The Journal of international medical research
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Phenylephrine attenuates intra-operative hypothermia during spinal anaesthesia.
Inadvertent hypothermia is common during spinal anaesthesia. This study was based on the hypothesis that phenylephrine might attenuate core hypothermia by inhibiting core-to-peripheral redistribution of body heat during spinal anaesthesia. In this prospective randomized study, 20 patients who underwent elective orthopaedic surgery under spinal anaesthesia were randomly assigned to receive either normal saline (control group) or continuously-infused phenylephrine 0.5 microg/kg per min (phenylephrine group). ⋯ Mean +/- SE core temperature at the end of surgery was significantly higher in the phenylephrine-treated group compared with the control group (35.9 +/- 0.1 degrees C versus 35.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C, respectively), although there was no significant difference in baseline core temperature (both groups 36.3 +/- 0.1 degrees C). Mean HR and MAP were not significantly different between the two groups. In conclusion, continuously-infused phenylephrine attenuated core hypothermia during spinal anaesthesia without any haemodynamic complications.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of anti-Xa activity after a single intravenous bolus of low-dose enoxaparin in patients with and without end-stage renal disease.
This study was designed to evaluate anti-Xa activity hourly during the first 3 h after a single intravenous bolus of 0.5 mg/kg enoxaparin in 30 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who underwent haemodialysis, and in 30 patients with normal or mildly reduced renal function who underwent coronary angiography for chest pain (non-ESRD group). Mean +/- SD haemodialysis time was 3.9 +/- 0.3 h in the ESRD group. Of 24 patients diagnosed with coronary artery disease in the non-ESRD group, 20 underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). ⋯ The percentages of patients with peak anti-Xa activity in the target range (0.5 - 1.5 IU/ml) were similar in the two groups (non-ESRD 80%, ESRD 93%). Adequate anti-Xa activity (> 0.5 IU/ml) lasted about 2 h in both groups. It is concluded that a single intravenous low-dose enoxaparin (0.5 mg/kg) bolus provides anti-Xa activity adequate for elective PCI within 2 h irrespective of whether or not the patient had ESRD.
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This prospective study investigated the levels of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with various types and severity of multiple trauma, and their relationship to trauma-related complications. Adult multiple-trauma patients (n = 113) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in the first 24 h after trauma were included. The Injury Severity Scores (ISS), and PCT and CRP levels were measured in the first 24 h (day 1), on day 7 and on the final day of their ICU stay. ⋯ Mean PCT and CRP levels were both significantly higher on day 7 compared with day 1 and the final assessment day in patients with an ISS > 20. Levels of PCT were significantly higher in cases with sepsis, severe sepsis or septic shock compared with cases who developed systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), however levels of CRP were significantly higher only in cases with severe sepsis or septic shock, but not in cases with sepsis alone. These data support the view that PCT levels may be a better indicator than CRP levels in the early diagnosis of septic complications in patients with multiple trauma.
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Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients often have cerebrovascular disease and pre-operative brain magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) frequently reveals cerebral vasculature stenosis. This study was designed to investigate whether pre-operative MRA findings correlated with regional cerebral oxygen saturation (ScO(2)) in 120 patients undergoing on-pump or off-pump CABG. Following MRA examination, patients were divided into six groups of 20 patients each based on MRA findings (no stenosis, mild stenosis or severe stenosis) and procedure (on-pump or off-pump CABG). ⋯ Patients with severe cerebrovascular stenosis showed significantly lower ScO(2) than other groups during off-pump CABG. During on-pump CABG, ScO(2) decreased significantly during cardiopulmonary bypass in all groups and was significantly lower in the severe stenosis group. Pre-operative MRA and intra-operative ScO(2) monitoring may help to identify patients at increased risk of brain damage during or following CABG.
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This cross-sectional, retrospective study was designed to evaluate the current clinical applications and acute hepatotoxicity of intravenous amiodarone administration at a hospital in China. Clinical data were collected from 1214 patients receiving intravenous amiodarone treatment between October 2003 and September 2005. Baseline patient characteristics, drug indications, administration records and acute hepatotoxicity associated with the drug were examined. ⋯ Males showed a higher incidence of hepatotoxicity than females. The use of amiodarone was considered to be reasonable and standardized, but there was still considerable room for improvement, particularly in the standardization of administration guidelines. Intravenous amiodarone can cause hepatotoxicity and hepatic function tests should be performed soon after giving amiodarone intravenously.