São Paulo medical journal = Revista paulista de medicina
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Patients with malignant head and neck neoplasia may present simultaneous involvement of large vessels due to the growth of the tumoral mass. The therapeutic options are chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery or combined treatments. ⋯ Patients with advanced malignant head and neck neoplasia involving the carotid artery that are treated surgically present a prognosis with reservations. When the internal and/or common carotid artery is resected en-bloc with the tumor, arterial reconstruction must be performed. The long saphenous vein is a suitable vascular substitute.
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High plasmatic homocysteine levels have been associated with arterial and venous thrombosis. The C677T methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene mutation is one of the known causes for high homocysteine levels in plasma. Anticardiolipin antibody (ACA) is also associated with thrombosis and, along with other clinical complications such as recurrent abortion and stillbirth, is part of the antiphospholipid syndrome. ⋯ A 19-year-old woman with two gestations and one parity (G2P1) had exhibited deep venous thrombosis in her previous puerperal period. Investigation of thrombophilic factors revealed ACA-IgM and heterozygous C677T mutation in the MTHFR gene. Lupus anticoagulant, protein C, protein S and antithrombin III deficiencies, and Leiden factor V and the G20210A mutation in the prothrombin gene, were not detected. The patient received 55,000 IU of subcutaneous heparin daily, from the 15th to the 36th week of pregnancy, when vaginal delivery took place. There were no clinical complications during the puerperal period and she was discharged three days after delivery, while still using oral anticoagulants.
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Total occlusion of the common carotid is rare and the indications and techniques for surgical treatment are still a matter of controversy. ⋯ There is low mortality, and the procedure can be done through only one cervical incision. Tandem lesions of the carotid arteries can be treated together. It is suitable for long total occlusions of the common carotid, and long-term patency.
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The cost-effectiveness of the treatment of hypertension has scarcely been investigated in population-based studies. Most data come from secondary analysis of clinical trials and administrative sources. ⋯ The costs of hypertension care are mainly dependent on the expenditure on blood pressure-lowering drugs. Treatment of hypertension with diuretics or beta blockers was more cost-effective than treatment with ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers.