[Pregnancy after infiltrative breast cancer treatment: experience of the CHRU of Strasbourg with literature review]. / Grossesse après cancer infiltrant du sein: expérience du CHRU de Strasbourg et revue de littérature.

OBJECTIVES: Identification of women who survived infiltrative breast cancer and subsequently conceived and determination of the rate of pregnancy, the time from diagnosis to pregnancy, the outcome of breast cancer and of subsequent pregnancies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Women treated for breast cancer at the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Unit of the University Hospital of Strasbourg between 1993 and 2007 who subsequently conceived were prospectively registered and followed yearly. RESULTS: Twenty pregnancies subsequent to surgery for breast carcinoma were observed in 598 patients. This association accounted for 3.3% of the cases of infiltrative breast carcinoma in potentially fertile women under 45. Six pregnancies were observed less than two years after breast cancer diagnosis (four abortions and two live births) and 17 pregnancies occurred after two years (three abortions, three miscarriages, one extra-uterine pregnancy and 10 live births). Two patients who developed distant metastases after pregnancy (less than one year and more than five years after diagnosis respectively) died. One patient, whose pregnancy occurred three years after the diagnosis, is still alive with a lung cancer and brain metastases. One patient was treated for local breast cancer recurrence. The overall prognosis was good, 18 patients (90%) being alive with a mean follow-up of 105 (S.D. 43) months. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Pregnancy is more likely to occur in patients with a prolonged survival and no evidence of disease. Maternal prognosis is mainly related to initial stadification of breast cancer and not to its hormonodependence.

Inquiry into the distribution of drugs in a diabetic clinic.

The aim of this study was to investigate possible discrepancies between the drug prescribed and that recorded in the patient's file. A prospective open blind study was conducted with 178 patients included consecutively. We analysed 1011 prescriptions (the median (range) number of drugs per patient was 5 (1-37)) and identified 49 discrepancies (5 per cent of cases). In 18 cases, the drug given to the patient by a nurse was not the drug initially prescribed but the drug recorded in the patient's file was the drug actually given to the patient. In another 31 cases, the drug given to the patient was not the drug initially prescribed, but the drug recorded was that prescribed. This inquiry shows that there may be a discrepancy between the drug initially prescribed and that actually administrated and suggests that poor traceability may affect pharmacological surveillance surveys.

Application of fiberoptic sensors for the study of hepatic dysoxia in swine hemorrhagic shock.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the simultaneous measurement of tissue pH, Pco2, and Po2 with a multiple-parameter fiberoptic sensor can be used to indicate the onset of hepatic dysoxia, to determine critical values, and to assess their use in predicting negative outcomes. DESIGN: Prospective animal study. SETTING: University research laboratory. SUBJECTS: Fourteen Yorkshire swine. INTERVENTIONS: Hemorrhagic shock (n = 11) was induced over 15 mins to lower systolic blood pressure to 40 mm Hg and was maintained for 30, 60, or 90 mins. Resuscitation was achieved with shed blood and warm saline to maintain mean pressure >60 mm Hg for 120 mins. Sham animals (n = 3) were subjected to 90 mins of sham shock, followed by a 120-min recovery period. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The multiple-parameter sensor continuously measured tissue pH, Pco2, and Po2. pH and Pco2, indicators of anaerobic metabolism, were plotted against tissue Po2. All shocked animals, but no sham animals, showed a biphasic relationship between Po2 and both pH and Pco2. Curves were fit to both an exponential and a dual-line linear function to determine critical values for Po2, pH, and Pco2. The length of time the animal was dysoxic was evaluated as a predictor of negative outcome. Critical values determined from the exponential models were more sensitive indicators of negative outcome than values determined from the linear model and more sensitive than arterial lactate and tonometric intramucosal pH and Pco2. CONCLUSIONS: The multiple-parameter sensor offers the unique opportunity to study solid as well as hollow organ dysoxia through the simultaneous measurement of interstitial pH, Pco2, and Po2 in a small tissue region. The gradual transition from sufficient oxygen availability to dysoxia as a result of hemorrhage was better described by an exponential equation. The length of time that pH was below or Pco2 was above the critical value determined from the exponential model was predictive of a negative outcome.

Experimental use of an illuminated and magnetic tip, flow-directed pulmonary artery catheter for lung resection.

The authors performed a study to design and evaluate a device giving the surgeon added protection against pulmonary artery injury in a closed thoracic compartment. Eleven swine were used for a total of 12 lobectomies. A light-bearing, magnetic-tipped, modified Swan-Ganz catheter was passed through the jugular vein into the left pulmonary artery. By using magnetic guidance through a port site and balloon inflation, cessation of flow in the pulmonary artery was documented by Doppler. Twelve video-assisted lobectomies were performed. Nine of 12 (75%) lobectomies were completed successfully by using the magnetic-tipped, illuminated balloon catheter. In 4 cases, the catheter displaced because of the short left main pulmonary artery in swine. In one case, the balloon was recovered, and successful lobectomy was performed. The use of a magnetic-tipped, flow-directed device may provide an effective means of endovascular control during thoracoscopic pulmonary arterial dissection.

[Prevention of cardiovascular diseases in type 2 diabetes with aspirin]. / L'aspirine chez le diabétique de type 2 pour prévenir les maladies cardio-vasculaires.

UNLABELLED: THEORY AND REALITY: Diabetes mellitus is known to be associated with excess cardiovascular risk. Prescription of antiplatelet agents such as acetylsalicylic acid would thus appear to be warranted. That is the theory, but the reality is much different. A review of the literature provides evidence on the use of acetylsalicylic acid for primary and secondary preventive care, but conclusions are often extrapolated from studies conducted in the general population. EVIDENCE OF A BENEFICIAL EFFECT IN DIABETICS: The HOT study, conducted in hypertensive patients) demonstrated that acetylsalicylic acid at the dose of 75 mg a day, reduced the rate of major cardiovascular events by 15% (p = 0.03) and of myocardial infarction by 36% (p = 0.02) with no effect on stroke. In diabetic patients (n = 1500), the benefit was even more pronounced. RISKS: The risk of bleeding must be balanced against the beneficial cardiovascular effect. Diabetic retinopathy is not aggravated by aspirin. The data reported in the literature do not however enable any evidenced-based decision on dosing for the diabetic population with numerous cardiovascular risks.

Simultaneous measurement of hepatic tissue pH, venous oxygen saturation and hemoglobin by near infrared spectroscopy.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy of the liver to simultaneously assess oxygen content in combination with tissue pH, an indicator of anaerobic metabolism. Six anesthetized swine were subjected to 45 min of hemorrhagic shock followed by resuscitation with blood and crystalloid. Calibration models between NIR spectra and reference measurements of tissue pH, hepatic venous oxygen saturation (S(V)O2), and blood hemoglobin concentration (Hb) were developed using partial least-squares regression. Model accuracy was assessed using cross validation. The average correlation (R2) between NIR and reference measurements was 0.87, 0.68, and 0.93, respectively for pH, Hb, and S(V)O2. Estimated accuracy, the root mean squared deviation between spectral, and reference measurements was 0.03 pH units, 0.3 g/dL, and 6%. NIR determination of hepatic oxygen content and tissue pH during shock and resuscitation demonstrated that there can be a variance between hepatic venous oxygenation and regional tissue acidosis. NIR spectroscopy provides a technique to explore the implications of post-shock depression of tissue pH and evaluate new methods of resuscitation.

Chronic pulmonary artery balloon counterpulsation in sheep via percutaneous route.

BACKGROUND: In clinical practice pulmonary artery balloon counterpulsation (PABC) has been utilized only in the operative setting with the balloon housed in a graft attached to the pulmonary artery. Clearly, percutaneous insertion of a dedicated pulmonary artery balloon is a desirable goal for patients requiring temporary assist for right ventricular failure. METHODS: To address the question of right sided cardiopulmonary tolerance for a chronic indwelling pulmonary artery balloon, six adult ewes underwent percutaneous placement of an 11 ml pulmonary artery balloon, via the femoral vein. Effective pumping and timing were monitored for 48 hours at which time the animals were sacrificed. At autopsy gross and microscopic study of all right heart structures, the pulmonary arteries and the lungs were studied for adverse effects. RESULTS: There were inconsequential minor abrasions to right heart structures in most animals. The pulmonary artery in five of six animals revealed ecchymoses and some transmural hemorrhage, but no necrosis or perforation. There was no pulmonary injury that could not be ascribed to postoperative atelectasis. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that chronic pulmonary artery balloon counterpulsation can be carried out for a period of 48 hours without significant injury to right heart and pulmonary structures in the ovine model

[Ursodeoxycholic acid: prospect for treatment of gravidic cholestasis? Report of 3 cases]. / L'acide ursodésoxycholique: perspective de traitement de la cholestase gravidique? A propos de 3 observations.

Ursodeoxycholic acid, employed in treatment of intrahepatic cholestasis as seen in primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and chronic hepatitis; does not have marketing approval for prescription during pregnancy because of lack of data. In 3 cases of gravidic cholestasis, we administered oral ursodeoxycholic acid 1 g a day from the 34th week of amenorrhea to delivery. In each case, it took 3 days of treatment for the pruritus to regress incompletely and for plasma levels of biliary acid and transaminases to decrease. The infants, born between the 36th and 38th week of amenorrhea, presented with no problem. Forty-eight cases of gravidic cholestasis treated by ursodeoxocholic acid (0.4 to 1 g a day) have been reported in the literature; 18 cases belonging to 2 randomized studies. In 46 cases pruritus disappeared generally 3 days after treatment onset, and plasma level of biliary acid and transaminase decreased in one week. Only two patients experienced persisting pruritus despite biological improvement. No foetal adverse effect is reported. Ursodeoxycholic acid seems to be an efficient treatment of gravidic cholestasis. Long term observation of fetuses exposed in utero to this treatment is required to assess safety.

[Urinary complications during laparoscopy: a urachal diverticula injury]. / Complications urinaires de la coelioscopie: à propos d'une plaie d'un diverticule ouraquien.

The authors report a bladder injury during laparoscopic procedure. A laparotomy is performed immediately and shows an urachal anomaly with the bladder reaching the umbilic. One of the accessory trocars perforates the bladder in its unusual position. Surgical repair is made and the patient discharged without sequelae 12 days later. Rate of bladder injury increases with development of advanced laparoscopy as Burch and hysterectomy. Careful drainage with folley catheter during all laparoscopic procedures present greater than morbidity. Previous laparotomy may change the usual position of the bladder. Care must be taken in case of wall anomalies as in our observation. Per-operative suspicion of bladder injury (hematuria, presence of gas in the urinary catheter collection bag) can be proved with the injection of methylene blue in the folley catheter. Laparoscopic repair is possible for an experienced surgeon, associated with 10 days continuous urinary drainage and quinolone antibiotherapy. Morbidity of unknown bladder injury is great with some death-case reports. All diagnosis technique possible must be used to light these clinical situations, urinary peritonitis symptomatology is often non specific.

[Treatment of hyperplasias of the endometrium]. / Le traitement des hyperplasies de l'endomètre.

The treatment of endometrial hyperplasias must be, as a rule, medical and more precisely with the use of progestative drugs. A simple hysterectomy must be proposed for hyperplasias with atypia in women around the time of menopause.

[Papillomavirus, herpes virus and vulvar cancer]. / Papillomavirus, herpès virus et cancer de la vulve.

Vulvar carcinoma is relatively rare but genital warts (condylomas) are very frequent findings. Very old diseases, the roles of certain viruses in their pathophysiology has been shown. The mechanism of viral infestation is reviewed. Absolute proof of precise viral oncogenic roles in humans remains unrealized despite definite clinical and epidemiologic arguments; the role is that of a cocarcinogen acting in conjunction with physical, chemical, clinical and immunological factors in an as yet obscure chronological order. For the moment, viral vulvar lesions must be considered as cancer risks and be treated as such.