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UNLABELLED OPTIMIZED HEMODILUTION: To avoid blood transfusions, the method of optimized hemodilution (OHD) was developed. OHD consists of preoperative hypervolemic hemodilution with 500 ml hydroxyethyl starch (HES) and consecutive volume replacement with HES in the case of intraoperative intravasal fluid loss. This study verifies the efficacy of OHD. RESULTS Mono- and bimaxillary operations (n = 213) performed between January 1995 and May 1999 were evaluated retrospectively with respect to reduction of blood transfusions due to application of OHD. The average blood loss in the OHD group (n = 127) was 593 ml, and no blood transfusion was required. In contrast, the control group (n = 86) showed an average blood loss of 738 ml, and 15% of these patients (n = 13) required transfusion of a total of 18 blood units. Based on our results, provision of autologous blood is only necessary for patients who do not receive OHD. The costs of fluid replacement and transfusion are increased by a factor of 5.7 when OHD is not used. DISCUSSION OHD should be preferably used in cases of elective surgery on patients with good cardiopulmonary health. It is an easy to handle infusion regimen, which does not require additional monitoring, has no risk of infection, and results in a significant cost reduction.

Cultured epithelial cells are used in in vitro studies. Gingival keratinocytes are usually grown adherent to the floor of the culture dish, whereby the basal side of the epithelium can not be approached. To be able to study barrier function and transepithelial transport processes the gingival keratinocytes were seeded on different permeable membranes as support material. Six primary keratinocyte cultures each using the explant technique were established on polycarbonate membranes with pore sizes 2-8 mm and on nylon. Secondary cultures were established accordingly as single-cell suspension. Primary cultures formed confluent epithelial cultures on all membranes tested, whereas in secondary culture confluent gingival keratinocyte epithelia were found on the polycarbonate membranes, only. Thus, gingival keratinocytes can be used to study barrier and transport functions in an in-vitro model.

Uber verschiedene Komplikationen der Mandibularisleitungsanasthesie (MLA) wird in der Literatur berichtet. Pterygomandibulare Abszedierungen als Spritzenabszesse konnen in seltenen Fallen auftreten. Die Entstehung einer odontogenen Osteomyelitis des aufsteigenden Unterkieferasts nach MLA ist bislang jedoch noch nicht beschrieben. Es werden 2 Patienten vorgestellt, bei denen nach MLA eine Osteomyelitis des aufsteigenden Unterkieferasts auftrat.