Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift
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During acupuncture in the chest region a right-sided pneumothorax developed in a 53-year-old woman which necessitated emergency admission to hospital. A reinflation of the lung could be achieved with two Bülau drains. The increasing frequency of acupuncture must remind one of the feasibility of lesions of internal organs including those of the abdomen. Complications due to insufficient disinfection of acupuncture needles may also arise.
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Nov 1975
[Contaminated infusions as cause of nosocomial Serratia marcescens septicaemia in children (author's transl)].
At the University Children's Clinic at Munich 25 cases of Serratia marescens septicaemia (mainly bacteriocin types 18 and 44) occurred within one year, predominantly in newborns and infants. Almost all of the children were seriously ill from an underlying illness or had been operated on. ⋯ Main source of the septicaemia were contaminated infusions, from which in as many as 35% of cases microorganisms, usually Serratia marcescens, had been isolated. Intensive hygienic measures at once terminated this "sepsis wave".
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Aug 1975
[Septicaemic-endotoxic shock: problems of early diagnosis and treatment (author's transl)].
At least in its early stage, the syndrome of septicaemic-endotoxic shock gives rise to a heterogeneous clinical picture which often lacks definite clinical, haemodynamic and biochemical features. But even if this form of shock is merely suspected, adequate fluid supply and administration of appropriate antibiotics should be started, in addition to general supportive measures. The administration of vasoactive drugs and corticosteroids has provided favourable results. The low early mortality (10 among 50 patients) is probably due to the medical causes which precipitate shock in this group, and the early onset of treatment.
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Jul 1975
Case Reports[Cerebellar ataxia due to hypothyroidism in adults (case report)].
Cerebellar ataxia was diagnosed in a 62-year-old woman, its signs regressing almost completely within six weeks during treatment with thyroxine and triiodothyronine. The cause of cerebellar ataxia in association with hypothyroidism remains unknown. No typical morphological changes in the cerebellum have been described. It is assumed that a thyrogenic, specific metabolic factor is responsible which aggravates already existing non-specific cerebellar changes. The prognosis is very good. On the other hand, cerebellar ataxia resulting from congenital hypothyroidism has typical histological cerebellar changes and prognosis is very poor unless thyroid treatment is started soon after birth.