One-stage immediate reconstruction of partial auricular amputation by dog bite.

A case of one-stage immediate reconstruction of partial auricular amputation secondary to dog bite is presented. Primary reconstruction was performed using the cartilage of the avulsed portion of the ear nourished by means of a pedicled temporofascial flap and split-thickness skin graft. The perioperative antimicrobial protocol is also detailed.

[Drug use pattern in an ambulatory geriatric population]. / Patrón de utilización de medicamentos en una población geriátrica ambulatoria.

AIM: To provide an update of drug utilization patterns of 500 ambulatory subjects over 60 years of age. METHODS: Subjects were asked about their prescribed and nonprescribed medications an a detailed questionnaire was fulfilled. The case records and prescription sheets, when available, were examined. RESULTS: Drug histories were obtained on 313 women and 187 men. the mean age was 71 years (range 60-96). Of these participants 1.8% were taking no medications. The average number of drugs used was 4.8 (range from 0-16) nevertheless, the mean number of pharmacological active ingredients was much higher (7.3). The mean number of nonprescribed medications was 0.11, the majority with only an active ingredient. 87% had been used for longer than three months, and were taken daily (84%). The most commonly prescribed medications in this population were paracetamol, digoxin, hydrochlorothiazide, amiloride, nifedipine and captopril. CONCLUSIONS: The elderly are, in fact, receiving an increasing number of medications with a narrow therapeutic index and chronically.

[Drug administration schedules in geriatric patients]. / Análisis de las pautas de dosificación de medicamentos en pacientes geriátricos.

BACKGROUND: In this study the prescription of drugs in an outpatients geriatric population was evaluated in terms of age and body weight. METHODS: From a wide survey carried out on 500 geriatric outpatients, all the prescriptions corresponding to H-2 antagonists, digoxin, theophylline, bromazepam, diazepam, lorazepam and triazolam were analyzed. The patients studied were of 60 or more years of age. For each drug patients were stratified into groups according to intervals of body weight with mean age of the patient being determined in each of the intervals as well as the doses received in mg/kg. RESULTS: Two hundred eighty prescriptions were analyzed with 12% corresponding to the H-2 antagonists, 29% to digoxin, 23% to theophylline and 35% to benzodiazepines. There was no significant correlation between age and the doses received. In general, the lowest body weight corresponded with a higher mean age and a marked increase in the mean dose of cimetidine, ranitidine, theophylline, bromazepam, lorazepam, and triazolam administered. There was a tendency to an adjustment in the doses of digoxin in the most elderly patients. CONCLUSIONS: The data found concerning the prescription of drugs to a geriatric outpatients population indicate that in elderly patients adjustments are not made in the doses of drugs administered according to the age and body weight of the patient. Low body weight of the elderly is a overdosage risk factor.