[Myocardial infarction in a 16-year old following inhalation of butane gas].

Background: Butane gas is inhaled by young people with the aim of getting 'high'. This can cause coronary spasm with myocardial infarction and ventricular fibrillation as a result.

Case Description: We report on a 16-year-old male who collapsed at home after sniffing butane.

Hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 versus modified fluid gelatin for volume expansion in cardiac surgery patients: the effects on perioperative bleeding and transfusion needs.

In this prospective, randomized, open controlled study we compared the effects on net red blood cell loss of 6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 (HES: n = 64) and 3% modified fluid gelatin (GEL: n = 68) administered for intravascular volume management in patients undergoing coronary surgery. Blood losses were calculated from determination of circulating blood volume and measurement of preoperative and postoperative hematocrit.