Use of the SIGN IM nail system to stabilize tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis in two African hospital settings.

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness and describe the technique of using the Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) nail to augment tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) arthrodesis in the developing world.

Design: Retrospective review of the SIGN database and description of surgical technique.

Setting: Two centers in rural Kenya, East Africa.

Risk Factors for Infection After Intramedullary Nailing of Open Tibial Shaft Fractures in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Objectives: (1) To determine the infection rate after fixation of open tibial shaft fractures using the Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) intramedullary nail in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and (2) to identify risk factors for infection.

Design: Prospective cohort study using an international online database.

Setting: Multiple hospitals in LMICs worldwide.

Use of coronary Palmaz-Schatz stent in the percutaneous treatment of an intracranial carotid artery stenosis.

A 69-yr-old man had chronic transient ischemia attacks due to severe stenosis of the intracranial portion of the right carotid artery. After failure of both antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy, treatment was successful with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and a coronary Palmaz-Schatz stent. Use of the stent led to a better angiographic result than angioplasty alone.

Differences in treatment and survival rates of non-small-cell lung cancer in three regions of France.

Treatment and survival rates of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were compared between three French Cancer Registries (Calvados, Doubs, Tarn). The methodological issues in such comparisons are discussed. The treatments for NSCLC differed between the regions: radiotherapy tended to be preferred in Calvados (73% vs 21.

The impact of a resident-directed survey on the education curriculum of a university surgical training program.

Surgical training programs use various objective and subjective means to evaluate housestaff performance. However it is less clear how to assess the quality of the educational experience the program itself provides. This study examines the use of a resident-directed survey as a means of identifying and rectifying weakness in a surgical training curriculum.

Postischemic renal dysfunction: the limited role of xanthine oxidase-generated oxygen free radicals.

Oxygen free radicals (OFRs) generated during reperfusion are putative mediators of postischemic renal dysfunction. To address this issue, the renal response to ischemia and reperfusion was compared to the response to OFR generation without ischemia. Isolated rat kidneys were perfused at 37 degrees C and 90-100 mm Hg with an asanguinous modified Krebs' buffer.

Pediatric blunt liver injury: establishment of criteria for appropriate management.

There is no consensus regarding the most appropriate management of pediatric blunt liver injury. This study addresses this issue by reviewing our experience with blunt liver trauma in relationship to the grade of injury. Forty-one pediatric patients with blunt abdominal trauma and documented liver injury were managed from 1979 to 1989.

Oxygen free radical mediated renal dysfunction.

Postischemic renal dysfunction (PIRD) is characterized by a reduction in glomerular filtration and tubular reabsorption of solute. The relative contribution of oxygen free radicals (OFRs) generated during reperfusion remains unclear. This study characterized the renal response to OFRs--independent of an ischemic insult.

The contribution of hypoxia to postischemic renal dysfunction.

Renal ischemia is a multifactorial insult consisting of both hypoxia and stagnation of blood flow. This study compared the renal response with hypoxia alone versus ischemia (hypoxia and stagnation of flow). Isolated rat kidneys were perfused at 90 to 110 mm Hg and 37 degrees C with an asanguinous modified Krebs' buffer.

Effect of hypoxia on renal flow.

The isolated perfused rat kidney was used to characterize the renal response to hypoxia while flow was maintained. Hypoxia resulted in an 85% reduction in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) without any change in total renal vascular resistance. There was an initial 85% increase in urine flow rate (UV) and a 45% decrease in percent sodium reabsorption due to hypoxic metabolic inhibition of solute reabsorption.

A model of hypoxic renal failure.

Models of ischemic acute renal failure (ARF) must consider the combination of tissue hypoxia, insufficient nutrient flow, and anaerobic waste product accumulation. This study utilized isolated perfused rat kidneys to characterize the renal response to a graded hypoxic insult while maintaining flow. Kidneys were perfused at 37 degrees C with an asanguineous Krebs-buffered saline.