Causes of jaundice in elderly patients.

The aim of present study was stating the cause of jaundice among patients over 65 years old treated in the medical and surgery departments of two clinics in the years 1985-1987. During the three years 247 cases of jaundice of various etiology excluding virus hepatitis were found. It was stated that the most frequent cause of jaundice in patients over 65 years was cholelithiasis (36.6%). The second subsequent cause was cancer (31%), especially that of gallbladder. Among the group of patients up to 65 years treated in medical departments, the most frequent cause of jaundice was cancer (27.3%) and the subsequent cause was cholelithiasis (21.3%). In the department of surgery, among the younger age group cholelithiasis was the most numerous cause of jaundice. Comparing our own examinations with similar ones undertaken 7 years earlier among patients from Wroclaw, we can state a significant increase of cancer in the population of our town.

Proctologic diseases in geriatric persons.

The aim of present study was the estimation of the frequency and kind of disease of the lower part of the digestive tract in aged patients, based on rectoscopic examination. There were undertaken rectoscopy and examination per rectum of 193 patients over 65 years (mean age 70.4 years from whom only 13 patients had not suffered from any sensations on the part of digestive tract and among 239 patients ranging up to 65 (mean age value 39.6 years from whom majority suffered from various sensations on part of digestive tract and were treated in Clinic of Gastrology and Angiology or Clinic Endoscopy Department. It was stated that the most frequent disease in the elder group of patients were: proctitis (or sigmoiditis) with accompanying spastic conditions of large bowel 14 per cent and hemorrhoids 46.4 per cent. Rectal polyps and sigmoidic polyps occurred in 8.1 per cent of the whole examined group, in the elder group they ranged to 10.4 per cent and in the younger one they ranged to 6.6 per cent. Cancers in rectum and sigmoid were present in 4.1 per cent of the whole examined group, in the elder group in 5.6 per cent and 2 per cent in the younger one.

[Acute circulatory disorders in the lower extremities in polymyositis]. / Ostre zaburzenia krazenia w konczynach dolnych w przebiegu zapalenia wielomiesniowego.

A 32-year-old women with a definite diagnosis of polymyositis is described. The disease began acutely with two episodes of acute ischaemia of one lower extremity without evidence of organic occlusion of the arteries. Further on, signs predominated suggestive of deep thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities. The diagnosis was based on electromyography, histological examination of muscle biopsy material and rapid improvement after treatment with corticosteroids.