Perinatal subglottic and hepatic hemangiomas as potential emergencies: effect of radiotherapy.

The authors analyze 5 cases of perinatal hemangiomas in internal localizations respresenting relative or immediate emergencies. Three cases were subglottic proliferating hemangiomas with threatening suffocation, the other two were large hemangiomas of the liver causing conspicuous hepatomegaly. In 3 children there were also hemangiomas of the skin and/or in the oral cavity seen as important signs in the diagnostic reflections on the nature of the urgent clinical pictures. Moreover one child with subglottic hemangioma suffered from hematological disorders characterizing the syndrome Kasabach--Merritt. In all the children transcutaneous radiotherapy was performed (ranging from 12 Gy in two weeks up to an exceptional dose of 25 Gy over 3 months). This was followed by recession of subjective complaints and, eventually, by complete regression of the irradiated angiomatous lesions, both subglottic and hepatic. The disorders of hemocoagulation disappeared also quickly and completely. At present, i. e. after 3 to 21 years, there are no undersirable post-irradiation changes in any of the patients. Nevertheless, in view of possible post-irradiation effects, particularly on the thyroid gland, the patients continue to be regularly followed up at the respective clinical departments.

[Therapy of esophageal strictures in childhood using balloon dilatation catheters]. / Terapie striktur jícnu v detském veku dilatacními balónkovými katétry.

The authors used in 1987-1988 Grüntzing's balloon catheter for the treatment of oesophageal strictures in nine children. They were successful in eight, in one patient after burning of the oesophagus with sulphuric acid the dilatation by means of the balloon failed. These injuries must be treated by surgery. The method is safe, easy and effective, in particular in the treatment of tight, long and irregular oesophageal strictures which cannot be dilated by the standard technique, using dilatation bougies. Dilatation by means of balloon catheters is a perspective method for severe oesophageal strictures.

[A new method of treating male infertility: percutaneous transfemoral embolization of varicoceles with Vilan 500]. / Nová metoda lécby muzské neplodnosti: perkutánní transfemorální embolizace varikokély Vilanem 500.

The authors describe a new method of treatment of male infertility. In 25 men aged 19-45 years with varicocele, after percutaneous transfemoral catheterization, embolization of the spermatic vein with the Czechoslovak preparation Vilan 500 (hydrolyzed co-polymer of polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl alcohol in 96% ethyl alcohol) was performed. Six patients were treated on account of marked subjective complaints and 19 because of reduced fertility. Of these in 16 after embolization the spermiogram improved. The authors describe the diagnostic procedure, the technique of embolization, its complications and results. The described method is simple, safe, effective and as compared with other embolization methods it is cheaper.