Septic shock following abdominal operations (author's transl)

Septic or toxic shock is a life threatening complication after abdominal operations. The etiologic analysis of our 102 patients showed the following conditions: 1. diseases, which have already preoperatively a high incidence of septic complications, 2. sepsis developing after primary aseptic diseases, 3. septis without any etiologic connection to the primary disease or operation. An initial standarised intensive therapy must start before any irreversible organ damage may occur. First aim of all surgical measures is the eradication of the source of infection. Early relaparotomy is the only possibility for correction of intraoperativ technical defects. Only by longstanding combination of intensive personal and technical support prognosis of septic shock after abdominal operations can be improved.     

Electromyographic studies on gastric and intestinal motor function following pylorus preserving gastrectomy with jejunal interposition in dogs (author's transl)

The gastric and intestinal motor function following pylorus preserving gastrectomy with jejunal interposition were studied electromyographically in dogs. The action potentials were recorded from the interposed jejunal segment, the preserving pylorus and the duodenum before and after insertion of warm water. Studies were made on the frequency, the propagation velocity of the spike-bursts in the portions mentioned above, and the incidence of the spike-bursts which propagated from the distal porition of the interposed jejunal segment to the preserving pylorus, and from the preserving pylorus to the proximal portion of the duodenum. The results obtained are as follows: 1) The frequency of the spike-bursts found in the interposed jejunal segment, the preserving pylorus, and the duodenum showed a remarkable increase after insertion of warm water. 2) The propagation velocity of the spike-bursts in the interposed jejunal segment, the preserving pylorus, and the duodenum were accelerated after insertion of warm water. 3) There were observed a moderate increase in the incidence of the spike-bursts which propagated from the distal portion of the interposed jejunal segment to the preserving pylorus, and from the preserving pylorus to the proximal portion of the duodenum after insertion of warm water. These findings suggested that the motor function of the interposed jejunal segment, that of the preserving pylorus, and that of the duodenum after pylorus preserving gastrectomy with jejunal interposition might be kept not yet injured enough to transport the contents from the interposed jejunal segment into the duodenum.     

Problems of infections following renal transplantation (author's transl)

Infections arising as a complication of immunosuppressive therapy were analyzed in more than 40 renal transplant patients. Bacterial infections were observed in 78.0%, viral in 68.3% and mycotic infections in 56.3% of cases seen during a 3-year investigation. Infection was the cause of death in 5 out of 8 cases with fatal complications. Bacterial infections of the lungs were amongst the gravest post-transplant complications. Hepatitis B, herpes simplex and cytomegalovirus were the most common viral infections. Simultaneous bacterial, viral and Candida albicans infections--so-called "triple infections"--with a very poor prognosis were diagnosed in 25% of the investigated cases. The data show that after cadaveric kidney transplantation special emphasis should be laid on careful prophylaxis of infections and diagnostic measures for the early recognition of possible infections arising as a complication of immunosuppressive therapy.     

Stress ulcer-an experimental study (author's transl)

This experimental study demonstrates by means of electromagnetic flow measurements that hypovolaemic shock results in a significant decrease in gastric flow. 14 mongrel dogs were subjected to haemorrhagic shock for 3 or 4 hours. Significant histological changes are seen in the gastric mucosa as a result of the haemodynamic changes, especially when the duration of shock was 4 hours. All stages of stress ulcer from the superficial erosion to deep ulcers were documented. The possibility that the mast cell plays a pathogenetic role as mediator in the origination of a stress ulcer is considered.     

Finger Microtremor--an experimental study (author's transl)

This paper deals with the recording of finger microtremor using a self-constructed apparatus (amplitudes 0.5 to 0.05 mm). 32 healthy subjects aged 7 to 60 years were examined by means of a test set permitting the exact recording of the amplitudes and frequencies of the right middle finger movement. Special attention was given to the vertical plane of the tremor in order to permit more exact demonstration. Frequencies of 5 to 12 cps. were recorded, the mean frequency being 7.55+/-1.12 cps. The minimum amplitude was 0.02 and the maximum recorded amplitude amounted to 1.4 mm, with a mean amplitude of 0.12+/- 0.07 mm. No significant differences in amplitude or frequency were noted with respect to age or sex. This method is useful in the accurate quantitative assessment of every kind of tremor.     

Results of surgical treatment of early carcinoma of the stomach (author's transl)

From 1961 to 1975, 53 patients were operated on for early carcinoma of the stomach, 24 of the total of 57 cancer sites being limited to the mucosa, 33 having already infiltrated into the submucosa. Macroscopically, most of them were ulcerative carcinoma, while histologically the intestinal type predominated. The cumulative five-year survival rate (excluding hospital deaths) was 86.5%, while after "typical" carcinoma resection by the Billroth II procedure with removal of the greater and lesser omentum it was 100% for mucosal and 93% for submucosal carcinoma.     

Changes in the chamber angle following ocular contusions (author's transl)

In a retrospective study, 87 patients were reexamined after hospital treatment of ocular contusion. The relationships between intraocular pressure, outflow facility, and lesions of the anterior chamber angle were analyzed. In 52% of the cases, lesions were demonstrated in the anterior chamber angle; about half of these patients showed extension of 180 degrees or more. There was no statistical correlation between intraocular pressure and outflow facility or the extent of anterior chamber angle lesions, although clinical findings clearly indicated such correlations. Blunt ocular injuries evidently lead to higher intraocular pressure in elderly patients. The latency period also appears to play a role: the longer the period between trauma and examination, the higher the pressure measured in the injured eyes. We found secondary glaucoma in two cases (about 2%). Glaucoma was suspected in six patients (6.5%). There was an apparent risk of glaucoma in four patients (4.3%).     

Important radiologic findings following blunt thoracic trauma (author's transl)

In patients suffering from traffic accidents traumatic lesions of the chest are of special importance since in 50% of deaths the thoracic trauma is responsible for the final outcome. The fatal course is, however, not always due to severe and irreparable dammage to thoracic organs, but very often due to under-estimation of initial symptoms and thus inadequate treatment. For the proper diagnosis of traumatic lesions of the thorax the plain film of the chest is, therefore, fundamentally important. In this paper, which is mainly dealing with lesions of the airways and lungs, the significance of radiological symptoms is stressed and a correlation with pathophysiologic as well as histologic data is attempted.     

Superfoetation following artificial insemination in a ewe (author's transl)

A case of superfoetation following artifical insemination in a ewe is reported. Estimation of the age of the lambs was based on the maturity of the liver, lung, kidney, brown adipose tissue and skin, showing a difference in gestational age of approximately thirty-six days. The possibility of spontaneous superfoetation as well as that of a second fertilization after artificial insemination is discussed.