The effect of naloxone on the preoperative gastric volume and pH

The effect of 4 mg oral naloxone on preoperative gastric volume and pH of gastric aspirate was studied in a double-blind, randomized study. Twenty patients received 10 ml of naloxone (4 mg) mixed with 10 ml of orange juice, and 20 patients received 10 ml of isotonic saline mixed with 10 ml of orange juice, 2 h before surgery. Gastric content was obtained immediately after intubation of the trachea. No significant difference in gastric volume and pH of gastric aspirate was found between the two groups. It is concluded that naloxone does not affect gastric emptying and gastric acid secretion to a degree great enough to protect against aspiration of gastric contents into the lungs.     

Acute disorders of the biliary tract in geriatric patients]

Acute pathologies of the biliary tract in geriatric patients were examined in this study taking into account the major causes, treatment used and results obtained. All patients aged over 65 who had been hospitalised during the past 17 years for acute pathologies of the biliary tract (564 cases, equivalent to 34.2% of all in-patients suffering from acute biliary pathologies) were included in the study. These patients were then subdivided into 3rd and 4th age groups (65-74 and < 75 years respectively). The results obtained in the 3rd age group (267 patients, 60%) showed the greatest number of cases of inflammatory lithiasic disease of the cholecystus (61.2%) and VBP (17.7%), whereas 45 patients, equivalent to 49.5%, presented tumours with jaundice. Out of a total of 179 cases in patients in the 4th age group, equivalent to 39.3%, 119 (66.5%) were suffering from lithiasic cholecystitis and 16 (8.9%) from calcolosis of the VBP with jaundice. Cancer of the pancreas head was diagnosed in 27 patients (58.7%), whereas 9 (19.6%) had obstruent cancer of the biliary tract. The Authors conclude that both the preoperative preparation, the choice of operation and postoperative treatment give satisfactory results with a very low early mortality (0.8% in non-tumour cases and 6.9% in tumour cases).