Superior vena caval obstruction: a 10-year experience

One hundred and fifty-nine patients with symptoms of superior vena caval obstruction who presented to two major hospitals over a 10-year period, from 1970 to 1979, were reviewed. Lung cancer was the most common histological diagnosis. The most common symptoms were dyspnoea and a feeling of fullness in the head. The most common physical findings were dilatation of the neck or chest wall veins, or oedema of the face and arms. Superior mediastinal widening was the most common radiological abnormality. No significant morbidity was associated with any diagnostic procedure. Only patients with lymphoma had a significantly longer survival period, both from the diagnosis of the disease, and from the onset of the symptoms of superior vena caval obstruction. There is no evidence that superior vena caval obstruction is an absolute medical emergency. Appropriate diagnostic steps should be undertaken to establish the histological diagnosis. The prognosis for some tumour types may be improved by combined modality therapy (chemotherapy plus radiotherapy).     

A prospective randomized trial of single-agent versus combination chemotherapy in meningeal carcinomatosis

Forty-four patients with documented meningeal carcinomatosis (small-cell lung carcinoma [SCLC], 29%; breast carcinoma, 25%) were treated in a prospective randomized trial with intrathecal methotrexate (MTX) 15 mg or MTX plus cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) 50 mg/m2. Most patients received intrathecal hydrocortisone (HC) each treatment to minimize arachnoiditis. Overall response was 55%. Seven patients achieved complete response. Response to MTX was superior to combined MTX/Ara-C, but not significantly so (61% v 45%; P greater than .10). Response was more frequent if drugs were administered via Ommaya reservoir than by lumbar puncture (65% v 48%; P greater than .10). Concurrent radiotherapy to the CNS was associated with significantly better response (73% v 35%; P less than .05). Small-cell lung carcinoma patients showed the best response (69%). Overall median survival for the whole group was 8 weeks, but responders fared better than nonresponders (median survival, 18 v 7 weeks; P less than .05). Nausea and vomiting were the most common toxicities encountered (45%), but rarely proved limiting. An unusual, previously undocumented reaction to intrathecal HC was noted. MTX is moderately effective in nonleukemic meningeal carcinomatosis, but the addition of Ara-C does not appear to improve results. Pretreatment factors did not predict outcome in this trial.     

Situational panic attacks. Behavioral, physiologic, and biochemical characterization

To investigate the pathophysiology of nonpharmacologically induced panic attacks, 18 drug-free agoraphobic patients and 13 matched healthy subjects underwent structured exposure to phobic situations. Heart rate, blood pressure, and plasma free 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), cortisol, growth hormone, and prolactin levels were measured before, during, and after exposure. Fifteen patients experienced situational panic attacks during exposure. Panicking patients displayed significantly greater increases in heart rate but not blood pressure or plasma free MHPG or cortisol in comparison with the healthy subjects. Growth hormone and prolactin responses tended to be smaller in the patients. If brain noradrenergic hyperactivity occurs during situational panic attacks, it may be too brief or too restricted in regional localization to affect MHPG levels in plasma. Chronically recurrent attacks may cause an adaptation of neuroendocrine mechanisms activated by anxiety or stress.     

The management of injuries--a review of deaths in hospital

A prospective review was undertaken of the management of 111 consecutive patients who died in hospital after admission for treatment of injuries. A standard set of data relating to each patient was reviewed by each member of a trauma death audit committee and then by the whole committee. Autopsy reports were available on all patients. Conclusions were drawn concerning defective aspects of patient management and possible avoidance of each death. Injury severity was assessed using the Trauma Score (TS) and Injury Severity Score (ISS). The possibly avoidable death (PAD) rate was 17%. The most common defects in management were related to inadequate fluid resuscitation and delays in definitive management. The greatest contributions to the PAD rate were from inadequate fluid resuscitation, delays and inadequate perception of the severity of injuries or significance of clinical deterioration. Increasing age was related to a higher frequency of PAD. PAD rate in the presence of severe head injury was 8%, but was 63% in the absence of a severe head injury. It is concluded that review of all trauma deaths is an achievable, beneficial and essential part of a hospital-based integrated trauma service. TS and ISS are not sufficiently sensitive to justify their use in selecting deaths for review. Improved blood volume replacement, earlier and more direct management and supervision by senior specialist staff, and elimination of causes of delay in patient management should all decrease the death rate from injuries particularly in patients without severe head injury.     

A Critical Analysis of the Sacks-Vine Gastrostomy Tube: A Review of 120 Consecutive Procedures

Results from 120 patients managed with a Sacks-Vine gastrostomy tube were analyzed. In our experience, this device can be successfully placed in almost all cases (96%), and has a low rate for procedure-related mortality (0.8%) and major (4.4%) and minor (12.4%) complications. Advantages and problems associated with this feeding catheter are discussed. The Sacks-Vine gastrostomy tube is a reasonable alternative to other catheters placed by different methods.