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Biomedical subjects

N Bourgeois

Publications and source records attributed to N Bourgeois.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Value of the MELD score for the assessment of pre- and post-liver transplantation survival.

The MELD score has now been implemented in the United States for liver allocation, but it has not been validated in Europe. Its association with posttransplant outcome is unclear. Optimal cutoff values of MELD and Child-Pugh scores to predict death on the liver waiting list were defined in a series of 137 cirrhotic patients listed for liver transplantation. Six-month actuarial survival while on the waiting list was 90% with a Child-Pugh <11 and MELD <17, whereas it decreased progressively to 40% at 6 months after listing for those having a Child-Pugh and MELD score >10 and >16. Analysis of a series of 112 patients (85 chronic liver disease and 27 hepatocellular carcinoma) revealed no change in MELD value at the time of transplantation compared to the score at the time of listing (mean +/- SD: 15.5 +/- 7.7 vs 15 +/- 5.8) with a mean waiting time of 118 days. Using either the optimal cutoff for MELD score (<17 or >16) or seven different strata (3 to 7, 8 to 10, 11 to 13, 14 to 16, 17 to 19, 20 to 22, 23 to 39), whether measured at listing or just before liver transplantation, there was no significant difference (chi(2) 4.97, P = .58) in survival: 82.7% and 63% at 6 and 60 months, overall. Our data confirm that the MELD score with only three parameters is as good as the Child-Pugh score to predict mortality on the Eurotransplant waiting list. The optimal cutoff to assess higher priority for the bad category is >16. There was no negative impact on short- or long-term prognosis of the bad categories of MELD.

Humans↗

Trichoderma viride infection in a liver transplant recipient.

A liver transplant recipient developed infection of a perihepatic haematoma due to Trichoderma viride. Before the infection was diagnosed, the patient received intense immuno-suppressive and prolonged antibacterial and anti-fungal therapies. Although the death of the patient was not directly related to the fungal infection, abundant quantities of this pathogen were recovered in the haematoma at post-mortem examination, despite previous surgical removal and treatment with amphotericin B and fluconazole.

Adult↗

One-month mortality rate after liver transplantation for parenchymal cirrhosis: analysis of risk factors in a ten year period.

Accurate prediction of short-term survival rate after liver transplantation is one way of selecting recipients and should improve organ allocation. We observed, during the first ten years of our program a striking decline in postoperative mortality with time, a well known observation in Europe as well as in the United States. In 65 adults with parenchymal cirrhosis having received a liver transplant between 1984 and 1994, we examined the possible influence of various preoperative risk factors on one-month mortality rate which was 13.8% in this series. Univariate analysis led to the identification of five significant risk factors: date of transplantation, low serum sodium, previous history of jaundice, ascites and encephalopathy. In the final multivariate analysis however, the date of transplantation emerged as the sole predictive factor of early mortality rate. Therefore, factors such as pretransplantation state of the patient and poor hepatic reserve are counterbalanced by the improvement of surgical skill and other technical aspects, as well as by better perioperative management which have all contributed to the improved results of liver transplantation with time.

Humans↗

Hepatitis C recurrence after liver transplantation.

Hepatitis C-related cirrhosis is the major indication for liver transplantation (LT). This disease recurs histologically in nearly all the HCV-infected patients during the first postoperative year. Chronic hepatitis C evolves to cirrhosis in 20% of the cases within 5 years after LT. However, the 5-year survival for a HCV-infected recipient is still comparable to that of a patient grafted for another indication; it will become worse later. High viremia after LT is associated with a more severe liver recurrent disease. The influence of viral genotype remains controversial. The impact of the type of immunosuppression on HCV recurrence is unclear. Steroids, that increase viremia, might have a deleterious effect on the outcome of chronic HCV-disease after LT. Antiviral combined therapy (Interferon + Ribavirin) soon after transplantation, before disease recurrence, is probably the best treatment at the present time; this remains still unproven. Retransplantation for HCV recurrent cirrhosis allows a 60% survival at 1 year.

Antiviral Agents↗

Long-term terlipressin administration improves renal function in cirrhotic patients with type 1 hepatorenal syndrome: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a severe complication of liver cirrhosis. Recently, ornipressin, a potent splanchnic vasoconstrictor, was reported to improve renal function in patients with HRS. However, this treatment is associated with a high incidence of vascular complications. Terlipressin is thought to be as effective as ornipressin with less systemic complications. AIMS: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of terlipressin administration in cirrhotic patients with type 1 HRS. PATIENTS: Twelve consecutive patients fulfilling HRS criteria of the International Ascites Club were included in the study. Median plasma creatinine and sodium, urine volume and sodium before treatment were 3.4 mg% (2.5-4.0); 127 mEq/l (124-130), 500 ml/24 h (100-1031) and 7 mEq/24 h (1-17). METHODS: Terlipressin was administered i.v. 2 mg bid in 8 patients and tid in 4 others for at least one week and up to 2 months. RESULTS: After one week of treatment median plasma creatinine decreased to 1.8 mg% (1.3-2.1) together with an increase in urine volume, sodium excretion, creatinine and free-water clearance. Three patients underwent successful liver transplantation with a near normal renal function after 34, 36 and 111 days. The 9 other patients died during follow-up (4 from sepsis, 2 from digestive bleeding and 3 from liver failure). No ischaemic complications were encountered during the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term terlipressin administration is safe and effective to control type 1 HRS. However, it does not cure the underlying disease and therefore, may only be considered as a bridge to a definitive treatment as liver transplantation.

Adult↗

Hepatic myelopathy after splenorenal shunting: report of one case and review of the literature.

Hepatic myelopathy is a rare complication of cirrhosis, usually associated with surgical or spontaneous porto-systemic shunts. Its pathophysiology is unknown. It is characterized by a motor involvement of the lower limbs without clinical sensory abnormality, leading to spastic paraparesis. These neurological features are related to a symmetric loss of myelin in the lateral corticospinal tracts. Usefulness of liver transplantation in this setting is not yet determined. We describe here the case of a 29-year-old male who presented with progressive spastic paraparesis of the lower limbs 3 years after a spleno-renal shunt.

Adult↗

Risk factors for hepatitis C: past, present and future.

Patients at risk for hepatitis C (HCV) are those exposed to a major risk factor (i.e. blood transfusion prior 1990, and intravenous drug abuse), and those exposed to a minor risk factor (sexual, mother-to-infant transmission, household contact, nosocomial contamination). The present paper aims to review the current and past modes of transmission of the virus C.

Adult↗

[Prevention and treatment of digestive hemorrhage due to ruptured esophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis].

1) Emergency treatment. The best treatment remains endoscopic sclerotherapy, which controls the bleeding in 90% of the cases. Pharmacologic management stops the variceal hemorrhage in 80% of the cases and is indicated before endoscopic treatment can be performed. Intravenous somatostatin administration may be prolonged for 5 days, even more, and may thus prevent early rebleeding, which is not achieved neither by vasopressin nor by glypressin, which administration is restricted to 24 hours. Esophageal tamponade is useful to arrest a massive variceal bleeding, if vasoactive drugs are not available or not efficient, before endoscopic management. If the bleeding persists after 2 sclerotherapy sessions, an alternative treatment is mandatory: the patient should be sent to the surgeon for a portosystemic shunt if the operative risk is acceptable (child A and B) or should become a candidate for a transjugular intrahepatic stent shunt, especially if transplantation is considered afterwards. 2) Prevention of recurrent hemorrhage. A) Early (within 5 days after the initial bleeding). Somatostatin probably prevents early rebleeding, as do sclerotherapy. B) Late. B blockade (+ nitrates) or long-term sclerotherapy have the same efficacy. Their association may improve their results. 3) Prevention of the first bleeding episode. Propranolol decrease the risk of variceal rupture from 20% to 9% during the first year after the diagnosis of esophageal varices and is the only treatment which may be proposed to cirrhotics who did not yet bled form their varices.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

[Acute hepatitis and poisoning by Amanita phalloides].

We report the case of a 69-year-old woman who presented acute hepatitis due to Amanita Phalloides poisoning complicated of acute renal failure. Her clinical evolution was favorable under medical treatment whose actual modalities are discussed.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

[Emergency intrahepatic shunt via transjugular approach].

We report the case of a cirrhotic 65 year-old woman presenting with persistent and recurrent variceal hemorrhage in spite of endoscopic sclerotherapy with bucrylate, glypressin infusion and balloon tamponade. At the time of intrahepatic shunt placement via the transjugular route, Child-Pugh score was 14 (Child C category) and surgical variceal decompression or liver transplantation were contraindicated. At the end of the procedure, which included the placement of two Palmaz stents, varices were no more opacified and the wedge hepatic venous pressure gradient had decreased from 70%. Evolution of the patient was excellent with a permeable shunt after one month. Emergency placement of intrahepatic shunt with metallic stent has certainly a place in case of failure of initial management of variceal bleeding with pharmacotherapy, sclerotherapy or balloon tamponade.

Aged↗

[Spontaneous intrahepatic haemorrhage due to peliosis hepatis].

Liver vascular lesions may occur in women on oral contraceptives. We report here spontaneous liver haemorrhage caused by peliosis hepatis, occuring in a 47-year old patient. She used oral contraceptives for many years. A computerized tomography and a magnetic resonance of the abdomen revealed a subcapsular liver hematoma without hemoperitoneum. Treatment consisted of supportive care with favourable clinical outcome. This observation point out a severe complication of peliosis hepatis. The authors review the etiology, diagnosis, complications, treatment and potential role of estrogen/progesterone supplementation as an etiological factor, in peliosis hepatis.

Contraceptives, Oral↗

Endoscopic treatment of esophagogastric varices.

We report our current management of variceal bleeding with endoscopic sclerotherapy. We emphasize the importance of resuscitation and of recording at time zero and within the first 72 hours clinical and laboratory indicators, as these influence the management of these patients. Primary sclerotherapy using Histoacryl for active bleeding and Ethoxysclerol for recent bleeding should be performed as soon as the patient is stable hemodynamically. As we have identified factors related to the severity of hemorrhage and of liver failure degree which can predict early failure of sclerotherapy, patients presenting with these findings should be, in the future, referred quickly toward alternative therapies among which non-surgical intrahepatic shunt appears a promising modality.

Cyanoacrylates↗

Non-surgical management of achalasia.

Pneumatic dilatation of the cardia is an effective procedure to treat patients suffering from achalasia. Eighty percent of these patients can be expected to have excellent or good results for 6 years after the first dilatation. A repeat dilatation should be performed as soon as the patient has recurrent symptoms, usually every 2 years. Calcium channel blockers (nifedipine and verapamil) or nitrates (isosorbide dinitrate) decrease LES pressure but do little to the clinical symptomatology of patients with achalasia; however such drug therapy may be tried as an adjunct in patients who remain symptomatic after pneumatic dilatations or myotomy. Pneumatic dilatation and surgical myotomy both reduce LES pressure; with pneumatic dilatation, enough residual LES pressure is retained to prevent gastroesophageal reflux. Indeed, reflux esophagitis seems to occur more often after surgery than after forceful dilatations. We think that pneumatic dilatation should be performed as the primary therapy and surgery reserved for the failures of this procedure.

Adult↗

Treatment of peptic ulcer severe bleeding.

The success of a defined management policy op peptic ulcer haemorrhage which incorporates endoscopic therapeutic intervention depends on the early identification of a high risk group of patients and a high risk group of ulcers. The high risk group of patients consists of those likely to experience further bleeding on the basis of clinical prognostic indicators: shock and severe anaemia on admission and the pattern of bleeding; or tolerate rebleeding and emergency surgery poorly: patients over 60 years and those with associated disease. UGI endoscopy should be performed early (within 6-12 hours) in this group in order to identify the bleeding point and provide prognostic information regarding the risk of further haemorrhage. Peptic ulcers with major stigmata of recent bleeding (spurting or non-bleeding visible vessel) have high risk of rebleeding, the risk is even greater when major stigmata of recent haemorrhage (SRH) are associated with shock on admission. Patients with such ulcers should be monitored intensively and receive endoscopic haemostatic treatment in order to terminate active haemorrhage or prevent rebleeding thereby avoiding the need for emergency surgery with its attendant morbidity and mortality. Patients with ulcers with minor or no SRH have a very low risk of rebleeding and don't require intensive monitoring or endoscopic treatment and can be discharged from hospital early. Ulcers which cannot be completely characterized have an intermediate risk of rebleeding and should be managed as high risk lesions. Secondary to the anatomy of the visible vessel any haemostatic endoscopic treatment should be applied around, but avoiding, the sentinel clot. Well-designed randomized controlled trials of endoscopic haemostatic treatment of peptic ulcer haemorrhage in which stratification of risk was based on the SRH, have demonstrated for non-bleeding vessel a significant reduction in rebleeding and in emergency surgery, for spurting bleeding benefit was found only for the rebleeding risk. No advantage was demonstrated in each group of patients in term of mortality. Such studies also demonstrate the superiority of the Nd:YAG laser over the Argon laser. Perforation is a rare complication of Nd:YAG laser photocoagulation (less than 1%). Precipitation or aggravation of arterial haemorrhage during treatment of a visible vessel, as a result of a direct hit, is a more frequent complication (0-29%). Further laser treatment is successful in terminating 75% of these induced bleeds, the remainder requiring surgery. Preinjection of the ulcer with adrenaline does not appear to prevent this complication.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Gastroscopy↗