Complications of preoperative balloon test occlusion of the internal carotid arteries: experience in 300 cases

Treatment of some tumors and aneurysms of the skull base may require internal carotid artery (ICA) sacrifice. Preoperatively to determine the dependence of the cerebral blood flow on a particular vessel, we perform a balloon test occlusion (BTO) by temporarily occluding the vessel in an awake patient. During occlusion, clinical evaluations and cerebral blood flow measurements are assessed. We have performed 300 BTOs. Eleven patients (3.7%) have had complications. Six (2%) were asymptomatic dissections. Five (1.7%) had neurologic deficits that persisted beyond the test period. Of these five, one was back to baseline in less than 24 hours, one recovered completely in a week, and one (0.33%) had a minimal but persistent dysphasia. These latter three cases are unexplained but might have resulted from unrecognized dissections or embolic events. Finally, one patient with a persistent deficit required energency surgery for reasons unrelated to the BTO and was therefore difficult to assess, and one required emergency middle cerebral artery embolectomy and repair of the dissection. The preoperative knowledge of carotid dependence in cases in which the ICA is at risk is essential, since vascular grafts or alternative surgical approaches are necessary in patients unable to tolerate carotid sacrifice. Since approximately 15 to 20% of the population falls into this category, a preoperative BTO appears justified.     

Respiratory syncytial virus genotypes and disease severity among children in hospital

OBJECTIVES: To determine the spectrum of N and G genotypes of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causing respiratory tract infection and whether particular genotypes are associated with severity of infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs) were obtained from 114 infants with acute respiratory tract infection due to RSV over two seasons. Viral mRNA was extracted from NPAs or cultured virus, reverse transcribed, and the cDNA amplified by the polymerase chain reaction using primers directed to parts of the N and G gene respectively. Amplicons were separately digested with four different restriction endonucleases for each gene. The fragments were separated by agarose gel, electrophoresis, and the electrophoretic patterns used to assign the various genotypes. Disease severity was assessed as very mild (upper respiratory tract signs only), mild (coryza and signs of lower respiratory tract infection), moderate (requiring nasogastric or intravenous fluids), and severe (requiring oxygen or ventilation). RESULTS: Five of the six known N genotypes were detected, but NP4 and NP2 were found most frequently. There was no association between N genotype and disease severity. Six G (SHL) genotypes were detected. Significantly (p = 0.04) more of the infants infected with the SHL2 genotype had severe or moderate disease. CONCLUSIONS: During the seasonal peaks of RSV respiratory tract infection at least 10 different RSV genotypes cocirculated. While there is no association between N genotypes and disease severity, infection with the SHL2 G genotype appears to result in moderate to severe disease.     

国内真菌性角膜溃疡治疗进展

真菌性角膜角膜溃疡发病率逐年上升,目前主要采用抗真菌药物治疗、手术治疗、抗真菌药物联合手术治疗以及中西结合治疗,尚无特效的治疗方法。本文就治疗该病的最新进展进行了综述。     

60家医院创建无烟医院对医生控烟知识态度行为的影响

目的：通过创建无烟医院活动,了解医生的吸烟状况和控烟知识、态度与行为,并对干预效果进行评价。方法：在北京、上海、广州选择60家医院创建无烟医院,对全院医生开展控烟干预,在干预前对19580名医生、干预后对20772名医生进行问卷调查,了解医生的吸烟状况和控烟知识、态度与行为的变化。结果：通过一年的控烟干预,医生吸烟率由...