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Biomedical subjects

J S Jameson

Publications and source records attributed to J S Jameson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Factors predicting early recurrence after transanal endoscopic microsurgery excision for rectal adenoma.

INTRODUCTION: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is an accepted way of excising rectal adenomas with low morbidity and mortality, avoiding major resectional surgery. However, there are no agreed criteria for surveillance following TEM. The purpose of this study was to identify criteria to guide surveillance programmes, thus reducing the surveillance burden for those patients at low risk of recurrence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who had undergone TEM for rectal adenomas were identified, and a retrospective review of patient, pathological and histological parameters was performed. RESULTS: Seventy-five (40 male) patients were identified; median age 70 years (39-85). There were seven tubular, 33 tubulo-villous and 35 villous adenomas. All were considered completely excised by the operating surgeon. Forty-seven (62.7%) were reported as being completely excised histologically. There was no significant association between recurrence at 6 months and sex, age, type or position of adenoma, height above the anal verge, or degree of dysplasia. Recurrence rates at six months were 0% for the completely excised adenomas and 21.4% for the incompletely excised ones; this was statistically significant (Pearson chi(2), P < 0.001). In all there were 12 recurrences, 10 in the incompletely excised group at a median follow up of 31 (6-80) months (P < 0.001). In addition, a significant association for large adenomas to recur was noted at median follow up (Armitage Trend test, P = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Histological assessment of completeness of excision of rectal adenoma and size of adenoma are important predictors of early recurrence and have potential to guide follow-up strategies after TEM.

Adenoma↗

Life-threatening sepsis following treatment for haemorrhoids: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Haemorrhoids are a common complaint with estimates suggesting a prevalence of 4% of the adult population. Treatments such as rubber band ligation (RBL), sclerotherapy and excisional surgery have been in use for many years, and recently stapled haemorrhoidopexy, or procedure for prolapsing haemorrhoids (PPH) has gained acceptance. However, there have been consistent reports of severe sepsis, including a number of deaths. The purpose of this review was to assess the scale of the problem, and identify any predisposing factors, common presenting features, and treatment options in those who suffer these complications. RESULTS: Twenty-nine papers were identified, reporting 38 patients. Of these, 17 had undergone RBL, three had sclerotherapy, one had cryotherapy, 10 had excisional surgery and seven had PPH. Ten died as a result of their sepsis. The cases included 16 with perineal sepsis, seven with retroperitoneal gas and oedema, and six with liver abscesses. Common presenting features were urinary difficulties, fever, severe pain, septic shock and leucocytosis. Most were managed by means of surgery, although a minority survived having received conservative therapy. With the exception of two patients (one of whom was human immunodeficiency virus positive and the other had a drug-induced agranulocytosis) all were well prior to surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Although extremely uncommon, severe sepsis does occur post-treatment for haemorrhoids and all surgeons who treat such patients should be aware of the potential complications and alert to their presenting features. Early presentation without evidence of tissue necrosis may be managed conservatively, although most cases are managed by means of surgery.

Digestive System Surgical Procedures↗

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery--lessons from a single UK centre series.

OBJECTIVES: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM), a minimally invasive technique has been employed in the excision of benign and selected malignant rectal tumours since 1983. We present a single surgeon's series of 102 procedures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective case note review of 102 procedures performed over a 6-year period between 1996 and 2001. RESULTS: One hundred and two TEM procedures were performed on 100 patients. 68 for adenomas, 19 potentially curative excisions for carcinoma, 13 palliative procedures for advanced carcinoma and 2 for solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS). Four adenomas recurred and were successfully treated by various procedures. None went on to develop malignancy, or a further recurrence. Of the cancers, six T1 and 10 T2 were excised with curative intent. Three T3 cancers were excised before endorectal ultrasound was available in the unit and went on to have definitive procedures. One T1 and two T2 carcinomas were not completely histologically excised. These patients were offered definitive procedure and there have been no recurrences. 11 patients underwent palliative TEM procedures, 2 went on to have a recurrence of symptoms. Both underwent a successful second TEM procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Although longer term follow up is still required, TEM appears to be an effective method of excising benign tumours and T1 carcinomas of the rectum. The role of TEM in the treatment of T2 carcinomas is, as yet, unclear and needs further evaluation although the results of our series and others are encouraging.

Journal Article↗

Medical causes of faecal incontinence.

Faecal incontinence can result from a disturbance in any one of the multiple factors which maintain continence. In practice, faecal incontinence is most commonly seen in women who have had children. This symptom can also be seen in other patient groups, who may in addition have had children, and this article will discuss the mechanisms involved in the loss of continence in diabetics and patients with multiple sclerosis.

Anal Canal↗

An unusual presentation of intestinal lymphangiectasia.

Intestinal lymphangiectasia is a rare disorder, usually presenting with protein-losing enteropathy leading to oedema and ascites. We describe a case that presented as an acute surgical emergency with pain and a mass in the right iliac fossa, which was successfully treated by resection of the involved segment of ileum.

Abdomen, Acute↗

Paradoxical puborectalis contraction is a feature of constipation in patients with multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the disturbed anorectal physiology associated with constipation in multiple sclerosis. METHODS: Anorectal function in 10 patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis and constipation has been compared with 10 normal persons and 11 patients with idiopathic constipation, without multiple sclerosis. RESULTS: All 10 constipated patients with multiple sclerosis had difficulty evacuating barium paste during defaecography. In four of these there was complete failure of puborectalis relaxation when straining to defaecate, and in another four there was incomplete puborectalis relaxation. There was no evidence of lower motor neuron involvement of pelvic floor muscles in the multiple sclerosis group. CONCLUSIONS: Paradoxical puborectalis contraction is common in patients with multiple sclerosis in whom constipation is a symptom. This may be a feature of the disturbed voluntary sphincter control mechanism, analogous to detrusor sphincter dyssnergia in the bladder.

Adult↗

Splenectomy for haematological disease.

The role of splenectomy in haematological disease appears to be changing. This single centre, retrospective study was carried out to document the indications for splenectomy and its outcome over a 7-year period and to compare it with the preceding 7-year period. Sixty-four patients underwent splenectomy in the study period, the main indication being idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. There was one post-operative death and morbidity was seen in 40 (63%) patients. Splenectomy was successful in achieving the desired aim in 51 (80%) patients. Approximately 40% fewer patients underwent splenectomy in the study period compared with the preceding 7 years despite there being an overall increase of 123 (633 vs. 540) patients treated for haematological disease in this period. The reason for this observation was the fall in the number of splenectomies performed for Hodgkin's disease and auto-immune haemolytic anaemia.

Female↗

Management of lower limb ischaemia associated with the use of intra-aortic balloon pumps during cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To audit the lower limb vascular complications associated with the use of an intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) on a cardiothoracic unit over a 12 month period. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: Regional university cardiothoracic unit. PATIENTS: Fifty four IABPs inserted into 51 patients. RESULTS: Seventeen patients (33%) died from cardiogenic shock in the immediate postoperative period. Of the remaining 34 patients (37 IABPs), lower limb vascular complications occurred in nine patients (26%) who underwent 11 IABP insertions (30%). Vascular complications included groin haematomas (n = 2 insertions), compartment syndrome (n = 2 insertions), femoral artery trauma (n = 7 insertions). CONCLUSIONS: Prompt management by peripheral vascular surgeons resulted in limb salvage in 10 legs and only one death from a pulmonary embolus.

Acute Disease↗

Effect of age, sex and parity on anorectal function.

Ninety-one healthy subjects (51 women; age range 16-85 years) were studied prospectively to determine the effect of age, sex and parity on anorectal function. Maximum resting pressure, voluntary contraction pressure, rectal sensation to distension, rectal and mid-anal electrosensitivity, perineal descent, pudendal nerve terminal motor latency and fibre density of the external and sphincter were measured. Sex influenced mean(s.d.) voluntary contraction pressure (148(56) versus 95(43) cmH2O for men versus women, P < 0.0001), perineal descent on straining (1.0(0.5) versus 1.3(0.4) cm, P = 0.02) and fibre density (1.43(0.14) versus 1.52(0.15), P = 0.02). Age influenced resting pressure (r = -0.43, P = 0.0001), perineal position at rest (r = -0.55, P < or = 0.0001), mid-anal electrosensitivity (r = 0.42, P = 0.0001) and rectal electrosensitivity (r = 0.54, P < 0.0001). Parity affected mean(s.d.) voluntary contraction pressure (105(53) versus 75(20) cmH2O for nulliparous versus parous women, P = 0.04) and mid-anal electrosensitivity (5.3(2.3) versus 4.5(2.3) mA, P = 0.02). Increasing age leads to perineal descent at rest, slowed pudendal nerve conduction, a fall in resting anal pressure and decreased anorectal sensory function. Women have a lower and squeeze pressure, greater perineal descent, longer pudendal nerve terminal motor latency and a greater muscle fibre density than men. Parity leads only to lower squeeze pressure.

Adolescent↗

Audit of postanal repair in the treatment of fecal incontinence.

PURPOSE: The short-term results of postanal repair for idiopathic fecal incontinence are satisfactory but data on long-term outcome are lacking. This study was carried out to document the short-term and long-term results of this operation and to determine whether preoperative tests predict long-term outcome. METHODS: Thirty-six patients (33 females; mean age, 57 years) with major idiopathic fecal incontinence operated on by one surgeon were studied. Patients had resting and voluntary contraction anal pressures and pudendal nerve terminal motor latencies (PNTML) measured preoperatively. Symptoms were evaluated at 6 months after operation and again at a median of 25 (range, 6-72) months in all 36 patients. Symptoms were classified as: Group C, no improvement or worse; Group B, minor improvement; and Group A, marked improvement in comparison to the patient's preoperative symptoms. Seventeen patients had postoperative physiology performed. RESULTS: At 6 months there were 6 (17 percent) patients in Group C, 12 (33 percent) in Group B, and 18 (50 percent) in Group A. At final follow-up there were 17 (47 percent) in Group C, 9 (25 percent) in Group B, and 10 (28 percent) in Group A. Comparison of the preoperative data in the final outcome groups showed (mean +/- SE): Groups A and B vs. Group C--resting pressure, 24.6 +/- 6 cm H2O vs. 40.5 +/- 12.2 (P = 0.2), voluntary contraction pressure, 23.7 +/- 5.7 vs. 11.8 +/- 3.6 (P = 0.09), and PNTML, 3.2 +/- 0.75 mS vs. 3.3 +/- 0.99 (P = 0.8). Mean differences between post-operative and preoperative results were: resting pressure, 28 +/- 8.2 cm H2O (P = 0.003); voluntary contraction pressure, 19.5 +/- 6.7 (P = 0.01); and PNTML, -0.3 +/- 0.29 mS (P = 0.3). CONCLUSIONS: At 6 months 83 percent of patients had obtained some benefit from postanal repair but only 53 percent maintained this improvement with only 28 percent being markedly better. There was a trend toward a more favorable outcome in patients with greater squeezing pressures preoperatively but other tests were not of long-term predictive value.

Anal Canal↗

Pelvic floor function in multiple sclerosis.

The aim of this study was to define pelvic floor function in patients with multiple sclerosis and bowel dysfunction, either incontinence (MSI) or defecation difficulties without incontinence (MSC). Normal controls and patients with idiopathic neurogenic faecal incontinence without multiple sclerosis (FI, disease controls) were also studied. Thirty eight multiple sclerosis patients (20 incontinent, 18 incontinent) 73 normal controls, and 91 FI patients were studied. The FI group showed the characteristic combined sensorimotor deficit previously described in these patients of low resting and voluntary contraction and pressures, increased sensory threshold to mucosal stimulation, and increased pudendal nerve terminal motor latencies and fibre densities. MSI patients had significantly lower anal resting pressures (80 (30-140) cm H2O, median (range) v 98 (30-200), normal controls, p = 0.002) and both MSC and MSI patients had significantly lower anal maximum voluntary contraction pressures (65 (0-260) cm H2O, MSC and 25 (0-100), MSI v 120 (30-300), normal controls, p = < 0.0004) and higher external anal sphincter fibre densities (1.7 (1.1-2.6), MSC and 1.7 (1.1-2.4), MSI v 1.5 (1.1-1.75), normal controls, p < 0.006) compared with normal controls but pudendal nerve terminal motor latencies were similar and no sensory deficit was found. This contrasted with the idiopathic faecal incontinent patients who, in addition to significantly higher fibre densities (1.8 (1.1-3), p = 0.001) had increased pudendal latencies (2.5 (1.1-5.5) mS v 2.08 (1.4-2.6), p = 0.001) compared with normal controls. The idiopathic faecal incontinent group had significantly lower resting anal pressures (50 (10-160) cm H2O, p=0.02) than the MSI group. Comparison with the incontinent and continent multiple sclerosis groups showed that incontinence was associated with lower voluntary anal contraction pressures (25 (0-100) v 65 (0-260), p=0.03) but that there were no other differences between these two groups. Pelvic floor function is considerably disturbed in multiple sclerosis, showing muscular weakness with preservation of peripheral motor nerve conduction, providing indirect evidence that this is mainly a result of lesions within the central nervous system.

Adult↗

Oral or intravenous erythromycin has no effect on human distal colonic motility.

Erythromycin is a prokinetic agent for the lower oesophageal sphincter, the stomach, the gallbladder and the small bowel, acting directly on motilin receptors. Its effect on pressure activity of the human colon has not been investigated. Eight healthy volunteers were studied on 2 occasions and given intravenous or oral erythromycin, or placebo in a single-blind, randomized crossover study. Sigmoid pressure activity was measured using a 4-lumen water perfused system placed sigmoidoscopically at 50, 45, 30 and 15 cm from the anal verge. The pressures were analysed for activity index (mmHg.min) for the 35 cm colonic study segment using dedicated software. No significant difference was found in the activity index following oral erythromycin (500 mg) or placebo, or following intravenous erythromycin 1.8 mg/kg or placebo. A further 8 subjects were studied in a single-blind crossover study to determine the effect of oral erythromycin (500 mg) b.d. on colonic transit, measured with radio-opaque markers and a single abdominal X-ray. Mean or segmental colonic transit times were not statistically significantly different (Student's paired t-test) in the subjects on placebo or erythromycin. This lack of effect of erythromycin on the distal large intestine may indicate the absence of receptors for motilin in that part of the gut.

Administration, Oral↗

Is oropharyngeal anaesthesia with topical lignocaine useful in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy?

The aim of this study was to determine whether patients' tolerance of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is related to the dose of lignocaine spray used for oropharyngeal anaesthesia and to measure plasma concentrations at these doses. Sixty consecutive patients undergoing routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with sedation were randomized to receive lignocaine spray 50 mg (Group A), 100 mg (Group B) or 200 mg (Group C). Patient, endoscopist and endoscopy nurse were unaware of the variation in dose used. Each patient's tolerance of the intubation and of the remainder of the gastroscopy was assessed independently by the patient, endoscopy nurse, and endoscopist using a visual analogue scale. Plasma lignocaine concentration was measured at 20, 40, 60 and 80 min after administration of the spray. Fifty (83%) patients were unable to recall either the intubation, or the procedure. On the endoscopy nurse's assessment, the patients in Group B tolerated the intubation better than those in Group A, and Groups B and C tolerated the remainder of the gastroscopy better than those in Group A. On the endoscopist's assessment, Groups B and C tolerated the remainder of the gastroscopy better than Group A. There were fewer gags per min in Groups B and C compared to Group A. Mean plasma lignocaine concentrations showed a dose-dependent absorption of the spray, but none exceeded the potentially toxic level of 5 mg/L.

Administration, Oral↗