[Diagnosis and treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. Its relationship with gastrointestinal ulcer and antimicrobial resistance]. / Diagnóstico y tratamiento de la infección por Helicobacter pylori. Su relación con la úlcera gastrointestinal y la resistencia a los antimicrobianos.

Reliable data regarding the efficacy of different schemes of triple therapy for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori in our country, are not available. Patients with Helicobacter pylori infection and non-ulcer dyspepsia or active peptic ulcer disease were randomized in three different groups for therapy with, omeprazole 20 mg, clarithromycin 500 mg and amoxicillin 1000 mg, twice daily for one week (OCA 1, 40 patients) and the same treatment but for two weeks in a second group (OCA 2, 40 patients). The third group received omeprazole 20 mg, clarithromycin 500 mg and metronidazole 500 mg twice daily during one week (OCM, 40 patients). The primary efficacy end point was the eradication of Helicobacter pylori as confirmed by negative urea breath test, 4 weeks after the completion of treatment. Of 120 patients enrolled in the study, 113 met the entry criteria. Of them, 103 completed the treatment. When analyzed by intention to treat, after 4 weeks of finishing the treatment, Helicobacter pylori was eradicated in 92.3% of patients in OCA 1, 89.7% in OCA 2, and 82.8% in OCM. There was no significant difference between the three groups, regarding the eradication efficacy. Side effects were observed more frequently in OCA 2 and OCM groups. Primary resistance to amoxicillin and clarithromycin was not demonstrated, while 20% of cultured strains were resistant to metronidazole. In patients with peptic ulcer disease or non-ulcer dysplasia, triple therapy with omeprazole and two antibiotics is highly effective in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori. One week of OCA therapy is as effective as two weeks of OCA or one week of OCM, with less side effects.

Diagnóstico y tratamiento de la infección por Helicobacter pylori. Su relación con la úlcera gastrointestinal y la resistencia a los antimicrobianos. / [Diagnosis and treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. Its relationship with gastrointestinal ulcer and antimicrobial resistance]

Reliable data regarding the efficacy of different schemes of triple therapy for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori in our country, are not available. Patients with Helicobacter pylori infection and non-ulcer dyspepsia or active peptic ulcer disease were randomized in three different groups for therapy with, omeprazole 20 mg, clarithromycin 500 mg and amoxicillin 1000 mg, twice daily for one week (OCA 1, 40 patients) and the same treatment but for two weeks in a second group (OCA 2, 40 patients). The third group received omeprazole 20 mg, clarithromycin 500 mg and metronidazole 500 mg twice daily during one week (OCM, 40 patients). The primary efficacy end point was the eradication of Helicobacter pylori as confirmed by negative urea breath test, 4 weeks after the completion of treatment. Of 120 patients enrolled in the study, 113 met the entry criteria. Of them, 103 completed the treatment. When analyzed by intention to treat, after 4 weeks of finishing the treatment, Helicobacter pylori was eradicated in 92.3

of patients in OCA 1, 89.7

in OCA 2, and 82.8

in OCM. There was no significant difference between the three groups, regarding the eradication efficacy. Side effects were observed more frequently in OCA 2 and OCM groups. Primary resistance to amoxicillin and clarithromycin was not demonstrated, while 20

of cultured strains were resistant to metronidazole. In patients with peptic ulcer disease or non-ulcer dysplasia, triple therapy with omeprazole and two antibiotics is highly effective in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori. One week of OCA therapy is as effective as two weeks of OCA or one week of OCM, with less side effects.

Target selection for surgical intervention in severe chronic venous insufficiency: comparison of duplex scanning and phlebography.

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to determine whether duplex scanning (DS) alone, compared with ascending phlebography (AP) and descending phlebography (DP), would have been sufficient to guide treatment of severe chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), CEAP Clinical Classes 5 and 6. METHODS: Beginning in 1994, patients presenting to the VA Sierra Nevada Vascular Clinic with ulceration due to CVI, CEAP Clinical Classes 5 and 6, were examined with DS, AP, and DP. Phlebography mainly guided surgical interventions. The ability of DS findings to select surgical interventions, with the aims of diversion of reflux from area of trophic skin or reduction of global venous hypertension was compared with phlebography. Of the 33 male patients (age, 29-70 years; average, 55 years) considered for operative interventions between January 1994 and November 1999, 30 were selected for operative treatment. RESULTS: DS was 100% sensitive and specific for detection of complete occlusion of the superficial femoral vein (10/10) and for saphenous incompetence; sensitivity was 95% (19/20); and specificity was 100%. However, DS failed to reveal subtle changes in recanalized femoral veins because of prior thrombophlebitis, which was uncovered by AP in six of 23 patent femoral veins. There were 16 positive findings on AP of residual thrombophlebitis, of which six were not read on DS. Sensitivity was 63%, specificity was 100%, the positive predictive value was 100%, and the negative predictive value was 53%. Reflux grading with DP agreed with DS in 23 of 33 cases or varied by one grade in five of 33 cases: sensitivity, 82%; specificity, 75%; positive predictive value, 96%; and negative predictive value, 37%. Kistner grade 4 reflux involving the superficial femoral and popliteal veins was noted by DP in five of the 33 cases when DS described reflux as "moderate." Incompetent superficial femoral vein valve stations in the upper third of the vein, which caused primary reflux, were clearly defined by DP in four of 33 cases; valve location was not well defined by DS. Below-knee perforator identification with DS was difficult; this was related to the severity of lipodermatosclerosis and the presence of ulceration. The number of perforators described at operation with subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery (n = 13) averaged 6 +/- 2, whereas AP identified an average of 4 +/- 2 in supramalleolar area. In four men, two previously undiagnosed caval and two iliac obstructions were detected with AP; one was corrected with Palma bypass grafting. Follow-up at 4 to 60 months (average, 40 months) showed four ulcer recurrences among 30 patients who were operated on. Two patients underwent repeat operations on the basis of repeated phlebographic study and are cured at this time, one patient was healed with conservative therapy, and one patient is lost to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: DS would have been inadequate for identifying surgical targets in CVI, CEAP Clinical Classes 5 and 6. DS overlooked iliac and caval lesions. Potential valveplasty sites, which were only delineated on DP, resulted in four valveplasties in the upper third of the superficial femoral vein for grade 4 reflux. AP localized mid- to upper-leg perforators, but neither AP nor DP detected perforators in the range of 5 to 10 cm above the calcaneus. The net effect of phlebography was a choice for deep interventions in five (17%) of 30 cases, which would not have been possible with DS alone. The identification of iliocaval occlusion influenced the decision, based on prior experience, not to perform distal procedures in three cases.

New approaches to an old and vexing problem: improving the results of SEPS: an overview.

Lipodermatosclerosis and chronic ulceration have been longstanding and vexing problems caused by chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). While traditional approaches have been mainly medical with the use of compression, bedrest, and elevation; operative therapy for CVI has now been shown to cause earlier healing with fewer ulcer recurrences. The development of subfascial endoscopic surgery (SEPS) promises a more elegant approach applicable to outpatient or day surgery. However, in a recent trial, early results showed a 22% ulcer recurrence at 30 months, which did not compare favorably with traditional approaches. We have used extrafascial perforator interruption for SEPS recurrence and have now modified our SEPS approach particularly for low-lying ulcers. This overview suggests use of a combination of SEPS with an extrafascial perforator division when skin change relates to retro or submalleolar perforating veins. Several procedures, rather than one intervention may be required in CVI to prevent or divert transmission of venous hypertension to areas of affected skin, including saphenous stripping, staged valveplasty and treatment of iliac occlusions.

Telementoring: pushing the telemedicine envelope.

Telemedicine offers significant advantages in bringing consulting support to distant colleagues. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the role of telementoring in the training of advanced laparoscopic surgical procedures. Student surgeons received a uniform training format to enhance their laparoscopic skills and intracorporeal suturing techniques and specific procedural training in laparoscopic colonic resections and Nissen fundoplication. Subsequently, operating rooms were equipped with three cameras. A telestrator (teleguidance device), instant replay (to critique errors), and CD-ROM programs (to provide reference information) were used as intraoperative, educationally assistant tools. In phase 1, four colonic resections were performed with the mentor in the operating room (group A), and four colonic resections were performed with the mentor on the hospital grounds but not in the operating room (group B). The voice and video signals were received at the mentor's location using coaxial cable. In phase 2, two Nissen fundoplications were performed with the mentors in the operating room (group C), and two Nissen fundoplications were performed with the mentors 5 miles away from the operating room (group D) using existing land lines at the T1 level. We found no differences in the performances of the surgeons or the outcomes of the operations between groups A and B and groups C and D. Intraoperative problems were tackled effectively. Preliminarily, we conclude that the telementoring concept is potentially a safe and cost-effective option for advanced training in laparoscopic operations. Further investigation is necessary before routine transcontinental patient applications are attempted.

[Multicenter study of Helicobacter pylori infection prevalence in patients with chronic gastroduodenal disease. Various epidemiologic features]. / Estudio multicéntrico de prevalencia de infección por Helicobacter Pylori en pacientes con patología gastroduodenal crónica. Algunos aspectos epidemiológicos.

The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of H. Pylori infection in patients with chronic gastroduodenal pathology, who were treated in the gastroenterology units of four hospitals located in the Federal Capital and its neighbouring areas. 398 patients were studied by means of clinical assessment and epidemiology data. Upper endoscopy was carried out two biopsies were taken of the gastric antrum for a quick ureasa test and histological assessment of the H. pylori state by means of giemsa's stain. The prevalence of infection on the total of the studied population was 75.6%. In patients with gastric ulcer was 70%; in patients with duodenal ulcer it was 77.2% and 78.5% in patients with chronic gastritis. The prevalence of H. Pylori infection on the population according to age groups was: 61.54% in patients between 21 and 40 years; 76.14% in patients between 41 and 60 years, and 68.22% in patients over 60 year. We have tried to obtain a correlation between the prevalence of the infection and some sanitary characteristic (Running water and sewers) on the studied population. It was seen that 225 patients who lived in dwellings with running water and sewers showed a prevalence of infection of 69.34% and in 129 patients who did not have running water or sewer the rate of prevalence of infection was 83.72; a difference which was statistically significant, (with P < 0.01) for the patients who lived in poor sanitary conditions. These data may be important when the design of therapeutic schemes for the eradication of the bacteria is made.

Estudio multicentrico de prevalencia de infeccion por Helicobacter pylori en pacientes con patologia gastroduodenal cronica: algunos aspectos epidemiologicos / Multicenter study of Helicobacter pylori infection prevalence in patients with chronic gastroduodenal disease: some epidemiologic features

El objetivo de este trabajo fue establecer la prevalencia de infección por H. Pylori en pacientes con patología gastroduodenal crónica, atendidos en las unidades de gastroenterología de cuatro hospitales de Capital Federal y conurbano. Se estudiaron 398 pacientes con evaluación clínica y datos epidemiológicos, se efectuó endoscopía alta con toma de dos biopsias de antro gástrico para test rápido con ureasa y evaluación histológica, con coloración de giemsa, del estado de infección con H. Pylori. La prevalencia de infección en la población total estudiada fue de 75,6 por ciento. En los pacientes con úlcera gástrica la tasa de prevalencia de infección por H.P. fue 70 por ciento en úlcera duodenal 77,2 por ciento y en gastritis crónica fue 78,5 por ciento. La prevalencia de infección por H.P. en la población según grupos etarios para pacientes menores de 20 años fue 61,54 por ciento; entre 21 y 40 años: 80,39 por ciento; entre 41 y 60 años 76,41 por ciento y en mayores de 60 años fue 68,22 por ciento. se ha intentado obtener de una correlación entre prevalencia de la infección y algunas características sanitarias (agua corriente y cloacas) de la población estudiada. Se observó ue 225 pacientes que residen en viviendas con agua corriente y cloacas, tuvieron una prevalencia de infección de 69,345 y en 129 pacientes sin agua corriente ni cloacas se observó una tasa de prevalencia de infección de 83,72 por ciento una diferencia estadísticamente significativa con un p< 0,01 para los pacientes con pobres condicones sanitarias. Estos datos puedem ser importantes cuando se efectua el diseño de los esquemas terapéuticos de erradicación de la bacteria.

Estudio multicentrico de prevalencia de infeccion por Helicobacter pylori en pacientes con patologia gastroduodenal cronica: algunos aspectos epidemiologicos / Multicenter study of Helicobacter pylori infection prevalence in patients with chronic gastroduodenal disease: some epidemiologic features

El objetivo de este trabajo fue establecer la prevalencia de infección por H. Pylori en pacientes con patología gastroduodenal crónica, atendidos en las unidades de gastroenterología de cuatro hospitales de Capital Federal y conurbano. Se estudiaron 398 pacientes con evaluación clínica y datos epidemiológicos, se efectuó endoscopía alta con toma de dos biopsias de antro gástrico para test rápido con ureasa y evaluación histológica, con coloración de giemsa, del estado de infección con H. Pylori. La prevalencia de infección en la población total estudiada fue de 75,6 por ciento. En los pacientes con úlcera gástrica la tasa de prevalencia de infección por H.P. fue 70 por ciento en úlcera duodenal 77,2 por ciento y en gastritis crónica fue 78,5 por ciento. La prevalencia de infección por H.P. en la población según grupos etarios para pacientes menores de 20 años fue 61,54 por ciento; entre 21 y 40 años: 80,39 por ciento; entre 41 y 60 años 76,41 por ciento y en mayores de 60 años fue 68,22 por ciento. se ha intentado obtener de una correlación entre prevalencia de la infección y algunas características sanitarias (agua corriente y cloacas) de la población estudiada. Se observó ue 225 pacientes que residen en viviendas con agua corriente y cloacas, tuvieron una prevalencia de infección de 69,345 y en 129 pacientes sin agua corriente ni cloacas se observó una tasa de prevalencia de infección de 83,72 por ciento una diferencia estadísticamente significativa con un p< 0,01 para los pacientes con pobres condicones sanitarias. Estos datos puedem ser importantes cuando se efectua el diseño de los esquemas terapéuticos de erradicación de la bacteria. (AU)

Reduction pneumonoplasty for emphysema. Early results.

OBJECTIVE: The authors determined the role of Nd:YAG laser reduction pneumonoplasty for selected patients with diffuse emphysema. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The study is based on the concepts introduced 30 years ago by Brantigan regarding the value of lung reduction surgery in patients with emphysema. The authors used minimally invasive techniques with the hopes of providing appropriate clinical results with the least surgical morbidity. METHODS: Fifty-five patients with advanced symptomatic emphysema were treated with unilateral Nd:YAG laser reduction pneumonoplasty to achieve lung volume reduction. RESULTS: Patients experienced significant improvement in exercise capacity and relief of breathlessness. This correlated with improvement in objective measures of pulmonary function and with reduction in lung volume by radiographic and spirometric measures. Significant associated hospital morbidity and a 5.5% mortality were associated. CONCLUSIONS: These encouraging results with treatment of only one lung will be built on with both sequential lung and simultaneous, bilateral lung treatment protocols.

Diagnosis of pulmonary masses by fine-needle aspiration.

Ninety-two fine-needle aspiration biopsies (FNAB) were performed in 79 patients, yielding a sensitivity of 90 percent and specificity of 100 percent for malignancy. Seven different malignant cell types were identified: squamous cell, adenocarcinoma, large cell, small cell, carcinoid, embryonal cell, and malignant fibrous histiocytoma. A 94 percent correct correlation between the cytologic and histologic specimens was achieved. Pneumothorax requiring tube thoracostomy complicated 11 percent of the biopsies. Thoracotomy was avoided in 35 percent of patients considered for operation because FNAB documented benign disease, metastatic disease, or small-cell carcinoma. FNAB was able to provide a pathologic diagnosis for chemotherapy and radiotherapy in patients with metastatic disease. A diagnosis was obtained prior to operation in 98 percent of thoracotomies. Only one diagnostic thoracotomy and one thoracotomy for unresectable pulmonary malignancy were required in a 4-year period. We concluded that FNAB, a highly sensitive and specific procedure with a low morbidity rate and a high correlation with histologic findings, reduces the need for diagnostic thoracotomy.

Pneumobilia associated with small-bowel obstruction.

We present a patient who was admitted complaining of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal distention. A roentgenogram of the abdomen revealed a dilated stomach and pneumobilia. At surgery, he was found to have proximal small-bowel obstruction. To our knowledge, this is the first case of pneumobilia associated with proximal small-bowel obstruction not associated with a gallstone.

Indications for angiography in blunt thoracic trauma.

The clinical charts and radiographs of 113 patients who underwent aortography for suspected blunt injury to the aorta and brachiocephalic vessels were reviewed to identify the most useful indications for angiography. Eight previously described clinical criteria and 14 previously described radiographic criteria were evaluated in each of these patients, 27 of whom had either an aortic or brachiocephalic injury. Contrary to previous reports, our data indicate that no single clinical or radiographic sign is highly specific for vascular injury. An abnormal aortic outline and mediastinal widening remain the most sensitive criteria, although these were also present in a large number of patients without vascular injury. Displaced paraspinous lines and nasogastric tubes are also useful signs.

Studies of gallbladder contraction using intramuscular sincalide.

Intramuscular sincalide (the carboxy terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin) was evaluated as an agent for producing gallbladder contraction. Following oral cholecystography 35 patients received intramuscular sincalide in one of two dosages, 18 patients received intravenous sincalide, and six patients were given intramuscular placebo. Generalized symptoms, often similar to those noted clinically, were more common following intravenous injection of sincalide; gallbladder contraction was greater following intramuscular injection. Both of these findings may be related to lower but more sustained blood levels of sincalide following intramuscular administration. Intramuscular sincalide may be useful for further studies of the value of cholecystokinin cholecystography.

Fracture of the first and second rib: incidence of vascular injury relative to type of fracture.

Fractures of the first or second rib may be associated with underlying arterial injury in patients with blunt chest trauma. A total of 58 patients with fracture of the first of second rib was investigated; all patients subsequently underwent arteriography. The type of rib fracture (posterior, lateral), or anterior) was not found to be a useful predictor of underlying vascular injury. Also, the degree of displacement of the fracture fragments was of no value in predicting arterial injury.