Anaesthesia for translumbar aortography

Fifty patients presenting for elective translumbar aortography were randomly allocated to one of two groups receiving either enflurane or isoflurane. Premedication was with oral lorazepam. The patients' tracheas were intubated and they were allowed to breathe spontaneously in the prone position during the procedure. There was no significant difference in heart rate during the investigation but there was a statistically significant fall in the blood pressure from its pre-induction level. Arterial oxygenation was adequate throughout the procedure. Arterial carbon dioxide tension was significantly lower in the isoflurane group at the beginning and at end of the procedure (p less than 0.01), but there was no significant change in carbon dioxide tension within the groups during the procedure. Spontaneous ventilation with enflurane or isoflurane is a satisfactory anaesthetic technique for translumbar aortography.     

Complications of the histalog test of gastric acid secretion

This paper describes the complications encountered with the use of betazole hydrochloride in a dose of 2.5 mg/kg body weight as a routine test for the stimulation of gastric secretion in a total of 747 subjects. A review is given of previous work on this subject and our own findings are discussed with special reference to myocardial ischemia. It is suggested that betazole hydrochloride tests be carried out with caution in the presence of coronary artery disease or aortic stenosis, and should be avoided in the presence of severe anemia, since this latter condition is easily correctable before the test is performed.     

Does uncomplicated diverticular disease produce symptoms?

A questionnaire dealing with bowel symptoms was administered to 97 outpatients referred for air-contrast barium enema. Subsequenlly, the barium enema was interpreted by a radiologist who did not know the results of the questionnaire. Forty-nine had normal x-rays, and 27 had uncomplicated diverticular disease. Weight loss, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, and pain at night were as common in those with a normal examination as in those with diverticula. Symptoms of colon dysfunction included abdominal pain relieved by defecation, altered stool frequency and consistency with pain onset, abdominal distension, feeling of incomplete evacuation after defecation, and mucus in the stool. These were equally prevalent in both groups. Therefore, no symptoms could be ascribed to the presence of diverticulaSupported by the Ottawa Foundation of Medical Research.     

Method of measuring blood loss

An easy rapid method of calculating blood loss during paediatric surgery using an osmolality dilution technique is described. Known volumes of whole blood packed red blood cells and plasma were measured in the laboratory using this method. A statistical analysis of the results suggest that this technique would be useful for measuring blood loss in the operating theatre.