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Biomedical subjects

I Gelernt

Publications and source records attributed to I Gelernt.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Low Hartmann's procedure for severe anorectal Crohn's disease.

Perineal wounds often fail to heal following proctectomy for Crohn's disease. Twenty-five patients with severe anorectal Crohn's disease and perineal fistulas, necessitating excisional surgery, underwent a low Hartmann's procedure in lieu of a standard proctectomy. Fifteen of the 25 (60 percent) patients had a completely healed perineum and required no further surgical therapy. Although perineal disease persisted in the other 10 patients, their perinea were much improved compared with the initial presentation. Following a low Hartmann's procedure, the rectal stump becomes atrophic and anoperineal disease regresses, thereby permitting subsequent perineal proctectomy in less inflamed tissues. Since only a 3-cm to 5-cm cuff of rectum was retained from the initial surgery, a perineal intersphincteric approach could be employed and no abdominal dissection was necessary. Of the 10 patients who subsequently underwent perineal proctectomies, three patients still have an unhealed perineum. Twenty-two of the 25 (88 percent) patients have a completely healed perineum (mean follow-up period, 69.1 months). No attempt was made to establish intestinal continuity in any of the 25 patients. We conclude that the problem of the unhealed perineal wound can be averted with this approach, thereby reducing the long-term morbidity to the patient.

Adult

Surgical repair of rectovaginal fistulas in patients with Crohn's disease: transvaginal approach.

The surgical management of rectovaginal fistulas complicating Crohn's disease has been associated with unacceptably high failure rates. We sought to modify the available surgical techniques to provide a solution to this challenging problem. Between December 1983 and January 1990, 14 patients with Crohn's disease underwent repair of a rectovaginal fistula. A modified transvaginal approach was employed by the authors. A diverting loop ileostomy was performed on all patients, either as the initial step in the staged management of intractable perianal disease or concurrent with the repair of the rectovaginal fistula. The fistula was completely eradicated in 13 of the 14 women and did not recur during the mean follow-up period of 55.0 months (range, 3-77 months). Intestinal continuity was reestablished in these 13 patients within 6 months after the initial fistula repair. One patient with a very low-lying fistula constituted our only failure. We have found the transvaginal method preferable to the transanal approach because of the relative ease in raising the vaginal flap as compared with a flap of fibrotic and inflamed anorectal mucosa. On the basis of this study, we conclude that a modified transvaginal approach is an effective method for repair of rectovaginal fistulas secondary to Crohn's disease.

Adult

Familial polyposis coli. Results of mucosal proctectomy with ileoanal anastomosis.

The outcome of mucosal proctectomy with ileoanal anastomosis in patients with polyposis coli has not been well studied. A series of 25 patients with polyposis treated at the Mount Sinai Hospital over a period of ten years is reported. The mean age of the patients was 23 years. Early postoperative complications were present in seven patients and consisted of thrombophlebitis (three), pelvic sepsis (three), and retraction of the anastomosis (one). Intestinal obstruction requiring laparotomy occurred in another five patients. Twenty-three patients were followed for a mean of 47 months after closure of the ileostomy. Ninety-one percent are satisfied with the operative results. The mean number of bowel movements per 24 hours is 6.0. All patients are continent, but eight have occasional episodes of rectal seepage at night. Nearly 50 percent require some antidiarrheal medication. New adenomatous polyps have developed just above the dentate line in four patients. Patients with polyposis coli seem to have fewer serious complications requiring excision of the ileoanal anastomosis than patients with ulcerative colitis. They also should have lifelong surveillance of the entire gastrointestinal tract even after total colectomy with ileoanal anastomosis.

Adolescent

Distribution of colorectal cancer in patients with and without ulcerative colitis.

A comparison of the anatomic distribution of colorectal cancer in patients with and without CUC is difficult because of the unequal number of patients in each group and the changing epidemiologic parameters of colorectal cancer in general. In the present study, the distribution of colorectal tumors in patients with and without CUC was compared over two different time periods at a single hospital. In the early time period (1960 to 1975), there was a significantly higher percentage of proximal tumors in the group with cancer and CUC compared to the group with cancer alone. In the most recent time period (1975 to 1981), there was no difference in distribution of colorectal cancer regardless of whether the patient had CUC or not. We believe that the increased percentage of proximal tumors in patients with colorectal cancers and no CUC that has occurred in recent years has led to the present findings of a similar distribution of tumors in patients with and without CUC.

Adenocarcinoma

Surgical treatment, skin test reactivity, and lymphocytes in inflammatory bowel disease.

Sixty-three patients with inflammatory bowel disease were studied before and after bowel resection. Peripheral lymphocytes, T- and B-cell counts, and skin test reactivity to five recall antigens were determined before operation and 6 to 18 months postoperatively. Twenty-eight patients (44 percent) were unable to react to any skin test initially. Anergic patients had significantly lower lymphocyte and T- and B-cell counts. There was no difference in age, severity or duration of disease, or amount of weight loss between anergic patients and those who responded. Also, there was no difference between patients with ulcerative colitis and those with Crohn's disease. After surgery, 25 previously anergic patients became able to react to skin tests. They also showed a significant increase in T and B cells which did not occur in the previously reactive group. However, the overall peripheral lymphocyte and T- and B-cell counts remained well below those of the normal control subjects. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease that requires surgical treatment have significant immunologic abnormalities. Removal of the diseased bowel, weight gain, and cessation of steroid medication improves skin test reactivity but does not correct the depressed peripheral lymphocyte and especially T-cell counts.

Adult

Mucosal proctectomy without reservoir.

Mucosal proctectomy with endorectal pull-through allows the removal of all colonic mucosa with preservation of continence. This operation was performed in 19 patients with familial polyposis coli and ulcerative colitis. A temporary loop ileostomy was used to defunctionalize the anastomosis. Intestinal continuity was restored in 17 of the 19 patients. Mean duration of follow-up was 29 months. All patients are continent, and the mean number of bowel movements per 24 hours is 6. Follow-up barium studies revealed a gradual dilatation of the terminal ileum within the rectal cuff which accounts for the decrease in the number of bowel movements. This operation eliminates the risk of carcinoma without compromising sphincter function.

Adolescent

Nonoperative conversion of tube gastrostomy to feeding jejunostomy.

Although esophageal reflux of gastrostomy feeds is an uncommon problem, severe pulmonary complications can arise. If implementation in an upright position and use of continuous infusion does not prevent reflux, an alternative method of providing adequate nutrition must be used. This nonoperative technique of converting a tube gastrostomy to a feeding jejunostomy is simple to perform, atraumatic and extremely useful.

Enteral Nutrition

Screening for liver metastases from colorectal cancer with carcinoembryonic antigen and alkaline phosphatase.

A sensitive and economic method of screening for liver metastases in patients with colorectal cancer was developed using serum alkaline phosphatase and carcinoembryonic antigen. The upper limit of normal for alkaline phosphatase and carcinoembryonic antigen did not represent the optimal levels for use in predicting liver metastases. However, with alkaline phosphatase greater than 135 I.U., and/or carcinoembryonic antigen greater than 10 ng/ml, sensitivity was 88%: 23 of 26 patients with liver metastases fulfilled either or both criteria. The false-positive rate was 12%. Liver scanning, alone, demonstrated metastases in only 69% of 35 patients with liver metastases. The combination of alkaline phosphatase and carcinoembryonic antigen can be used economically to screen for liver metastases, and to determine which patients should undergo a liver scan.

Alkaline Phosphatase

Splenectomy for Gaucher's disease.

The records of ten patients who underwent splenectomy for Gaucher's disease were reviewed. All patients had the adult type of the disease. The indications for splenectomy were hypersplenism and mechanical problems. The hematological picture returned to normal in all cases and has remained so throughout the follow-up period. The different forms Gaucher's disease and specific diagnostic tests are discussed. Even though splenectomy is indicated when hematological and mechanical problems exist, selective enzymatic replacement therapy seems to be the preferred future mode of treatment.

Adolescent