The Australian and New Zealand journal of surgery
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The use of an educational computer for a medical course is reviewed. It is of value for assessment, small group teaching, self-instruction, and continuing medical education. It is particularly useful for patient management problems.
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A new finding made possible by the use of the operating microscope in neurosurgery is discussed. Nineteen patients with trigeminal neuralgia have been explored, and in 14 of these vascular compression of the fifth nerve at its entry zone to the pons has been found. Relief of this vascular compression has caused cessation of pain in all these patients. In addition, one patient with hemifacial spasm, and one patient with glosso pharyngeal neuralgia, are reported; each of these also had vascular compression of the appropriate nerve causing the symptoms.
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The microcirculation is an important but little understood part of the cardiovascular system. As new techniques have been developed, more accurate information has become available concerning the changes in the microcirculation in both health and disease. ⋯ Reference is made to basic physiology, especially the mechanisms controlling flow in the microcirculation. The significance of changes in small blood vessels in hypovolaemic, septic, and progressive shock is also discussed, and the role of platelet aggregation in shock states is explored.