Model of intestinal continence using an implantable pulse generator and a myoprosthetic sphincter.

Past attempts at artificial continence using a wide range of surgical procedures and devices have met with only limited success because of excessive rates of infection, rejection, incomplete continence, and technical difficulty. Presented here is a model of artificial continence using a lumen-occluding Teflon loop powered by the rectus abdominus muscle and activated by an implantable pulse generator. Eight female mongrel dogs underwent laparotomy with creation of a Brooke ileostomy and insertion of a hand-tooled Teflon band around the ileum. The free ends of the loop were sutured, under tension, to the posterior rectus sheath creating extrinsic compression of the bowel by the tightened loop. After denervation of the rectus, stimulating electrodes were implanted and connected to a transcutaneously activated pulse generator (Medtronic SE-4). Stimulation caused contraction of the muscle segment. As the free ends of the prosthetic sling approach each other, the occlusive band loosens, resulting in free drainage of intestinal contents and reduction in intraluminal pressure of the proximal ileum. Withdrawal of current allows for relaxation and return of the muscle to its resting length; this reoccludes the bowel. At 2 weeks, all dogs were continent to solid matter and all but two were continent to liquids. Two dogs developed wound infections requiring drainage. Signal attenuation across the skin resulted in total uncontrollable continence in two dogs because of an inability to transfer sufficient current to the muscle. Direct probe stimulation by an external pulse generator resulted in drainage in these dogs. Necropsy showed no evidence of bowel ischemia in any of the specimens examined at 2 weeks.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Catheter fracture and embolization in a totally implanted venous access catheter.

A totally implanted venous access system was placed in a 24-year-old male patient with Hodgkins disease for chemotherapy. Twelve months after implantation it was noted on chest x-ray that the catheter had fractured and the distal fragment embolized to the right ventricle. Catheter separation and embolization is a recognized but uncommon complication of Hickman catheters. It is an even rarer complication of implanted central venous catheters. With the increasing use of these new venous access systems this complication may become a more prevalent, but an avoidable complication.

Placement of an implantable percutaneous permanent triple-lumen catheter.

A new technique has been described for the placement of an implantable percutaneous triple-lumen catheter. This procedure eliminates the need for a large bore introducer. It also provides a mechanism to change these catheters over a wire if necessary. This cannot be accomplished with the Hickman or Broviac catheters. The three lumens allow multiple, simultaneous intravenous therapies to be administered in the long-term inpatient, as well as the outpatient.

Sclerosing cholangitis, chronic pancreatitis, and Sjogren's syndrome: a syndrome complex.

The disease complex of chronic pancreatitis, sclerosing cholangitis, and Sjogren's syndrome seems to be a well-defined entity with an autoimmune cause similar to that which occurs in primary biliary cirrhosis. Treatment depends on the component of primary sclerosing cholangitis and, more particularly, on the degree of extrahepatic involvement.

CT diagnosis of fecaloma.

The diagnosis of fecaloma can occasionally be difficult. A case is presented in which computed tomography was valuable in making the diagnosis.

Another facet of Mirizzi's syndrome.

Mirizzi's syndrome is a rare entity of common hepatic duct obstruction that results from an inflammatory response secondary to a gallstone impacted in the cystic duct or neck of the gallbladder. It results from an almost parallel course and low insertion of the cystic duct into the common hepatic duct. In a variant of Mirizzi's syndrome, the cause of the common hepatic duct obstruction was a primary cystic duct carcinoma rather than gallstone disease.

Evaluation of unaccountable phlebitis with the long arm silastic catheter.

This study was initiated to identify the causal factor responsible for the development of "unaccountable phlebitis" when using the long arm silastic catheter. Use of computerized axial tomography has provided a means of analyzing veins containing indwelling silastic catheters of the upper arm. Physical data of diameters of the veins are limited to inaccuracies of the machine and must only be regarded as relative. We have been able to detect a great variability of cross-sectional vein diameter and area within any one patient. This narrowing tends to occur in the mid-upper arm region and may explain the occurrence of "unaccountable" phlebitis in this area. It appears that laminar blood flow and flotation of the catheter in the vein is inhibited in these areas of narrowing.

Toxic megacolon complicating Crohn's colitis.

Toxic megacolon complicating ulcerative colitis has been a well-recognized entity since its original description in 1950. The presence of toxic megacolon frequently has precluded a diagnosis of Crohn's colitis. Recent literature, however, has demonstrated that the incidence of toxic megacolon associated with Crohn's colitis (4.4-6.3%) may be higher than that in ulcerative colitis (1-2.5%). Differentiation between these two catastrophic forms of colitis is important in respect to prognosis and long-term results. Medical management of toxic megacolon may be initially successful in either type of colitis. Surgical intervention is indicated if the patient's condition does not improve within 48-72 hours. A subtotal colectomy with an ileostomy and mucous fistula is probably the treatment of choice for most of these extremely ill patients. The influence of the type of colitis on the results of subsequent management of the rectal stump remains unresolved.