Surgical treatment of Graves' disease: subtotal thyroidectomy might still be the preferred option.

Objective: The aim of this prospective study was to report our results after thyroidectomy for Graves' disease. In addition, the relationship between the thyroid remnant and postoperative thyroid function was studied.

Material And Methods: Forty-nine consecutive patients were operated on for Graves' disease.

Life expectancy of patients with malignant pleural effusion treated with video-assisted thoracoscopic talc pleurodesis.

The aim of the current study was to analyse postoperative complications and survival after video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) talc pleurodesis for malignant pleural effusion. All patients with morphologically proven malignant pleural effusion who underwent VATS talc pleurodesis from November 1995 to November 2002 were included in retrospective analysis. VATS was performed in general anaesthesia and 5 g of asbestos-free talc was insufflated into the pleural cavity.

Parents' satisfaction with medical and social assistance provided to children with Down syndrome: experience in Estonia.

Objective: Parents of children with mental or physical disabilities have been assumed to live more stressful lives than other parents, and people with Down syndrome (DS) may get second-rate care because of their diagnosis. The aim of this work is to investigate the extent of parents' satisfaction with medical and social services in Estonia provided for the DS individuals and their families.

Methods: From 1999 to 2001, fifty-nine DS families answered questionnaires in which we inquired about their satisfaction with medical and social assistance.