No abstract

A double-blind, randomized multicentre study was undertaken to evaluate the possible effect of chelation treatment with ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA) in patients with severe intermittent claudication. A total of 153 patients received 20 intravenous infusions of either 3 g Na2EDTA or placebo during a period of 5-9 weeks. Vitamin, mineral and trace element supplements were administered orally. The changes observed in the pain-free and maximal walking distances, measured on a treadmill, were similar in the two groups. During the 3-month (n = 149) and 6-month (n = 123) follow-up period, no long-term therapeutic effect of EDTA could be demonstrated. The ankle-brachial blood pressure index remained unchanged throughout the study period. This study failed to demonstrate any effect of EDTA chelation treatment in intermittent claudication.

No abstract

During a fifteen-year period 1,106 patients underwent Cloward's operation due to cervical disc disease. An analysis of the clinical features showed that the diseases had a very complex pattern of symptoms and signs. In young patients a syndrome of herniated disc predominated whereas a clinical picture of "cervical spondylosis" was found more often in the elderly. It was demonstrated that best results were obtained in young patients, patients with slight symptoms and patients with monoradicular symptoms. A short duration of symptoms is essential for a good outcome, and, on the basis of the data presented, operation is recommended 3 months after the onset of symptoms of cervical disc disease, if previous conservative treatment has failed.

In a double blind controlled study including 60 patients it was found that Metoclopramide has a negative effect upon the resolution of postoperative adynamic ileus. Metoclopramide causes a delay in the time from operation to the first passage of flatus.