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Background & Objective: Hemorrhage is one of the most common complications of the tonsillectomy that needs accurate intraoperative control. Different techniques are used for its control. The present study was carried out to compare the hemostasis efficiency of electro coagulation with that of suture legation following tonsillectomy operations under identical conditions.
Methods: The prospective study from 2004-2006 was done on 100 patients. Homeostasis was done by suture legations on one side and bipolar diathermy electro coagulation on the other, in the same patients. Then we compared the length of operation, volume of intra-operative hemorrhage, post-operative pain, immediate and late post operative hemorrhage. All of operations were done by the same surgery team and all of data were analyzed in SPSS 14 by paired T-test and Macnemar.
Results: In our series of 100 patients, the mean length of operative time was 8.6 minutes for hemostasis by bipolar electrocoagulation procedure, and 11.3 minutes for suture legation (P< 0.005). Intraoperative blood loss volume by electro coagulation were 9.6cc and by suture legation 12.7 cc (P< 0.005). In 88 patients no difference was in post operative pain but in 7 patients suture legation site had more pain and in 5 patients bipolar caused more pain. With CI 95% there was no significant difference between them.
Conclusion: Electrocoagulation was found to be more effective, easier, and faster than suture legation. Therefore, we recommend this type of hemostasis for children whose length of operation and volume of blood loss is important for them.

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  Background & Objectives: Contrast media-induced nephrotoxicity is one of the most common causes of acute renal failure and promotes both increased morbidity and greater healthcare costs. several mechanisms by which contrast media induces renal injury. These include renal vasoconstriction and direct effect of the contrast agents and reactive oxygen metabolites production. L-carnitine facilitates the transfer of long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria. By this mechanism carnitine maintains low pools of fatty acid (acyl)-coenzyme a compounds, which are potentially toxic. However some of the actions of L-carnitine may be opposite to the toxic effects of contrast media. This study examined wheter administration of L-carnitine ameliorates contrast media-induced renal injury in rats.

  Methods : Fifty Sprauge-Dawley rats, weighting 140-230 gr were assigned to one of five treatment groups: group A(control) rats were given normal saline injections daily for 4 consecutive days, group B rats were given contrast media(diatrizoate meglumine) 1cc/kg/d, group C rats were given meglumine 1cc/kg/d and carnitine 200mg/kg/d, group D rats were given meglumine 1cc/kg and carnitine 80mg/kg/d, and group E rats were given carnitine 200mg/kg/d. Four days after injections, the rat were killed and their kidneys and blood samples were prepared for pathological and biochemistry examination. Histological scoring of renal cortical pathology was performed.

  Results: In rats that were given meglumine and no carnitine, renal function tend to be lower than in control group (p=0.001). Among rats injected with meglumine, those given 200mg/kg/d of L-carnitine had higher creatinine clearances at day 4 than the rats not given carnitine (p=00.04). Renal cortical histopathology changes were milder with meglumine and L-carnitine, particularly at 200mg/kg/d.

  Conclusions: In rats receiving meglumine, daily L- carnitine injections, particularly at 200 mg/kg ameliorates the severity of renal cortical proximal tubular necrosis and maintain greater renal function.