Shock : molecular, cellular, and systemic pathobiological aspects and therapeutic approaches : the official journal the Shock Society, the European Shock Society, the Brazilian Shock Society, the International Federation of Shock Societies
-
Clinical and experimental studies have demonstrated higher mortality following nonthermal trauma among males compared with females. To date, few clinical retrospective studies have focused on gender differences in outcome following burn injury with respect to age. All patients admitted to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Burn Center between January 1994 and December 2000 were selected for inclusion in the study. ⋯ Causes and timing of death were similar for males and females. Women less than 60 years of age who sustain burn injuries have an increased risk of death compared with males. Differences in the natural history of nonthermal trauma and burn injury may provide insight regarding these divergent findings.
-
Clinical Trial
Metabolic and hemodynamic effects of hypertonic solutions: sodium-lactate versus sodium chloride infusion in postoperative patients.
Although hypertonic saline has been proposed as an intravenous resuscitation fluid, the beneficial effects of the sodium load are associated with potentially deleterious effects of chloride. Since the physiological lactate anion is well metabolized, hypertonic lactate solution could represent an interesting alternative. The aim of this study was to compare metabolic and hemodynamic effects of hypertonic infusion of sodium lactate versus sodium chloride in three groups of surgical patients who underwent elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). ⋯ Although both solutions produced significant increases in cardiac index and oxygen delivery, there was a significant decrease in oxygen extraction only in groups receiving sodium lactate (CPB-Lac and OPCAB-Lac) and not in CPB-NaCl. Finally, hypertonic NaCl infusion induced a modest, although significant, decrease in arterial pH and bicarbonate, whereas hypertonic lactate infusion increased these two parameters in both CPB-Lac and OPCAB-Lac. This study demonstrates that hypertonic lactate infusion is safe and well tolerated in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery.
-
The response to injury is dependent on several factors, including the type and extent of the injury, genetics, and the environment. In the present study, the genetic contribution to sepsis was evaluated in a mouse model. Sepsis was induced in two inbred mouse strains, C57BL/6J (B6) and A/J, by cecal ligation and single puncture (CLP). ⋯ On the contrary, metallothionein mRNA levels were higher in A/J mice compared with B6 mice. Finally, leptin levels were also higher in A/J than B6 mice within 19 h of CLP. This study demonstrates a genetic contribution in the response to sepsis.
-
Disturbances in intestinal metabolism and perfusion during SIRS can be direct effects of toxic substances, and/or effects secondary to hypovolemia. An attempt to evaluate the significance of hypovolemia for intestinal disturbances during SIRS was made in the present study on feline by evaluating the degree to which the intestinal alterations following endotoxin infusion were restored by a clinically relevant volume infusion. The results were compared with control animals treated identically except that they were not given a volume infusion. ⋯ In the control experiments (n = 4), the endotoxin-induced deteriorations persisted or were aggravated during the corresponding time period. The results indicated that hypovolemia is an essential factor but not the only one behind alterations in metabolism and perfusion in the intestine during SIRS, and the alterations can be significantly reduced by adequate volume substitution. In this respect no differences could be seen between the three colloids tested.
-
Pseudomonas pneumonia is a common complication of smoke inhalation injury. Airway casts formed from clotted mucous occur frequently in this condition. A recent report shows that intravenous heparin improves oxygenation and reduces lung damage in a sheep model of smoke inhalation. ⋯ These changes were significantly attenuated in the heparin groups. Histological changes consisting of cellular infiltrates, lung edema, congestion, and cast formation were reduced by heparin. These data suggest that nebulized inhaled heparin is a beneficial therapy for sepsis-induced ALI.