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Biomedical subjects

R J Valentine

Publications and source records attributed to R J Valentine.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

The natural history of patients with claudication with toe pressures of 40 mm Hg or less.

PURPOSE: This study was performed to determine the natural history of patients with symptoms of claudication and systolic toe pressures (TP) of 40 mm Hg or less. METHODS: We followed the clinical course of 56 men with stable claudication and TP of 40 mm Hg or less. All TP measurements were performed on at least two occasions 6 months apart. Primary end points included development of rest pain, tissue loss, or gangrene. The clinical course of 56 case controls with TP greater than 40 mm Hg matched for age, sex, and race was used for comparison. RESULTS: During a mean (+/- SD) follow-up time of 31 +/- 4 months, 37 (66%) patients with TP of 40 mm Hg or less remained stable, and 19 (34%) had ulceration (n = 10), rest pain (n = 6), or gangrene (n = 3). Nine (24%) of the 37 stable patients had gradual improvement of TP values greater than 40 mm Hg. Among the 19 patients whose conditions deteriorated, eight (42%) patients underwent successful bypasses, and five (26%) patients required amputations. Two patients who had rest pain had spontaneous resolution, and three patients who had ulcerations healed without intervention. In contrast, five (9%) of the case controls with TP greater than 40 mm Hg had rest pain (n = 2) or gangrene (n = 3) (p = 0.003). Among patients with TP of 40 mm Hg or less, there were no statistically significant differences between the stable patients and patients with deteriorating conditions in age, ankle-brachial indexes, or risk factors (including diabetes mellitus). However, diabetes conferred a higher probability of clinical deterioration (p = 0.005, Kaplan-Meier). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with symptoms of intermittent claudication, TP of 40 mm Hg or less portends clinical deterioration. Patients with diabetes in this group have a significantly higher risk of development of critical ischemia. Close scrutiny is warranted.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Nonvascular emergencies presenting as ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Patients may present with signs and symptoms of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAA) but actually have other diseases mimicking RAA. The outcome of these patients has not been reported. METHODS: During the past 10 years, 16 patients presumed to have RAAs were found at operation to have other diseases accounting for the symptoms. Fifteen patients (94%) had abdominal pain, 9 (56%) had a pulsatile abdominal mass, and 7 (44%) were hypotensive on presentation. RESULTS: Ten of the 16 patients had intact aortic aneurysms at surgery; there were no reliable physical signs or diagnostic tests that could discern between RAAs and intact aneurysms with other intraabdominal diseases. Eight patients (50%) died in the perioperative period, including four with widespread metastases, three with overwhelming sepsis, and one with an acute myocardial infarction. None of the 10 patients with aneurysms suffered RAA after emergency laparotomy. Exploratory laparotomy was necessary to treat underlying disease in nine patients and was probably harmful only to the patient with a myocardial infarction. Two survivors with aneurysms underwent successful staged repairs. CONCLUSIONS: Mistaken diagnoses in patients who are suspected of having RAAs on the basis of physical findings are relatively uncommon. Exploratory laparotomies are required to correct the primary disease in most of these misdiagnosed patients. Few die as a direct result of laparotomy; true iatrogenic catastrophes associated with mistaken diagnoses are distinctly uncommon.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1992

Penetrating abdominal aortic trauma: a report of 129 cases.

The clinical presentation, resuscitation, and operative management of 129 patients with penetrating injuries to the abdominal aorta treated between 1960 and 1989 were reviewed. This is the largest reported civilian or military experience with this specific injury; our review of the literature was limited to reports focusing on the detailed analysis of the management and outcome of aortic trauma. Eighty-two percent of patients were in shock; 18 patients (14%) underwent emergency room thoracotomies, with no survivors. Of 46 patients requiring operating room thoracotomies, only 20% survived. All patients underwent exploration. Thirty percent had three or more visceral injuries; only 2% had no concurrent visceral injury. There were associated vascular injuries in 58% of patients, the inferior vena cava being the most frequent (37%). The most significant predictor of death was continued bleeding at operation. Ninety percent of patients with free intraperitoneal bleeding died, in contrast to 35% with a contained retroperitoneal hematoma (p less than 0.001). Aortic injuries were supraceliac in 25% of patients, between the celiac and renal arteries in 25%, and infrarenal in 50%. The respective mortality rates were 70%, 80%, and 47% (p less than 0.05). Repair of the aortic defect was possible in 103 patients (80%). The most common repair was lateral arteriorrhaphy in 53% of patients, followed by end-to-end anastomosis in 15% and prosthetic repairs in 8%. The overall mortality rate was 62%, which is similar to that of previous reports. Despite advances in trauma care, a functioning paramedic system, and the use of aggressive means to obtain aortic control, penetrating aortic trauma remains highly lethal.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Asymptomatic celiac and superior mesenteric artery stenoses are more prevalent among patients with unsuspected renal artery stenoses.

The prevalence of unsuspected renal artery stenosis among patients with peripheral vascular disease has been reported to be as high as 40%, but the prevalence of asymptomatic celiac and superior mesenteric artery stenoses in these patients is not known. The biplane aortograms of 205 male patients who were military veterans and had aneurysms or occlusive disease were independently reviewed, and medical records were studied to determine associated coronary disease, risk factors, and patient outcome. Fifty-six patients (27%) had a 50% or greater stenosis in the celiac or superior mesenteric artery, and seven patients (3.4%) had significant stenoses in both mesenteric arteries. Patients with celiac or superior mesenteric artery stenoses were older (p = 0.002) and had a higher prevalence of hypertension (p = 0.029) than those without significant mesenteric stenoses. Fifty of the 205 patients had significant renal artery stenoses, and 20 had advanced (greater than 75% diameter loss) renal stenoses. Ten of the 20 patients (50%) with advanced renal stenoses had a concomitant celiac artery stenosis, compared to 40 of the 185 patients (22%) who did not have advanced renal stenoses (p = 0.011). In the present study asymptomatic celiac or superior mesenteric artery stenoses were common among male veterans evaluated for peripheral vascular disease, but the prevalence of significant stenoses in both the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries was low. The prevalence of significant celiac stenosis was higher in patients with advanced (greater than 75%) renal artery stenoses who might be considered for prophylactic renal revascularization. Lateral aortography with evaluation of the celiac artery is always appropriate in these patients.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

Is routine CT scanning necessary in the preoperative evaluation of patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy?

To evaluate the usefulness of CT scanning before carotid endarterectomy, a prospective study was performed on 469 consecutive patients considered for carotid endarterectomy during a 5-year period. All patients underwent carotid duplex scanning and CT scanning before carotid arteriography. Two hundred thirty-seven patients (51%) had transient ischemic attacks, 109 (23%) had a prior stroke, and 122 (26%) were asymptomatic. Results of the CT scan were abnormal in 68 (62%) of the 109 patients with stroke. Fifty-one of the 360 patients (14%) without a clinical history of stroke had an abnormal CT scan outcome. Of patients with a stroke documented by CT scanning, 27 had lacunar infarcts, and 92 had cortical infarcts; these findings did not change surgical management in any patient. CT scanning did not reveal any unsuspected infarcts or tumors. Two hundred thirty carotid endarterectomies were performed on 206 patients. Forty-seven patients (23%) in the operative group had abnormal CT scan findings, but the scan did not influence operative decisions or timing in any case. Seventy-two patients (27%) in the nonoperative group had abnormal CT scan results, but CT scan findings did not exclude any patient from arteriography or surgery. Three perioperative strokes (1.3%) occurred. CT scan findings did not correlate with postoperative neurologic complications. Cost of CT scanning was one-half million dollars in our study alone. Routine CT scanning is unnecessary before carotid endarterectomy and is not cost-effective.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Strategies in the management of pyogenic psoas abscesses.

The presentation and management of eight patients with pyogenic psoas abscesses treated at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, between January 1986 and July 1989 are presented. The psoas abscesses were secondary to underlying gastrointestinal disease in six patients and sacral osteomyelitis in one patient. In one patient, the etiology of the abscess could not be determined. The average duration of symptoms in these patients was 16 days. Computed tomography was useful in identifying the abscess, defining its complexity, and planning therapy in all eight patients. Seven patients had complex, multiloculated abscesses, and one patient had a simple abscess. Extraperitoneal drainage was used in all patients. The patients with multiloculated abscesses had open surgical drainage, while the patient with the simple abscess had percutaneous catheter drainage. Most patients with a gastrointestinal etiology for their abscess underwent staged resection 3 to 6 weeks after the drainage procedure. There were no deaths, recurrent abscesses, or fistulae in these patients. Two patients developed thromboembolic complications postoperatively. Extraperitoneal drainage with staged resection of underlying gastrointestinal pathology is a safe and effective way of treating patients with psoas abscesses.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed1990

Nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia in renal patients: recognition and prevention of intestinal gangrene.

Nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) is a disorder with an extremely high mortality. Salvage of affected patients requires early recognition and aggressive intervention to prevent intestinal gangrene. Dialysis patients represent a group at particularly high risk for this condition. Clinicians should develop a high index of suspicion for NOMI in dialysis patients to lessen the risk of death. A high interventional posture must be maintained due to the notoriously unreliable signs and symptoms of this disorder.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Intermittent claudication caused by atherosclerosis in patients aged forty years and younger.

Intermittent claudication may represent a severe limitation in daily life-style for young, active patients and may result in loss of professional career for members of the armed forces. Our recent experience with young patients with atherosclerotic claudication was reviewed to determine whether more liberal use of angioplasty and surgery is warranted in these patients to salvage their military careers and improve their life-styles. A systemic review was made of patients aged 40 years and younger with atherosclerosis who have undergone arteriography at our institution during the past 67 months. From this study, 22 patients were found with the initial complaint of intermittent claudication. Fifteen of these patients (68%) had occlusive disease confined to the iliac arteries, and six (27%) had single-level occlusive disease in a femoropopliteal distribution. Only one patient had multilevel disease. Symptoms of coronary occlusive disease developed in five patients (23%) within 38 months of the onset of claudication, and two of these patients died of myocardial infarctions. Of 19 patients who underwent interventions to correct symptoms of claudication, 16 (85%) had complete relief of symptoms at the end of follow-up, ranging from 6 months to 7 years. Ten of these patients remained symptom free after a single intervention, but six patients had rapid progression of disease and required secondary procedures. These results indicate that a majority of young patients with claudication caused by atherosclerosis can be returned to full active-duty status in the military after angioplasty or surgery. However, some patients may require secondary procedures to relieve recurrent symptoms caused by rapid progression of disease. We believe that an aggressive interventional approach is warranted in the evaluation and treatment of young patients with work-limiting claudication caused by atherosclerosis. These patients are at significant risk of developing premature coronary occlusive disease and should be monitored closely.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Nonoperative management of blunt pediatric liver injury--late complications: case report.

Selective nonoperative management of blunt liver injuries has become a standard of care, especially in pediatric trauma centers. Recent studies report few complications with this form of therapy. Complications that occur arise over a wide time period, frequently weeks after injury. We report a patient with blunt liver trauma managed nonoperatively, who developed hemobilia 56 days after injury.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Supraclavicular approach for the simultaneous treatment of dysphagia lusoria and thoracic outlet syndrome.

The case of a 36-year-old man with simultaneous dysphagia lusoria and thoracic outlet syndrome is presented. The supraclavicular approach has been described previously for the surgical correction of each of these conditions. While rare, these conditions may occur together. The supraclavicular incision proved to be an excellent approach to correct both abnormalities at the same operation.

Clavicle↗
PubMed1988

Intravagal paraganglioma: report of a case and a discussion of vascular parapharyngeal masses.

A case of intravagal paraganglioma that appeared as a parapharyngeal mass 1 year after tonsillectomy is discussed. The diagnosis of this lesion was based on angiographic findings, and subtraction views provided the best detail of the extent and nature of the mass. Excision was made nearly bloodless by initial ligation of the external carotid artery, followed by the application of direct pressure to the mass during dissection. The diagnosis of parapharyngeal vascular masses is discussed, and the pertinent literature is reviewed.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Reperfusion seizures after innominate endarterectomy.

Seizures occurring after carotid revascularization are an uncommon complication that has received increasing recognition. The development of postoperative seizures has been estimated to occur in 0.4% to 1.0% of all carotid endarterectomies. Patients with high-grade carotid arterial stenoses appear to be at highest risk for postoperative seizures, which are thought to be due to cortical hyperperfusion states. We report two cases of focal motor seizures occurring after innominate endarterectomy, demonstrating that this complication is not limited to carotid arterial surgery.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

A modified extrathoracic approach to the treatment of dysphagia lusoria.

The management of patients with esophageal compression by an anomalous right subclavian artery (dysphagia lusoria) has been controversial. A classic approach involves left thoracotomy, with resection of the aberrant subclavian artery from its origin to the right border of the esophagus. To prevent possible ischemic complications, most surgeons favor revascularization of the distal subclavian artery. Thoracotomy has been the traditional approach for division or reimplantation of the aberrant right subclavian artery. We describe a modification (right supraclavicular incision) of an extrathoracic approach, which was first described by Orvald in 1972, to simplify simultaneous correction of dysphagia lusoria and revascularization of the right upper extremity.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Successful use of the Denver peritoneovenous shunt in patients with nephrogenic ascites.

Tense ascites in patients who require hemodialysis for renal failure (nephrogenic ascites) is a rare but ominous complication. Its appearance is often followed by a rapid physical deterioration. Nonsurgical attempts to control the ascites are often unsuccessful. Four patients with refractory ascites were treated with Denver peritoneovenous shunts (DPVS). These patients suffered from ventilatory failure, anorexia with malnutrition, and hypotension during hemodialysis. Patients were followed for as long as 18 months after DPVS, and all experienced clinical resolution of the ascites. Ventilatory failure, malnutrition, and hypotension either improved or resolved after shunting. Shunt-related morbidity occurred in all patients and consisted of mechanical complications in four patients and bacteremia in one patient. These problems were resolved by either revision or removal of the DPVS. No deaths were directly related to shunting. Peritoneovenous shunting successfully treats nephrogenic ascites and reverses the morbid sequelae usually associated with this syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Is external carotid endarterectomy a durable procedure?

Thirteen patients with internal carotid occlusion underwent 14 primary external carotid revascularization procedures over a 31 month period. Ten patients had obliteration of their internal carotid stump combined with patch angioplasty of the external carotid artery, and 3 had vein bypasses from the common carotid artery to the external carotid artery. Eleven patients were symptomatic with either amaurosis fugax or hemispheric transient ischemic attacks. Two patients were asymptomatic. All patients had serial carotid noninvasive tests (B-mode ultrasonography, spectral analysis, and oculoplethysmography). The mean follow-up was 22 months. Recurrent amaurosis fugax secondary to recurrent stenoses developed in two patients. These were correctly predicted by B-mode imaging and altered flow characteristics on spectral analysis. Both patients were successfully treated with reoperative procedures to prevent failure of the primary reconstruction. External carotid revascularization is a safe and durable procedure, but careful periodic follow-up is necessary to detect stenoses developing at or remote from the initial operative site. Carotid noninvasive tests appear to be helpful in detecting recurrent disease. Carotid revascularization is superior to other forms of therapy in patients who have development of neurologic symptoms ipsilateral to a chronically occluded internal carotid artery.

Aged↗