Congenital venous anomalies are relatively common and some have clinical implications. An example of persistent left superior vena cava was found during a routine dissection. This vein was carefully dissected and followed to its termination in the right atrium. The same cadaver also presented four branches from the arch of the aorta. A left superior vena cava occurs in early development but disappears later. The clinical significance of such a persistent left superior vena cava assumes importance during cardiac catheterization via the left subclavian vein.
Context:
Asthma patients often suffer from concomitant allergic rhinitis (AR). However, there is paucity of such data from India.
Aims:
This questionnaire-based survey evaluated the coexistence of AR in Indian asthmatics, and examined the inter-relationship between the two disease conditions.
Subjects and Methods:
This survey conducted in ten cities across India, aimed to generate information on exposure to risk factors, history of atopy, the severity of asthma, and treatment regimen in patients with physician-diagnosed asthma.
Results:
Data were obtained from 1161 asthma patients (mean age [±standard deviation]: 40.41 [±17.05] years). Prevalence of coexisting AR was found to be 65.24%, with the highest prevalence (80%) in the southern regions of India. Sneezing (71.78%) followed by watery, runny nose (63.59%) were the most common AR symptoms. Majority (72.32%) of the patients had seasonal AR. Coexistence of AR and asthma was significantly associated with the presence of personal and family history of atopy (odds ratio 2.53 and 1.51 respectively; both
P
< 0.005). Passive smoking, exposure to biomass fuel, and the presence of pets and animals at home were also significantly (
P
< 0.005) associated with AR-asthma coexistence. Prevalence of AR was found to increase with increasing asthma severity. The usage of oral steroids was significantly higher in patients with coexistent AR-asthma. Sixty-six percent of the patients with coexistent AR-asthma were prescribed intranasal corticosteroids.
Conclusions:
The results of the Coexistence of Allergic Rhinitis and ASthma (CARAS) survey highlight the high prevalence of concomitant AR in Indian patients with asthma, and reinforce the need for early diagnosis and guideline-based management of AR in patients with asthma.
Continuous arteriovenous haemodialysis was used in 33 patients who also required ventilation. The mean daily urea and creatinine clearances were 20 and 16 ml/min, respectively, with dialysate flows of around 1 1/h. Such dialysis technique allows full nutritional support, less haemodynamic instability, and the ability to remove excess body and lung water swiftly. APACHE scoring after resuscitation did not separate the survivors from those who did not. Continuous anticoagulation and the use of lactate buffer need regular monitoring, but provide no extra hazard. For the first time in our experience, the mortality of a sequential series of patients with two-organ failure at least approaches 50%. If this is maintained, it becomes a very cost-effective regimen.
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