[A rare cause of hydrocephalus in an infant: chronic vitamin A poisoning].

A case of chronic vitamin A intoxication is reported in an infant under 6 months of age. The features included hydrocephalus, usually described in acute hypervitaminosis A and the other cutaneous, hepatic and skeletal signs observed in chronic intoxication.

[Mycotic aneurysm after catheterization of the umbilical artery].

The finding of an abdominal mass in an 18-month old infant ultimately led to the diagnosis of mycotic aneurysm of a common iliac artery. The lesion was resected and the vessel was ligated. The short and long-term outcome was favourable.

Prognostic factors of severe infectious purpura in children.

The French Club of Pediatric Intensive Care has prospectively studied 90 cases of infectious purpura which were hospitalized in 1981; the purpose of this study was to determine prognostic factors. The statistical study (X2 test) of all these cases is in agreement with data in the literature and shows that the mortality is significantly higher when there is: shock (p less than 0.001), coma (p less than 0.

[Staphylococcal toxic shock].

The authors report the case of a 5 year-old child who, after a sore throat, developed gastrointestinal problems, high fever, scarlatinaform rash, conjunctivitis, shock with renal failure and involvement of liver, pancreas and muscles. No infectious site was detected. However, he had positive blood culture for staphylococcus aureus.

[Tetanus. Apropos a case].

The authors report a case of tetanus in a 19 months infant who has only received BCG. After a four days period during which two laryngeal spasms occurred, the infant presents a generalized tetanus. The outcome was favorable with specific serotherapy myorelaxants and assisted ventilation of four weeks duration.

[Cerebral abscess due to abnormal caval return].

A case of abnormal venous return is reported. It was discovered during investigation of a cerebral abscess. There was a persisting and unique left superior vena cava, draining in the left atrium.

[The ventricular pressure-volume ratio, an index of left ventricular performance in man].

The left ventricular systolic pressure-volume diagram has been established before and after infusion of Nitro-prusside, Angiotensin and over post-extrasystolic potentiation on 33 patients, by the simultaneous measure of the aortic pressure and the left ventricular volume. In every case left ventricular dp/dt max. and (dp/dt/Pt) max.