Cardiac roentgenology: The value of exact cardiac measurements

136

AMERICAN

HEART

The average resting blood flow subjects was significantly increased ectomy there was a decrease, with three days after operation.

JOURNAL

in the forearm and leg of the hyperthyroid over that of a control series. After thyroida return to a normal level in eleven to sixty-

The average resting blood flow in the hand was not though some of the individual readings were significantly the control group. After thyroidectomy in the majority decreased to a subnormal level. The rate of fall in peripheral tion, occurred more slowly than

strikingly greater of the

increased, althan those of cases the flow

blood flow to normal levels, subsequent did the decrease in pulse rate and pulse

to operapressure.

AUTHORS.

Warren, Dog.

M. F., and Drinker, Am. J. Physiol. 136:

C. K.: 207,1942.

A method for collecting lymph experiment requires opening the artificial respiration is used during The composition dogs the average

The

Flow

from the lungs chest to expose its course.

of lung lymph resembles protein content was 3.66 per

When artificial respiration lymph flow is greatly reduced.

of Lymph

of cardiac

or when

the

Ventilation with a mixture low in oxygen If pressure in the pulmonary veins is heightened, and the lymph soon resembles blood.

invariably lymph

flow

of lymph little

from lung

the

of the dog the anterior

great

The drainage duct, comparatively thoracic duct.

is unduly

that cent.

From

Lungs

of the

is described. mediastinum

The and

lymph.

In

lungs

are

increases is greatly

eighteen quiescent,

lymph flow. augmented

both lungs is in the main via the right lymph being delivered to the circulation

lymphatic by the

AUTHORS.

SanchesPerez,

J. I&Z.:

Cerebral

Angiography.

Surgery

10: 535,1941.

A complete cerebral angiographic exploration can establish in many cases an exact diagnosis of a lesion which is impossible to define and to localize by other means of exploration, as in cerebral aneurysm or angioma. The author uses thorotrast and describes the technique. He states that the procedure is harmless to the patient. NAIDE.

Gross, S. W.: Cerebral raphy 37: 487, 1941.

Arteriography

The injection of 50 per cent diodrast resulted in good visualization of the ministration is fully described.

With

Diodrast,

into the common cerebral circulation.

Fifty

Per

carotid The

Cent.

Radiog-

artery uniformly technique of adNAIDE.

Clagett, A. II., Jr.: Cardiac aoentgenology: urements. Am. J. Roentgenol. 46: 794, 1941.

The

Value

of Exact

Cardiac

Meas-

As a whole, the cardiothoracic ratio is unreliable as an index of cardiac abnormality. It is felt that too much stress is being placed upon cardiac measurements, especially the eardiothoracic ratio. The greatest amount of information obtainable from the roentgenologic study of the heart is the configuration of the

SELECTED

137

ABSTRACTS

cardiac silhouette. This is best obtained by a careful roentgenoscopic study with visualization of the esophagus followed by an orthodiogram or a teleroentgenogram. As such, and used only as an adjunct to clinical methods, the roentgen ray can be of great value in the diagnosis of heart disease. AUTHOR.

Brock, IL C.: Hosp.

Rep.

Brachial

Artery

Embolectomy.

Report of an Unusual

Case. Guy’s

96: 230, 1941.

A case is reported in which six (possibly a period of eight years in a man suffering stenosis.

seven) embolisms had from auricular fibrillation

occurred and

over mitral

These emboli had led to a right hemiplegia with aphasia, gangrene of the right leg necessitating amputation, and ischemic necrosis of the left anterior tibia1 muscles causing paralysis and deformity of the left leg. His only remaining useful limb, the left arm, was threatened by a seventh embolus which lodged in the left brachial artery. Operation was performed some seven hours after embolism, and the artery was repaired by suture after removal of the embolus. Immediate and dramatic restoration of the circulation in the limb followed. Convalescence was uneventful. AUTHOR.

Spalding, J. E.: Periarteritis Nodosa and Its Surgical Case. Guy’s Hosp. Rep. 90: 234, 1941.

A case of periarteritis nodosa simulating chronic cholecystitis is “described. The diagnosis was made by histologic examination After operation, general symptoms of the disease appeared. Although periarteritis surgeon because of its diseases, more especially may be caused by it.

Report of a

Sigticance.

with of

gallstones the organ.

nodosa is a nonsurgical condition, it is of interest to the occasional close mimicry of acute or subacute surgical of the abdomen. Sometimes a true surgical emergenq

The full clinical picture is outlined, diagnosis should be made, but when emergency (such as acute appendicitis, clinical diagnosis may be impossible. indicate the correct diagnosis.

in the

the polysymptomatic cases the correct first symptoms suggest an abdominal simulated by a hematoma) a correct In such cases histologic examination ma) AGTHOR.

Woods, W. W., and Peet, M. M.: The Surgical Treatment of Hypertension. II. Comparison of Mortality Following Operation With That of the Wagener-Keith Medically Treated Control Series: a Study of Seventy-Six Cases From Five to Seven Years After Operation. J. A. M. A. 117: 1508,194l. The prognosis of patients with a high changes of the retinal arterioles is much following medical treatment.

level more

of blood favorable

pressure following

and angiospastic operation than

The surgical treatment of patients with malignant hypertension has resulted in a survival of 33 per cent after five years, whereas following medical treatment in the control series the mortality was more than 99 per cent. In general, a favorable prognosis following operation seems to depend on a minimal degree of retinal arteriolar sclerosis rather than on the level of blood pressure, or the absence of retinitis with hemorrhages and exudates, or papilledema. AUTHORS.