Search

A prospective study of 104 patients with throchanteric hip fractures was undertaken with particular regard to postoperative complications and rehabilitation at the follow-up 3 months later. The mortality was 20%, depended more on the social function prior to the fracture than on the patient's age. Osteosynthesis was performed with the Richards sliding screw-plate system. The most frequent clinical complications were of a cardiovascular and pulmonary nature. Technical failure was encountered in 10%. Hip function was excellent or good in 69%. In 40% the ability to walk remained unchanged after the operation. Seventy-five per cent of the patients returned to their own homes, although 51% were more dependent on the social welfare system than before the fracture. The social function prior to the fracture determined the social function after the fracture to a greater extent than did the patient's age.

The clinical value of fine-needle aspiration biopsy of mediastinal lesions was evaluated in 132 patients. The method was of conclusive clinical value in 88 cases, in 53 of which the further management was based only on the needle biopsy findings, radiographic observations and clinical status. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of mediastinal lesions is therefore recommended as an early step in diagnostic procedures.

A prospective study of 104 patients with throchanteric hip fractures was undertaken with particular regard to postoperative complications and rehabilitation at the follow-up 3 months later. The mortality was 20%, depended more on the social function prior to the fracture than on the patient's age. Osteosynthesis was performed with the Richards sliding screw-plate system. The most frequent clinical complications were of a cardiovascular and pulmonary nature. Technical failure was encountered in 10%. Hip function was excellent or good in 69%. In 40% the ability to walk remained unchanged after the operation. Seventy-five per cent of the patients returned to their own homes, although 51% were more dependent on the social welfare system than before the fracture. The social function prior to the fracture determined the social function after the fracture to a greater extent than did the patient's age.

In a series comprising 122 patients with a lesion localized to the thoracic cage or pleura the value of fine needle aspiration biopsy has been analyzed. In 53 patients the cytological reports were decisive for further clinical evaluation and management. Two false negative reports were recorded. No complications occurred. Fine needle aspiration biopsy is recommended as first diagnostic step since it is well tolerated by the patients, without complication and has a fair diagnostic safety.

The authors investigated the catheterization of the peritoneal cavity guided by ultrasound for second line chemotherapy in minimal residual intraabdominal ovarian carcinoma. They analyzed the effectiveness, patient compliance and complications of these methodology. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy used was carboplatin 200 mg/m2 dissolved in 1000 ml 5% glucose solution. After 6 course of treatment, relaparotomy was performed. Toxicity analysis shows this treatment is safe and low toxic. Only 2/11 patients developed progressive disease during treatment.

Fine needle aspiration biopsy was carried out in 35 patients with vertebral lesions in an attempt to differentiate between histiocytosis X and spondylitis. In 7 patients (6 with histiocytosis X and 1 with carcinoma) aspiration biopsy was of decisive diagnostic value. In 26 cases aspiration biopsy supported the diagnosis of spondylitis and in 2 patients no diagnostic information was obtained by aspiration biopsy. In selected cases of bone lesions in the spine, fine needle aspiration biopsy is recommended as an easy and important diagnostic procedure.

A large traumatic brain abscess in a 9-year-old white boy was successfully treated conservatively with antibiotics, including metronidazole and ampicillin. No neurological or psychological sequelae, except for unilateral loss of the olfactory sense, were revealed at follow-up 5 years later, and on CT two minor hypodense areas remained in the right frontal lobe. Our treatment protocol includes metronidazole (0.5 g 3 times a day) and ampicillin (1 g 6 times a day) for adults. This seems to be the treatment of choice in cases of intracranial brain abscesses.

In this prospective analysis of the incidence of ureteral obstruction after aortic bifurcation grafting, 120 patients were entered into the study: 19 were subsequently excluded for cause, and 101 patients were studied by isotope renography. The renographic findings were indicative for subsequent intravenous pyelography, which was performed in 26 patients. In two cases supplementary retrograde pyelograms were done. Two patients (2%) had ureteral obstruction related to the vascular prosthesis, and in one of these patients the process was bilateral. The lesions were asymptomatic in both patients.