תוצאת חיפוש

Diagnosis and Therapy in Acute Stroke: A Rehabilitation Center Viewpoint

M. Motin, J. Streifler, A. Tsur, H. Ring

Neurological Rehabilitation Dept., Loewenstein Rehabilitation Center, Ra'anana; Neurological Unit, Rabin Medical Center, Golda Campus, Petah Tikva and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv

The extent of the diagnostic work-up of patients with acute stroke was evaluated in 101 patients admitted for rehabilitation during a 4-month period in 1997. This included specific blood tests and neuro- and cardiac imaging, and compared the extent of work-up in a community hospital versus a rehabilitation center. Comparisons were also made with similar investigations 10 and 20 years earlier.

Results demonstrated that the trend to admit younger stroke patients (<50 years) to neurological (as opposed to medical) departments observed between 1977-1987 persisted in 1997.

The use of CT scan increased dramatically from 1977 to 1987 (19% vs 78%), and in 1997 was actually 100% The use of carotid duplex and echocardiography increased steadily during the 3 decades reaching 26% and 28% respectively. Tests for thrombophilia were seldom done. However, in neurological departments it was done in about 50% of the younger stroke patients. In neurology departments carotid duplex was done 2 to 3 times more often than in medical departments.

During rehabilitation imaging tests were done once or more in almost half the patients. The results and those of additional blood tests, have led to modification of antithrombotic treatment in 14% of the younger group and 4% of the older group.

We have clearly shown that while stroke work-up has become more comprehensive in recent years, there is still much to do in this field. Stroke units or teams in our general hospitals will increase stroke awareness, improve work-up and hasten definitive treatment.
 

Eosinophilic Pneumonia induced by Minocycline

Eli Rosen

Medical Dept. B, Hillel Yaffe Hospital, Hadera

Eosinophilic pneumonia is a rare adverse effect of minocycline. To date there are about 70 chemical compounds that cause drug-induced, eosinophilic lung disease.

A 20-year-old woman who developed eosinophilic pneumonia due to minocycline is described. Diagnosis was established by history, signs and symptoms, peripheral eosinophilia, chest x-rays and response to combined cessation of treatment and a short course of steroids.

Physicians should be aware to this rare adverse effect of the drug. Attention to the possibility of minocycline-induced eosinophilic pneumonia can prevent unnecessary, expensive investigation. Cessation of intake is usually sufficient for cure.

Surgery for Blepharoptosis in Muscular Dystrophy

Ori Mahler, Asher Milstein, Ayala Pollack, Daniel Hauben

Eye Dept., Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot; and Plastic Surgery Dept., Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva

In some muscular dystrophies there is ocular involvement characterized by blepharoptosis and ophthalmoplegia. These conditions occur in chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia, oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy, mitochondrial myopathy, myotonic dystrophy, and ocular myasthenia, among others. Although they differ in their systemic clinical manifestations and in genetic inheritance, ocular involvement is common to all of them. Manifestations include bilateral progressive blepharoptosis with or without extraocular muscle malfunction.

During surgical repair of the ptotic eyelid, consideration must be given to eyeball movements, in addition to maximal eyelid elevation, and to avoiding overcorrection and consequent corneal overexposure, leading to dryness and visual impairment. With these muscular dystrophic disorders, resection of the levator muscle or blepharoplasty alone does not suffice. Follow-up shows that most patients need a secondary repair after a short while. Operative correction uses a frontalis sling for eyelid elevation and support.

A series of 8 patients with these diseases, operated on by various surgical techniques during the past 7 years, is presented.

Assisted Reproductive Technologies Reported in Israel National Registry, 1995 and 1996

V. Insler, O. Gonnen, D. Levran, Y. Lotan, B. Fish, G. Potashnik, A. Kogosovsky, R. Ron-El

Committee of the Israel National Registry Assisted Reproductive Technologies*

National registration of the results of assisted reproductive technology (ART) is maintained by many countries. The Israel Committee for Registry of ART asked 19 in-vitro fertilization (IVF) units in 1995 and 20 in 1996 to report on their activities and results.

Data were collected by questionnaires and analyzed by computer. The most common ovarian stimulation was the combination of GnRH agonist and gonadotropins. There were 10,89 treatment cycles in 1995, of which 45% were with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In 1996, of 12,72 cycles, 54% were with the ICSI procedure. Embryos were transferred into the uterine cavity in 90% of the conventional IVF cycles and in 95% of the ICSI cycles. The overall pregnancy rate was 22% per embryo transfer in the conventional IVF and ICSI cycles. The delivery rate was 13.7% and 15.4% per embryo transfer in the conventional IVF and ICSI cycles, respectively. The rates for abortion and tubal pregnancy were 24% and 1.3%, respectively.

These results are better than in previous years and are comparable with results in some western European countries. Efforts are being made to convert the registry into a real-time computerized system.

Committee of the Israel National Registry of ART.

Folic Acid for Preventing Neural Tube Defects

Ziv Gil, Adi Aran, Orna Friedman, Liana Beni-Adani, Shlomo Constantini

Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba; Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Dana Children's Hospital, Sourasky Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv

Spina bifida and anencephaly are the most common, serious malformations in neural tube defects (NTD). Randomized trials in the last 2 decades have demonstrated that folic acid, 0.4 mg/d, reduces the incidence of NTD by more than 50%. We investigated the use of folic acid and multivitamins containing folic acid in childbearing women.

Of 221 women interviewed, 67 (30%) regularly took pills containing 0.4 mg folic acid. Women with higher educational levels were more likely to take multivitamins with folic acid than were the less educated (p=0.05). Of the women who took folic acid, only 5 (7.5%) used separate folic acid tablets, before and during their pregnancy. The rest used multivitamins containing folic acid. The 5 women who took folic acid separately were college-educated and nonreligious, and they took multivitamins in addition (p>0.05).

Of the women interviewed, 58 (26.2%) were Bedouin of the Negev. 24 (41.4%) of them took pills containing folic acid on a regular basis. This percentage is higher than that in the Jewish women in the study who took folic acid for prevention of NTD (17%; p=0.038).

Most of the women took folic acid after the first trimester. Only a minority took daily periconceptional folic acid. Multivitamins containing 0.4 mg of folic acid were more popular than folic acid tablets alone. This study emphasizes the need for continuing efforts to increase consumption of folic acid and awareness of its benefits among women of childbearing age.

Atrophic Gastritis Presenting with Pulmonary Embolism

Muhammad A. Abdul-Ghani, Rima Feldman, Moshe Shai, Jacob Varkel

Dept. of Medicine C, Western Galilee Hospital, Naharia

Atrophic gastritis is an autoimmune gastropathy in which there is destruction of gastric parietal cells. This results in intrinsic factor deficiency and disturbance in vitamin B12 absorption. Its clinical manifestationa are therefore the consequences of B12 deficiency and include anemia and neurological defect. In addition, lack of B12 results in metabolic changes, including disturbances of methionine metabolism and accumulation of homocysteine.

In recent years, there has been increasing evidence suggesting that hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for thrombo-embolic disease. We describe a 51-year-old man with atrophic gastritis, severe B12 deficiency and hyperhomocystein-emia. The initial clinical manifestation was pulmonary embolism, without either anemia or neurological signs. B12 deficiency should therefore be considered in patients being investigated for hypercoagulability.

Pneumomediastinum Following Drug Abuse

Z.G. Fridlender, A. Bloch

Medical Division, Hadassah Hospital, Ein Kerem, Jerusalem

Pneumomediastinum is termed spontaneous when not associated with trauma or other identifiable pathological process. There are several reports of pneumomediastinum following narcotic drug inhalation or smoking while applying positive pressure. We describe a 37-year-old male drug addict, hospitalized after having being found unconscious with shortness of breath. CT scan demonstrated bilateral pneumonia with pneumomediastinum. After a day of mechanical ventilation he gradually recovered and the mediastinal air disappeared.

Pneumomediastinum may occur in addicts but usually has no dangerous clinical consequences. If there is respiratory deterioration another cause should be sought.

Histoacryl Vs Dermabond Cyano- Acrylate Glue for Closing Small Operative Wounds

Zvi Steiner, Jorge Mogilner

Dept. of Pediatric Surgery, Bnai-Zion Medical Center and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa

Acrylate glues used in a childrens' day care unit to close small surgical wounds were compared. In 157 children, aged 12 weeks to 3.7 years, either Histoacryl or Dermabond was used (respectively, H: Ethicon Inc., Johnson & Johnson, NJ or D: Dermabond, Braun Surgical Gmbh, Melsungen, Germany). Operations were for inguinal hernia (110 cases), hydrocele (25), undescended testis (16), umbilical hernia (13) and funiculocele (3).

1 week after surgery the wounds were evaluated in terms of integrity of closure, redness or infection, need for antibiotics, wound granuloma, and parental satisfaction with instructions and actual method of wound caring. 3 months after surgery the wound/scar was reexamined.

The margins of the wounds were separated partially or completely in 8 of 85 in group H (9.4%) while in the D group, 2 wounds (2.4%) had partially opened (p<0.05). There were no differences between the glues with regard to wound infection or cosmetic results. Parental satisfaction was higher with D (96%) than H (82%) but the difference was not statistically significant.

It is convenient to use glue to close operative wounds in children after ambulatory surgery. The use of D significantly reduced wound ruptures compared to H. Long-term cosmetic results were similar.

Advantages of Standardized Protocol for Oral Rehydration in Acute Pediatric Gastroenteritis

Avi Weizman, Ahmed Alsheikh, Laura Herzog, Asher Tal, Rafael Gorodischer

Pediatric Depts. A and B, Soroka Medical Center; and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba

Oral rehydration (OR) for acute gastroenteritis in infants and children has been shown to be as effective as IV therapy, with less discomfort and lower costs. In this retrospective study we compared 2 pediatric wards, in 1 of which only a standardized, simplified, bedside protocol, based on American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, was used.

There were no significant clinical characteristics in the 208 patients. In the ward which used the above protocol, OR utilization was significantly more frequent than in the other ward (48% versus 15%), thus saving equipment costs of nearly $1,000/3 months. There were no significant differences in outcome between the wards.

We conclude that introducing a standardized management protocol may increase OR utilization in hospitalized children with acute diarrhea.
 

Penile Reconstruction after Complete Glans Amputation during Ritual Circumcision

Ofer Z. Shenfeld, Dean Ad-El

Depts. of Urology and of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem

Circumcision, so commonly performed, is considered a safe procedure rarely associated with significant complications. A case of complete amputation of the glans penis during neonatal circumcision is reported. The glans was successfully reimplanted, with good post-operative functional and esthetic results.

Burch Laparoscopic Procedure for Repairing Proven Stress Incontinence

Moshe Bustan, Shabtai Romano, Raed Salim, Jacob Rosenman, Eliezer Shalev

Depts. of Obstetric and Gynecology and of Urology, HaEmek Medical Center, Afula

There are more than 200 procedures for repairing stress urinary incontinence. We evaluated the safety and efficiency of the Burch laparoscopic procedure in 32 women with urodynamically proven genuine stress incontinence.

Mean operating time was 40 minutes and mean hospitalization time after the procedure was 30 hours. The cure rate was 97%, similar to that rin other studies (80-95%). The major complications w2 cases (6.2%) of unintended bladder injury, diagnosed and repaired laparoscopically. Although follow-up has only been for 3-42 months, the high cure rate and safety and advantages of laparoscopy over laparotomy, make laparoscopic Burch colposuspension the procedure of choice for repairing stress incontinence.

Coloring the Floor of Schlemm's Canal in Deep Sclerectomy

Ben Zion Silverstone

Eye Dept., Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem

Increased intraocular pressure in glaucoma, resistant to maximal tolerated medical therapy, can be relieved by deep sclerectomy. Its advantage over classical trabeculotomy is fewer postoperative complications. This probably results from its being relatively noninvasive, since the anterior chamber is not penetrated.

Successful deep sclerectomy requires preservation of the trabeculo-descemetic membrane, which forms part of the floor of Schlemm's canal. Aqueous flows from the anterior chamber across the trabeculo-descemetic membrane and into the ocular venous drainage. Despite the importances of its preservation, during deep sclerectomy it is perforated in 10-15% of cases.

Coloring the endothelium lining the floor of the canal with gentian violet solution improves visualization of the membrane and thus aids in its preservation. Its use makes the procedure easier and should improve results.

Juridical and Halachic Aspects of Postmortem Sperm Procurement

Ya'akov Ariel, Moshe Vermout, Pnina Abramovitz-Shneider, Avinoam Shuper

Institute of Halachic and Ethical Aspects of Medicine, Ramat Gan

The ability to fertilize human ova with sperm retrieved soon after death has been utilized in Israel and in other countries. However, postmortem sperm procurement (PMSP) has significant Halachic, juridical and ethical implications with regard to both the action of sperm and its implications for mother and offspring. In specific situations, and with reliable supervision aimed at preventing sperm interchange, Halacha may allow the procedure, while the juridical approach in such a situation is not as yet well established.

As for Halacha, even if a son is born, the widowed mother will still be obligated by the Halacha of yibum (marrying the deceased husband's brother). The child's rights as heir, aspects of implications for its future life, or even social aspects of PMSP, all are factors to be seriously considered before PMSP is performed, without bias by temporary emotions. Thus, PMSP should be reserved for only very special circumstances, and only after consultation with the appropriate medical, Halachic, juridical and ethical experts.

Problems in Fetal Monitoring: Characteristics of Risks for Malpractice Suits

Moshe D. Fejgin, Yael Gershtanski, Talia Halamish-Shani

Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba; and Medical Risk Management Co., Tel Aviv

Medical malpractice suits in obstetrics comprise about 10% of all claims against medical institutions in Israel. A significant proportion are due to failures relating to fetal monitoring. We studied the characteristics of 102 of 4125 obstetrical cases reported to the Medical Risk Management Co. as being at risk for a malpractice suit.

The cases were divided into those with medical management failures (misinterpretation of fetal monitor tracing, failure to respond promptly to fetal monitoring indicating distress, etc.) and technical failures (loss of monitor tracings, interruption in the tracing at a critical time, unreadable tracings, etc.).

The monetary quantum in fetal monitoring failures exceeded $30,000,000. The majority of these failures could have been avoided by using central electronic fetal monitoring systems with alerting and archival capabilities.

Preservation of the Larynx in Advanced Cancer

Edward Rosenblatt, Nava Siegelmann-Danieli, Jemal Zidan, Nisim Haim, Abraham Kuten

Oncology Dept., Rambam Medical Center and Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa

The effectiveness of sequential chemo-radiotherapy in preserving the larynx in advanced laryngeal carcinoma was assessed. 4 Unselected patients (19 men and 2 women, mean age 60 years) with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx (T3-4/N0-3) received induction chemotherapy consisting of 2-3 cycles of cisplatin (100 mg/m²) and 5-flourouracil (1000 mg/m²/day) as a continuous infusion on days 1-5 followed by definitive radiotherapy: 50 Gy to the whole neck, 70 Gy to the larynx and clinically involved nodes, using a combination of 6 MV photons and 9-12 MeV electrons.

19 of The 21 patients responded to combined therapy but there was no response to induction therapy in 2 (10%) and 2 did not complete therapy due to severe toxicity. At a mean follow-up of 40 months, 7 had undergone total laryngectomy (33%), for an overall 5-year laryngeal preservation rate of 66%. Reasons for total laryngectomy in 2 patients were no response and in 5 tumor recurrence.

Mean survival was 39 months (range 11-46 months); at last follow-up 17 of 21 were alive and disease-free, 11 of whom had a functional larynx (65% of survivors). 2 died due to disease progression and 1 due to a cardiovascular event. Sequential chemo-radiation allows laryngeal preservation in about 2/3 of surviving patients without compromising survival.