[Results and outcomes of band ligation among 95 cases with esophageal varices in Taleghani Hospital between 2002 and 2007]

Endoscopic Variceal Ligation [EVL] is considered the selective method of therapy for patients who suffer from esophageal varices. In this article we evaluated the results and outcomes of patients who underwent EVL with multiband ligators due to their esophageal varices. We studied 95 cases of esophageal varices who underwent EVL at Taleghani Hospital between 2002 and 2007. EVL was applied because of active bleeding, primary or secondary prophylaxis for esophageal varice of grade 2 or above. The process was repeated every 3-4 weeks until the varices were occluded or become to grade 1 varices or small thrombosed ones. Their demographaic data were gathered and analyzed as well as all the 1 informations about their recent procedure. Our studied subjects had the mean age of 51.53 +/- 15.31 [ranged from 15 to 81]. The average number of sessions for performing EVL were 1.81 +/- 1.07 [ranged between 1 and 8 times]. The mostprevalent cause for applying EVL was active bleeding. Complications were significantly more in patients whom were candidated for EVL by reason of active bleeding, compared to those who underwent EVL for either primary or secondary prophylactic reasons [P=0.02]. Among cases who had developed any complications, the numbers of ligation sessions were significantly more than other patients [2.58 +/- 1.25 vs 1.40 +/- 0.66, P<0.001]. There was no case of death due to this mode of therapy. EVL as a selective mode of therapy for treatment of esophageal varices possesses a few cosequential complications and its application, therfore, is reasonable

Changes in coagulation factors and their correlation with the clinical course of trauma patients

Appropriate diagnosis and proper treatment of the complications of head injury are the most common procedures encountered by neurosurgeons. Good management of the factors effective in the outcome of these cases, among which the derangements in the coagulation factors are one of the most common changes, can be one of the essential milestones in treatment of such victims. The objectives of this study have been to find the derangements in the blood coagulating factors in the cases referred to the head trauma emergency care unit of Sina Hospital as a hospital-based study. We try to see if there is any correlation between these coagulopathies and the extent of damages, brain damages in the CT-scans, and patients' outcome. To our idea, it is for the first time that such a prospective study has been undertaken in Iran. All the information are taken from the questionnaires addressed to 300 cases admitted to the emergency head trauma unit of Sina Hospital. Prothrombin time [PT], Thromboplastin time [PTT] and platelet counts, level of consciousness [GCS], associated extremities' or visceral injuries, and findings in the X-ray films and CT scans, all have been included in this questionnaire. The coagulopathies are much more prevalent in cases with severe head injury. The coagulopathies are also more prevalent in cases with remarkable brain damages in their imaging studies. They are much more prevalent in cases who are going to reach a bad outcome

Pre-sigmoid sinus approach to petroclival meningioma

In this article, the presigmoid avenue to pertroclival region is introduced and the advantage of such an approach is discussed. Ten patients were operated on by this approach. Two illustrative cases are also presented