Preoperatively assessing and planning blood use for elective vascular surgery.

Few guidelines exist for determining transfusion needs and strategies, namely, the appropriate use of autologous versus homologous blood for elective vascular surgery. To address this deficiency, we have developed and used an algorithm based on an analysis of the procedure, maximum surgical blood ordering schedule, patient status, and patient suitability for autologous alternatives. Data were derived from consecutive major vascular procedures done at our hospital from 1991 to 1992.

A simplified technique for a totally diverting transverse loop colostomy and distal irrigation.

This technique of totally diverting loop colostomy may be performed as an independent procedure or with exploratory laparotomy and surgical treatment on the distal part of the colon. Either a transverse or sigmoid loop colostomy can be used for diversion without the risk of fecal contamination of the peritoneal cavity, particularly when working with unprepared intestine. When distal irrigation is desired to purge the intestine of fecal material, either intraoperatively or as part of a subsequent intestinal preparation, it can easily be accomplished by placing an irrigating catheter distal to the staple line.

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in brain: localization in and release from isolated nerve terminals.

The vasoactive intestinal polypeptide was present in synaptosomal (nerve ending) preparations from cerebral cortex, hypothalamus, and striatum of rat brain in higher concentrations than in these tissues as a whole. The total content and relative specific activity of the peptide increased with progressive purification of the synaptosomal fractions and generally followed the distribution of known synaptosomal constituents--dopamine, norepinephrine, and lactate dehydrogenase (L-lactate:NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.