Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine
-
During the period 12 March 1980 to 10 March 1981 a consecutive series of 1200 Xhosa (Black) infants and young children, ranging in age from the newborn to the prepubertal, who attended the general outpatients department for a variety of medical complaints were examined for umbilical herniation. None had undergone any surgical operation, and patients with conditions possibly associated with umbilical herniation were excluded. ⋯ The overall incidence was reflected in each age group by a preponderance of children with umbilical hernia. This study confirms the validity of a generally-held impression that in Black children there is a strong tendency towards the persistence of umbilical hernia when it appears after separation of the cord.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Posture and lumbar puncture headache: a controlled trial in 50 patients.
A prospective single blind trial in 50 patients was performed to investigate the effect of posture on post lumbar puncture headache (LPH). A difference between the frequency of headache at five hours between the two groups (prone for four hours, versus 30 degrees head down tilt for 30 minutes followed by supine posture for 3 1/2 hours) did not reach significance. ⋯ The value of bed rest after lumbar puncture remains equivocal. Other methods used for reducing LPH are reviewed.
-
Radiological examination of over 300 patients complaining of feeling a lump in the throat and difficulty in swallowing, but in whom there was no visible lump, showed that in most cases there was no significant abnormality above the thoracic inlet. Oesophageal examination revealed no abnormality in one-third; definite gastric reflux with or without hiatus hernia in one-third; and impaired clearance of fluid in the horizontal position in the remainder. Reflux and impaired clearance were either seen spontaneously or were induced after the ingestion of hydrochloric acid of the same pH as gastric juice.