Involuntary smoking cessation: a treatment option in chemical dependency programs for women and children.

Recent research has indicated that a relationship exists between nicotine addiction and the abuse of other substances. This relationship, as well as the severe impact of nicotine addiction on the health of women, their children, and the developing fetus, provides the basis of a rationale for developing chemical dependency programs for women where smoking is not allowed. Involuntary smoking cessation (ISC) programs have been tried recently in mixed-gender and male-only programs, and have met with strong resistance from clients.

Iliac vein bypass with autogenous saphenous vein for iliac vein compression syndrome.

A case of chronic obstruction of the left iliac vein is presented. The patient had failed conservative management. Surgical reconstruction was performed using autogenous saphenous vein.

Choledochoscopy in prevention of retained common bile duct stones.

More than 150,000 patients undergo exploration of the common bile duct each year in the United States, and approximately 10 per cent of these patients are later found to have retained common bile duct stones. The usual recommended procedure to decrease the incidence of retained calculi is a more complete exploration of the common duct at time of initial operation. It is thought that the incidence of retained common bile duct stones can be decreased and almost eliminated with proper use of the flexible choledochoscope following intraoperative cystic duct cholangiogram.

The value of aortic arch study in the evaluation of cerebrovascular insufficiency.

In evaluation of extracranial carotid vascular disease, the use of arteriography has long been considered essential. With increasing expertise in noninvasive testing, the importance of extensive dye studies is being questioned. The data presented herein indicate that proper preangiographic evaluation of the patient population drastically reduces the possibility of missing significant intrathoracic pathologic processes.