Southern medical journal
-
Southern medical journal · May 1991
Management of the asymptomatic patient with a stab wound to the chest.
We prospectively studied 126 asymptomatic patients who had a total of 144 stab wounds (average size, 2 cm) to the chest to determine their need for hospitalization. Their average age was 32 years; 102 of them were men. Four left against medical advice. ⋯ The fistula was repaired uneventfully. No late-developing complications were detected in a review of the charts a year later. We believe a patient with a stab wound to the chest but with no evidence of intrathoracic injury may be appropriately managed with limited observation, including serial inspiratory and expiratory roentgenograms of the chest.
-
Southern medical journal · Apr 1991
Improving palliation in pancreatic cancer: intraoperative celiac plexus block for pain relief.
Most patients with pancreatic carcinoma are not curable. Surgical palliation of obstructive jaundice and gastric outlet obstruction leaves many patients with severe pain from pancreatic carcinoma. Anesthesiologists have drawn increasing attention to the successful use of postoperative percutaneous celiac plexus block for the treatment of pancreatic pain. ⋯ Most patients had excellent pain relief for at least 2 months or until death. Because most patients treated surgically for pancreatic carcinoma are receiving only palliation with biliary bypass or gastroenterostomy, surgeons should pay increased attention to pain relief. Operative celiac plexus block is easy, safe, and highly effective in relieving the agonizing pain of pancreatic carcinoma.
-
The morbidity and mortality from neonatal tetanus are preventable. It is largely a disease of developing countries. This single case of neonatal tetanus in southern Florida must serve as an indicator for the need for health care professionals to evaluate the degree of utilization of maternal health services and the impact of immunization programs for those women at risk, in this case, women who have migrated from developing countries.
-
Southern medical journal · Mar 1991
Biography Historical ArticleHoward Atwood Kelly (1858-1943): his life and his enduring legacy.
-
Southern medical journal · Feb 1991
Case ReportsCerebrospinal fluid losses through ventricular catheters leading to hyponatremia in two children.
I have presented two cases of patients with hyponatremia due to excessive cerebrospinal fluid losses from ventricular drains. The possibility of such losses exists whether the drain is used to treat hydrocephalus or to monitor intracranial pressure. I find normal saline (sodium concentration = 154 mEq/L) to be an appropriate fluid to replace ongoing losses of cerebrospinal fluid from a ventricular drain and currently start such replacement therapy (mL for mL) when the drain is placed.