[Postpartum cerebral thrombophlebitis. A case secondary to acquired antithrombin III deficiency]. / Thrombophlébite cérébrale du post-partum. Un cas secondaire à un déficit acquis en antithrombine III.

The cerebral thrombophlebitis is a rare complication of the pregnancy and the postpartum. We report a case of a 21 year-woman presenting a post-partum cerebral thrombophlebitis, secondary to an acquired deficiency of antithrombin III. The clinical symptoms of cerebral thrombophlebitis can be misleading. The angiography and the magnetic resonance imaging permit the diagnosis. The treatment is relied on anticoagulating heparin therapy. This treatment will be adapted in case of coagulation's factors deficiency that must be searched in any thromboembolic accident having an unusual localization.

[Tetraplegia following cervical stab wound]. / Tétraplégies consécutives à une plaie cervicale par arme blanche.

We report two cases of tetraplegia caused by cervical stab wounds. In the first one, in a 34-year-old patient, the injury caused an immediate tetraplegia from cervical spine section and had a rapid lethal outcome. The second case occurred in a 30-year-old woman, who experienced a progressive tetraplegia associated with a Brown-Séquard syndrome from an oedema of the bulbo-spinal junction. Three months later, the motor recovery was satisfactory, however a thermo-algesic hemi-anaesthesia still persisted after the 6th month.

[Combination of Emla cream and nitrous oxide for venous cannulation in children]. / Association crème Emla et protoxyde d'azote pour l'abord veineux chez l'enfant.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of an combination of Emla cream and N2O for venous cannulation in children. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, double blind trial. PATIENTS: The study included 75 unpremedicated children, aged 3 months to 5 years, ASA physical class I and II, undergoing an elective surgical procedure, randomized into three groups. METHODS: In group I and III, children received Emla cream one hour before entering the theatre. In group II, children received a placebo. Children of group I and III also inhaled 50 vol% nitrous oxide in oxygen and those of groupe II 100 vol% oxygen, 3 min prior and during venous cannulation. A blinded observer recorded the following items: pain assessment with CHEOPS scoring, conditions of venous puncture and behaviour of children. Heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation were assessed at three timepoints: before, 3 min after facial mask application and following venous cannulation. RESULTS: There were non significant differences between the three groups for the conditions of venous cannulation. The CHEOPS score was better in group I (7[4-11]), compared to group II (10[6-13]; P < 0.01) and to group III (9[6-12]; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Emla cream combined with nitrous oxide is effective for venous cannulation in providing satisfactory analgesia and in controlling anxiety elicited by the vision of needle.

[Fatal hepatitis in a young child: probable role of halothane]. / Hépatite fatale chez un jeune enfant: rôle probable de l'halothane.

A 3-year-old boy, who underwent multiple anaesthetics including halothane in a short period of time, developed 3 days after the last operation abdominal pain, jaundice and fever. Laboratory tests showed hepatic failure, with cytolysis, cholestasis and eosinophilia. Tests for hepatitis A, B, C, CMV and EBV were negative. No other causes of postoperative jaundice were identified. Despite symptomatic treatment, the child died 5 days after the last anaesthetic. Post mortem liver biopsy showed massive hepatic necrosis. The authors discuss factors increasing the risk for halothane-hepatitis, especially multiple exposures.

Lidocaine-clonidine retrobulbar block for cataract surgery in the elderly.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Clonidine, an alpha-2-adrenoreceptor agonist, has been shown to decrease intraocular pressure (IOP) and to have some analgesic and sedative effects when it is used in premedication for ophthalmic surgery. This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of lidocaine-clonidine retrobulbar block for cataract surgery with respect to its effect on IOP, analgesic action, and sedative effects. METHODS: Sixty elderly patients (ASA status I and II) were allocated randomly to receive in a prospective double-blind manner retrobulbar block for cataract surgery. Group I (n = 30) received 3-4 mL of 2% lidocaine with 1 mL saline, while group 2 (n = 30), received 3-4 mL of 2% lidocaine with clonidine 2 micrograms/kg. RESULTS: A large decrease in intraocular pressure from 13.5 +/- 4.6 to 7.7 +/- 3.7 mm Hg (P < .01) and a small but significant reduction of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were observed 20 minutes alter the retrobulbar block in patients receiving clonidine, while no changes occurred in the control group. The median duration of analgesia and akinesia was greater in the lidocaine-clonidine group (241 +/- 88 minutes and 80 +/- 20 minutes, respectively) as compared with the lidocaine group (128 +/- 24 minutes and 70 +/- 20 minutes, respectively) (P < .01, P < .05). Sedation scores were greater in group 2 from the 10-minute point (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Addition of clonidine to lidocaine for retrobulbar block causes a decrease in intraocular pressure, a sedative effect, and an increased duration of analgesia and akinesia, with relatively stable hemodynamic parameters.

[Anaphylactic shock caused by application of fluorescein on the ocular conjunctiva]. / Choc anaphylactique par application de fluorescéine sur la conjonctive oculaire.

OBJECTIVE: Fluorescein is widely used in ophthalmology. Side effects related to fluorescein occur frequently but are usually benign (nausea, vomiting, lipothymia). Severe side effects are rare. We report a case of anaphylactic shock due to local application of fluorescein. CASE REPORT: A 70-year-old woman was treated for ocular conjunctivitis with local application of fluorescein. Cardiac arrest occurred due to anaphylactic shock. Resuscitation was successful. DISCUSSION: The gravity of certain complications related to the use of fluorescein underline the importance of adequate resuscitation material and adapted treatment.

[Paraplegia after cardiac arrest]. / Paraplégie après arrêt cardiaque.

We report a case of a permanent flaccid paraplegia, with a sensory loss at T12 level, not associated with cerebral damage, subsequent to a cardiac arrest of 15 minutes duration, in a 67-year-old patient, undergoing haemorragic surgery for gangrenous purulent cholecystitis. Besides cardiovascular collapse and subsequent circulatory arrest, possible favouring factors include anatomical anomalies in the territory of anterior spinal artery, surgical posture with hyperlordosis generating venous stasis, emergency haemostatic maneuvers with compression of the arterial territory providing spinal blood supply. Spinal cord lesions are probably more frequent than expected, as the often associated cerebral anoxic encephalopathy impedes their recognition. Only a systematic anatomopathological examination of the spinal cord, in patients who died after a cardiac arrest, would provide the accurate incidence of spinal complications.

[Does oral ondansetron reduce the incidence of nausea and vomiting after surgery for strabismus in children?]. / L'ondansétron oral réduit-il l'incidence des nausées et vomissements après chirurgie du strabisme chez l'enfant?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of oral ondansetron with oral metoclopramide for the prevention of postoperative vomiting and nausea in children undergoing strabismus surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, double-blind trial. PATIENTS: Thirty children of physical class 1, age 9 +/- 4 years, scheduled for strabismus surgery, were randomized into two groups (ondansetron and metoclopramide). METHODS: In the ondansetron group, the children received the first oral dose of ondansetron (4 mg) 1 hour before induction of anaesthesia and the other doses 8 and 16 hours later. In the metoclopramide group, children received metoclopramide (5 mg) in the same conditions. Anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone, vecuronium and fentanyl and maintained with halothane and N2O/O2. Patients were evaluated by an independent observer for nausea and emesis in recovery room (0-2 h) and on the ward. The adverse effects of oral ondansetron and metoclopramide were assessed. RESULTS: There were non-significant differences between the two groups for incidence of nausea and vomiting (40% and 53% in ondansetron group versus 33 and 60% in metoclopramide group, respectively. CONCLUSION: Unlike intravenous ondansetron, oral ondansetron is not superior to metoclopramide for the prevention of nausea and vomiting caused by strabismus surgery in children.

[Subcapsular hematoma of the liver. Six cases and review of the literature]. / Hématome sous-capsulaire du foie. A propos de 6 cas et revue de la littérature.

Defined as a blood collection under the Glisson capsule, the subcapsular haematoma of liver is a rare complication of pre-eclampsia. We observed 6 cases of subcapsular haematoma of the liver in the Gynaecology-Obstetrics ward of the Ibnou Rochd University Hospital in Casablanca, Morocco. Age range was 18 to 39 years. Five of the patients were multiparous. All except one had at least one sign of pre-eclampsia. The diagnosis was made post-partum in 5 cases and was only confirmed intra-operatively in 6 cases. The treatment was tamponing-drainage of the peritoneal cavity in 3 cases, ligature of the hepatic artery in 2, and in one case with rupture of the liver, no therapy could be performed. There were 3 maternal deaths and 2 foetal deaths. These results were compared with those in the literature to determine the epidemiologic, diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic characteristics of the subcapsular haematoma of the liver. The prognosis is poor and requires early diagnosis and treatment. Effective prevention of this severe complication should be based on correct screening and care for pregnant patients with hypertension.

[Prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting by lorazepam]. / Prévention des nausées et vomissements postopératoires par le lorazépam.

This study was carried out to assess the efficacy of oral lorazepam on postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing thyroid surgery. Twenty-six patients were randomly assigned to two groups, and receiving orally, one hour before induction of anaesthesia, either 2.5 mg of lorazepam (n = 13) or a placebo (n = 13). Lorazepam reduced the incidence and especially the intensity of nausea. The incidence of vomiting in the lorazepam group was significantly lower than in the placebo group (14.5% vs 45%). The use of lorazepam for premedication thus reduces the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting. The advantages of this benzodiazepine are its ease of use, low cost and very low incidence of side effects.

[Maternal prognostic factors in severe eclampsia]. / Les facteurs du pronostic maternel dans l'éclampsie grave.

Sixty cases of severe eclampsia were treated in an intensive care unit between January 1989 and September 1993. Mean age was 26, and 70% of patients were primipara. The pregnancy has been unsupervised in almost all cases. All had visceral lesions and/or hematologic problems and there was impaired conscious level in 9 cases out of 10. Medical treatment involved the control of seizures and of hypertension. Cesarean section was performed in 34 cases. The maternal death rate was 23.3%. Our experience indicates that mortality depends upon visceral lesions (cerebral, disseminated intravascular coagulation, acute pulmonary edema, Hellp syndrome). Better awareness of severity factors in preeclampsia improves both maternal and fetal prognosis by precisely indicating the best time for fetal extraction.

[Neurologic manifestations of fat embolism]. / Manifestations neurologiques de l'embolie graisseuse.

Neurologic manifestations are usual and variable during post-traumatic fat embolism. The pathogenesis of these lesions continues to be a source of considerable controversy. Thirteen cases of post-traumatic fat embolism with neurologic signs were treated in a surgical intensive care unit. All patients had impaired consciousness. Focal neurologic disorders were reported in 5 cases [hemiplegia (2), tetraplegia (2), aphasia (1)]. The aspects on brain CT scan seemed to be related to ischemic lesions (1 case), appeared normal in ten cases, or revealed post-traumatic hemorrhagic lesions (2 cases). The outcome at 2-4 weeks was spontaneously good, with complete resolution, without neurologic sequellae, in 11/13 patients. Two deaths were related to brain trauma severity (one case) and nosocomial pneumonia (one case).

[Fatal hepatic necrosis during treatment with sodium valproate]. / Nécrose hépatique mortelle au cours d'un traitement par le valproate de sodium.

The authors report a case of fatal hepatic failure in a 19-year old young man suffering from absence seizures and treated for two months with valproic acid (VPA). The duration of VPA therapy before onset of clinical manifestations was four weeks. The prodromal symptoms were weakness, anorexia, and vomiting, then in a few weeks occurred a jaundice and an hepatic encephalopathy leading to death. Among laboratory findings disturbance of liver tests and particularly depressed levels of clotting factors were observed. The histologic study of the liver showed an extended centrolobular necrosis associated with fatty change and fibrosis. The mechanism of this hepatic failure remains unknown. The seriousness of this complication necessitates to respect any contraindications.

Tetanos postoperatoire: a propos de 4 cas a Casablanca (Maroc)

Le tetanos postoperatoire est une affection rare; le but de ce travail est d'en preciser les difficultes diagnostiques et therapeutiques et d'etudier son pronostic. Les auteurs rapportent quatre observations de tetanos postoperatoire; la duree d'incubation est courte: 9 jours en moyenne; et la periode d'invasion est rapide; elle est de 24 a 48 heures. Le trismus est present dans tous les cas. Tous les tableaux sont graves d'emblee. Le traitement a comporte les memes volets que le tetanos commun grave. Trois patients sont decedes: deux complications directes du tetanos et le troisieme par une complication de la reanimation. Le tetanos postoperatoire peut compliquer toute intervention; avec une predisposition de la chirurgie digestive et gynecologique. La porte d'entree est souvent endogene. L'evolution est emaillee de complications inherentes au tetanos et a la reanimation vue la duree de la maldie. Son pronostic est sombre. Un traitement preventif du tetanos est a conseiller chez les sujets a haut risque

[Severe cerebral lesions in pregnancy toxemia]. / Lésions cérébrales sévères au cours de la toxémie gravidique.

The authors report a case of pre-eclamptic toxemia, characterised by extensive cortical, sub-cortical and vertebro-basilar neurological lesions. The appearance of these lesions and their course were suggestive of the role played by toxemic vasculitis and vasospasm.