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Biomedical subjects

M Ionescu

Publications and source records attributed to M Ionescu.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Pharmacokinetic based adjustment of lidocaine antiarrhythmic schedule.

Administration of lidocaine, 200 mg/day i.m. or 275 mg orally, decreased sudden death after myocardial infarct (from 20.7% to 10.3%) although such schedules are not considered adequate to guarantee efficient plasma levels. Inclusion of lidocaine in a polyethylene matrix assured a slow release and complete disappearance of known side effects. Lidocaine was administered 200 mg intramuscularly to hospitalized patients every 6 h or 275 mg oral tablets to healthy volunteers every 8 h and plasma levels evaluated. Plasma levels after oral administration to healthy volunteers showed a great variability, so that it was not possible to draw a statistically significant conclusion about the accumulation of lidocaine in a period of 1 week. In coronary artery disease patients, plasma levels slowly increased with time, but clinical signs indicated, in some cases, a much more rapid accumulation. The therapeutic efficiency at low repeated doses was explained as a consequence of a slow accumulation on the one hand and of the addition of the action of MEGX, the major metabolite of lidocaine, on the other hand.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗

Hypophosphataemia and its consequences in patients following open heart surgery.

Plasma phosphate concentration (Pi), red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentrations were measured pre-operatively and at intervals after operation for 30 h in twelve patients (nine males and three females, 44--61 years of age), who underwent open heart surgery. All patients received intravenous injections of glucose, insulin and potassium at regular intervals. In all patients studied Pi decreased within hours following operation, remained low for about 6 h and pre-operative values were reached by 18 h. Pi decreased from 1.04 +/- 0.6 mmol/litre (mean +/- s.e. mean) to 0.32 +/- 0.06 mmol/litre. This fall in Pi was accompanied by a small but significant fall in 2,3-DPG (from 14.8 +/- 0.60 mumol/g Hb to 11.2 +/- 0.60 mumol/g Hb). ATP concentration did not change significantly. The calculated P50 (partial pressure of oxygen at which there was 50% saturation of haemoglobin) decreased by 1.2 mmHg. The regular fall in Pi which is probably due to the glucose-insulin-potassium injections was of short duration and had very little effect on red cell 2,3-DPG and ATP.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

The outpatient management of peripheral diabetic neuropathy.

Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes. Its commonest form is the bilateral, distal sensorimotor neuropathy and this has been associated with increased risk of disability from foot ulceration, inadvertent injury leading to gangrene as well as to amputation. The economic implications of the treatment of diabetic neuropathy and its consequences are enormous. In spite of this, there is no universally accepted method of treating it and efforts are still underway to find an adequate form of therapy. The following is a review of the outpatient management of peripheral diabetic neuropathy.

Ambulatory Care↗

[Palliative total gastrectomy in advanced malignancies of the stomach].

The diagnosis of the malignancies of the stomach is generally late (stages III and IV to a medium value of 80% of patients). Therefore it is necessary a surgical treatment in order to effectuate the extirpation of the lesions and to warn or to treat the complications in course of the neoplastic disease. The indications and the results of the palliative total gastrectomy (PTG) are analyzed in the present study. Between 1992 and 1999 there were studied retrospectively and prospectively during three successive periods of time, 217 patients (pts.) with PTG. This group of pts. represents 22.1% of the total number of pts. operated on for gastric malignancies (carcinoma particularly). The indication of PTG was established only after one complex evaluation of the every patient from the point of view of his general and biological status. 142 (65.4%/217) of the analyzed pts. presented at the admission in the hospital various complications of the malignant disease (gastric different stenosis, digestive hemorrhages, loco-regional invasion). The lymph nodes metastases and the systemic metastases (in the liver especially) as well as the invasion in the neighbouring viscera imposed sometimes the extension of the PTG with partial or total extirpation of the invaded organs. A proportion of 61% pts. were submitted to those type of enlarged surgical interventions without radical intentions; all the operated pts. remained by necessity in R1 or R2 types of operations. The reconstructive preferred anastomosis was effectuated with an Y jejunal ansa à la Roux completed or not by a "J" reservoir. Microscopically pathologic lesions were: adenocarcinoma and carcinoma (82%), followed by primitive lymphoma (11.5%), and others malignant forms of lesions (approximately 6%). The general perioperative morbidity was 32.5% divided in: 12.3% having a surgical cause (the majority anastomotic leakages +/- septically complications or precocious occlusions); 20.2% complications depending by the general status and altered biology of the patients. Perioperative mortality was 10.1% (22 pts.) comparable with other experiences published in the international literature in those forms of advanced gastric cancer operated by PTG. The average outcome of the operated followed pts. was 16-18 month (extremes 12 months and 29 months). A better quality of life and a variable disease-free period was obtained. As a conclusion we think that the PTG is a advantageous modality of surgical treatment with an acceptable rate of perioperative morbidity and mortality. The outcome of operated pts. is superior comparable with that of nonoperated pts. or with that secondary to other palliative surgical interventions. The importance of adjuvant treatment (chimeo- or radiotherapy) remain to be appreciated in the future.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Liver transplantation--considerations over 8 cases operated in the year 2000].

In the year 2000, at the Department for General Surgery and Liver Transplantation from The Fundeni Clinical Institute Bucharest, seven OLTs and one living-related transplantation were performed in 6 adults and 2 children. Postoperative complications were: bile leakage, hemoperitoneum, lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage, parietoabdominal hematoma. There was only one postoperative death due to septic complications in the 18th p.o.d. and one late death due to pneumonia of unknown origin. After the results in the year 2000 there was an increased number of donors and referrals. We consider that now in Romania this is an established program that will continue depending on the number of donors and financing.

Adult↗

[Hepatic serial resection. Portal vein resection followed by hepatic resection in second time].

Hepatic resection still remains the only potential curative treatment for either primary or secondary malignant liver tumors. In order to increase the resectability of initially considered non-resectable tumors and to decrease the posthepatectomy morbidity and mortality, ligature of a portal branch with consecutive hepatic resection is recommended. The ligature of a portal venous branch was performed in 12 patients with gross hepatic tumor: hepatocellular carcinoma (2), peripheral cholangiocarcinoma (5), hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer (5). Two-stage hepatectomy was performed in 5 patients. The interval between the two operations ranged between 4 weeks and 6 months. Hepatic resection could not be performed in 7 cases due to the loco-regional progression of the disease (4 cases) or to the absence of the hypertrophy-atrophy process (3 cases). Hepatic failure occurred posthepatectomy in 2 patients, resulting in the death of one of the patients. Two patients died at 5 and 10 months respectively while two other patients are still alive, free of recurrence at 6 and 12 months respectively. In conclusion, portal vein ligature can be considered in selected cases of unresectable gross hepatic tumors that can be eventually, resected in a second operation. The two-staged hepatectomy is not always feasible. Moreover, the hypertrophy of the controlateral lobe does not always prevent the postoperative hepatic failure..

Aged↗

[Pyogenic liver abscess].

The objective of this study was to investigate and report changes in presentation, management and outcome of patients with pyogenic liver abscess (PLA). Between 01.01.1995-31.12.1999, 27 patients with PLA were treated in the General Surgical Service of the Fundeni Clinical Hospital. The incidence of cryptogenic abscesses was dominant (55.5%). The symptoms and the biological status are frequently nonspecific. The CT scan and echographic examination sensibility in the diagnosis of the PLA was 89.5% and 78.3%. The aerobe germs are most involved. All patients received antibiotic treatment in preoperative as in postoperative period. The surgical treatment was performed in 24 patients: in 9 patients (33.3%), the abscess was surgically evacuated and drained and in 15 patients (55.5%), a liver resection was performed. Percutaneous catheter drainage under CT or echo-guidance was performed in three patients (11.1%). The clinical evolution was good in 21 patients (77.7%). There was four complications (14.8%) and two death (7.4%). Although with a better prognostic, the PLA remains an important pathology.

Adolescent↗

[Post-caustic esophageal stenosis].

This study treats the last 13-year experience of the Surgical Department from the Fundeni Hospital Bucharest (Romania) regarding the surgery of the postcaustical esophageal stenoses. The series is composed of 25 patients (10 males and 15 women), with ages between 19 and 58 years. The patients were admitted in our unit at an interval between 2 months and 20 years from the caustical ingestion. In 20 cases we preferred seriate procedures (gastrostomy or jejunostomy as a first operation, followed after 2 months to 20 years by a reconstructive procedure). The reconstructive operation was accompanied by resection of the stenotic esophagus in 15 cases (60%); in 10 cases we performed a bypassing (without resection) presternal esophagoplasty. Resection of the esophagus implied a combined abdomino-thoracic approach in 10 cases and an cervico-thoraco-abdominal approach in 5 (depending upon the extent of the lesions). The early postoperative course was complicated by anastomotic leakage's in 5 patients (20%) and by pulmonary complications in another 5 (20%) cases. There were no postoperative deaths. The late follow-up showed a good functional result in 24 patients with medium weight gain of 2.6 kilograms and a normal social reintegration. In conclusion, we consider that the esophagus resection in postcaustical stenoses is indicated when there are no counterindications, with a low morbidity when it is performed in specialized surgical services.

Adult↗

[Pancreaticoduodenectomy--the rutin surgery?].

Pancreaticoduodenectomy with or without pylorus preserving remains the only possibility for cure for the patients with malignant tumors of duodenum, periampullary and cefalopancreatic region, and distal biliary tumors; Pancreaticoduodenectomy is proceeded also for benign tumors of the head of the pancreas (chronic pancreatitis, cysts) but today the standard became preserving duodenum pancreatectomy with good functional results comparing with standard Whipple resection. The last decade had shown a dramatically decrease of the postoperative death for this kind of operations, centers with high volume have been reported a postoperative mortality rate between 1-3%. Our study is a retrospective analysis witch compare the postoperative mortality between 1 January 1990-1 October 2002. The results have shown a decrease of the postoperative mortality from 30.4% (1990-1995) to 9.8% (1995-1999) and 3.6% in the last three years (2000-2002). Also the surgeon volume of operation is closely linked with the postoperative mortality, at the first operations the postoperative mortality rate is 20-33% and after 20 pancreaticoduodenectomy the rate decrease dramatically to 2.6-5.5%. We conclude that pancreatodudenectomy today is routine operation which mortality have decreased at 5% and should be performed in high volume hospitals by surgeons with sufficient experience to minimize the postoperative death.

Carcinoma↗

[Breast conserving surgery --7 years of experience].

The breast cancer treatment is based nowadays on a new surgical option: breast-conserving surgery, which is reliable at least for the first and second stage of cancer, with radical intention, obviously. We have started to practice the breast-conserving surgery in our surgical clinic (at CFR Hospital, from Craiova) for 7 years; until now we have performed 159 breast-conserving operation and, as results, we have recorded 3 local recurrences (2.12%) and 1 death due to cancer evolution. Our protocol includes removal of the primary tumor with enough surrounding tissue to ensure negative margins of resectable specimen, associated with total axillary lymph-node dissection and postoperative breast irradiation. Our oncologist on different postoperative conditions indicated the chemotherapy: tumor size, axillary lymph node involvement, patient age, etc. The purpose of this paper is to emphasize our unassuming experience but especially to draw attention on important results, obtained by long-term monitoring the patient who underwent breast-conserving surgery, in a two prospective protocols, which demonstrate the importance and applicability of breast-conserving therapy. The conclusion of this study is that breast-conserving surgery followed by breast irradiation is reliable, as the results are similar with the radical mastectomies; the main objective is to obtain a good cosmetic result, which depends on tumor size/size of the breast ratio.

Adult↗

[Neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy in the treatment of esophageal squamous carcinoma:Preliminary results in a series of 15 patients].

The purpose of this study is to analyze the experience of the Center of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation from Fundeni Clinical Institute (Bucharest) regarding the results of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy in the squamous carcinoma of the esophagus. During 01.01.2001-09.07.2003, 15 patients with squamous carcinoma of the esophagus were treated using neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (RCT); 13 patients (86%) underwent esophageal resection (in 2 patients resection was not possible due to the mediastinal invasion). Complete histological response (the lack of malignant tissue on the esophagectomy specimens) was noted in 5 cases. The morbidity and mortality rates were 48%, respectively 6%. RCT increases the resectability in esophageal cancer and decreases the postoperative morbidity and mortality.

Adult↗

[Clinical course of an ileal carcinoid with mesenteric metastasis].

This paper aim is to present the case of a male patient, age 63 admitted in hospital for non-specific gastroenterologic symptoms easily attributed to colecyst calculosis; the anamnesis and careful clinical examination have avoided a useless cholecystectomy and permitted to establish indication for laparotomy; during that was found an ileal tumor with massive metastasis in the base of mesentery. The surgical attitude was dictated by histological diagnostic difficulties (prostate adenocarcinoma metastasis), so it has given up the idea of tumor excision (unjustified intraoperative risk for a metastasis), performing a bypass of the ileal tumor by an enteroenterostomy, then the patient was sent to the Oncological Department. Postoperative evaluation of the patient finally permitted to establish the neuroendocrine origin of the tumor; after oncological treatment (chemotherapy), about 10 months after operation the patient didn't present any sign of tumor (tumor markers and CT scan within normal). The paper emphasizes the problem of practicing an aggressive surgical treatment for carcinoid intestinal tumors with mesenteric metastasis but also brings attention to nonsymptomatic forms of cholecyst calculosis that may hide associated malignant tumors undetected by laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

[Locoregionally advanced rectosigmoid cancer: diagnosis, surgical approach, late results].

The colorectal cancer continues to be diagnosed in advanced stages in our country, mainly due to unapplying of a programmer of active diagnosis through screening on the population with risk for colorectal cancer, and inefficiency of primary care system. In the department of General Surgery CFR Craiova Hospital between 1991-2001 were operated a number of 231 patients with colon cancer and 104 patients with rectal cancer. The results, showing an increased number of recurrences in cases of resection performed for advanced loco-regional tumors of rectosigmoid, made us to reconsider the attitude of avoiding the abdominoperineal resection even when the distance between the inferior limits of the tumors and the anal edge exceeded the distance considered being standard for a low anastomosis performing. The follow-up of the patients with paraclinic technique that didn't prove efficient led in the most cases to a delaying in diagnosis of local recurrences until the moment of resectability was exceeded. The applying of efficient methods in early diagnosis of colorectal cancer and follow-up could provide in the future better results for anterior resections with low anastomosis.

Adolescent↗

[Surgical treatment in ulcerative rectocolitis . Analysis of a 24 years experience of 50 patients].

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease that may be cured by surgery being indicated for emergency situations resulting from complications of fulminant disease and for elective indications. We analyzed the last 24 years experience regarding 50 patients surgically treated for ulcerative colitis in the Center of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation of Fundeni Clinical Institute. The indications for surgery were: failure of medical treatment in 22 patients, acute disease with complications in 20, chronic complications in 8 cases. We used the following surgical procedures: total proctocolectomy in all 2 cases with associated rectal cancer, total colectomy with ileo-rectal anastomosis (one staged or two staged procedures) in 31, and restorative proctocolectomy in 17 cases (in all cases as a 2 or 3 staged procedure). In acute disease with complications we have performed total colectomy with terminal ileostomy, closure of the rectal stump, or exteriorization of the sigmoid stump in a mucous fistula. The gravity of acute complications does not justify the use of palliative procedures such as ileostomy, colostomy or Hartmann procedure because the mortality rate of these operations is higher than the postoperative mortality rate of total colectomy performed in emergency. Even in the elective surgery, when the patients are in a poor condition, nutritionally depleted, taking large doses of steroids or immunosuppressive drugs, we prefer the staged procedure. Total proctocolectomy is performed only in the cases of ulcerative colitis associated with rectal cancer, severe perianal disease, sphincter incontinence. Total colectomy with ileo-rectal anastomosis is indicated when the rectal stump has minimal inflammatory lesions. Restorative proctocolectomy is the surgery of choice for UC, the functional results being comparable with those of total colectomy with ileo-rectal anastomosis, but having the advantage of curing the disease. The global mortality rate was 12% (6 patients).

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

[Ovarian cancer--diagnostic dilemmas and unusual therapeutic response].

The aims of this paper are both to highlight some dilemmas concerning the diagnosis of primary epithelial ovarian carcinoma mainly in its early stages and to underline the capricious responses of this type of malignancy to an otherwise well coded modern management. This study is based on the analysis of the records of 78 patients with ovarian carcinoma admitted for diagnosis and surgical treatment to the Department of General Surgery of Craiova C.F.R. Clinic from 1993 through 2003. The results of this analysis are difficult to interpret due to loss to follow up (in terms of response rates) of some of our 78 operated on ovarian carcinoma patients who went on with their platinum-based chemotherapy (following surgical cytoreduction) under the supervision of different Oncology Departments nationwide. Nevertheless, it is worth mentioning that most of this study patients (71.9%) presented with advanced-stage (III and IV) ovarian carcinoma which sometimes seemed quite confusing by its clinical polymorphism but its prognosis was very much related to both the degree of surgical cytoreduction accomplished and tumor sensitivity to chemotherapy. Finally, although this study does not allow us to draw firm conclusions it is an attempt to share out our current perception on the primary epithelial ovarian cancer management.

Adult↗