A rationale for the use of sequential coronary artery bypass grafts.

The use of sequential coronary artery bypass grafts has been advocated because of improved graft runoff and increased blood flow through the graft with this technique. To examine the influence of runoff, quantitated in terms of coronary vascular resistance, on the velocity of blood flow through coronary artery bypass grafts, we made two sets of simultaneous pressure and flow measurements in 106 single grafts and in 35 double sequential grafts. The first set of measurements was obtained following the aortic anastomosis and the second set of measurements was made following completion of the coronary anastomosis.

Heparin removal in an autotransfusor device.

In order to determine the residual heparin in the supernatant fluid recovered from blood washed with increasing amounts of solution in the Haemonetics Cell Saver, various modifications of Grann's polybrene neutralization test applied. It is suggested that each 450 to 500 ml of recovered heparinized blood be washed with a minimum of 500 ml of saline, although 700 ml is advisable. The red color from hemolyzed erythrocytes may clear while unacceptably high levels of heparin remain.

The gastrocnemius myocutaneous flap used as a over for the exposed knee prosthesis.

Exposure of the prosthesis is one of the problems encountered after arthroplasty of the knee. Eight patients with nine exposed prostheses have been treated by using a gastrocnemius myocutaneous flap to provide cover. This preserved the prosthesis and closed the joint in six of the eight patients.

Use of the refractive index to measure the adequacy of glycerol removal from previously frozen erythrocytes.

A common method for measuring deglycerolization of previously frozen erythrocytes is to determine the osmolality of the supernatant fluid after completion of the wash cycle. We attempted to compare this type of examination with the simpler, faster, and cheaper determination of refractive index (RI) using the Goldberg refractometer. One hundred twenty units of deglycerolized red blood cells, some with glycerol added so as to exceed an acceptable 1% glycerol content, had measurements made of the post-wash supernatant fluid by refractive index and osmometry.

A prolonged hematopoietic disturbance associated with aortic aneurism and splenomegaly in a squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus). A case report.

In a squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus), monitored clinically for five years, histopathological review revealed diffuse lymphoblastic lymphocytes infiltrating the thyroid, kidney, liver, pancreas, adrenal medulla, internal fat, extramedullary hematopoietic foci in the spleen and liver, and a mild chronic peritonitis.

Successful treatment of a malignant gastrinoma with streptozotocin.

The treatment with streptozotocin of a patient with metastatic gastrinoma is described. Two courses of intravenous streptozotocin were without effect. However, three months after two doses of 4 g streptozotocin were given into the coeliac axis, there was a marked reduction in hepatic size and a fall in fasting plasma gastrin levels from 1430 pmol/l to 240 pmol/l.

Reversible interstitial pneumonitis associated with low dose bleomycin.

A patient with nodular histiocytic lymphoma was treated with bleomycin; she later developed interstitial pneumonitis documented by lung biopsy. The dose of bleomycin producing this complication was lower than previously reported, and the pulmonary toxicity was apparently completely reversible.

Pneumocephalus: an unusual cause.

A 60 year old male had an open thoracotomy for bronchogenic carcinoma. On the twelfth hospital day he became obtunded and complained of headache. Radiographs revealed intracranial air.