146
ABSTRACTS
results were ascribed to a general improvement in supportive care and to the availability of silicone sheeting.--EdwardJ. Berman Radiologic Diagnosis of
Inguinal
Hernia
in
Children. Jeffrey S. Blou, Thomas M. Keating, and Fred S. Stockinger. Surg.
Gynecol. Obrtet.
136:
401-405 (March), 1973. The authors report a series of 40 children who underwent exploratory operation bilaterally. The accuracy of herniography was 100%. They performed herniography as an outpatient prior to exploration. Meglumine compounds are recommended over sodium compounds because they cause less discomfort. Six patient reports were presented to demonstrate the various categories of patients who benefit from herniography.-George Holcomb Starch Peritonitis: An Immunological Study. S.T. Ho/gate, J.H. Wheeler, and B.P. Bliss. Ann. R. Coil. Surg. Engl. 52: 182, 1973.
This paper describes how a diagnosis of postoperative starch peritonitis may be made without the need for laparotomy. A case is described in which ascitic fluid analysis, intradermal skin testing, and lymphocyte transformation studies were used to establish the diagnosis. These observations strongly suggest that delayed hypersensitivity plays an important part in the pathogenesis of this condition. -Neil
V. Freeman
Adjuvant
Thempy
of Generalized
With Intmperitoneally
Peritonitis
Administered Cephalo-
thin. Earl Belle Smith. Surg. Gynscol. Obstet. 136: 441-443
(March), 1973.
Generalized peritonitis was induced in a total of 27 dogs. Five served as controls and received no therapy. The remaining 22 were treated with cephalothin (Keflin), intraperitoneally in I2 dogs, intramuscularly and intravenously in 7, intravenously in 2, and intramuscularly in I. All test dogs received 2-4 g of cephalothin daily for 7 days. Nineteen of the 22 dogs that were treated recovered completely with no indications of any adverse effects. Peritonitis was fatal in all five control dogs that received no therapy. During a 5-yr period, 76 persons admitted with generalized peritonitis of 6-40 hr received sodium cephalothin intraperitoneally as adjuvant therapy after numerous surgical procedures. Supplementary antibiotics, including cephalothin, were admin-
istered intramuscularly or intravenously as required. Complete recovery occurred in 71 of 76 patients. In five patients, peritonitis was fatal. In no instance was there evidence of respiratory depression, peritoneal irritation, or other adverse effects previously reported in the literature with other intraperitoneal antibiotics.-George Holcomb Use of the Autogenous Jugular Vein for Interposition Bernard
Grafting W.
in
Portal
Hypertension.
Thompson and Raymond
South. Med. J. 66:818-822
C. Read.
(July), 1973.
The authors report relief of portal hypertension in both man and animals by the use of autogenous jugular vein for interposition grafting. During the past 2 yr, they treated eight men tiith bleeding varices by this technique. They underwent portosystemic interposition of the autogenous internal jugular vein by “H” grafting, either as an emergency procedure or as elective surgery. One patient died shortly after operation, and a second died 4 mo postoperatively. Examination at autopsy showed both grafts to be open. Three other patients had splenoportograms showing open shunts. Three more had no further hemorrhage. None of the surviving patients had evidence of hepatic encephalopathy. The fact that six out of eight poor-risk patients survived, along with the high patency rate of the grafts, suggest that the surgical technique warrants further application.-George Ho/comb Gastroduodenal
Hormones
and
Bile
flow.
John M. Beaugie. Ann. R. COIL Surg. Engl. 50:164, 1972. Because it was not possible to make a distinction between “direct” and “indirect” effects on the intact animal, in the present investigation the isolated perfused liver preparation using the animal’s own blood by means of a heart-lung machine was used. The effects of gastrin, pentagastrin, cholecystokinin-pancreozymin, cerulein, secretin, and glucagon on the bile flow by their direct action on the liver have been studied in the isolated perfused canine liver preparation. All except glucagon appeared to stimulate bile flow. Some aspects of the chemical nature of the bile were compared with those after stimulation by sodium taurocholate and salicylates. Three different chemical types of bile were found to be secreted, which suggests that, when an increase in bile flow occurs, it does so because various