Annals of surgery
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Inhalation injury is a common complication of thermal accidents occurring in one-third of patients burned. The routine use of fiberoptic bronchoscopy on all patients incurring thermal burns provides an accurate and safe means for diagnosis. Although complications for inhalation injury are common, the mortality can be reduced by early diagnosis and attention to careful fluid resuscitation, aggressive pulmonary therapy and the avoidance of prophylatic steroids.
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One hundred consecutive femoropopliteal venous grafts in 85 patients with claudication were followed for five years. At this time, three limbs had been amputated, approximately one quarter of the patients had expired, and 70% of the grafts in surviving patients remained patent. It is concluded that this operation does not appear to increase the risk of amputation and in fact, may lessen it. Moreover, it is associated with minimal risk and generally provides long term relief of claudication, thus enhancing the quality of life in most patients.