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W T Humphrey

Publications and source records attributed to W T Humphrey.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

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Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMed1997

Contrast radiography in small bowel obstruction: a prospective, randomized trial.

Small bowel obstruction is a common cause of acute abdominal distress, accounting for up to 20% of emergency admissions to surgical services. Although the majority of obstructions will resolve with conservative therapy alone, there are currently no reliable tests for identifying the patients who will require operation. Barium contrast studies have the potential to rapidly identify patients with complete small bowel obstruction, but many surgeons are hesitant to use them for fear of inducing complications. We report the results of a randomized, prospective trial comparing immediate oral barium contrast studies with plain abdominal X-rays in patients presenting with signs and symptoms of small bowel obstruction. End points included time to resolution of the symptoms or operation, total number of hospital days, and morbidity. Sixty-four patients completed the study; of these, 23 received contrast studies and 41 had plain radiographs only. Six of the contrast group (26%) and 11 of the plain radiograph group (27%) ultimately went to operation. Barium contrast studies had a sensitivity of 100% for diagnosing complete obstruction, whereas the sensitivity of serial plain radiographs was only 82%. Among those going to operation, the time from admission to operation was 8.2 hours in the contrast group and 12.4 hours in the plain radiograph group, but this result did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.25). Total hospital days were similar between the two groups (8 vs. 12 days, p = 0.40). There were no complications resulting from the oral administration of barium. Small bowel contrast studies using barium are safe and may shorten the time to operation in patients presenting with signs and symptoms of small bowel obstruction.

Barium Sulfate↗
PubMed1984

Senile reticular pigmentary degeneration.

Of 104 consecutive patients with senile reticular pigmentary degeneration (207 eyes), 85 patients (82%) were more than 60 years old (mean age, 69.2 +/- 8.54 years). Forty-nine (47%) were men and 55 (53%) were women. Peripheral visual fields were not characteristically constricted. Although most eyes tested had visual acuities of 20/50 or better, 69 eyes (33%) had visual acuities of 20/100 or worse. A total of 136 eyes (66%) had senile macular degeneration at the time senile reticular pigmentary degeneration was first diagnosed, whereas only 43 control eyes (21%) from the same referral population also had senile macular degeneration (P less than .001). Macular degeneration was the primary cause for reduced vision when it was noted. In no instance could reduced visual acuity or constricted visual fields be attributed to the senile reticular pigmentary degeneration alone. Senile reticular pigmentary degeneration on routine ophthalmoscopy should alert the clinician to the possibility of co-existing macular degenerative disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1979

Choroidal hemangioma: Response to cryotherapy.

Choroidal hemangioma, a benign vascular tumor of the choroid, can frequently develop an effusive secondary retinal detachment. When such retinal detachment involves the macula, reduction in central vision occurs. Fluorescein angiography and radioactive prosphorus tests are helpful in accurately diagnosing choroidal hemangioma. Transscleral cryopexy, freeze-thaw-refreeze method, results in complete destruction and scarring of the choroidal hemangioma. Following treatment, subretinal fluid disappears, the macula becomes reattached, and central vision is restored.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Central retinal artery spasm.

Central retinal artery spasm, a seldom witnessed ocular sign, has been recognized in one eye of a patient complaining of transient monocular blindness. Removal of an ulcerative atheromatous plaque of the carotid artery on the same side as the eye with central retinal artery spasm resulted in complete disappearance of symptoms. No other signs of ocular pathology were noted in addition to the central retinal artery spasm. Central retinal artery spasm occurring in both eyes simultaneously may be the mechanism explaining the visual loss of amaurosis fugax. Physiologic mechanisms associating brief episodes of monocular blindness and carotid artery obstructive disease with atherosclerosis are discussed. The possibility of central retinal artery spasm initiating occlusion of the same vessel is mentioned.

Arteriosclerosis↗
PubMed1978

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment complicating diabetic retinopathy.

Retinal detachment complicating proliferative diabetic retinopathy is being recognized with increasing frequency. Although one type of detachment is tractional and requires vitrectomy for hopeful repair, the other variety of detachment is rhegmatogenous. The rhegmatogenous form of retinal detachment does not generally require the radical surgical approach of vitrectomy. However, because of the unusual nature of the retinal detachment , a standard encircling scleral buckling procedure does not suffice to correct the problem. The unusual characteristics of this form of retinal detachment are discussed, and the criteria for types of surgical repair are considered. A modification of scleral buckling procedure which has been successful in anatomically reattaching most rhegmatogenous retinal detachments is described. The complications resulting from surgery are reviewed along with methods to avoid complications.

Diabetic Retinopathy↗