Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R L Rothwell-Jackson.
Between 1981 and 1988 inclusive, 22 patients with full-thickness rectal prolapse presenting to two surgeons in this hospital were treated using the Délorme operation. There was no mortality and morbidity was minimal. Twenty-one patients (95.5%) were cured of prolapse and 19 patients (86.4%) had normal anal sphincter function after the operation.
A double-blind randomised trial was carried out among 46 patients undergoing elective colonic surgery; 27 patients received prophylactic metronidazole and 19 received placebo. Anaerobic infections did not develop in any of the metronidazole-treated patients, but did develop in 11 (58%) of 19 controls who were subsequently successfully treated with metronidazole.
The frequency of non-clostridial anaerobic infection was studied in 95 patients who had undergone acute appendicectomy: 49 received prophylactic metronidazole and 46 received placebo. Anaerobic infection did not develop in any of the metronidazole-treated patients, but infections did develop in nine (19%) of the 46 controls. Metronidazole is conveniently administered by suppository to patients who cannot take oral drugs. Five patients with intra-abdominal infections caused by non-clostridial anaerobes were successfully treated with metronidazole.