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Biomedical subjects

J Edgren

Publications and source records attributed to J Edgren.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Predicting the outcome of invasive treatment of renal artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: Analysis of the factors influencing the outcome of performed or attempted invasive treatment for renal artery disease (RAD). SETTING: University Hospital. STUDY PATIENTS: Thirty-five hypertensive patients with 31 stenoses and 14 occlusions of renal artery. INTERVENTIONS: Angioplasty was performed on 25 patients (attempted for 30), primary stenting on one, nephrectomy on three, and renal resection on one patient. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: A decrease of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) by >/=15 mmHg after intervention. RESULTS: A DBP response was seen in 24 patients. In 11 patients, invasive treatment did not result in a DBP response or failed technically. Compared with these patients, the responders were younger (55 +/- 11 vs. 66 +/- 8 years, P = 0.001) and tended to have higher DBP (100 +/- 8 vs. 93 +/- 11 mmHg, P = 0.065). The function of the affected kidney, or that of the more affected kidney if RAD was bilateral, was better preserved in responders (relative clearance on captopril renography 23 +/- 15 vs. 8 +/- 4%, P = 0.008). A response was more often seen in unilateral than in bilateral RAD (81% vs. 33%, P = 0.015). A relative clearance of </=10% on captopril renography had sensitivity of 88% and specificity of 81% for renal artery occlusion. Step-wise logistic analysis. (1) When DBP was< 95 mmHg with two antihypertensives, the response rate was 1/6 vs. 24/29 for more severe hypertension (P = 0.004). (2) Elderly patients had a response rate of 2/5 vs. 22/24 in younger patients (P = 0.024). (3) Response rates in bilateral and unilateral disease were not different, nor did the function of the affected kidney impact the DBP response. However, three of the four responders with </=10% relative clearance had an occluded renal artery and underwent nephrectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Middle-aged patients with easily controlled hypertension and elderly hypertensives do not usually have a blood pressure response to the performed or attempted invasive treatment of RAD. Therefore, it seems recommendable not to screen such patients for RAD, unless their renal function is deteriorated. If the affected kidney functions poorly on captopril renography, angioplasty is usually not applicable and seldom leads to a blood pressure response.

Adult↗

Interobserver agreement in duplex scanning for vein grafts.

BACKGROUND: although the precision of duplex scanning is of utmost importance in vein-graft surveillance, it has not been properly assessed. This study aims to analyse interobserver agreement on duplex scanning. METHODS: a blinded comparative trial of 69 infrainguinal vein bypass reconstructions. Two consecutive duplex scans were performed by different examiners and duplex ultrasound machines on the same patient. The duplex examinations were also compared with angiography, when available, and clinical follow-up. RESULTS: interobserver agreement in Kappa statistics was 0.69, signifying "good" agreement between the examinations in detecting haemodynamically significant changes in the grafts. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy figures compared with a combination of angiography and follow-up data for the two scans were 80%, 91%, 88% and 85%, 93%, 91%, respectively. The limits of agreement were, however, wide for Doppler-derived velocity characteristics. CONCLUSION: duplex scanning is an accurate and reproducible method for detecting haemodynamically significant changes in infrainguinal vein grafts.

Arterial Occlusive Diseases↗

Automated stereotactic core needle biopsy of microcalcifications with correlation to surgical biopsy.

PURPOSE: To compare pathologic findings from stereotactic core and excisional biopsies in patients with microcalcifications in the breast. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Stereotactic core needle biopsies of 101 lesions with mammographic evidence of microcalcifications were performed with long-throw (2.2 cm) automated core biopsy devices fitted with 2.1-mm needles. The core specimens were placed on microscope slides and radiographed. The pathologic features of core and excisional specimens were compared. RESULTS: In 100 of the 101 breast lesions, a correct choice for an additional diagnostic procedure or definitive treatment could have been made upon histopathologic findings of the core needle biopsy. CONCLUSION: Stereotactic core needle biopsy is a reliable alternative to surgical biopsy of breast lesions with microcalcifications provided that specimen radiography has been performed to ensure that appropriate tissue has been obtained. Excisional biopsy may be avoided if microcalcifications are visible in radiographs of core biopsy specimen with benign histology.

Biopsy, Needle↗

Complications of diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In the era of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography (MRCP) and laparoscopic biliary surgery, indications for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP) should be profoundly considered in the light of ERCP related complication rate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: To evaluate the frequency of complications associated with diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP, all endoscopic procedures from 1991 to 1996 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 813 cannulations were performed on 590 patients. Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) was performed on 223 patients out of 230 attempted. Common bile duct stones were removed from 134 patients, an endoscopic stent was inserted in 69 patients and a benign stricture was dilated in 11 patients. After diagnostic ERCP, the complication rate was 1.8% with no mortality, after EST the complication rate was 9.1% with a mortality rate of 0.9%. Pancreatitis was the most common complication with a rate of 1.5% after diagnostic ERCP and 3.9% after EST. In three patients the pancreatitis was severe and resulted in the deaths of two of them. Other complications were haemorrhage after EST (2.6%), duodenal wall or bile duct perforation (0.7% of the cannulations and 2.2% of EST) and cholangitis (0.6% of all cannulations). All of these patients survived. CONCLUSION: Complication rates were comparable with large series from clinics specialised in endoscopic procedures.

Adult↗

Haemodynamic results of femoropopliteal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the utility of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of the femoropopliteal segment in patients with claudication and critical leg ischaemia (CLI). DESIGN: Longitudinal observational study. SETTING: A university based vascular surgical centre. MATERIAL: Ninety-five patients with stenosing or occlusive arterial lesions of the femoropopliteal segment underwent 52 primary PTA for claudication and 50 primary PTA for CLI. METHODS: The procedure was considered haemodynamically successful when the increase of immediate postprocedural ABI was 0.15 or more. The criterion for haemodynamic success during follow-up was an ABI having not decreased by more than 0.15 from the immediate postprocedural level. The run-off arteries were graded according to the scoring system proposed by the SVS/ISCVS. RESULTS: Among the technically successful procedures (83%), the haemodynamic success rate was 77% at 1 month, 55% after 1 year, and 51% after 2 years. The cumulative haemodynamic success rates were 83%, 66% and 61% in claudicants, and 70%, 42%, and 38% in CLI (p = 0.03). In patients with a run-off score < or = 7.5, the success rates were 84%, 67%, and 60%, respectively, whereas in those with a crural score > 7.5 these were 61%, 39%, and 39%, respectively (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The haemodynamic results suggest that PTA to the femoropopliteal segment is seldom a procedure of choice for critically ischaemic legs with poor run-off. The run-off score is useful in identifying patients who may benefit from PTA.

Aged↗

Urinary excretion of iohexol as a marker of disease activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Increased intestinal permeability of water-soluble contrast medium during an intestinal follow-through is found in patients with active Crohn's disease in the small bowel. METHODS: Urinary excretion of the water-soluble X-ray contrast medium iohexol was measured after oral administration in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and in healthy controls. The patients were grouped on the basis of disease activity and location and extent of intestinal involvement. RESULTS: Urinary excretion of iohexol was significantly higher in patients with active disease than in patients with quiescent disease or in healthy controls (P = 0.005), and it correlated positively with activity indices and with the extent of the disease. CONCLUSION: The intestinal permeability of iohexol is significantly increased in patients with active inflammatory bowel disease in the small bowel and in the colon, whereas the permeability of patients with inactive disease is similar to that in healthy controls. We suggest that urinary excretion of iohexol can be used as a marker of disease activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Administration, Oral↗

Stent grafting for abdominal aortic aneurysms in Finland--a feasibility study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is a feasible procedure in selected patients. In order to assess how many AAAs are suitable for such a procedure, a survey has been conducted in Helsinki, Kuopio, and Tampere University Hospitals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: AAAs having a maximum diameter of 45 mm or more at ultrasonography were included for further evaluation and assessment by angiography and/or spiral CT angiography to determine the length and width of infrarenal aneurysmal neck as well as the dimensions of the distal abdominal aorta and iliac arteries. RESULTS: Among a total of 75 patients with AAA examined in three centres, ultrasonography overestimated the size of the aneurysm in 12 cases that were demonstrated by angiography and CT to have a diameter of less than 45 mm. Among those patients with larger aneurysms, 17 (27%) were suitable for endovascular repair. Stent grafting has been performed in 10 patients until May, 1997. Perigraft leakage occurred in one patient who required the insertion of an additional collar stent graft. CONCLUSIONS: Large numbers of suitable patients are not easy to find but, by performing joint screening in Finland, epidemiological data on suitable aneurysms and improving co-operation between centres can be achieved. Therefore, it would be wise to centralise endovascular repair of AAA.

Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal↗

Aortofemoral surgery and sexual function.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence and pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction (ED) in patients with aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) and the effects of aortofemoral surgery, including endarterectomy (E) and reconstruction (R), on erectile function (EF). DESIGN: Evaluation of EF before and 3 months after surgery. METHODS: 31 out of 40 male patients scheduled for aortofemoral surgery were given multiple choice questionnaires and penile dynamic Colour Doppler Ultrasonography. RESULTS: Of the 31 who agreed to enter the study five (16%) were found to be potent and 26 (84%) to suffer from ED. This was purely arteriogenic in 8% of the cases, purely venogenic in 23%, combined arteriogenic and venogenic in 53%, and neurogenic in 16%. Twenty patients returned for postoperative evaluation of EF, nine who had undergone E and 11 who had undergone R. Improvement of EF, in terms of increased penile arterial inflow, occurred in seven patients, six who had undergone E and one who had undergone R. EF remained unchanged in nine patients, three who had undergone E and six who had undergone R. Deterioration of EF occurred in four patients, all who had undergone R, and was attributable to decreased arterial inflow in two cases and to neurogenic surgical injury in the other two. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients with AIOD suffers from ED. Reduced penile arterial inflow and cavernovenous leakage are equally important in the pathophysiology of ED in patients with AIOD, suggesting that atherosclerosis may also compromise the penile veno-occlusive mechanism. Endarterectomy seems more likely than reconstruction to improve or maintain EF.

Aorta, Abdominal↗

Long-term results of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in renovascular hypertension.

PURPOSE: The long-term effect of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) was assessed in 50 patients with renovascular hypertension. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-eight of the patients had atherosclerotic disease and 12 patients fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD). Dilatation with a balloon catheter were performed at 6 to 8 atm for 15 to 30 s. RESULTS: PTRA was technically successful in 46 (92%) patients. Three of the failures underwent surgical revascularization. There was no mortality connected with PTRA. Minor complications occurred in 6 (12%) patients, and surgical intervention was required in 1. In 4 patients with restenosis, repeated PTRA was performed in 2, and surgery in the other 2 patients. Bilateral disease occurred in 12 patients, and 3 had sequential bilateral PTRA. In 9 patients with atherosclerotic ostial stenosis, PTRA was technically successful in 8 (89%). Thirty-eight patients were re-examined with a mean follow-up of 4 years. At follow-up, 5 (45%) of the patients with FMD were classified as cured, 6 (55%) as improved, and none as failed. In the 27 patients with atherosclerotic disease, 23 (85%) had long-term benefit, 3 (11%) were cured, 20 (74%) were improved, and 4 (15%) were failures. In the 8 patients with ostial atherosclerotic lesions and successful PTRA, there was a 75% long-term benefit. Two patients died during follow-up, both from myocardial infarction. CONCLUSION: The result suggest that PTRA is effective in long-term management of renovascular hypertension, not only in patients with fibromuscular stenosis, but also in patients with atherosclerotic disease, even when ostial lesions are present.

Adult↗

Biliary complications in one hundred adult liver transplantations.

BACKGROUND: Biliary complications are a common problem in liver transplantation (LT). METHODS: We reviewed 100 consecutive adult LTs, including 10 retransplantations. Ten patients who survived for less than 1 month or developed hepatic artery thrombosis were excluded. Biliobiliary anastomosis was performed with a T-tube (CCT) (n = 25) or without it (CC) (n = 59), or biliodigestive anastomosis (Rouxen-Y) (n = 6) was used. RESULTS: Biliary complications (8 anastomotic strictures and 9 bile leakages) occurred in 15 LTs. Surgical treatment was needed for seven strictures and two leakages. Complications tended to be more frequent with CCT than with CC (24% versus 12%). Biliary complications were often accompanied by cytomegalovirus disease and bacterial infections. After a median follow-up time of 5.2 years, total patient survival was 71% for all 100 LTs and 81% for those with biliary complications. CONCLUSIONS: Biliary complications are rather frequent after LTs; they are often preceded by infections but can be treated and do not cause excessive mortality. T-tubes are not to be recommended.

Adult↗

Thrombolytic treatment of acute on chronic leg ischaemia.

The efficacy of thrombolysis was retrospectively studied in patients with acute on chronic ischaemia in the lower extremity. A total number of 68 thrombolytic treatments were given to 65 patients, 58 (85%) because of native arterial occlusions and 10 (15%) because of occluded grafts. Tissue plasminogen activator was the lytic agent used in all patients. In native arteries, thrombolysis alone was successful in 15 (52%) out of 29 legs, whereas 22 (85%) out of 26 thrombolyses followed by angioplasty or surgery were effective. Thrombolysis alone was successful in two and failed in five out of 10 occluded grafts. Patency was achieved by combination with surgery in the other three cases. Twelve-month patency was 34% after thrombolysis alone and 69% (P < 0.05) when combined with surgery or angioplasty. The 30-day mortality rate was 9%. Thrombolysis can be used alone in acute on chronic ischaemia in the lower extremities. The immediate and the long-term results are clearly improved when thrombolysis is combined with angioplasty or reconstructive surgery to treat the underlying cause.

Acute Disease↗

Doppler ultrasound in the diagnosis of renal transplant artery stenosis--value of resistive index.

Doppler ultrasound (DU) with angiographic correlation was performed in 19 hypertensive renal transplant recipients suspected for transplant artery stenosis. DU included calculation of the intrarenal resistive index (RI) and measurement of the maximum systolic velocity in the transplant artery. All 10 cases having a pathologically low RI (< or = 0.6) had a > or = 50% stenosis; specificity and positive predictive values were thus 100%. There were 5 false-negative diagnoses, sensitivity 67%. The measurement of maximum systolic velocity was feasible in only 15 cases (79%). Using a cut-off point of 2 m/s the sensitivity was 91% and there were 4 false-positive cases and one false-negative case. Balloon percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was performed in 13 cases, of which 9 were successful. In all successful cases RI was < 0.6 after PTA. We conclude that low RI (< 0.6) is highly suggestive for transplant artery stenosis. RI may serve as an indicator of the hemodynamic success of PTA.

Adult↗

Reversed diastolic blood flow at duplex Doppler. A sign of poor prognosis in renal transplants.

In 25 renal allografts out of 253 with graft dysfunction a reversed diastolic blood flow was observed at duplex ultrasonography during the first post-transplant month. Eleven grafts were lost and 14 survived. The cause of graft loss was arterial thrombosis (n = 1), venous thrombosis or obstruction (n = 4), steroid resistant acute rejection (n = 4) and acute tubular necrosis (ATN) (n = 2). The cause of graft dysfunction in the surviving grafts was ATN (n = 7) and acute allograft rejection (n = 7). Grafts with only peak-like or low velocity continuous diastolic flow reversal had a better prognosis (3 out of 15 were lost) than grafts with any other type of reversed flow pattern (8 out of 10 were lost). This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01).

Biopsy, Needle↗

Clinical and radiological comparison of perivascular and transarterial techniques of axillary brachial plexus block.

The perivascular technique of axillary brachial plexus block results in incomplete block of radial and musculocutaneous nerves in 10-20% of patients. With the transarterial technique and a large dose of mepivacaine, success rates of 99% have been reported. We have compared the clinical efficacy of these techniques in 50 patients using 1% mepivacaine 45 ml with adrenaline. If required, the block was supplemented with additional blocks of single nerves or i.v. alfentanil. Additionally, eight patients in each group were studied with computed tomography after contrast medium was added to 0.5% bupivacaine 40 ml. There were no statistically significant differences in sensory or motor block between the groups at 20 min or in the plasma concentrations of mepivacaine measured 0-45 min after injection. In the CT scans, both proximal and distal spread of the contrast medium were more common after perivascular than after transarterial block. The distribution of the contrast medium was not related to the efficacy of the block.

Adult↗