Primary pulmonary lymphoma disguised as asthma.

Primary pulmonary lymphomas (PPL) only constitute 4% of extra-nodal, non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL), less than 1% of NHL in general, and between 0.5% and 1% of malignant pulmonary neoplasms. Fifty-eight to 87% of cases of this extremely uncommon disease are low-grade B-cell lymphomas and 11%-19% are high-grade or large B-cell lymphomas. The prognosis for.high-grade or large B-cell lymphomas is worse than for low-grade lymphomas; respiratory and general symptoms are usually present. However asthmatic symptoms are not often found in their clinic. We report the case of a 49-year old woman with resistant asthma clinic in the form of wheezing, dyspnea and non-productive painless cough; associated with an irregular lobulated mass with air bronchograms in the lower lobe of the right lung. Histological diagnosis showed a pattern of high-grade B-cell lymphoma and all asthmatic symptoms disappeared following gross total resection of this lesion.

Breast tuberculosis.

Breast tuberculosis is a rare form of tuberculosis. Of all the breast diseases treated surgically, tuberculosis is seen in the range between 0.025% and 0.1%. This ratio is higher in undeveloped countries. We presented five cases with breast tuberculosis. Their ages were between 20 and 63 years. All of them had children and were breastfeeding. The cause of admission to the hospital was swelling in four of them and pain in the remainder. All of the lesions were unilateral. One case had received antituberculosis treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis 10 years ago. AAFB was not detected in sputum, breast discharge, urine and tissue culture in all the cases. Diagnosis was made histopathologically from the excisional biopsy material. Caseating granulomatosis was also found in axillary lymph nodes in three cases. Antituberculosis therapy was planned as 2HRZE/4HR for all of the cases. Three of them completed the therapy without any complaints. One case left the hospital without permission. The last one is now undergoing resistant tuberculosis treatment for pulmonary disease without any complaint of her breast. As a conclusion, although tuberculosis of breast is extremely rare, it should be kept in mind particularly in developing and undeveloped countries.

Prophylactic administration of ondansetron in emergency intraabdominal operations.

Efficiency of ondansetron, a selective 5- HT3 receptor antagonist, in prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in 40 ASA I-II patients to undergo emergency intraabdominal operations is studied in a randomized, double-blind and placebo controlled study. Patients of no premedication are administered 4 mg i.v. ondansetron or placebo (saline) before induction. Thiopental (4 mg/kg) was used for induction, succinylcholine (2 mg/kg) for muscular relaxation, and 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen and isoflurane (0.8-1.5%) for the maintenance, and fentanyl and norcuron were administered when necessary. Vital findings were closely monitored and recorded during anesthesia and during early postoperative period. Study was carried out during postoperative 0-Ih, 1-2h and 2-24 h periods. Nausea scores and emesis attacks of the patients were recorded during 0-1 and 1-2 h periods Ondansetron was found significantly more effective than placebo (p < 0.05 and p < 0.05). Although it was effective during 2-24 h period, the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). No significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of vital findings, laboratory findings and side effects (p > 0.05). Therefore, it is concluded that administration of prophylactic i.v. ondansetron to patients undergoing emergency intraabdominal operations is effective in prevention of nausea and vomiting without any significant side effect.

Prophylactic administration of ondansetron in emergency intraabdominal operations.

Efficiency of ondansetron, a selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, in prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in 40 ASA I-II patients who will undergo emergency intraabdominal operations is studied in a randomized double-blind and placebo controlled study. Patients of no premedication are administered 4 mg i.v. ondansetron or placebo (saline) before induction. Thiopental (4 mg/kg) was used for induction, succinylcholine (2 mg/kg) for muscular relaxation, and 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen and isoflurance (0.8-1.5%) for the maintenance of anesthesia, and fentanyl and norcuron were administered when necessary. Vital signs were closely monitored and recorded during anesthesia and early postoperative period. Study is carried out during postoperative 0-1 h, 1-2 h and 2-24 h periods. Nausea scores and emesis were recorded during 0-1 and 1-2 h periods. Ondansetron was found significantly more effective than placebo (p < 0.05 and p < 0.05). Although is was effective during 2-24 h period, the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). No significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of vital findings, laboratory findings and side effects (p > 0.05). Therefore it is concluded that administration of prophylactic i.v. ondansetron to patients undergoing emergency intraabdominal operations is effective in prevention of nausea and vomiting without any significant side effects.

Anesthesia in Che'diak-Higashi syndrome--case report.

Che'diak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) is a lethal, progressive, autosomal recessive, systemic disorder associated with oculocutaneous albinism, photopobia, nystagmus, massive leukocyte inclusions (giant lysosomes), histiocytic infiltration of multiple body organs, development of pancytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, recurrent or persistent bacterial infections, and a possible predisposition to development of malignant lymphoma. This rare disorder of children characterized by impaired resistance to bacterial infection leading to early demise. This syndrome is rarely seen. We are presenting this case report to discuss a patient with Che'diak-Higashi syndrome, who was scheduled for splenectomy in our clinic.

Resistance to atracurium: Wegener's granulomatosis--a case report.

Few previous reports clarified that patients with an increased alpha 1 globulin fraction in their serum protein electrophoresis, will have resistance to the neuromuscular block of atracurium. Having a patient with diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis and a marked elevation of alpha 1 globulin fraction in her electrophoresis, we took this opportunity to monitor the neuromuscular block of atracurium. The data obtained, confirm previous studies showing that patients with a marked increase in alpha 1 globulin fraction may have a resistance to the action of atracurium.