[Current diagnosis of venous diseases of the lower limbs]. / Diagnostica attuale della patologia venosa degli arti inferiori.

The haemodynamic of venous circulation of lower limbs seems to be not yet fully understood and different methods are available to study clinical patterns of venous insufficiency, deep venous incompetence or venous occlusion. Simple and common methods as venography, venous doppler and plethysmography are frequently used but other method as impedance plethysmography, ambulatory venous pressure, photoplethysmography, isotopes and thermography can be used for research or clinical investigation. The techniques and the indications of these tests are reviewed and critically analyzed to evaluate the best approach to the patients with venous pathology.

[Blood platelet count and bubble oxygenators. Changes induced by the oral administration of dipyridamole]. / Piastrinemia e ossigenatori a bolle. Varianti indotte dalla somministrazione di dipiridamolo per os.

The changes in thrombocythemia in patients subjected to extracorporeal circulation (ECC) and pretreated with dipyridamole per os have been examined and compared with a control group in whom the drug was not used; in all patients a circuit with bubble oxygenator was employed. Measurements were carried out before sternotomy, 10' and 60' after ECG, 1 h after the start of intensive therapy and on the 1st surgical day. The variations in thrombocythemia were assessed in consideration of the thrombocythemia/Ht ratio, so as to eliminate the dilution variable. On the basis of the results obtained, it is considered that preoperative treatment with dipyridamole is effective in limiting the fall in thrombocythemia during ECC. The effect of the drug is prevalent in the initial stage of ECC, probably reducing platelet aggregation to non-biological surfaces of the circuit.