1,721,086 research outputs found
Guidelines for the management of patients with pancreatic cancer periampullary and ampullary carcinomas
No full textRegulation and responses of gallbladder muscle activity in health and disease
No full textA complex relationship links biliary symptoms with the mechanisms of gallbladder emptying and the presence of gallstones. This relationship has been investigated by clinical studies of symptoms associated with gallstones, by investigation of gallbladder emptying and cholecystokinin (CCK) release in patients with gallstones, and after cholecystectomy, or truncal vagotomy, and in the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Laboratory studies examined receptor density on bovine gallbladder, and contractility of human gallbladder in response to a variety of stimuli was studied in vitro. A set of six symptoms associated with the presence of gallstones was identified; IBS appeared to be present in two-fifths of patients before cholecystectomy but only one-third of these patients had persistent IBS symptoms one year after operation. Gallbladder emptying studies confirmed the poor contraction of stone-bearing gallbladders; abnormal patterns of emptying were also found in patients with IBS. Gallbladder emptying and filling appear to be largely neurally regulated. CCK receptor density was very low in gallbladder tissue, suggesting that receptors on nerve cells might mediate the action of CCK. Relaxation of gallbladder muscle was mediated by adrenergic and nitrergic nerves. The inflammatory mediator bradykinin, however, had a strong direct action on muscle cells to cause gallbladder contraction. The work reported here gives an overview of the symptoms and mechanisms of disease associated with the presence of stones in the gallbladder
Preoperative biliary drainage before resection in obstructive jaundice
No full textBackground: Surgery for patients with malignant obstructive jaundice carries high morbidity and mortality rates. Preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) has been used in an attempt to improve the outcome in these patients. Aim: To review the evidence in the literature on whether PBD improves postoperative morbidity and mortality in obstructive jaundice patients. Method: Using Medline a literature search was performed for papers published in English from January 1980 to October 2000, using the text words 'obstructive jaundice', 'preoperative', 'drainage' and 'stent'. All retrieved papers which reported experimental or clinical observations relevant to the study aim were carefully analysed and the findings are summarised in this review. Results and Conclusion: There is no evidence in the literature to support the view that routine PBD improves postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients with obstructive jaundice undergoing resection. PBD has its own complications that cancel out its benefits. However, PBD could be beneficial in patients presenting with sepsis, coagulation abnormalities or malnutrition
Surgery for pancreas divisum
No full textWe present our experience of open surgical treatment in 5 patients with symptomatic pancreas divisum (PD). Choice of therapy was based on allocation of patients to one of five clinical presentation groups: (i) with minor symptoms (no operation); (ii) with recurrent acute pancreatitis or upper abdominal pain (RAP/RUAP)--3 patients; (iii) with radiological evidence of chronic pancreatitis (CP)--1 patient; (iv) chronic pancreatic pain without radiological evidence of chronic pancreatitis (CPP); and (v) other pancreatic complications--1 patient. This classification helps to decide management and predict possible outcome. Various types of operation were performed as indicated (open surgical accessory sphincteroplasty [2 also had distal pancreatectomy], n = 3; Puestow's operation, n = 1; or Beger's pancreatectomy, n = 1). All patients improved significantly and are now leading normal personal, professional, and social lives. We conclude that, with careful selection of patients and appropriate therapy, the response to surgical treatment is good
Nutritional support in acute pancreatitis
No full textThis paper reviews the current practice of nutritional support in acute pancreatitis. Appropriate interventions depend on the severity and duration of the pancreatitis and its complications. Current trends are away from restriction of oral or enteral intake, instead preferring this route to parenteral administration if possible. The role of the gut mucosal barrier in the pathogensis of the systemic response in pancreatitis has led to attempts to use enteral nutritional support to prevent complications, in addition to meeting nutritional needs in patients with long-term severe illness. Many clinicians believe that the management of acute pancreatitis should start from the concept of "pancreatic rest." Based on a simple understanding of pancreatic physiology and a belief that further stimulation of the pancreas during an attack of pancreatitis would exacerbate the inflammatory process by releasing more enzymes, traditional teaching has been that it is necessary to avoid all oral intake to prevent any inappropriate stimulation of pancreatic enzyme production. Accordingly, patients with acute pancreatitis are often deprived of enteral nutrition, and may be given intravenous parenteral nutritional support. Such an approach to nutritional support needs to be revised, since evidence emerging from many recent studies consistently indicates that an enteral route of nutrition is far superior
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