference in the frequency of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacologically increasing gastric pH increases the risk for developing pneumonia in intubated critically ill patients. The pneumonia occurs earlier than in untreated control patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Hypothermia due to transient hypothalamic dysfunction in tuberculous meningitis with hydrocephalus.

We report two patients with tuberculous meningitis and hydrocephalus who developed hypothermia that reversed after inserting a ventricular shunt for the hydrocephalus. Pressure on the thermoregulatory centre in the posterior hypothalamus near the dilated third ventricle might have been responsible. One patient developed hypotension during the transient hypothermia, which persisted and proved fatal.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

In vitro effect of intravenous immunoglobulin supplementation on serum opsonic activity in tracheostomised patients.

An in vitro study of the effect of immunoglobulins (mainly IgG) on opsonophagocytic activity of polymorphs was carried out in 17 tracheostomised patients admitted in medical intensive care unit of our hospital. The opsonic and phagocytic activities were tested against Staphylococcus aureus by modified polymorphonuclear leucocyte overlay method; and serum IgG and serum IgM levels were estimated by single radial immunodiffusion technique. As compared to healthy volunteers, opsonophagocytic activity was significantly lower in tracheostomised patients. However, this activity improved markedly after immunoglobulin supplementation (P less than 0.01). The same degree of enhancement was also observed in normal controls.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Hereditary spherocytosis: experience of 145 cases.

145 patients were diagnosed to have hereditary spherocytosis (HS) over a period of 25 years. Jaundice (66.9%), fever (65.5%), weakness (44.8%), and abdominal pain (35.8%) were the commonest complaints. 94.5% had splenomegaly (JP-17 cm) and 71.7% had hepatomegaly (JP-6 cm). Spherocytes were detected in the peripheral smears of all patients at presentation on careful examination. 67 patients had been investigated elsewhere and spherocytes missed in 86.6%. Gall stones were seen in 20 of the 54 patients investigated. Family history suggestive of HS was available in only 16.6% of cases, whereas examination and investigations revealed HS in almost all families. Splenectomy was done in all symptomatic patients. In the 39 patients followed up for 1-9 years after splenectomy.

Adult↗

PubMed1979