South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde
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In October 1988 the orthotopic liver transplantation programme recommenced at Groote Schuur Hospital. The experience gained from our first 10 patients is described here. Anaesthesia for this type of surgery is demanding given the long duration of the operation and the severe haemodynamic and physiological alterations that can occur. ⋯ All patients were electively ventilated in the surgical intensive care unit postoperatively. One patient died 11 days postoperatively. The remainder are well at the time of writing.
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A community-based epidemiological study was undertaken to determine the health profile of the elderly black population in the Orange Free State. Four hundred elderly blacks were randomly selected from 10 towns. Questionnaires on past and present illnesses, socio-economic circumstances (including formal education) and daily activities were completed. ⋯ We found that 63% of the subjects were illiterate and that 31% did not live with their children. Inability to perform any of six activities was found in 3.2%. In view of the high number of elderly persons living alone, we feel that the development of support services should receive urgent attention.