Cardiocirculatory disturbances after surgery of carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus

From 1976 to 1985, 277 cases of carcinoma of the esophagus were resected in the Second Department of Surgery, Tohoku University School of Medicine. Postoperative cardiocirculatory disturbances occurred in 114 cases (41.2%), arrhythmia being the disturbance most frequently observed (86.8%). Low cardiac output syndrome occurred in 8 cases and myocardial infarction occurred in 3 cases. The majority of the cases were treated successfully, but 5 patients died within one month after operation. Causes of death were as follows: myocardial infarction, constrictive pericarditis, cardiac tamponade, non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia and acute cardiac failure. Postoperative arrhythmia occurred mainly up to the third postoperative day. Low cardiac output syndrome occurred just after operation or on the first postoperative day. All cases of myocardial infarction occurred on the first postoperative day. The rate of occurrence of cardiocirculatory disturbances in aged patients (greater than or equal to 70) was significantly higher than other group (less than or equal to 69), (56.7%:38.1%, p less than 0.05). The rate of occurrence of cardiocirculatory disturbances in patients who had a history of hypertension or in patients with abnormal preoperative electrocardiographic findings were relatively higher than those in patients who had no history of hypertension or in patients with no abnormal preoperative electrocardiographic findings. The rate of occurrence of cardiocirculatory disturbances in patients who had undergone total resection of the thoracic esophagus was significantly higher than that in patients who had undergone partial resection of the thoracic esophagus (42.8%:23.8%, p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Continuous positive airway pressure in the treatment of postoperative hypoxia

The physiopathology of postoperative hypoxia has been analysed, the cause being identified in the worsening of the V/Q ratio consequent on the reduction in CFR. By increasing CFR, CPAP reduces the superimposition of Tidal Volume and Closing Volume, thus reducing dysventilated zones and thereby improving the V/Q ratio and oxyaemia. With these premises, 18 patients undergoing cholecystectomy were examined; 8 of them were treated in the postoperative period with CPAP at pre-established intervals. The results confirm its effectiveness in terms of PaO2 improvement and the need for constant administration, considering that the benefits are lost when the patient is disconnected from the mask.     

HTLV-1 and tropical spastic paraparesis. 1. Clinical features, pathology and epidemiology

The clinical profile of tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP), described in scattered tropical and subtropical territories over the past 30 years, has been more clearly defined since the discovery of its direct association with human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1). A chronic disease of adults, commoner in women, it usually presents as a progressive spastic paraparesis with sphincter disturbance, sometimes with backache and lower limb sensory disorder. Most cases are chair-bound within 10 years. Histology reveals a chronic lymphocytic meningomyelopathy, predominantly in the spinal cord, together with long tract demyelination and hyalinoid thickening of the media and adventitia of small blood vessels. Geographical areas of high prevalence of TSP are known in the Caribbean, South America, South Africa, southern Japan, the Seychelles and probably in India, and it is sparsely endemic elsewhere. The virus appears to exist within lymphocytes for long periods. Vertical transmission occurs postnatally, and sexual and transfusion infection are also recognized, but much remains to be clarified regarding its pathogenesis and epidemiology.     

Imipenem (N-F-thienamycin) versus netilmicin plus clindamycin. A controlled and randomized comparison in intra-abdominal infections

In a randomized study the clinical and bacteriologic effectiveness of imipenem was compared with the classical combination of netilmicin with clindamycin in patients who had surgery for an intraperitoneal infection, localized or generalized, with positive bacteriologic findings of the specimen taken at surgery. Excluded were all patients who received other antibiotics before surgery, or who died within 3 days after antibiotic therapy was started. Imipenem was given at a dose of 500 mg t.i.d., clindamycin 600 mg t.i.d., and netilmicin according to serum levels. The diagnoses ranged from postoperative peritonitis, gallbladder empyema, perforated gastroduodenal ulcer, small bowel perforation with and without obstruction, and perforated appendicitis to perforation of the colon. The bacteriologic work-up included examination of the primary specimen (aerobic and anaerobic), the urine, feces, and serologic testing for Candida albicans once or twice a week and after the course of antibiotic therapy. In addition, pH measurements of abscesses and drainage fluids were performed. Ninety-three patients entered the study. Forty-seven patients were treated with imipenem (test group), and 46 patients were treated with the combination therapy (control group). The two groups did not show significant differences in age, sex, diagnostic groups, risk factors, primary bacteriology, and duration of therapy (mean: 6.7 days). Thirty-eight patients (80.9%) treated with imipenem were cured, six patients (12.8%) were improved, and there were three (6.4%) failures. The respective numbers for the control group were 31 (67.4%), 10 (21.7%), and 5 (10.9%). The mean duration of hospitalization was 19 days for the test group and 24.5 days for the control group. There were four wound infections in the test group and 11 wound infections in the control group. Imipenem is at least as effective in the adjuvant therapy of intra-abdominal infections as the combination of netilmicin with clindamycin.     

The reliability of three methods for evaluating dental sealants

Three evaluation instruments (global, check-list, and criterion referenced) were used by experienced and inexperienced examiners to evaluate dental sealant end products on 40 extracted teeth. Intra- and interexaminer reliabilities were measured. Experienced examiners achieved higher intrarater reliabilities with all three evaluation instruments than did inexperienced examiners. The highest intraexaminer agreement for all examiners occurred with use of the global evaluation. The highest interexaminer reliability was achieved with the second use of the criterion-referenced evaluation by the experienced examiner. Interexaminer reliability was improved for both types of examiners with the criterion-referenced evaluation.     

Statistical analysis of clinical, radiographic, and histologic features of temporomandibular arthropathy

For a variety of reasons, the past few years have brought about a tremendous emphasis on conditions affecting the temporomandibular joint and associated structures. Although important advances are being made relative to the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions, a myriad of problems remain for the practitioner who tries to sort through the literature or who attends courses in order to determine a means for properly diagnosing and treating these patients. This article attempts to develop correlations between certain clinical and radiographic findings documented by histologic evaluation as a beginning guide to more sound diagnosis.