Annals of surgery
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Clinical parameters, intensive care unit (ICU) course, abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans, and the clinical decisions of 53 critically ill patients were reviewed to determine the influence of the CT scan. No scans were positive before the eighth day. Sensitivity was 48% and specificity, 64%. ⋯ Hospital charges were +33,408. Personnel time and cost were 497 hours and +3658; of the total +37,066, 77% (+28,541) could be considered wasted. From these data, it was concluded that CT scans should be used to confirm abscesses, not to search for a source of sepsis.
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Sequential changes in circulating total protein and albumin masses after abdominal vascular surgery.
Sequential changes in total circulating protein (TCP) and total circulating albumin (TCA) masses after different blood replacement regimens were investigated in a prospective study involving 40 patients undergoing reconstructive abdominal aortic surgery. Group I (13 patients) had 80 gm of albumin during operation and 60 gm of albumin during the following 3 days. Blood loss was replaced milliliter for milliliter by whole blood. ⋯ In groups II and III, a significant decrease in TCP was followed by complete recovery of TCP. This also entailed a decrease in the TCA/TCP ratio, indicating an enhanced synthesis of acute-phase proteins. Based on these findings, a depression of globulin synthesis by supplemental albumin administration is proposed.