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Biomedical subjects

W R SMITH

Publications and source records attributed to W R SMITH.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1964

SEVERE COLONIC BLEEDING.

Patients requiring emergency operation for severe acute colonic hemorrhage usually arrive in the operating room inadequately studied and the point of bleeding not known. A well planned procedure for making an operative diagnosis is lacking. The fact that diverticular disease is the most common cause of massive colonic bleeding, dominates the surgical management of this problem. A critical interpretation of the color and the consistency of the stools must be made by the surgeon. Since the bleeding lesion is usually otherwise clinically silent, the character of the stools may be the only indication of the level of bleeding and the rate and the amount of the blood loss. A proctoscopic examination, followed by an emergency barium enema study if possible, is always done before subjecting a patient to laparotomy. The indications for emergency operation include acute exsanguinating hemorrhage, less severe but persistent colonic bleeding and recurrent colonic bleeding. The steps for the operative diagnosis and the surgical procedure utilized for a specific situation are discussed.

Colonic Diseases↗
PubMed1957

Intestinal obstruction complicating acute perforative appendicitis.

Upon preoperative diagnosis of acute small bowel obstruction, without an obvious cause, acute perforative appendicitis must be considered. Reevaluation of the history and careful reexamination of the physical findings with that diagnosis in mind should be carried out. If appendiceal disease is likely, maximum antibiotic therapy must be begun immediately along with the administration of fluids, electrolytes and other corrective therapy. A mercury-weighted small bowel tube should be inserted and every effort made to advance it into the small bowel before operation. Operative treatment should be restricted to the least possible. A McBurney incision is best unless wider operation is indicated. If an abscess is present, drainage alone may be the procedure of choice. Severely distended and decompensated small bowel must be decompressed, for if not relieved it can be the cause of death in acute perforative appendicitis. Decompression may be accomplished either by small bowel intubation with continuous suction or by enterotomy and aspiration. If not relieved, small bowel distention will be the mechanism responsible for death in a large percentage of patients with acute perforative appendicitis.

Acute Disease↗