Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A el Hijri.
Muscle paralysis due to potassium depletion are unusual. We report the case of a patient who developed quadriplegia and language disorders due to potassium depletion, following large intestinal resection. Potassium supplementation was given intravenously at a rate of 0.25 mmol.kg-1.h-1 during the first 48 h. This allowed complete total and rapid recovery from the paralysis.
In this study, a case of emphysematous pyelonephritis has been reported in a 70-year old diabetic male with a non-functional contralateral kidney. In spite of appropriate medical treatment and surgical drainage, the outcome was negative. The case in question concerned a rare form of the disease, i.e., emphysematous pyelonephritis, a severe and necrotizing infection which is characterized by the presence of intraparenchymal gas produced by anaerobic bacteria, and the rapid development of acute sepsis or septic shock. Medical treatment alone is seldom sufficient, and surgical intervention, in most instances consisting of radical nephrectomy rather than surgical drainage, is advocated due to the extent of the necrotic lesions.
We performed a retrospective analysis of morbidity and mortality in 100 cases of ulcerative colitis treated at the surgical care unit of the Ibn Sina hospital over a 10 year period from 1984 to 1994. One major complication, usually infection, was observed in 40% of the cases. Overall mortality was 22%, a rate higher than the larger published series. The main factor incriminated in our study ; besides surgical circumstances, was the delay in care, including in the intensive care unit. It must be concluded that medical and surgical management must be initiated as soon as a flare up is diagnosed.