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Systemic fat embolism associated with the toxic effects of aviation fuel inhalation and general anaesthesia
ABSTRACTS OF A N N U A L SCIENTIFIC M E E T I N G
1969
77
alterations were observed in the levels of activators of the fibrinolytic system. The plasma contained high levels of these activators during the period of hepatic isolation, but following revascularization they fell to low levels. Further studies in 3 animals showed that these changes recurred after a second period of hepatic circulatory occlusion, thus proving that the low level of activators observed in the revascularization phase was not due to exhaustion of their source. SYSTEMIC FAT EMBOLISM ASSOCIATED WITH THE TOXIC EFFECTS OF AVIATION FUEL INHALATION AND GENERAL ANAESTHESIA
TONGE, J. I., HURLEY,R. N. L? FERGUSON, J. State Health Laboratory, Brisbane, Queensland In an unusual accident the two occupants of a light aircraft were exposed to petrol vapour for different periods of time before being rescued. Both received almost identical injuries and were admitted to hospital in a satisfactory condition. Each received a general anaesthetic. They both died from systemic fat embolism, one 48 hr. after the accident with severe jaundice, the other 75 hr. after the accident with no jaundice. Necropsy findings were identical with severe fatty change in the liver and myocardial fatty degeneration, associated with fat embolism and pulmonary oedema. I t was shown by experiments in mice that exposure to petrol produces severe fatty change in the liver in these animals and the formation of fat emboli was demonstrated. Exposure of mice to halothane anaesthesia for 5-10 min. caused some fatty change in the liver cells in the centrilobular area after 48 hr. When mice were given a halothane anaesthetic 2 hr. after exposure to petrol extensive fatty change was present in all liver cells after 48 hr. Assuming the incidence of fatal fat embolism after long-bone trauma to be in the vicinity of 49b, there would have been 1 chance in 1000 of both persons in the accident developing systemic fat embolism from the fractured bones alone. It is postulated that the systemic fat embolism is more likely to have resulted from the hepato-cellular damage, possibly aggravated by the subsequent anaesthetic. Supporting evidence for this hypothesis is provided by the direct correlation between the length of exposure to petrol, the degree of liver damage, the extent of the pulmonary and systemic fat embolism, and the survival period in both airmen. BRAIN MALFORMATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH CHROMOSOMAL ABNORMALITIES
GULI,E. Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria The patterns of the brain in trisomies, translocations and partial deletion of chromosomes were discussed and compared with the findings reported in the literature. Apart from findings which are common to all cases of chromosomal abnormalities there are features which can be regarded as typical of single karyotypes: architectural defects in trisomy E, and absence of olfactory bulbs and tracts and arhinencephaly in trisomy D. The association of these uncommon brain deformities with various chromosomal abnormalities stresses the importance of gene imbalance in the pathogenesis of brain malformations. TOXOPLASMOSIS I N DASYURID MARSUPIALS ATTWOOD, H. D. & WOOLLEY, P.A. University of Melbourne and L a Trobe
University, Victoria
A histological study was mads of a group of dasyurid marsupials which died or were killed. Among the variety of lesions found, toxoplasmosis was particularly common and its incidence, distribution and significance in 86 animals is described. Number Number with examined toxoplasma 28 17 Dasycercus cristicauda 23 8 Dasyuroidesb yrnei Antechinus macdonnellensis 13 7 8 5 Antechinus apicalis 9 8 Antechinomys spenceri 3 0 Antechinus stuartii 2 1 Sminthopsis larapinta
1969
77
alterations were observed in the levels of activators of the fibrinolytic system. The plasma contained high levels of these activators during the period of hepatic isolation, but following revascularization they fell to low levels. Further studies in 3 animals showed that these changes recurred after a second period of hepatic circulatory occlusion, thus proving that the low level of activators observed in the revascularization phase was not due to exhaustion of their source. SYSTEMIC FAT EMBOLISM ASSOCIATED WITH THE TOXIC EFFECTS OF AVIATION FUEL INHALATION AND GENERAL ANAESTHESIA
TONGE, J. I., HURLEY,R. N. L? FERGUSON, J. State Health Laboratory, Brisbane, Queensland In an unusual accident the two occupants of a light aircraft were exposed to petrol vapour for different periods of time before being rescued. Both received almost identical injuries and were admitted to hospital in a satisfactory condition. Each received a general anaesthetic. They both died from systemic fat embolism, one 48 hr. after the accident with severe jaundice, the other 75 hr. after the accident with no jaundice. Necropsy findings were identical with severe fatty change in the liver and myocardial fatty degeneration, associated with fat embolism and pulmonary oedema. I t was shown by experiments in mice that exposure to petrol produces severe fatty change in the liver in these animals and the formation of fat emboli was demonstrated. Exposure of mice to halothane anaesthesia for 5-10 min. caused some fatty change in the liver cells in the centrilobular area after 48 hr. When mice were given a halothane anaesthetic 2 hr. after exposure to petrol extensive fatty change was present in all liver cells after 48 hr. Assuming the incidence of fatal fat embolism after long-bone trauma to be in the vicinity of 49b, there would have been 1 chance in 1000 of both persons in the accident developing systemic fat embolism from the fractured bones alone. It is postulated that the systemic fat embolism is more likely to have resulted from the hepato-cellular damage, possibly aggravated by the subsequent anaesthetic. Supporting evidence for this hypothesis is provided by the direct correlation between the length of exposure to petrol, the degree of liver damage, the extent of the pulmonary and systemic fat embolism, and the survival period in both airmen. BRAIN MALFORMATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH CHROMOSOMAL ABNORMALITIES
GULI,E. Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria The patterns of the brain in trisomies, translocations and partial deletion of chromosomes were discussed and compared with the findings reported in the literature. Apart from findings which are common to all cases of chromosomal abnormalities there are features which can be regarded as typical of single karyotypes: architectural defects in trisomy E, and absence of olfactory bulbs and tracts and arhinencephaly in trisomy D. The association of these uncommon brain deformities with various chromosomal abnormalities stresses the importance of gene imbalance in the pathogenesis of brain malformations. TOXOPLASMOSIS I N DASYURID MARSUPIALS ATTWOOD, H. D. & WOOLLEY, P.A. University of Melbourne and L a Trobe
University, Victoria
A histological study was mads of a group of dasyurid marsupials which died or were killed. Among the variety of lesions found, toxoplasmosis was particularly common and its incidence, distribution and significance in 86 animals is described. Number Number with examined toxoplasma 28 17 Dasycercus cristicauda 23 8 Dasyuroidesb yrnei Antechinus macdonnellensis 13 7 8 5 Antechinus apicalis 9 8 Antechinomys spenceri 3 0 Antechinus stuartii 2 1 Sminthopsis larapinta