Intrathoracic muscle flaps: a 10-year experience in the management of life-threatening infections

From 1977 to 1987, 87 consecutive patients underwent intrathoracic muscle transposition. Indications for the operation were bronchopleural fistula, postpneumonectomy empyema, perforation of the heart or great vessels, esophageal fistula, tracheal fistula, empyema, and prophylactic reinforcements of the airway. Of the 118 muscles transposed, the serratus anterior was used in 48 patients, the latissimus dorsi in 33, the pectoralis major in 26, and other muscles in 11. Depending on the wound status at the time of muscle transposition, the chest either was left open for dressing changes or was closed primarily. The number of operations per patient ranged from 1 to 16 (median 2). There were 13 operative deaths (14.9 percent). The follow-up period ranged from 3.9 to 130.9 months (median 28.3 months). Overall results were excellent in 65 patients (74.7 percent). There was no difference in results when considered according to treatment indication. We conclude that when there is an actual or potential leak of the tracheobronchial tree, heart and great vessels, or intrathoracic gastrointestinal tract, intrathoracic muscle transposition can be a lifesaving adjunct.     

Treatment of total sternal necrosis using the latissimus dorsi muscle flap

Complications after a median sternotomy incision, which is used currently in most cardiac and mediastinal surgical procedures, although infrequent, are serious. If sternal dehiscence follows median sternotomy, infection extends to vital underlying structures, exposing the anterior part of the heart and ascending aorta. Permanent hemorrhage, septic thrombosis, or septic perforation of prosthetic material demand soft-tissue coverage. In 5 patients with total sternum necrosis the retrosternal space was covered with a latissimus dorsi muscle flap in order to achieve stable protection of the exposed mediastinal organs.     

老年高血压性脑出血相关预后影响因素回顾性分析

目的：回顾性分析高血压性脑出血患者影响预后的各因素之间的关系的相关性,以及各因素对脑出血患者预后的影响。方法：回顾性分析我院2009年1月-2012年7月间接受治疗的老年高血压性脑出血患者147例,其中男：86例,女：61例;年龄60．83岁,平均（69．6±5．7）岁;高血压病程8-23年,平均（9．7±1．6）年。分析老年高血压性脑出血患者发病至就诊时间、入院就诊时的临床表现、患者的意识状态、出血位置及出血量、语言功能障碍、肢体运动功能障碍,以及患者的预后转归等因素与预后的相关性。结果：老年高血压性脑出血治疗后,总有效率为67．7％;在诸多预后因素中：意识状态、出血量、出血位置,以及是否破入脑室等因素与预后具有相关性,具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：老年高血压性脑出血的预后与意识状态、出血量、出血位置相关,根据临床症状对脑出血患者采取积极的治疗措施,对脑出血患者的预后有重要的意义。     

Intrathoracic versus Cervical Anastomosis after Resection of Esophageal Cancer: A matched pair analysis of 72 patients in a single center study

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyze the early postoperative outcome of esophageal cancer treated by subtotal esophageal resection, gastric interposition and either intrathoracic or cervical anastomosis in a single center study. METHODS: 72 patients who received either a cervical or intrathoracic anastomosis after esophageal resection for esophageal cancer were matched by age and tumor stage. Collected data from these patients were analyzed retrospectively regarding morbidity and mortality rates. RESULTS: Anastomotic leakage rate was significantly lower in the intrathoracic anastomosis group than in the cervical anastomosis group (4 of 36 patients (11 %) vs. 11 of 36 patients (31 %); p = 0.040). The hospital stay was significantly shorter in the intrathoracic anastomosis group compared to the cervical anastomosis group (14 (range 10-110) vs. 26 days (range 12 - 105); p = 0.012). Wound infection and temporary paresis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve occurred significantly more often in the cervical anastomosis group compared to the intrathoracic anastomosis group (28 % vs. 0 %; p = 0.002 and 11 % vs. 0 %; p = 0.046). The overall Inhospital mortality rate was 6 % (4 of 72 patients) without any differences between the study groups. CONCLUSIONS: The present data support the assumption that the transthoracic approach with an intrathoracic anastomosis compared to a cervical esophagogastrostomy is the safer and more beneficial procedure in patients with carcinoma of the lower and middle third of the esophagus due to a significant reduction of anastomotic leakage, wound infection, paresis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and shorter hospital stay.     

Operations on the pericardium; a review of current surgical procedures

Improved management of pericardial disease has resulted from a better understanding of the pathological physiology and refined surgical technique. In acute cardiac tamponade from trauma, our experience has shown that simple pericardial aspiration, because it relieves the tamponade, renders open operation unnecessary unless the hemorrhage is unusually severe. However, in chronic tamponade, from prolonged pericardial bleeding or effusion, the "pericardio-pleural window" operation described in this article will safely decompress the pericardium without secondary infection and the necessity of reoperation. With chronic constrictive pericarditis, on the other hand, catheterization studies reveal that left heart constriction is more important than that of the right heart or vena cavae. So it is important to pay more attention to decortication of the left heart than was formerly believed. Excision of pericardial tumors, most often cystic, is indicated because they are indistinguishable from malignant growths, although they in themselves are not of serious import. Fatty and fibrous pericardium have proved to be suitable viable material for various plastic operations on the heart, lung and esophagus. Finally, experience with poudrage to revascularize the myocardium is proving that this is a very satisfactory technique which can be performed with minimal risk.     

Histopathology of viremia-associated ana-aki-byo in combination with Aeromonas hydrophila in color carp Cyprinus carpio in Japan

A disease in which 'viremia-associated ana-aki-byo' is combined with an Aeromonas hydrophila infection currently occurs and is highly transmissible in color carp Cyprinus carpio in Japan. In the present study, to determine the interrelation between a corona-like virus and A. hydrophila, we conducted transmission trials by cohabiting naturally diseased carp with healthy carp with skin that had been slightly damaged artificially. Experimentally exposed fish successfully replicated the combination of a corona-like viral viremia and A. hydrophila infection. Diseased carp displayed scale-sac edema, ascites and exophthalmus adding to the formation of skin ulcers. In addition to pathological changes due to the corona-like virus infection, various changes due to the A. hydrophila infection occurred. Anasarcous skin lesions exhibited a separated epidermis, expanded scale-sacs, and an edematous dermis accompanied by hemorrhage and necrosis. The underlying lateral musculature was edematous and possessed markedly atrophied muscle fibers. Hepatocytes were either atrophied or swollen and had a granular appearance. Renal tubular cells showed vacuolar degeneration, cloudy swelling, necrosis and destruction. Hemosiderin deposition occurred within macrophages in the spleen and hematopoietic tissue, and within hepatocytes. Cardiac muscle fibers exhibited degeneration and necrosis accompanied by hemorrhage in the myocardium of heart. These changes appeared to be induced by bacterial toxins because bacterial cells did not directly invade these affected tissues.     

红脖游蛇咬伤引起严重中毒的临床观察报告

目的为了观察红脖游蛇(Rhabdophis subminiatus)咬伤的临床表现,探明其中毒引起出血的机制。方法对2001~2005年我科诊治的7例红脖游蛇咬伤病人,采取临床观察结合实验室检查:试管法凝血时间(coagulation time)、PT、APTT、TT、纤维蛋白原浓度(Fibrinogen,Fib)和纤维蛋白降解产物含量(3P和D-二聚体)测定等实验检查的血液学研究。并采用自行设计方法治疗:蛇咬伤伤口局部消毒后给予点状加压止血(绝对不能切开,已经切口的需把伤口缝合后再止血)。全身治疗主要有(1)根据需要输注全血或血浆;(2)止血抗纤溶药:止血敏维生素K,止血芳酸,止血环酸;(3)654-2加地塞米松静脉点滴防治全身炎症反应综合症(SIRS);(4)口服中草药蛇药;(5)抗感染;(6)抗休克和治疗MODS等对症处理。结果7例病人就诊时全部有伤口出血难止,全身严重出血倾向,其中1例头颅CT检查发现有脑出血,2例出现了休克、急性肾功能衰竭。全部患者进行血液学检查试管法凝血时间均明显延长,普通试管里血液未能凝固;PT、APTT和TT均延长,纤维蛋白原明显减少,基本检测不出,3P阳性和D-二聚体增加,呈脱纤维蛋白原血症状态。脑出血患者因无手术指征,保守治疗病情稳定后自动出院,1例急性肾功能衰竭患者因无法人工肾治疗而自动出院(后证实死亡)。其余5例痊愈出院。结论提示该蛇咬伤可引起患者体内凝血系统被激活而继发纤溶亢进完全脱纤维蛋白状态的DIC样血液学改变,如不及时治疗,可引起严重合并症,甚至死亡。     

组织扩张器辅助神经内镜治疗高血压脑出血的临床应用价值分析

目的:探讨组织扩张器辅助神经内镜治疗高血压脑出血的临床效果,为高血压脑出血的治疗提供依据。方法:选择我院2017年2月至2018年1月收治的高血压脑出血患者108例,其中应用组织扩张器辅助神经内镜治疗的高血压脑出血患者52例作为研究组,应用传统开颅血肿清除术治疗的高血压脑出血患者56例作为对照组。比较两组手术出血量、血肿清除率、手术时间、术后再出血率、术后并发症发生情况及术后3个月、术后6个月格拉斯哥预后评分(GOS)情况。结果:研究组手术时间短于对照组,研究组手术出血量、术后再出血率均低于对照组,血肿清除率高于对照组(P0.05)。研究组肺部感染、尿路感染发生率低于对照组(P0.05);两组消化道出血、深静脉血栓发生率比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。两组术后6个月GOS评分分布优于术后3个月,术后3个月、术后6个月研究组GOS评分分布优于对照组(P0.05)。结论:组织扩张器辅助神经内镜治疗高血压脑出血能有效缩短手术时间和减少术中出血量,其血肿清除率也更高,且患者术后并发症发生率较低,预后较好。     

OPERATIONS ON THE PERICARDIUM—A Review of Current Surgical Procedures

Improved management of pericardial disease has resulted from a better understanding of the pathological physiology and refined surgical technique.In acute cardiac tamponade from trauma, our experience has shown that simple pericardial aspiration, because it relieves the tamponade, renders open operation unnecessary unless the hemorrhage is unusually severe. However, in chronic tamponade, from prolonged pericardial bleeding or effusion, the “pericardio-pleural window” operation described in this article will safely decompress the pericardium without secondary infection and the necessity of reoperation. With chronic constrictive pericarditis, on the other hand, catheterization studies reveal that left heart constriction is more important than that of the right heart or vena cavae. So it is important to pay more attention to decortication of the left heart than was formerly believed.Excision of pericardial tumors, most often cystic, is indicated because they are indistinguishable from malignant growths, although they in themselves are not of serious import.Fatty and fibrous pericardium have proved to be suitable viable material for various plastic operations on the heart, lung and esophagus. Finally, experience with poudrage to revascularize the myocardium is proving that this is a very satisfactory technique which can be performed with minimal risk.     

Effect of lung volume on the respiratory action of the canine pectoral muscles.

Lung volume influences the mechanical action of the primary inspiratory and expiratory muscles by affecting their precontraction length, alignment with the rib cage, and mechanical coupling to agonistic and antagonistic muscles. We have previously shown that the canine pectoral muscles exert an expiratory action on the rib cage when the forelimbs are at the torso's side and an inspiratory action when the forelimbs are held elevated. To determine the effect of lung volume on intrathoracic pressure changes produced by the canine pectoral muscles, we performed isolated bilateral supramaximal electrical stimulation of the deep pectoral and superficial pectoralis (descending and transverse heads) muscles in 15 adult supine anesthetized dogs during hyperventilation-induced apnea. Lung volume was altered by application of a negative or positive pressure (+/- 30 cmH2O) to the airway. In all animals, selective electrical stimulation of the descending, transverse, and deep pectoral muscles with the forelimbs held elevated produced negative intrathoracic pressure changes (i.e., an inspiratory action). Moreover, with the forelimbs elevated, increasing lung volume decreased both pectoral muscle fiber precontraction length and the negative intrathoracic pressure changes generated by contraction of each of these muscles. Conversely, with the forelimbs along the torso, increasing lung volume lengthened pectoral muscle precontraction length and augmented the positive intrathoracic pressure changes produced by muscle contraction (i.e., an expiratory action). These results indicate that lung volume significantly affects the length of the canine pectoral muscles and their mechanical actions on the rib cage.     

Peptidergic modulation of efferent sympathetic neurons in intrathoracic ganglia regulating the canine heart

When either substance P or vasoactive intestinal peptide was injected into an acutely decentralized intrathoracic sympathetic ganglion, short-lasting augmentation of cardiac chronotropism and inotropism was induced. These augmentations were induced before the fall in systemic arterial pressure occurred which was a consequence of these peptides leaking into the systemic circulation in enough quantity to alter peripheral vascular resistance directly. When similar volumes of normal saline were injected into an intrathoracic ganglion, no significant cardiac changes were induced. When substance P or vasoactive intestinal peptide was administered into an intrathoracic ganglion, similar cardiac augmentations were induced either before or after the intravenous administration of hexamethonium. In contrast, when these peptides were injected into an intrathoracic ganglion in which the beta-adrenergic blocking agent timolol (0.1 mg/0.1 ml of normal saline) had been administered no cardiac augmentation occurred. These data imply that in the presence of beta-adrenergic blockade intraganglionic administration of substance P or vasoactive intestinal peptide does not modify enough intrathoracic neurons to alter cardiac chronotropism and inotropism detectably. When neuropeptide Y was injected into an intrathoracic ganglion, no cardiac changes occurred. However, when cardiac augmentations were induced by sympathetic preganglionic axon stimulation these were enhanced following the intraganglionic administration of neuropeptide Y. As this effect occurred after timolol was administered into the ipsilateral ganglia, but not after intravenous administration of hexamethonium, it is proposed that the effects of neuropeptide Y are dependent upon functioning intrathoracic ganglionic nicotinic cholinergic synaptic mechanisms. Intravenous administration of either morphine or [D-ala2,D-leu5]enkephalin acetate did not alter the capacity of the preganglionic sympathetic axons to augment the heart when stimulated. Following the intravenous administration of naloxone, the positive inotropic cardiac responses induced by efferent preganglionic sympathetic axonal stimulation were enhanced minimally in control states and significantly following hexamethonium administration. Thus, it appears that enkephalins are involved in the modulation of intrathoracic ganglion neurons regulating the heart, perhaps via modification of beta-adrenergic receptors. Taken together these data indicate that substance P, vasoactive intestinal peptide, neuropeptide Y, or enkephalins modify intrathoracic ganglionic neurons which are involved in efferent sympathetic cardiac regulation.     

CRUSADE评分联合血栓弹力图对急性冠脉综合征患者出血风险的评估

目的:运用CRUSADE评分系统联合血栓弹力图对急性冠脉综合征(acute coronary syndrome,ACS)患者抗栓治疗中的出血风险进行评估。方法:回顾性分析2013年1月至2013年12月在上海交通大学医学院附属新华医院住院的ACS患者病历249例,用CRUSADE评分联合血栓弹力图评估ACS患者30天出血事件的发生。结果:随访的249例ACS患者,共有46例(18.5%)患者发生了出血事件;按照CRUSADE评分进行危险分层,极低危组、低危组、中危组、高危组、极高危组的出血率分别为:15%、7.5%、21.2%、32.5%26.7%;各组间出血率的比较:中危组、高危组及极高危组各组的出血率均高于低危组,差异有统计学意义;而高危组出血率高于极低危组,差异有统计学意义,而极低危组与其他各组比较,差异无统计学意义;低危组以上患者出血率高于低危组以下,差异有统计学意义。低危组以上中危组、高危组及极高危组各组间出血率比较,差异无统计学意义;按照血小板抑制率中位数分组,大于中位数组的出血率高于小于中位数组,差异有统计学意义。经多因素Logistic分析:PAg T抑制率(ADP)是ACS患者抗栓治疗中出血事件的独立影响因素。利用ROC曲线分析CRUSADE评分、血栓弹力图以及两者联合对患者出血事件发生的评估,两者联合的曲线下面积大于单独利用CRUSADE评分。结论:随着CRUSADE评分危险分层的增加出血的发生率亦呈增加趋势;危险分层低危以上的患者,不论中危、高危、极高危发生出血事件风险较低危险以下有明显增加;血栓弹力图监测血小板抑制率可作为CRUSADE评分的补充,提高对ACS患者出血风险的预测。     

New Concept in Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA)

The world-wide impact of traumatic injury and associated hemorrhage on human health and well-being is significant. Methods to manage bleeding from sites within the torso, referred to as non-compressible torso hemorrhage (NCTH), remain largely limited to the use of conventional operative techniques. The overall mortality rate of patients with NCTH is approximately 50%. Studies from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have suggested that up to 80% of potentially survivable patients die as a result of uncontrolled exsanguinating hemorrhage. The commercially available resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is a percutaneous device for the rapid control of torso hemorrhage in trauma. A compliant balloon is inserted via the femoral artery and inflated in the thoracic or abdominal aorta, providing inflow control of the abdomen, pelvis, or groin/lower extremities. Recent studies indicate that REBOA carries an inherent risk of aortic injury due to over-inflation and possible risk of aortic or iliac artery rupture. A new approach isto resolve the issue of balloon sizing and over-inflation. We propose a novel concept to be used in trauma facility for arterial occlusion to eliminate arterial injury and the risk of vascular rupture through real time balloon diameter profile measurements to ensure proper inflation. The proposed concept, called Smart Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion (SREBO) will be novel in the following aspects: 1) It will have electrical conductance-based navigation technology to target the desired site of balloon deployment in the aorta, 2) The balloon can determine the time of proper inflation using electrical conductance catheter technology. This technology would eliminate the risk of arterial rupture and simplify the procedure in the trauma facility or medical clinics without significant training. The results can be displayed on a handheld device. This novel device has the potential to save civilians in trauma or soldiers injured on the battlefield.     

应激性高血糖与急性自发性脑出血患者术后并发症和早期预后的相关性研究

目的:探讨应激性高血糖与自发性脑出血患者术后并发症及早期预后的关系。方法:回顾性分析我院收治的自发性脑出血患者358例,根据入院时血糖水平、糖化血红蛋白(HbAlc)及既往有无糖尿病史分为血糖正常组(96例)、应激性高血糖组(107例)及糖尿病组(155例),记录和比较各组入院时的血糖、格拉斯哥昏迷评分(GCS)、平均出血量及入院后30 d时各组的术后并发症发生情况、格拉斯哥预后评分(GOS)的差异。结果:糖尿病组入院时血糖水平、平均出血量、重型患者所占比率、脑出血破入脑室、颅内再出血、颅内感染、肺部感染、尿路感染及上消化道出血发生率、GOS分级植物状态或死亡发生率均明显高于应激性高血糖组(P0.05),GOS分级良好率低于应激性高血糖组(P0.05);而应激性高血糖组入院时血糖水平、平均出血量、重型患者所占比率、脑出血破入脑室、颅内再出血发生率、GOS分级植物状态或死亡发生率均明显高于血糖正常组(P0.05)。结论:自发性脑出血患者入院时应激性高血糖与患者的病情显著相关,可加重急性脑出血的不良预后。     

高龄（80-89 岁）非ST 段抬高心肌梗死早期 介入治疗的疗效观察

目的:研究调查高龄(80-89岁)非ST段抬高心肌梗死(non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction,NSTEMI)患者行早期经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(percutaneous coronary intervention,PCI)的有效性。方法:回顾分析2008年8月-2009年10月期间我院住院的66例80-89岁NSTEMI患者,冠状动脉造影检查后45例行PCI术,5例因为左主干病变或者严重的三支病变行冠脉搭桥(CABG)术,其余16例做保守治疗。发病到行介入治疗时间<72h。结果:45例行PCI术中42例成功,再血管化的成功率为63.6%,失败的3例PCI术病人中2例因导丝或球囊未能通过病变,1例为顽固性室速。共植入支架80枚,术后梗死相关动脉血流均达到TIMI2-3级。术后死亡2例(心源性休克、颅内出血各1例),死亡率为4.8%。住院期间出血并发症较高,有4(9.5%)例(穿刺部位血肿2例,消化道、颅内出血各1例)。住院期间无再发心肌梗死,偶发心绞痛2例。结论:穿刺尽管高龄(80-89岁)非ST段抬高心肌梗死冠脉早期介入主要出血事件较多,但可改善住院期间的预后。     

CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER—Clinical Course in 2,377 Patients at San Francisco General Hospital

The records of 2,377 patients with Laennec''s cirrhosis were reviewed for the period 1947-1957. The chief presenting symptom was ascites in 46 per cent, bleeding in 23 per cent, coma in 18 per cent, jaundice in 9 per cent, and both jaundice and ascites in 4 per cent. Nearly half of the patients died during the period under study—one-third from hepatic failure, one-third from gastrointestinal bleeding, and one-third from other causes, most of which were related to alcoholism.Massive gastrointestinal bleeding occurred in 21 per cent of the patients at some time in their clinical course, and in the 10 per cent of these in whom ulcer was demonstrated, one-fifth died as a result of the hemorrhage. Of those presumed to be bleeding from esophageal varices, 64 per cent died at the first hemorrhage and 10 per cent at subsequent hemorrhages; 85 per cent of all those who bled from varices were dead at the end of one year, and 91 per cent were dead at the end of three years.The survival curve of a group of patients who bled once and were good operative risks but had received no operative treatment was compared to the survival curve for entire group who survived the first hemorrhage. The three-year survival in the good risk group was 47 per cent; for the group as a whole it was 30 per cent. The difference in mortality rate was primarily due to an increased number of deaths from hepatic failure in the combined group, whereas 60 per cent of the good risk group died of recurrent gastrointestinal hemorrhage.As 86 per cent of those who were to die of gastrointestinal bleeding did so at the first hemorrhage, it was concluded that any decided improvement in the salvage rate achievable by operation must come from some means of diagnostic forecast of the likelihood of bleeding, with resort to prophylactic operation in such cases.     

Hemorrhage During Long-Term Anticoagulant Drug Therapy—Part IV: Selection and Management of Patients

Most serious hemorrhages that occur during long-term anticoagulant drug therapy are due either to poor patient selection or to poor management of the patient, or both.In each patient being considered for treatment, the risk of bleeding must be evaluated and classified as high, moderate or low.The clinician must especially assess the risk of intracranial hemorrhage in hypertensive patients, and must screen all patients for potential sources of gastrointestinal bleeding. There is ample time for such investigations, since initiating long-term anticoagulant therapy is not an emergency procedure.The desired level of prothrombin activity must be adjusted to the risks determined for each individual patient. There is no single “therapeutic range” applicable to all patients with their varying hemorrhagenic risks.Proper management includes sufficient laboratory testing to maintain the desired prothrombin level, and continued vigilance to detect signs of early bleeding.Preventable hemorrhage cannot be cited as evidence against the value of anticoagulant drug therapy.     

Expression of the genes coding for the skeletal muscle and cardiac actions in the heart

Several types of evidence indicate that the gene coding for the skeletal muscle actin is expressed in the rat heart: 1) A recombinant plasmid containing an insert with a nucleotide sequence identical to that of the homologous region of skeletal muscle actin gene was isolated from a cDNA library prepared on rat cardiac mRNA template. 2) Using specific probes it was found that the hearts of newborn rats contain a significant amount of skeletal muscle actin mRNA. The quantity of this mRNA in the heart decreases during development. 3) The skeletal muscle actin gene is DNAase I sensitive in nuclei from rat heart tissue. A plasmid containing a cDNA insert homologous to a part of the cardiac actin mRNA was isolated and sequenced. It was found that in spite of the great similarity between the amino acid sequence of the skeletal muscle and cardiac actins, the nucleotide sequences of the two mRNAs are considerably divergent. There is only limited sequence homology between the 3' untranslated regions of the two mRNAs. However, there is an extensive sequence homology between the 3' untranslated regions of the rat and human cardiac mRNAs, suggesting a functional role for this region of the gene or mRNA.     

Bleeding varices: 1. Emergency management.

The aim of the emergency management of bleeding varices is to stop the hemorrhage nonoperatively if possible, avoiding emergency shunt surgery, an operation that has a higher mortality than elective shunt surgery. Patients with an upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage should undergo endoscopy immediately to verify the diagnosis of bleeding varices. They can then be categorized according to whether they stop bleeding spontaneously (group 1), continue to bleed slowly (group 2) or continue to bleed rapidly (group 3). Group 1 patients are discussed in the second part of this two-part series. Group 2 patients are initially treated with vasopressin given intravenously; those who fail to respond should undergo emergency angiography and receive vasopressin intra-arterially. If this fails, patients at low surgical risk should undergo urgent shunt surgery; those at high risk do better with endoscopic sclerotherapy. Group 3 patients are also given an intravenous infusion of vasopressin. Patients at low surgical risk who continue to bleed then receive tamponade with a Sengstaken--Blakemore tube. If this fails, they undergo emergency creation of an H-shaped mesocaval shunt. Patients at high surgical risk who fail to respond to vasopressin given intravenously are next treated intra-arterially. If this fails they are given either endoscopic or transhepatic sclerotherapy.     

Ischemic Colitis

Twenty cases of ischemic colitis are reviewed; 19 were obtained from autopsy files and the diagnosis in one was made from a surgical specimen. The majority of the patients were elderly with generalized arteriosclerosis. In approximately two-thirds of the patients the ischemic colitis was precipitated by preceding trauma, operation or congestive heart failure. Clinically, ischemic colitis is characterized by abdominal pain, distension and bleeding per rectum. Perforation of large bowel may occur. The lesions tend to be localized around the splenic flexure and junction of the descending and sigmoid colon, and in cases following aortic graft surgery the rectum is involved. Microscopically, there is necrosis, hemorrhage and ulceration. In less severe cases the mucosa only is affected. Cases with perforation show necrosis of all layers. It is considered that ischemic colitis is comparatively frequent and should be distinguished from other inflammatory conditions of the colon.