Alain Franco

Bloodstream Infection: Differences Between Young-Old, Old, and Old-Old Patients

OBJECTIVES: To compare the epidemiological and microbiological characteristics of bloodstream infection (BSI) between the young old (65–75), old (76–85), and old old (>85).

Early development of deep-vein thrombosis following hip fracture surgery: the role of venous wall thickening detected by B-mode ultrasonography

Deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) remains the most frequent complication following hip surgery. This study was designed in order to evaluate the development of DVT after hip fracture surgery, and to determine if venous wall thickening detected before surgery predisposes patients to postoperative DVT. Systematic ultrasound examinations were performed on 100 consecutive patients undergoing hip fracture surgery on the day preceding the operation, and then postoperatively on days 2, 5 and 10. A total of 12 proximal, 28 distal deep-vein and four saphenous vein thromboses were detected. Of the DVT, 19 (43%) were detected at day 2. Five out of eight patients with venous wall thickening had a previous history of DVT. Venous wall thickening was positively correlated with proximal DVT development (62.5% versus 8% incidence in the group of patients with and without venous wall thickening respectively; p, 0.001, relative risk = 7.8). This study highlights the high frequency of early major thromboembolic events following hip fracture surgery. It is considered that patients with a previous history of venous thromboembolic disease should undergo B-mode ultrasonographic examination before hip fracture surgery. Patients in whom venous wall thickening is detected should have repeated postoperative ultrasonographic examinations enabling early detection of DVT.

Caractéristiques des cancers associés à la maladie thrombo-embolique. À propos de 248 patients

Studying the prevalence of malignant disease and subtypes of cancer in 1250 consecutives patients with venous thrombo embolism disease, we found 243 cases (19.8 %). The influence of age and the predominance of pelvic and digestives cancers are demonstrated.

Prévalence et facteurs de risque du phénomène de Raynaud dans la population générale

Prevalence and risk factors of Raynaud phenomenon in the general population have been evaluated in a sample of 8081 unselected subjects from the general population of the south-eastern part of France. The estimated prevalence is 12.8 %. Main risk factors are sex, cold climate, acrocyanosis and history of chilblains, low body mass index and exposure to vibrating tools.