Effect of light reduction on the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity.

The effect of ocular protection on the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity was tested in 188 newborns weighing less than 1600 g in a randomised controlled trial. No effect of ambient light reduction on the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity was shown.

Aneurysms of the atrial septum diagnosed by echocardiography and their associated cardiac abnormalities.

The association of atrial septal aneurysm and other cardiac abnormalities is reported in 14 consecutive cases diagnosed by cross sectional echocardiography. Color flow mapping was used in all cases in order to increase the accuracy in detecting associated lesions, especially small shunts at the atrial level. An atrial septal aneurysm occurred as an isolated lesion in just 1 patient (7%). In all other cases there was at least one associated cardiac defect. Atrial septal defect and prolapse of the leaflets of the mitral valve were particularly frequent, those lesions co-existing in half the patients. Although the lesion was not suspected clinically, physical examination, electrocardiography and chest X rays were abnormal in several patients, with a high incidence of electrocardiographic abnormalities and supraventricular arrhythmias in the overall group.

Comparacao entre diatermia e crioterapia em esclera delaminada na cirurgia de descolamento de retina. / Comparison between diathermy and criotherapy in laminal scleral bed in retinal detachment surgery

Os autores apresentam um estudo retrospectivo a respeito de duas tecnicas cirurgicas que diferem basicamente no uso de diatermia ou crioterapia em esclera delaminada, para a cirurgia de descolamento de retina em 49 pacientes. Concluem que o numero de curas anatomicas e de complicacoes pos-operatoria foi semelhante utilizando uma ou outra tecnica