Medicina
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Prophylactic use of antiepileptic drugs in neurological conditions such as ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, head injury, and brain tumors has been matter of debate for many years. These drugs are used for reducing secondary neurological damage caused by epileptic seizures. ⋯ Potential drug interactions, side effects, and even neurotoxicity related to these drugs have raised concern about this therapeutic approach. In this review, we examine the evidence on the prophylactic use of antiepileptic drugs in the neurological disorders above mentioned.
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Multicenter Study
[Congenital junctional ectopic tachycardia. Pharmacologic management during infancy].
Congenital junctional ectopic tachycardia (JET) is a rare arrhythmia that can be refractory to medical therapy with high morbidity and mortality rates. The aim of this study was to report our experience with pharmacologic management of congenital JET in infants. Seven patients with congenital JET were identified between 2008 and 2010. ⋯ During follow- up with an average time of 12.2 months (median 9.75 months, range 1-28 months), sinus rhythm alternating with slow junctional tachycardia was successfully achieved in 3 patients; no side effects were detected. There was only one death in our study group. The combination of different antiarrhythmics (amiodarone plus propranolol, and eventually flecainide) is a valid option for rhythm control and management of JET in infants.
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Case Reports
[Vertigo and vertical nystagmus associated with intrathecal morphine administration and resolution by naloxone].
Combined regional anesthesia is frequently used as a tool for management of postoperative pain. The profile of side effects of the opioids used via this route is similar to those occurring after systemic administration. The onset of vertigo with vertical nystagmus is an adverse effect rarely described after the use of intrathecal, epidural or intravenous morphine. We report the case of a patient who presented this complication in the postoperative period of a partial nephrectomy, after the administration of intrathecal morphine, with complete resolution by intravenous naloxone.
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There is not consensus about the true influence of age on mortality associated to mechanical ventilation (MV). We performed a prospective study in order to determine if age is an independent factor to predict mortality in patients under MV. Two hundred patients requiring MV at the intensive care unit were included and clinical variables at admission, co-morbidities, complications and outcome at the hospital and after 6 months were registered. ⋯ Multivariate analysis showed that only an APACHE II score > 20 (p = 0.0077) or the absence of an autonomous life (p = 0.0028) were independent predictive factors of mortality. Elderly patients under mechanical ventilation do not show a higher mortality because of the advance age in itself. Restriction of mechanical ventilation and invasive care does not seem to be justified based on the advanced age.
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Metabolic activity can be down-regulated throughout the reduction of mitochondrial population. Lowering O2 demand in cardiogenic, hemorrhagic and septic shock is here examined through clinical observations and trials. A decrease in the availability of O will be followed by reductions in mitochondrial population and, therefore, in a decrease in O2 demand. ⋯ Decoupling of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation occurs in both experimental models and in clinical septic shock. In critical patients this phenomenon may be detected by an inordinate increase in VO2 in response to a therapeutically increased DO. This hipermetabolic stage can be mistakenly interpreted as the repayment phase of an O2 debt.