Acquired copper deficiency following prolonged jejunostomy feeds.

A 19-year-old man who developed extensive oesophageal lye (Alkali) stricture and received long-term enteral nutrition (eight months) with a jejunostomy tube developed macrocytic anaemia (Hb: 41 g/L) with leucopenia (white blood cell [WBC]: 3.0 x 10(9)/L). The patient's serum vitamin B12, folate, iron and liver function tests were normal. Bone marrow examination revealed gross erythroid hyperplasia and cytoplasmic vacuolization of erythroid and myeloid elements. Further investigations revealed low serum copper (0.3 micromol/L) and ceruloplasmin concentrations (<30 mg/L) with marginally low normal serum concentration of red cell peroxidase (13 U/gHb), establishing the diagnosis of copper deficiency anaemia. The anaemia and leucopenia responded intermittently to intravenous copper therapy, but the serum copper concentration dropped when intravenous copper therapy was withdrawn. Enteral jejunostomy copper supplementation failed to maintain adequate serum copper concentrations. After stabilizing the general condition of the patient, a pharyngo-gastric anastamosis was performed and normal oral diet commenced, which restored normal serum copper concentration. This case report suggests that copper supplements in the form of copper sulphate are not adequately absorbed when administered through a jejunostomy tube.

Metastatic granulosa cell tumour of the diaphragm 15 years after the primary neoplasm.

We present the case of a female patient who complained of dyspnoea and was found to have a pleural effusion. A tumour involving the right diaphragm was seen on CT and after excision this was shown to be a recurrent granulosa cell tumour, 15 years after the original ovarian lesion had been treated by oophrectomy and radiotherapy. The case and literature relating to such a rare intra-thoracic metastatic tumour is discussed.

Thoracoscopy in the diagnosis and management of recurrent pleural effusions.

Between April 1984 and July 1988, 102 patients with persistent or recurrent pleural effusions investigated by conventional methods in whom a diagnosis had not been achieved were submitted to thoracoscopy under general anesthesia. A positive diagnosis was obtained in 80.3% of the patients. The procedure was well tolerated, and although some of these were seriously ill patients, there were no procedure-related deaths.

Combined chemotherapy and surgery for pulmonary metastases from osteogenic sarcoma. Results of 10 years experience.

Twenty-three patients presented with isolated pulmonary metastases from osteogenic sarcoma following primary treatment by amputation or limb salvage, combined with chemotherapy. The metastases were treated by conservative surgical excision combined with chemotherapy; surgical excision was repeated for recurrent pulmonary metastases, provided there were none elsewhere. Six patients are alive and disease-free following their initial surgery. Of the remaining 17, 10 had recurrence confined to the lungs, and 7 developed extra-pulmonary metastases. The 10 with isolated pulmonary metastases all had further thoracotomies but eventually 7 died, as did all those with extra-pulmonary metastases. There were in all 45 operations, with 1 hospital death and 1 serious complication. Actuarial survival at 1, 3, 5 and 7 years was 87%, 45%, 39% and 31%, respectively. In the 10 patients who had recurrence of isolated pulmonary metastases, survival at 1 and 3 years was 70% and 34%.

Management of Pulmonary Metastases in Osteogenic Sarcoma.

Twenty-three patients presented with isolated pulmonary metastases from osteogenic sarcoma following primary treatment by amputation or limb salvage, combined with chemotherapy. The metastases were treated by conservative surgical excision, combined with chemotherapy; surgicl excision was repeated for recurrent pulmonary metastases provided there were none elsewhere. Six patients are alive and disease free following their initial surgery. Of the remaining 17, 10 had recurrence confined to the lungs, and seven developed extra pulmonary metastases. The ten with isolated pulmonary metastases all had further thoracotomies but eventually seven died, as did all those with extra pulmonary metastases. There were in all 45 operations, with one hospital death and one serious complication. Actuarial survival at 1,3,5 and 7 years was 87, 45, 39 and 31% respectively. In the ten patients who had recurrence of isolated pulmonary metastases, survival at 1 and 3 years was 70 and 34%.

Experimental en bloc double-lung transplantation.

A technique of en bloc double-lung transplantation through a median sternotomy has been developed. Hypothermic circulatory arrest was used after surface cooling in 7 puppies (mean weight, 3.1 kg; range, 1.5 to 4.1 kg). A double lung block, consisting of the two lungs, distal trachea, the main pulmonary artery, and a large cuff of left atrium, was removed from weight-matched donors. After the arrest of the circulation by inflow occlusion, bilateral pneumonectomies were performed in the recipient. The donor double-lung block was then implanted with anastomoses at the distal trachea, the posterior left atrium, and the main pulmonary artery. All animals were successfully rewarmed and had excellent hemodynamic function and gas exchange for periods of up to 24 hours. If primate experiments with long-term survival confirm these initial results, this procedure may have a role in the treatment of patients with end-stage respiratory disease but acceptable cardiac function.