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Biomedical subjects

S C Chung

Publications and source records attributed to S C Chung.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Controlled duodenostomy for difficult duodenal stump.

Three patients with bleeding duodenal ulcer underwent emergency Pólya's gastrectomy for haemostasis after failed endoscopic treatment. Intra-operatively, it was impossible to close the duodenal stump safely because of surrounding fibrosis and scarring. Controlled lateral wall duodenostomy was performed as an attempt to lower the intraluminal pressure of the afferent loop and good results had been observed in all three patients.

Duodenal Ulcer↗

Laparoscopic left adrenalectomy: a new approach.

Left adrenalectomy has been performed previously via anterior, posterior, loin or thoracoabdominal approaches. In the classical transabdominal approach the left adrenal gland is resected following either mobilization of the spleen with the tail of the pancreas or after entering the lesser sac, mobilizing the inferior border of the pancreas off the adrenal gland. This report describes laparoscopic left adrenalectomy, in a patient with Conn's syndrome, performed by a new approach via the root of the left transverse mesocolon.

Adrenalectomy↗

Triple therapy with sucralfate, tetracycline, and metronidazole for Helicobacter pylori-associated duodenal ulcers.

UNLABELLED: Triple therapy with bismuth, metronidazole, and tetracycline or amoxicillin is effective for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori, but side effects are common. Sucralfate inhibits H. pylori hemagglutinin, protease, and lipase and thus might affect colonization of the bacterium in the stomach. OBJECTIVE: We compared the efficacy and side effects of triple therapy with sucralfate versus triple therapy with bismuth plus omeprazole in the treatment of H. pylori-associated duodenal ulcer (DU). METHODS: One hundred and fifty DU patients were recruited in this study; 71 cases were randomized to receive bismuth 120 mg q.i.d., metronidazole 400 mg q.i.d., and tetracycline 500 mg q.i.d. (BMT) for 1 wk, and 79 cases were randomized to receive sucralfate 1 g q.i.d., metronidazole 400 mg q.i.d., and tetracycline 500 mg q.i.d. (SMT) for 1 wk. For the ulcer treatment, BMT patients were also given omeprazole 20 mg daily for 4 wk, and SMT patients received sucralfate for 4 wk from day of randomization. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients in the BMT group and 60 in the SMT group finished the treatment and follow-up at 8 wk. H. pylori was eradicated in 49 out of 53 (92%) patients in the BMT group and in 45 out of 60 (75%) patients in the SMT group (p = 0.0057). Forty-nine (92%) patients who received omeprazole and BMT and 53 (88%) patients who received SMT had healed DU at 8 wk (p = 0.34). Side effects related to medication were reported in 38 (71.7%) patients in the BMT group and in 42 (70%) patients in the SMT group. On an intention-to-treat basis, there was no difference in ulcer healing between the BMT group (93.1%) and the SMT group (89.7%). H. pylori eradication was achieved in 84.4 and 66.2% in the BMT and SMT groups, respectively (p = 0.018). CONCLUSION: Therapy of sucralfate, tetracycline, and metronidazole for 1 wk has a satisfactory but lower success rate in eradication of H. pylori when compared with the conventional triple therapy plus omeprazole. Side effects of this therapy are no fewer than the conventional triple therapy.

Adult↗

Acute acalculous cholecystitis. A reminder that this condition may appear in a primary care practice.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis carries high morbidity and mortality rates, but if it is detected early, the prognosis for recovery is good. Detection requires diligence, because signs and symptoms may be nonspecific or atypical. Because their sensitivity and specificity are limited, the various imaging techniques available serve only as adjuncts to history taking and physical examination. Prompt initiation of treatment is essential to reduce complications. Options range from conservative medical therapy to aggressive surgical intervention. Recently, ultrasound-guided percutaneous cholecystostomy has become a favored approach. Best treatment varies, depending on underlying disease and the patient's condition.

Acute Disease↗

Pain-pressure threshold in the head and neck region of episodic tension-type headache patients.

Pain-pressure thresholds of the head and neck region of 31 female patients (aged 13 to 50 years; mean, 28.4 +/- 9.6 years) suffering from episodic tension-type headache and 32 female control subjects (aged 15 to 46 years; mean, 26.6 +/- 8.6 years) were recorded with an electronic algometer by the same blinded observer. The multivariate analysis of variance revealed that the algometer values obtained from different age groups of patients and control subjects were statistically different, but the values for the right-side muscles were not statistically different from the corresponding values for the left-side muscles. The pain-pressure thresholds of the patient group were lower than those of the control group for the superior sternocleidomastoid muscles, middle sternocleidomastoid muscles, and trapezius insertion muscles (P < .01) but were not statistically different for the anterior temporal, middle temporal, posterior temporal, deep masseter, anterior masseter, inferior masseter, medial pterygoid, posterior digastric, splenius capitis, and upper trapezius muscles (P > .01). The results may indicate that pain-pressure thresholds of the head and neck region should be considered in the diagnosis of episodic tension-type headache. The results may also propose that the increased pain sensitivity of the head and, especially, the neck region, may be included in the pathogenetic mechanism in episodic tension-type headache.

Adolescent↗

Duodenal ulcer healing by eradication of Helicobacter pylori without anti-acid treatment: randomised controlled trial.

Randomised trials have shown that duodenal ulcers treated by H2 blockers heal faster if Helicobacter pylori is eradicated concurrently. It remains unknown whether eradication of H pylori without suppression of acid-secretion, is sufficient to allow healing. 153 patients with H pylori infection and duodenal ulcer were randomised to receive either a 1-week course of bismuth subcitrate, tetracycline, and metronidazole (76), or omeprazole for 4 weeks with the same three-drug regimen for the first week (77). Endoscopy and antral biopsies were done at entry and 4 weeks after treatment. 132 patients were suitable for analysis. Duodenal ulcers healed in 60 (92%; 95% CI 86-100%) patients taking bismuth, tetracycline, and metronidazole compared with 63 (95%; 88-100%) taking omeprazole in addition to the three other drugs. H pylori was eradicated in 61 (94%; 88-100%) who received only three drugs compared with 66 (98%; 96-100%) who received omeprazole as well. Symptoms were reduced more effectively during the first week in patients who received omeprazole (p = 0.003). We conclude that a 1-week regimen of bismuth, tetracycline, and metronidazole for patients with H pylori and duodenal ulcer eradicates the organism and heals the ulcer in most patients. Concurrent administration of omeprazole reduces ulcer pain more rapidly but has no effect on ulcer healing.

Adult↗

Two-team synchronous oesophagectomy.

Between 1984 and 1992, 131 patients underwent two-team synchronous oesophagectomy for carcinoma. Some 95 per cent of tumours were successfully resected by this technique. In 5 per cent of patients the tumour was found to be irresectable at operation and gastric bypass was performed. The overall operative mortality rate was 8 per cent and the pulmonary complication rate 10 per cent. The actuarial survival rate was 55 per cent at 1 year, 22 per cent at 3 years and 16 per cent at 5 years. When compared with the traditional two-stage Lewis approach, two-team synchronous oesophagectomy was significantly faster (mean 222 versus 282 min), but was not significantly different with respect to blood loss, transfusion requirement, pulmonary complications or operative mortality rate. Patients undergoing two-team oesophagectomy had a significantly shorter hospital stay than those receiving the two-stage procedure (mean 16 versus 24 days).

Actuarial Analysis↗

Early results of laparoscopic intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair for inguinal hernia.

Over a 15-month period, 39 patients (37 men) of mean age 52 years underwent laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. Seven patients had bilateral hernia. Forty-six hernias (33 indirect, five direct, eight both direct and indirect) were repaired. A piece of polypropylene mesh measuring 8 x 10 cm was used to cover the direct and indirect spaces with an endoscopic multifeed hernia stapler. The mean operating time for unilateral and bilateral repair was 49 and 63 min respectively (range 25-90 min). One-third of patients required no postoperative analgesia and only seven had more than one injection of pethidine. The median postoperative stay was 1 (range 1-3) days. The mean period to resumption of daily activities was 7 (range 4-21) days. Three patients complained of paraesthesia of the lateral aspect of the thigh and one developed a hydrocele. Two recurrences were noted on follow-up at 3 months.

Adolescent↗

Perforation after endoscopic injection sclerotherapy for bleeding gastric varices.

Bleeding from gastric varices is an uncommon condition for which hemostatic control is difficult and ill defined. Most clinicians tend to achieve hemostasis by endoscopic treatment because of the prevailing poor general condition of these patients. A case of fundal perforation following excessive injection sclerotherapy is reported and possible mechanism discussed.

Esophageal and Gastric Varices↗

Palliation of malignant oesophageal obstruction by endoscopic alcohol injection.

Thirty six-patients with inoperable cancers of the oesophagus or gastric tumour in the cardia were treated by endoscopic alcohol injection. After dilatation using Savary dilators, absolute alcohol was injected in 0.5-1 ml aliquots into protuberant parts using a sclerotherapy needle. The mean volume per session was 7.8 ml. The mean dysphagia score improved from 2.7 before treatment to 1.4 after treatment (p < 0.001). Complications included mediastinitis in one patient and tracheo-oesophageal fistulas in two patients. The mean duration of palliation before the development of recurrent dysphagia was 35 days. The mean survival was 82 days. Endoscopic alcohol injection is effective in relieving malignant dysphagia. This inexpensive and easily available technique merits comparative studies with more established forms of therapy, such as laser photocoagulation.

Adenocarcinoma↗

A prospective randomized trial comparing R1 subtotal gastrectomy with R3 total gastrectomy for antral cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The authors determined if more radical surgery with extended lymphadenectomy improves the results of gastrectomy in patients with adenocarcinoma of the gastric antrum. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The overall survival in patients with gastric cancer is disappointing. Improved survival has been reported by Japanese authors. Whether this is because of a higher number of early gastric cancers in the Japanese series, different biologic behavior in Asians, or the adoption of radical surgery with lymphadenectomy remains unclear. METHODS: R1 subtotal gastrectomy with omentectomy and R3 total gastrectomy (omentectomy, splenectomy, distal pancreatectomy, lymphatic clearance of the celiac axis, and skeletonization of vessels in the porta hepatis) were evaluated in a prospective, randomized comparison. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients were randomized--25 to the R1 group and 30 to the R3 group. The two groups were comparable for age, sex, tumor size, TNM stage, and length of follow-up. The R3 group had a longer operating time (140 vs. 260 min; p < 0.05), a greater transfusion requirement (0 vs. 2 units, p < 0.05) and a longer hospital stay (8 vs. 16 days; p < 0.05) (medians; Mann-Whitney U test). The only postoperative death was in the R3 group and was caused by intra-abdominal sepsis. Fourteen patients in the R3 group developed left subphrenic abscesses. There were no major complications in the R1 group. Overall survival was significantly better in the R1 group (median survival estimated by Kaplan-Meier method, 1511 vs. 922 days, p < 0.05, log-rank test). CONCLUSIONS: R3 total gastrectomy can be performed with a low mortality, but it has a high morbidity because of intra-abdominal sepsis. The data do not support the routine use of R3 total gastrectomy for treatment of patients with antral cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Inhibition by SK&F 96365 of Ca2+ current, IL-2 production and activation in T lymphocytes.

1. By use of whole cell patch-clamp and Indo-1 fluorescence studies of the Jurkat T leukaemic cell line, we show that the new organic antagonist of receptor-mediated Ca2+ entry, SK&F 96365, inhibits the T cell Ca2+ current in a dose-dependent fashion, with an IC50 of 12 microM. 2. SK&F 96365 also inhibits [3H]-thymidine incorporation and interleukin-2 (IL-2) synthesis in peripheral blood lymphocytes. 3. SK&F 96365 has no effect on Ca2+ stores release or K+ channels. 4. This is the first account of an organic inhibitor of the T cell Ca2+ current. The ability of SK&F 96365 to inhibit IL-2 synthesis and cell proliferation suggests that a new class of related Ca2+ channel blockers can be developed as immunosuppressive agents.

Calcium↗

Anaesthesia for three-stage thoracoscopic oesophagectomy: an initial experience.

We report our experience in the anaesthetic management of five patients undergoing three-stage thoracoscopic oesophagectomy. One patient required conversion to open thoracotomy because of extensive pleural adhesions. The other four patients, aged between 68 and 78, were all chronic smokers with mid-oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The duration of thoracoscopic surgery (and obligatory one-lung ventilation) ranged from 2.5 to 4 hours with total surgical time ranging from 7.5 to 9.5 hours. Anaesthetic considerations included the use of one-lung ventilation to provide surgical access, the cardiorespiratory effects of capnothorax, difficulties in assessing surgical blood loss during thoracoscopic dissection, crowding in the operating room with limitation of access to the patient and the risk of intraoperative dislodgement of the endobronchial tube. Postoperative pulmonary complications were not decreased in our patients despite the avoidance of thoracotomy. The thoracoscopic technique might contribute to pulmonary complications because of prolonged thoracoscopic dissection and unintentional pulmonary injuries. The concept of minimally invasive surgery needs further evaluation when the technique is applied in extensive procedures such as oesophagectomy.

Aged↗

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: results of first 300 cases in Hong Kong.

Prospective analysis of the first three hundred patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy was carried out in three surgical centres of Hong Kong. Over a 20-month period, 300 consecutive patients were recruited, including elective and emergency cases. The indications for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were symptomatic gallstones (78%), cholangitis (6%), pancreatitis (5%) and cholecystitis (11%). Patients with common duct stones (12) had preoperative endoscopic sphincterotomy and stone extraction prior to cholecystectomy. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was accomplished successfully in 287 patients. Thirteen patients (4.3%) required conversion to open cholecystectomy. The reasons for conversion were: inability to identify cystic duct and common bile duct clearly (6); bleeding (5); Mirizzi syndrome (1); and slippage of cystic duct clip (1). The median operation time was 80 min with a range of 28-270 min. The median hospital stay was 3 days. Seventy-five per cent of patients required only a single dose of pethidine injection. None of the patients required blood transfusion. The overall complication rate was 7%. These included mild cellulitis of the subumbilical wound (3%) and postoperative chest infection (3%). One patient developed subphrenic abscess which resolved on percutaneous drainage under ultrasound guidance. Iatrogenic injury to the common bile duct was seen in one patient who had an impacted stone at Hartmann's pouch. With adequate training laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be performed safely. The advantages over open cholecystectomy are less wound pain, better cosmesis and shorter convalescence.

Cholecystectomy↗

Graded exercises for basic training in laparoscopic surgery.

A series of graded exercises for use in laparoscopic simulation is described. These exercises are designed to introduce the basic skills required for laparoscopic surgery, and have been found to be useful both for the training of junior surgeons and in workshops.

Education, Medical, Continuing↗