Regional cerebral blood flow changes in chronic alcoholism using Tc-99m HMPAO SPECT. Comparison with CT parameters.

Twenty-eight patients were studied for regional cerebral blood flow changes as a result of chronic alcoholism. After the administration of 550 to 600 MBq Tc-99m HMPAO, tomographic slices were obtained using a SPECT camera. Eight regions per hemisphere were drawn on each transaxial section, and tracer redistribution was calculated for each region.

Use of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in the control of postoperative chest pain after cardiac surgery.

The effect of continuous transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on postoperative pain following median sternotomy was evaluated in 89 patients with severe chest pain who underwent cardiac surgery in a prospective, randomized, blinded trial. Pain was assessed by visual analog pain scores before and during treatment in each group. In the active TENS group, 79% of the patients were completely free of chest pain during rest at the end of 180 minutes (P less than 0.

Multiparametric evaluation of testicular atrophy due to varicocele.

63 men with palpable left varicoceles were evaluated by semen analysis, scrotal ultrasonography, Doppler sonography, scrotal contact thermography, and radionuclide scanning. 11 (17.4%) patients had bilateral varicoceles detected by scrotal ultrasonography as compared with an incidence of 3.

Sialographic and ultrasonographic analyses of major salivary glands.

Seventy patients with major salivary gland diseases (60 parotis, 10 submandibular) were examined both with sialography and ultrasonography. The clinical and histopathological results were compared with radiological interpretations. Sialography was found to be 60% accurate for the diagnosis of salivary gland tumors and cysts and 63% for the diagnosis of inflammatory diseases.

Combined internal mammary artery graft for coronary artery revascularization.

Five patients with multiple-vessel coronary artery disease underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting with a technique involving both internal mammary arteries and a small piece of interposed saphenous vein. The combined internal mammary artery grafts were used for sequential grafting. A total of 20 anastomoses were performed (average number, 4 anastomoses per patient).

Retrograde coronary sinus perfusion of cold cardioplegic solutions in the presence of coronary arterial occlusions. Experimental study.

Coronary arterial stenoses impose a constraint on the delivery of cold cardioplegic solutions conventionally perfused via the aortic root, resulting in uneven myocardial cooling and protection. Therefore the hearts undergoing coronary bypass operations show impaired cooling of the post-occlusive myocardial regions, and temperature gradients among different myocardial fields are registered after cold cardioplegic perfusion. We applied retrograde coronary sinus perfusion of cold cardioplegic solution in canine hearts with occluded multiple left coronary arterial branches to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks, and a uniform left ventricular cooling was demonstrated by this technique.

Aortico-left ventricular tunnel.

A 10-year-old boy with aortico-left ventricular tunnel, a very unusual congenital cardiovascular malformation, is presented. Closure of both orifices of the tunnel by round teflon patches is recommended. We think this surgical technique is superior to closure of these openings by primary sutures only, which can result in stretching and distortion of the aortic ring and leaflets leading to postoperative residual aortic regurgitation.

Olecranon nodules in a case of Behçet's disease.

A 33-year-old male with definite Behçet's disease had rheumatoid-like nodules at his elbows. This finding, we believe, represents another manifestation of vasculitis in Behçet's disease.