[Occlusion of the arteries of the fingers after hyperextension trauma]. / Verschluss der Fingerarterien nach Uberstreckungstrauma.

Acute occlusion of digital arteries due to a sport injury A 33 year old female patient with acute ischaemia of the fingers I-II of the right hand was admitted to our emergency unit. She reported that this complete ischaemia had shortly occurred after a sport injury due to an extreme hyperflexion of the right hand in a volleyball match. Four days after this trauma she felt pain and paraesthesia in the right hand. Circular areas of ischaemia were developed with skin colour change to grey and dark blue. The primary measure of the blood pressure by doppler analysis showed no signals in the first and second finger. Initially she received 500 mg Aspirin by intravenous injection. The full therapeutic dose of LMWH related to the weight of the patient was given. On the basis of the short time interval between the occurrence of the symptoms and admission of the patient we decided to perform a so called retrograde intravenous injection. The aim of this therapy was the intraarterial lysis and reperfusion. The blood pressure in all fingers were nearly normal after three days. Daily intravenous transfusion of prostaglandin were given additionally. Necrosis could be prevented as a result of our treatment over seven days. At the end of our therapy only the skin epithelium of the second finger was slightly raised and showed a tendency to desquamation. All other fingers occurred in a normal colour.

The arteriovenous impulse system in total hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Despite the continuing high incidence of deep vein thrombosis after total hip arthroplasty, currently available mechanical thromboprophylactic systems are not sufficiently utilised in Germany. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Duplex-sonographic measurements of the maximum venous flow velocity (V. femoralis) in 10 healthy individuals performed with a leg orientation synonymous to that during total hip arthroplasty were compared to figures obtained during an out-stretched leg position. Additionally, duplex-sonography was conducted on 9 patients intra-operatively during total hip replacement to complete the study. All investigations were executed both with and without application of the A-V Impulse System (AVIS), a mechanical thromboprophylactic procedure. RESULTS: In contrast to the out-stretched leg position, a decreased venous peak flow velocity during surgery as well as in the operation-identical leg orientation was demonstrated in the absence of AVIS. However, by means of AVIS, a significant increase in the venous peak flow velocity (p < 0.01) was achieved for both situations. Additionally, an increased vessel diameter of the V. femoralis communis was observed in 75% of patients due to the leg orientation stipulated for hip replacement surgery. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that the A-V Impulse System can effectively accelerate the venous reflux-flow during operations involving hip replacements and thus provide an early preventative therapy for deep vein thrombosis after a surgical procedure.

[Retrograde intravenous perfusion as ultima ratio in potential amputation patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease]. / Retrograde intravenöse Perfusion als ultima ratio bei amputationsgefährdeten Patienten mit einer peripheren arteriellen Verschlusskrankheit.

In 21 patients with critical ischemia and/or inflammation of the leg facing possible amputation, retrograde intravenous perfusion (RVP) was used to administer fibrinolytics, vasodilators and antibiotics. Amputation was avoided in 15 patients. In 4 patients, RVP was interrupted due to unsuitable veins for putting in cannulas. After introducing a 3-in-1-Block (Winnie) for analgesia, 7 courses of treatment at least were reached before unbearable pain became a reason for stopping therapy. RVP should, therefore, be considered as the last resort in the treatment of critical ischemia and/or inflammation of the leg of patients facing possible amputation.

[Optimizing analgesia and procedure of retrograde venous perfusion in treatment of patients with peripheral arterial occlusive diseases]. / Optimierung der Analgesie und Verfahrensweise der retrograden Venenperfusion bei Behandlung von Patienten mit peripheren arteriellen Durchblutungsstörungen.

Description of the 3-in-1-Block (Winnie) as an effective method of anaesthesia in retrograde venous perfusion as one therapy in arterial occlusive disease. Additional recommendations are given to achieve a homogeneous distribution of the substances in the limb.

[Rheumatoid factor activity, age at manifestation and roentgenologic progression of rheumatoid arthritis--a retrospective study]. / Rheumafaktoraktivität, Manifestationsalter und röntgenologische Progredienz der rheumatoiden Arthritis (RA)--eine retrospektive Studie.

The outcome of RF-activity (measured by hemagglutination in the modification of Podliachouk-Harboe) was investigated in 95 patients with RA. In 52 of these patients the radiological progression (modification of Larsen index for hands and feet) in correlation to the outcome of RF was assessed. The results can be summarized in the following way: 1. Elderly RA patients show a significant elevation of RF titer. 2. There is a statistically insignificant correlation between age of RA manifestation and RF level. 3. The investigation of individual RF outcome shows that 54% of the patients have a relatively constant RF level, 15% tend to a decrease of the level of RF activity. Increased RF activity could only be demonstrated in 31% of the patients in the follow-up. 4. We more often observed a decrease of RF activity in RA cases with a disease manifestation < 30 y. We found no significant decrease in the follow-up in cases with manifestation > 60 y. 5. RA patients with a high level of RF activity (HAR > 1:512) have a significantly higher radiological progression index than cases with a low RF activity (HAR < 1:512).