Seasonal variations in physico-chemical characteristics of pond and ground water of Tiruchirapalli, India.

The aim of this study was to assess the open pond and groundwater quality of Tiruchirapalli city of Tamil Nadu, India. The groundwater quality viz., pH, electrical conductivity, total hardness, calcium ion, magnesium ion, chloride, carbonate, bicarbonate, inorganic nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, ammonia and reactive silicate were analysed with respect to various seasons and recorded in the range of 7.1 to 8.1, 97.67 to 533.67 mhos cm-1, 7.07 to 186 mg l-1, 4.67 and 112.0 mg l-1, 2.40 to 92.80 mg l-1, 15.23 to 661.73 mg l-1, 60 to 480 mg l-1, 22.7 to 544.9 mg l-1, 15.33 to 68.00 mg l-1, 0.001 to 0.480 mg l-1, 0.01 to 0.42 mg l-1, 0.02 to 0.75 mg l-1 and 1.1 to 2.96 mg l-1 respectively. The present findings concluded that the quality of ground waters can be considered suitable for human consumption. But the pond water available in and around Tiruchirappalli city was not fit for human usage, agricultural or industrial purposes.

Re-expansion pulmonary oedema in chronic pneumothorax.

A case of unilateral re-expansion pulmonary oedema in a chronic pneumothorax is presented. The patient had a longstanding left-sided pneumothorax. Intercostal drainage tube was inserted following which the patient developed severe hypotension and respiratory failure. Chest radiograph (postero-anterior view) showed partial lung expansion with unilateral pulmonary oedema. The patient responded to the standard management of pulmonary oedema and the lung was fully re-expanded.

Potassium homeostasis during & after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Potassium homeostasis was studied in 30 patients undergoing cardiac surgery by employing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and moderate hypothermia, and using morphine, N2O, relaxant anaesthesia. There was a trend for hypokalemia, and for maintaining a K+ level of 4-4.5 mmol/l, K+ infusion was required during CPB (9.017 mmol/m2 BSA/h). K+ infusion required in the post-operative period was considerably less (1.532 mmol/m2 BSA/h). There was no significant difference in the K+ levels of patients receiving preoperative diuretic therapy, as compared to those not receiving such therapy. Potassium requirement was significantly higher in patients under-going CABG and valvular heart disease, as compared to congenital heart disease. The mean urinary loss of K+ during bypass was found to be 2.95 mmol/m2 BSA/h, which was only 32 per cent of that required to be infused (9.017 mmol/m2 BSA/h). The mean excretion of K+ in the post operative period was significantly higher (4.53 mmol/m2 BSA/h) than K+ required to be infused during this period (1.532 mmol/m2 BSA/h).