Transient global amnesia as the first symptom of primary antiphospholipid syndrome: a case report.

We describe the case of a 45-year-old woman who had drawn our attention for some recent episodes of transient global amnesia that, upon further examination, resulted from ischemic events caused by multiple arterial thrombosis (bilateral internal carotid occlusion, significant stenosis of the right external carotid, mild stenosis of the right vertebral artery, right anterior cerebral artery occlusion and severe stenosis of the anterior descending coronary artery) due to primary antiphospholipid syndrome. Revascularisation of either carotid was not attempted. A percutaneous intervention in the anterior descending coronary artery stenosis was performed successfully. Due to severe arterial thrombosis, the patient was discharged with only duplex antiplatelet treatment and subcutaneous anticoagulant therapy, since immunotherapy is not indicated in primary APS. The occurrence of transient global amnesia should raise the suspicion of APS.

Direct determination of zirconium and chromium by first-derivative spectrophotometry.

The solution properties of zirconium complex with the Schiff's base 2-(2-pyridylmethyl-eneamino)phenol have been studied by zero-order absorption spectrophotometry. The influence of pH, stability of the complexes with time and stability constants were investigated. The use of first-derivative spectrometry eliminates the interference of chromium and enables the simultaneous determination of zirconium and chromium without previous separation. The relative overall standard errors, of five independent simultaneous determinations of zirconium and chromium at the 1.0 mug/ml concentration level, were 2 and 4%, respectively. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the analysis of some real samples of zirconium/chromium bronzes.

The value of capnography during jet ventilation for suspension laryngoscopy.

A self made connection device with an injector of 1.5 mm in diameter and connections for the measurements of the end tidal CO2 (Datascope 500 CO2 Analyzer), expired tidal and minute volumen (Dr¿ger Spirolog), and armoured tracheal tube nr. 22 with cuff (Rüsch), has been used in 25 unselected patients submitted to diagnostic laryngoscopy. The patients have been ventilated with Wolf Injectomat 2025 with incorporated Bird's Nitrous Oxyde/Oxygen blender and general anesthesia with i.v. hypnoticum (Penthotal or Hypnomidate), analgeticum (Fentanyl) and muscle relaxant (Curalest) has been used. The patients were further monitored by means of blood pressure measurements (oscillotonometric method), simultaneous pulse count and ECG recording (Datascope 740 Recorder) and blood gases determination from a.femoralis (ABL 1, Radiometer Copenhagen).

Controlled hypotension induced by sodium nitroprusside. A practical approach.

Although known since 1849 and introduced in medical practice 1955, sodium nitroprusside is used mostly in large medical centres fully equipped with monitoring equipment. This attitude has contributed that sodium nitroprusside is not as popular as it should be. An attempt is made to show that single banded practising anesthesist may and should use sodium nitroprusside to produce controlled hypotension, provided certain "safeguards" are followed. These safeguards are based on information got from the literature and own experience with sodium nitroprusside in obtaining controlled hypotension during anesthesia using sophisticated equipment as well as simplified monitoring, which is fully explained in the article.