A comparison of head impact characteristics during elite men's Rugby Union fifteens and sevens match play.

Different forms of rugby may pose distinct risks to head injury. Video of rugby match footage was analyzed using head impact magnitude, frequency, and time interval for 15s and 7s athletes. Impacts were reconstructed in laboratory, and finite element modeling was used to estimate maximum principal strain.

A simple classification of the risk in cardiac surgery.

A new risk classification for patients undergoing cardiac surgery has been used for the last two years by the anaesthesiologists of the Montreal Heart Institute. The following factors known to be associated with a greater operative morbidity and mortality were selected: (1) poor left ventricular function, (2) congestive heart failure, (3) unstable angina or recent (less than 6 weeks) myocardial infarction, (4) age over 65 years, (5) severe obesity (Body Mass Index greater than 30), (6) reoperation, (7) emergency surgery, (8) other significant or uncontrolled systemic disturbances. Patients with none of the above factors were classified as normal risks; those presenting with one of those selected factors were classified as increased risks, and those with more than one factor were said to carry a high risk.

Hypertension following coronary artery bypass graft.

Hypertension following coronary surgery is generally reported at an alarmingly high incidence (30 to 75 per cent). A vigilance program carried out in 1977 at the Montreal Heart Institute disclosed a low incidence of 3.5 per cent in 200 consecutive unselected cases.

[Delirium after surgery with extra-corporeal circulation].

The recent literature still reports a high incidence of delirium in patients operated with extracorporeal circulation. This syndrome is found more often in patients over 50 years and in patients with a previous history of delirium, alcoholism, drug addiction or cerebral damage and is more frequent after valvular than after coronary surgery. It is also often observed in patients who present major post-operative complications.

[The pre-operative visit in cardiovascular surgery].

This text is intended for new residents in the development of anaesthesia of the Montreal Heart Institute. It presents a classification of the risk of cardiovascular surgery used in that institution and discusses current problems encountered with this type of patient (pulmonary and coagulation problems, diabetes renal failure). The attitudes of anaesthetists of this institution towards patients' medication and premedication are also discussed.

Intubation and other experiences in cardiac surgery: the consumer's views.

Recently publications have advocated earlier weaning and early extubation of the trachea in patients after cardiac surgery. Greater comfort of the patients is one of the advantages claimed for this policy. One hundred consecutive adult patients were questioned on the fifth postoperative day to assess the relative comfort or discomfort of the patients during tracheal intubation and ventilation.

[A new way of access into the internal jugular vein].

This paper describes a new technique for the canulation of the internal jugular vein. A transsection of the neck at the level of C4 (upper border of the thyroid cartilage) (Figure 1) shows the relative position of the internal jugular vein, the carotid artery and the sternocleidomastoid muscle. The internal jugular vein at this level is more superficial than is usually imagined.

[Technics, value and limitations of hemodilution in extracorporeal circulation].

Hemodilution during E.C.C.

[Conservation of the blood].

Many factors already contribute to limit the amount of bank blood available for therapeutic use; a possible reduction in the amount of available blood could stem from the relative indifference of young people towards the gift of blood and the increase in the size of the pool of positive carriers of Australian antigen. Moreover, new operations appear (coronary by-pass) which increase the demand for blood. It is imperative that we adopt attitudes and practice techniques that will contribute to the conservation of blood.