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Biomedical subjects

J H Ranson

Publications and source records attributed to J H Ranson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Acute pancreatitis: prognostic value of CT.

In 83 patients with acute pancreatitis, the initial computed tomographic (CT) examinations were classified by degree of disease severity (grades A-E) and were correlated with the clinical follow-up, objective prognostic signs, and complications and death. The length of hospitalization correlated well with the severity of the initial CT findings. Abscesses occurred in 21.6% of the entire group, compared with 60.0% of grade E patients. Pleural effusions were also more common in grade E patients. Grades A and B patients did not have abscesses, and none died, regardless of the number of prognostic signs. Abscesses were seen in 80.0% of patients with six to eight prognostic signs, compared with 12.5% of those with zero to two. The use of prognostic signs with initial CT findings results in improved prognostic accuracy. Early CT examination of patients with acute pancreatitis is a useful prognostic indicator of morbidity and mortality.

Abscess↗

Patterns of severe pancreatic injury following cardiopulmonary bypass.

Severe pancreatic complications following cardiac surgery are rare, but 14 patients with severe pancreatitis have been encountered since 1971. Six of these developed acute fulminating pancreatitis following cardiac surgery and each of these died within 21 days following operation. Seven patients had less severe pancreatitis, resulting in pancreatic abscess formation and five in this group expired. One patient developed a pancreatic pseudocyst following mild acute pancreatitis and expired 4 months later. Although the etiologic mechanisms are unclear, possible factors include: prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass, "the low cardiac output syndrome," and inadequately treated or unrecognized postoperative pancreatitis. The diagnosis is based on physical examination, upper gastrointestinal series, and the abdominal CT scan. Despite aggressive surgical therapy, pancreatitis following cardiopulmonary bypass is an extremely serious condition.

Abscess↗

Acute pancreatitis: pathogenesis, outcome and treatment.

The aetiological associations and proposed pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis have been reviewed. Although 80 per cent of patients have underlying alcohol abuse or gallstones, the precise mechanism of induction and of progression of pancreatic injury remains uncertain. Our current approach to management is summarized in Table 8. At present, no measure designed to limit the severity of pancreatitis or to interrupt the genesis of complications has been of proven benefit. Treatment is therefore primarily supportive. Peritoneal lavage by catheters introduced under local anaesthesia appears to be a valuable adjunct to the treatment of the early cardiovascular and respiratory complications of severe pancreatitis and we continue to recommend this measure. The major unsolved problem in treatment of this disease is the prevention and treatment of infected peripancreatic abscesses.

Abscess↗

Parenteral and oral antibiotics in elective colon and rectal surgery. A prospective, randomized trial.

Our evaluation consisted of a prospective, randomized clinical trial in a homogenous group of 241 patients undergoing elective colon and rectal resections. A significant decrease in wound infection was found in the patients who received intravenous cefoxitin in conjunction with standard bowel preparation. The infection rate correlated with the type of resection; rectal resections had the highest rate in each study group, but parenteral prophylaxis produced a significantly lower wound infection rate. E. coli and Staph. aureus were the most common bacterial isolates in both groups. B. fragilis was recovered in only two Group A patients, which most likely reflects the exceedingly low recovery rate of anaerobic bacteria in our laboratory. Urinary cultures were positive in a large number of patients and reflect the standard use of Foley catheterization in all patients who undergo resection of the colon or rectum. These data indicate that perioperative prophylactic administration of cefoxitin reduces the wound sepsis rate when combined with oral antibiotics and mechanical bowel preparation in patients undergoing resection of the colon or rectum.

Administration, Oral↗

Management of diverticulitis of the ascending colon. 10 years' experience.

Diverticulitis of the ascending colon is an uncommon disease which mimics appendicitis. The correct diagnosis is rarely made, but can be suggested by the patterns of signs and symptoms and confirmed by barium contrast study. Diverticulitis of the ascending colon should be treated by the same plan as diverticulitis of the left colon. If the diagnosis is established, nonoperative management is indicated initially. Operation is indicated when the diagnosis is in doubt, when perforation has occurred, or when the patient does not respond to nonoperative treatment. At operation, ascending colon diverticulitis can be recognized as an inflammatory mass involving the wall and mesentery of the colon. The inflammatory mass is best treated by resection with primary anastomosis of the ileum to the ascending or transverse colon in an area removed from the site of infection.

Adult↗

The role of Chiba-needle cholangiography in the diagnosis of possible acute pancreatitis with cholelithiasis.

In patients with suspected severe acute pancreatitis and known or suspected cholelithiasis, it may be extremely difficult to exclude the diagnosis of gangrenous cholecystitis or obstructive cholangitis by nonoperative means. Since early intra-abdominal surgery has, in our experience, led to markedly increased morbidity in patients with gallstone pancreatitis, non-operative visualization of the biliary tree by percutaneous transhepatic Chiba-needle cholangiography (PTCNC) has been evaluated in 14 patients with suspected acute pancreatitis in whom life-threatening acute biliary disease could not be excluded by other nonoperative means. The final diagnosis was acute pancreatitis in nine patients (Group A) (mean serum amylase 3242 SU%) and acute biliary disease with hyperamylasemia in five patients (Group B) (mean serum amylase 2084 SU%). PTCNC made visualization of the biliary system possible in all patients and excluded the diagnosis of cystic duct or common duct obstruction in each case. Following PTCNC, potentially hazardous early laparotomy was avoided in eight of nine Group A patients. Biliary surgery was undertaken on day 3 to 13 in four Group B patients. When early laparotomy may be needed to evaluate or treat possible life-threatening acute biliary disease but is considered undesirable because of possible acute pancreatitis. PTCNC appears to be a safe and effective nonoperative method of obtaining precise anatomical delineation of the biliary tree.

Acute Disease↗

Acute cholecystitis: sonographic-pathologic analysis.

The study was performed to assess the pathogenic basis of sonographically demonstrable changes in the gallbladder wall in acute cholecystitis in an attempt to predict the degree of inflammation and to define a set of sonographic criteria for the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. Sonograms in a control group of 30 patients (group A) without biliary tract symptoms, ascites, or cholelithiasis and 24 patients (group B) with proven diagnosis of acute cholecystitis were reviewed. The histologic sections of the gallbladder wall in the cholecystitis patients were correlated with sonographic findings. None of the gallbladders showed perforation at the time of pathologic evaluation. Data failed to show a correlation between the pathologic severity of the inflammatory process in the gallbladder wall and the degree of sonographic wall thickening and wall anechoicity. Of patients with acute cholecystitis, 70% met all of the following sonographic criteria: (1) gallbladder wallthickening of 5 mm or greater, (2) gallbladder wall anechoicity, (3) gallbladder distension, as determined by an external anteroposterior width of 4 cm or greater, and (4) cholelithiasis.

Acute Disease↗

Abdominosacral approach for retrorectal tumors.

The relative rarity and anatomical position of retrorectal tumors may lead to difficulty in diagnosis and surgical treatment. The clinical features and management of 20 such tumors (chordoma 8, neurilemmoma 3, teratoma 3, hemangiopericytoma 1, chondrosarcoma 1, osteosarcoma 1, dermoid 1, lipoma 1, and undifferentiated sarcoma 1) have therefore been reviewed. Low back or sacral pain was present in 18 patients and, although all tumors were palpable on rectal examination, pain had been present for a median of 12 months before diagnosis. Mean tumor size was 9.4 cm (range: 2.5-17 cm). Sacral bone destruction was demonstrated radiographically in all chordomas and three sarcomas, but in none of the benign tumors. Three patients had undergone previous partial removal of their tumors. Surgical resection was carried out using a combined abdominal and transsacral approach in 13, a transsacral approach in the right lateral position in four and transabdominally in three. There was one operative death following secondary operation for chbrdoma. Four of 12 patients with malignant tumors are alive and well at seven months to eight years. One died of a myocardial infarct without recurrence at 11 years. For small benign tumors, the right lateral position permits maximal flexibility for resection either by the transsacral, transabdominal or a combined approach. For bulky or malignant tumors, a combined abdominal transsacral approach in the right lateral position permits vascular control and provides good exposure for protection of vital structures and wide resection.

Abdomen↗

Evidence of complement catabolism in experimental acute pancreatitis.

Serum specimens from guinea pigs with experimentally induced acute pancreatitis were examined for evidence of protease-antiprotease imbalance and complement catabolism. Pancreatitis was induced in 22 male Hartley guinea pigs by the injection of sodium taurocholate into the pancreatic parenchyma. Only a laparotomy was performed in 6 control animals. In 10 experimental animals that survived for less than 24 hours, there was a significant, early reduction of serum trypsin inhibitory capacity (a measure of antiprotease activity). Levels of total hemolytic complement as well as titers of hemolytic C3 and C4 fell significantly in all experimental animals during the first 24 hours. Factor B activity, however, did not change. Only serum from experimental animals contained chemotactic activity for human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. These findngs indicate that circulating complement components are cleaved during the course of experimental acute pancreatitis. As a consequence, complement-derived peptides are generated that may mediate local and systemic tissue injury.

Acute Disease↗