The New Zealand medical journal
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Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) under local or regional anaesthesia is being considered more often by vascular surgeons to improve cerebral monitoring and to reduce general anaesthetic complications. The purpose of this study was to audit the results of CEA under regional anaesthesia in a New Zealand hospital (Dunedin Hospital, Otago Province). ⋯ CEA under regional anaesthesia is a safe operation even in patients with coronary disease and in a low volume setting. Moreover, it allows monitoring of cerebral ischaemia and the safe use of selective shunting. The results are comparable to other recently published series and provide a baseline for comparison with newer treatment modalities.
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There are no indigenous caterpillars known to be associated with erucism, but the recently established gum leaf skeletoniser (Uraba lugens) has venom-containing spines that cause adverse reactions in humans. Symptoms are usually characterised by a stinging sensation, followed by itching and the formation of wheals. Exposure to U. lugens should be considered by medical practitioners in the differential diagnosis of contact dermatitis in the Auckland region.