Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R E Hermann

Publications and source records attributed to R E Hermann.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

An artificial myotatic reflex: a potential avenue to fine motor control.

When a striated muscle becomes paralyzed, not only its motor function, but its sensory innervation may be impaired. Methods of rehabilitation have previously focused only on motor innervation, although striated muscles are submitted to self-regulation of length and tension. Indeed, reinnervated muscle may not contract appropriately unless sensory information is available, nor is it known whether sensory receptors are included in the reinnervation process. We hypothesized that the myotatic reflex (MR) would be absent in the event these sensory organs are not reinnervated, and that an artificial myotatic reflex (AMR) would be useful in reestablishing fine motor control. The strap muscles were exposed in six anesthetized rabbits. The MR was verified by stretching an intact sternohyoid muscle. Next, loss of the reflex was documented after the ipsilateral ansa hypoglossi was divided, and a crossover nerve-muscle pedicle (NMP) was brought in from the opposite sternothyroid. After 3 months, the MR was still absent; however, stretch of the contralateral sternohyoid produced a reflex response on the reinnervated side. A strain gauge sutured to the reinnervated muscle was linked to an electronic modulator so that stretch induced electric stimulation of the NMP and contraction (the AMR). We conclude that (1) proprioception is not reestablished in the reinnervated muscle; (2) by contrast, sensory information from the muscle of origin of the NMP is conveyed to the reinnervated side; and (3) the AMR offers promise toward more sophisticated control of paralyzed (i.e., facial, laryngeal) musculature.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Villous tumors of the duodenum.

Records of 32 patients with 34 villous and tubulovillous adenomas of the duodenum, treated at the Cleveland Clinic over the past 21 years, were reviewed. Twenty-two patients (69%) had complete resection of the adenoma; the incidence of malignancy was 47%. Five patients underwent a Whipple procedure; 4 patients had segmental resection of the duodenum; 12 had wide local excision of the adenoma; 1 had both a segmental resection and a local excision for two separate adenomas; and 5 patients had endoscopic excision alone. The remaining five patients underwent exploratory laparotomy alone or with palliative bypass procedures. A 28% recurrence rate was observed, all of these after segmental resection, local excision, or endoscopic excision. The highest recurrence rate was associated with local excision. The 2- and 5-year survival rates for patients with adenomas containing invasive cancer were 22% and 0%, respectively, compared to 87% and 87%, respectively, for benign adenomas (including those with carcinoma in situ). Twenty-two per cent of patients had intestinal polyposis syndromes. Duodenal adenomas were diagnosed a mean of 17 years after colectomy for polyposis, indicating the need for continued surveillance in these patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1988

Cancer of the pancreas and periampullary region--diagnosis and surgical therapy.

Carcinoma of the periampullary region continues to be a challenging problem. The incidence of these tumours, especially adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, has increased steadily over the last 20 years. In spite of better diagnostic techniques, the long-term survival for patients with these tumours has remained relatively unchanged. Total pancreatectomy and regional pancreatectomy have not demonstrated a survival advantage superior to that of pancreatoduodenectomy. Especially for pancreatic carcinoma, earlier diagnosis and effective adjuvant therapy are necessary. Finally, local excision of small ampullary carcinomas in high-risk surgical patients offers survival rates comparable to those of a major resection.

Ampulla of Vater↗
PubMed1987

Hepatic vein ligation and preservation of liver segments in major resections.

To preserve as much normal liver tissue as possible in patients having segmental and major anatomical liver resections for primary and metastatic cancer, one of us (Q.-J.O.) performed segmental hepatic vein ligation with preservation of the involved liver segments in eight patients undergoing hepatic resections. No early complications were found related to necrosis of the involved segments. Needle biopsy of the segments in five patients revealed normal survival of the hepatic tissue. The results in these patients indicate that hepatic vein ligation is a safe procedure that permits preservation of segments of the liver in patients having hepatic resection and can be used as an alternative to routine hepatic lobectomy for the treatment of liver tumors in selected patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Outcome of acute cholecystitis in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Prophylactic cholecystectomy has been recommended in patients who have diabetes and silent gallstones because of the reports of increased mortality resulting from acute cholecystitis in such patients. To assess recent mortality rates, we reviewed the course of acute cholecystitis in patients hospitalized between 1960 and 1981 at one hospital. Death occurred in 3 of 46 patients with diabetes and in 7 of 263 patients without the disease (p = 0.55). The age-adjusted estimate of the relative risk for death was 2.2 (95% confidence interval, 0.5 to 9.4) for diabetic compared with nondiabetic patients. All 3 diabetic patients who died had been diagnosed as having diabetes within 5 years of death, and only one had been taking insulin. Patients who had elevated blood urea nitrogen levels (greater than 20 mg/dL) were found to have an increased mortality rate when compared with patients with normal levels (27% compared with 2%; p less than 0.001). Results were similar for the outcome of serious complications. These results suggest the need for reconsideration of the recommendation for prophylactic cholecystectomy in diabetic patients with silent gallstones.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1987

Hepatic resection in 128 patients: a 24-year experience.

The records of 128 patients who underwent hepatic resection at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation between 1960 and 1984 were reviewed. Sixty patients (47%) had major resections and 68 patients (53%) had wedge or segmental resections. One hundred five patients had malignant tumors; 29 were primary liver tumors and 78 were metastatic (61 from a colorectal primary). Twenty-three patients had benign hepatic tumors. The overall operative mortality rate was 7% (7.6% for malignant tumors and 4.3% for benign lesions). Survival rate after resection of a hepatocellular carcinoma (22 patients) at 3, 5, and 10 years was 50%, 33%, and 12%. Survival rate after resection of colorectal metastases at 3, 5, and 10 years was 44%, 28%, and 21%. Overall survival was better for patients who were less than 56 years of age (p = 0.003) and for patients with no tumor at the line of resection (p less than 0.001). In patients with colorectal metastases, survival after wedge or segmental resection was better than after a major anatomic resection (p = 0.004). In these patients, the number or size of the metastases, the time interval between resection of the primary tumor and of the hepatic metastases, and/or the presence of mesenteric lymph node metastases were not significant. Most patients with primary malignant tumors require major hepatic resection. Patients with benign tumors and metastatic colorectal carcinomas require resection only to the extent that the tumor is sufficiently encompassed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Papillary cystic epithelial neoplasms of the pancreas. A clinical study of four cases.

We treated four cases of papillary cystic epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas. This neoplasm typically presents in young female patients as a slowly growing mass that may attain large size. It is of low malignant potential, and surgical resection will be curative in almost all cases. One patient presented with a liver metastasis from the pancreatic tumor; both lesions were successfully resected. Papillary cystic epithelial neoplasm should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any cystic pancreatic neoplasm.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Partial mastectomy: pathologic findings and prognosis.

In an attempt to identify patients best suited for limited surgery as well as those at risk for recurrence and increased mortality, the authors reviewed the clinical and pathologic features of 130 patients who had undergone partial mastectomy as primary treatment for breast cancer (adjuvant therapy was administered only after disease recurrence). Patients were followed up for 57 to 128 months (mean, 85 months). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for the entire group and repeated for the large subgroup of patients with infiltrating ductal cancer, not otherwise specified. Three features were independently significant in correlating with poor survival and/or tumor recurrence: lymph node metastasis, mitotic rate, and nuclear atypia. Combinations of these factors further separated survivors from non-survivors. These prognostically significant pathologic features may be helpful in both selecting patients for partial mastectomy and identifying those who may require adjuvant therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Cancer of the esophagus. The Cleveland Clinic experience.

The therapy and survival rates of patients with esophageal carcinoma at the Cleveland Clinic over the 12-year period 1969-1980 are reviewed. Data on 238 patients were analyzed. Seventy-one per cent of the patients underwent surgery, with esophagogastrectomy being performed in half of these. One or more early postoperative complications occurred in 72.6% of these patients. Most of these complications were pulmonary and related to the patients' chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The mortality rate for esophagogastrectomy at the Cleveland Clinic has decreased over the past 15 years to 7.1%. The 5-year survival rate after "curative" esophagogastrectomy was 15.4% with a mean survival time of 34.4 months. Invasion of the tumor through or beyond the serosa in this group of patients was associated with an increased relative risk of death of 3.3 compared to those with lesser degrees of invasion. The cell type, degree of differentiation, stage of disease, and presence of tumor at the lines of resection were all prognostically significant for all patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1986

Pancreatic islet cell tumors.

Tumors arising from the pancreatic islet cells represent a heterogeneous group of lesions. Some tumors present with well-characterized syndromes, while others appear to be nonfunctioning. Eighty-four patients with pancreatic islet cell tumors operated on at the Cleveland Clinic during a 35-year period were reviewed. The tumor types include 21 nonfunctioning tumors, 41 insulinomas, 16 gastrinomas, two vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-omas, two carcinoids, and two probable cases of pancreatic parathyrinoma. Eleven patients had multiple endocrine neoplasia type I syndrome. Preoperative localization was possible in 63% of patients in whom it was attempted. Complete mobilization of the head and distal pancreas with bimanual palpation of the entire gland is critical for intraoperative tumor localization. Distal pancreatectomy is favored for tumors in the body and tail. In the head of the pancreas, small, benign lesions require enucleation, and large or malignant lesions necessitate a Whipple procedure. The operative morbidity rate was 24%, and the mortality rate was 3.6%. The 10-year survival rate was 54.7% for nonfunctioning lesions, 68.4% for gastrinomas, and 92.4% for insulinomas. At this time surgery represents the only way to cure these lesions.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1986

Results of surgical treatment of periampullary tumors: a thirty-five-year experience.

Data on 126 consecutive patients with periampullary tumors resected at the Cleveland Clinic between January 1950 and December 1984 were reviewed. One hundred five patients underwent pancreatoduodenal resection, 10 patients total pancreatectomy, and 11 patients local resection of the tumor. The site of tumor was ampulla of Vater (59), head of the pancreas (30), duodenum (20), and distal common bile duct (11). Six patients had benign disease. The operative mortality rate for radical resection for the entire period was 7.8%; it has declined to 5.4% since 1974. The operative mortality rate for local resection was 9.1% (one patient). The overall 5-year survival rate for all malignant tumors of the periampullary area was 28% and 25.5% for invasive adenocarcinoma. Survival was affected primarily by location and histologic findings. The 5-year survival rate for adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater was 37.2%, 27.5% for the duodenum, 16.7% for the distal common bile, and 4.3% for the pancreas (p = 0.0001). Papillary adenocarcinoma had a 5-year survival rate of 49.2% in contrast to 18.4% for nonpapillary ductal adenocarcinoma (p = 0.002). Patients with ampullary adenocarcinoma treated by local resection had a 5-year survival rate of 40.9%. These data justify continued use of a selective radical approach in the resection of most periampullary tumors with local resection for small tumors in high-risk patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1986

The natural history of splenic infarction.

Our experience at the Cleveland Clinic and that in the literature with splenic infarction were reviewed to describe the natural history of splenic infarction and provide guidelines for management. Data for this review included 75 patients identified by clinical studies or at autopsy during a 10-year period and a review of 77 cases reported in the literature. The cause of the infarct varied with age; patients under 40 years old most often had an associated hematologic disorder, while those older than 41 years old most often had an embolic event. Other etiologic factors included splenic vascular disease, anatomic abnormalities, collagen vascular disease, pancreatic disease, and nonhematologic malignancy. Left upper quadrant pain was the predominant symptom. Changes in the blood count included anemia (53%), leukocytosis (49%), and thrombocytosis (7%). Liver-spleen scans were diagnostic in 90% of patients and computerized tomography identified the infarct in 75%. Initial management consisted of hydration, analgesics, and frequent monitoring, with resolution of symptoms in 7 to 14 days. Splenectomy was performed for persistent symptoms or a complication of the infarct (splenic pseudocyst, abscess, or hemorrhage). An uncomplicated splenic infarction can be managed safely with medical treatment, but early surgical intervention (splenectomy) is necessary to lower the mortality rate of a complication of the infarct.

Embolism↗
PubMed1986

Benign biliary strictures: an analytic review (1970 to 1984).

This report concerns 105 patients with benign biliary stricture operated on at the Cleveland Clinic from 1970 through 1984; in 102 patients the stricture was iatrogenic. The mean follow-up was 5 years (3 months to 13 years). Fifty-eight patients (55%) had undergone one or more attempts at correction of the stricture before referral to us; in 47 patients (45%) we performed the first corrective repair. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography was the optimal preoperative diagnostic procedure to define the site of stricture. Most patients had undergone a biliary-intestinal anastomosis, either choledochoduodenostomy, choledochojejunostomy, or hepatojejunostomy. Morbidity and mortality rates were 13% and 4%, respectively. The results of operative repair were correlated with the number of previous operations, site of stricture, type of operation, presence of a fistula, presence of cirrhosis, and length of T or Y tube stenting. The overall recurrence rate after a first operation was 18% and after a second operation was 26%. With continued attempts at repair, eventual success was achieved in 93% of patients.

Adolescent↗