Chronic chorioamnionitis: a clinicopathologic study of 17 cases

The clinicopathologic features of 17 cases of an unusual variant of chorioamnionitis distinguished by a pure or predominantly chronic inflammatory infiltrate in the fetal membranes rather than the usual acute inflammatory reaction are reported. In six cases, there was an equal (one case) or minor (five cases) component of acute inflammation in the fetal membranes as well. Concomitant villitis, found in 11 cases, was almost uniformly lymphohistiocytic and destructive, but it varied greatly in severity. Immunoperoxidase stains for cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex I and II, and Toxoplasma gondii; Warthin-Starry, Gomori methenamine silver, Dieterle, Gram and acid fast stains; placental or amniotic fluid culture; and limited maternal serologic studies failed to identify a specific infectious etiology in any case. Seven women had experienced at least one previous spontaneous abortion, fetal death in utero, or preterm birth. No patient reported a history of fever, rash, or flu-like syndrome during pregnancy. Serious antenatal complications were numerous. Preterm birth occurred in 13 cases. Gestational age ranged from 25 to 42 weeks (mean 32 weeks) and birth weight ranged from 740 to 3,230 g (mean 2,100 g). When expressed as a percentile for gestational age, 47% of infants had a birth weight at or below the 25th percentile, and 76% were at or below the 50th percentile. Two infants were born with gross anomalies, and one infant died in the neonatal period.     

Fertility after simulated Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy in rats.

In order to determine the effects of the Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy (FSO) on fertility, young rats underwent simulated FSO, FSO and concurrent contralateral orchiectomy (FSO/OR), unilateral orchiectomy (OR), or sham operation (controls). Twelve weeks after the operation, each male rat was mated to two proven-fertile female rats for 17 days (three ovulatory cycles). Two weeks later, both male and female rats were killed. No pregnancy resulted from the matings of the FSO/OR males. In contrast, pregnancy ensued in 13 of 16 (81%) females in the FSO group, 9 of 14 (64%) in the OR group, and 11 of 12 (92%) in the control group. There were no fertile males in the FSO/OR group. In the FSO group, eight of eight males induced pregnancy in at least one female; in the OR group, six of seven (86%) males were fertile as were all six males in the control group. No differences in litter size or fetal weight were observed between fertile females in various groups.     

Benefits of combined balloon pumping and percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass.

Sixteen patients (2 women, 14 men) aged 29 to 72 years with continued cardiogenic shock during intraaortic balloon pumping (IABP) had additional treatment with percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass (PBY). Cause of cardiogenic shock was myocardial infarction in 7 (3 survived), failed percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty requiring emergency coronary artery bypass grafting in 5, postoperative aortic valve replacement in 1, postoperative emergency coronary artery bypass grafting in 1, after cardiac transplantation in 1, and bridging to transplantation in 1. Mean blood pressure with PBY and IABP combined was 75 mm Hg versus 60 mm Hg with IABP off. Percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass flows ranged from 0.8 to 2.1 L/min with a mean flow of 1.3 L/min. Time on IABP ranged from 24 hours to 1 week. Time on IABP to PBY ranged from 1 to 20 hours, and time on PBY ranged from 65 minutes to 20 hours. Ten of 16 (63%) were successfully weaned, and 3 died after weaning. Seven of 16 (44%) survive. Combined IABP with PBY appears to be a better therapy than either one individually. Staging the therapy as the balloon first in and last out appears to be a good methodology.     

The fate of buried vaginal epithelium.

A new technique in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence utilizes a sling fashioned from a rectangular island of buried vaginal epithelium. We developed a model to study the natural history of vaginal wall covered by an epithelial flap in 12 rabbits sacrificed at intervals to 26 weeks. Histopathologic examination demonstrated an immediate acute inflammatory reaction. This early response was followed by formation of an epithelial lining of the potential space overlying the buried vaginal tissue. Acute inflammatory cells continued to enter this lumen until week 20, when granulomas were first detected. Histopathologic examination at twenty-six weeks showed stratified squamous epithelium lining the lumen. No deleterious inflammatory sequelae were detected, and no dysplastic or malignant changes were identified. These results suggest that buried vaginal epithelium is a safe (short term) tissue alternative for sling creation.     

Laparoscopic trans-cystic-duct common-bile-duct exploration

One thousand seventy-one consecutive laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed. Routine cholangiography was employed with a 99% success rate. One hundred thirty patients were found to have common duct stones (CBDS). In 48 (37%) patients they were unsuspected. One hundred eleven patients underwent attempted trans-cystic-duct extraction techniques (TCD-CBDE). One hundred three (93%) were successful. The following techniques were employed: 101—biliary endoscopy, 23—ampullary balloon dilation, 2—fluoroscopic basket retrieval.The average operative time was 136 min. The average postsurgical stay was 3.7 days. There were 19 (17%) complications—6 (5%) major. There were 4 retained stones (2 intentional) and 1 death. Patients over 65 years of age had more complications and patients with unsuspected CBDS under 65 years of age had the fewest.TCD-CBDE is a safe, effective way to extract common duct calculi. Endoscopy and basket stone retrieval was the primary technique employed.Presented at the annual meeting of the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), Nashville, Tennessee, USA, 18–19 April 1994