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Biomedical subjects

R G Berrisford

Publications and source records attributed to R G Berrisford.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Pleuroperitoneal shunts and tumor seeding.

A 76-year-old man with malignant mesothelioma of the left pleura was referred for surgical palliation. He was dyspneic at rest and had anterior chest pain and a persistent cough. Chest x-ray film revealed an extensive left pleural effusion. A thoracoscopy was performed, and 3L of pleural fluid was drained. Both the pleural surfaces and rhe diaphragm were studded with tumors. On maximal inflation of the lung, the parietal and visceral pleura did not oppose, and therefore a Denver shunt was inserted. At 6 weeks follow-up, the shunt was performing satisfactorily. At follow-up 9 weeks postoperatively, the subcutaneous tunnel was infiltrated by mesothelioma over a distance of some 15 cm.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Bronchopleural fistula complicating group A beta-haemolytic streptococcal pneumonia. Use of a Fogarty embolectomy catheter for selective bronchial blockade.

A 36-year-old woman developed severe group A Streptococcal pneumonia, complicated by a bronchopleural fistula, ARDS and multi-organ failure. We describe the use of selective middle lobe bronchus blockade, with a Fogarty embolectomy catheter, to localise and control the air leak. This allowed effective mechanical ventilation and oxygenation on intensive care and during right middle lobectomy. The patient made a prolonged, but full recovery.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Pulmonary haemorrhage after percutaneous paravertebral block.

We describe the management of a 65-yr-old woman anaesthetized for thoracotomy. The patient suffered a pulmonary haemorrhage after percutaneous paravertebral injection performed using the loss of resistance to saline technique. Thoracotomy at a later date revealed that the lung tissue had become adherent to the chest wall and that the paravertebral space was fibrosed secondary to previous surgery. This particular complication of percutaneous paravertebral block has not been reported previously and raises the question of risk vs benefit of this pre-emptive analgesic technique.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Tracheal obstruction in achalasia: a role for airway stenting?

We describe an 82-year-old woman who presented with acute tracheal obstruction secondary to advanced, asymptomatic achalasia. Conventional treatment of her achalasia failed to relieve recurrent episodes of airway obstruction requiring endotracheal intubation. Because she was not fit for an operation, a Gianturco endotracheal stent was placed bronchoscopically. She remains without respiratory or upper gastrointestinal symptoms 2 years later. Recent information regarding the pathophysiology and surgical treatment of this complication is reviewed.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Stapler design and strictures at the esophagogastric anastomosis.

An apparent reduction in the rate of benign anastomotic stricture after stapled esophagogastrectomy prompted us to review the results obtained with different stapling devices since 1988. We present a retrospective review of 125 consecutive patients undergoing esophageal resection for malignancy with stapled intrathoracic anastomoses. Benign anastomotic stricture was deemed present when a patient required endoscopic dilatation to treat postoperative dysphagia. We found no difference in risk factors not related to stapler size (tumor histologic characteristics, adjuvant therapy) between patients with stricture and patients without stricture. Event-free survival was compared for different stapler diameters as well as for different stapler designs. We found that staplers of smaller diameter were associated with significantly more strictures (p < 0.005). In a comparison of different designs of 25 mm stapler, the newer CDH device (Ethicon Ltd., Edinburgh, United Kingdom) was associated with a similar stricture rate to that associated with other designs (ILP [Ethicon] and EEA [Autosuture Company Division, United States Surgical Corp., Norwalk, Conn.]). For a given stapler diameter, it appears that different stapler designs have no effect on stricture rate.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMed1993

Simultaneous tracheal and esophageal pH monitoring: investigating reflux-associated asthma.

Aspiration of gastric acid into the trachea may cause asthma in some patients who have gastroesophageal reflux. Antireflux surgery has been advocated for such patients, but lack of an objective test for acid aspiration makes patient selection difficult. We report a new technique for demonstrating acid aspiration, simultaneous tracheal and esophageal pH monitoring. Tracheal pH was measured with a 1.0-mm pH electrode introduced through the cricothyroid membrane under bronchoscopic vision. A standard esophageal pH electrode was placed in the usual position. Tracheal and esophageal pH were monitored over a 24-hour period. Peak expiratory flow rate was measured hourly while the patient was awake. We present data obtained in 3 patients with severe asthma and symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux. All 3 patients demonstrated a decrease in tracheal pH to less than 5.5, coinciding with a decrease in esophageal pH to less than 4.0. The test was repeated after antireflux operation and showed that significant decreases in esophageal pH no longer lowered tracheal pH. Asthmatic symptoms were improved, and medication was reduced in 2 of the 3 patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Videothoracoscopic surgery.

Although thoracoscopy has been used for diagnostic and minor therapeutic procedures for many years, there have been few reports of its use in performing major intrathoracic procedures which have traditionally required formal thoracotomy. We report our initial experience in this field. Fifty patients (M:F = 1.63:1, mean +/- SD age = 41.8 +/- 20.4 years, range = 14-80) underwent 54 endoscopic intrathoracic operations. The procedures carried out included wedge excision of solid pulmonary mass (10), pleurectomy (25), lung biopsy (14), and miscellaneous procedures (5). Under general anaesthesia a laparoscope attached to a video monitor was introduced into the chest. One or two additional stab incisions were made as needed for the introduction of standard surgical or endoscopic instruments and staplers. There were no deaths. One patient developed a second pneumothorax 7 days after endoscopic pleurectomy, necessitating open pleurodesis. All patients were discharged home between 2 and 11 days after surgery (mean +/- SD = 3.8 +/- 2.0 days). Endoscopic thoracic surgery is a safe and useful technique for certain cases. It merits further investigation and assessment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Plasma concentrations of bupivacaine and its enantiomers during continuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block.

Plasma concentrations of bupivacaine have been measured in 12 patients given bupivacaine through a paravertebral catheter placed under direct vision at thoracotomy. After an initial bolus of 0.5% bupivacaine 20 ml, mean (SEM) Cpmax was 1.45 (0.32) micrograms ml-1 and median (range) tCpmax was 25 (10-60) min. A concentration of 4.43 micrograms ml-1 measured in one patient was not associated with toxic signs. During continuous infusion of bupivacaine for 120 h, Cpmax was 4.9 (0.7) micrograms ml-1 and tCpmax 48 (5-96) h. No symptoms or signs of toxicity occurred. Separate measurement of R- and S-bupivacaine concentrations demonstrated significantly different concentration-time profiles.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Reversed-phase and chiral high-performance liquid chromatographic assay of bupivacaine and its enantiomers in clinical samples after continuous extraplural infusion.

A previously unreported coupled achiral-chiral high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed to assay the levels of bupivacaine and its enantiomers in plasma samples, after the local anaesthetic had been given as a continuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block for 4 days, to relieve postoperative pain following thoracotomy. The method has been used to determine maximum, individual enantiomer and steady state levels in conjunction with an assessment of whether accumulation of bupivacaine occurs. An off-line extraction sample preparation is involved before determination of the "total" levels and final sample clean-up on a cyanopropyl silica column prior to "heart cutting" of the bupivacaine peak to a Chiral-AGP column for assay of the enantiomeric ratio. For an initial 5 patient number the mean maximum level was 5.43 micrograms/ml against a reported toxic level of around 5 micrograms/ml, which was reached in 72 h and the S-enantiomer gave slightly increased concentrations over the R-enantiomer for which there is some evidence of higher toxicity.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Patterns of oxygenation after thoracotomy.

We have studied patterns of oxygen saturation (SpO2) before and after thoracotomy in 20 patients monitored nightly from the preoperative night to the fourth postoperative night. After operation, 10 patients received paravertebral bupivacaine (PVB) infusion and 10 received paravertebral saline (PVS) infusion. Papaveretum was given as required. Before operation the SpO2 profiles formed two groups: stable with SpO2 greater than 94% and stable with a median SpO2 less than 94% (hypoxaemia). During the first night after operation SpO2 profiles formed four groups: stable, not hypoxaemic (2/20); stable, hypoxaemic but improving (8/20); stable and constant hypoxaemia (5/20); unstable, hypoxaemic and deteriorating (5/20). Eleven patients remained hypoxaemic as late as the fourth night after operation. All patients who were hypoxaemic before operation were hypoxaemic after operation. Postoperative hypoxaemia was predicted in only 50% of cases. Papaveretum requirement was reduced in the PVB group, but regional analgesia did not affect the proportion of patients showing each SpO2 profile. Papaveretum caused a decrease in SpO2 in both analgesic groups.

Adult↗