A novel technique for the treatment of post operative retro-rectal haematoma: two case reports.

Rectal bleeding following any form of rectal surgery is a well recognised complication 1, 2, 3 & 4. However retro-rectal bleeding and tracking which then presents as rectal bleeding has not been reported in the literature. We describe a novel way of dealing with this technically difficult post-operative complication.

Extensive injuries following a 'trip at home': a case report.

A 52-year-old, Caucasian, British man suffered significant injury following simple fall. A man with no significant past medical history, presented to the accident and emergency with right side chest pain and shortness of breath. He reported a simple fall, two days before admission.

Paediatric Boerhaave's syndrome: a case report and review of the literature.

We report a case of paediatric Boerhaave's syndrome in 15-year-old girl associated with massive dilatation of the stomach into the pelvis and transient hepatitis of uncertain aetiology. This cluster of clinical finding has not previously been reported. The young girl initially presented with abdominal pain, vomiting and lower urinary tract symptoms.

Ultrasound-guided unilateral neck exploration for sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism: is it worthwhile?

The role of preoperative localisation tests before initial neck exploration for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) remains controversial, as does the optimal surgical approach. We report our experience with preoperative ultrasound (US) and the operative management of sporadic PHP between 1990 and 1995. Preoperative US was carried out by an experienced radiologist.

A comparison of teicoplanin versus cephradine plus metronidazole in the prophylaxis of post-operative infection in vascular surgery.

A total of 272 patients were enrolled into this prospective, unblinded, randomized comparison of single-dose teicoplanin vs three doses of cephradine plus metronidazole as prophylaxis for vascular surgery at St James's and Seacroft Hospitals, Leeds, UK. In all, 71.3% of patients (194/272) were enrolled at St James's University Hospital.

Teicoplanin vs cephradine and metronidazole in the prophylaxis of sepsis following vascular surgery: an interim analysis of an ongoing trial.

This paper presents further preliminary results of a trial of the prophylaxis of sepsis in 165 patients undergoing vascular surgery. The efficacy and safety of a single dose of teicoplanin was examined and compared with three doses of cephradine plus metronidazole. No significant differences were detected in the prophylactic efficacy in either group.

A comparison of teicoplanin vs. cephradine and metronidazole in surgical prophylaxis: an interim analysis.

The preliminary results of a trial to examine and compare the safety, tolerability and efficacy of a single dose of teicoplanin with three doses of cephradine combined with metronidazole are presented in a series of 113 patients undergoing elective vascular surgery. There were no obvious differences in the infection rates and sepsis indicators in either group. Neither drug regimen produced any evidence of renal or hepatic damage, though the levels of three hepatocellular enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyl-transferase (GGT), were seen to be transiently elevated, peaking 7 days post-operatively.

Teicoplanin: Part 2. Evaluation of its use in the biliary system.

Teicoplanin is a new antibiotic currently undergoing extensive investigation to evaluate its potential use in the prophylaxis and treatment of appropriate infection. To ascertain its penetration into the biliary system, 24 patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy were randomised to receive an intravenous bolus of 400 mg teicoplanin 1, 3, 6 or 12 h prior to surgery. During the operation, blood, gall bladder bile and tissue and common bile duct bile were removed for teicoplanin estimation.

Teicoplanin: Part 1. An evaluation of the concentrations seen in serum and the subcutaneous fat of the relatively ischaemic lower limb following a single intravenous bolus.

Teicoplanin is a new antibiotic currently undergoing clinical evaluation. Consecutive patients undergoing elective vascular surgery (n = 28) were randomised to receive a single intravenous bolus of 400 mg teicoplanin 1, 3, 6 or 12 h prior to surgery as prophylaxis against Gram-positive infection. Serum and fat antibiotic levels were measured and found to exceed the established MICs for common staphylococcal and streptococcal infections for at least 12 h following administration.

A study of fucidin uptake in ischaemic tissues.

Twenty-five patients undergoing vascular surgery were given Fucidin 500 mg t.d.s.

A review of antibiotic prophylaxis for open fractures.

A review of the literature strongly supports the use of antibiotic prophylaxis in open fracture management. Because of their broad spectrum of activity, cephalosporins are the drugs of choice in cases of orthopaedic trauma. The extent of the injury determines the appropriate agent and the length of time it should be given.

Monocyte dysfunction in severe trauma: evidence for the role of C5a in deactivation.

Consecutive severely traumatized patients (n = 16) requiring intensive care underwent serial monitoring of complement activation and monocyte migratory function with the chemoattractant activated serum (C5a) and formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP). Complement was found to be activated, and chemotaxis to C5a was correspondingly depressed maximally at a mean 5 to 7 days after injury (p = less than 0.01).

A rapid method for monocyte isolation and chemotaxis.

A rapid method for isolating human peripheral blood monocytes and studying chemotaxis is described. The cells are isolated at a mean purity of 60% (+/- 10%) using Dextran. T500 sedimentation of whole blood, followed by centrifugation of the leucocyte-rich plasma obtained on a discontinuous Percoll gradient (density 1.

Suppressed neutrophil oxidative activity in sepsis: a receptor-mediated regulatory response.

We have reported that neutrophils from patients with intraabdominal sepsis show suppressed superoxide production in response to soluble chemoattractants. To determine whether this could be a result of altered receptor function, neutrophil function studies and characterization of receptors were performed upon 22 patients recently operated upon for intraabdominal sepsis. Patient cells showed an absence of subagarose migratory response to activation serum (C5) but intact FMLP response.

Regulation of monocyte function by complement activation products.

Normal human monocytes, obtained at a mean purity of 60% by Percoll density gradient centrifugation, were found to be chemotactically deactivated to C5a by exposure to low, and biologically significant, concentrations of zymosan-activated serum (ZAS), while retaining their full response to FMLP. C5a was found to be 40X more potent than its metabolite C5adesArg in reducing chemotaxis to activated pooled serum. Conversely, exposure of monocytes to varying concentrations of N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) decreased chemotaxis to that attractant, though had no effect on chemotaxis to activated serum.

Morbidity of simple cholecystectomy and cholecystectomy with transduodenal sphincteroplasty.

Exploration of the common bile duct via transduodenal sphincteroplasty is thorough and provides an opportunity for the natural passage of retained calculi. However, this procedure destroys both the sphincter ampulla and sphincter choledochus, the sequelae of which are unknown. Fifty patients who had a transduodenal sphincteroplasty performed between 1970 and 1980 were randomly selected and compared with 50 patients who only had cholecystectomy.

Transduodenal sphincteroplasty: an analysis of 118 consecutive cases.

The results of 118 consecutive common bile duct explorations via transduodenal sphincteroplasty are presented and analysed. The operations were performed for suspected choledocholithiasis by one surgeon over a 10-year period. Choledocholithiasis was proved in 22 per cent of the cholecystectomies carried out during this period and tended to present significantly earlier in females, 14.

Radical excision of the nailfold for ingrowing toenail.

A simple method of treatment for ingrowing toenail by radical excision of the affected nailfold is described. The results in a prospective series of 50 patients are presented. This procedure, first described in 1872, does not destroy the nail, which heals to give an excellent cosmetic result.