Paraneoplastic pemphigus without antibodies to desmoglein 1 and 3.

Paraneoplastic pemphigus is a severe autoimmune blistering disease presenting in the setting of underlying malignancy. Paraneoplastic pemphigus is associated with diffuse painful stomatitis throughout the oral cavity with extension to the lips. The cutaneous findings are varied and have been described as lichenoid, pemphigoid, and targetoid lesions.

Hemorheological and hemodynamic effects of high molecular weight polyethylene oxide solutions.

Hemorheological and hemodynamic effects of high molecular weight polyethylene oxide (PEO) solutions have been studied in vitro and in vivo at 30 experimental dogs. The rheological behaviour of the PEO solutions and of blood samples has been assessed by rotational viscometers at 20 degrees C, 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C. An addition of PEO solutions to the blood in vitro has modified its rheological behavior, depending on the shear rates, concentration and temperature.

Transthoracic reconstructions of the innominate artery with atherosclerotic occlusions.

Background: Literature reports concerning transthoracic reconstructive operations of the innominate artery (IA) are rare.

Methods: Six men and one woman aged from 48 to 64 years were operated on -- all of them had atherosclerotic IA lesions. Some of them had additional vascular disease such as coronary atherosclerotic lesions in one patient, another one had chronic arterial ischemia (CM) of the lower extremities and one patient underwent a stroke.

[The surgical correction of an ostium secundum defect in the interatrial septum].

The operation of choice for correction of secundum type atrial septal defect is cardiopulmonary bypass. Combination of atrial septal defect with partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage is considered absolute indication for bypass operation. The authors apply an original method for closure of the defect without resorting to bypass.

[The indications for surgical methods in treating diseases of the coronary arteries].

Included in the study were 236 operations for ischemic heart disease (IHD) aorto-coronary shunt (ACS)--88 patients; ACS + aneurysmectomy--30; ACS + endarterectomy--12, aneurysmectomy--70; skin endocoronary balloon angioplasty--34, heart transplantation--2. The postoperative mortality was 6.5 per cent.

[Suppurative complications following sternotomy].

For a ten-year period when 366 median sternotomies have been performed, 206 of them in cardiac operations under bypass, there were 15 dehiscences of the sternum (4.09 per cent). The method of early revision with subsequent one-story suture and persistently washing aspiration drainage was applied for treatment of grave complication.

[Congenital anomalies of the coronary arteries].

Two patients with congenital anomalies of the coronary arteries were operated. One them had aneurysm of the Valsalva sinus and anomalous drainage of the right coronary into the right ventricle with 60 per cent arterio-venous shunt. The second had angiodysplastic-type anomaly of the left coronary artery.

[Echinococcosis of the heart].

From 1971 through 1987 six patients with echinococcus of the hear have been operated. In four of them the hydatid cyst was localized in the right portion of the heart and in two in the left ventricle. Left thoracotomy was used for the operation of the former four patients, whereas the hydatid cysts localized in the left ventricle were operated under bypass circulation.