[The cultural meaning of cerebral aneurysm and its treatment for the patient and his family: an ethnographic study]. / A compreensão do significado cultural do aneurisma cerebral e do tratamento atribuídos pelo paciente e familiares: um estudo etnográfico.

This is a descriptive ethnographic study with 13 patients with cerebral aneurysm and their relatives aiming at understanding the meaning of the illness and the treatment. The data were collected by interviews and observations during the hospitalization and, after the discharge, in the outpatient clinic and at home. The central theme obtained from the study was "It had to be for me! God knows what He does". This theme reveals a religious interpretation for the illness and a magic basis for its cure. Thus, cerebral aneurysm is interpreted as a material illness (body) and a spiritual illness (soul).

Prevention of bacteriuria after transurethral prostatectomy with nitrofurantoin macrocrystals.

Of 40 patients who underwent transurethral prostatectomy without receiving antimicrobial chemoprophylaxis 13 had significant bacteriuria at some time in the postoperative course. Of 47 patients given nitrofurantoin none of the 42 for whom culture results were available had bacteriuria. This difference between the 2 groups is statistically significant (p less than 0.01). Nitrofurantoin prevents post-prostatectomy bacteriuria and has a theoretical advantage over agents such as the cephalosporins in that its action is limited to the urinary tract.

Posterior urethral valves managed by cutaneous ureterostomy with subsequent ureteral reconstruction.

Six boys, 2 weeks to 5 years old, underwent cutaneous ureterostomy for massively dilated upper urinary tracts secondary to obstruction by posterior urethral valves. Cutaneous ureterostomies had been performed elsewhere in 2 patients. Two patients underwent transurethral fulguration of the valves initially with no improvement. Blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and serum electrolyte values continued to increase and, therefore, cutaneous ureterostomies were performed with dramatic improvement. Two patients presented with sepsis, one of whom had a positive blood culture. Both children had severe pyonephrosis and after the conditions improved with medical treatment cutaneous ureterostomies were done. The total number of surgical procedures required for all patients was 59, including renal biopsies, nephrostomies and cystoscopies. No kidneys, except for the severely dysplastic ones, were lost and all patients resumed normal growth rates and have had no urinary tract infections. All laboratory values are within normal limits.