Acta chirurgica Scandinavica
-
Obstruction of appendix vermiformis causing acute appendicitis. An experimental study in the rabbit.
In an experimental model using the rabbit, the role of obstruction in the pathogenesis of acute appendicitis was studied. Twenty-one animals were anaesthesized and underwent laparotomy. The appendices were obstructed by a balloon catheter introduced via a caecostomy. ⋯ In a total of 15 rabbits, experimental obstruction of the appendix resulted in inflammatory changes in the wall of the appendix, which histologically in all respects were similar to appendicitis in man. In the remaining 6 rabbits, either spontaneous release of obstruction or death early during the experiment occurred. Our experimental data suggest that obstruction is an important agent in the causation of acute appendicitis.
-
Extradural haematomas (EH) do not always present with the classical picture of skull trauma followed by a lucid interval, deepening coma, unilateral enlarging pupil and hemiplegia. Symptoms and signs can be puzzling and complex in many cases of EH and may thus lead to dangerous therapeutic delay. ⋯ In this study the variables which from clinical experience seemed to be of main prognostic importance were related to the outcome in 44 patients with EH. A surgical decision-making table was compiled from these relationships in order to facilitate the decision process related to the diagnosis and therapy of EH.