תוצאת חיפוש

Pseudomembranous Colitis: Clinical, Endoscopic and Radiological Correlation - A 2 - Year Experience

Fabiana Benjaminov MD⁽¹⁾, Rivka Zissin MD⁽²⁾, Benjamin Novis MD⁽¹⁾

⁽¹⁾Gastroenterology Institute and ⁽²⁾CT Unit, Meir Hospital, Sapir Medical Center, Kfar-Saba, affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

Abstract: The incidence rates of pseudomembranous colitis are rising. Early diagnosis and treatment are required for management of this potentially life-threatening disease. This report outlines our 2-year experience (1997-1998) at the gastrointestinal institute with 43 patients diagnosed with pseudomembranous colitis and describes the clinical course and imaging studies.

The group consisted of 25 women and 18 men, aged 34-93 years (mean: 67). Thirty-nine patients were treated with antibiotics. Twelve patients were referred directly to an endoscopic examination with a presumed clinical diagnosis of pseudomembranous colitis (diarrhea, fever and abdominal pain) that was confirmed by colonoscopy. Thirty-one were referred to colonoscopy following abdominal imaging performed to clarify cause of fever and abdominal pain. Twenty-nine patients had an abdominal CT, one had an US and one a barium follow-through. The CT finding suggesting pseudomembranous colitis included colonic mural thickening in 28 patients (71% diffuse versus 29% segmental colitis), with an average wall thickness of 16 mm. Sixteen patients (59%) had pericolonic fat changes and 15 patients (51%) had ascites. All of these patients, except one, had endoscopic findings consistent with pseudomembranous colitis.

Five patients (11.6 %) died due to the severe PMC.

To conclude, as an abdominal CT is often performed in the acutely ill patient, it may arouse the diagnosis of pseudomembranous colitis in the proper clinical setting. Such a suspected diagnosis justifies endoscopic evaluation, which is the most reliable diagnostic examination.

The Effect of Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Therapy on Respiratory Diseases in Children

Y. Levin¹, A. Mandelberg², A. Gornstein³, F. Srour³, S. Reif⁴

¹The Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, ²The Unit of Pediatric-Pulmonology, Wolfson Hospital, ³The Unit of Pediatric-Surgery, Wolfson Hospital, ⁴The Unit of Pediatric-Gastroenterology, Dana Children's Hospital

In order to examine the effect of reflux therapy on Hyper Reactive Airway Disease (HRAD) and apnea severity, 107 children, 78 with HRAD and 29 with apnea, underwent pH monitoring in the Pediatric Surgery Unit of Wolfson Hospital and the Dana Children's Hospital during the years 1995-1998. Pathological reflux was defined by means of the Boix-Ochoa and RI (Reflux Index) scores. In patients with positive reflux, anti-reflux treatment was initiated. Prior to and following pH monitoring, the respiratory status of all patients (both with and without reflux) was evaluated by a pediatric pulmonologist employing commonly used scores to determine severity.

Results: Subject age ranged between one day and 15 years (mean: 15.44±29 months, median: 6.37 months). In HRAD, following anti-reflex treatment the reflux positive group showed a significant score improvement, from an average of 2.9±1.1 units to 1.54±1.2 units (p<0.0001); a decrease in the number of patients treated with oral corticosteroids (p<0.01); a close to significant decrease (p=0.069) in the average dose of inhaled corticosteroids; and a decrease in the number of patients using bronchodilators (p=0.042). The reflux-negative group, not treated for reflux, displayed no significant improvement, with only a decrease in the severity scores from 2.44±1.0 to 1.78±1.2 units (p=0.14), and no change on any of the other parameters.

In apnea, all patients improved, from an average score of 2.34±0.77 to 0.03±0.19 units (p<0.0001), with no significant difference between the reflux positive and the reflux negative groups.

In view of these findings, it is postulated that anti-reflux therapy may have an additive effect on HRAD severity, beyond that of spontaneous respiratory improvement. We therefore find it appropriate for every severe HRAD patient (frequent exacerbations or high corticosteroid dose) to undergo pH monitoring in order to treat those with proven reflux. In respect to apnea, we cannot attribute any significance to the existence of reflux or to anti-reflux treatment.

(1,2) ניר פלד, (1,2) צ'רלס נקר, (2) שי אשכנזי, (1) פאול מרלוב

(1) המח' לילודים, מרכז רפואי רבין, קמפוס בילינסון, (2) מרכז רפואי "שניידר" לילדים, פתח תקווה, הפקולטה לרפואה סאקלר, אוניברסיטת ת"א

בשני העשורים האחרונים, נרשמו תנודות חדות בשכיחות העולמית של מחלת העגבת בכלל ועגבת הילוד בפרט. בראשית שנות התשעים, אובחנה עגבת הילוד בכל 1/10,000 לידות של ילודים חיים בארה"ב. התמותה במחלת עגבת הילוד מגיעה לכדי 40% (תוך- וחוץ-רחמית), ואף השורדים לוקים בתחלואה קשה. לפיכך, ממליץ המרכז לבקרת המחלות בארה"ב (CDC) על סקר נוגדנים בלתי סגולי לעגבת לכל אם הרה במהלך השליש הראשון להריון, או בתחילת המעקב ההריוני, הסקר נערך באמצעות תבחין בלתי-סגולי למחולל העגבת, Treponema pallidum, לרוב תבחין VDRL.

נוכח העלייה הנרשמת בשיעור חולים אלה בישראל, דנה סקירה זו במעקב ההריוני וניהול היילוד שאמו בעלת תבחין VDRL המפורש כחיובי.

שרית אביאל-רונן, ברוריה שלמון ודבורה נס

העניין במחלת אלצהיימר (מ"א) חצה זה מכבר את גבולות האקדמיה והקליניקה. שכיחות המחלה העולה בכל עשור מעל העשור השישי ומגיעה לכ-50% מעל גיל 85, הופכת אותה לבעיה רפואית, חברתית וכלכלית בחברה מזדקנת. התסמינים, המתחילים בהפרעות קלות בתיפקודים שיכליים או בהפרעות באפקט, מתפתחים במהלך 5-10 שנים לחוסר התמצאות מתקדם, אובדן זיכרון ואימלות (אפזיה) ובשיאם מגיעים לשיטיון עמוק עם אובדן כושר הדיבור והניידות.

Extraperitoneal Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy

J. Kuriansky, A. Saenz, D. Rosin, E. Astudillo, L. Fernandez-Cruz

Dept. of General Surgery and Transplantation, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, and Dept. of Surgery, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has recently been shown to be safe and effective for a variety of benign adrenal tumors, such as aldosterone adenoma, pheochromocytoma, nonfunctioning adenoma, Cushing's adenoma and Cushing's syndrome. Recently, laparoscopic surgeons adopted an extraperitoneal approach in which a space is created by the introduction of a trocar with an inflatable balloon tip. This technique with a minimal access procedure provides direct access to the adrenal glands without interfering with intraperitoneal organs.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy using the extraperitoneal approach was completed in 18/20 consecutive patients. Mean operative time was 95 min (range 80-120) and median hospital stay 3 days. Blood transfusion was not required, and there were no postoperative complications.

Treatment of Hypertension with Losartan

R. Zimlichman

Dept. of Medicine and Hypertension, Wolfson Medical Center, Holon

The efficacy, safety and side-effects of treatment with losartan (Ocsaar) was studied for the first time in Israel in a large group of patients with mild to moderate hypertension in several community clinics. The 421 patients (51% men) aged 30-86 years (mean 58.6) received 50 mg of losartan daily, increased when necessary to 100 mg, and/or a second antihypertensive drug was given. After 4 weeks blood pressure was normalized in 344 and after 12 weeks in 363. Side-effects were minimal and treatment was effective in all age groups.

Malaria in Travelers Returning from Endemic Areas

Andre Matalon, Amos Yinnon

Kupat Cholim Klalit, Dan-Petah Tikva District, and Dept. of Family Medicine, Tel Aviv University; and Infectious Disease Unit, Shaare Zedek Hospital and Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem

2 cases of malaria in family practice are described in a 26- and a 50-year-old woman. Both probably could have been prevented had common chemoprophylactic drugs been taken. The risk of malaria is greater than the risk of possible side-effects of the drugs commonly used by travelers for prevention. Family physicians must be aware of the possibility of malaria in young people with fever, especially those who have travelled to equatorial areas and special attention should be given to encourage chemoprophylaxis.

Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction without Left Ventric-Ular Hypertrophy Treated with Ace Inhibitors

Jacob Feldman, Irit Laxer, Abraham Yaretzky

Geriatric Dept., Meir Hospital, Sapir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

We describe a very unusual case of sudden, severe worsening of congestive heart failure which was caused by ACE inhibitors. Diagnosis was made by echocardiogram showing a typical picture of dynamic, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction without left ventricular hypertrophy, which disappeared on discontinuing ACE inhibitors. This phenomenon has already been described as a complication of other drugs such as nitrates, commonly used as provocative tests for latent obstructive cardiomyopathy. To our knowledge ACE inhibihave not been described as a causative factor.

Evaluation of Asthmatic Children Presenting at Emergency Rooms

Haim Bibi, Elena Shoychet, David Shoseyov, Michael Armoni, Emil Chai, Dorit Ater

Pediatric Pulmonary Clinic and Pediatric Dept., Barzilai Medical Center, Ashkelon; Pediatric Pulmonary Clinic, Bikur Cholim Hospital, Jerusalem; Emergency Room, Barzilai Medical Center, Ashkelon; and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba

Bronchial asthma in the pediatric age group has become prevalent recently. Many children who suffer from asthma arrive at the emergency room (ER) with exacerbations which did not respond to medical treatment at home.

Between July and December 1997, 136 children 8 months to 14 years of age (61% below 3 years), were studied in our pediatric ER. Investigation included physical examination and pulse oximetry, which were used as guidelines for scoring the children on arrival and post-treatment. Spirometry was done in those who could cooperate. For each patient a detailed questionnaire about medical and sociodemographic factors was filled.

Primary pediatricians used mainly beta-agonist and corticosteroid inhalators, while pediatric pulmonologists used mainly inhaled steroids. There was no relationship between severity of attack on arrival at the ER, mode of treatment and speed of recovery in the ER. More children treated by a general pediatrician more were admitted to hospital. Low parental education and paternal smoking were risk factors for recurrent hospital admissions.

Our results indicate that parents must be educated to stop smoking, especially those with asthmatic children, and primary pediatricians should be updated with regard to proper treatment and follow-up of asthma.

Listeria Monocytogenes Infections - Ten Years' Experience

Tova Rainis, Israel Potasman

Infectious Disease Unit, Bnai Zion Medical Center, and Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa

7 cases of listeriosis were diagnosed here between 1988-1997 (6 in last 3 years), or 2.94/100,000 admissions. 2 elderly patients suffered from meningitis and 2 pregnant women presented with premature contractions, 1 of whom delivered a premature, infected baby. 2 other patients had fever and gastroenteritis.

Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from blood in 4, CSF in 2 and the placenta in 1. It was isolated from those with bacterial meningitis. All patients recovered. Both increased awareness for prevention and better diagnosis are essential to reduce morbidity from this unusual pathogen.

Apomorphine for "Off-Periods" in Parkinson's Disease

J. Zoldan, D. Merims, A. Kuritzky, I. Ziv, E. Melamed

Dept. of Neurology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tikva and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

After 3-5 years of continuous use of 1-dopa preparations for Parkinson's disease, 25%-50% of patients develop side-effects such as the "on-off" phenomenon and involuntary movements that markedly impair function. One cause of these manifestations is evidently a disturbance in the absorption of 1-dopa.

We attempted to avoid this problem by using subcutaneous injections. Apomorphine is a rapid-acting dopamine agonist which causes a return from "off" to "on" within minutes.

We present the results of a trial of subcutaneous injections of apomorphine in 22 Parkinsonian patients (12 males, 10 females) with severe motor fluctuations. During 5 days prior to the apomorphine all received Motilium (domperidone, 60 mg/d) to prevent nausea and vomiting. All were hospitalized initially to determine optimal dosage and to teach them the technique of self-injection.

2 to 4 mg of apomorphine were injected 1 to 3 times daily for 2 to 12 months. In 17 patients (80%) "off" periods were reduced without significant side-effects. Apomorphine seems to be effective, tolerable treatment for shortening 1-dopa induced "off" periods.

Control of Brucellosis in Taibe: Intersectoral Collaboration

Lutfi Jaber, Shmuel Dahan, Ilana Harari

Bridge-to-Peace Community Pediatric Center, Taibe; Community Pediatrics Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petah Tikva; Sackler Faculty of M, Tel Aviv University; and Israel Ministry of Health, Sharon District

Brucellosis is contracted from domestic animals. Poor hygiene, primitive animal breeding methods and traditional food preparation are the main contributory factors. We describe an intersectoral program for controlling brucellosis in Taibe, an Arab town in Israel, which had a particularly high incidence of the disease in 1992 and 1993.

At the beginning of 1994 the Israel Ministry of Health and the Community Pediatric Center of Taibe established a community-based program for controlling brucellosis in Taibe. It included an intensive public health education campaign and periodic examination and vaccination of animals. Physicians, veterinarians, nurses, school officials and health inspectors were recruited for this purpose. Residents' awareness of brucellosis was determined before and after the study.

After intervention, the incidence of the disease sharply declined from 176.6 and 175.0/100,000 in 1992 and 1993 respectively, to 5.7, 10.4 and 2.5/100,000 in 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively, (odds-ratio 24.44; p<00000). Residents' awareness of brucellosis and preventive measures were significantly increased by the end of the study. We conclude that intersectoral collaboration is an important tool for controlling brucellosis.

One-Stage Surgery for Hirschsprung's Disease in Children

Mark Weinberg, Baruch Klin, Itzhak Vinograd

Dept. of Pediatric Surgery, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Traditionally Hirschsprung's disease has been treated by 2-or 3-stage procedures. During the past 6 years a 1-stage Duhamel procedure without stoma has become our treatment of choice for Hirschsprung's disease in neonates and young infants. Over a 6-year period, 15 infants and children with colonic Hirschsprung's disease were treated with the 1-stage Duhamel retro-rectal pull-through procedure without a stoma, with the Lester-Martin modification. All patients had the usual short segment aganglionosis, but 1 had a long segment which included the splenic flexure.

Early complications included wound infection in 1 and minor rectal bleeding in 3. Late complications included constipation in 1 and enterocolitis in 4. Long-term functional results were very good in all those operated except for 1 with rectal achalasia.

We conclude that Hirschsprung's disease can be successfully treated with a 1-stage pull-through operation, the child usually benefitting from the shorter hospital stay and the avoidance of a colostomy.

Severe Pneumonia Caused by Bordetella Bronchiseptica

Taufik Zuabi, Adir Faivisevitz, Michael L. Alkan

Yoseftal Hospital, Eilat; Soroka Medical Center, Tel Hashomer; and Ben Gurion University Center for Health Sciences, Beer Sheba

Bordetella bronchiseptica rarely causes disease in man, and is an unusual pathogen in animals. It causes a pertussis-like syndrome, but pneumonia and sepsis have been described in the immunocompromised as well as in the immunocompetent. A 53-year-old man with adult-onset diabetes and healed pulmonary tuberculosis presented with lobar pneumonia and rapidly developed septic shock with adult respiratory distress syndrome. He responded well to the combination of piperacillin-tazobactam.

Ferritin in Adult Still's Disease

E. Flatau, N. Reichman, N. Kaufman

Dept. of Medicine B, Central Hospital of the Emek, Afula and Technion Faculty of Medicine, Haifa

Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is characterized by a spiking fever and diverse clinical findings; the diagnosis is often delayed for months or even years. The only positive laboratory finding is neutrophilic leukocytosis. Since 1987, the diagnostic importance of elevated serum ferritin levels has been discussed in numerous papers, but is not yet among the diagnostic criteria for AOSD. We describe a case in which the finding of extreme hyperferritinemia enabled prompt diagnosis and treatment.