- Email: [email protected]
Technical considerations in the surgical management of pectus excavatum and carinatum
560
ABSTRACTS
a major role in the early death of these animals. In most rabbits circulating endotoxin was detected between 90 and 120 min after immersion and in all by the third hour. Postmortem examination revealed no septic process visible in any tissue. The authors determined the endotoxin to be of intestinal origin. Endotoxemia failed to develop and rabbits survived which did not harbor gram-negative bacteria in the intestine. The authors believe the vasoactive substance is absorbed from the burned skin, results in the intestinal wall being made more permeable allowing absorption of the endotoxin.-George
Holcomb
Recurring Digital Fibroma of infancy. J. J. Bloem, U. D. Vuzevski, and A. 1. C. Huffstodt, J. Bone Joint Surg. 56:(Br) 746-751 (November), 1974.
This is a tumor of the hand and fingers of childhood in which origin, course. and prognosis are obscure. The tumors begin as small nodules and may reach considerable size. They are firm and fixed to the skin and deep tissues. Microscopically the dermis is replaced by tumor consisting of bands of fibrous connective tissue. Mitotic figures are rare. Most authors believe a virus to be the causative agent, but a strain has never been isolated. Until recently excision and skin grafting were widely recommended. Three cases of the condition are described. All of the patients had excision and skin grafting done in the first year of life, and as in all of them there were recurrences, it was decided to treat the condition conservatively. In all three cases gradual regression occurred and in one is now complete. From these findings the authors now recommend a strictly conservative approach owing to: (I) the difficulty of adequate removal: (2) the tendancy to spontaneous regression; and (3) no case of metastasis or persistence into adult life has been reported.--/. Aitken
HEAD AND NECK Methods of Measuring Intracranial Pressure Via the Fontanelle Without Puncture. S. R. Weoltholl and R. Smallwood.
37:88-96
(January),
J. Neural. Naurosurg. 1974.
Psychiatry.
In a search for a noninvasive method of measuring intracranial pressure in infants, the authors examine and discard various previously published methods in favor of a “Fontanometer” using the aplanation principle. The instrument was made from an ileostomy flange with
an aplanation Transducer secured into it: this was applied to the scalp over the anterior fontanelle and changes compared with simultaneous recordings from a pressure transducer attached to a ventricular puncture needle. In five infants studied, the aplanation transducer faithfully measured intracranial pressures. The authors suggest the method is suitable for noninvasive estimations and should be further studied.-J. Lisrer Epignathus. Jagdish
36:242-243
Chandler.
Indian
J. Surg.
(June), 1974.
A teratoma from the roof of the nasopharynx is reported in a newborn.-Vusanr Tufwlker.
THORAX Technical Considerations in the Surgical Management of Pectus Excavatum and Carinatum. f. Robicsek, H. K. Dougherty,
D. C. Mullen,
N.
6.
Horbold,
Jr., D. G. Ho//, R. D. Jackson, T. N. Mosters, ond P. W. Songer. Ann. Thorac. Surg. 18:549564 (December), 1974.
Six hundred fifty operations for deformities of the sternum are reported spanning a 25-yr period in 608 patients, The authors describe their own technique for repair of excavatum and carinatum deformities, which basically involves removal of deformed costal cartilages, freeing the manubrium to allow its correct positioning, and then the use of a V-shaped suspending stainless-steel wire from the second or third costal cartilage down to the xyphoid process in order to hold the sternum forward. Included in their operative descriptions are methods of handling unilateral deformities and recurrent deformities. The authors maintain that their procedure is simple and satisfactory and, as such. is applicable to all types of deformity without regard to careful individual evaluation of psychological disturbance caused by the deformity. Of 608 procedures, however, 73 were termed unsatisfactory results. Nearly half of these 73 patients underwent reoperation with only 509; satisfactory result from the second procedure. The authors attach perhaps more physiologic significance to the deformity than most other authors. This is an impressive series.-Keirh W. Ashcraft Surgical Repair of Total Cleft Sternum. J.
Verrko. J. Thorac. (February), 1975.
Cardiovasc.
Surg.
67:301-305
J.
ABSTRACTS
a major role in the early death of these animals. In most rabbits circulating endotoxin was detected between 90 and 120 min after immersion and in all by the third hour. Postmortem examination revealed no septic process visible in any tissue. The authors determined the endotoxin to be of intestinal origin. Endotoxemia failed to develop and rabbits survived which did not harbor gram-negative bacteria in the intestine. The authors believe the vasoactive substance is absorbed from the burned skin, results in the intestinal wall being made more permeable allowing absorption of the endotoxin.-George
Holcomb
Recurring Digital Fibroma of infancy. J. J. Bloem, U. D. Vuzevski, and A. 1. C. Huffstodt, J. Bone Joint Surg. 56:(Br) 746-751 (November), 1974.
This is a tumor of the hand and fingers of childhood in which origin, course. and prognosis are obscure. The tumors begin as small nodules and may reach considerable size. They are firm and fixed to the skin and deep tissues. Microscopically the dermis is replaced by tumor consisting of bands of fibrous connective tissue. Mitotic figures are rare. Most authors believe a virus to be the causative agent, but a strain has never been isolated. Until recently excision and skin grafting were widely recommended. Three cases of the condition are described. All of the patients had excision and skin grafting done in the first year of life, and as in all of them there were recurrences, it was decided to treat the condition conservatively. In all three cases gradual regression occurred and in one is now complete. From these findings the authors now recommend a strictly conservative approach owing to: (I) the difficulty of adequate removal: (2) the tendancy to spontaneous regression; and (3) no case of metastasis or persistence into adult life has been reported.--/. Aitken
HEAD AND NECK Methods of Measuring Intracranial Pressure Via the Fontanelle Without Puncture. S. R. Weoltholl and R. Smallwood.
37:88-96
(January),
J. Neural. Naurosurg. 1974.
Psychiatry.
In a search for a noninvasive method of measuring intracranial pressure in infants, the authors examine and discard various previously published methods in favor of a “Fontanometer” using the aplanation principle. The instrument was made from an ileostomy flange with
an aplanation Transducer secured into it: this was applied to the scalp over the anterior fontanelle and changes compared with simultaneous recordings from a pressure transducer attached to a ventricular puncture needle. In five infants studied, the aplanation transducer faithfully measured intracranial pressures. The authors suggest the method is suitable for noninvasive estimations and should be further studied.-J. Lisrer Epignathus. Jagdish
36:242-243
Chandler.
Indian
J. Surg.
(June), 1974.
A teratoma from the roof of the nasopharynx is reported in a newborn.-Vusanr Tufwlker.
THORAX Technical Considerations in the Surgical Management of Pectus Excavatum and Carinatum. f. Robicsek, H. K. Dougherty,
D. C. Mullen,
N.
6.
Horbold,
Jr., D. G. Ho//, R. D. Jackson, T. N. Mosters, ond P. W. Songer. Ann. Thorac. Surg. 18:549564 (December), 1974.
Six hundred fifty operations for deformities of the sternum are reported spanning a 25-yr period in 608 patients, The authors describe their own technique for repair of excavatum and carinatum deformities, which basically involves removal of deformed costal cartilages, freeing the manubrium to allow its correct positioning, and then the use of a V-shaped suspending stainless-steel wire from the second or third costal cartilage down to the xyphoid process in order to hold the sternum forward. Included in their operative descriptions are methods of handling unilateral deformities and recurrent deformities. The authors maintain that their procedure is simple and satisfactory and, as such. is applicable to all types of deformity without regard to careful individual evaluation of psychological disturbance caused by the deformity. Of 608 procedures, however, 73 were termed unsatisfactory results. Nearly half of these 73 patients underwent reoperation with only 509; satisfactory result from the second procedure. The authors attach perhaps more physiologic significance to the deformity than most other authors. This is an impressive series.-Keirh W. Ashcraft Surgical Repair of Total Cleft Sternum. J.
Verrko. J. Thorac. (February), 1975.
Cardiovasc.
Surg.
67:301-305
J.