ABSTRACT
In a comparative investigation, 369 patients operated upon for perforated appendicitis were studied retrospectively. During the period 1973-1979 181 patients with perforated appendicitis, treated at Sundsvall Hospital, were all given postoperative peritoneal lavage, whereas 188 patients with the same diagnosis treated at Skövde Hospital received no such treatment. Appendicectomy was performed in all patients and all were given systemic antibiotic therapy. Complications recorded were postoperative deaths, intra-abdominal abscesses, wound infections, postoperative ileus and lavage catheter complications. Postoperative peritoneal lavage did not diminish the frequency of these postoperative complications.
Subject(s)
Appendicitis/surgery , Peritoneal Cavity , Postoperative Complications/prevention & control , Therapeutic Irrigation , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Rupture, SpontaneousABSTRACT
Plasma catecholamine levels have been determined before, during and after operation in seven consecutive patients operated upon for pheochromocytoma. The method used permits the simultaneous determination of norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine. All patients had increased levels of one or several catecholamines while hypertensive. Two of seven patients had normal levels of catecholamines while they were normotensive. Spontaneous or provoked attacks strongly increased plasma catecholamine levels. The present method may prove to be of value as a simple method to ascertain or exclude pheochromocytoma. During operation plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine levels increased up to 600fold when the tumor was manipulated. The unpredictable rapid and large variations in levels of catecholamines found during operation suggest preoperative alpha-adrenergic receptor blockade and monitoring of central circulation.
