ABSTRACT
A study was conducted on a group of 48 patients presenting with jaundice during the course of chronic pancreatitis. Two different patterns of symptoms could be opposed: (1) Short-lasting cholestatic jaundice which is accompanied by pain, but free from pruritus and fever, is linked to a medium consumption of alcohol, occurs in the course of advanced chronic pancreatitis and seems to be the consequence of a stricture of the main bile duct due to pancreatic lesions. (2) Protracted, intense jaundice which is linked to a high alcohol consumption, is encountered among less-advanced cases of chronic pancreatitis, the main bile duct being generally normal. In such a case, direct toxic effect of alcohol on the liver must be questioned.
Subject(s)
Cholestasis/diagnostic imaging , Pancreatitis/diagnostic imaging , Alcohol Drinking , Cholangiography , Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde , Chronic Disease , Female , Humans , Liver/pathology , Liver Function Tests , Male , Pancreatic Ducts/diagnostic imaging , Pancreatitis/complicationsABSTRACT
A case of massive pulmonary embolism at a patient with undetected atrial defect is reported. The authors discuss the difficulties of establishing a proper diagnosis when the right heart pressure is not raised and when a large emboliser is well tolerated. Angiography confirmed the diagnosis and the patient was successfully treated with embolectomy followed by ligation of the inferior vena cava.
Subject(s)
Heart Septal Defects, Atrial/complications , Pulmonary Embolism/diagnosis , Heart Septal Defects, Atrial/diagnosis , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pulmonary Embolism/etiologyABSTRACT
The authors report on 50 surgical or endoscopic cases in which local or regional anaesthesia was completed with a combination of diazepam and pentazocine (Pentazapam). This "diazanalgesia" was performed either as a routine or as a complement to regional anaesthesia (mostly an epidural) in which restlessness or insufficient analgesia were noted. Both drugs are injected separately. Diazepam being used to combat anxiety and pentazocine to allay pain. Sedation was considered to be sufficient in 43 cases out of 50 and analgesia in 47 cases out of 50. In all but one case, recovery was calm. In 24 cases, the patients regained consciensness quickly. There was only little effect on respiratory frequency, blood gases, blood pressure or cardiac rate. Thus, pentazepam combination can be considered as a useful method of "wake diazanalgesia" as far as it is used to complement a local or regional anaesthesia. This technique seems particularly useful in the aged or bad risk patient because of its moderate cardiovascular or respiratory aciton.
