Blood Loss During Pediatric Operations

The gravimetric method of measuring blood loss was used during all types of pediatric operations at The Montreal Children''s Hospital. Results of 1787 such measurements indicated that the method is of value in the management of transfusion. Grading blood loss as minor, moderate or severe, in terms of its relation to total blood volume or body weight is a procedure of practical value. Operations were grouped into those that usually led to a loss of less than 10% of the blood volume (7.5 ml./kg.), those with a loss usually between 10% and 14% and those with blood loss usually over 14% (10.5 ml./kg.), in order that appropriate plans for transfusion could be made to reduce the incidence of serious hypovolemia without fear of cardiovascular overloading. Blood loss at operation (adenotonsillectomy) was noted to vary considerably among surgeons but was fairly constant for each surgeon and seemed to be independent of the surgeon''s experience. Two alleged hemostatic agents, adrenochrome carbazone (Statimo) and estrogenic substances (Premarin), were not effective in reducing the amount of blood lost during adenotonsillectomy. The importance of calculation of approximate equivalent amounts of blood at various ages of childhood is emphasized.     

Fetal Loss After Cholecystectomy During Pregnancy

The histories of 17 patients who had a cholecystectomy during pregnancy were reviewed. All patients were operated upon for clinical recurrent biliary colic. Four patients aborted or had premature labour. It appears that there is an increased risk of fetal loss if cholecystectomy is performed during pregnancy. Because of this, it would appear reasonable to perform the operation only if the exigencies of the situation demand that surgery be done. It should be borne in mind that there may also be an increased fetal loss from recurrent biliary colic treated symptomatically, particularly if cholecystitis and jaundice were to complicate matters further. If operation is performed, the fetal loss rate will likely be in the neighbourhood of 15%.     

The Loss of Structural Integrity in Damaged Spruce Needles from Locations Exposed to Air Pollution

Abstract Within the framework of appraising the new type of forest damage, the epidermis of two-year-old spruce ( Picea abies ) needles was investigated as a possible site for primary attack by air pollutants using light and scanning electron microscopy.
Depending upon the extent of the macroscopically visible needle leaf disease, a degeneration process of the cuticular, stomatal and epidermal structures leading to the lethal destruction of the needle surface was observed.
Stomatal and epidermal cells become increasingly deformed or collapsed showing increasing discolouration due to phenolic deposits. Additionally, the erosion of stomatal waxes is accelerated, leading initially to a temporary occlusion of the stomata, and then to a wide opening of the antechamber following a complete decomposition of the plug.
Surface lesions indicating early damage to the epidermal tissue already occur on slightly yellowed needles. The barrier effect of the spruce needle epidermis on exogenous stressors could thereby already be reduced at an early stage, triggering incipient losses of structural resistance.