[Successful treatment of splenic haemorrhages with preservation of the spleen by means of selective catheterisation and embolisation of the splenic artery]

Two patients with splenic bleeding were treated with transcatheter embolisation and selective coiling of the splenic artery. These were first of all a 78-year-old woman who was on anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation and suffered a laceration of the spleen with extravasation of contrast medium and a falling haemoglobin level. The second patient was a 23-year-old woman who suffered laceration of the spleen as the result of a traffic accident. Embolisation made it possible to avoid surgical treatment and preserve the spleen in both patients. Selective embolisation of the splenic artery is a useful adjunct to the non-operative management of patients with traumatic splenic injury. However, the proper patient selection still needs to be established.

Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia complicated by severe osteochondritis dissecans of the knee. Incidence in two families

Two families are described which appear to contain examples of multiple epiphyseal dysplasia. In both families a striking incidence of severe osteochondritis of the knees was encountered. It is suggested that this was caused by the fragmented and maldeveloped epiphyses characteristic of epiphyseal dysplasia.

Low-dose streptokinase in the treatment of arterial graft occlusions

During the past 24 months, 19 infrainguinal bypass graft occlusions occurring in 17 patients were treated with local infusions of streptokinase. The treated grafts included three venous femorocrural grafts and four venous and 13 Goretex femoropopliteal grafts. Infusion managed to restore flow completely in 10 grafts. Partial clot lysis occurred in three and no lysis in six grafts. All successful recanalisations occurred within 120 hours of the initiation of thrombolytic therapy. Despite three major complications and the development of two minor haematomas, with an overall success rate of 55% our results support the use of streptokinase in the management of occluded bypass grafts.