Diagnosis and management of abscesses in the basal ganglia and thalamus: A survey

Summary A review is made of the current management strategies of abscesses in basal ganglia and thalamus, based on a review of the literature and three of our own cases. Clinical picture, aetiology, diagnostic, surgical treatment and outcome are discussed. Stereotactic abscess puncture in combination with temporary drainage and rinsing of the abscess cavity in combination with systemic medication of antibiotics has become the management of choice with satisfactory results.     

24例骨折术后深部感染的原因及对策

目的 探讨骨折术后深部感染的原因、预防和治疗方法。方法 对骨折术后深部感染病灶行扩创后置管闭合灌洗。结果 24例经清创闭合灌洗平均27．5d后，感染均得以控制，效果满意。结论 骨折手术后深部感染原因是多方面的，宜积极预防，早期发现，及时扩创闭合灌洗，遗留肢体功能障碍者留待后期治疗。     

An alternative method of nitrous oxide delivery into a minimal-flow circle breathing system

We have sought to define a way in which nitrous oxide can be safely and universally used at minimal to low flows by utilising a circle system with a controlled leak provided by a standard gas analyser sampling line and a fresh gas supply of 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen, entering from a trunk interposed between the ventilator and the circle system. Although preliminary calculations suggested that this arrangement was likely to work, it was found that 13 of 23 patients studied prospectively developed an inspired oxygen fraction below 0.3. We conclude that, although this arrangement provides a new means of introducing nitrous oxide into the circle breathing system, it does not appear inherently safer or more convenient than the conventional route.     

Endoscopic sphincterotomy for common bile duct stones: Impact of recent technical advances

Technical improvements, such as mechanical lithotripsy, stenting or nasobiliary drainage, and wire-guided cannulation, have reduced the risk of complications in endoscopic sphincterotomy. To determine the extent of this reduction in risk, we assessed the medical records of 1352 patients with common bile duct stones in whom the procedure was conducted. Complications examined were: acute cholangitis and pancreatitis. Stone clearance was achieved in 1256 patients (92.8%), with an overall morbidity rate of 7.7% and a mortality rate of 0.15%. One hundred and forty-two patients had stones with a diameter greater than 20mm; 97 of these patients did not undergo lithotripsy. Cholangitis occurred in 10 of these 97 patients (10.3%), whereas, in the 45 patients who underwent lithotripsy, there were no cases of cholangitis (P=0.02). Stone removal was not immediately accomplished or attempted in 396 patients. In 82 of these patients in whom a stent or a nasobiliary drain was placed in the common bile duct, the incidence of cholangitis was 1.2%, significantly less (P=0.045) than the incidence of 6.4% in the other 314 patients given no stenting or nasobiliary drain. To overcome difficult cannulation, precut sphincterotomy was conducted in 134 patients and wireguided sphincterotomy, a recently introduced procedure, was conducted in 55 patients. When the precutting technique was used, the incidence of acute pancreatitis was significantly higher (8/134; 6.0%) than that in the patients in whom the standard procedure was conducted, i.e., neither the precut technique nor wire-guided ES was used (23/1218; 1.9%) (P=0.008). There were no cases of pancreatitis in the 55 patients in whom wire-guided sphincterotomy was performed, although the difference was not statistically significant because of the small number of patients (P=0.06). Based on these findings, we conclude that improved technologies have led to a significant reduction of complications in endoscopic sphincterotomy.     

侧脑室引流术治疗脑室出血医院感染分析

目的 分析治疗脑室出血侧脑室引流术后感染发生率，探讨预防感染的方法及措施。方法 根据留管时间将患者分为甲、乙两组，按单侧引流及双侧引流分为A、B组，术后观察插管部位的感染发生情况，同时定期做血培养监测。结果 甲、乙组之间，经统计学处理P＜0．01，差异有高度显著性，A、B两组比较，P＞0．05，差异无显著性。结论 留管1～2周时间是安全的，超过2周，感染率上升，双侧引流术后感染率高于单侧引流者，此外，患者的全身状况及免疫力也与感染率明显相关。     

胆道外引流感染的预防

目的 总结胆道外引流感染的预防，以利提高胆道外引流的护理质量。方法 通过经治的临床病例总结各胆道外引流的观察和处理要点。结果 通过向患者说明胆道外引流的重要性，帮助患者适应和解决各种生活问题，消除心理负担，观察引流伤口、胆汁引流情况，保持引流管的位置并保持通畅，使良性患者早日康复，晚期恶性肿瘤患者的生活质量得以提高。结论 胆道外引流是胆道良性或恶性疾病引发梗阻治疗的一个措施，有时是唯一的姑息性手段，做好引流术后的观察及护理，对改善患者的全身情况，恢复身体健康，提高生活质量非常重要。     

Effects of adrenergic and cholinergic antagonists on diameter of nasolacrimal drainage system

Background To determine the effect of an adrenergic and a cholinergic antagonist on the diameter of the lumen of the nasolacrimal drainage system. Methods The asymptomatic side of 38 patients (29 women, nine men) with unilateral stenosis/obstruction of the nasolacrimal drainage system was studied. The tear meniscus height (TMH) of the asymptomatic side was normal, and the lacrimal drainage system was patent as revealed by dacryocystography. The nasolacrimal drainage system of the asymptomatic side was infused with 100 μl of 0.01% bunazosin hydrochloride, a selective α-1 adrenergic antagonist, or 100 μl of 0.4% tropicamide, a muscarinic and cholinergic antagonist. Dacryocystography was performed to determine the diameter of the lumen of the nasolacrimal drainage system before and after the antagonists. Results Bunazosin reduced the diameter of the lumen significantly, and the changes were more marked in the nasolacrimal duct (NLD), especially the middle and the lower regions. The diameter of the lumen of the lacrimal sac was not changed significantly. In contrast, tropicamide did not cause any significant change in the diameter of the lumen of the nasolacrimal drainage system. Conclusions The alterations of the size of the lumen of the nasolacrimal drainage system, especially the NLD, by an adrenergic antagonist suggest that the lumen diameter is under continuous sympathetic tone, and the parasympathetic tone is weak. This study has not received any financial support.     

内镜鼻胆管引流术在腹腔镜和开腹胆总管探查术中的应用

目的　评价内镜鼻胆管引流术 (Endoscopicnasobiliarydrainage ,ENBD)配合腹腔镜和常规开腹手术治疗胆总管结石的疗效。　方法　回顾分析 1997年 1月～ 2 0 0 1年 7月应用ENBD配合完成腹腔镜胆总管探查、I期缝合术 4 4例及开腹胆总管探查、I期缝合术 34例。　结果　 78例均手术成功 ,术后无胆漏、胆道出血、胆管炎等并发症。术中结石取净率 10 0 % (78 78)。术后住院时间 :腹腔镜组为 (6 2±1 3)d ,开腹组为 (7 4± 2 1)d。随访 5 7例 ,时间 (1～ 4 5 )年 ,平均 2 6年 ,腹部彩色B超检查无胆管狭窄及结石复发。　结论　ENBD配合腹腔镜和开腹胆总管探查取石、胆总管I期缝合术安全、可靠。     

THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF PSOAS ABSCESS: A 12 YEAR REVIEW

Over a 12 year period, 25 psoas abscesses occurring in 17 patients were managed at Royal Perth Hospital (900 bed hospital). Symptoms were present, on average, for 5 weeks prior to diagnosis, which was typically confirmed by computerized tomography. Fifty-nine per cent of cases were primary and percutaneous drainage effected a cure in 80% of all cases. Percutaneous drainage resulted in a non-significant trend towards shorter inpatient stay.     

Subhepatic collections complicating laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Percutaneous management

Ten patients with subhepatic fluid collections complicating laparoscopic Cholecystectomy were successfully treated by interventional radiological procedures. The series included five abscesses, three hematomas, one biloma, and one serous collection. Abdominal pain or fever developed from 3 to 21 days after the laparoscopic intervention. All patients were asymptomatic 72 h after percutaneous drainage and there were no complications related to the procedure. Subhepatic fluid accumulations are common findings after laparoscopic cholecystectomies and have been considered an unreliable indicator of infection or other postoperative complications. However, the significance of these collections should not be underestimated in symptomatic patients. In such cases we propose diagnostic aspiration and drainage, when necessary, to safely and promptly establish the precise diagnosis and treatment. More serious complications can be avoided by early percutaneous intervention.