Pneumologie

[Latex allergy: local hypersensitivity reaction cause by an esophageal catheter in compliance determination]

Year 1998
Baur X. Chen Z. Korn M. Molkenthin A. Nioduschewski R. Schneider EM.
Berufsgenossenschaftliches Forschungsinstitut fur Arbeitsmedizin (BGFA), Institut an der Ruhr-Universitat Bochum.
We report on two latex-allergic subjects who developed local hypersensitivity reactions after their lung compliance was measured by an oesophagus balloon catheter. Protein and allergen analyses of this catheter showed values of 85 and 9.8 micrograms per gram rubber. It is concluded that latex-allergic subjects should not undergo examinations with latex allergen-containing catheters. To our knowledge, this is the first report on allergic reactions caused by latex balloons of an oesophagus catheter.

[Boerhaave syndrome: a rare cause of acute thoracic pain]

Year 1998
Anastasiadou K. Pilavaki M. Vafiadis E. Petridis A. Drevelengas A.
Radiologische Abteilung des Allgemeinen Krankenhauses G. Papanikolaou, Thessaloniki, Griechenland.
In a 74-year old female patient suffering from acute thoracic pain, vomiting, and dyspnoea, the diagnosis of Boerhaave's syndrome was made. After medical treatment the patient was dismissed in a sufficiently satisfactory condition. If symptoms like vomiting, severe thoracic pain, pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax or hydropneumothorax on the left side occur, a rupture of the oesophagus should be taken into account especially in case of abuse of alcohol. The early diagnosis is decisive for the course of the disease and a lethality reduction.