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Biomedical subjects

R Ferguson

Publications and source records attributed to R Ferguson.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Outlook with conservative treatment of peptic oesophageal stricture.

In order to assess the outlook for patients with peptic oesophageal strictures treated by Eder Puestow dilatation at fibreoptic endoscopy, 50 patients were followed up for periods ranging from nine months to four years. Twenty patients (40%) required only a single dilatation, and the remaining 30 (60%) required multiple dilatations. The frequency of dilatation tended to decrease with time. There was one death attributable to the procedure. Two patients developed an adenocarcinoma at the site of the stricture. We conclude that conservative management of peptic oesophageal stricture combining the use of dilatation at fibreoptic endoscopy with medical measures to control gastro-oesophageal reflux offers a relatively safe means of providing symptomatic relief, maintaining nutrition, and allowing the patient an acceptable quality of life.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

Portal hypertension associated with systemic mastocytosis and splenomegaly.

An unusual case of systemic mastocytosis with splenomegaly, portal hypertension, and bleeding esophageal varices is presented. Arteriograms and liver biopsy suggested the mechanism of the portal hypertension was due to increased blood flow in the splenic vein, although splenic arteriovenous shunting secondary to histamine release and increased intrahepatic resistance secondary to mast cell infiltration might have played a role. The portal hypertension was relieved by splenectomy.

Esophageal and Gastric Varices↗
PubMed1980

Gluten-sensitive diarrhea without evidence of celiac disease.

Eight adult female patients suffering from abdominal pain and chronic diarrhea which was often incapacitating and frequently nocturnal, had dramatic relief on a gluten-free diet and return of symptoms after gluten challenge. Previous nonspecific measures and a milk-free diet were ineffective. Multiple jejunal biopsies showed minor, but significant changes in cellularity which returned to normal on the gluten-free diet. Apart from a slight increase in jejunal cellularity, no immunological abnormalities were found after gluten challenge. Steatorrhea or other biochemical defects, common in celiac disease, were not found. It was concluded that these patients had a gluten-sensitive diarrhea, but had no evidence of celiac disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Cimetidine in treatment of reflux oesophagitis with peptic stricture.

Twenty patients with reflux oesophagitis causing a tight peptic oesophageal stricture entered a randomised double-blind crossover trial in which they received cimetidine, 1.6 g daily, and matching placebo each for six months. The gross endoscopic appearances of oesophagitis, though not the grades of histopathological changes, showed significant improvement during treatment with cimetidine. The need for dilatation of the strictures, however, was not reduced.

Aged↗
PubMed1979

Splenectomy for undiagnosed splenomegaly.

During the 9-year period 1968-76 116 splenectomies were performed at the General Hospital, Nottingham. Of these, 13 (11 per cent) were undertaken for unexplained splenomegaly. In 6 patients a diagnosis was established by the operative procedure (2 with sarcoidosis, 2 splenic cysts, 1 Gaucher's disease and 1 haemangiosarcoma). Histological examination of the excised spleens in the remaining 7 patients showed no specific features. Two of these patients benefited considerably from removal of very large spleens. Another patient died from lymphosarcoma which was diagnosed 21 months after splenectomy. In the remaining 4 patients with mild to moderate splenomegaly, there were no real diagnostic or therapeutic advantages. It is concluded that splenectomy should always be considered in patients with unexplained moderate or gross splenomegaly but it may not be helpful in the patient whose spleen is only midly enlarged.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

An open-loop insulin delivery device for the control of experimental diabetes.

A new insulin delivery device has been developed and tested. It includes a reservoir, a pump, and a power pack. The reservoir holds 75 ml and is coupled to a precision peristaltic pump whose delivery can be set to any one of 128 different flow rates from 0 to 80 microliter/min (+/- 1.6% over 10 months) using the flow rate controller included in the battery power pack. The system weighs 525 g, consuming 50 mW at the maximum pumping rate, proportionately less at lower rates. Ten pumps have undergone bench tests for 30 days. One has been subjected to an extended life test of 16 months without change of tubing while seven complete systems have been used on dogs to demonstrate their capability for precise long-term (up to 16 months) intravenous insulin therapy. With this system, experimental diabetes has been controlled in 7 dogs for periods now extending beyond 16 months. This device now qualifies for-long term studies on hospitalized patients with diabetes mellitus.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

A portable precision pumping system for chronic, programmed insulin infusion.

This paper provides some details of a new insulin delivery system which includes a reservoir, a pump and a power pack. The reservoir holds 50 ml and is coupled to a precision peristaltic pump whose delivery can be set to any one of 128 different mean flow rates from 0 to 80 microliter/min (+/- 1.6% over 10 months) using the flow rate controller included in the battery power pack. The system weighs 525 g consuming 60 mW at the maximum pumping rate, proportionately less at lower rates. Ten pumps have undergone bench tests for 30 days. One has been subjected to an extended life test of 11 months while seven complete systems have been used on dogs to demonstrate their capability for precise longterm intravenous insulin therapy. With this system experimental diabetes has been reversed in 4 dogs for periods now extending beyond 6 months. This device now qualifies for long-term studies on hospitalized patients with diabetes mellitus.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Group B streptococcal meningitis associated with a CSF fistula.

An elderly man had group B streptococcal meningitis. The infection may have seeded the meninges through a rhinocerebral fistula. Despite the frequency of nasopharyngeal colonization with this organism, reports of adult meningitis secondary to group B Streptococcus are rare; to our knowledge, no previous cases specifically associated with rhinocerebral fistula have been described. Reasons for the discrepancy between the frequency of nasopharyngeal colonization and the rarity of meningitis are suggested.

Aged↗
PubMed1978

Tube introducer and modified Celestin tube for use in palliative intubation of oesophagogastric neoplasms at fibreoptic endoscopy.

A new method for palliative intubation of inoperable neoplasms at or near the cardia is described. A guidewire is passed through the stricture, which is dilated using Eder Puestow metal olive dilators. The tube to be inserted is mounted on an introducer, which grips its distal end from inside, and is slid into position along the wire under radiological control. Twenty-five patients have been intubated with one death directly resulting from the procedure. The method provides a simple and relatively safe means of relieving dysphagia and improving nutrition.

Deglutition Disorders↗
PubMed1977

A prospective, randomised study of endoscopy and radiology in acute upper-gastrointestinal-tract bleeding.

318 patients admitted to hospital with acute upper-gastrointestinal-tract bleeding were entered into a prospective randomised comparison of investigation by either endoscopy or radiology. Although the diagnostic yield was higher in the endoscopy group than the radiology group, there was no difference between the two groups in management or survival, and the accuracy of the findings as judged independently at operation and/or necropsy was also similar in the two groups. These findings case doubt on the need to provide emergency endoscopic facilities for the investigation of patients with acute upper-gastrointestinal-tract bleeding where radiological services are already adequate.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1977

Dysphagia.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Aged↗
PubMed1977

Fibreoptic endoscopic palliative intubation of inoperable oesophagogastric neoplasms.

Palliative intubation for inoperable malignant strictures at the cardia was done on 16 occasions in 13 patients using fiberoptic endoscopy. Preliminary dilatation was performed, and the Celestin tube was mounted on an introducer and passed over a guide wire inserted with a fiberoptic endoscope. Only one death resulted from the procedure and all the 12 patients who left hospital were swallowing satisfactorily on discharge. The method provided a simple and relatively safe means of relieving dysphagia and improving nutrition.

Cardia↗