[A new method of pain sedation following thymectomy in myasthenia gravis. 2 cases].

Two patients with myasthenia gravis were ventilated postoperatively using propofol and piritramide for analgosedation. Under this treatment the patients' ability to cooperate and communicate was maintained and allowed a patient-controlled readjustment of pyridostigmine dosage and weaning from the respirator.

[Antithrombin III behavior in open heart operations in infancy and early childhood].

Antithrombin III activity was evaluated preoperatively, intraoperatively and postoperatively in the plasma of 54 children with congenital heart disease undergoing open heart surgery. The patients were divided into an acyanotic and a cyanotic group. A comparison of these two groups indicated a significantly decreased AT III activity in cyanotic children as compared to acyanotic children throughout the perioperative phase.

[Results of emergency aortocoronary bypass surgery in patients with acute myocardial ischemia after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty].

From April 1980 to June 1985 7.3% (15) of 205 PTCA-treated patients required emergency operations. The spectrum of PTCA-induced ischemia included anginal pain alone (2/1, 13%) or transmural infarction (13/15, 87%) with hypotension (8/15), cardiac arrest (4/15), and severe cardiogenic shock (3/15, 20%).

[Open heart surgery in Jehovah's Witnesses].

Patients who are Jehovah's Witnesses present a special problem when undergoing open heart surgery since they refuse blood transfusion. We performed 15 open heart operations for both acquired and congenital heart disease using a modified version of isovolaemic haemodilution and bloodless prime technique of extracorporeal circulation. Two patients died.