Articles: treatment.
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Southern medical journal · May 1976
Hypophysectomy in the treatment of disseminated carcinoma of the breast and prostate gland.
Transsphenoidal hypophysectomy offers gratifying palliative relief of pain to patients with metastatic cancer of the breast and prostate. This report represents the results of two years' experience with this procedure at Emory University School of Medicine. The physiologic rationale and clinical indications for hypophysectomy are described, as is the operative technic using the open transsphenoidal microsurgical approach. ⋯ Pain was the preoperative indication for surgery in 41, while three patients were operated on for extensive disease without pain. Satisfactory relief of pain was obtained in 76% of the patients with prostatic cancer and in 83% of the breast cancer patients. While the results are gratifying with regard to relief of pain, the duration of follow-up is not sufficient to comment on the value of the procedure in significantly prolonging life.
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Urinary tract infections in females are discussed, emphasizing the need for urine cultures in diagnosis, and the importance of follow-up cultures and investigation in most patients if we are to decrease the morbidity and complications. Antibiotic therapy for acute and complicated infections, the role of long-term therapy, and the risks of catheterization are discussed.
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The concept that hysterectomy is of value in the management of septic abortion induced by instillation of soap or phenolic antiseptics into the uterus is challenged. Nineteen out of 20 such cases with renal failure were managed with intensive antibiotic therapy, peritoneal dialysis and an absolute minimun of surgical intervention. Seventeen patients recovered, with normal renal function. Of the 11 known to be subsequently exposed to conception seven have achieved normal pregnancies.