Treatment Outcomes in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension: Do Epidural Blood Patches Stop the Leaks?

Abstract:   Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is a postural headache syndrome unrelated to dural puncture. Because of the increasing failure of epidural blood patch (EBP) to relieve headache in SIH, we retrospectively investigated the epidemiological features and treatment outcomes in 55 cases of SIH. The study population was stratified by age and sex; continuous variables were compared for differences by t -tests; categorical variables were compared by Chi-squared analysis or Fisher exact tests. Significant differences were identified by P values of 0.05 or less. The mean age of the study population was 44 ± 12 years with a female to male ratio of 1.3:1.0. Men presented with subdural hematomas ( P  = 0.001) more often than women. Meningeal enhancement on contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was the most consistent radiographic finding. Radionuclide cisternography (RC) demonstrated thoracolumbar dural leaks in 16 of 22 patients. EBP failures were more common in patients aged 40 and younger than in older patients ( P  = 0.003). Postural headache from SIH was not uniformly responsive to EBP, and had significant comorbidities, especially in men. The management of postural headache in SIH by other techniques to restore brain position and cerebrospinal fluid dynamics should be investigated.     

Lucian Leape on Patient Safety in U.S. Hospitals

PURPOSE: To describe and discuss the status of patient safety in U.S. hospitals. METHODS: Personal interview. This report is part of a series of discussions with a leading expert on patient safety. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: Some improvements have been made in the past 10 years. But changes have not been adequate. Continuing barriers include the punitive environment in hospitals, physicians' denial of the scope of the problem, lack of national leadership, and lack of systems thinking.     

援外针灸临床综述(二)

介绍我国援外医疗队在 3 6个国家以 17种治疗方法为主治疗 40多种病的概况。     

上唇短缩畸形的手术治疗

目的 针对微笑时鼻唇部出现上唇上提并短缩,鼻小柱下方褶沟,上唇牙龈外露等现象,探讨一种治疗上唇短缩畸形的手术方法.方法 采用经口或鼻前庭切口,将鼻小柱根部鼻中隔降肌肌纤维切断及部分切除,并广泛剥离使上唇下降.结果 共为27例上唇短缩畸形患者进行手术治疗.其中9例采用了双侧鼻小柱外侧与前庭基底贯穿切口,18例采用了上唇唇龈沟切口.通过手术,患者获得微笑时上唇中部适度降低,鼻小柱下方褶沟变浅或消失,上唇牙龈外露消失的效果.6例患者还在手术矫正上唇动态短缩畸形的同时,实施了鼻整形术.通过手术可矫正鼻唇牙龈部的综合动态缺陷,获得满意的美学效果.结论 手术方法治疗上唇短缩畸形,可改善患者微笑时的表情,是值得推广的治疗方法.     

螺旋CT三维重建影像在胫骨平台骨折诊疗中的价值

目的探讨螺旋CT三维重建影像在胫骨平台骨折诊断和治疗中的临床使用价值。方法2001年8月～2005年4月收集38例胫骨平台骨折分别行X线片和螺旋CT三维重建影像检查,对照术中所见,分析比较螺旋CT三维重建影像在临床诊断和治疗中的作用。结果X线片检查2例无法明确诊断,骨折分型错误6例;螺旋CT三维重建诊断、分型均正确。X线片与螺旋CT三维重建影像在确立诊断方面未见明显差异,但在分型和指导治疗方面,螺旋CT三维重建影像明显优于前者。结论螺旋CT三维重建影像能直观、立体地显示胫骨平台骨折的形态,有助于骨折的分型及治疗。     

应重视口腔颌面部恶性肿瘤的综合序列治疗

口腔颌面部恶性肿瘤约占全身恶性肿瘤的3％，虽然所占比例不高，但l大l其解剖部位特殊．涉及美观和重要的生理功能，冈此对患者机体和心理的影响不容忽视。早期（Ⅰ、Ⅱ期）口腔颌面部恶性肿瘤无论采用手术和（或）放射治疗，均能取得良好效果。但遗憾的是，大多数患者就诊时，已属局部一区域晚期（Ⅲ、Ⅳ期）。由于受到局部解剖和维持功能的限制，单纯通过扩大手术切除范围和改进现有手术技术，除能改善患者生存质量外，已无法提高此类患者的生存率，延长其生存时间。     

异位妊娠259例临床总结分析

目的探讨异位妊娠的发病相关因素,提出防治措施。方法对我院10年间收治的259例异位妊娠病例的发病趋势,既往病史及节育状况、误诊情况作一回顾分析。结果近10年异位妊娠发生率为2.19%并呈上升趋势。人工流产、节育手术、下腹部手术等与异位妊娠的发生关系密切。结论降低人工流产率,减少性病传播是预防异位妊娠发生的重要手段,随着高科技手段的应用使异位妊娠早期准确的诊断成为可能,为保守治疗赢得机会。     

Serum IgA and IgG functional antibodies and their subclasses to Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular antigen found in two aged‐matched cohorts of children with and without otitis media with effusion

Serum IgA and IgG functional antibodies and their subclasses to Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular antigen found in two aged‐matched cohorts of children with and without otitis media with effusion The relationship between acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion (OME) is uncertain and the aetiology of OME is multifactorial. Otitis media with effusion may be an inflammatory condition; both bacteria and viral infections could play a part in this inflammation. The four bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza, Staphylococcus aureus and Branhamella catarrhalis cause 60% of the infections whereas S. pneumoniae accounts for up to 35%. IgA provides the dominant surface response to polysaccharide and lipopolysaccharide antigens, of which IgA₂ is the main subclass. Once the mucosa has been breached, most protection is provided by IgG. IgG₂ acts mainly against bacterial capsular antigens. This study looked at two groups of 50 children with and without OME who were aged between 3 and 10 years. The aims were to determine if, firstly, the levels of the serum immunoglobulins were different in the two groups, secondly whether these children made the appropriate antibody response to the capsular antigen to S. pneumoniae (PCP), and finally if there was a delay in the maturity of the IgA response. The total IgG, IgA and all subclass levels were measured using radial immunodiffusion. Levels of functional IgA and IgG were measured using ELISAs (25 patients in each group). The results were analysed with non‐parametric tests. The immunoglobulin levels were within the normal levels for both groups. There were very good correlations between the IgG total anti‐PCP and the IgG₂ anti‐PCP (R > 0.9, p = 0.001). There was a good correlation between the levels of both IgG total and IgG₂ anti‐PCP against IgA total anti‐PCP in both groups (R > 0.85, p > 0.01). This confirms a normal antibody response between both groups of patients. The ages of the controls and patients (50 samples) were correlated with increasing titres of circulating functional antibodies (P = 0.001). This is highly suggestive of a normal age‐related response. In conclusion, the findings were contradictory to our original hypothesis that there is a subtle difference in surface protection between children with and without OME. We believe that a previous history of recurrent acute otitis media is unrelated to the development of OME after 3 years of age.     

腹腔镜辅助下大隐静脉隔绝术治疗大隐静脉曲张60例

目的探讨腹腔镜辅助下大隐静脉隔绝术的疗效。方法2000年1月～2004年1月对60例66条大隐静脉曲张腹腔镜辅助下行大隐静脉隔绝术,腹腔镜辅助下高位结扎、电灼大腿段大隐静脉,阻断其小腿段所有属支及交通支,使大隐静脉与体循环隔绝。结果手术时间30～60min,(50±9)min;术后住院时间3～5d,(3.5±0.6)d。60例随访1～36个月,平均28个月,无复发。结论腹腔镜辅助下大隐静脉隔绝术创伤小,疗效好,复发率低,是治疗大隐静脉曲张的理想术式。     

吻合器痔环切术经肛引流应用观察

目的：探讨采用吻合器经肛管引流治疗重度痔降低术后并发症的影响。方法：随机将101例Ⅲ～Ⅳ期混合痔及内痔患者分为引流组48例和非引流组53例，回顾性分析两组施行PPH经肛引流及非引流术后的临床资料。结果：两组间数据比较伤口渗血（12h～48h）、排便异常指标，对照显示差异显著（P〈0．05）。结论：该术式具有安全、有效、术时短、恢复快及术后并发症明显降低等优点。