Graded pressure stockings in prevention of deep vein thrombosis following total hip replacement.

The occurrence and distribution of deep vein thrombosis after elective hip surgery were studied in 22 consecutive patients wearing graded pressure stockings as thromboprophylaxis. The frequency of thrombosis, as evidenced by leg-scan and phlebography, was 59%. Thirty-six per cent of the patients developed femoro-popliteal thrombosis.

A clinical and phlebographic study of postoperative deep vein thrombosis following knee meniscus extirpation.

To evaluate the risk of deep vein thrombosis, a clinical and phlebographic examination was performed 7 to 16 days after a bloodless knee meniscus operation in 37 male patients aged 20 to 35 years. Anticoagulant prophylaxis was not administered. Phlebography revealed asymptomatic calf vein thrombosis in three patients and these were not treated.

Tracheo-oesophageal fistula caused by cuffed tracheal tubes.

Two patients with tracheo-oesophageal fistula following endotracheal intubation and tracheostomy are reported. In both cases the fistulas were related to inflammation of the cuffs distal to the tracheostomy. Two kinds of surgical treatment were performed: (1) Resection of 3 cm of the cervical trachea, closure of the oesophageal fistula opening with absorbable sutures and interposing a muscle flap of the left sternohyoid muscle.

Reconstructive arterial surgery in peripheral obliterative atherosclerosis.

A series of 547 patients (678 extremities) subjected to reconstructive arterial surgery is presented, with a minimum observation period of 2 years. The incidence of associated diseases at the time of operation was high (39%) and accounted for an impressive mortality when the patients were observed for a longer period of time. The main indication for all types of reconstructions was intermittent claudication and the results are in accord with those reported in other larger series.

Spontaneous pneumothorax.

Patients with spontaneous pneumothorax, who were treated in this department during the period 1950-59, were reviewed in 1963. Since the treatment of this group of patients has changed radically towards a greater surgical activity in the form of suction drainage and thoracotomy, the patients from the next decade, comprising 229 episodes in 202 patients, have now been reviewed to evaluate the results of this attitude. The conclusion from the earlier review, that recidivating pneumothorax should be operated upon, is further supported, and in quite a few patients (9%) thoracotomy had to be performed to control the first attack.

Spontaneous haemopneumothorax.

Spontaneous haemopneumothorax is a rare disease and is reported in 2% to 5% of hospital series of spontaneous pneumothorax. In Ullevål Hospital, Surgical Department III, 228 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax were treated in the period 1960-70. Of these, five patients had haemopneumothorax, that is, approximately 2·2%.