Biomedical subjects

K Wester

Publications and source records attributed to K Wester.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1989

[What do the waiting lists cost? A study of patients with backache].

Waiting for treatment usually contributes to patients' psychological and financial problems. In this study we calculate and discuss the economic implications of these patients being on a waiting list for treatment. Our calculations show that the income lost in economic production is higher than the cost of treating patients with degenerative low back pain. This is mainly because these afflictions strike people of working age and render them invalids, whereas early adequate treatment usually allows the patients to take up their previous work.

Appointments and Schedules↗

PubMed1989

Multicystic syringomyelia treated with a single, non-valved syringoperitoneal shunt: fast and near-complete MRI normalization.

Four patients with multi-cystic syringomyelia were treated by a single, non-valved syringoperitoneal shunt. In all the patients, the cavitations were separated by a segment of apparently normal cord. In two of the patients, the cavitations also contained multiple transverse septa. In three patients the shunt was inserted in the most caudal cavitation, causing the shunted compartment to collapse, usually within a few weeks. The width of the more cranial cavitations normalized on postoperative MRI scans over several months. This was the case also in one patient where the most cranial cavitation was shunted. No complications or side effects were observed that could be attributed to the use of a non-valved shunt.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Spinal cord damage caused by rotation of a T-drain in a patient with syringoperitoneal shunt.

We report on a severe complication to the use of intramedullary T-drain in syringoperitoneal shunting procedures: rotational forces in the shunt system causing the arms of the T-drain to gradually compress spinal cord tissue and damage it. Further rotation/destruction was prevented by removing the distal part of the drain system, and by separating the two arms of the T-drain, thus changing it into a syringosubarachnoidal shunt. The syrinx remained collapsed throughout all procedures.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts↗

PubMed1989

Flow cytometric analysis of DNA content of deparaffinized nuclei in urinary bladder carcinomas. Comparison of different isolation methods and relation to histological grade and stage.

A consecutive series of 230 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder was analyzed with respect to the DNA content of the primary tumor, as determined by flow cytometry on material obtained from paraffin blocks. A new method for this analysis was elaborated, based on proteolytic digestion with protease (type VII, Sigma) and density separation of the nuclei by Percoll centrifugation. The method provided DNA flow histograms with less baseline debris and a smaller coefficient of variation in the peaks than published techniques. In eight of 70 cases tested (11%) the method revealed aneuploid peaks that were not distinguished with the original technique and in 197/230 case (86%) interpretable DNA histograms were obtained. The distribution of diploid and aneuploid tumors in different grades and T categories was assessed. None of the grade 1 tumors was aneuploid; 11% of grade 2A, 63% of grade 2B and 83% of grade 3-4, respectively, were aneuploid. The corresponding figures for categories Ta, T1, T2, T3 and T4 were 16, 55, 72, 65 and 100%, respectively.

Aneuploidy↗

PubMed1989

[Surgical treatment of epilepsy. Needs, examination, resource demands and results].

This review gives the current status of epilepsy surgery, the diagnostic procedures involved and the resources needed. Relatively few of the epilepsy patients are possible candidates for surgery. However, only a small fraction of these possible candidates are actually offered this treatment, in Norway as well as world-wide. The need for increased activity within this field is emphasized, as is the necessity of multi-disciplinary, regionalized epilepsy centers.

Epilepsy↗

PubMed1989

Management of acute head injuries in a Norwegian county--effects of introducing CT scanning in a local hospital.

Introducing a new diagnostic tool, a CT scanner, in a county hospital resulted in a marked redistribution of the handling of acute/severe head injuries. Before the introduction of the CT scanner, a substantial number of these patients were referred to the regional neurosurgical unit. After having acquired its own scanner, the county hospital took over most of the diagnostic and therapeutic tasks concerning acute head injuries, surgery inclusive. This change in policy resulted in more patients surviving without sequelae, and reduced the average latency to surgery. The proportion of operated patients increased considerably, from 23% to 64%. In a relatively large proportion of the patients, there were complications with continuous ICP monitoring using the subdural bolt. This procedure was therefore discontinued. In spite of the improved results caused by the observed redistribution, the study indicates a need for additional training of the county hospital staff.

Accidental Falls↗

PubMed1988