[Venous thrombosis on central catheters in oncology]. / Les thromboses veineuses sur cathéter central en cancérologie.

Central venous catheters have considerably improved the comfort and safety of chemotherapy in cancer patients. However complications as thrombosis could occur and their incidence vary from 3.7 to 42% in oncology. Catheter placement induces modifications of vascular system with formation of a fibrin sleeve and/or a mural thrombus. Thrombosis origin is linked with catheter itself, its position and the biomaterial used. Hypercoagulable state in cancer results from the perturbation of blood flow, the composition of blood itself and the vessel wall, and increases the iatrogenic effects of indwelling catheters. Finally chemotherapy used in the treatment of cancer has been associated with an increased incidence of thromboembolic events, suggesting the proposal of an antithrombotic prophylaxis in cancer patients receiving chemotherapeutic agents through indwelling catheter.

[Electro-anaesthesia during neuro-surgery (author's transl)]. / Anesthésie électro-médicamenteuse en neuro-chirurgie.

The authors have performed 66 (cranial or spinal) operations with electro-anaesthesia supplemented by neuroleptics and pancuronium. In this technique, which respects the necessities of neurosurgical anaesthesia, analgesia is produced by means of Limoge's rectified high frequency currents. The protocol consists of: induction by a neuroleptic, application of the electrical current, intubation with benzodiazepin and succicurarium, controlled ventilation with a 50 p. cent oxygen/50 p. cent nitrous oxyd mixture and curare as required. The efficiency was estimated according to the necessity of a supplementary drug analgesia (fentanyl). The use of fentanyl, i.e. drug intoxication, was strongly reduced in 90 p. cent of the cases (average 0,46 micrograms/kg/hour). Absolute failures were encountered in 3 cases only. Patients waked up in very good conditions and extubation occurred on an average of 16 minutes. Reflexes of cough an deglutition are not depressed by electro-anaesthesia and we think this preservation of the respiratory function to be very profitable for such neurosurgical patients. Our opinion by now is that the best indications for electro-anaesthesia are high-risk patients, with a special mention for surgery of the posterior fossa.

[Problems presented by closed laryngeal-tracheal injuries]. / Problémes posés par les traumatismes laryngo-trachéaux fermés

The authors consider the problems raised by severe closed laryngotracheal trauma and report 4 cases. -the immediate tisk to life is due to direct involvement of the respiratory tract requiring emergency measures including cardiorespiratory resuscitation in cases of acute asphyxia. -the origin of the initial respiratory distress, if not obvious from the start, may be suspected in view of the difficulties or impossibility of tracheal intubation, which is also liable to aggravate lesions due to trauma. It is one of these rare cases of resuscitation where emergency tracheotomy is essential. It permits also early, precise surgical exploration. -in cases of fracture of the larynx, a wound of the trachea or rupture and separation of the trachea, the reconstruction must be constructiononstruction must be considered within the first 48 hours. Provision of food and resting of the larynx may be conciliated by installing an esophageal catheter or performing a gastrostomy. Benign trauma, such as contusion or laryngeal commotion, requires close supervision association with medical treatment designed to prevent the onset of lesional oedema.

[Clinical and therapeutic problems posed by hangings. Apropos of 67 cases]. / Problèmes cliniques et thérapeutiques posés par les pendaisons. A propos de 67 cas

Starting from a collection of 67 cases of hanging taken over by the Anesthesia Resuscitation Department belonging to Reims Hospital University Centre, the authors report their clinical observations and make an analytical confrontation of this type of accident according to various criteria such as: - the initial physical condition of the victims; - the evolution of the symptoms; - the various medical treatments used. The immediate consequences of miscarried hangings lead to a physio-pathological argument dealing mainly with the neurological and breathing manifestations. The elements of this argument enable the writers to back up certain therapeutic orientations among which hyperbaric oxygen therapy and early prescription of which seems to be wished for in the most severe forms of hanging.