Pantoprazole is a new proton pump inhibitor with a potent antisecretory activity, well defined pharmacokinetics and safety profile. The aim of this single blind, randomized clinical trial was to compare the efficacy of pantoprazole (PAN) 40 mg/day and omeprazole (OME) 20 mg/day in patients with grade I and II GERD (Savary-Miller classification). A total of 120 patients were included (PAN = 60 and OME = 60). In the per protocol/analysis, healing rates at 4 weeks were 76.3% PAN and 71.2% OME (ns), and at 8 weeks 94.7% PAN and 92.9% OME (ns). In the intention to treat analysis, healing rates at 4 weeks were 75% PAN and 70% OME (ns), and at 8 weeks 90% PAN and 86.6% OME (ns). Both pantoprazole and omeprazole were well tolerated with no serious drug related adverse events. Pantoprazole 40 mg/day was found to be safe and effective therapy comparable to omeprazole 20 mg/day in the short-term treatment for reflux esophagitis (grade I and II).

In 4 patients who suffered from superficial vein thrombosis new technique was applied. The main issue of this technique are: ligation of superficial vein in the point inferior to vein profunda femoris and sapheno-popliteal vein anastomoses. In two patients sapheno-popliteal anastomoses was competent after 30,18 months. In one patient sapheno-poplietal anastomoses was incompetence after 3 months. And one patient was lost for follow-up.

The authors present results of reconstructive surgical procedures in 127 non-war and 59 war vascular injures operated on in the last ten and 2 years, respectively. Non-war injures were dominated by blunt trauma, while fire arms and explosives caused most of war injuries. Two thirds of the patients were subjected to primary, and one third to secondary operations. As much as 85% of secondary operations were made in cases of war injuries. The most common reasons for inappropriate primary operations were: incomplete diagnostics, inappropriate surgical procedure and technical errors. About two thirds of the cases were isolated vascular injuries, and one third were combined injuries where in addition to blood vessels, bones and peripheral nerves were also affected. Topographically, the upper and lower extremities were most commonly affected. Most of the operations were complex reconstructive procedures such as graft interpositions or by-passes, and less frequently only suture of a blood vessel or end-to-end anastomosis were made. Fasciotomy was an auxillary method used in all patients with late vascularization syndrome, and exposure in a special "tent" in patients with wound infection. Early success was noted on 88% of operated patients. In 12% of them amputation was performed. Primary amputation (without attempts of reconstruction) was performed in 4% out of the total number of patients. After primary operations they performed (127) the authors had to undertake amputation because of failure of the primary surgery in 4% of patients, while after secondary reconstructions (primary operations performed elsewhere) amputations were necessitated in 23% out of 57 patients. A significant difference was noted which directly correlated with the number of primary and secondary operations after war (28%) and non-war (6%) injuries.

The incidence of cholesteatoma and its intracranial complications in 1450 patients treated for chronic middle ear disease at the ENT Department of the General Hospital in Osijek over a 15-year period is reported. Nearly 7.5% of patients suffering from chronic middle ear disease with cholesteatoma developed intracranial complications. The most frequent complication was meningitis. The mean age of patients with intracranial complications was 34.6 years. The average duration of the disease was 11.9 years. The surgical technique depends on the type of complication as well as the general condition of the patient. Brain abscess is treated through radical excision of the abscess and in poor risk patients, trepanation with aspiration is preferred.