[Distraction osteogenesis in the head and neck region].

Distraction osteogenesis is used in oral and maxillofacial surgery for the purpose of lengthening or widening an upper or lower jaw or to reposition the jaw to such an extent as cannot be achieved with normal osteotomy. This technique moves the parts of an osteomised bone slowly apart. Subsequently, new trabecular bone growth occurs between the separate bone parts that is then turned into bone with a normal mineralised architecture.

Keuskamp and the Amsterdam Infant Ventilator.

At the First International Symposium on the History of Modern Anaesthesia (1982), Professor Keuskamp mentioned that the introduction of breathing machines for lung ventilation during operations had taken over 'the tiresome handwork of ventilation'. This paper traces some aspects of Keuskamp's professional career and his role in the development of the Amsterdam Infant Ventilator. In 1974, Urban and Weitzner from the State University of New York reported that the ventilator was a reliable and effective constant-volume paediatric ventilator.

[Physostigmine for the immediate treatment of a patient with the central anticholinergic syndrome induced by cocaine cut with atropine].

A 34-year-old man was admitted in a coma after a nightlong abuse of cocaine and alcohol, whereupon he fell and convulsed at home. There was a fracture of the nose, hyperpyrexia, tachycardia and hypertension. Dry mouth and mydriasis were suggestive of anticholinergic poisoning.

[Submental intubation: surgical and anesthesiological aspects].

In patients with cranio-maxillofacial trauma and in corrections of cranio-facial anomalies submental intubation may be used during surgery and postoperatively. In the period June 2001-May 2002 submental intubation was performed on five patients with cranio-maxillofacial trauma and on two patients with cranio-facial anomalies (Dubowitz syndrome (LeFort II osteotomy and distraction) in one patient and cheilognathopalatoschisis (Le Fort I osteotomy and distraction) in the other). In accordance with the literature the submental intubation technique was a useful, fast and safe technique which provides a secure airway during surgery.