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Biomedical subjects

K B Allen

Publications and source records attributed to K B Allen.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Subxiphoid pericardial drainage for pericardial tamponade.

As a result of recent reports and enthusiasm for video-assisted thorascopic pericardiectomy, we reviewed our experience with subxiphoid pericardial drainage. From August 15, 1988, to June 7, 1993, 155 patients underwent subxiphoid pericardial drainage for pericardial effusion associated with pericardial tamponade. The group comprised 85 female (55%) and 70 male patients whose ages ranged from 5 weeks to 88 years. The procedure was carried out with general anesthesia in 113 patients (72%) and with local anesthesia and sedation in 42 patients. Underlying cancer was present in 82 patients; 73 patients had benign disease. Follow-up is complete in all patients. The overall 30-day mortality was 20%; in patients with cancer it was 32.9% (27/82) versus 5.4% (4/73) for patients with benign disease. No postoperative death was attributed to the surgical procedure. Recurrent pericardial tamponade necessitating further surgical intervention occurred in four patients (2.5%), two with cancer (2.4%) and two with benign disease (2.7%). Median survival after subxiphoid pericardial drainage in patients with benign disease was more than 800 days versus 83 days in patients with cancer (p < 0.01). Median survival after pericardial drainage in patients with cancer who had malignant pericardial effusion was 56 days compared with 105 days for patients with cancer who did not have tumor in the pericardium (p < 0.05). We believe that subxiphoid drainage is the procedure of choice for patients with pericardial tamponade. It is accomplished quickly, is associated with minimal morbidity, and prevents recurrent tamponade in 97.4% (151/155) of patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Transhiatal stapled esophagojejunostomy without a pursestring suture in patients with previous gastric resection.

Previous gastric resection complicates alimentary tract reconstruction after esophagectomy. Colonic interposition is the standard conduit in this circumstance, but has substantial mortality and morbidity, especially important when treatment goals are to provide effective alimentation and minimize hospital stay. This report details the technique of a transabdominal, intrathoracic, stapled esophagojejunostomy created without a pursestring suture, which was used to reconstruct the esophagus in 3 patients who had previously undergone partial gastrectomy. This technique avoids both colon interposition and thoracotomy, thereby minimizing the associated complications.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Malignant pleural mesothelioma. Extrapleural pneumonectomy and pleurectomy.

Diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma is an uncommon, uniformly fatal malignancy. Controversy continues to surround the optimal surgical procedure, both extrapleural pneumonectomy or pleurectomy, which should be utilized in conjunction with post-operative chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. This retrospective study reviews a single institution's experience with extrapleural pneumonectomy and pleurectomy in the multimodality treatment of diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Surgery for achalasia of the cardia in children: the Dor-Gavriliu procedure.

The Dor-Gavriliu procedure was utilized in six children with achalasia of the cardia from 1983 to 1991. Four boys and two girls (mean age, 10.1 years; range, 3 months to 16 years) presented with symptoms of weight loss (83%), emesis (83%), dysphagia (67%), recurrent respiratory infections (67%), and nocturnal regurgitation (33%). The diagnosis of achalasia was established by barium swallow in all patients; esophageal manometry was used in four patients to confirm the diagnosis. Follow-up ranged from 10 months to 8 years (mean, 3.5 years). Four neurologically normal patients had excellent results with complete resolution of their preoperative symptoms. Two neurologically impaired children, both afflicted with Down's syndrome, had less than excellent results. One moderately impaired child had a good result (required three postoperative bougie dilations over 8 years without demonstration of gastroesophageal reflux); the second, more severely impaired child, had only a fair result (persistent failure to thrive with the development of grade II gastroesophageal reflux). The Dor-Gavriliu procedure uses a transabdominal, anterior esophageal myotomy with incorporation of an effective, nonobstructing, antireflux mechanism that should prevent myotomy reapposition.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Wandering spleen: anatomic and radiologic considerations.

Wandering spleen is a rare clinical entity and remains an elusive clinical diagnosis, particularly in the pediatric patient. Among the imaging modalities (computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear medicine, ultrasonography, plain films) used in the diagnosis of wandering spleen, ultrasonography is the least invasive and most effective. Elective splenopexy remains the treatment of choice when the diagnosis is made before splenic infarction. We present two cases of wandering spleen manifested as a lower abdominal mass, and we discuss the surgical anatomy of the spleen and splenic ligaments and the hypothetical responsibility of these ligaments for the genesis of this clinical entity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Isolated splenic metastasis from rectal carcinoma.

Splenic metastasis is a late manifestation of disseminated disease. Focal metastatic splenic involvement, however, without evidence of additional systemic disease, is unique. Review of the literature yielded only one case of isolated splenic metastasis incidental to rectal carcinoma. We have reported an additional case of isolated solitary splenic metastasis from primary adenocarcinoma of the rectum. Theoretically, certain anatomic, histologic, and functional splenic attributes may limit splenic involvement from metastatic disease.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1992

Acute mesenteric ischemia after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Acute mesenteric ischemia is an uncommon but catastrophic event after cardiopulmonary bypass. From 1980 to 1990, 16,951 cardiac procedures requiring cardiopulmonary bypass were performed at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Ga. Eighteen patients (0.1%) had acute mesenteric ischemia that resulted in intestinal infarction. Emergency cardiac surgery had been performed in 16 of the 18 patients, and all 18 patients were vasopressor dependent for hemodynamic support after surgery. Diagnostic difficulties resulted in the diagnosis of intestinal infarction an average of 9 1/2 days after cardiopulmonary bypass. Nonocclusive mesenteric arterial ischemia was the determined cause in all cases. Statistically significant risk factors associated with acute mesenteric ischemia after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery included (1) emergency cardiac surgery (p less than 0.0001), (2) the use of an intraaortic balloon pump (p less than 0.0001), (3) failed angioplasty requiring emergency surgery (p = 0.0074), (4) prolonged pump time (p = 0.0093), and (5) advanced age (p = 0.0016). A high index of suspicion for mesenteric ischemia after cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with identified risk factors may decrease the diagnostic delay and lead to an improvement in the 67% mortality rate seen in this series.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

Spontaneous pneumoperitoneum. A surgical dilemma.

Pneumoperitoneum is usually the result of hollow viscus perforation with associated peritonitis. Nonsurgical spontaneous pneumoperitoneum incidental to intrathoracic, intra-abdominal, gynecologic, iatrogenic, and other miscellaneous causes not associated with perforated viscus have been documented in the literature. Seven cases of spontaneous pneumoperitoneum admitted over 3-year period to Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia are reported. Six patients with pneumoperitoneum underwent exploratory laparotomy when clinical examination suggested an acute abdomen; no intra-abdominal pathology was documented in any of these patients. A seventh patient, on ventilatory support, was managed conservatively after performing a diagnostic peritoneal lavage that was negative. There were no cases of radiographically misdiagnosed pneumoperitoneum. Pneumoperitoneum, preceded by a reasonable incidental cause in a patient with a adequate abdominal examination, may warrant continued observation thus avoiding an unnecessary laparotomy.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the pancreas.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is a well-recognized soft-tissue sarcoma; however, its presentation as a primary neoplasm of the pancreas is unusual. We report a rare case of primary MFH of the pancreas treated with wide local excision and postoperative chemotherapy. Three cases of MFH of the pancreas have previously been reported in the world literature. The natural history of MFH of the pancreas cannot be summarized due to the rarity of the tumor. It appears, however, that the behavior of this tumor parallels the behavior of retroperitoneal MFH in terms of aggressiveness and poor prognosis.

Combined Modality Therapy↗
PubMed1989

Pediatric wandering spleen--the case for splenopexy: review of 35 reported cases in the literature.

Wandering spleen is an uncommon diagnosis and has been rarely described in children. A review of the English literature yielded 35 reported cases in children less than 10 years of age. Eighteen (51%) presented as acute surgical emergencies, only eight of which had the correct diagnosis of pedicle torsion with splenic infarction established preoperatively. Thirteen patients underwent an elective laparotomy, either for chronic symptoms related to their wandering spleen or for an abdominal mass. Of the 13 patients electively managed, nine underwent a splenectomy while five were treated successfully with splenopexy. The remaining four patients were managed conservatively without surgical intervention. In only one third of the patients presenting as acute surgical emergencies was there any history of intermittent abdominal pain or of a previous abdominal mass. No deaths were reported. Males represented 63% of the patients. The occurrence was most common in patients less than 1 year of age, with a 6:1 male predominance in this age category. All acute cases of wandering spleen in which splenic infarction has occurred require splenectomy. However, in patients with chronic symptoms or in whom the diagnosis is made prior to splenic infarction, splenopexy should be the treatment of choice. Past recommendations of splenectomy or conservative nonsurgical management are not indicated. Literature on pediatric wandering spleen is reviewed herein, and a technique for splenopexy using Dexon mesh is described.

Child↗