Criteria for the notification of childhood tuberculosis in a high-incidence area of the western Cape Province

The medical records of 124 children notified from Ravensmead Clinic, Parow, as having tuberculosis during 1987 were reviewed in order to determine the strength of the evidence on which the diagnosis was made. Arranging the diagnostic criteria in an hierarchical manner, as suggested by the World Health Organisation, the cases were categorised as suspect, probable or confirmed. Twenty-five were suspect cases (20%), 89 probable cases (72%) and the remaining 10 confirmed cases (8%). These findings indicated that notifications from the clinic were being made in accordance with internationally accepted practice. The use of the WHO approach for the categorisation of childhood tuberculosis cases is recommended for both clinical and epidemiological purposes.     

Are Continuity Clinic Patients Less Satisfied When the Resident Is Postcall?

Due to recent public debate and newly imposed resident work hour restrictions, we decided to investigate the relationship of resident call status to their ambulatory patients' satisfaction. Resident continuity clinic patients were asked to rate their level of satisfaction on a 10-point Likert-type scale. Using multiple regression approaches, these data were then assessed as a function of resident call status. We found that in 646 patient encounters, patient satisfaction scores were significantly less when the resident was postcall, 8.99 ± 1.8, than when not postcall, 9.31 ± 1.3. We herein discuss etiologies and implications of these findings for both patient care and medical education.     

Severe hypokalemia in thyrotoxic periodic paralysis

Thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis is an uncommon but sometimes fatal disease in which early recognition and therapy may prevent untoward complications. The case of a 26-year-old Chinese man who presented to the emergency department with rapidly progressive profound weakness and severe hypokalemia (serum potassium, 1.2 mEq/L) is presented. The patient required endotracheal intubation, ventilatory assistance, and intravenous potassium administration. Emergency medical evaluation and management of this entity are discussed.     

Endoscopic and endoscope-assisted resections of inverted sinonasal papillomas.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the success of endoscopic and endoscope-assisted resection of inverted sinonasal papillomas and to assess the indications for adjunctive external procedures. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. RESULTS: Fifty patients were treated surgically during the 10-year study period and had greater than 1 year of follow-up care. These patients had a recurrence rate of 14% (7/50) with a mean follow-up of 31.1 months. Of these 7 patients with recurrences, 3 were treated primarily at this institution, and 4 had been treated prior to referral. Recurrence was 11% (3/27) for primary resections and 17% (4/23) for secondary resections. Average time to recurrence was 11.7 months. Of the patients, 38% (19/50) had adjunctive external procedures either during the initial resection or for the management of recurrent disease. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic and endoscope-assisted resections of inverted papilloma are effective techniques for managing inverted papilloma. The intraoperative findings, most importantly the site(s) of tumor attachment, dictate whether an endoscopic procedure is sufficient to complete resect the inverted papilloma or whether an adjunctive external procedure is required. Appropriate patient selection and an aggressive surgical approach are necessary for the management of these neoplasms.     

Importance of dosimeter calibration method on nebulizer output.

BACKGROUND: We have observed that dosimeter-run nebulizers have a much smaller output when manually activated than when breath activated; however, this has not been adequately investigated. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of different calibration methods on nebulizer output. METHODS: Six healthy subjects performed all calibrations. The nebulizers were operated by 2 different dosimeters and were calibrated to produce 9 microL per actuation by breath activation followed by exhalation to the room. The nebulizers were then operated at these identical settings, and the output determined in 3 ways: (1) breath activation followed by exhalation to the room, (2) breath activation with exhalation into the nebulizer, and (3) manual activation (with no subject using the nebulizer). These 3 methods were termed regular, rebreathe, and manual, respectively. RESULTS: There was a large and statistically significant difference in nebulizer output among the 3 methods. The measured rebreathe outputs (5.6 and 5.7 microL per actuation) were approximately two thirds and the manual outputs (3.2 and 3.9 microL per actuation) were approximately one third of the regular calibration outputs (8.6 and 8.9 microL per actuation); the 2 values are for the 2 dosimeters. The results were highly statistically significant (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The method by which a nebulizer-dosimeter system is calibrated results in different nebulizer outputs. This has a high likelihood of influencing the concentration of methacholine causing a 20% decrease in volume in the first second of forced expiration.     

The effects of preservation on microvascular vein grafts in rats

Segments 15 mm in length were excised from the femoral veins of rats and preserved by refrigeration at 4 C in lactated Ringer's solution for periods up to 21 days. The findings show that veins can be preserved for up to seven days and successfully grafted to recipients. Although there was some success in preserving vein segments for more than seven days, a high rate of thrombosis occurred after implantation in the recipients. It is generally accepted that damaged endothelium causes thrombosis. The light and electron microscopic observations in this study, however, suggest that the condition of the endothelium may not be the only important factor in the patency of small vessels. A thickened and prominent elastic lamina may also play a role in keeping the lumen open.