[Postoperative analgesia with thoracic peridural morphine in pulmonary surgery. 117 cases].

Post-operative analgesia by peridural injection of morphine in the thoracic spine was evaluated in a series of 117 successive patients with pulmonary pathology operated upon by the same surgeon. The catheters were introduced, either on the day preceding the operation or at the end of it, above or below T6-T7, after localization of the peridural space by the hanging drop technique or by loss of resistance to a liquid mandrel; 5 mg of preservative-free morphine diluted in 3 ml isotonic saline were injected. The catheter was left in situ for 3 days, then systematically removed and cultivated.

[Experimental study of changes in the pressure of the posterior segment of the eye under general anesthesia. Consequences for surgery of the anterior segment].

Animal studies were conducted to compare variations in intraocular (IOP) and posterior segment pressure (PSP) during general anesthesia to assess the role of PSP in the development of anesthesia for ophthalmological procedures. Anesthetic agents appear to have a marked effect on IOP during operations involving opening of hypertonic globe or examinations of children under general anesthesia, but their action on IOP has no significance during procedures requiring opening of the anterior chamber because of alteration of aqueous humor physiology. The PSP, defined as pressure in the posterior segment when the anterior segment is at atmospheric pressure, is the main factor affecting surgical conditions, a rise in PSP possibly resulting in typical complications of cataract surgery but having beneficial effects in corneal grafts for example.

[Ionized plasma calcium variations and injection of radiologic contrast media].

Ionized serum calcium was determined, using a selective electrode, after administration of 80 ml of radiological contrast medium. The ionized calcium concentration was significantly diminished during five minutes after injection (control: 0,98 +/- 0,02 mmol/l; 3 min: 0,94 +/- 0,02 mmol/l, p less than 0,01; 5 min: 0,94 +/- 0,01 mmol/l, p less than 0.05).

[Enzymatic changes after arteriography of the lower limbs (author's transl)].

Various serum enzyme activities were studied in 15 adult patients before aortography and at the 6th hour and on the first five days after investigation; and at comparable intervals in 8 adult patients who had a bilateral transfemoral arteriography. A significant rise in serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) level was noted at the 6th hour (p < 0.01), on the 1st day (p < 0.

[Translumbar intra-aortography. Hemodynamic consequences (author's transl)].

The hemodynamic consequences of the translumbar intra-aortic injection of 80 ml of contrast media were studied in 28 patients, in whom cardiac output was determined using thermodilution. These measurements revealed that the vasoplegia produced by the intra-aortic injection of contrast media is of smaller amplitude and longer duration than that evidenced during regional flow determinations. Moreover, the decrease in vascular peripheral resistances and the increase in cardiac output, accompanied by bradycardia, persist for several minutes.