A randomized study of abdominal fascial closure using interrupted polyglyconate and polyglycolic acid sutures after laparotomy was carried out in 204 consecutive patients with suspected impaired wound healing. There were no statistically significant differences between the two sutures with regard to the development of fascial disruption and incisional hernia. Wound infection demanding surgical intervention was found in 7 per cent of patients with polyglyconate sutures and in 16 per cent of those with polyglycolic acid sutures (P = 0.04). Monofilament polyglyconate suture does not reduce the incidence of fascial disruption and incisional hernia after laparotomy in patients with suspected impaired wound healing but the incidence of wound infection may be reduced compared with that of multifilament polyglycolic acid suture.

Summary The frequency and size of fetomaternal bleeds during the first attempt at external version of the fetus in breech presentation in 50 pregnant women were investigated. Fetomaternal bleeds of 0–1 to 1–5 ml were detected in 14 women (28 per cent). It is concluded that rhesus negative women should be given anti‐D before attempts at external version are made.

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A dose of 50 microgram anti-D immunoglobulin was administered as rhesus immunoprophylaxis following induced abortion performed by suction curettage before the thirteenth week of pregnancy in 463 consecutive patients. A feto-maternal blood loss of less than 2 ml was detected in 44 women (12%). After 6 months, a follow-up of 381 patients (82%) established that none of these patients was rhesus immunized with in vitro demonstrable antibodies. It is concluded that the low dose of anti-D administered is to be recommended for rhesus immunoprophylaxis after first trimester abortion.

A transuretero-ureterostomy was performed in 8 pigs. In 4 pigs a non-dilated urinary tract was seen and pressure and electromyographic recordings showed that the procedure did not affect the electromyographic impulses in the recipient ureter. Impulses from the donor ureter were not transmitted to the common distal ureter. Two pigs died postoperatively from urinary leakage and two pigs developed stasis.

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