No abstract

Clopidogrel is commonly encountered in patients presenting for carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Its use around this time is controversial and there is no randomized control trial data to determine best practice. Questionnaires were posted to all members of the Vascular Society investigating clopidogrel use at the time of CEA. 52% discontinue clopidogrel preoperatively, with 51% of those using no alternative and 49% replacing it with aspirin. Clopidogrel use is not related to the number of endarterectomies performed by each surgeon. There is no consensus on clopidogrel use during CEA. This highlights the need for quality prospective data on this subject.

A study was made of 16 patients who developed renal failure secondary to ureteric obstruction by tumour. All were managed by percutaneous nephrostomy inserted under local anaesthesia. The results in terms of recovery of renal function, subsequent management and long-term outcome are described.

Between 1977 and 1988 22 patients requiring urgent surgery for bleeding gastric ulceration were managed by simple undersewing of the ulcer. Long-term follow-up of these patients was undertaken to determine the risk of recurrent gastric ulceration and further gastric ulcer haemorrhage. Two patients died in the immediate perioperative period leaving 20 patients available for long-term follow-up (mean 43.3 months). Three recurrent gastric ulcers were diagnosed, two of these presenting with haemorrhage. No patient presented with further gastric ulceration while on histamine (H2) receptor antagonist therapy. The long-term outcome of undersewing alone, when combined with maintenance H2-receptor antagonist therapy, is satisfactory in terms of low mortality and low risk of ulcer recurrence.

SUMMARYVenous thromboembolism is a well recognised complication of air travel, particularly on long haul flights.1,2 This has been attributed to relative immobility in cramped surroundings and to dehydration secondary to alcohol consumption and low cabin humidity.3,4Under these conditions thrombosis at other sites would be expected, and indeed myocardial ischaemia is the commonest emergency in commercial flights. Peripheral arterial thrombosis, however, is not reported, even in comprehensive reviews of flying related medical emergencies.5 We report on three patients who developed acute lower limb ischaemia following long haul air flights.