תוצאת חיפוש

Combinations of Vasoactive Agents by Penile Injection for Erectile Dysfunction

E. Segenreich, S. Israilov, J. Shmueli, D. Simon, J. Baniel, P. Livne

Andrology Unit, Institute of Urology, Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Campus), Petah Tikva and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

In the past 15 years there has been continuous increase in the use of injections into the corpora cavernosa of different vasoactive drugs for treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). However, some of these drugs are very expensive, are not available everywhere, and have side effects. We therefore compared the success rate of the most widely used compounds, papaverine and regitine, in 452 patients (age range 26-85) with different types of ED. Each patient received in the clinic injections of papaverine, 6-25 mg, and regitine, 0.05-1.5 mg. When maximal rigidity of the penis (MRP) was >80%, we instructed the patient to self-inject the drug at home, 5-30 minutes before coitus. If after 3 injections MRP was not >80%, prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) in an average dose of 10-25 mcg was added. If there was no response, papaverin+regitine+PGE1 were given in higher dosage, and atropine sulfate, 0.02+0.06 mg, was added if necessary.

Of 452 patients, 305 (67.4%) had MRP >80% after 3 injections of papaverine plus regitine. The other patients received PGE1 in addition. This was helpful in 61 patients (41.5%), while 55 (63.9%) required papaverine + regitine + prostin in higher doses. Of these, only 31 received papaverine + regitine + PGE1 + atropine sulfate. Of these, 20 (64.5%) reached MRP >80%, and 11 (2.4%) MRP <60. For these 11 patients, we recommended a penile prosthesis. Thus in 67.4% of the 452 patients, papaverine + regitine injections were effective; in 41.5%, PGE1; in 63.9%, papaverine + regitine + prostin + atropine sulfate. Only 11 (2.4%) did not react to intracorporeal injection.

This progressive method of treatment enabled us to select the optimal dosage and combinations of compounds in 441/452 patients (97.5%) according to the severity of their dysfunction. During follow-up of 6 months, spontaneous erections without injection were achieved in 115 (26.0%).

Topical Photodynamic Therapy in Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Penile Bowen's Disease

Yoram Harth, Bernard Hirshovitz

Photodynamic Therapy Unit, Elisha Medical Center, Haifa

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a noninvasive selective therapy for a specific group of skin tumors. 5-aminolevulinic acid 20% in a water-in-oil cream base was applied to the tumors as a photosensitizer and was followed after 12 hours by exposure to a high output light source emitting red (585-720 nm; 150 mW/cm²) and near infrared irradiation (1.25-1.6 mm; 50 mW/cm²) for 10-15 minutes (VersaLight, incoherent filtered light source). Complete responses were achieved after 1-3 treatments in 26/31 lesions of superficial or small nodular basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and 4/5 in superficial, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) lesions. There was a patient with Bowen's disease of the penis. Follow-up was for 12-24 months. This noninvasive, nearly painless treatment gives excellent therapeutic and cosmetic results. Our data show its efficacy for certain subtypes of BCC, SCC and Bowen's disease. Further studies will determine the exact cure and recurrence rates with this modality and compare it to other modes of skin cancer therapy.

Ketogenic Diet for Intractable Epilepsy in Adults

Yaffa Schiff, Tally Lerman-Sagie

Nutrition and Diet Unit, Tel Aviv Medical Center; and Pediatric Neurology Unit, Wolfson Medical Center, Holon; and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

The ketogenic diet is an accepted alternative for children with intractable generalized or multi-focal seizures not amenable to surgery. It is not commonly used in adults because of the impression that the diet is less effective after childhood, when it is more difficult both to achieve ketosis and to change dietary habits. We present a 20-year-old man with intractable epilepsy since early childhood who is being treated with great success by a medium-chain triglyceride ketogenic diet. It has not only controlled the seizures but has also improved quality of life. We recommend a therapeutic trial of the ketogenic diet in intractable epilepsy for all ages.

Primary Care Physicians in Israel Compared with European Countries

P. Shvartzman, R. Gross, H. Tabenkin, D. Yuval, M. Grinshtein, B. Wienka

Dept. of Family Medicine, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba;

Brookdale Institute, Jerusalem; and Nivel Institute, Maastricht, the Netherlands

This study compares Israeli primary care physicians with those of European countries. In Israel a larger proportion of those in primary care are women. The Israeli physicians see many patients a day, but almost never make home visits. They also report for work the fewest hours a day, but spend 21 hours a month in continuous medical education. (more than Europeans?) The Israeli primary care physician scores high in screening for breast cancer and blood cholesterol level, but very low in the fields of minor surgery and alcohol and smoking prevention, contraception, nutrition counseling and normal pregnancy follow-up. Residency training and education may be inadequate, and more emphasis has to be put on the health system and recognizing environmental influences.

Chylothorax following Penetrating Injury

Y. Kluger, B. Sagie, Y. Chemo, A. Ravid, Y. Paz, J. Klausner

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

We describe a 19-year-old man with 9 stab wounds of the chest. Initial evaluation revealed paraplegia at the D-10 level and bilateral hemothorax. 2 days after admission right-sided chylothorax was diagnosed. Fasting and total parenteral nutrition resulted in complete clearance. Chylothorax can cause major metabolic consequences, but prompt treatment results in full recovery.

Clinical Characteristics of those who Leave the Emergency Room Against Advice

A. Carmel, H. Amital, Y. Shemer, A. Sahar

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

The object of this study was to characterize those who leave the emergency department agmedical advice and to examine the short-term consequences. The study was conducted retrospectively 1992 and prospectively during May-August 1993 by telephone interviews. About 0.5% of all the patients who applied to the emergency department left against medical advice. Their main characteristic was that they were mostly young, single men. A wide range of complaints had brought them to the emergency department, very similar to that of the control group, but with a higher tendency to abuse drugs and alcohol. Most of those who left against medical advice had less severe disease than the controls. However 10% of them had to be hospitalized within the subsequent 2 weeks, in comparison with 4% of the controls. This study suggests that improving the efficiency of the emergency department will decrease the number leaving against advice.

Hepatocellular Damage after Using Ecstasy

E. Shiloach, E. Zecler, M. Horowiz, E. Scapa

Depts. of Medicine C and Gastroenterology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin (Affiliated with Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University)

Ecstasy is a stimulant used mainly by youngsters to get 'high.' There are few reports of acute injury of the liver due to ecstasy. We describe a 37-year-old woman who presented with the clinical picture of recurrent hepatitis following ingestion of the drug. After several months she developed liver cirrhosis shown by biopsy and CT scanning. This case emphasizes the potential danger of ecstasy. Every patient with hepatitis of unknown origin must be questioned about ingestion of the drug.

Onchocerca in Israel

A. Pressman, Y. Kandelis, Y. Bachar, G. Mogilner

Depts. of Pediatric Surgery and Pathology, Bnei-Zion Medical Center and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, The Technion, Haifa

The parasite Onchocerca volvulus is well-known in its endemic areas in South and Central America and West Africa. It is transmitted to man by simulium flies and causes systemic infection with skin, lymphatic and ophthalmic manifestations and can cause blindness (river blindness). Treatment with Ivermectin is effective but sometimes there is need for surgical intervention to prevent or treat complications. We describe an 11-year-old girl, a new immigrant from Ethiopia, who had a firm mass in her left thigh, caused by Onchocerca volvulus. It was completely excised. This is a very rare condition in Israel, which must be considered in patients coming from endemic areas.

Incomplete Penile Amputation: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenge

D. Leibovici, B. Yaffe, A. Zisman

Urology Dept., Assaf Harofeh Medical Center and Microsurgery Dept., Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer

Traumatic penile amputation is a severe injury associated with a potential for multidisciplinary dysfunction. Since such injuries are rare, diagnostic and therapeutic experience is minimal. While complete penile amputation is a straight-forward diagnosis, incomplete amputations are not as evident and diagnosis may be delayed. The therapeutic endpoint includes restoration of an acceptable appearance of the phallus and a urethral meatus that allows normal voiding. Other objectives include re-establishment of sexual potency and fertility. As in other amputations, the treatment of choice is meticulous microsurgical replantation, including re-anastomosis of dorsal and cavernosal arteries, the deep dorsal vein, the urethra and nerves, as well as suturing the tunica albuginea. While appropriate cosmetic results and normal voiding can be achieved in most cases, potency is less frequently achieved due to neurological deficit leading to impaired erection and loss of sensation. Penile amputation is thus a complex therapeutic challenge, as meticulous anatomic reconstruction of blood vessels and nerves is essential for restoration of function. Since incomplete penile amputation may be overlooked when other more obvious injuries draw attention, this injury should be suspected in all cases of penetrating injury of the male genitalia. We present a 17-year-old man who sustained an incomplete penile amputation in a traffic accident.

Stromal Uterine Sarcoma arising from Intestinal Endometriosis after Abdominal Hysterectomy and Salpingoophorectomy

Munir Bishara, Eitan Scapa

Institute of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin (Affiliated with the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University)

The incidence of ectopic endometriosis is 4% to 18%. The intestinal type is quite common with the rectosigmoid the most likely part of the bowel to be involved due to its pelvic location. A 43-year-old woman, whose symptoms, X-ray and endoscopic findings suggested malignancy of the rectosigmoid, is presented. Primary malignancy of the bowel was excluded by endoscopic biopsies. Histological examination at operation showed stromal sarcoma of the uterus with foci of endometriosis. There is no report in the English literature of transformation of intestinal endometriosis into malignancy, such as stromal sarcoma of the uterus, which imitates a primary malignancy with obstruction of the rectosigmoid.

Orthopedic Ward Policy in Introduction of New Types of Total Hip Implants

U. Givon, M.I. Siebzhener, M. Salai, A. Chechick, H. Horoszowski, J. Shemer

Orthopedic Staff, Medical Technology Unit, Medical Dept. F, and Gertner Institute for Study of Health Services, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer

The use of different types of total hip implants in medical centers in Israel was surveyed. Questionnaires were sent to all orthopedic ward directors in Israel requesting information on the number of total hip arthroplasties performed between the years 1984-1993, the types of implants used, and whether attending physicians or residents perform the operations. 22 of 24 orthopedic wards responded but 1 ward was excluded because only the results for 1993 were reported. 5 wards reported more and 16 fewer than 50 operations a year. 15 different types of implants were in use in Israel in that period, and in 5 wards 5 or more types of implants were used. Only 1 of the wards performed more than 50 operations a year. We conclude that the indiscriminate use of multiple technologies in wards performing few operations can lead to the long "learning curves" previously associated with poor results. Orthopedic surgeons should resist the impulse to introduce new implants, thus improving results and lowering expenditure. The need for regulating the introduction of new implants is emphasized.

Inhaled Budesonide for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Paltiel Weiner, Doron Zamir, Marinella Beckerman

Medical Dept A, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera

A significant, large minority of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) respond favorably to corticosteroid treatment; but the benefit may be outweighed by its side effects. Long-term administration of inhaled steroids is a safe means of treatment. We hypothesized that treatment with inhaled budesonide would improve clinical symptoms and pulmonary function in subjects with COPD, and that the response to an inhaled B2-agonist would individualize steroid responders. In 44 patients with stable COPD in a double- blind crossover trial, we compared a 6-week course of inhalations of 800 mg/d budesonide with a placebo, separated by a 4-week interval when no medication was taken. In 33 out of 42 responders to the B2-agonist who remained in the study, there was a significant improvement in FEV1 of greater than 20% following budesonide inhalation, as compared to placebo. There was also a significant difference between the 2 periods of treatment as to the mean number of B2-agonist inhalations. We conclude that about 1/4 of patients with stable COPD respond to bronchodilators, and treatment with inhaled steroids improves spirometry data and inhaled B2-agonist consumption in about 3/4.

Recurrent Late Hemarthrosis after Total Knee Replacement

David Hendel, Gad J. Velan

Dept. of Orthopedics, Rabin Medical Center, Golda Campus, Petah Tikva

A patient who had a successful total knee replacement for severe degenerative osteoarthritis of the right knee had an excellent functional result. 2 years after the operation there was spontaneous intra-articular bleeding that was treated successfully conservatively. Recurrent hemarthrosis 2 months later was treated similarly and also resolved without residual functional impairment after a follow-up of over 1 year. Recurrent late hemarthrosis in the knee is a fairly rare complication following total knee arthroplasty, but is amenable to conservative measures. Frequently, persistent recurrent hemarthrosis requires debridement of the bleeding synovium of the knee.

Maggot Therapy for Gangrene and Osteomyelitis

K.Y. Mumcuoglu, M. Lipo, I. Ioffe-Uspensky, J. Miller, R. Galun

Dept. of Parasitology, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem

5 patients with diabetic-foot were treated by maggot therapy. The most serious case was in a 75-year-old man who had gangrene and osteomyelitis of the right foot. Proteus mirabilis, Enterococcus sp., Providencia stuartii and Staphylococcus spec. (coagulase positive) were isolated from lesions which did not respond to antibiotic therapy. The patient had twice refused amputation but agreed to maggot therapy. Larvae of the sheep blowfly Phoenicia (Lucilia) sericata were used for twice-weekly treatment over a period of 7 months. Sterile larvae were applied to the wound and replaced every 3-4 days. After 4 months of treatment, the necrotic tissue around the toes and on the sole of the foot detached from the healthy tissue. During the last 3 months of treatment the larvae removed the remaining infected tissue. As therapy progressed, new layers of healthy tissue covered the wound. The offensive odor associated with the necrotic tissue and the intense pain in the foot decreased significantly. At the end of therapy, during which there were no complaints of discomfort, he was able to walk. In the 4 other patients who had relatively superficial gangrene, the maggots debrided the wounds within 2-4 weeks. Thereafter treatment was continued with antibiotics. Maggot therapy can be recommended in cases of intractable gangrene and osteomyelitis, when treatment with antibiotics and surgical debridement have failed.