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Biomedical subjects

H Reich

Publications and source records attributed to H Reich.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Laparoscopic hysterectomy is a substitute for abdominal hysterectomy and not for vaginal hysterectomy. Most hysterectomies currently performed with an abdominal approach may be performed with laparoscopic dissection of part or all of the abdominal portion followed by vaginal removal, including fibroids of 1000 g. There are many surgical advantages, particularly magnification of anatomy and pathology, easy access to the vagina and rectum, and the ability to achieve complete haemostasis and clot evacuation during underwater examination. Patient advantages are multiple and are related to avoidance of a pain producing abdominal incision. They include a reduced period of hospitalization and recuperation and an extremely low rate of cuff infection and ileus. It must be emphasized that conversion to laparotomy when the surgeon becomes uncomfortable with the laparoscopic approach should never be considered a complication; it is rather a prudent surgical decision that will profoundly decrease patient risk. The laparoscope can be used in combination with hysterectomy in a variety of ways with significant surgical and patient advantages. With few exceptions, laparoscopic hysterectomy can replace abdominal hysterectomy. Surgical outcome is the same. In experienced hands, the complication rate is low. Patient benefits are related to avoidance of an abdominal incision and include improved cosmetics and more rapid recovery.

Endometriosis↗
PubMed1994

Argon Assisted CO2 Laser Laparoscopy

The use of a small amount of Argon gas to purge the operating channel of the CO2 laser laparoscope eliminates the thermal lensing (blooming) that has plagued CO2 laser laparoscopy. By eliminating the blooming, the power density and transmission of laser power is increased. Overall, the efficacy of the CO2 laser/laparoscope system is dramatically improved. This simple procedure allows even older CO2 lasers to equal the efficiency of the newer generation shifted wave length CO2 isotope lasers. This technique is superior to others which require special equipment to achieve extremely high insufflation/evacuation flow rates in order to control thermal blooming.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Ovarian Preservation at Hysterectomy for Endometriosis

Traditionally, definitive treatment for symptomatic endometriosis has been total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. However, aggressive excision of all endometriotic implants at the time of hysterectomy with preservation of one or both ovaries may be an acceptable alternative. All hysterectomies performed between 1988 and 1993 were retrospectively reviewed. Fifty-two women underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy for pelvic pain from advanced stage endometriosis with preservation of at least one ovary. The majority of women had significant to total relief of pelvic pain postoperatively. Average follow-up was 36 months. This series suggests that ovarian preservation at the time of hysterectomy can be considered in women with endometriosis. Patient benefits include avoidance of symptoms of surgical castration and subsequent exogenous hormone replacement.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Laparoscopic Radical Hysterectomy: A Preliminary Report

The Laparoscopic Assisted Surgery Program began in 1991 at The Graduate Hospital. Initially, traditional laparoscopic gynecologic procedures were performed including laparoscopic oophorectomy, hysterectomy, and adhesiolysis. We then began staging patients with ovarian and endometrial cancer laparoscopically. Next, a series of patients who underwent laparoscopic extrafascial hysterectomy with lymph node sampling for endometrial cancer was attempted. In June of 1992, we performed what we believe to be the first completely laparoscopic radical hysterectomy and bilateral pelvic and common iliac lymphadenectomy for a stage IB squamous carcinoma of the cervix. To date fourteen of these procedures have been performed with few complications. The complications encountered thus far include narrowing of a right ureter detected by an intravenous pyelogram obtained on postoperative day 10 and a small vesicovaginal fistula. The narrowed right ureter had a retrograde stent placed as a precaution. It would appear that laparoscopic radical hysterectomy in selected patients offers significant advantages in terms of hospitalization, incision size, and wound, pulmonary, and intestinal complications. In addition to the clinical advantages, laparoscopic radical hysterectomy appears to be more cost effective than traditional laparotomy.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Management of malignant pleural effusions with pleuroperitoneal shunting.

Malignant pleural effusions are often debilitating conditions for the patient with advanced carcinoma. Traditionally, treatment has been repeated thoracentesis or tube thoracostomy with instillation of sclerosing agents. However, this required the patient to be hospitalized and to have pain and inconveniences of the chest tubes. The drainage also had to be low enough for sclerotherapy to be effective. In 1982, the pleuroperitoneal shunt became a feasible alternative to sclerotherapy. We began using the Denver pleuroperitoneal shunt in July 1991. Twenty shunts were inserted into 19 patients during a two year period ending June 30, 1993. All patients but one were relieved of dyspnea. The mean duration of patency was 26 months and fewer than 25 percent of the shunts clotted before the death of the patient. Our favorable experience with the shunt has resulted in us recommending the Denver pleuroperitoneal shunt for treatment of recurrent malignant pleural effusions and selectively as primary treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

13CO2 isotopic laser used through the operating channel of laser laparoscopes: a comparative study of power and energy density losses.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the power transmission, spot size, power density, and energy density of a new isotopic carbon dioxide (13CO2) laser compared with a conventional CO2 laser. METHODS: Experiments were performed in a laboratory using a conventional CO2 laser and an isotopic 13CO2 laser. Two laparoscopes with 5-mm and 7.5-mm operating channels were connected to a standard coupler and to each of the lasers. Standardized measurements were made of power transmission and spot size using both nitrogen purge gas and CO2 purge gas at rates of 1-20 L/minute. Power density and energy density were calculated for continuous mode and ultrapulse mode transmission, respectively. RESULTS: The isotopic 13CO2 laser power transmission was higher and proportional to input power, while spot size was smaller compared with the conventional laser and was insensitive to power level or purge rate. Power density and energy density were markedly higher with the isotopic 13CO2 laser, reaching the threshold for complete ablation, and were much more predictable. The 7.5-mm operating channel generally had superior operating results compared with the 5-mm channel because of the smaller spot size and higher power transmission. CONCLUSIONS: The isotopic 13CO2 laser is associated with much higher power density and energy density capabilities than are conventional CO2 lasers. At surgery, we have noted less thermal injury, faster ablation, more precise and predictable tissue effects, and greater control of tissue effect with the isotopic 13CO2 laser than with other CO2 lasers. These results are attributed to the improved beam propagation through CO2 insufflation gas measured in the laboratory. Thermal injury can be varied according to the required surgical situation and can be kept to an absolute minimum at high-pulse energy.

Carbon Dioxide↗
PubMed1993

[Influence of various therapeutic models on survival after prehospital cardiac arrest].

We analyzed the outcome after prehospital cardiac arrest in a part of greater Copenhagen. Four different emergency medical systems were acting: a system providing basic life support only (group 1), a system providing basic life support and early defibrillation (group 2), a system providing basic life support followed by advanced cardiac life support (group 3), and a system providing basic life support and early defibrillation followed by advanced cardiac life support (group 4). Over a 2-year period 624 cases of cardiac arrest were reported, 34 were discharged from hospital. The survival to discharge from hospital and the one-year survival were significantly better in group 4. Our data reconfirm that early advanced cardiac life support improves survival rates for prehospital cardiac arrest.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Incisional hernias after major laparoscopic gynecologic procedures.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine the incidence of incisional hernias after operative laparoscopy. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective case review was performed. RESULTS: The frequency of incisional hernias at extraumbilical 10 and 12 mm trocar insertion sites was one in 429 (0.23%) cases and five in 161 (3.1%) cases, respectively; the difference is statistically significant (p = 0.007, Fisher's exact test). Incisional hernias were also significantly more common if the fascia was left open (p = 0.021), although three of the five hernias at 12 mm trocar sites occurred after attempted closure of the underlying fascia. CONCLUSION: The underlying fascia should be closed whenever a 10 mm or larger trocar is placed at an extraumbilical site during laparoscopy. The peritoneum may also require closure at 12 mm trocar sites if the trocar is placed through, rather than lateral to, the rectus sheath.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Brachial plexus neuropathies after advanced laparoscopic surgery.

A retrospective review of 3,200 advanced laparoscopic procedures demonstrated five brachial plexus injuries during a 5-month period in 1986 (0.16% incidence rate). Brachial plexus injury can occur during laparoscopic surgery using steep Trendelenburg's position with shoulder braces and the patient's arm extended at 90 degrees. Position modification can reduce the risk for upper extremity neuropathies.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Laparoscopic tubal anastomosis.

We conducted a retrospective chart review of 22 laparoscopic tubal anastomoses performed between May 1987 and May 1991. The procedures were modeled after the two-stitch technique of Swolin. Overall fertility rates were disappointing in this small series, although the first live birth has occurred. The two-stitch method and available laparoscopic suture needles and needle holders limited the surgical results. Modifications of technique and instrumentation should improve fertility outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Mechanical peritoneal retraction as a replacement for carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum.

A fan retractor and a mechanical lifting arm were developed to achieve planar displacement of the anterior abdominal wall for gasless laparoscopic procedures. The technique permits the use of conventional open surgical instruments as well as laparoscopic tools through minilaparotomy incisions. It also potentially addresses the technical constraints imposed by pneumoperitoneum, and physiologic concerns regarding carbon dioxide insufflation. Gynecologic, general surgical, and trauma procedures were performed in 104 patients, with successful completion of 86.5%. Continued application is necessary to delineate the full range of benefits of laparoscopy without insufflation.

Equipment Design↗
PubMed1993

Laparoscopic oophorectomy.

Oophorectomies were performed on 312 women as part of an operative laparoscopic procedure over an eight-year period. The average age of the women was 40.4 +/- 0.6 (SEM) years; 36.5% had previously undergone a hysterectomy. The median operating time was 120 minutes. The length of hospitalization was less than 24 hours in 77.6% of women, between 24 and 48 hours in 15.1% and over 48 hours in 7.4%. Intraoperative and/or postoperative complications occurred in 12 women (3.8%). Estimated blood loss greater than 300 mL occurred in two women. The most frequent diagnoses were endometriosis/endometrioma, functional cysts and normal ovarian tissue (usually from ovaries enmeshed in adhesions); two ovaries demonstrated borderline malignant potential. Laparoscopic oophorectomy is acceptable under appropriate conditions. Further studies are necessary to provide criteria for accurate differentiation of benign from malignant ovarian enlargement.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Dynamic heterogeneity of cerebral hypoperfusion after prolonged cardiac arrest in dogs measured by the stable xenon/CT technique: a preliminary study.

After prolonged cardiac arrest and reperfusion, global cerebral blood flow (gCBF) is decreased to about 50% normal for many hours. Measurement of gCBF does not reveal regional variation of flow or permit testing of hypotheses involving multifocal no-flow or low-flow areas. We employed the noninvasive stable Xenon-enhanced Computerized Tomography (Xe/CT) local CBF (LCBF) method for use in dogs before and after ventricular fibrillation (VF) cardiac arrest of 10 min. This was followed by external cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and control of cardiovascular pulmonary variables to 7 h postarrest. In a sham (no arrest) experiment, the three CT levels studied showed normal regional heterogeneity of LCBF values, all between 10 and 75 ml/100 cm3 per min for white matter and 20 and 130 ml/100 cm3 per min for gray matter. In four preliminary CPR experiments, the expected global hyperemia at 15 min after arrest, was followed by hypoperfusion with gCBF reduced to about 50% control and increased heterogeneity of LCBF. Trickle flow areas (LCBF less than 10 ml/100 cm3 per min) not present prearrest, were interspersed among regions of low, normal, or even high flow. Regions of 125-500 mm3 with trickle flow or higher flows, in different areas at different times, involving deep and superficial structures migrated and persisted to 6 h, with gCBF remaining low. These preliminary results suggest: no initial no-reflow foci (less than 10 ml/100 cm3 per min) larger than 125 mm3 persisting through the initial global hyperemic phase; delayed multifocal hypoperfusion more severe than suggested by gCBF measurements; and trickle flow areas caused by dynamic factors.

Animals↗