תוצאת חיפוש

Ultrasonographic Imaging of Superior Sagittal Thrombosis

Ilan Shelef, Avi Cohen, Yehiel Barki

Depts. of Radiology and Neurosurgery, Soroka Medical Center and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba

Ultrasonographic findings of superior sagittal sinus thrombosis include dilated and hyperechoic sinus (direct imaging of the thrombus). No flow should be demonstrated by the various Doppler techniques. In the deeper sinuses, if the thrombus can not be visualized after a negative Doppler study, MR imaging is recommended. Recanalization and reflow can be demonstrated on follow-up study.

Serotonin Re-Uptake Inhibitors as Primary Therapy for Carotid Sinus Hypersensitivity

Amos Katz, Angel Kantor, Alexander Battler

Cardiology Dept., Soroka Medical Center and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba

Carotid sinus syndrome is a well-recognized cause of unexplained syncope in older patients, and may lead to significant morbidity due to trauma from falls. Dual chamber pacing has been shown to be effective in relieving symptoms due to bradycardia, but not due to vasodepressor response. We report an 84-year-old man with recurrent syncope due to carotid sinus hypersensitivity. He was treated only with a serotonin re-uptake inhibitor and was symptom-free after 3 weeks of therapy. He has remained symptom-free for the past year.

Normotensive Hydrocephalus Complicating Recurrent E. Coli Meningitis

Doron Zamir, Rasmi Magadle, Paltiel Weiner

Dept. of Medicine A, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera

E. coli meningitis is a disease that occurs in predisposed patients, either as a result of trauma or in neonates after neurosurgery. Recurrent E. coli meningitis in an adult without any apparent predisposition is uncommon, and hydrocephalus complicating bacterial meningitis is even more rare. We report a unique case of a 67-year-old alcoholic man who had had 2 consecutive episodes of E. coli meningitis within 2 months. In both episodes there was a favorable response to ceftriaxone. However, normotensive hydrocephalus appeared a few weeks later, with mental and physical deterioration.

Use of Restraints in a General Hospital

Bella Bar-Cohen, Orly Rotem-Picker, Zvi Stern

Nursing Services and Administration, Hadassah University Medical Center, Jerusalem

28 in-patient units were surveyed during a 5-day period to determine the extent of the use of physical restraints in hospitalized patients. Information was gathered on the characteristics of restrained patients and indications for use and removal of restraints, patterns and means of restraints, monitoring, and written notations. 31 different patients (6% of those surveyed) were restrained in 13 units during the 5 days of the survey, an average of 15 (3%) daily.

Characteristics of restrained patients were: age 70 and over requiring emergency hospitalization, reduced level of consciousness, limitation of mobility, incontinence, history of 2 or more chronic diseases, requiring multiple drugs, and use of multiple medical devices. Bilateral, soft hand restraints were most often used to prevent patients from removing tubes. Nurses initiated the decision to apply or remove restraints, which were usually removed as the patients' condition improved. Written policies were lacking regarding monitoring and follow-up of restrained patients. Clearly written policies and increased staff awareness of potential hazards may reduce the use of restraints and the length of time they are employed.

Willingness to Donate Organs: Attitude Survey among Israeli Jews

Peri Kedem-Friedrich, Rina Rachmani

Psychology Dept., Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan and Information and Education Unit, Israel Transplant Center

A public opinion survey of Israeli Jewish adults (September) showed a large potential willingness to donate organs after death, while only a third of the sample was opposed. Nevertheless, only a very minor proportion held donor's cards, and over half expressed opposition to holding a donor card. As to next-of-kin's organs, when the wishes of the relative were not known, a quarter of the sample opposed, a quarter agreed, and the remaining half hesitated to make a decision.

Willingness to donate was not correlated with gender, age or income, but was related to religiosity: the more religious, the less willing to donate. And the religious reason was the salient one given for hesitation about donating, although there were many who could give no reason for their hesitation. Family members, doctors and rabbis (in ascending order) influenced willingness to consent to next-of-kin donations.

The Mitrofanoff Pouch in Lower Urinary Tract Reconstruction

J.H. Pinthus, Y. Mor, J. Ramon

Urology Dept., Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer

The Mitrofanoff principle, first described in 1980, consists of implanting a tubular organ such as the appendix, ureter, or fallopian tube into the wall of the bladder (or urinary reservoir) to create a non-refluxing, catherizable urinary conduit. Between 1993-1996, 7 men and 1 woman (aged 48-64, average 59) underwent radical cystectomy and urethrectomy combined with the creation of a MAINZ I urinary reservoir (based on the Mitrofanoff principle). In men the indication for the procedure was the diagnosis of invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder with involvement of the prostatic urethra. All patients had refused urinary diversion to an ileal conduit because of its deleterious effect on the quality of life.

In all patients the postoperative course was uneventful, apart from intraperitoneal urinary leakage from the reservoir in 1, successfully managed conservatively. The patients have gained full control of urinary drainage, performing intermittent self-catheterizations every 4-5 hours. In 3 patients there were difficulties with catheterization due to stenosis of the conduit, usually at the skin level. None have suffered leakage from the reservoir, during the day, even when it was full.

Our experience shows that creation of a continent urinary reservoir according to the MAINZ I technique is an excellent surgical solution for patients in whom the creation of an orthotopic reservoir is impractical. The use of the umbilicus as a stomal site preserves normal body image and thus does not interfere with quality of life as in those undergoing radical cystectomy.

Pulmonary Hypertension and Multi-Valvular Damage Caused by Anorectic Drugs

Serge E. Goldstein, Yair Levy, Yehuda Shoenfeld

Medical Dept. B and Institute for Immunological Disease Research, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Marked obesity is an independent risk factor for multisystem morbidity. The use of anorectic drugs is an aggressive strategy for weight reduction. It appears to be an easy way of dealing with the problem, because the patient needn't change his behavior. However, such treatment is not harmless. At the end of the 60's an outbreak of pulmonary hypertension was associated with the drug aminorex, and it was soon withdrawn from the market. 30 years later it became clear that new-generation anorectic drugs (fenfluramine, dexfenfluramine, phentermine), which were being used world-wide, lead to both pulmonary hypertension and valvular damage.

We describe a woman of 70 with both these complications which developed after prolonged anorectic therapy with a fenfluramine-phentermine combination.

Open Reduction and Internal Sternal Fracture Fixation

Y. Kluger, Y. Paz, N. Gebart, B. Sagie, A. Kremer

Rabin Trauma Center and Dept. of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Tel Aviv-Souraski Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

We describe a 63-year-old woman who sustained a sternal fracture after a motor vehicle crash. Due to persistent pain, open reduction and internal fixation of the sternal fracture were performed; recovery was uneventful.

Is Ileostomy Necessary In Surgical Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis and Familial Polyposis?

Michael M. Krausz, Simon Daniel Duek

Dept. of Surgery A, Rambam Medical Center, Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, The Technion, Haifa

Proctolectomy with ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) has become the procedure of choice for the surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) and familial polyposis (FP). Ithas traditionally been performed in 2 stages, but recently the necessity for an ileostomy hbeen challenged by several authors who recommend a 1-stage procedure.

5 years ago we started to test this policy for treatment of UC and FP. In 48 patients (Group A), 45 with UC, the 2-step procedure, and in 17 of the 27 in Group B with FP, the 1-stage procedure were performed. The indications for surgery were intractable UC in 37 patients in group A and in 5 patients in Group B (p<0.01).

Postoperative infection due to bowel leakage developed in 2 in Group A and in 6 in Group B (p<0.01). Reoperation was necessary in 4 patients (15%) in Group B and only 1 (0.9%) in Group A (p<0.01). Bowel leakage in Group B occurred in 5 (19%) with UC and in only 1 with FP (p<0.05), which responded to medical treatment. All those with UC who developed this complication were relatively malnourished, with serum albumin levels lower than 3.0 g% and were regulated with corticosteroids.

We therefore conclude that the 2-stage IPAA is feasible and safe for the treatment of UC and FP. The 1-stage IPAA should be limited only to FP or good risk UC patients.

Autonomic Dysregulation in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Power Spectral Analysis of Heart Rate Variability

Hagit Cohen, Uri Loewenthal, Mike A. Matar, Hanoch Miodownik, Zeev Kaplan, Yair Cassuto, Moshe Kotler

Mental Health Center, Israel Ministry of Health; Anxiety and Stress Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences; Dept. of Life-Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba

Spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) has been shown to be a reliable noninvasive test for quantitative assessment of cardiovascular autonomic regulatory response, providing a dynamic map of sympathetic and parasympathetic interaction. In a prior study exploring the state of hyperarousal that characterizes the post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) syndrome, we presented standardized heart rate analyses in 9 patients at rest, which demonstrated clear-cut evidence of a baseline autonomic hyperarousal state.

To examine the dynamics of this hyperarousal state, standardized heart rate analysis was carried out in 9 PTSD patients, compared to a matched control group of 9 normal volunteers. 20-minute ECG recordings in response to a trauma-related cue, as opposed to the resting state, were analyzed. The patients were asked to recount the presumed triggering traumatic event, and the control subjects recounted a significant stressful negative life event.

Whereas the control subjects demonstrated significant autonomic responses to the stressogenic stimulus of recounting major stressful experiences, the patients demonstrated almost no autonomic response to the recounting of the triggering stressful event. The patients demonstrated a degree of autonomic dysregulation at rest comparable to that seen in the control subjects' reaction to the stress model.

The lack of response to the stress model applied in the study appears to imply that PTSD patients experience so great a degree of autonomic hyperactivation at rest, that they are unable to marshal a further stress response to the recounting of the triggering trauma, as compared to control subjects. A subsequent study of the effect of medication on these parameters showed that they are normalized by use of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI's).

Neither the clinical implications of these findings, nor their physiological mechanisms are clear at present. We presume that they reflect a central effect, as the peripheral automatic effects of SSRI's are relatively negligible.

Extensive Liver Resection: a Series of 72 Cases

Moshe Hashmonai, Doron Kopelman, Ahmed Assalia, Yoram Klein, Hani Bahus, Alex Beny, Yaakov Baruch

Depts. of Surgery B, Oncology and Unit for Liver Diseases, Rambam Medical Center and Technion Faculty of Medicine, Haifa

Partial liver resection is the treatment of choice for various liver diseases, including primary and secondary (metastatic) malignancies, benign tumors, cysts, abscesses, trauma, etc. Improved knowledge of hepatic anatomy and physiology, improved diagnostic techniques and more developed peri-operative treatment have reduced postoperative morbidity and mortality to acceptable levels.

We present a series of 72 liver resections, the majority of which were liver lobectomies or more extensive procedures performed during 1982-1997. The percentage of postoperative complications, which ranged from 1.3% to 19.4%, and mortality (8.3%; 6/72) are comparable to those of other large series in the world literature. We believe that better appreciation of the surgical potential of Israel by our medical community will improve our therapeutic approach to various liver diseases.

The Diagnosis and Treatment of Fournier's Gangrene

M. Cohen, E. Tamir, S. Abu-Abid, Y. Galili, M. Giladi, S. Avital, R. Shafir, Y. Klausner

Surgery and Infectious Disease Depts. and Division of Surgery, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

We treated 2 women and 8 men suffering from Fournier's gangrene during 1990-96. 2 had diabetes, 1 suffered from ulcerative colitis and 1 was an alcoholic. In 8 of them the infection was triggered by a mixture of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Treatment consisted of repeated wide debridement and early colostomy. This aggressive approach resulted in relief of the septic signs within 24 hours and permitted early skin grafting of the wounds. 2 patients died due to sepsis that caused multiple organ failure. The 8 who survived were hospitalized for an average of 35 days. On follow-up examination 1-5 years later all patients had undergone closure of the colostomy and were completely rehabilitated.

Fournier's gangrene is not rare in the geriatric population. We believe that early diagnosis and aggressive wide debridement, combined with early colostomy, are the keys to successful treatment.

Nasopharyngeal Colonization with Streptococcus Pneumoniae in Pediatric Respiratory Infections

Isaac Srugo, Irena Chystiakov, Ella Cohen, Yoram Tal, Michael Jaffe

Clinical Microbiology and Pediatric Depts., Bnai Zion Medical Center and Technion Faculty of Medicine, Haifa

During the winter of 1995, nasopharyngeal colonization of Streptococcus pneumoniae was evaluated in 204 children with respiratory infection and 107 normal control children. There was no difference in gender or mean age between the groups, and no difference in carrier rate between sick (24.5%) and normal (22%) children (p=0.6). Carrier rates were 19%, 32%, 31% and 17% at 6, 12, 24 and 48 months, respectively. Penicillin-resistant pneumococci (PRP) were found in 42% of sick and 16.6% of normal children, (p<0.05). Resistance to more than 2 antibiotics was found in 28% of sick and in 12.5% of normal children. PRP were found in 67% and 34% of sick children with and without prior antibiotic treatment (p<0.05). We conclude that there is no difference in the carrier rate of Streptococcus pneumoniae between sick and normal children. However, the high prevalence of PRP in children with respiratory infections is probably due to prior antibiotic treatment.

Empirical Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections in the Delivery Room

Peter Jakobi, Orly Goldstick, Renato Finkelstein, Joseph Itzkovitz-Eldor

Obstetrics and Gynecology Dept. and Infectious Disease Unit, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common bacterial infection during pregnancy. In prenatal and delivery wards treatment is usually started at once in pregnant women with symptoms suggesting UTI, but there is no uniformity as to treatment. We surveyed such treatment in the delivery rooms throughout Israel, and whether the treatment differed in simple cystitis as opposed to pyelonephritis. Results of positive urine cultures from symptomatic parturients admitted here during 1995-1996 were examined.

There were 17 different empiric treatment protocols in 28 delivery rooms, whose daily cost ranged from 1-119 NIS. We present the antimicrobial sensitivity of 156 bacteria isolated from the urinary cultures from pregnant women in our prenatal ward. Based upon urinary flora, sensitivity and daily cost, we suggest a protocol for empiric treatment. We recommend first and second generation cephalosporins for treatment of simple lower (UTIs), while gentamicin is suggested for treatment of clinical pyelonephritis during pregnancy. There is no medical nor economic justification for the multiplicity of empiric treatment protocols currently used. Considering our results, our protocol is cost-effective for the empiric treatment of UTI in hospitalized parturients and in the community as well.

The Surgeon and the Emperor: a Humanitarian on the Battlefield

M. Feinsod

Dept. of Neurosurgery, Rambam (Maimonides) Medical Center; B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa

The Baron Dominique-Jean Larrey, one of the greatest names in military surgery, participated as Chief Surgeon in all the Napoleonic campaigns. He developed the concept of early evacuation from the battlefield, and of immediate treatment of the wounded, even under fire. He implemented improved surgical techniques and improved wound care that were followed by surgeons all over Europe. His devotion to wounded soldiers crossed national boundaries and became a way of life. Here is an account of Larrey's involvement in the aftermath of the Battles of Lutzen and Bautzen (May-June 1813), when many soldiers were accused of self-mutilation and were about to be executed. He dared to oppose, singlehanded, the Emperor, the highest military authorities and their concurring physicians and surgeons, armed only by his undisputed honesty, professional authority and exceptional reputation won over years of devotion to wounded soldiers. Larrey saved the lives of many soldiers and set an example of unbent ethical integrity.