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Air embolism during labour
768
AMERICAN
HEART
JOURNAL
therapeutic results. The author concluded that sympathectomy in the treatment of trench feet produced a temporary reduction in pain and in the vasomotor it had a doubtful and uncertam therapeutrc effect on the healmg ot ulcerations,
of the sequelae instatjility, lvhile ~\fmAMsoN.
Hufnagel, (April),
C. A.: 1947.
Permanent
Intubation
of
the
Thoracic
Aorta.
:irch.
Surg.
54:383
The author reviews the methods of the nonsuture technique of vascular anastomosis and points out defects and limitations of each of them. For the first time, by means of highly polished Lucite (methyl methacrylate) tubes, Hufnagel was able to intubate the thoracic aorta of dogs and have the tubes remain patent indefinitely. The plastic, fucite, possesses the quality of delaying coagulation of the blood due to its pronounced water-repellent surface. One important problem was overcome when the author found that miltiple braids of braided silk (IJ. S. I’. No. 2) did not crush the wall of the aorta and held the tube satisfactorily,. No cliniral material was presented.
Mylks,
G. Canad.
W., Brown, A. M. A. J. 35:427
B., and (April),
Robinson, 1947.
C.
N.:
Air
Embolism
During
Labour.
The purpose of this report is to record a case of air embolism as a complication of labor. A white woman, 32 years of age, showed considerable edema of the feet, ankles, and legs in approximately her eighth month of pregnancy. Her weight had risen over 18 pounds in six weeks, the blood pressure was 162/94, and urine contained a heavy trace of albumin. She was admitted to the hospital and put on a high protein, low salt diet. During the ten days spent in the hospital her blood pressure fell to 122/82 and she lost 14 pounds in weight. Induction of labor was attempted, but failed. Soon thereafter labor began spontaneously. -At the onset of labor she experienced a chili, her temperature rose to 101’ F., vomiting occurred, she became very restless and was cyanosed, and went into shock. The pulse at this time was 150 per minute and the systolic blood pressure was below 80 mm. Hg. She was given a blood transfusion in one arm and distilled water with 10 per cent glucose in the other. The fetal heart rate was 120 beats per minute. Oxygen inhalation was administered. The baby was stillborn and the patient died. Autopsy, performed two hours after death, showed the first evidence of the cause of death when the vessels of the breast were cut and air bubbles could be seen escaping with the blood. When the heart was compressed and the right ventricle opened, air bubbles rushed out. On opening the chest both lungs were found collapsed. In this case of air embolism during labor no other mode of entry for the air seems plausible The authors explain that the air reached the systemic cirexcept through the uterine sinuses. culation because the air bubbles became so reduced in size from absorption that they were able It is noted that most reported cases of air embolism asto pass to the left side of the heart. sociated with labor have usually been preceded hy operative interference. BELLET.
Lupton, A. -4ctivity Therap.
M.:
The Effect ?f Blood From 89:306 (April),
of Perfusion Normal and 1947.
Through Dicumarol
the
Isolated Treated
Liver Rats.
Liver from both normal rats and rats that had been given dicumarol isoi&ed .and perfused through the porta vein. Blood was drawn from both tr&tecl tats. The blood was titrated, perfused continuously for two hours, for, prothrombin activity. Normal activity.
blood Norma1
perfused through the blood perfused through
liver of normal rats showed livers of dicumarol-treated
on the Prothrqmbin J. Pharmacoi. & Exper.
prior to sacrifice were normal and dicumaroland tested frequently
no change in prothrombin rats restdted in no change
AMERICAN
HEART
JOURNAL
therapeutic results. The author concluded that sympathectomy in the treatment of trench feet produced a temporary reduction in pain and in the vasomotor it had a doubtful and uncertam therapeutrc effect on the healmg ot ulcerations,
of the sequelae instatjility, lvhile ~\fmAMsoN.
Hufnagel, (April),
C. A.: 1947.
Permanent
Intubation
of
the
Thoracic
Aorta.
:irch.
Surg.
54:383
The author reviews the methods of the nonsuture technique of vascular anastomosis and points out defects and limitations of each of them. For the first time, by means of highly polished Lucite (methyl methacrylate) tubes, Hufnagel was able to intubate the thoracic aorta of dogs and have the tubes remain patent indefinitely. The plastic, fucite, possesses the quality of delaying coagulation of the blood due to its pronounced water-repellent surface. One important problem was overcome when the author found that miltiple braids of braided silk (IJ. S. I’. No. 2) did not crush the wall of the aorta and held the tube satisfactorily,. No cliniral material was presented.
Mylks,
G. Canad.
W., Brown, A. M. A. J. 35:427
B., and (April),
Robinson, 1947.
C.
N.:
Air
Embolism
During
Labour.
The purpose of this report is to record a case of air embolism as a complication of labor. A white woman, 32 years of age, showed considerable edema of the feet, ankles, and legs in approximately her eighth month of pregnancy. Her weight had risen over 18 pounds in six weeks, the blood pressure was 162/94, and urine contained a heavy trace of albumin. She was admitted to the hospital and put on a high protein, low salt diet. During the ten days spent in the hospital her blood pressure fell to 122/82 and she lost 14 pounds in weight. Induction of labor was attempted, but failed. Soon thereafter labor began spontaneously. -At the onset of labor she experienced a chili, her temperature rose to 101’ F., vomiting occurred, she became very restless and was cyanosed, and went into shock. The pulse at this time was 150 per minute and the systolic blood pressure was below 80 mm. Hg. She was given a blood transfusion in one arm and distilled water with 10 per cent glucose in the other. The fetal heart rate was 120 beats per minute. Oxygen inhalation was administered. The baby was stillborn and the patient died. Autopsy, performed two hours after death, showed the first evidence of the cause of death when the vessels of the breast were cut and air bubbles could be seen escaping with the blood. When the heart was compressed and the right ventricle opened, air bubbles rushed out. On opening the chest both lungs were found collapsed. In this case of air embolism during labor no other mode of entry for the air seems plausible The authors explain that the air reached the systemic cirexcept through the uterine sinuses. culation because the air bubbles became so reduced in size from absorption that they were able It is noted that most reported cases of air embolism asto pass to the left side of the heart. sociated with labor have usually been preceded hy operative interference. BELLET.
Lupton, A. -4ctivity Therap.
M.:
The Effect ?f Blood From 89:306 (April),
of Perfusion Normal and 1947.
Through Dicumarol
the
Isolated Treated
Liver Rats.
Liver from both normal rats and rats that had been given dicumarol isoi&ed .and perfused through the porta vein. Blood was drawn from both tr&tecl tats. The blood was titrated, perfused continuously for two hours, for, prothrombin activity. Normal activity.
blood Norma1
perfused through the blood perfused through
liver of normal rats showed livers of dicumarol-treated
on the Prothrqmbin J. Pharmacoi. & Exper.
prior to sacrifice were normal and dicumaroland tested frequently
no change in prothrombin rats restdted in no change