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Biomedical subjects

R Hawes

Publications and source records attributed to R Hawes.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Endoscopic treatment of inoperable colorectal cancers with the Nd YAG laser.

Seventeen patients with cancers of the rectum or distal sigmoid and considered inoperable because of old age, severe concomitant disease or advanced stage of malignancy, were treated endoscopically with the Nd YAG laser. Symptoms included rectal bleeding, obstruction, diarrhoea and incontinence. Significant improvement was achieved in 15 (88 per cent) and there were no complications. The procedure was carried out with simple bowel preparation and minimal sedation and, for otherwise fit individuals, the mean total hospital stay was 6.8 days, with day case therapy sometimes possible. Three patients required further therapy for recurrent symptoms 6-8 weeks after treatment. Fourteen patients died 1-39 weeks after therapy (mean survival 15 weeks). Three are alive and free of bowel symptoms after 39-54 weeks. This technique is the only non-surgical therapy that can be used safely for lesions above the peritoneal reflection and provides palliation at least as good as electrocoagulation, cryotherapy and radiotherapy with minimal upset to these seriously ill patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗

A study of optimal length of flexible fiberoptic sigmoidoscopes for initial endoscopic training.

Eighteen trainees with no prior fiberoptic endoscopic experience performed a total of 305 fiberoptic sigmoidoscopies using a colonoscope. Basic training, consisting of reading materials, lecture instructions, practice on a colon model, and observation of procedures, was completed prior to beginning patient examinations. Additional instruction was given between examinations. The performance of these examinations was an individual effort on the part of the trainee without verbal or mechanical assistance from the instructor after the initial ten examinations. All were performed with an instructor viewing through a teaching attachment. Total insertion distance was greater than or equal to 30, greater than or equal to 40, greater than or equal to 50, greater than or equal to 60 cm in 65, 60, 46, and 20 percent of examinations, respectively. Overall performance was better in those with prior rigid sigmoidoscopic experience (20 examinations). The mean examination time was 11.8 minutes. These data help to define the appropriate length of fiberoptic sigmoidoscope recommended for use by inexperienced endoscopists.

Education, Medical, Undergraduate↗

Training resident physicians in fiberoptic sigmoidoscopy. How many supervised examinations are required to achieve competence?

Twenty-five resident physicians performed 495 fiberoptic sigmoidoscopic examinations that were graded for overall skill according to a six-point competence scale. In general, 24 to 30 examinations were required to become competent at fiberoptic sigmoidoscopy. Trainees with prior rigid sigmoidoscopy experience achieved competence more quickly than those with no prior rigid sigmoidoscopy experience. As experience increased, unassisted insertion distance and luminal visualization increased, insertion time and assisted time decreased, and management scores and percent correct diagnoses improved. Trainees detected 93 to 100 percent of polyps and cancers viewed by the experienced sigmoidoscopist once competence was achieved. These data indicate that programs for training primary care physicians in fiberoptic sigmoidoscopy are feasible, help define the number of examinations required to become competent, and indicate that such trainees should be effective in cancer screening.

Clinical Competence↗

Reduction of fear-related dental management problems with use of filmed modeling.

In this study of the modification of anxiety-related disruptive behavior in dental treatment, matched groups of inner-city children attending a pedodontic clinic were shown a videotaped demonstration of a 4-year-old black child undergoing a dental restorative procedure or were given an unrelated drawing task before dental treatment. Children who viewed the videotape demonstration of a peer model coping with dental procedures showed significantly fewer fear-related disruptive behaviors during restoration of lesions. Observations of children's anxiety levels made by dentists and independent observers validated the effectiveness of viewing the videotaped demonstration. No significant correlation was found between the children's reports of their anxiety and their behavior during dental treatment.

Analysis of Variance↗

Sphincter of Oddi manometry: interobserver variability.

To determine the frequency and magnitude of interobserver variability, 50 sphincter of Oddi manometry tracings were read by three separate physicians experienced in reading such manometry. Ninety station pull-throughs were read, and attention was focused on the reference duodenal baseline pressure and two methods of reading the basal sphincter pressure. A high degree of correlation was found among the three observers with correlation coefficients of > 0.9 for reading baseline duodenal and basal sphincter pressures. Differences in basal sphincter pressure readings were greatest in patients with very high basal sphincter pressure. The most clinically relevant parameter was thought to be the mean basal sphincter pressure. All three observers agreed on normal (mean basal pressure < or = 40 mm Hg) versus abnormal (mean basal pressure > 40 mm Hg) in 82% to 90% of tracings. When the definition of agreement was broadened to include patients with pressures of 40 +/- 3 mm Hg (37 to 43 mm Hg), the observers agreed 87% to 94% of the time. Overall, these findings are thought to indicate that interobserver variability for reading sphincter of Oddi manometry is minimal when the observers are experienced in reading these tracings.

Humans↗

Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction in patients with intact gallbladder: therapeutic response to endoscopic sphincterotomy.

Increasing evidence exists of the occurrence of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction in patients with an intact gallbladder. Optimal therapy for such patients has not been defined. From 1989 to 1991, 35 patients with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (abnormal basal sphincter pressure > 40 mm Hg) and an intact gallbladder were identified. The patients with abnormal ductography (except for duct dilation), pancreas divisum, or pancreato-biliary malignancy were excluded. All patients had disabling upper abdominal pain, which was quantified on a 0 = none to 10 = severe pain scale. All patients received standard endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy and were followed up for 4 to 26 months with a mean of 13 months. Initially, 27 of 35 patients (77%) showed at least 50% improvement in the pain score, whereas only 15 of the 27 remained improved throughout the follow-up interval. Patients who were unimproved or had relapses were offered cholecystectomy and 11 patients underwent the procedure. These patients were followed up after cholecystectomy for 2 to 24 months, with a mean of 13 months. Eight of 11 were improved. In summary, the combination of endoscopic sphincterotomy and selective cholecystectomy and minimal medical treatment resulted in a good and excellent response rate of 68%. Better techniques are needed to select patients who will respond to these therapies.

Abdominal Pain↗

Effect of prophylactic main pancreatic duct stenting on the incidence of biliary endoscopic sphincterotomy-induced pancreatitis in high-risk patients.

Pancreatitis is a common complication of endoscopic sphincterotomy. Cautery-induced papillary edema has been implicated as a possible cause. The objective of this study was to determine whether prophylactic stenting of the main pancreatic duct after endoscopic sphincterotomy in high-risk patients would reduce the incidence of pancreatitis. High-risk patients were defined as those with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, small common bile duct diameter (< 10 mm), or those requiring pre-cut sphincterotomy. Patients were studied in a prospective fashion from October 1990 to April 1992 and were randomized to receive either a main pancreatic duct stent or no stent after biliary sphincterotomy. The stents were generally removed 10 to 14 days after placement. Fifty patients were randomized to the no-stent group and 48 patients were randomized to the stent group, but in five patients stent placement was unsuccessful. Pancreatitis occurred in 18% of patients in the no-stent group compared with 14% of patients in the stent group. Most cases of pancreatitis were mild, occurring in 10% of patients in the no-stent group and 12% of patients in the stent group. Moderate to severe pancreatitis occurred with an increased frequency in patients in the no-stent group (8%) compared with that in patients in the stent group (2%). Mean number of hospital days required to treat pancreatitis was 9.5 days in the no-stent group compared with 2.8 days in the stent group; however, none of these differences reached statistical significance. Small common bile duct diameter (< 6 mm) was found to be an independent risk factor for pancreatitis after endoscopic sphincterotomy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Common Bile Duct↗