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Biomedical subjects

J S Burdick

Publications and source records attributed to J S Burdick.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Guidewire fracture during endoscopic sphincterotomy.

Aberrant current conductance during an endoscopic sphincterotomy is a potential hazard. However, such complications have remained primarily theoretical. In this case report, we describe the fracture of a 0.018" Teflon-coated guidewire while performing a sphincterotomy with a 7 French, dual-chambered papillotome. The fractured guidewire was free and loose in the biliary tree, but was subsequently retrieved with endoscopic techniques. Inspection of the papillotome revealed charring of the plastic area adjacent to the cutting wire tip. The electrocautery unit was found to be in normal operating condition after formal testing. We speculate that the papillotome was defective, allowing current flow directly from the cutting wire to the guidewire. The small diameter guidewire then allowed a greater current density, resulting in heat which eventually contributed to fracture of the guidewire. Aberrant current can be conducted over a non-insulated guidewire. This potential hazard can be avoided with an insulated (coated) guidewire or removal of a non-insulated guidewire.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1992

Epidemiology of blastomycosis in a region of high endemicity in north central Wisconsin.

The clinical and epidemiologic features of 73 patients with laboratory-confirmed blastomycosis who were identified over an 11-year period in North Central Wisconsin are presented. Pulmonary disease was the sole manifestation in 77% of patients. More than one-half of all patients had symptoms that included fever, cough, weight loss, night sweats, and pleuritic chest pain. Virtually all were previously healthy, and most did not have an outdoor occupation. However, 82% of these patients lived or had visited within 500 m of rivers or associated waterways. The majority experienced the onset of symptoms between December and April. The estimated mean annual incidence rate of infection for Vilas County was 40.4 cases per 100,000 persons, and that for the largest city in the county was 101.3 cases per 100,000 persons. Several areas with an exceptionally high incidence of the infection were observed. We suggest that, in regions where blastomycosis is hyperendemic, clinical disease is most often pulmonary and occurs in immunocompetent individuals and that residence near an ecological focus may be a greater risk factor for acquisition of blastomycosis than is occupation.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Premalignant changes in ulcerative colitis.

Colitis-associated carcinoma is often associated with, or preceded by, noninvasive epithelial neoplastic changes termed dysplasia. Surveillance colonoscopy with biopsies looking for dysplasia is now standard practice in the management of the cancer problem in ulcerative colitis. However, this practice continues to have a number of limitations and problems that need to be understood by surgeons who may be referring such patients. A number of recent reports indicate that colitis associated carcinoma is predominantly left-sided and incorporation of this distribution in the surveillance methods merits consideration. The molecular and genetic abnormalities involved in the pathogenesis of colitis associated neoplasia are being actively investigated and may yield supplementary methods to better define individual patient risk.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cutting the defiant lower esophageal ring.

A symptomatic lower esophageal ring generally responds to standard bougienage therapy. However, a subset of patients with a lower esophageal ring defy dilation therapy. We have evaluated the efficacy of electrocautery incision of "defiant" lower esophageal rings, the data of which forms the basis of this report. Seven of 75 patients with a lower esophageal ring failed to respond to conventional esophageal dilation. All seven patients underwent electrocautery incision of a "defiant" lower esophageal ring with alleviation of dysphagia. One patient had recurrence of dysphagia that occurred 6 months after initial electrocautery incision. No major complication occurred, although one patient had transient chest pain. Subsequently, all patients have remained without symptoms at a mean follow-up of 36 months. Electrocautery incision of "defiant" lower esophageal ring is efficacious, safe, and results in long-term relief of dysphagia.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An outbreak of human and canine blastomycosis.

In the summer and fall of 1988, three humans and one dog in a lakeshore community in northern Wisconsin were found to have blastomycosis on the basis of the results of cultures and histologic studies; the infection was also suspected in one human and four dogs on the basis of clinical data. Serologic testing with use of enzyme immunoassay for antibody to the A antigen of Blastomyces dermatitidis was performed for 77 additional human residents and visitors in the area an average of 9 months after the outbreak. Titers of antibody of greater than or equal to 1:32 were considered presumptive evidence of blastomycosis, and measurement of such titers enabled identification of 18 additional suspected cases in this group, compared with none in a control group (n = 40). Of the 22 humans with confirmed and suspected cases, 16 (73%) were asymptomatic. Epidemiologic and meteorologic data gathered during this period suggested an associated between this outbreak and the presence of dust from excavation for a hotel across the lake. The result of this study further confirm the common occurrence of self-limited and subclinical infection with B. dermatitidis and suggest that excavation in an area endemic for B. dermatitidis is a risk factor for human and canine infection.

Adolescent↗