[Pterygium surgery and fibrin glue: avoiding dehiscence]. / Cirugía del pterygium y adhesivo de fibrina: evitar la dehiscencia.

OBJECTIVE/METHOD: The purpose of the study is to evaluate those cases of pterygium surgery with fibrin sealant that produced dehiscence of the graft, and then apply and evaluate the efficacy of a different surgical technique in an attempt eliminate this complication in previously identified cases of high risk. The first phase is a retrospective study of 42 cases of pterygium surgery. In the second phase, the variation in the surgical technique was prospectively used in 14 cases of pterygium surgery. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Cases of recurrent pterygium, broad pterygium, and complicated surgery were identified as the groups with a risk of suffering dehiscence of the graft. With the variant applied surgery no dehiscence occurred when using the variation in surgical technique, with no added complications.

[Acute infantile hemiplegia caused by Coxsackie B virus]. / Hemiplejía aguda infantil por virus Coxsackie B.

INTRODUCTION: Acute infantile hemiplegia (AIH) is a syndrome that appears, typically, in infants without any underlying neurological damage. It can be due to a number of causes, in which viral infections play an important role. We report a case of AIH caused by Coxsackie B virus. CASE REPORT: A 20-month-old female who visited because of fever, vomiting and progressive left hemiparesis. Clinical exploration did not reveal any alteration in the level of consciousness and the only striking feature was the left hemiparesis, with weak deep muscle reflexes. Of the complementary examinations carried out, the most important were: LCR with 80 leukocytes/mm3 (predominance of mononuclear cells), EEG with a persistent focus in the right temporal region (which had become normal at four days) and a positive Coxsackie B virus serology. Progression was completely normal. CONCLUSIONS: AIH is produced as a complication of focal encephalitis which gives rise to a vasculitic phenomenon. Among the infectious causes, one important aetiological agent is the herpes simplex virus. Enterovirus, however, are infrequent. Therefore, until the exact aetiology has been established, it appears wise to begin empirical therapy with acyclovir. When the germs involved in this entity are enterovirus, prognosis is good, although there are reports of cases involving neurological sequelae in the literature.

[Neuropediatric healthcare demand in a general hospital]. / Demanda asistencial neuropediátrica en un hospital general.

INTRODUCTION: The few existing studies on the demand for neuropediatric care in Spain offer information of enormous value, contributing to our knowledge of this specialty and of the needs of specialists and their training, as well as to the correct planning and use of economic and human resources. AIM: To determine the real demand, predominant disorders and usefulness of complementary examinations with a view to determining the need for neuropediatric care in a general hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Descriptive, retrospective study of patients attending the neuropediatric department for the first time during a 7-year period and for follow-up visits during a 4-year period. The periods were randomly selected. RESULTS: During this period 1130 children, generating 5033 consultations, were assessed. The total number of visits amounted to 25% of all consultations in the Pediatric Department, involving 31% of the children under 14 years of age in the pediatric population of Segovia. The overall rate of reexaminations/new patients was 3.4. The most frequent diagnosis was headache (32%), followed by non-epileptic paroxysms, febrile convulsions and epilepsy. The disorders requiring the greatest number of follow-up consultations were epilepsy (20%), headache (9%) and febrile convulsions (5%). The rate of reexamination/new patients was significantly higher in pediatric cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Electroencephalogram was the most frequently requested complementary examination, followed by neuroradiological studies. CONCLUSIONS: Demand for neuropediatric care mainly involves headaches, epilepsy, convulsions, non-epileptic paroxysmal disorders, and neonatal neurology in the first years of life. Pressure on neuropediatric departments is great due to the number of patients attending consulting rooms because of functional or self-limiting disorders. This pressure could be reduced by appropriate neurological training of general pediatricians or family doctors.

[Accidental oral mercurochrome poisoning]. / Intoxicación oral accidental por mercurocromo.

Neonatal mercury poisoning, especially that due to merbromin ingestion, is uncommon. We describe the case of a 10 day old newborn infant who was given mercurochrome orally for 7 days due to misunderstanding of medical instructions. Initial symptoms included loss of appetite and low weight increase. Elevated blood mercury concentrations were found. Chelating therapy with dimercaprol was initiated and the patient's evolution was good. We discuss the potential toxicity of mercury and emphasise the importance of the transmission of information by physicians, especially to the immigrant population.