RESUMO
Cryoprostatectomy, the use of subzero temperatures to ablate prostate tissue gained favour in the 1960s because of its speed and lack of haemodynamic effects. It fell from use because the freezing process could not be monitored and this led to a high incidence of local complications. We have performed transrectal real time ultrasound in 12 patients undergoing cryoprostatectomy. In all the freezing process was easily visualized as an advancing hyperechoic 'iceball' with distal acoustic shadowing. Monitoring allowed maximum prostate ablation without breaching the prostatic capsule. There were no significant complications and all but one patient gained symptomatic relief. Ultrasound at 1 month showed a heterogeneous echo pattern with very little cavity formation but by 3 months a significant cavity was seen. This study demonstrates that it is possible to monitor the freezing process during transurethral cryoprostatectomy. This, theoretically, should significantly reduce the local complications encountered in previous studies.
Assuntos
Criocirurgia , Próstata/diagnóstico por imagem , Prostatectomia/métodos , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Humanos , Masculino , Monitorização Intraoperatória , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/prevenção & controle , UltrassonografiaRESUMO
Acupuncture with electrical stimulation effectively suppresses naloxone-induced morphine withdrawal in rats and reduces the plasma levels of adrenocorticotropin and thyroid stimulating hormone.
Assuntos
Terapia por Acupuntura , Hormônio Adrenocorticotrópico/sangue , Dependência de Morfina/sangue , Síndrome de Abstinência a Substâncias/sangue , Tireotropina/sangue , Animais , Estimulação Elétrica , Humanos , Dependência de Morfina/terapia , Naloxona/farmacologia , Ratos , Síndrome de Abstinência a Substâncias/terapiaRESUMO
A five years' experience of the care by general surgeons of patients with severe head injuries in a general surgical unit with inferior facilities was retrospectively reviewed. It was concluded that the mortality compared favourably with that in similar patients managed by neurosurgeons in specialized centres. The still inadequate understanding of primary diffuse brain damage in head injuries is suggested as the cause for this lack of significant improvement in results over the years. Certain guide-lines, however, exist to allow prediction of the eventual outcome in these patients.
Assuntos
Traumatismos Craniocerebrais/mortalidade , Hemorragia Cerebral/etiologia , Hemorragia Cerebral/cirurgia , Traumatismos Craniocerebrais/complicações , Traumatismos Craniocerebrais/cirurgia , Hong Kong , Humanos , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
The effect of electro-acupuncture in the treatment of naloxone precipitated morphine withdrawal in mice was studied. Thirty minutes of acupuncture was enough to suppress withdrawal behaviors by more than 60%. Concomitant to the decrease of withdrawal behavior, there was a significant increase of brain beta-endorphin level in the acupunctured animals. Plasma beta-endorphin level of the treated and untreated group was not significantly different.
