Cases of acute poisoning admitted to Clinical Hospital Merkur in Zagreb in 1999.

This paper describes 170 cases of acute poisoning in 60 men and 110 women admitted to emergency room from January through November 1999. Ninety-eight percent of acute poisonings were self-inflicted, and 90% occurred at home. Drugs were used in 134 (79%) suicide attempts. Eighty-one acute poisonings were caused by benzodiazepines (48%) and 19 by antidepressants (11%). Alcohol intoxication, alone or combined with the intake of psychoactive drug (28 cases, 16%) predominated in men. Cocaine was the most common narcotic drug, taken by 31 patients (16%). Other acute poisonings involved ecstasy (4 cases), CO (6 cases), and HCl inhalation (2 cases). Previous suicide attempts due to depression were found in 68 patients (40%). Fifty patients (29%) were comatose on admission, 24 were transferred to intensive care, and 3 died. Data such as these can be very useful for handling self-inflicted acute poisonings and for planning long-term health care activities.

Metastasis of renal adenocarcinoma to the pelvic region.

Adenocarcinoma is among the most common tumors with a 95% incidence. Renal tumor metastases can occur by the lymphatic, lymphohematogenous, or hematogenous route. A 59-year-old female with metastasis of renal adenocarcinoma, at an unusual localization is presented. Diagnosis was made by ultrasound and cytologic examination, computerized tomography, angiography, and tumor biopsy. Tumor biopsy was the sole successful technique to detect the metastasis of renal adenocarcinoma.

[Reconstruction of the arteries of the thigh. Our experiences and views]. / Rekonstrukcija bedrenih arterija. Nasa iskustva i pogledi.

The authors report here their experiences with regard to reconstructive treatment of arteriosclerotic changes occurring in arteries of the thigh area. In the introduction the historic development of the blood vessels surgery has been given. Various operating methods and respective experiences, as well as the results obtained from this operating field have been described. It has been mentioned in the conclusion that the exact indication is responsible for successful reconstructive operation. Further factors playing the main role are: adequate operative technic, appropriate anesthesia, as well constant blood pressure in the course of operation.

[Treatment of hemodynamic disorders of the peripheral arteries in a diabetic]. / Lijecenje poremecene hemodinamike u perifernim arterijama kod dijabeticnih bolesnika.

The experiences of the authors in treatment of disturbed haemodynamics in peripheral arteries in diabetics, as well as their complications have been here presented. The increased frequency of these disturbances, as well as pathologic changes on the parts of lower extremities in diabetics, regarding prolonged age and always better detection in new cases of diabetes have been presented in the introduction. Etiopathogenic causes and clinical picture and symptomatology of the mentioned cases are briefly described. In diagnosis particular significance has been given to all standard examination methods, and in indicated cases angiologic, respectively contrast investigations are necessary. In surgical treatment of such patients, the causes of the respective disturbances should be established first and only then therapeutic principles should be applied. The presentation of the treated patients has been given, and it has been considered in the conclusion that the team work in treatment of the mentioned disturbances is necessary.

[Chronic venous insufficiency of the lower extremities and a halt to absenteeism]. / Kronicna venozna insuficijencija na donjim okrajinama sa stajalista absentizma.

In this work authors experiences about the influence of operation on absentism decrease in 2450 surgically treated patients with chronic venous insufficiency signs and clinical manifestations of various intensity have been presented. In the introduction higher frequency of this disturbance and great financial loss which appear as consequence of this disease, as well as complications which affect the patients with syndrome of chronic venous insufficiency have been described. The authors particularly emphasize still intensive conservative attitude in the therapy of this illness, what leads to its deterioration. Further the authors describe the method of their investigation and the results obtained have been presented in tables. That the operative treatment protects the respective patient with such disturbances from more serious clinical manifestations as well as adequate complications of these disturbances has been emphasized in the conclusion. Further it has been pointed out that immediately applied operative treatment obviously decreases absentism.