[Acute interstitial nephritis. Role of ceftazidime].

A 22-year-old man treated with ceftazidime-amikacine for a Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia, experienced two days later allergic symptoms, acute renal failure and urinary sediment abnormalities. The renal biopsy showed an acute interstitial nephritis. Basophils stimulation test was positive for ceftazidime.

[Laryngeal masks in emergency medicine].

Airway control and maintenance of effective assisted ventilation are an absolute priority in emergency medicine. Developed by Brain in 1988, the laryngeal mask offers a new means of ventilation management and is a reliable compromise between the face mask and endotracheal tubing. The laryngeal mask ensures no protection against gastric contents inhalation and its use is limited in patients with decreased thoracopulmonary compliance.

[Endotracheal intubation under propofol with or without vecuronium].

Objective: In order to test the hypothesis that under the association propofol-alfentanil-IV lidocaine the trachea could be intubated easily without an additional muscle relaxant, this study compared the intubation conditions when this association was combined or not with vecuronium.

Study Design: Randomized comparative trial.

Patients: The study included 152 young adults classified as ASA physical class I and Mallampati presentation grade 1, randomly allocated either into Vecu+ group or Vécu0 group, depending on whether vecuronium was co-administered or not.

[Severe accidental hypothermia].

Two cases of severe accidental hypothermia (core temperature below 25 degrees C) are reported. Both occurred in an urban area during the same winter period. Both patients had the same age and similar clinical symptoms.