Appendicitis in Bristol--100 years ago.
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Appendectomy↗
Biomedical subjects
M J Cooper
Publications and source records attributed to M J Cooper.
Prediction of severity in acute pancreatitis: prospective comparison of three prognostic indices.
The prognostic value of three predictive indices was compared in 436 attacks of acute pancreatitis in 418 patients. The outcome of an attack was graded as uncomplicated (324), complicated (70), or fatal (41); 1 attack was excluded because of puncture of the caecum. The overall mortality rate was 9.4%. Clinical assessment on admission identified only 34% of patients whose attack was severe (ie, complicated or fatal). Multiple laboratory criteria and peritoneal lavage were more sensitive (61% and 53%, respectively) while retaining diagnostic accuracy (79% and 74%). An erroneous diagnosis of pancreatitis was corrected by the findings on lavage in 5 patients. The major advantage of peritoneal lavage over multiple laboratory criteria was the shorter delay between admission to the study and determination of severity (median 4 v 24 h), but visceral puncture during insertion of the cannula occurred in 2 of 253 patients (0.8%). When used together, the three indices correctly predicted 82% of the attacks with a severe outcome and identified all patients destined to die within 10 days of admission.
Acute Disease↗
Controlled clinical trial of peritoneal lavage for the treatment of severe acute pancreatitis.
We performed a multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial of therapeutic peritoneal lavage (2 liters per hour for three days) in 91 patients with severe acute pancreatitis. Patients were entered into the study if severe pancreatitis was indicated by multiple laboratory criteria or diagnostic peritoneal lavage. All patients received full supportive treatment. The median time between the onset of symptoms and randomization was 38 hours. Forty-six patients were assigned to the control group and 45 to the lavage group. There were 13 deaths (28 per cent) and 16 patients with major complications (35 per cent) in the control group, as compared with 12 deaths (27 per cent) and 17 patients with major complications (38 per cent) in the lavage group. Lavage did not appear to modify the length of survival, the incidence of pancreatic collections (pseudocysts or abscesses), or the plasma amylase concentration. Considering the statistical power of the design, we conclude that the outcome of severe pancreatitis was not greatly, if at all, influenced by the regimen of peritoneal lavage used in this study.
Acute Disease↗
Conservative pancreatectomy.
By convention, resection of the proximal pancreas includes the distal stomach (and duodenum) and resection of the distal pancreas includes the spleen. In 28 patients the stomach and spleen were preserved to minimize functional disability. In 13 patients with proximal pancreatectomy (7 men, median age 39 years) the pylorus and first 3 cm of duodenum were preserved. Indications were chronic pancreatitis (n = 9) and localized neoplasia (ampulla 2, duodenum 1, insulinoma 1). One patient died (aged 81 years), and 2 required re-operation for a pancreatic abscess or stenosed choledochojejunostomy. The 12 survivors are well at a median of 1.25 years (range 0.25-3.25 years). In 15 patients with distal pancreatectomy (6 men, median age 44 years) the spleen was preserved. Indications were islet cell tumour in 2 and chronic abdominal pain in 13,9 of whom had an isolated dorsal pancreas and 6 of whom had histological evidence of chronic pancreatitis. Recovery was uneventful apart from 2 patients with a fluid collection in the lesser sac, 1 needing percutaneous aspiration. In the absence of gross inflammatory adherence, partial pancreatectomy need not entail removal of the adjacent stomach or spleen.
Adult↗
Enteric adenoma and adenocarcinoma.
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Adenocarcinoma↗
Curative surgery for atrioventricular junctional ("AV nodal") reentrant tachycardia.
A new surgical approach was studied prospectively in 10 consecutive patients with atrioventricular (AV) junctional reentrant tachycardia. The aim was to abolish tachycardia yet preserve normal AV conduction. On the basis of electrophysiologic study before operation, patients were classified as type A (ventriculoatrial [VA] intervals during tachycardia less than or equal to 40 ms) (seven patients) or type B (VA intervals greater than 40 ms) (three patients). Dual AV junctional pathways were demonstrable with single extrastimulus testing in seven patients before operation. Endocardial mapping during tachycardia at surgery revealed earliest atrial activation anteromedial to the AV node in type A patients and posterior to the node in the type B patients. The perinodal atrium in the region of earliest atrial activation during tachycardia was carefully disconnected from the AV node. After operation, AV junctional reentrant tachycardia was not inducible at comprehensive electrophysiologic study in any patient, and no clinical recurrences have occurred during a follow-up period of 2 to 14 months (mean 8 +/- 4). Normal AV conduction was preserved in all cases. Anterograde slow AV junctional pathway conduction was abolished in five of seven cases. Retrograde His to atrium conduction time was prolonged in type A patients but the capacity for retrograde VA conduction remained excellent. Retrograde His to atrium conduction was interrupted or severely compromised in the type B patients. These data show that there are at least two types of AV junctional reentry. Perinodal atrium appears to be part of the reentrant circuit in human AV junctional reentry. Although the most consistent effect of surgery was on the retrograde limb of the circuit, anterograde slow pathway conduction was also modified. AV junctional reentry is surgically curable with a high success rate.
Adult↗
Recognition of left coronary artery fistula to the left and right ventricles by contrast echocardiography.
A coronary-cameral fistula was inspected clinically by two-dimensional and pulsed Doppler ultrasound. At cardiac catheterization a fistulous connection between the left coronary artery and the right ventricle was observed. Contrast echocardiography using agitated saline solution injected into the aortic catheter clearly showed the passage of microcavitations into the left and the right ventricles confirming the connection of the fistula to both chambers. Contrast echocardiography is a valuable technique that can help define the site of drainage of coronary artery fistulas.
Child, Preschool↗
Latamoxef: single agent prophylaxis in colorectal surgery.
To assess the suitability of latamoxef (moxalactam) as single agent chemoprophylaxis in elective colorectal surgery, 120 consecutive patients were randomized to receive latamoxef (L) 1 g or cephazolin 1 g and metronidazole 500 mg (CM) administered intravenously at induction of anaesthesia and 6 and 12 h postoperatively. The groups were well matched for age, sex, pathology and procedures. Serum and tissue levels of latamoxef were well above the MIC90 for most bowel organisms. Inpatient stay was similar for both groups. Pyrexia was seen in 44 patients (11 L, 23 CM) and eight developed a wound infection (3 L, 5 CM). Major intra-abdominal sepsis occurred in seven patients (2 L, 5 CM), secondary to anastomotic leakage in four (1 L, 3 CM). Twenty patients developed a chest infection (5 L, 15 CM) and eight urinary sepsis (2 L, 6 CM). No bleeding complication occurred, and there was no difference in clotting function between the two groups. Six patients died prior to follow-up at six weeks (1 L, 5 CM), two from anastomotic dehiscence. All but three wounds had healed (1 L, 2 CM) and one further patient had an incisional hernia (CM). These results suggest that latamoxef is an efficient chemoprophylactic agent in elective colorectal surgery, and is marginally better than cephazolin plus metronidazole.
Adult↗
Acute pancreatitis: a lethal disease of increasing incidence.
Between 1968 and 1979 650 patients in the Bristol clinical area suffered 737 attacks of acute pancreatitis. Sex distribution was approximately equal and mean age was 60 years. Comparison with the previous decade shows an increase in mean annual incidence of first attacks from 53.8 to 73.0 cases per million population. Case mortality was unchanged at 20%. In no less than 35% of fatal cases the diagnosis was first made at necropsy. Gall stones were detected in 50% of first attacks, predominantly in women. The proportion of alcoholics (8% overall) increased three-fold during the period of the study. In 23% of cases no aetiological cause was identified. Eighty patients suffered 99 recurrent attacks of acute pancreatitis, with a mortality rate (12%) that was not significantly lower than that of the first attack. Neglected gall stones accounted for 51% of these subsequent attacks.
Acute Disease↗
Adenocarcinoma of the extrahepatic biliary tree.
Increasing survival rates for carcinoma of the biliary tree could reflect the selection of patients for referral to a specialist centre as well as modern improvements in diagnosis and treatment. To determine the true incidence and outcome of biliary cancer, the records of 243 unselected Bristol patients were reviewed retrospectively over a 15-year period. Mean age was 64 years. Gallstones were associated in 38% of cases. Sixty-nine of 87 patients with gallbladder carcinoma were submitted to laparotomy. The operative (30-day) mortality rate was 56% and the one-year survival rate was 7%; one patient with an unexpected carcinoma is alive 7 years after cholecystectomy (1% five-year survival rate). Among 31 patients with carcinoma of the ampulla the operative mortality rate was 27%; one-year and five-year survival rates were 46% and 15%. Bile duct cancers (n = 125) arose proximal to the entry of the cystic duct (n = 63), distal to that point (n = 46) or diffusely (n = 16). For proximal cholangiocarcinoma the operative mortality rate was 38% and 1-year survival rate 17%; no patient lived for 2 years. For distal cholangiocarcinoma the operative mortality rate was 45% and one-year survival rate 26%; no patient lived for 3 years. Only palliative procedures were undertaken for diffuse cholangiocarcinoma; 2 patients survived 1 year (13%). Overall 5 patients with carcinoma of the extrahepatic biliary tree appear to have been cured (2%).
Adenocarcinoma↗
Splenic injury sustained from blunt abdominal trauma.
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Adolescent↗
Testicular exocrine malfunction after torsion.
The exocrine and endocrine functions of the testis were assessed in 67 patients a median of 4.0 years after unilateral torsion (range 3 months-12 years). Of 54 patients who underwent orchidopexy, some atrophy of the affected testis developed in 46; the degree of atrophy was significantly correlated with the duration of torsion (r = -0.56, p less than 0.001). The remaining 13 patients had undergone orchidectomy after a mean duration of torsion of 71 h. Seminal analysis was abnormal in 44 of 51 patients tested (86%), and the low total motile sperm count correlated with the duration of torsion (r = -0.53, p less than 0.001). Sperm counts were much lower in men with torsion for longer than 8 h than those with a shorter period of torsion (median 7.2 X 10(6) v 83.5 X 10(6); p less than 0.00003). Serum levels of luteinising hormone, prolactin, testosterone, and follicle-stimulating hormone were generally within normal limits. An acute ischaemic episode affecting only one testis causes bilateral loss of exocrine function in most patients, while endocrine function is preserved.
Adolescent↗
Comparison of M-mode echocardiographic measurement of right ventricular wall thickness obtained by the subcostal and parasternal approach in children.
Right ventricular (RV) wall thickness was measured from M-mode echocardiograms at end-diastole from both the parasternal and subcostal approaches in 50 children of various body surface areas (0.24 to 1.68 m2). The measurements were obtained from M-mode recordings generated from sector scans to ensure precise location and position. Twenty-three children had normal hearts, and 27 had various congenital heart defects that may be associated with RV hypertrophy. Corresponding measurements of the RV wall thickness at end-diastole from the 2 approaches were similar. Subcostal echocardiographic measurement of RV wall thickness was found to be a reliable alternative to parasternal measurement in children with normal hearts and in those with congenital heart disease and RV hypertrophy.
Cardiomegaly↗
Splenectomy: indications, hazards and alternatives.
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Adult↗
Drainage operations in chronic pancreatitis.
If pancreatic ductal hypertension explained the pain of chronic pancreatitis, adequate decompression of ectatic ducts should provide lasting relief. We have analysed a personal series of 20 patients (14 men and 6 women) with chronic pancreatitis undergoing one or more drainage procedures. Alcohol was the main aetiological factor, and symptoms had been present for a median of 2.5 years. Pancreatic ductal decompression was achieved by pancreatic sphincteroplasty (n = 4) or longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy (11). Thirteen patients underwent incidental or additional procedures to decompress the biliary tree: sphincteroplasty (5), choledochal bypass (7) and T-tube drainage (1). Cysts were either drained (7) or resected (3). Two patients required re-operation for subphrenic abscess. Some pancreatic insufficiency was detected preoperatively in 11 patients (exocrine 10, endocrine 4) and was essentially unchanged in all but one patient who came to total pancreatectomy. Two other patients required a coeliac plexus block, but the remaining 17 patients had good pain relief at a median follow-up of 30 months. Ductal drainage procedures effectively relieve the pain of chronic pancreatitis without further compromising pancreatic function.
Adult↗
Study of the infradiaphragmatic total anomalous pulmonary venous connection with cross-sectional and pulsed Doppler echocardiography.
We studied neonates with the infradiaphragmatic form of total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage by a combination of cross-sectional echocardiography and pulsed Doppler ultrasound. The diagnosis by ultrasound was made prospectively in all six patients. Three large vascular channels could be observed passing through the diaphragm from the subcostal parasagittal plane. The vessels were identified as the descending aorta (to the left), the inferior vena cava (to the right), and the anomalous pulmonary venous channel (in the center). The vessels were insonated in turn, with pulsed Doppler ultrasound, and the characteristic normal flow signals in the aorta and inferior vena cava were obtained. The signal from the anomalous pulmonary vein was a continuous venous signal, the direction of flow being away from the heart. Pulsed Doppler ultrasound allows accurate recognition of the anomalous pulmonary venous channel without the use of contrast echocardiography.
Diaphragm↗
Intussusception of invaginated Meckel's diverticulum.
Two middle-aged patients are reported who came to laparotomy with a presumptive diagnosis of small bowel tumour. There was no overt evidence of small bowel obstruction in either case. They were found at laparotomy to have intussusception of an invaginated Meckel's diverticulum. This condition should be considered in the differential diagnosis of ileal tumours.
Angiography↗