תוצאת חיפוש

פביאנה סקלרובסקי-בנימינוב

מיימת היא הסיבוך השכיח ביותר בחולי צמקת הכבד (cirrhosis). נוכחות המיימת מהווה גורם סיכון לסיבוכים המעלים באופן ניכר את שיעור התמותה בחולים אלו. סיבוכים אלו כוללים צפקת חיידקית ראשונית ותסמונת כבד-כליות. חולי הצמקת הלוקים במיימת עוברים מספר שלבים, שבהם הופכת המיימת מכזו הרגישה למשתנים למיימת עמידה לטיפול, ולבסוף לתיסמונת הכבד-כליות. תיסמונת זו מהווה למעשה מצב סופני.

עד לשנים האחרונות הייתה הפתופיסיולוגיה של התהוות מיימת שנויה במחלוקת. כיום מקובלת ההשערה של הרחבת כלי-דם הקפיים כמנגנון המוביל להתהוות מיימת בלוקים ביתר-לחץ-דם שערי. תיאוריה זו מבוססת על כך שעלייה ברמת החומרים המרחיבים כלי-דם גורמת להרחבת כלי-דם מערכתית ולהיווצרות מחזור דם יתר-דינמי, עם שיפעול מנגנונים מצרי כלי-דם, הגורמים לפגיעה בתיפקוד הכליות. פגיעה זו גורמת לאגירת נתרן ומים – תהליך המוביל להתהוות מיימת.

רינת חכמון, בנימין פיורה ומשה מזור

קיימת בעולם המערבי דרישה גוברת והולכת לטיפול הורמוני חלופי נרחב (טה"ח) בנשים לאחר חדילת האורח. אולם חשש מתחלואה ותמותה ממחלות ממאירות, כגון סרטן השד וסרטן רירית הרחם, מגביל את הטיפול הנרחב בתכשירים הורמוניים חלופיים.

למרות שבמרבית המחקרים האפידמיולוגיים לא הודגם קשר מובהק בין טיפול הורמוני חילופי להתהוות שאתות ממאירות, קיימים עדיין חילוקי דעות ביחס לקשר בין טה"ח לסרטן השד. כמעט כל רופא שממליץ על טה"ח נשאל על-ידי המטופלת: "דוקטור, האם ההורמונים שאתה רושם לי עלולים לגרום לסרטן?".

ערכו של טה"ל בטיפול בתסמינים חדים של חדילת אורח או במניעתם, בהפחתת שיעורי תחלואה ותמותה ממחלות לב וכלי-דם או במניעתם, ובטיפול באוסטיאופורוזיס בנשים לאחר חדילת אורח – הוא רב. מאחר שטה"ח ניתן בדרך-כלל על ידי קבוצה רחבה של רופאים, כגון רופאי משפחה, רופאי נשים, אורתופדים, קרדיולוגים וכדומה, נודעת חשיבות רבה לסקירת הספרות בנושא זה, על-מנת לעדכן את קוראי "הרפואה" במחקרים האחרונים ובתיאוריות החדשות בנושא זה.
 

בנימין שלומי, יעקב לוי, עדי קהן ויצחק הורוביץ

אוכלוסיית המבוגרים בתל-אביב נמצאת במגמת עלייה. שברים בעצם הלסת התחתונה המדולדלת (mandible) (שעל"ת), אינם שכיחים. אולם חומרת הפגיעה והעובדה שהיא מתרחשת בחולים קשישים בדרך-כלל, הלוקים לעתים בעיות רפואיות מורכבות, הופכת את הטיפול בלוקים בפציעה זו לאתגר ממשי לכל העוסקים בפגיעות בעצמות הלסת והפנים (maxillofacial traumas). שיעור הסיבוכים, כגון זיהום ואי-איחוי, הוא גבוה בהרבה בהשוואה לטיפול בשברים בלסת התחתונה בצעירים. בעבודה זו נסקור את הביולוגיה של שעל"ת, ואת אפשרויות השיחזור והקיבוע באמצעות שתלי עצם. כמו-כן, נדווח על ניסיוננו בחמש השנים האחרונות בטיפול בפגיעה ייחודית זו במרכז הרפואי תל-אביב.

בנימין פיורה

היח' לגינקולוגיה אונקולוגית, החטיבה למיילדות וגינקולוגיה, מרכז רפואי סורוקה והפקולטה למדעי הבריאות, אוניברסיטת בן-גוריון בנגב, באר שבע

הטיפול המקובל כיום בסרטן השחלה הוא ניתוח נרחב לשם כריתה מרבית של שאת וכימותרפיה קו-ראשון בתר-ניתוחית לתוך הווריד מורכבת ממישלב של טאקסול וציספלטין. למרות שיעור תגובה גבוה לטיפול, ברוב המקרים השאת נשנית ושיעור התגובה לניתוחים חוזרים וקווים נוספים של כימותרפיה תוך-ורידית הוא מיקטי. מכיוון שסרטן השחלה, גם בשלב מתקדם וגם כשהוא נשנה, נותר בדרך כלל מוגבל לחלל הצפק, גברה בשנים האחרונות ההתעניינות בכימותרפיה תוך-ציפקית. כימותרפיה תוך-ציפקית מאפשרת מגע ישיר של ריקמת השאת עם ריכוזים גבוהים של תרופה ציטוטוקסית מבלי שתיגרם רעילות מערכתית ניכרת. התכונות הנדרשות מתרופה על-מנת שתהיה יעילה במתן תוך-ציפקי הן פעילות קודמת מוכחת כנגד סרטן השחלה ומשקל מולקולתי גבוה שאינו מאפשר מעבר קל של המחסום צפק/פלסמה. כימותרפיה תוך-ציפקית יכולה להינתן במהלך הניתוח או אחריו. הסיבוך העיקרי במתן כימותרפיה תוך-ציפקית הוא דלקת הצפק. רק בשניים מתוך חמישה ניסויים קליניים שלב III הודגם יתרון משמעותי של כימותרפיה קו-ראשון תוך-ציפקית על כימותרפיה קו-ראשון לתוך הווריד. בשמונה ניסויים קליניים שלב II מסתמן יתרון של כימותרפיה לשם מיצוק תוך-ציפקית על כימותרפיה לשם מיצוק תוך-ורידית, או על מעקב בלבד. בשלושה עשר ניסויים קליניים שלב II מסתמן יתרון של כימותרפיה לשם הצלה תוך-ציפקית על כימותרפיה לשם הצלה תוך-ורידית, בתנאי שהשאת המישארית (residual) שנותרה בחלל הצפק היא מיקטית. בחמישה ניסויים קליניים שלב I-II של כימותרפיה תוך-ציפקית בחימום-יתר הודגם, שטיפול זה נסבל היטב על ידי החולות ומסתמן יתרון שלו על כימותרפיה תוך-ציפקית שאינה בחימום-יתר. בכל הניסויים הקליניים הודגמה תגובה לכימותרפיה תוך-ציפקית רק לאחר ניתוח מוצלח למטרת כריתה מרבית של שאת, כאשר בחלל הצפק נותרה שאת מישארית מיקטית. דרושים ניסויים קליניים שלב III גדולים ורבים, כולל כימותרפיה תוך-ציפקית בחימום-יתר, כדי להבהיר את מקומה של כימותרפיה תוך-ציפקית בטיפול בסרטן השחלה.

Pseudomembranous Colitis: Clinical, Endoscopic and Radiological Correlation - A 2 - Year Experience

Fabiana Benjaminov MD⁽¹⁾, Rivka Zissin MD⁽²⁾, Benjamin Novis MD⁽¹⁾

⁽¹⁾Gastroenterology Institute and ⁽²⁾CT Unit, Meir Hospital, Sapir Medical Center, Kfar-Saba, affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

Abstract: The incidence rates of pseudomembranous colitis are rising. Early diagnosis and treatment are required for management of this potentially life-threatening disease. This report outlines our 2-year experience (1997-1998) at the gastrointestinal institute with 43 patients diagnosed with pseudomembranous colitis and describes the clinical course and imaging studies.

The group consisted of 25 women and 18 men, aged 34-93 years (mean: 67). Thirty-nine patients were treated with antibiotics. Twelve patients were referred directly to an endoscopic examination with a presumed clinical diagnosis of pseudomembranous colitis (diarrhea, fever and abdominal pain) that was confirmed by colonoscopy. Thirty-one were referred to colonoscopy following abdominal imaging performed to clarify cause of fever and abdominal pain. Twenty-nine patients had an abdominal CT, one had an US and one a barium follow-through. The CT finding suggesting pseudomembranous colitis included colonic mural thickening in 28 patients (71% diffuse versus 29% segmental colitis), with an average wall thickness of 16 mm. Sixteen patients (59%) had pericolonic fat changes and 15 patients (51%) had ascites. All of these patients, except one, had endoscopic findings consistent with pseudomembranous colitis.

Five patients (11.6 %) died due to the severe PMC.

To conclude, as an abdominal CT is often performed in the acutely ill patient, it may arouse the diagnosis of pseudomembranous colitis in the proper clinical setting. Such a suspected diagnosis justifies endoscopic evaluation, which is the most reliable diagnostic examination.

Pulmonary Involvement in Osler- Weber-Rendu Syndrome 

Efrat Bron-Harlev, Benjamin Zeevi, Ben-Zion Garty

Dept. of Medicine B and Cardiac Catheterization Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petah Tikva

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Osler-Weber-Ren-du syndrome) is a group of autosomal dominant diseases with variable penetration, characterized by vascular malformations. Recently hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia has been found to be a phenotypic expression of mutations in genes located on chromosomes 9 and 12, and possibly of other genes located on other chromosomes.

We describe 2 patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and pulmonary involvement who presented with repeated complaints of dyspnea and cyanosis and were diagnosed as having long-standing asthma. Both were treated with therapeutic catheterization and embolization with good clinical outcomes.

Retinal Lesion due to Excessive Exposure to Sunlight

Irene Krasniz, Itzchak Beiran, Benjamin Miller

Dept. of Ophthalmology, Rambam Medical Center and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa

Retinal damage caused by direct exposure to the sun's rays is well recognized by the ophthalmic community. Although functional ability in solar retinopathy is usually regained within weeks, some suffer long-term visual impairment. Anatomic damage to the retina, even in those who regain full vision, is permanent. We describe 2 cases of solar retinopathy, 1 of which remained with permanent loss of vision. The role of medical education in preventing damage from solar retinal hazards is stressed.

1000 Cardiac Catheterizations in Congenital Heart Disease

Benjamin Zeevi, Galit Bar-Mor, Michael Berant

Cardiac Catheterization Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center, and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Over the past 15 years, percutaneous therapeutic cardiac catheterization has become increasingly important in the treatment of congenital heart disease. We describe our experience in 1000 such catheterizations between 1993-1997. 55% were in 1-12-year-olds; only 20% were in patients younger than 1 year old and 11.3% were in adults with congenital heart defects. In about 50% it was at least a second cardiac catheterization. Overall, there were 425 therapeutic cardiac catheterizations, increasing from 33% in the first 200 procedures, to 63% in the last 200.

We performed 30 different types of therapeutic catheterizations: 23.3% were valvular dilations, 21.4% vessel angioplasties, 36.9% closure procedures, 9.2% electrophysiological procedures, and 9.2% miscellaneous. In 31.3% of therapeutic catheterizations we used 12 new procedures. Minor complications occurred in 8.5% and major in 0.6%; most complications were successfully treated or were self-limited and there was no residual damage.

In this report the current role of each type of major catheterization is discussed on the basis of our experience. Further development of technology for lesions not amenable to currently available transcatheter methods, and longer follow-up for current techniques will consolidate the role of therapeutic cardiac catheterization in congenital heart disease.

Balloon Angioplasty of Native Coarctation of the Aorta

Benjamin Zeevi, Galit Bar-Mor, Michael Berant

Cardiac Catheterization Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petah Tikva, and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

The use of balloon dilatation to treat native coarctation of the aorta is gaining acceptance among interventional pediatric cardiologists, but is still controversial. We describe our experience with this procedure in 21 children, mean age 5.6 years and mean weight 21.1 kg. Most had an additional congenital heart defect, most commonly a bicuspid aortic valve. 17 were asymptomatic, 3 had tachypnea and 1 infant had severe congestive heart failure and was ventilated. The mean systolic blood pressure was 129.7 mm Hg.

Balloon dilatation was successful in 90% (19), decreasing the mean maximal systolic gradient from 35.3 to 9 mm Hg (p<0.001), and increasing the narrowest area from 3.9 to 8.2 mm (p<0.001), with a mean balloon-to-coarctation width-ratio of 2.8. There were no complications. Of 15 who underwent repeat cardiac catheterization at a mean interval of 10.6 months, 2 had a maximal systolic gradient of more than 20 mm Hg. 1 of these underwent successful repeat angioplasty and the other, who also had a small aneurysm, underwent surgical repair successfully. 2 others had small aneurysms and they are being followed clinically.

All patients were seen again after a mean interval of 31 months. The mean systolic blood pressure was 104 mm Hg, significantly lower than before intervention (p<0.002). 1 had an increased pressure gradient between right arm and leg of 35 mm Hg at later follow-up, and repeat cardiac catheterization demonstrated a good result 13 months after the initial procedure. She is awaiting a third catheterization. Overall, 90% had good mid-term results.

Based on our experience and recent reports, balloon angioplasty is safe and effective in most children older than 7 months and should be considered a viable alternative to operation for discrete aortic coarctation. Further long-term evaluation is needed.

Percutaneous Closure of Patent Arterial Ducts with Occluding Spring Coils

Benjamin Zeevi, Galit Bar-Mor, Michael Berant

Cardiac Catheterization Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petah Tikva and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

In recent years percutaneous closure of small and medium- sized patent arterial ducts has been achieved using occluding spring coils. We describe our experience in 93 patients with this tec, using a snare to facilitate the procedure in most. All patients had a clinically apparenpatent arterial duct and had undergone attempts at transcatheter closure at a mean age of 6.8 years. In 1, the duct was a residual lesion following surgical ligation, and in 5 it was a residual following attempted closure with the Rashkind double-umbrella. The mean narrowest diameter of the ducts was 2.1 mm.

In our 93 patients implantation was successful in 92 (99%), using 1 coil (82 patients), or 2 (10 patients), and in 1 by a combination of a double-umbrella device and an occluding spring coil.

The mean fluoroscopic screening time for the whole group was 22.8 minutes, which decreased to 16.8 minutes in the last 50 patients. The coil embolized in 7 patients, but was retrieved in 6 and the ducts were subsequently occluded with another coil. In 1 patient the coil was left in a distal small branch of the left pulmonary artery and the duct was successfully occluded with a double-umbrella.

Color-Doppler echocardiogram performed the morning after placement of the coils showed residual leaks in 18%. At mean follow-up of 24.6 months repeat imaging showed residual leaks in only 3 of these patients (3%).

We conclude that occlusion of small to medium-sized ducts using coils appears to be effective and is the treatment of choice. The use of a snare to hold and manipulate the coil as it is delivered improves control of the coil, the accuracy of its placement, as well as giving complete occlusion of the ducts.

Transcatheter Closure of Atrial Septal Defects: Initial Clinical Applications

Shahar Zimand, Einat Birk, Mira Frand, Patricia Benjamin, Julius Hegesh

Dept. of Pediatric Cardiology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Schneider Medical Center, Petah Tikva

The incidence of congenital heart defects is 0.8% of live-born infants. Of these 13% are ostium secundum atrial septal defects (ASD) which can be successfully repaired by open heart surgery with less than 1% mortality. However, morbidity associated with cardiac surgery is universal. Transcatheter closure of ASDs was introduced 2 decades ago to decrease surgical complications, hospital stay and cost. Few devices have undergone clinical trials but all of them have been associated with instances of failure and complications. The most important mechanism for acute failure was selection of cases with too large a defect or selection of a defective device. In the past decade great progress has been made with the aid of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and modifications of the device. We present our experience in our first 5 patients. They ranged in age from 4 to 27 years; the ASD diameter was 11-15 mm and the device diameter was 17-33 mm. All transcatheter closures were performed on the same day without any complications, and all patients were discharged home after 2 days of hospitalization. We conclude that transcatheter occlusion of ASDs up to 15 mm is feasible, relatively safe and effective. This transcatheter method appears to be a viable alternative to surgery for some patients with secundum atrial septal defects.

Transcatheter Closure of Atrial Septal Defect

Benjamin Zeevi, Michael Berant, Rami Fogelman, Galit Bar-Mor, Leonard Blieden

Cardiology Institute, Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petah Tikva and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Isolated secundum atrial septal defect is one of the most common congenital heart defects. Surgical closure is the treatment of choice but is associated with a chest scar, some morbidity and a relatively long recovery and the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. Transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defect is therefor an attractive approach.

3 children, aged 5-10 years, underwent successful transcatheter closure of moderate to large central atrial septal defects with the Cardioseal device. The procedures were performed under x-ray and transesophageal echocardiographic guidance.

Our initial experience, and that of others, indicates that transcatheter occlusion of secundum atrial septal defects is safe and effective and can be an appropriate alternative in approximately 60% of patients.

Diagnosis of Cerebral Embolism by Transesophageal Echocardiography

A. Mahagney, D. Sharif, B. Weller, E. Abineder, B. Sharf

Depts. of Neurology and Cardiology, Bnai Zion Hospital, Haifa

Cerebrovascular events have high mortality and morbidity, especially in the elderly. Ischemia is the main cause and 30% of the ischemic events are embolic and of cardiac origin. The clinical picture is not always typical of the type of stroke, but diagnosis of the mechanism of the event determines treatment. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a sensitive procedure more appropriate for diagnosing emboli of cardiac origin than transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). We therefor compared TEE and TTE in the determination of the source of emboli in 65 patients with ischemic stroke but without significant atherosclerotic changes in their carotid arteries, and compared these findings with those in 50 patients without stroke. 68% of the patients had potential sources of emboli according to TEE, compared to only 15% according to TTE. In the control group only 24% had potential sources of emboli by TEE. The findings were: clots in the left atrium, severe aortic atheroma, patent foramen ovale with paradoxical shunt, spontaneous echocardiography contrast, vegetations and mitral valve prolapse. The study showed that TEE is better than TTE in detecting the etiology of embolic stroke in those with normal carotid arteries, thus determining appropriate management.

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.

Traumatic Hyphema*

Tamar Talmon, Itzchak Beiran, Benjamin Miller

Dept. of Ophthalmology, Rambam Medical Center and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa

Traumatic hyphema usually occurs in young men at the rate of 17-20/1000,000. Major complications include secondary hemorrhage, glaucoma, corneal staining and disturbances in visual acuity. Final visual acuity is predominantly the outcome of all the ocular injuries occurring during the trauma, mainly to the posterior segment of the eye. We describe all cases of traumatic hyphema treated in our department over a period of 3.5 years. Antifibrinolytic treatment is recommended in the literature in traumatic hyphema to prevent secondary hemorrhage. Our findings differ from those in the literature in that they show a lower prevalence of more severe hemorrhages and of secondary hemorrhage. In light of these differences, and with regard to possible side effects of such treatment, we suggest that antifibrinolytic treatment not be used in our population. We recommend that treatment for traumatic hyphema should include restricted activity, local corticosteroidal preparations, frequent follow-up visits and vigorous diagnostic work-up in order to find any additional eye damage. We strongly recommend the use of preventive measures (eye-shields) in high risk activities such as sports, house-hold work and military training.

-----------------

* Based on work submitted to the Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, by Tamar Talmon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the MD degree.