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Biomedical subjects

V E Boston

Publications and source records attributed to V E Boston.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Inguinal herniotomy in young infants, with emphasis on premature neonates.

Over a period of 6 years, 251 infants under 6 months of age underwent repair of inguinal hernias (IH; n = 311). There were 241 males and 10 females. Incarceration occurred in 59 infants (24%), one of whom had bilateral incarceration. As a result of the authors' policy to operate on infantile IH within 7 days of diagnosis, only 6% of the incarcerations occurred in already diagnosed cases. Sedation and taxis did not reduce the hernia in 22 cases (38%); transperitoneal closure of the internal ring was performed in 14 of these. Eighty-nine infants (36%) were born premature; thirty-nine (41%) of these had been ventilated before, a possible cause of the hernia. Bilateral presentation was more common in the premature infants (35% v 17%); surprisingly, incarceration was less common (13% v 24%). Hence, the policy of delaying herniotomy until discharge from the neonatal unit was justified. During follow-up, six recurrences were noted and two cases of testicular atrophy.

Female↗

Pentoxifylline improves intracellular electrolytes in sepsis.

Sepsis is associated with a generalised membrane dysfunction leading to an increase in intracellular sodium, chloride, and water. The decrease in extracellular water is thought to act as a nonosmotic stimulus to the secretion of antidiuretic hormone. The resultant hyponatraemia is associated with increased surgical morbidity and mortality. Treatment aimed at improving intracellular electrolytes may improve surgical morbidity and mortality. An animal model of peritonitis was used to evaluate the effect of pentoxifylline. Previously, this dimethyl xanthine derivative was shown to stabilise the cell membrane. Administration of pentoxifylline significantly lowered intracellular sodium and chloride, particularly when given after caecal ligation and puncture. This may have clinical implications in the treatment and prevention of hyponatraemia.

Animals↗

Pentoxifylline improves resting membrane potential in sepsis.

The resting membrane potential (RMP) of skeletal muscle cells was investigated in a hyperdynamic animal model of sepsis. Reduced membrane potential is known to parallel the clinical course of sepsis and hemorrhagic shock in animal models. Pentoxifylline (PTF), a dimethyl xanthine derivative of the theophylline family, may improve the metabolic effects of sepsis. A cecal ligation and puncture (CL&P) sepsis model in Wistar rats was used in which RMP was measured with differing administration regimes of PTF. The RMP decreased less rapidly in our study when PTF was administered after CL&P and this effect was most noticeable after 18 hours. Administration of PTF before CL&P had little effect on membrane potential fall-off. These results suggest a potential role for PTF in the management of sepsis.

Animals↗

Efficacy and causes of failure of endoscopic subureteric injection of Teflon in the treatment of primary vesicoureteric reflux.

A total of 135 consecutive patients with primary vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) were treated as day cases using submucosal Teflon injection (STING) between 1984 and 1988. Up to 3 repeat procedures were performed in the event of failure; 89% of patients and 92% of ureters were cured. None was obstructed and 2 recurred. Eight patients continue to have asymptomatic reflux Grade 2 or less, while 7 have had open surgery to correct the reflux. Most of the failures had a satisfactory appearance at STING but this deteriorated with time and appears to have been caused by leakage of Teflon from the injection site post-operatively. There were no signs or symptoms of embolisation or migration of the implant material.

Child↗

GRAP repair: single-stage reconstruction of hypospadias as an out-patient procedure.

A novel repair of the distal urethra with glanular and preputial reconstruction is described for distal penile hypospadias; 52 consecutive patients underwent this procedure without catheter splintage or urinary diversion. All voided without problems on the day of operation; 44 (85%) were treated as day cases, while the remaining 8 boys stayed in hospital for at least 1 night post-operatively for reasons not associated with the operation. Follow-up was complete and ranged from 15 to 30 months (mean 18). There was no evidence of meatal stenosis, phimosis or urethral stricture; 26 boys (50%) had associated chordee pre-operatively which was incompletely corrected in 2 (8%). These have a minor degree of chordee of glans on penile shaft and neither has required further treatment. Four boys (8%) developed partial wound breakdown which necessitated reconstruction in 2 and both of these have now been treated successfully. Functional and cosmetic results are excellent.

Ambulatory Surgical Procedures↗

Role of hiatal hernia in delaying acid clearance.

The aim of this study was to assess prospectively the relationship of a hiatal hernia to gastro-oesophageal reflux. Ninety five children with symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux in whom reflux was demonstrated radiologically were investigated. Oesophageal pH monitoring for 18 hours and endoscopy were performed in all patients. On the basis of radiology, patients were divided into those with hiatal hernia (n = 37) and those without (n = 58). Both groups had the same number of reflux episodes on pH monitoring. However, the median duration of the longest episode was significantly greater in the hiatal hernia group (30 min v 19 min), as was the number of reflux episodes longer than five minutes (5 v 4). The percentage with a pH < 4 just failed to be significantly different (13% v 8%). Hiatal hernia was also found to correlate with the presence of oesophagitis. The presence of a hiatal hernia delays the clearance of acid from the oesophagus and is associated with an increased incidence of oesophagitis.

Adolescent↗

Prophylactic extrapleural chest drainage following repair of esophageal atresia: is it necessary?

In a review of 110 cases of esophageal atresia (EA) and tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF), 15 patients (13.6%) developed anastomotic leakage. All patients had extrapleural surgical exposure and prophylactic extrapleural chest drainage (PEPCD). Despite this precaution, all patients with anastomotic leaks developed a pneumothorax with or without a pleural effusion. This required insertion of an additional drain in 12 (80%) cases. PEPCD following repair of EA and TEF does not appear to prevent pneumothorax or pleural effusion when anastomotic leakage occurs.

Drainage↗

Fluid and ion redistribution in skeletal muscle in an animal sepsis model.

The redistribution of fluid and electrolytes was investigated in a hyperdynamic sepsis animal model using cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in Wistar rats. Hyponatremia was not observed. There was a significant shift of sodium, chloride, and water from the extracellular into the intracellular space as early as 12 hours following CLP. These data suggest that the mechanism by which hyponatremia occurs in clinical sepsis is not caused by shift of fluid from the intracellular to the extracellular space as proposed by the sick cell theory. This is more likely to result from fluid retention and dilution of the extracellular space possibly on the basis of antidiuretic hormone secretion.

Animals↗

Hyponatraemia and intracellular water in sepsis: an experimental comparison of the effect of fluid replacement with either 0.9% saline or 5% dextrose.

Hyponatraemia associated with sepsis is known to have an increased morbidity and mortality. The cause of this phenomenon is unknown, but may be related to dilution of the extracellular space with retained exogenous fluid. Fluid and ion redistribution across the cell membrane of striated muscle was investigated in an animal sepsis model and compared with sham controls. The objective was to study the effect of different volumes of fluid replacement with either 0.9% saline or 5% dextrose. Significant shifts of sodium, chloride, and water occurred into the cell in all septic animals but not in controls. This trend was exacerbated by the use of dextrose for intravenous replacement even when the estimated normal fluid requirements had not been exceeded. Hyponatraemia and plasma hypoosmolality were induced only in septic animals, which received 100% of their fluid requirements as dextrose. These animals at the same time had significantly reduced extracellular and increased intracellular volumes compared with controls and the septic animals that received saline replacement. It is concluded that the hyponatraemia and plasma hypoosmolality that occurs in these animals is caused by a combination of intracellular shift of sodium and water, and dilution of the extracellular space, probably on the basis of physiological antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion. Dextrose (and by implication 4% dextrose/0.18% saline) is inappropriate, potentially dangerous, and should be avoided in these circumstances.

Analysis of Variance↗

Endoscopic management of vesico-ureteric reflux in children with neuropathic bladder secondary to myelomeningocoele.

Vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children with neuropathic bladders secondary to myelomeningocoele. The majority deteriorate with age and early treatment is necessary to avoid this. Endoscopic subureteric Teflon injection ("STING") allows correction of reflux in small children who would otherwise be difficult to manage. The results of treatment of VUR in 41 ureters in 24 children with neuropathic bladders using "STING" are reported. All ureters had grade III-V VUR. Thirty ureters (73%) showed disappearance of reflux after one injection. Of the remaining 11, VUR disappeared in 7 after a second injection. Apart from failure, the only other major complication was septicaemia in one patient. The mean hospital stay was 1.4 days (1-8 days). At a mean follow-up time of 22 months there was radiological improvement in the upper renal tracts in 27 of the 37 (73%) in which VUR disappeared, none has deteriorated and there has been only one relapse. These results suggest that "STING" should be considered as the method of choice in the management VUR in children with neuropathic bladder in view of the problems associated with open operation in these children.

Child↗