Faculty Bibliography

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of ofloxacin in serum and vitreous humor samples from albino and pigmented rabbits by using a recently described animal model which permits robust estimation of parameter values. The drug was administered to rabbits intravenously, multiple vitreous humor and serum samples were taken from each rabbit, and the vitreous humor and serum samples were assayed by high-pressure liquid chromatography. The pharmacokinetic parameters were determined with RSTRIP, an iterative, nonlinear, weighted, least-squares regression program. Eight New Zealand White rabbits and eight Dutch Belted rabbits (split into single-dose and multiple-dose groups) were investigated in this study. The value of penetration into the vitreous humor of albino rabbits (n = 6) was 32.6% +/- 2.12%, with terminal-elimination half-life values of 3.21 and 2.39 h, respectively, for vitreous humor and serum. In pigmented rabbits after a single dose (n = 3) and with a steady-state concentration of drug in serum (n = 4), penetration values were similar, at 30.4% +/- 2.98% and 30.0% +/- 4.12%, respectively (P > 0.10). Following a single dose of ofloxacin, pigmented animals had elimination half-life values from serum and vitreous humor of 2.64 and 4.32 h, respectively. After steady state was achieved, half-life values for serum and vitreous humor were 3.12 and 6.05 h, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Lemierre's disease consists of suppurative thrombophlebitis of the IJV in the presence of oropharyngeal infection and can be complicated by septic pulmonary emboli. If a patient has an oropharyngeal or deep neck infection and neck pain suspicious for IJV thrombosis, a CT or MRI is warranted to establish the diagnosis. Blood cultures should be obtained to establish the responsible organism. In most cases F. necrophorum, an anaerobic bacterium, is responsible for the sepsis. Once the diagnosis of Lemierre's disease is made, long-term, high-dose intravenous antibiotics with beta-lactamase anaerobic activity should be initiated. In cases with persistent sepsis and emboli despite appropriate medical management, ligation or excision of the IJV should be performed. Finally, if there is clinical or radiologic evidence of retrograde cavernous sinus thrombosis, the use of anticoagulants should be considered

Schwannoma of the external auditory canal is a rare finding. There are reports of extension of intracranial schwannomas laterally to fill the middle ear and meatus, but in reviewing the English literature, we have found only one report of a primary external canal schwannoma. Three have been reported in the world literature. Such a tumor is described in a 45 year old man, which completely filled the external auditory canal. Total excision was achieved with care to preserve canal skin, to prevent stenosis, and to aid in healing

Significant surgical advances in face-lift surgery have evolved over the years, including wider flap undermining, the development of the superficial musculoaponeurotic system as a separate layer, and appropriate platysmal and coronal procedures. These more radical concepts offer improved results, but they may be associated with more complications, the most frequent being hematoma formation. A retrospective study of 386 patients was undertaken over a period of 5 years. Patients were separated into two groups: those that were sedated with a drug combination of diazepam, meperidine hydrochloride, and methohexital sodium; and those sedated with propofol. Patients sedated with propofol were more than twice as likely to develop a hematoma than those sedated with the other drug regimen. Although the hematoma rate with propofol is similar to that reported with other drugs, this increased risk must be carefully considered when one is choosing an anesthetic for rhytidectomy