An estimation of the incidence and demographic picture of the major hemoglobinopathies in Belgium (from a confidential inquiry).

An estimation of the incidence and demographic picture of the major hemoglobinopathies in Belgium has been approached through a confidential inquiry sent to 228 pediatric and adult hematological departments. Forty-two percent of responses showed that 417 patients are known in Belgium: 83% with sickle cell disease, 13% with beta-thalassemia (beta-thal) major, 2% with beta-thal intermedia, and 1% with Hb H disease. Twenty-five percent of the sickle cell disease patients and 54% of those suffering from a beta-thal major were older than 20 years.

[Perforation of a hiatal hernia after a high altitude flight].

We report the case of a 84-year-old patient who came to the emergency department for vomiting and epigastralgia which had occurred during an air flight. These symptoms were related to the intraabdominal perforation of a massive hiatal hernia on barotrauma due to high altitude.

[Buccal ulcerations in an Ecuadorian patient].

The goal of this text is to remind the place of histoplasmosis in the differential diagnosis of chronical buccal lesions, even if this pathology is extremely rare in our countries. The diagnosis is easy and fast because we can do biopsy in a place easily accessible.

An overview of blood-sparing techniques used in spine surgery during the perioperative period.

The problems linked to blood loss and blood-sparing techniques in spine surgery have been less studied than in other fields of orthopedics, such as joint-replacement procedures. Decreasing bleeding is not only important for keeping the patient's hemodynamic equilibrium but also for allowing a better view of the surgical field. In spine surgery the latter aspect is especially important because of the vicinity of major and highly fragile neurologic structures.