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Biomedical subjects

R H Hawes

Publications and source records attributed to R H Hawes.

155 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Endoscopic ultrasonography as an adjunct to fine needle aspiration cytology of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract.

Twenty consecutive patients with either extrinsic or submucosal masses or gastric ulcers suspicious for malignancy with previously negative conventional forceps biopsies and/or brush cytology underwent a combined approach of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) followed by fine needle aspiration cytology. Diagnostic results were obtained in 17 of 20 patients. The three patients with indeterminate aspirates had EUS findings strongly supportive of the final diagnosis. EUS combined with fine needle aspiration cytology appears to be of value in the evaluation of extrinsic, submucosal, and ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract.

Biopsy, Needle↗

Endoscopic sphincterotomy-induced hemorrhage: treatment with multipolar electrocoagulation.

Multipolar electrocoagulation is an effective therapy for patients with endoscopic evidence of active upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage or a non-bleeding visible vessel in an ulcer crater. The use of this therapy for endoscopic sphincterotomy-induced hemorrhage has not been reported previously. This prospective study attempted to assess the efficacy of multipolar electrocoagulation in patients with endoscopic sphincterotomy-induced hemorrhage not responding to conservative and/or other endoscopic measures. Nine patients with moderate or severe bleeding following endoscopic sphincterotomy (one, immediate; eight, delayed 12 to 144 hours) were treated by multipolar electrocoagulation. Prior to endoscopic therapy with multipolar electrocoagulation, the mean hematocrit drop was 14.5% and the mean number of packed red blood cells transfused was 4.8 units. Complete hemostasis was achieved in eight (89%) patients. Re-bleeding occurred in two (25%) and was controlled by a second course of multipolar electrocoagulation in one in whom it was attempted. There were no complications or deaths from multipolar electrocoagulation and surgical therapy was avoided in all nine patients. We recommend proceeding with multipolar electrocoagulation (if possible) after injection therapy and/or balloon tamponade fail to control the hemorrhage and before considering angiographic or surgical intervention.

Balloon Occlusion↗

Pancreatitis following bile duct sphincter of Oddi manometry: utility of the aspirating catheter.

The aspirating sphincter of Oddi manometry (SOM) catheter was shown to reduce the frequency of post-procedure pancreatitis from 31% to 4% following a pancreatic duct evaluation. This study was designed to prospectively evaluate the utility of the aspirating manometry catheter in reducing the frequency of pancreatic enzyme elevation and clinical pancreatitis following isolated bile duct manometry. Thirty-eight patients were randomly assigned to undergo bile duct SOM with the standard perfusion (infused group) catheter or the aspirating catheter (aspirated group). Overall, the frequency of both amylase and lipase level elevation at least two times the upper limits of normal was 30% at 2 hours, 25% at 6 hours, and 18% at 18 hours after the procedure and was similar for the aspirated and infused groups. No episodes of clinical pancreatitis occurred in either group. The SOM catheter was perfused with full-strength contrast in 12 consecutive patients undergoing a bile duct evaluation. Only one patient had any contrast material identified in the pancreatic duct. The results of this study support the theory that increased pancreatic duct hydrostatic pressure is the major cause for post-SOM pancreatitis and suggests that SOM evaluation of the bile duct alone appears to be safe.

Adult↗

Correlation of basal sphincter pressures measured from the bile duct and the pancreatic duct in patients with suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.

If basal sphincter of Oddi pressures measured from the pancreatic duct and the bile duct are essentially equal, then measurement of basal pressures from only one duct would be adequate in evaluating sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. We report a series of 88 patients whom we evaluated with sphincter of Oddi manometry. Cannulation of both the biliary sphincter segment and pancreatic sphincter segment was achieved in these patients. Basal sphincter pressures were measured (normal, less than 40 mm Hg). In 45 of the 88 patients (51%), normal sphincter of Oddi basal pressures were seen in both ducts. Elevated basal sphincter of Oddi pressures were seen in both ducts in 28 of 88 patients (32%). In 15 of 88 cases (17%) there was an elevation of only one sphincter segment. Elevation in only the biliary sphincter segment occurred in 7 of 88 patients (8%). Elevation in the pancreatic sphincter segment alone occurred in 8 of 88 patients (9%). We conclude that sphincter of Oddi manometry of both the pancreatic and bile ducts is needed if complete manometric information is desired.

Bile Ducts↗

Pancreas divisum: results of minor papilla sphincterotomy.

A subpopulation of pancreas divisum patients may have pancreatic pain or pancreatitis as a result of a stenotic minor papilla. This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of minor papilla sphincterotomy in 52 pancreas divisum patients who had disabling chronic pancreatic pain (n = 24), acute recurrent pancreatitis (n = 17), or chronic pancreatitis (n = 11). Patients were symptomatic for a mean time of 5.1 years and had failed to respond to conservative therapy. Minor papilla sphincterotomy was performed with a needle knife over a previously placed minor papilla/dorsal pancreatic duct stent. Clinical improvement was assessed by comparison of symptoms (using a 0 to 10 scale) and number of hospital days per month required for pain or pancreatitis for an equal period of time before and after therapy. The average duration of follow-up was 1.7 years. As compared with the chronic pain and chronic pancreatitis groups, the acute recurrent pancreatitis group had a significant reduction in the mean symptom score and number of hospital days per month. Patients with acute recurrent pancreatitis benefited from minor papilla sphincterotomy more frequently than those with chronic pancreatitis (76.5% versus 27.3%, p = 0.01) or chronic pain (76.5% versus 26.1%, p = 0.002). Complications followed 15% of the procedures; they consisted primarily of mild pancreatitis, although one additional patient died of a pancreatic abscess after a failed cannulation. Fifty percent of patients evaluated at the time of stent removal had stent-induced dorsal duct changes. The results of this study support the performance of minor papilla therapy in pancreas divisum patients who have acute recurrent pancreatitis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Disease↗

Mediastinal lymph node detection with endosonography.

Eighty-two persons with chronic abdominal pain, submucosal or extrinsic masses, or achalasia and 20 volunteers without symptoms were prospectively examined with endosonography to assess the incidence and features of mediastinal lymphadenopathy. In 99 persons without malignant disease, 86% were found to have paraesophageal lymph nodes by endosonography. Overall, 352 lymph nodes were found, with a mean of 3.6 +/- 2.8 SD lymph nodes per person (range, 0 to 14 lymph nodes). Increasing age and chronic pancreatitis were found to correlate with a greater number of lymph nodes. Otherwise, clinical features including quantity of tobacco use, height, weight, sex, and race did not correlate with a greater number of lymph nodes as assessed by regression analysis. The mean width and length among the lymph nodes was 4.9 +/- 2.4 mm (range, 1 to 15 mm) and 9.9 +/- 5.2 mm (range, 1 to 30 mm), respectively, with the largest lymph nodes occurring in the peritracheal and peribronchial regions. Of all subjects, 95% had a maximum lymph node width of 10 mm or less, but only 40% had a maximum lymph node length of 10 mm or less. The most common ultrasound features of these lymph nodes included a triangular or crescent-shaped and homogeneous or centrally echogenic pattern. These ultrasound characteristics were distinct from those previously described in malignant lymph nodes. In summary, a high background prevalence of mediastinal lymph nodes exists as detected by endosonography and must be considered when performing esophageal or lung carcinoma staging examinations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Post-ERCP pancreatitis: randomized, prospective study comparing a low- and high-osmolality contrast agent.

Diagnostic and therapeutic ERCPs are complicated by pancreatitis in 1% to 10% of patients, and evidence suggests that the contrast agent used for ERCP may be important in the pathogenesis of such pancreatitis. This prospective, double-blind study was undertaken to determine whether the use of a low-osmolality, nonionic contrast agent (Omnipaque 300; iohexol, 672 mOsm/kg H2O) would reduce the frequency and severity of postprocedure pancreatitis as compared to a high-osmolality, ionic contrast agent (Hypaque 50%; diatrizoate sodium, 1515 mOsm/kg H20). Six hundred ninety patients undergoing diagnostic ERCP (pancreatogram, cholangiogram, or both) either with or without sphincter of Oddi manometry and therapy were randomized to iohexol or diatrizoate sodium. Postprocedure pancreatitis was diagnosed when the serum amylase or lipase level was elevated to at least four times the upper limits of normal at 18 hours and was associated with increased abdominal pain persisting for at least 24 hours after the procedure that required administration of narcotic analgesics. The pancreatitis was graded as mild, moderate, or severe depending on the length of hospital stay and the need for intervention. The overall frequency (7.2% versus 7.5%) and severity (4.3% mild, 2% moderate, 0.9% severe for the diatrizoate sodium group versus 4.3% mild, 2.6% moderate, and 0.6% severe for the iohexol group) of postprocedure pancreatitis and the frequency and severity within each procedure category were similar for the two contrast agent groups (p > .05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde↗

Outcome of lateral pancreaticojejunostomy in the management of chronic pancreatitis with nondilated pancreatic ducts.

Lateral pancreaticojejunostomy has demonstrated variable success in the management of chronic pancreatitis associated with ductal dilation, but its role in patients with nondilated ducts is poorly defined. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of lateral pancreaticojejunostomy in chronic pancreatitis with nondilated pancreatic ducts. The records of all patients who underwent lateral pancreaticojejunostomy with a pancreatic duct measuring less than 7 mm in diameter were reviewed. Seventeen patients underwent lateral pancreaticojejunostomy for chronic pancreatitis and intractable pain between 1995 and 1996. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography demonstrated features of chronic pancreatitis that were mild in seven patients, moderate in five, and severe in four. Postoperative complications occurred in two patients (11.7%). There were no deaths. Mean length of follow-up was 10.3 months (range 3 to 16 months). Rehospitalization for recurrent pancreatitis or pain was necessary in 59% of patients. Emergency room visits were reported by 76%. Narcotic use continued in 88%, with 76% of the patients reporting their pain as the same or worse than before the operation, and 65% continuing to view their health status as poor. In chronic pancreatitis patients with a nondilated pancreatic duct, lateral pancreaticojejunostomy appears to be of little benefit with respect to pain relief, subsequent hospitalization, continued narcotic use, or overall health status.

Adult↗

Mucinous tumors of the exocrine pancreas.

BACKGROUND: Mucin-producing cystic neoplasms of the pancreas account for 1% of all malignant tumors of the pancreas. They include mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) and mucinous ductal ectasia (MDE), also known as intraductal mucin-hypersecreting neoplasms. METHODS: This review focuses on the clinical presentation, the role of diagnostic imaging modalities, and cyst fluid analysis preoperatively in the differentiation between these tumors and other nonneoplastic cysts of the pancreas. RESULTS: MCNs and MDE evolve from pancreatic duct epithelium, produce an abundance of mucin, and are considered premalignant or malignant. While MCNs affect primarily middle-aged women with lesions occurring predominantly in the body and tail of the pancreas, MDE affects primarily men in the sixth or seventh decade with lesions more often located in the head of the pancreas. CONCLUSIONS: All mucin-producing cystic tumors of both types require surgical resection because they are frankly malignant or premalignant. Survival rates of both tumors are better than those reported for ductal cell carcinomas. Future studies are needed to improve the accuracy of diagnosing these tumors preoperatively.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗