Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R W Beart

Publications and source records attributed to R W Beart.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Changing epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of Clostridium difficile toxin-associated colitis.

One hundred and ninety patients with Clostridium difficile toxin-associated colitis (CTAC) or pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) were identified, from microbiology records, disease index and proctoscopy service records, and studied retrospectively. CTAC was associated with cephalosporin antibiotic administration in 70 per cent of the patients. CTAC developed postoperatively in 108 patients after all types of surgery with no preponderance for abdominal surgery. Identification of cytotoxin in stool samples was the primary diagnostic test in 81 per cent of patients but cytotoxin was isolated in 98 per cent of all patients. Pseudomembranes visible on proctoscopy established the diagnosis in 19 per cent of patients and were more commonly seen in severe colitis (71 per cent) than in mild colitis (23 per cent). CTAC responded similarly to oral vancomycin and metronidazole with a relapse rate of 20-23 per cent, respectively. With its association with cephalosporin administration, CTAC is likely to occur with increasing frequency in surgical practice. Oral metronidazole is an effective, cheap, alternative to vancomycin therapy.

Adolescent↗

Temporary ileostomy for ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. Function and complications.

The function and complications associated with temporary ileostomies were reviewed in patients undergoing ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. A series of 180 patients had temporary ileostomies established (157 loop, 23 Brooke). Patients with incomplete fecal diversion had a significantly higher incidence of pouch-anal anastomotic complications (44 percent) than did those with complete diversion (14 percent). Patients with loop ileostomies were more likely than patients with Brooke ileostomies to develop technique-related complications (18 percent vs. 13 percent) and peristomal irritation (54 percent vs. 26 percent). The most frequent complications after take-down of the ileostomy were transient bowel obstruction (13 percent) and peritonitis (7 percent). These complications could not be related to the type of stoma used or the interval to closure. Temporary diversion of a pouch-anal anastomosis decreased the incidence of anastomotic complications. These ileostomies, however, are associated with a significant risk of complications, which can be minimized by meticulous surgical technique.

Anal Canal↗

Local excision of rectal cancer.

A review of 282 patients with carcinoma of the rectum treated by local excision suggests that some patients are best managed and perhaps preferably managed by local means. In situ cancer is treated adequately by local excision regardless of size or grade. Well-differentiated lesions, particularly those less than 3 cm in diameter, probably are managed best by local excision. Moderately or poorly differentiated lesions, regardless of size, probably are managed best by radical techniques until more information is available to document results with local excision.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Psoas abscess: changing patterns of diagnosis and etiology.

From 1976 to 1984, 43 patients with psoas abscess were seen at the Mayo Clinic. Intestinal disease, including Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, and carcinoma, was the most frequent cause (14 patients). Eleven patients had osteomyelitis, five had postoperative complications, four had a foreign-body reaction, and three had a primary staphylococcal abscess. Two patients each had extension of a primary pancreatic and perinephric abscess. One patient had tuberculosis of the spine, and in the remaining patient, an exact cause was not determined. Definitive treatment of psoas abscess includes adequate debridement, drainage of the abscess cavity, and resection of involved bowel.

Abscess↗

Malignant lymphoma of the rectum.

Malignant lymphoma involving the rectum is rare. Of 61 patients with malignant lymphoma involving the rectum seen at the Mayo Clinic between 1950 and 1977, 49 had extensive lymphoma with secondary involvement of the rectum, and 12 had lymphoma confined to the rectum. Patients with widespread lymphoma were treated with radiation, chemotherapy, or both. Of the 12 patients with lymphoma confined to the rectum, five had surgical excision and seven were treated nonoperatively; the overall five-year survival was 20 percent. Patients with widespread lymphoma had a five-year survival of 15 percent. Patients with lymphoma confined to the rectum had a five-year survival of 50 percent, and patients who had surgical excision did better than those treated nonoperatively.

Adolescent↗

Preoperative staging of rectal carcinoma by computed tomography and 0.15T magnetic resonance imaging. Preliminary report.

A prospective study was done on 34 patients using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) preoperatively to stage patients with known rectal carcinoma. The study was done to determine the accuracy and clinical usefulness of CT and MRI. The Thoeni staging method was used. Twenty-four of 30 cases were staged correctly by CT. Sixteen of 27 were staged correctly by MRI. CT detected lymph node metastases in six of 15 cases with one false-positive. MRI detected lymph node metastases in two of 15 patients with one false-positive. CT was the preferred examination, and was useful in some cases. These cases included patients with small tumors who were considered for local excision and patients with extensive disease who were candidates for preoperative or intraoperative radiation treatment. MRI demonstrated extensive disease, as did CT in our later cases.

Adult↗

Limitations of nutritional assessment in predicting the outcome of colorectal operations.

The value of preoperative nutritional assessment in predicting postoperative morbidity and mortality is controversial. To evaluate the predictive value of preoperative nutritional status, the courses of 100 consecutive patients undergoing colorectal operations were studied prospectively. Subnormal findings for triceps-skin-fold thickness (TSF) and percentage of ideal body weight were associated with a significantly higher complication rate, but occurred so infrequently in our patients that the routine use of these tests is not recommended. Subnormal values for commonly obtained nutritional variables may not justify delay of operation for nutritional repletion.

Adolescent↗

Surgical treatment of radiation injuries of the colon and rectum.

Between 1950 and 1983, radiation-induced proctitis was diagnosed proctoscopically in 720 patients at the Mayo Clinic. Sixty-two patients with severe colorectal symptoms were treated surgically. The interval from cessation of radiotherapy to onset of symptoms ranged from 3 weeks to 24 months (mean 33 months). The 62 patients underwent a total of 143 operations with 8 operative deaths (13 percent), and 40 patients (65 percent) had 61 complications. The morbidity rate was lower after colostomy alone (44 percent in 27 patients) than after more aggressive operations (80 percent in 35 patients). Transverse loop colostomy and descending colostomy were safer than sigmoid colostomy. The dissection adhesions, opening of tissue planes, and careless manipulation of intestine may result in necrosis and perforation of the intestine, bladder, or vaginal wall; these were the main causes of fecal and other internal fistulas in our study.

Cecum↗

Local control and survival in locally advanced gastrointestinal cancer.

When conventional modalities (external beam irradiation and chemotherapy +/- resection) are used in the treatment of locally advanced gastrointestinal malignancies, although useful palliation can be achieved in many patients, local control and long-term survival are infrequent. In recent trials, investigators have used fractionated external beam doses of 4500-5000 rad in 180 rad fractions in combination with irradiation boost techniques of intraoperative electrons, or intraoperative or transcatheter brachytherapy (+/- chemotherapy and resection). With colorectal and biliary cancer, both local control and long-term survival appear to be improved, compared to results achieved with conventional treatment. With pancreatic cancer, an apparent improvement has been noted with local control and median survival, but long-term survival has not been altered. For partially resected gastric cancer, the use of intraoperative irradiation has yielded five year survival rates of approximately 20%. With unresectable or residual gastric cancer, accelerated fractionation alone or in combination with chemotherapy has yielded excellent local control, but patients have died as a result of abdominal failure or lung metastases. Prevention of abdominal failures will be necessary to improve long-term survival with pancreatic and gastric cancer. Randomized trials by site are needed to determine if the observed differences seen in prospective nonrandomized trials are real or due to differences in case selection.

Bile Duct Neoplasms↗

Trends in patterns of care for prostatic cancer, 1974-1983: results of surveys by the American College of Surgeons.

Data from a recent survey of patterns of care for prostatic cancer sponsored by the American College of Surgeons suggest several trends compared to similar data from a decade ago. The observed differences include increased diagnosis of localized cancer, and increased use of acid phosphatase determinations, bone scans, radical retropubic prostatectomy, radiotherapy (particularly interstitial techniques) and orchiectomy. In contrast, use of bone surveys, perineal prostatectomy and hormonal therapy has decreased. Transurethral resection continues to be the most common means to establish the diagnosis of prostatic cancer but the data do suggest that in more patients the tumors are being staged and graded. Five-year survival rates appear to be improving for all stages, and for white and black patients. Survival of black patients continues to lag behind that of white subjects, presumably owing to the more advanced stage of disease at diagnosis observed in these data. These findings may have important implications for understanding trends in survival of patients with this disease.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Management of recurrent rectal cancer.

In an effort to treat the difficult problem of recurrent rectal cancer more successfully, we embarked on an aggressive therapeutic course involving a combination of field irradiation, surgical debulking, and intraoperative radiation therapy. On the basis of our study of 24 patients treated with this regimen, we estimated the local effectiveness to be as high as 85%. Prolonged survival was achieved in 67% of our patients.

Combined Modality Therapy↗

Vascular complications of inflammatory bowel disease.

During an 11-year period from January 1970 to December 1980, 7,199 patients at our institution had chronic ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Thromboembolic complications developed in 92 (1.3%) of these patients. An additional 4 patients had cutaneous vasculitis, and 17 had an arteritis-associated diagnosis. Of the thromboembolic complications, 61 were deep vein thromboses or pulmonary emboli. The mortality among patients with thromboembolic complications was high (25%). Sixty percent of the patients had a thrombocytosis unaffected by sulfasalazine or corticosteroid therapy. In 73% of the patients, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate was increased, and when measured, fibrinogen and factor VIII were commonly elevated. Peripheral arterial thrombosis, coronary thrombosis, and mesenteric and portal vein thrombosis were predominantly postsurgical complications, but 77% of peripheral venous thromboses occurred spontaneously. The role of anticoagulation and surgical intervention in the management of hypercoagulation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease is discussed.

Adolescent↗

Current issues in the treatment of colorectal cancer.

For colorectal cancers that are confined to the bowel wall with uninvolved nodes, surgery alone is curative in most patients, and adjuvant treatment is usually not indicated. A combined modality approach for the initial treatment of many rectal and selected colonic carcinomas is based on data that "radical" operations do not necessarily prevent either local regrowth or distant failures and acceptance of a significant palliative but infrequent curative role for irradiation and chemotherapy when such failures occur. Published data for rectal cancer indicates that local recurrence can be markedly reduced by moderate to high dose pre- and post-operative irradiation +/- chemotherapy. For colon cancer, data from pilot trials suggest that post-operative irradiation may reduce local recurrence by stage when compared with surgery alone analyses, but randomized trials are needed. With locally advanced disease, aggressive treatment combinations appear to increase both local control and survival, but much interaction is required between involved physicians.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Anal and neorectal function after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.

Bowel function varies markedly among patients with colectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. Little is known of the mechanisms controlling fecal continence and frequency of defecation after operation. The aim of this study was to determine which features of the anal sphincter and neorectum accounted for the variation in clinical outcome. Twenty patients were studied 4 to 35 months after operation and compared to 12 healthy volunteers. Despite several patients exhibiting impaired fecal continence, anal sphincteric length and pressures and ileal pouch capacity and distensibility were similar in patients and controls. Patients with poor results, however, had rapid filling of their ileal pouch, which resulted in early onset of high amplitude propulsive pressure waves in the pouch. As these waves became more frequent, defecation resulted. Patients with poor results also were not able to empty adequately their pouch. The poorer the completeness of evacuation, the more frequent the defecation (r = 0.62, p less than 0.01). The authors conclude that rapid pouch filling and impaired pouch evacuation can lead to increased stool frequency in patients after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.

Adult↗

Proctocolectomy and ileo-anal anastomosis with a J-pouch.

Of 188 patients having a total proctocolectomy and ileo-anal anastomosis, 95% had a successful procedure and are satisfied with their quality of life. Mortality was zero, and mean hospital stay was 14 days after colectomy and 10 days after closure of the stoma. Pelvic sepsis and small bowel obstruction remained clinical problems in the postoperative period. No male patients were impotent.

Anal Canal↗

Residual, recurrent, or unresectable gastrointestinal cancer. Role of radiation in single or combined modality treatment.

When conventional modalities of external beam irradiation and chemotherapy +/- resection are used in the treatment of locally advanced gastrointestinal malignancies, although useful palliation can be achieved in many patients, cure and long-term survival is infrequent. Aggressive combined modality approaches have recently encorporated irradiation boost techniques with intraoperative electrons or intraoperative or transcatheter brachytherapy. Both local control and long-term survival appear to be improved when compared with results achieved with conventional treatment. Randomized trials are needed to determine if the observed differences are real or due to differences in case selection.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Anal sphincter electromyography after colectomy, mucosal rectectomy, and ileoanal anastomosis.

Electromyography (EMG) was used to evaluate the external anal sphincter in 27 patients following colectomy, distal mucosal rectectomy, and ileoanal anastomosis. The studies were conducted four months to 58 months (mean, 20 months) following the restoration of intestinal continuity. Nine patients underwent endoanal rectal mucosal stripping, while in 18 patients the rectum was everted to facilitate the stripping. Postoperative continence varied widely, from perfect to frequent and severe mucous of fecal leak. Abnormal motor-unit potentials were identified by EMG in nine patients and this finding was usually associated with poor continence. The sex of the patient, technique of mucosal stripping, and type of anastomosis did not influence the EMG result, but patients at least 40 years old all had abnormal EMGs. We conclude that poor continence after ileoanal anastomosis correlates with an abnormal EMG of the external anal sphincter. The cause of the EMG abnormality is unclear.

Adolescent↗