Evaluation of a cooling intra-anal device Anurex for the symptomatic treatment of certain anal conditions

This study included 50 patients with anorectal symptoms. Their ages ranged between 19 and 67 years. The results of treatment have been assessed regarding pain, bleeding, swelling, discharge and pruritus ani. Thirty-nine patients were diagnosed to have hemorrhoids and 12 patients presented with anal fissure. Thirteen out of the 18 female patients presented with temporary anorectal disorders, 53.8% of them related to pregnancy and 46.2% presented in the postpartum period. Anurex was used twice daily for at least seven days. There was a significant reduction of anal pain, specially in the cases of acute anal fissures. Also, significant reduction was recorded in anal bleeding, discharge and pruritus ani. From this study, it was concluded that Anurex cryotherapy is easy, cheap, drug free, morbidity free and can be used for anal pain and minor bleeding as the commonest anal symptoms, especially on temporary basis, temporary etiology as in pregnancy and lactation, or temporary indication during traveling or for patients unfit or refusing surgery

Pheochromocytoma: a clinical and operative study

Pheochromocytomas are tumors that produce, store and secrete catecholamines. This work aimed to study clinical and operative findings of this tumor. The study was performed on 30 cases [18 males and 12 females] of pheochromocytoma with ages ranged between 24-58 years and a mean age of 31.3 years. Eighteen cases were in the right adrenal gland and ten were in the left gland, while two cases were bilateral. Sustained hypertension occurred in twenty-four cases, paroxysmal hypertension in four cases, while normal blood pressure occurred in two cases. Palpitation occurred in 38% of cases, headache in 80% and sweating in 60% of cases. Ventricular hypertrophy was found in 26.6% of cases, while ischemia occurred in 13.3%, 24-hour urinary catecholamine was elevated in all cases. CT scan was accurate in localizing the tumor in 100% of cases. All the studied cases were prepared preoperatively with phenoxybenzamine except in two cases where inderal was added. All the cases were operated upon by the anterior paramedian approach. The mortality rate was 6.6%. Postoperatively, one case had persistent hypertension and died because of metastatic spread and two cases had persistent hypertension