Non-freezing cold injury.

Non-freezing cold injury can be a diagnostic challenge for clinicians in the United Kingdom Armed Forces. It is associated with operations in adverse climatic conditions, and may result in significant long-term morbidity. In this article we discuss the operational importance of this condition and the current best practice in its management and prevention.

UK Role 4 military infectious diseases at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital in 2005-9.

OBJECTIVES: Infectious diseases affecting British troops are mostly due to gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses, but these are usually minor in severity, easy to manage and short in duration. To assess the importance of infections that are more severe, difficult to manage or longer in duration, it is necessary to look at military cases that are evacuated or otherwise referred to the UK Role 4 (definitive care) medical facility for infectious diseases. METHODS: Case notes from military infectious disease patients seen at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital in 2005-2009 were reviewed to extract data on demographics, origin of infection, diagnostic categories, exact diagnoses, type and duration of care, time off duty, quality of care and costs incurred. RESULTS: Over a 4-year period, 138 cases were referred, 131 (95%) were male and 98 (71%) were from the Army. The origin of infection was Afghanistan in 52 (38%) and Belize in 19 (14%). From 131 patients (95%) that attended, 59 (45%) had dermatological illnesses and 38 (29%) had undifferentiated febrile illnesses. Diagnoses included 35 (27%) with cutaneous leishmaniasis and 21 (16%) with "Helmand Fever" due to sandfly fever, acute Q fever or rickettsial infection. For 51 in-patients, the median (range) length of stay was 3 (1-17) days and time off duty was 20 (5-127) days. For 80 out-patients, the median (range) number of attendances was 1 (1-23) and time off duty was 22 (1-228) days. All cases were seen promptly (within 7 days for in-patients and 28 days for out-patients), but only 59 (45%) had appropriate letters sent to the referring medical officer and none had F Med 85 notifications of infectious disease submitted. Aeromedical evacuation costs could not be calculated, but UK hospital care cost approximately pound 78 000 per year. CONCLUSIONS: Dermatological infections and undifferentiated febrile illnesses that require management at a UK Role 4 facility are important causes of disease non-battle injury. Prospective collection of this data in the future will be a valuable asset.

Excision of tricuspid valve with later replacement in endocarditis of drug addiction.

Staphylococcal endocarditis in a drug addict was controlled only after excision of the tricuspid valve. Total absence of the tricuspid valve was tolerated well for 18 months, at which time deteriorating liver function prompted the insertion of a bioprosthetic valve into the tricuspid ring. The haemodynamic and clinical results after two years of follow-up have been excellent.

Self-inflected ventricular septal defect.

A case of attempted suicide is described which is believed to be the first reported example of survival after a self-inflicted penetrating knife wound of the heart. The 12 cm. blade entered the right ventricle and damaged one of the papillary muscles. The ventricular septum was also perforated. At cardiotomy the stab wound in the free wall of the right ventricle was surtured and the papillary muscle repaired. The ventricular septal defect was closed, but a small left-to-right shunt at ventricular level reappeared after operation.