[Intraoperative ultrasonography in colorectal cancer. A prospective, blind study]. / Intraoperativ ultralydskanning ved kolorektal cancer. En prospektiv, blindet undersøgelse.

This study was designed to compare diagnostic accuracies of measuring liver enzymes, preoperative ultrasonography, surgical examination, and intraoperative ultrasonography for detection of liver metastases from colorectal cancer. A blind prospective comparison between the diagnostic examinations mentioned above were performed in 295 consecutive patients with colorectal cancer. An experienced ultrasonologist performed the preoperative examinations and the results were not known to the other experienced ultrasonologist, who did the intraoperative examinations. The latter was also unaware of the findings by the surgeon. The presence of metastases was further assessed by ultrasonography three months postoperatively, as well as surgery and liver biopsy in some of the patients. The sensitivity of intraoperative ultrasonography (62/64) was significantly superior to that of surgical exploration (54/64), and that of preoperative ultrasonography (45/64). The lowest sensitivity was presented by liver enzymes. "Bilobar" metastases were detected in 42 of 46 patients by intraoperative ultrasonography, but in no more than 33 by the surgeon. Intraoperative ultrasonography demonstrated the highest specificity of all examinations. Intraoperative ultrasonography reduces the number of patients with liver metastases being subjected to superfluous or even harmful liver surgery and it may increase the number in whom liver surgery will prolong life.

[Early treatment with nasal continuous positive airway pressure and "minimal handling". Early and late prognosis in children with birth weight under 1,501 g]. / Tidlig behandling med nasalt kontinuerligt overtryk i luftvejene og "minimal handling". Tidlig- og senprognose hos børn med fødselsvoegt < 1.501 g.

During 1988 and 1989 a regional cohort of 81 infants with birth weights of less than 1501 g were treated with oxygen (n = 11), early continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) (n = 68) or mechanical ventilation from birth (n = 2). We used an easily applicable lightweight CPAP system with nasal prongs and a gas jet supplemented with ventilator treatment if necessary, but with conservative criteria for ventilator treatment with tolerance of high PCO2. A total of 65 infants (80%) survived to discharge, 61 of whom were supported solely with CPAP or oxygen. Nineteen infants (26%) developed periventricular-intraventricular haemorrhage, but only four survivors (6%) developed prognostically significant bleedings of grade 2-4. No survivors had bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Follow-up at 1.5-5 years of age revealed definite disabilities in seven (11%). The results suggest that treatment by early CPAP with nasal prongs with tolerance of high PCO2 may be effective and lenient in most infants of more than 25 weeks' gestation.

[Potter's sequence. Phenotype, pathogenesis, etiology and hereditary aspects]. / Potter-sekvens. Faenotype, patogenese, aetiologi og arvelige aspekter.

Potter's sequence, commonly known as Potter's syndrome, may be due to very different pathogenetic and etiological conditions. The phenotype and the pathogenesis are described. The heredity differs, depending on the etiology. The result of an ultrasound investigation of a family shows the probably most common mode of heredity: autosomally dominant with lowered penetration and variable expressivity. When genetic counselling is required, meticulous examination of the foetus and the family is recommended in order to obtain a basis for counselling of the family. Future pregnancies in the parents and relevant relatives should be followed by ultrasound examinations. With ultrasound, Potter's sequence can be demonstrated about the 16th week of pregnancy so that termination of pregnancy may be considered.