Swiss Mountain Guides: Medical Education, Knowledge, and Practice.

Mountain guides work daily in remote areas and high-altitude locations where specific hypoxia-related and common medical problems may occur. Arrival of rescue teams can be delayed, so mountain guides often have to rely on their own capabilities to provide first aid. Therefore, IFMGA-recognized Swiss mountain guides receive a specific medical education and are equipped with a dedicated medical kit.

Gallstone ileus.

Thirty-seven patients (33 women and four men, median age 78 years) were operated on for gallstone ileus over a 12-year period with a median follow-up of 6.2 years. Twenty-three patients (62 per cent) had serious concomitant diseases.

[Status of resection-anastomosis in emergency left-sided colon surgery].

Resection and primary anastomosis (RPA) in emergency left-side colon surgery is not universally performed because of anastomotic healing difficulties of unprepared, dilated, or inflamed colons. Ninety-three patients underwent emergency surgery for left-side colon disease. Sixty-three primary anastomoses were performed with a 16% mortality rate and a 6% incidence of anastomotic leakage.

Sclerotherapy of rectal varices.

Rectal varices represent a rare condition even in cases of portal hypertension. A case of bleeding ano-rectal varices presenting as the first manifestation of portal hypertension is reported. Treatment by sclerotherapy was successful.