US laboratory staffing crisis

In this article, the factors contributing to a shortage of qualified medical laboratory technologists in the US have been examined, and the Canadian perspective studied. Continued public relations programs, with special programs directed to high school, college and university students would seem to be the appropriate way to prevent similar problems from occurring and escalating in Canada.

Sudden onset of slow gastric emptying of food

Three healthy, young adults suddenly experienced the onset of slow gastric emptying. Their symptoms began in February, 1975 in association with a brief illness consistent with a viral gastroenteritis. They complained of early satiety, nausea, and vomiting when they ate solid food and they had lost 11-25 kg in body weight in 8-12 mo. On admission, their physical examinations and laboratory studies were within normal limits. Their stomachs emptied a barium mixture normally, and fiberoptic endoscopy did not detect any abnormalities. The slowed gastric emptying of food was documented with radioisotopic gastric emptying studies. The prolonged emptying rates of 2 patients were reduced 90% with metoclopramide. In association with metoclopramide therapy, the patients were able to eat more food, and they regained 8-10 kg of body weight in 4-6 mo. Their histories raise the possibility that their initial illness may have damaged the mechanisms which control the gastric emptying of food.

Diagnostic laparoscopy

Six hundred fifty-eight laparoscopies were performed at St. Luke's Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri, USA, between March 1, 1976 and February 28, 1977. One hundred sixty-eight (25.5%) were performed for diagnostic purposes. A review of the preoperative diagnoses and the laparoscopic findings demonstrates the value of laparoscopy as a diagnostic procedure.