[Anastomosis using the Valtrac ring--pro and con]. / Anastomózy pomocou Valtracu--pre a proti.

Authors present their experiences with the gastrointestinal anastomosis construction with the biofragmentable ring (Valtrac). Between May 1995 and June 1999 they used it in the group of 75 patients with mean age 58.4 (range 19-59) years. They used Valtrac most often--in 32 patients--to construct the anastomosis between small and large bowel after right hemicolectomy. One enterocutaneous fistula and one intestinal obstruction due to adhesions occurred in this group. Two patients had the signs of fecal impaction in postoperative period, which disappeared after the ring fragmentation. According to their experiences authors claim, that the anastomosis with Valtrac is a safe procedure with a few number of postoperative complications. Disadvantage in our conditions is its high price.

[Simultaneous treatment of an anal abscess and fistula]. / Riesenie análneho abscesu a fistuly súcasne.

At the First Surgical Clinic of the Faculty Hospital and Policlinic in Kosice during the period between Jan. 1, 1993 and June 30, 1995 99 patients with anal abscesses were operated (70 patients with a first attack and 29 with a relapsing abscess). Surgical treatment involved incision, evacuation, drainage and possibly treatment of an anal fistula. During operation an internal orifice and course of the fistula was detected in 28 patients, i.e. in 28.2%. The anal fistula was treated by decision in 14 patients or by an elastic ligature (multiple seton) in 14 patients. During the postoperative period of 3-32 months in patients subjected to one-stage treatment of the abscess and fistula no relapse was recorded nor incontinence due to hard or loose faeces. The presented form of treatment performed by an experienced surgeon with adequate knowledge of the anatomy and surgery of the anus is in the authors opinion an asset to the prevention of relapses of anal infections.

[Present views on spontaneous pneumothorax and hemopneumothorax]. / Súcasný postoj k spontánnemu pneumotoraxu a hemopneumotoraxu.

Based on a retrospective investigation, the authors present an account of the diagnosis and treatment of 119 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax. In the diagnosis they use in addition to clinical and auxiliary examinations also endoscopy and CT. The basis of treatment in their group was active drainage of every spontaneous pneumothorax. The group comprised also a rare case of haemo-pneumothorax where the source of haemorrhage into the pleural cavity was a ruptured adhesion in the cupula. In the investigated group they achieved re-expansion of the lungs in 103 patients by active drainage. Sixteen patients had more radical treatment--surgery. During the last three years they indicated surgery much more frequently than before. After treatment by active drainage they recorded in 19.4% of the patients relapses of SPNO, after radical treatment during the last 10 years they did not record any relapses. Based on their own experience and data in the literature the authors have a more active attitude to surgical treatment of SPNO.

[Experience with permanent cardiac pacemakers in the East Slovakian Region 1978-1987]. / Skúsenosti s trvalou kardiostimuláciou vo Východoslovenskom kraji v rokoch 1978 az 1987.

The authors present a group of patients where in the course of the 10-year period of 1978-1987 a permanent pacemaker was implanted. 587 primary implantations were made and 327 exchanges of cardiac pacemakers. The mean age in the group of primary implantations was 70.4 +/- 10.3 years, in the group of exchanges 70.4 +/- 10.6 years. n 98.8% pacemakers VVI and VOO made in Czechoslovakia were implanted. Indications for primary implantation were in 64% atrioventricular block (AV) grade III, in 11% AV block grade II, in 22% disease of the sinoatrial node and in 4% other dysrhytmias. The age category above 60 years accounts for 85.5% in the group of primary implantations. A positive feature is the low incidence of complications of surgical and technical nature. An unfavourable feature is that almost all implanted devices were the simplest single electrode systems where the frequency cannot be adapted and where other parameters cannot be changed.