ABSTRACT
We present the results of an in vitro study of biliary lithiasis (n = 106) with computerized tomography (CT). We analyzed the correlation between composition of gallstones (crystallographic analysis of thin sections and atomic absorption spectrophotometric analysis of total calcium content) with CT patterns (densitometry) and their corresponding attenuations. Six main CT patterns were distinguished: hypodense (homogeneous and heterogeneous), dense, homogeneous hyperdense, ringed hyperdense and irregular hyperdense. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between attenuations for cholesterol (mixed and pure) and pigmentary stones. We found a good inverse correlation between attenuations and cholesterol content; the contents of pigment, inorganic calcic salts and total calcium content also showed significant direct correlations (p < or = 0.01). Of the samples classified as pure cholesterol type stones, 86.4% showed hypodense patterns, and the remaining 13.6% showed irregular hyperdense patterns. Of the pigmentary stones, 80% showed homogeneous hyperdense images. All stones that contained more than 3% calcium produced hyperdense patterns, whereas 72.4% of the stones that contained less calcium produced hypodense images. Tomodensitometric measurements provided more information than simple radiography, and made it possible to distinguish a greater variety of gallstone types based on structural complexity.
Subject(s)
Cholelithiasis/diagnostic imaging , Cholelithiasis/chemistry , Humans , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
We studied preoperative and postoperative plasma hydrolysis of aspirin and plasma cholinesterase activity in surgical patients. Postoperative aspirin esterase and cholinesterase activities fell sharply (119 +/- 32 micrograms ml h-1 and 3746 +/- 1068 U l-1 respectively; P < 0.01) in comparison to basal preoperative values (157 +/- 33 micrograms ml h-1 and 4620 +/- 940 U l-1 respectively, P < 0.01). We suggest that alterations in plasma esterase during the postoperative period may be related to the metabolic response to anesthesia- and surgery-induced stress.
Subject(s)
Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases/blood , Cholinesterases/blood , Surgical Procedures, Operative , Adult , Aged , Cholecystectomy , Female , Herniorrhaphy , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Postoperative PeriodABSTRACT
We present 114 cases of proximal gastric vagotomy (VGP), performed between December 1975 an December 1986 (11 years) and followed-up until December 1987 (12 years). An hundred patients underwent elective surgery and 14 emergency. We obtained good results in 97 patients (85.83%) moderate in 10 (8.85%) and poor in six (5.30%) with one mortality (0.87%) due to causes not related to the operation. We emphasize the surgical indication and technique, which, if correctly established, make proximal gastric vagotomy the ideal surgical intervention for gastroduodenal ulcer.
