תוצאת חיפוש

Experience with Under-Water Birth

Eylon Lachman, Zvi Finelt

Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yoseftal Hospital, Eilat

Underwater birth is now deemed an acceptable type of delivery. Safety is a recurring consideration, the main concern being that of drowning. But in reports of 19,000 underwater births no untoward events were noted. Also, need for pain relief and of intervention during labor were both reduced. The short term indicators of neonatal outcome were good. A recent review explains 5 different physiological factors which inhibit initiation of fetal breathing under warm water. Many studies have shown no increase in risk of infection of either mother or baby. We report our experience with 26 women, 23 of whom actually delivered in the pool with excellent results. We believe that birth under water is safe and beneficial if done properly for low-risk patients.

Mixed Uterine Mesodermal Tumors: Clinical and Pathological Characteristics

Samuel Ariad, Alexander Rabinovitz, Ilana Yanai-Inbar, Benjamin Piura

Depts. of Oncology and of Pathology, and Gynecology-Oncology Unit, Soroka Medical Center and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba

During 1971-1996, 17 patients with mixed mesodermal uterine tumors were treated. Average age at diagnosis was 67.3 years, 12/17 were of European and 5/17 of Afro-Asian extraction. The overall 5-year survival was 21%. 10/17 patients had mixed mesodermal tumors with a heterologous mesenchy-mal element, and 7/17 had a homologous mesenchymal element (carcinosarcoma). 6/17 had another primary malignancy, including breast cancer (3/17), bilateral metachronous breast tumor (2/17), and malignant lymphoma of the neck region (2/17). All 3 with breast cancer had previously been treated with tamoxifen. 1 had simultaneous mesodermal tumor and ovarian thecoma. Simultaneous autoimmune manifestations occurred in 2/17, including thrombocytopenic purpura in 1, and myasthenia gravis in another. Mesodermal tumor of the uterus is a relatively rare malignancy with aggressive behavior and poor prognosis. It also had unusual associations with other primary tumors, hormonal treatment, and autoimmune manifestations.

Accessibility of Information and Informed Consent: Experiences of Breast Cancer Patients

Ephraim Tabory, Susan Sered

Dept. of Sociology and Anthropology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan

We studied the social and cultural frameworks that impact on breast cancer patients in the medical system. The subjects were 98 Jewish women who had undergone mastectomy or lumpectomy for cancer 6 months to 3 years prior to the interview. They emanated from a variety of socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds, and reflected the age range of women with breast cancer in the general Jewish population of Israel. Patients were asked about each stage of the medical process they had experienced: diagnosis, surgery, oncological care, and follow-up care. The interview revealed a general perception of having received insufficient information regarding their medical condition and treatment. The problem tended to be most severe during the diagnostic stage, when women had not yet been officially included as patients within the system. The problem was relatively severe during follow-up care, when they often did not have an address for their questions. Few women received a schedule of follow-up care that allowed them to carry on with the many necessary tests in an orderly and comprehensive manner. Most important, systematic absence of informed consent also characterized the decision-making process regarding surgery and oncological treatment. Few women felt they had been informed about treatment options, side-effects, or long-term implications of the treatment offered. We found no indication of inequitable medical treatment that would suggest a manifest pattern of discrimination, but we did find some social variables related to a feeling of insufficient personal care and information. In particular, older women said they received less attention, support, and information from the medical staff relative to the younger women.

Percutaneous Ablation of Malignant Kidney Tumors in Rabbits by Low Frequency Radio Energy

Boaz Moskovitz, Ofer Nativ, Edmond Sabo, Yousef Barbara, Daniel Mordohovich, Yoseph Kaftori, Arie Shalhav, Benad Goldwasser

Bnai-Zion Medical Center and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, The Technion, Haifa

Radio-frequency (RF) current has been used successfully to ablate normal human tissue. To investigate further the clinical application of this modality in tumors, we studied the potential of using RF percutaneously to destroy experimental kidney tumors. 35 outbred albino rabbits underwent direct-implantation of renal VX2 tumor during open surgery. After 21 days, ultrasonography was performed to show tumor presence and size. A shielded RF needle was designed to be inserted percutaneously through an introduction needle. An electrical insulation shield covering the RF needle was retractable, controlling the length of exposure of the RF needle inside the tissue. 22 days after tumor implantation, RF was applied via this special needle using a ZoMed International RF generator. In one group of rabbits the procedure was performed under direct vision during open surgery, while in another group treatment was percutaneous, the needle guided by palpation of the tumor. Rabbits were killed 3 days later and revealed 4-25 mm intra-tumoral RF-induced lesions. A direct relation was found between lesion size and the power and duration of RF applied (at 7.5 W, R=0.48, and P=0.32). Based on our preliminary results we can conclude that RF may have clinical applications in the near future for percutaneous local tumor control in parenchymal organs.

Gentamycin Distribution Volume in a Mechanically Ventilated Patient

H. Seligmann, S. Nicola, S.H. Krimerman

Clinical Pharmacology and Intensive Care Units, Bnai-Zion Medical Center and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, The Technion, Haifa

Mechanical ventilation (MV) of more than 32 hours may alter the gentamycin pharmacokinetic profile by increasing its volume of distribution (VD). As a result, the standard garamycin dosage regime has to be adjusted in order to obtain an adequate peak serum concentration, which is well correlated with the efficacy of garamycin therapy. Garamycin is a water- soluble drug with negligible binding to plasma albumin, so its VD approximates the volume of extra-cellular fluid, which may be expanded by MV. MV-related fluid retention is mediated via various homeostatic compensatory systems. They are activated to combat the decrease in cardiac output and central blood volume caused by MV, due to the increase in airway and intrathoracic pressure. These phenomena are more prominent during prolonged ventilation, PEEP or C-PAP ventilation, and in previously hypovolemic patients. Patients requiring MV for more than 32 hours had an average garamycin VD of 0.36 L/Kg compared with the mean VD of 0.25 L/Kg in normal adults. In the patient presented, a similar change in garamycin VD was seen, while conventional doses given during MV failed to reach suitable clinical peak levels.

Radiotherapy of Localized Prostatic Carcinoma

Eliahu Gez, Yael Netzer-Horowitz, Einat Waiman, Raphael Rubinov, Yoram Cohen, Abraham Kuten

Northern Israel Oncology Center and Oncology Dept., Rambam Medical Center and Lin Medical Center, Haifa; and Soroka Medical Center, Beer Sheba

112 patients with localized prostate cancer, clinical stage A2-C, were treated by definitive radiotherapy between 1982-1988. Radiation volume encompassed the prostate, seminal vesicles and pelvic lymph nodes. The 10-year actuarial survival figures were: overall 51%; stage A2 87%; stage B 50%; stage C 36%; well differential tumors 67%; moderately differentiated 50%; poorly differentiated 32%; patients with local tumor control 55%; and patients with minimal local control 36%. It is concluded that external beam irradiation is effective in localized prostatic cancer. Stage and grade are prognosticators of survival.

The Parapharyngeal Space: Tumors and Surgical Approaches

E. Raveh, R. Sadov, B. Nageris, R. Feinmesser

Dept. of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva

The potential parapharyngeal space contains the great vessels of the neck, cranial nerves IX-XII, the sympathetic chain and lymph nodes. Surgical access is difficult and the infrequency of tumors in it make surgery of this part of the head and neck a challenge. 8 women and 2 men (mean age 54.7, range 31-70 years) with tumors of the parapharyngeal space operated on during the past 6 years are presented. The most common surgical approach was the cervical submandibular, used in 6 of our patients with relative ease and minimal complications. Tumors of deep lobe parotid origin should be operated through a transparotid approach. Large benign or malignant tumors have a better prognosis when the transcervical transmandibular approach is used, providing wider access.

Analgesia in Breast Surgery with Interpleural Bupivacaine

Z. Crystal, Y. Katz

Dept. of Anesthesiology, HaEmek Medical Center, Afula and B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa

A control group of 15 patients undergoing breast surgery was given general anesthesia. In 15 other patients an interpleural block with 0.4 ml/kg bupivacaine, 0.5%, was performed 20 minutes before induction of general anesthesia for pre-emptive analgesia. This was extended further by continuous administration of bupivacaine 0.25%, 0.125 ml/kg/hr by automatic infusion pump, with supplements of opiates for postoperative pain management. The combined technique was associated with significantly reduced perioperative opiate requirement with better emergence from anesthesia, fewer side effects, a prolonged pain-free period, and overall better quality of postoperative recovery.

Identification of Sentinel and Axillary Node Involvement in Breast Cancer

M.Z. Papa, D. Bersuk, M. Koler, E. Klein, M. Sareli, G. Ben-Ari

Dept. of Surgical Oncology and Breast Unit, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer

Axillary node dissection for breast cancer is important for staging and prognosis. "Sentinel nodes" are the first nodes into which primary cancer drains. Identification, removal and pathological examination of those nodes indicates whether completion of axillary lymphadenectomy is required. The sentinel nodes are identified using a vital dye injected at the primary tumor site. With this technique we were able to identify sentinel nodes in 46 of 48 (95%) women examined. An average of 2.7‏1.2 nodes were identified as sentinel nodes. In 81% of cases there was a correlation between involvement of sentinel nodes and of other axillary nodes as well. In 10% of patients sentinel nodes were involved with tumor while other axillary nodes were negative. The major problem in routine application of this is relationship in surgical decisions is reliable real time pathological identification of lymph node involvement by tumor.

Isolated Susceptibility of Streptococcus Pyogenes to 3 Macrolides

W. Sakran, R. Raz, R. Colodner, Y. Keness

Infectious Disease Unit and Microbiology Laboratory, HaEemek Medical Center, Afula

Erythromycin is considered the drug of choice in the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis in patients allergic to penicillin. However, in recent years several publications, especially in Finland and Italy, showed high resistance rates of S. pyogenes isolates to erythromycin and other new macrolides. To evaluate the situation in Israel, we checked the MIC of isolates from patients with tonsillitis during 1996. E-test results showed an MIC-50 of 0.23, 0.13 and 0.47 mcg/ml for erythromycin, clarithromycin and roxithromycin, respectively and a MIC-90 of 0.37, 0.23 and 0.78 mcg/ml. Only 2 isolates (2.1%) were partially or completely resistant to all 3 antibiotics. We conclude that empiric therapy with macrolides in Israel is still a viable option and can be recommended in S. pyogenes tonsillitis for patients allergic to penicillin.

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.

Improvement in Health Profile of Pregnant Ethiopian Immigrants

R. Peled, S. Scharf, Z. Melamed, Y. Arbeli, N. Strachilevitch, D. Benyaish

Epidemiology Unit, Public Health Dept., Barzilai Medical Center, Ashkelon

There are about 6500 births yearly in the Ashkelon District. 6% of the mothers are Ethiopians, most of whom immigrated to Israel since the early 90's. Our data are from 3 sources: birth certificates, infant death certificates, and the national population register. Birth rates in single mothers and rates of low-birth-weight births have declined over the years. Infant mortality and still-birth rates have also shown remarkable and consistent declines between 1990-1995. We conclude that improvement in life conditions of Ethiopian immigrants and better use of health services have had a great impact on birth outcomes and pregnancy patterns. The gap between Ethiopian immigrants and other Jewish communities in Israel is closing fast.

Thoracoscopic Biopsy of Pulmonary Lesions in Nonpulmonary Malignancy following Chemotherapy

Oded Zamir, Myriam Weyl Ben-Arush, Dan Seror, Herbert R. Freund

Surgical Dept., Hadassah-University Hospital, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem and Miri Shitrit Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Unit, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa

The appearance of focal pulmonary lesions in a patient with a nonpulmonary malignancy is worrisome. Apart from metastasis, the differential diagnosis includes benign conditions such as infectious and granulomatous diseases, enlarged lymph nodes, atelectasis, radiation pneumonitis, and bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (BOOP). CT-guided needle biopsy is not always diagnostic and may not be feasible in very small lesions. Since open lung biopsy is associated with considerable morbidity, many physicians tend to postpone tissue diagnosis for a few weeks and perform a biopsy only if repeat chest CT scans show increase in size or number of the lesions. This approach may lead to undesirable delay of appropriate treatment. We report video-assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy in 7 patients with nonpulmonary malignancy who developed lung lesions following chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Histological examination proved metastatic lesions in only 2. There were no operative complications and recovery was rapid and smooth in all patients. Thoracoscopic lung biopsy is an effective, minimally invasive diagnostic tool that obviates the need for thoracotomy in these patients.

Hemato-Oncology Patients in Acute Respiratory Failure in the ICU

R. Ben-Abraham, E. Segal, I. Hardan, D. Shpilberg,S. Stemer, A. Shitrit, I. Ben-Bassat, A. Perel

Depts. of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Hematology, Oncology and Clinical Epidemiology; Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Hemato-oncology patients needing mechanical ventilation for acute respiratory failure (ARF) have an extremely poor prognosis, with a mortality of more than 90%. Over an 18 month-period 17 such patients were admitted to our ICU. Diagnoses included leukemia (11 cases), lymphoma (1), and status post bone marrow transplantation for leukemia, lymphoma or breast cancer (5). Of 8 whose ARF was associated with septic complications due to neutropenia following chemotherapy, 6 survived. Of 9 who developed ARF due to toxic damage to vital organs following high-dose chemotherapy, 2 survived. Those who develop ARF during chemotherapy are expected to have an increase in granulocyte count within days, and have a surprisingly good prognosis. They should be admitted to the ICU and treated aggressively. Those who develop sepsis due their primary disease and whose general condition contraindicates chemotherapy, have an extremely grave prognosis and admission to the ICU may not be warranted.

Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy

Ran Katz, Amos Shapiro, Shimon Meretyk, Ezekiel H. Landau, Dov Pode

Urology Dept., Hadassah,University Hospital and Hebrew University,Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem

Radical prostatectomy may cure most patients in whom the malignant tumor has not invaded through the prostatic capsule. Advances in surgical technique and accumulation of experience have decreased the complication rate significantly. Long-term results of surgical treatment are now better than those of other forms of treatment; hence radical prostatectomy is now recommended for men with life expectancies longer than 10 years. Between 1988 and 1995, 164 men with clinical stages T1 or T2 adenocarcinoma were admitted for radical prostatectomy. Most were not offered a nerve-sparing procedure, so as to allow wider, more complete resection. Those who wanted preservation of sexual function underwent the nerve- preserving procedure. In 6 patients operation was discontinued when metastases to the iliac lymph nodes were detected and in 1 when invasion of the pelvic wall was found. 157 underwent radical prostatectomy. Preoperative biopsy revealed a low-grade lesion (Gleason 2-4) in 19.1%, intermediate grade (Gleason 5-6) in 61.8% and high-grade (Gleason 7-9) in 19.1%; however, pathologic grading revealed that only 7.0% had grade 2-4 tumor, 60.5% grade 5-6 and 32.5% grade 7-9. Pathologic staging revealed T2 tumor in 58%, T3 in 38.8% (including microscopic invasion of the capsule or seminal vesicles); microscopic lymph node metastases were found in 3.2%. Tumor invasion through the capsule was found in only 2 of 13 treated with neoadjuvant androgen blockade, compared with 40% in those who did not receive this treatment. There was no operative mortality and only 14.7% has complications. All had urinary incontinence immediately after operation, but regained continence after an average of 4-5 months. 24 were incontinent for more than 12 months, but most of them had only mild stress incontinence. Most patients were impotent after the procedure. There was tumor recurrence, diagnosed by rise in serum PSA, in 26 during an average follow-up of 26.4 months (range 3-93). Cure rate of prostatic cancer by radical prostatectomy may be increased by improved preoperative staging methods and better patient selection; long term follow up is required for determining cure rate.