Laryngotracheoesophageal cleft in a newborn.

A case of laryngotracheoesophageal cleft in a newborn is presented. A newborn presenting with respiratory distress underwent contrast radiographic studies, direct laryngoscopy, bronchoscopy, and esophagoscopy, demonstrating a complete laryngotracheoesophageal cleft, esophageal diverticulum and microgastria. Attempts to maintain an adequate airway by ligation of the salivary ducts and ligation of the distal esophagus were unsuccessful. Continued biliary drainage per endotracheal tube postoperatively afforded a presumptive diagnosis of bronchobiliary fistula. The child expired on its fourth day of life. A review of the literature and modalities of therapy for these rare and unusual combinations of foregut anomalies is discussed. This is the first reported case of a newborn with the combination of laryngotracheoesophageal cleft, bronchobiliary fistula, microgastria and esophageal diverticulum.

Toxic shock syndrome associated with surgical wound infections.

In 13 cases of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) associated with postoperative wound infections, clinical findings were similar to those observed in cases of TSS in menstruating women. While local signs of a surgical wounds infection were minimal, Staphylococcus aureus was recovered from cultures of wounds in 12 of 12 patients; multiple blood cultures were negative for 11 of 11 patients. Toxic shock syndrome due to surgical wound infections accompanied a wide variety of surgical procedures in both men and women and was not necessarily associated with menstruation in women. The median interval between surgery and onset of TSS was two days. Toxic shock syndrome can develop in association with surgical wound infections caused by S aureus and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of postoperative fever and hypotension.

Simplified splanchnic artery revascularization using extra-anatomic bypass grafts: a report of ten cases.

Revascularization of the superior mesenteric artery or renal artery is frequently complicated by concomitant atherosclerotic disease in the adjacent aorta. In ten patients, extra-anatomic saphenous vein bypass grafts to the splanchnic vessels were constructed and inflow was obtained from the external iliac artery. All patients recovered without complication and have had functioning grafts on follow-up arteriography. This extra-anatomic bypass provides a simple method for splanchnic artery revascularization.

Studies of peripheral glucose uptake during sepsis.

Glucose intolerance occurs in patients with sepsis, and resistance to insulin has been thought to be part of this process. To study this phenomenon, peritonitis was produced in rats by cecal ligation and puncture. One group was killed ten hours later (early sepsis). A second group of rats was killed 16 to 24 hours after ligation, just prior to their expected death (late sepsis). Insulin stimulated glucose uptake to the same extent in muscles from rats in early sepsis, late sepsis, and from control rats. Even at an insulin concentration that produced submaximal stimulation of glucose uptake, no difference in glucose uptake between the three groups of muscles was observed. Thus, there was no resistance to the stimulatory action of insulin on glucose uptake by skeletal muscle during early and late sepsis. However, basal glucose uptake by isolated soleus muscle from animals in late sepsis was significantly increased compared with controls when these muscles were incubated in an aerobic environment. Under anaerobic conditions, glucose uptake in these two groups of muscles increased to the same level. This indicates that there is some stimulus that increases glucose uptake in late peritonitis and may explain the hypoglycemia of late experimental or untreated sepsis. This stimulus could be hypoxia or some other factor resulting from decreased blood flow and increased anaerobic metabolism.

Effect of sepsis on tissue adenine nucleotide levels.

Tissue adenine nucleotides were measured in rats to determine if there is depletion of energy stores associated with sepsis. Peritonitis was produced by cecal ligation and cecal puncture. At 16 to 24 hours after ligation, rats which were lethargic but still normotensive (late sepsis) and showed clinical and laboratory confirmation of peritonitis-sepsis were stunned by a blow on the head, and small pieces of tissue were removed and frozen. Adenine nucleotides were measured enzymatically. In late sepsis adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels in liver and kidney decreased significantly; however, no significant decreases were observed in the diaphragm or gastrocnemius muscle. Hydrogen polarograph measurements of hepatic blood flow indicated that flow was decreased markedly at this stage of peritonitis. A second group of rats was prepared in the same manner, except they were studied 10 hours after ligation (early sepsis). Most rats at this stage of sepsis appeared to be only mildly ill; however, blood cultures obtained from six rats so prepared all were positive. These rats did not show any decrease in either hepatic blood flow or tissue adenine nucleotides. Thus the changes in adenine nucleotides observed in late sepsis (lpw-flow septic rats) are similar to those seen during early hemorrhagic shock and suggest inadequate perfusion associated with peritonitis as the cause.