תוצאת חיפוש

Transurethral Microwave Thermotherapy

Boaz Moskovitz, Shahar Madjar, Sarel Halachmi, Ofer Nativ

Dept. of Urology, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa

The effectiveness of transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) for benign prostatic hypertrophy in poor surgical risk patients (ASA class IV) with indwelling catheters, was assessed. All had had an indwelling catheter for 1-12 months. Removal of the catheter was possible in 14 out of the 24 (58.3%). Urinary peak flow rates were 12.2±3.5 ml/sec at 3 months of follow-up and post-voiding residual urine volumes of less than 50 ml were recorded in 13 catheter-free patients. Our data suggest that TUMT is an effective procedure for management of high risk patients with indwelling catheters in whom surgery or anesthesia are contraindicated.

Intravenous Lignocaine for Chronic Pain

Alex Cahana, Victor Shvelzon, Orit Dolberg, Florella Magora, Yoram Shir

Pain Treatment Services, Depts. of Anesthesiology of Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and of Hadassah-University Hospital, Jerusalem

Intravenous injection of lignocaine relieves pain in animals with experimentally induced pain, and in man, mainly those with neuropathic pain. 106 patients were treated with intravenous lignocaine during a period of 18 months (212 treatment sessions). Blood pressure, heart rate and pain scores were continuously monitored after an intravenous bolus of lignocaine, 1 mg/kg, followed by continuous infusion of lignocaine, 5 mg/kg during 1 hour. There was significant pain relief after each session in most patients, lasting from a few hours to 4 weeks. There were no significant side effects. We present 2 of our patients. Due to its simplicity, efficacy and safety, intravenous lignocaine injection is recommended for those with neuropathic pain unrelieved by other therapeutic modalities.

Conversion Total Hip Replaceafter Failed Internal Fixation of Intertrochantric Fracture

M. Kligman, M. Roffman

Dept. of Orthopedic Surgery, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa

Between 1933-1995, 16 patients underwent conversion-total hip replacement after internal fixation of an intertrochanteric fracture failed. Clinical results were unsatisfactory compared to primary total hip replacement. There was a high incidence of intra- and postoperative complications, including femoral fracture, wound infection, and aseptic loosening. This study should increase the surgeon's awareness of the difficulties encountered in conversion of failed intertrochanteric fractures to total hip replacement.

Emergency Stenting for Acute Left Main Coronary Artery Closure during Cardiac Catheterization

Alberto Hendler, Oren Agranat

Catheterization Laboratory, Rama Marpeh Hospital, Petah Tikva

We report a case of acute closure of the left main coronary artery, a rare complication of diagnostic cardiac catheterization, treated by emergency stenting prior to aorto-coronary by-pass surgery. We suggest encroachment of the Judkins catheter into a calcified left main ostium, with dissection and acute thrombosis of this segment, as the possible mechanism.

Clinically, the patient's condition deteriorated to cardiogenic shock and loss of consciousness. Remarkably, there was no angiographic evidence of significant left main coronary artery disease, besides the presence of calcification in the proximal part of the left coronary system and ventricularization of coronary pressure at the time of engagement. We chose to slide quickly the angioplasty guidewire through the left main coronary artery, which allowed prompt mechanical recanalization and rapid restoration of coronary flow, with dramatic clinical and hemodynamic improvement. This relatively simple procedure allowed stenting the left main artery after brief predilation, and the patient came to by-pass surgery in excellent condition. The rationale for surgery in this case was the need for complete coronary revascularization because of significant 3-vessel coronary artery disease.

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.

Intradermal Hepatitis B Vaccination in Those Not Responsive to Intra-Muscular Vaccination

Hanna Bauer, Israel Potasman, Neora Pick

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

Health care workers are at continuous risk of hepatitis B infection. Currently recommended intramuscular vaccination confers immunity in only 85-90%. We examined the immunogenicity and safety of intradermal vaccination of hepatitis B vaccine in nonresponders. 400 hospital employees who had been immunized as recommended were screened for anti-HBs antibodies and 50 were found seronegative. Each received an intramuscular booster injection and antibody level was measured a month later. Excluded were 33 employees, including 24 late responders, 2 HbsAg carriers and 7 uncooperative employees. 17 employees (mean age 47.1 yrs) then received a series of 3 intradermal injections of Energix B, 0.25 ml in the forearm, 2-3 weeks apart. The mean number of previous intramuscular injections was 4.6±1.4 month later there was a mean titer of 315.4±347.0 miu/ml of antibody in 16/17 workers. Side effects were minimal. Intradermal injection of hepatitis B vaccine for nonresponders seems effective for inducing seroconversion. Its cost-effectiveness for the health care system warrants assessment.

Aseptic Loosening of Joint Implants

Dror Fuchs, Chaim Zinman, Dina Lewinson

Orthopedic and Traumatology Dept. B, Rambam Medical Center; and Div. of Morphology Sciences, Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, The Technion, Haifa

The purpose of orthopedic joint implants is to improve joint movement. Within the past 30 years, biomechanical improvements affecting the life-span of the implants has brought a new type of problem: the biological response to debris from the implant material contributes greatly to aseptic loosening of the prosthesis. The process is mediated by osteotropic factors, cytokines released from mononuclear cells, and osteoblasts and osteoclasts in the bone-cement interface or bone-implant interface.

Skeletonized Internal Mammary Arteries for Coronary Bypass Grafting

Jacob Gurevitch, Yosef Paz, Menachem Matsa, Amir Kramer, Dimitri Pevni, Oren Lev-Ran, H. Locker, Raphael Mohr

Dept. of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Sourasky-Tel Aviv Medical Center

The skeletonized internal mammary artery (IMA) is longer, and its immediate spontaneous blood flow is greater than that of the pedicled IMA, thus providing increased versatility for complete, arterial myocardial revascularization without the use of saphenous vein grafts. From April 1996 to May 1997, 583 patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting here and in 415 (71%) complete arterial revascularization was achieved using bilateral skeletonized IMA. The right gastroepiploic artery was used in 57 (13%); there were 329 males (79%) and 86 women (21%); average age was 64 (30-87) and 175 (36%) were older than 70; 131 (32%) were diabetics. Average number of grafts was 3.2 (range 2-6 grafts). At 30 days, 5 (1.2%) had died and there had been 6 perioperative infarcts (1.4%), 5 CVA's (1.2%), and 6 had sternal wound infections (1.4%). Up to 1-12 months of follow-up was achieved in 409 (99%). Late mortality was 1.4% (of which 3 were noncardiac). 394 (97%) were angina-free at latest follow-up. We conclude that arterial revascularization using bilateral skeletonized IMA is safe, as postoperative morbidity and mortality are low, even in old and diabetic patients.

Fibrosarcoma after Silicone Breast Augmentation: Associated?

Anabel Aharon-Maor, Yair Levy, Yehuda Schoenfeld

Medical Dept. B, Chaim Sheba Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

We describe a 42-year-old woman in whom bilateral fibrosarcoma of the breast was diagnosed 15 years after bilateral breast augmentation with silicone implants. 3 years prior to admission the implants were replaced and 2 years prior to admission mammography showed a nodule in the left breast which biopsy showed to be fibrosarcoma. The implants were removed from both breasts and she was given chemotherapy but later that year underwent bilateral mastectomy. Despite chemotherapy, as well as adjuvant radiotherapy, the disease progressed, with involvement of the lungs and the skin of the left hemithorax. She was admitted repeatedly for severe anemia caused by bleeding from the malignant skin lesions, and died less than 2 years after diagnosis of the disease.

Not all reports in the literature find a significant connection between silicone implants and subsequent development of breast cancer, but there are reports that do connect them. Breast fibrosarcoma is not significantly more frequent after silicone augmentation, but still there is controversy as to whether there is a connection between silicone implants and breast malignancy. In the patient we present, the prolonged exposure to silicone may have been a predisposing factor for the development of bilateral fibrosarcoma, since other known risk factors for breast cancer were denied.

Intra-Osseous Ganglion of Scaphoid and Lunate Bones

M. Kligman, M. Roffman

Dept. of Surgery, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa

We present a patient with intra-osseous ganglion of the left scaphoid and lunate bone. These were excised and a bone graft inserted. 1 year after operation the patient was free of pain, without limitation of wrist motion. Intra-osseous ganglion of the carpal bone is not common and lunate and scaphoid intra-osseous ganglion has rarely been reported. Awareness of this condition may lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment, with satisfactory outcome.

Pelvic Lytic Lesion and Osteoporosis-Related Fractures

Yaron Weisel, Ehud Rath, Nissim Ohana, Dan Atar

Orthopedic Dept., Soroka Medical Center and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba

Insufficiency fractures of the pelvis may be overlooked as a cause of hip or groin pain. These fractures occur in the elderly, usually those with pronounced osteopenia of the pelvis. Predisposing factors include corticosteroids, local irradiation and postmenopausal osteoporosis. These fractures are difficult to detect clinically and plain radiographs and other studies may be misleading, delaying diagnosis and treatment. A 65-year-old woman had left groin and hip pain for 2 months with no history of trauma. Plain radiographs showed lytic lesions in the left pubic rami. Bone scan revealed increased uptake in that region, suggesting metastatic bone disease. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated fractures in the left superior and inferior pubic rami, with callus formation with no involvement of soft tissues. Quantitative computed tomography indicated low calcium concentration, below fracture threshold. The diagnosis of insufficiency fractures of the pelvis was confirmed by the favorable clinical and radiographic outcome. It is therefore important to be familiar with the appearance and location of these fractures.

Screening for Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder with Trophoblastic Differentiation

M. Moldavsy, A. Sazbon, N. Kuchersky, H. Turani

Division of Cytology and Depts. of Urology and of Pathology, Rebecca Sieff Government Hospital, Safed

Urinary bladder carcinoma with trophoblastic differentiation (TD) is a variant of urothelial (transitional cell) carcinoma (TCC) which secretes placental proteins, predominantly beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). An aggressive clinical course and a poor prognosis are characteristic of this tumor. We evaluated the frequency and clinical and pathological appearance of TCC-TD in the Upper Galilee and Golan Heights between 1988 and 1995 inclusive. Beta HCG, human placental lactogen (HPL), pregnancy specific beta-1 glycoprotein (SP-1) and placental alkaline phosphatase were determined immunohistochemically in paraffin-embedded TCC of urinary bladder. Tumor grade, stage and patient survival were also determined. There was beta-HCG immunostaining in 13 of 62 cases (20.9%). TD was correlated with higher grades of TCC and with advanced stages of disease. No cases of TCC-TD were found in grade 1, stage 0. Co-expression of beta-HCG and HPL was displayed in 2 cases, beta-HCG and SP-1 in 9, and beta-HCG, HPL and SP-1 in 2. Disease-free survival and overall survival were shorter in TCC-TD.

Closed Intramedullary Nailing of Forearm Fractures in Young Patients

Moshe Salai, Eyal Segal, Yehuda Amit, Aharon Chechick

Dept. of Orthopedic Surgery, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer

Forearm bone fractures are commonly the result of falling on the outstretched hand or of direct injury. The preferred treatment is debated. The possible modalities are: application of a cast, often necessitating repeated manipulations; open reposition and fixation by plates and screws; or closed manipulation and closed intramedullary nailing. We present our favorable results in treating these fractures in young patients by closed intramedullary nailing, and compare them with the unfavorable results of this method in mature adults.

Fungus-Ball in a Preterm Infant Successfully Treated with Fluconazole

Mirit Hershman-Sarafov, Orora Tubi, Isaac Srugo, David Bader

Neonatal and Radiology Depts., and Microbiology Laboratory, Bnai-Zion Medical Center and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, The Technion, Haifa

Very-low-birth-weight premature infants are at high risk for invasive candidiasis. The most commonly involved organ is the kidney. Renal candidiasis may present as fungus-ball obstructive uropathy. We describe unilateral renal obstruction secondary to fungus-ball in a premature infant. Noninvasive, systemic antibiotic treatment, including amphotericin B and fluconazole, resulted in disappearance of the finding.