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A technique for temporary hepatic vascular occlusion during partial hepatectomy for hepatic arteriovenous (AV) fistulas in the dog is presented in seven dogs, and three additional cases of hepatic AV fistulas are reviewed. Hematologic, serum biochemical, radiologic, and nuclear scintigraphic parameters before and after surgery are discussed; abnormalities included anemia, hypoproteinemia, leukocytosis, increased liver function tests, retrograde filling of the portal vein during celiac angiography, and increased arteriovenous ratios during nuclear scintigraphy. Hemodynamic and pathologic findings are presented, and portal hypertension and secondary multiple portosystemic shunts are described. Clinical improvement was observed in four dogs with follow‐up periods ranging from 5 months to 3 years.

Because of allegations that the implantation of many permanent cardiac pacemakers has been unjustified, we reviewed the indications for all new pacemakers implanted at 30 hospitals in Philadelphia County between January 1 and June 30, 1983, and paid for by Medicare. Complete chart data were evaluated for 382 implants. We determined whether the indications for implantation were appropriate and adequately documented on the basis of standard clinical practice. Implants were classified as possibly indicated primarily because of inadequate diagnostic evaluation (63 percent) or inadequate documentation of an accepted indication (36 percent). Implants were classified as not indicated primarily because a rhythm abnormality was incorrectly identified as a justifiable indication (84 percent). We found that 168 implants (44 percent) were definitely indicated, 137 (36 percent) possibly indicated, and 77 (20 percent) not indicated. Unwarranted implantation was both prevalent (73 percent of hospitals had an incidence of 10 percent or more) and independent of the type of hospital (university teaching, university-affiliated, and community hospitals). The additional tests most often required to clarify the need for a pacemaker in inadequately evaluated cases included electrophysiologic studies (37 percent) and ambulatory monitoring (31 percent). We conclude that in a large medical population in 1983, the indications for a considerable number of permanent pacemakers were inadequate or incompletely documented.

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