[Preoxygenation--safety of induction].

Preoxygenation is a standard technique in general anaesthesia, but is frequently neglected. It has been proven that calm breathing of 100% oxygen allows for removal of 95% of the nitrogen from the body, replacing it with oxygen. This technique allows for safe intubation, even in difficult settings.

[Endotracheal suctioning in neonates and children].

Endotracheal suction is essential to keep the respiratory capacity of the bronchial tree. The aim of this study was to establish the principles reducing potential side-effects, like hypoxia, bradycardia, hypotension, arrhythmia, nosocomial infections. Analysing the literature we have selected the following major beneficial factors: 1:2 to 2:3 cathether - tracheal tube diameter ratio, individual adjustment of the suctioning frequency, maximal duration of the procedure capped at 10-15 sec.

[Role of the anesthesiologist in perioperative medicine].

Perioperative medicine is a new approaches for quicker and better preparation all patients for surgery and postoperative treatment. Perioperative medicine should fulfilled following problems: a) Preoperative assessment, b) Postoperative pain treatment, c) Postoperative intensive therapy. Anaesthesiologists are interested in above problems, except prolonged preoperative treatment, which is normally provided by other specialists.

[The role of specialist advisory boards in the development of anesthesiology and intensive care in Poland].

Specialists Advisory Board for the first time was funded of July 20th 1950, followed by the establishing country and share specialists. Advisory Board since the beginning is responsible for increasing medical knowledge and prophylactic. First country specialist was elected Mieczysław Justyna MD, PhD, in 1951.

Microcomputer-assisted monitoring system for measuring and processing cardiorespiratory variables: preliminary results of clinical trials.

A microcomputer-assisted monitoring system was developed for the continuous measuring and processing of cardiorespiratory variables, including: systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures, CVP, minute ventilation, inspired and expired O2 and CO2 concentrations, temperature, and heart rate. The primary data were converted to digital form, processed, displayed on a CRT monitor, and also stored for later evaluation. This system automatically calculated and displayed on-line and in real-time both primary measurements and derived cardiorespiratory variables, including: oxygen consumption, CO2 production, left and right ventricular stroke work, pulmonary venous admixture, and systemic and pulmonary vascular resistances.

Rashkind's operation in treatment of complete transposition of the great vessels in the newborn and infants.

The study is a result of many years investigations of a large pediatric team consisting of physicians from various specialities on the methods of management in cases of transposition of greater arterial vessels. Trials of surgical treatment requiring thoracotomy in the newborn with severe cardiorespiratory failure gave no good results. In recent years 65 operations of atrioseptostomy without thoracotomy were carried out during cardiac catheterization.

[Balloon atrioseptostomy (B.A.S.) in the management of neonates and infants with transposition of great vessels (author's transl)].

From June 1969 to April 1973, B.A.S.