ASAIO journal : a peer-reviewed journal of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Tranexamic acid reduces blood loss after cardiopulmonary bypass.
To evaluate the effect of tranexamic acid (TA) on blood loss after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), 157 patients who underwent elective valve replacement operations were studied, with one group of 90 patients receiving tranexamic acid (Group TA) and 67 patients serving as the control group (Group N). In group TA, 50 mg/kg of tranexamic acid was administered just before and after CPB, and every 90 minutes during CPB. The activated coagulation time was maintained at more than 450 seconds during CPB in both groups. ⋯ The amount of chest tube drainage within 12 hours after surgery was significantly reduced (225 +/- 129 ml vs. 180 +/- 118 ml in group N and group TA, respectively: p = 0.026). The chest tube was able to be removed earlier in group TA, and the total blood loss was significantly smaller in group TA (402 +/- 292 ml) than in group N (631 +/- 609 ml; p = 0.004). The authors thus conclude that antifibrinolytic therapy during CPB with tranexamic acid reduces postoperative blood loss, and shortens the operation time due to an improvement in hemostasis.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration compared with conventional dialysis in critically ill patients with acute renal failure.
The morbidity and mortality benefits of new forms of continuous renal replacement therapy remain controversial. The authors have compared a cohort of consecutive prospectively studied critically ill patients with acute renal failure treated with continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHD) (n = 76) to a previously described antecedent group of patients treated in intensive care with intermittent hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis (conventional dialysis [CD]) (n = 84). Patients were comparable for mean age, gender distribution, and mean number of failing organs (CVVHD: 4; CD: 3.9). ⋯ No statistically significant differences were seen at either extreme of illness severity. Complications were significantly fewer during CVVHD (1 vs. 18). These data support the view that CVVHD reduces morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients with acute renal failure.
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In some patients with acute respiratory failure, the native lungs do not recover during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), or complications occur that preclude the meaningful continuation of ECMO therapy. In such cases, emergency lung transplantation (LTx) represents the only therapeutic alternative. Between May 1988 and April 1993, the authors have performed LTx after ECMO support in five of 111 lung or heart-lung transplantations (4.5%). ⋯ The remaining patient (unilateral LTx for ARDS) had severe multiorgan failure at the time of his operation and died intraoperatively. The authors conclude that ECMO no longer represents a contraindication to subsequent LTx. Their results also support the continued investigation of this combined therapeutic approach.
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Changes in platelet membrane glycoproteins (GPIb, GPIIb/IIIa, and GMP-140) were evaluated using flow cytometry after binding with monoclonal antibodies in 22 adult patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery. The amount of GPIb on platelets decreased significantly during CPB, reaching a minimum level of 64 +/- 26% of the pre CPB value at 120 min of CPB. There was no significant change in the amount of GPIIb/IIIa on platelets. ⋯ There was an upper limit to the amount of GMP-140 expression on each platelet in the circulating blood, suggesting that excessively activated platelets are removed from the circulation. The authors conclude that CPB reduces the amount of GPIb on platelets, which results in platelet dysfunction. In addition, removal of excessively activated platelets from the circulation may lead to thrombocytopenia after CPB.
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The placement of peritoneal catheters by non-surgeons was facilitated by a percutaneous laparoscopic technique ("Y-tec"). We have developed a catheter implantation system that is simpler to use, is less expensive initially and per procedure, and provides greatly enhanced peritoneal visualization. The core of the system is a 4 mm diameter Verres needle, which has a protective spring loaded obturator. ⋯ This method uses the safest mode of blind peritoneal entry and permits thorough peritoneal inspection, even without insufflation. The needle and cannula are reusable, which minimizes cost. The technique is simple, and early results with inexperienced operators are encouraging.