Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L Helmig

Publications and source records attributed to L Helmig.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Side effects of adjuvant chemotherapy: perceptions of node-negative breast cancer patients.

Twenty-one node-negative breast cancer patients were interviewed shortly after completing adjuvant chemotherapy and asked about side effects they had experienced, expectation of side effects, and strategies for coping with the side effects. Eighteen of the women were interviewed 6 months later to determine their feelings about the chemotherapy experience and ending treatment and what side effects persisted or developed after chemotherapy. Hair loss, fatigue, treatment-related problems, nausea and infections/low blood counts were the most frequently described problems during the first interviews. Patients used coping strategies suggested by physicians and nurses. Six months later, hair problems, fatigue, weight gain, menopausal problems, emotional problems and nail problems were most often reported. Most patients (16/18) did not expect to be experiencing chemotherapy-related problems 6 months after ending treatment. Fatigue interfered with daily lives and weight gain caused concern. A total of 35% of participants experienced fear or anxiety at the end of chemotherapy, but most (62%) recalled at least some positive feelings 6 months later. Given the same circumstances, all but two would make the same decision to undergo adjuvant chemotherapy. Support groups would be especially useful for patients completing chemotherapy who would lose continued frequent support from clinic personnel.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1994

Attitudes of oncologists, oncology nurses, and patients from a women's clinic regarding medical decision making for older and younger breast cancer patients.

To assess their attitudes toward patient input in medical decisions for breast cancer patients, 67 oncologists, 94 oncology nurses and 288 patients from a women's clinic completed the Beisecker Locus of Authority in Decision Making: Breast Cancer survey. Nurses and physicians responded in terms of a patient aged 40, 60, or 75 years. All groups believed that physicians should have the dominant role in decision making. Nurses felt that patients should have more input than patients or physicians felt they should. Physicians advocated the least patient input. Patient age was not a significant factor in explaining respondents' attitudes.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Cardiovascular stress reactivity and mood during the menstrual cycle.

This study examined blood pressure and heart rate responses to a mental arithmetic task in a sample of 16 regularly menstruating women during the follicular (postmenstrual) and luteal (premenstrual) phases of their menstrual cycles. Self-reports of physical and psychological symptoms (mood) were obtained prior to testing. A control group of men was matched to the women with regard to age and yoked to the women's cycle phases. Both women and men were told the study involved "phases of the moon" in order to eliminate subjects' awareness of participating in a biological cycle study. Consistent with prior studies that have eliminated women's awareness of taking part in a study on menstrual phases, no phase differences in mood were evident nor did the women's mood ratings differ from those of men's. In addition, there were no phase differences in blood pressure and heart rate reactivity. These findings suggest that hormonal variations characteristic of the luteal and follicular phases do not assert an influence on common assessments of cardiovascular stress reactivity.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Carotid endarterectomy. Risks and benefits of treatment].

From 1980 to 1985, 210 endarterectomies of the carotid artery were performed in 187 patients (50 female, 127 male). In 55 cases there were asymptomatic filiform stenoses with concomitant high grade stenosis or occlusion of the contralateral artery. 155 stenoses of the carotid artery of mostly the highest degree were symptomatic. Patients were examined by means of the direct CW-doppler ultrasound immediately postoperatively and every six months up to six years. In 9 cases (4.3%) there was a perioperative (central) neurologic incident, which in 5 (2.3%) cases was followed by permanent neurologic deficits. Three of these incidents were caused by an early occlusion of the reconstruction. The stroke rate (including perioperative stroke rate) determined by life table analysis for the whole group after 6 years was 5.6%. The rate of TIA's was 4.5%. The rate of local recurrence (stenosis greater than 50% or occlusions) after six years was 15.3%. Except for the above mentioned early occlusions only one recurrent stenosis was symptomatic. We believe that asymptomatic, non multimorbid patients with doublesided high grade stenoses and symptomatic patients profit from an endarterectomy of the carotid artery, as long as the perioperative stroke rate and mortality do not exceed 3-4%.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Pedal and distal lower leg bypasses with a distal arteriovenous fistula.

In forty patients 41 feet were revascularised by means of distal tibial (the distal 10 cm of the lower leg) (17) or pedal bypasses (24). Angiographically the preoperative state was best defined as a lower leg block (LLB); All three arteries showing occlusions at several levels, leaving only isolated functioning arterial segments in the distal leg or foot with relatively good femoral and popliteal arteries. As might be expected this condition was mainly found in diabetics (75%). Only feet with severe rest pain (4) or rest pain with gangrene (37) were operated upon. To improve the distal outflow a side-to-side arteriovenous fistula (AVF) was added to the distal anastomosis. With a mean follow-up of 21 months (1-40 months) the limb salvage rate was 79% and the patency rate 67%. Special problems were experienced with cellulitis of the foot, causing the loss of three feet despite an open bypass and sufficient revascularisation. Furthermore, occlusion of the bypass after healing of the lesion did not necessarily mean a recurrence of gangrene. As this series shows, even in angiographically apparently hopeless cases, a bypass to the foot can prevent an otherwise unavoidable amputation.

Aged↗
PubMed1978

[Amputation of the knee joint in vascular diseases].

Reported are 97 extensive amputations in 87 patients from 1975 to 1977. Postoperative early mortality was 47% and depended on the disease and the various factors that made amputation necessary. Amputations in chronic occlusive vascular disease without septicemia had a far lower mortality, 10%. Amputations in patients with septicemia resulted in a mortality of 90%. According to Burgess, amputations of the lower leg, exarticulation in the knee joint, and myeloplastic and open amputation of the thigh should be considered in that order. Exarticulation in the knee joint is only feasible in the presence of an open, deep, femoral artery.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1977

[The frequency of the combination of arterial occlusive disease in supraaortic and leg range. An analysis in the patient population of a vascular surgical department (author's transl)].

Among 337 male patients who were hospitalized because of chronic ischemia of the leg, 103 (=30.6%) were shown to suffer from concomitant occlusive vascular disease of supraaortic branches. This was evaluated by simple examination like auscultation, bilateral blood pressure measurements, and palpation of pulses. In 52% the patients history revealed dizziness, hemiparesis and transient ischemic attacks (TIA). Arteriell hypertension promotes supraaortic vascular diseases as is shown by a relative frequency of 0.52 in contrast to 0.39. Combined occlusions of the iliac and femoropopliteal arteries are accompanied by supraaortic vascular disease in 40%, in femoropopliteal occlusion alone in only 20%. If the basic diagnostic approach is improved by directional ultra-sonic examinations of the carotid arteries, approximately 20% of all patients with advanced vascular disease of the iliac and femoropopliteal arteries have to be operated on for cerebrovascular disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1977

[More safety in catheter cerebral angiography (author's transl)].

Hazards and difficulties of catheter carotid and vertebral angiography are reported. Our experience is based on 257 persons who had undergone 338 carotid and 33 vertebral arteriographies. In 31 patients, bilateral carotid as well as aortic arch and abdominal aortic, iliac and lower limb arteriography were carried out in one session. Our material consists of consecutive cases. The characteristics of the "sidewinder-technique" are emphasized. Several safety measures considered necessary during the examination are described.

Angiography↗