The natural history of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

This study examines the rate of expansion of abdominal aortic aneurysms and the risk of rupture in relation to their size. To assess these variables, we conducted a prospective study of 300 consecutive patients who presented over a 6-year interval with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) that were initially managed nonoperatively. The mean age of the patients was 70.4 years, and 211 (70%) were men. The mean initial aneurysm diameter was 4.1 cm. Among the 208 patients who underwent more than one ultrasound or computed tomographic (CT) scan, the diameter of the aneurysm increased by a median of 0.3 cm per year. The 6-year cumulative incidence of rupture was 1% and 2% among patients with aneurysms less than 4.0 cm and 4.0 to 4.9 cm in diameter, respectively (p greater than 0.05). In comparison, the 6-year cumulative incidence of rupture was 20% among patients with aneurysms greater than 5.0 cm in diameter (p less than 0.004). We conclude that (1) abdominal aortic aneurysms expand at a median rate of 0.3 cm per year; and (2) the risk of rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysms less than 5.0 cm is substantially lower than the risk of rupture of aneurysms 5.0 cm or more in diameter.

The wrist tourniquet: an alternative technique in hand surgery.

This study investigated the efficacy and safety of the use of a size 8 1/2 surgical glove as a wrist tourniquet in hand surgery. A neonatal blood pressure cuff was placed under the wrist tourniquet to measure the presssures generated with use of this technique. The wrist tourniquet was applied in 25 consecutive procedures. Pressures generated with this technique ranged from 110 mm Hg to 260 mm Hg, with a mean pressure of 158 mm Hg. The average tourniquet time was 29 minutes, with the longest time being 135 minutes. The tourniquet achieved a bloodless surgical field in 24 (96%) of the 25 patients, and was well tolerated in all but two patients. Aside from tourniquet pain in these two (8%) patients, and tourniquet failure in one (4%) patient, there were no other complications associated with the wrist tourniquet. The size 8 1/2 surgical glove can be adopted as an effective and safe tourniquet in hand surgery.

Trauma outcome analysis of two Canadian centres using the TRISS method.

In this retrospective study, the TRISS method of trauma care analysis is used to compare trauma care at the Hamilton General Hospital (HGH) and the Ottawa Civic Hospital (OCH) with the standards reported in the Major Trauma Outcome Study (MTOS). A total of 274 adult patients with multiple-system injuries were studied; their demographic data, Trauma Scores (TS) on arrival to the Emergency Room, and Injury Severity Scores (ISS) were reviewed. The TRISS scores and Z and M statistics were then calculated. In the Hamilton group, 106 consecutive patients from April through July 1987 were studied. The majority of patients (72%) were male, and the median age was 26 years. The majority of patients (96.2%) sustained blunt trauma, with motor vehicle accidents (MVA) being the most common (76.4%) mechanisms of injury. Fifty-four (51%) of the patients were transferred from outlying hospitals. The Z and M statistics were -0.05 and 0.92, respectively. In the Ottawa group, 168 consecutive patients from April 1987 through October 1988 were studied. The majority of patients (73%) were male, and the median age was 39 years. Blunt trauma accounted for the majority (91.7%) of injuries, with MVAs being responsible for 58% of injuries. Most patients (63.5%) were transferred from regional hospitals. The Z and M statistics were 1.20 and 0.56, respectively. We conclude that the survival statistics of trauma patients treated at both centres are comparable to those of trauma patients in the MTOS.

Femoral appendicitis: an unusual case.

The presentation of acute appendicitis in a strangulated femoral hernia is rare. The authors describe what they believe is the first reported case of necrotizing fasciitis as a consequence of a gangrenous appendix in this situation. An 80-year-old woman presented with crepitant cellulitis of her right thigh with fever and leukocytosis, leading to a preoperative diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis. Intraoperatively, an unsuspected gangrenous appendix was found in an incarcerated femoral hernia. A knowledge of the existence of this rare and serious condition will avoid delay in its recognition and management.

Gastric cancer in primary care: how hard should you look?

This article addresses the question of how vigorously a physician should search for gastric cancer among dyspeptic patients. To address this subject, two major questions are posed: Which patients presenting with dyspepsia are at highest risk of having gastric cancer? Does early diagnosis of symptomatic gastric cancer affect outcome? Although early detection of gastric cancer has been increasingly reported since the advent of fiberoptic endoscopy, factors such as lead time bias and an unchanged case-fatality rate preclude a definitive conclusion of improved treatment outcomes resulting from early detection. At present, a policy of routine immediate investigation of dyspeptic patients has not been shown to reduce gastric cancer mortality.