Annals of surgery
-
The effect of Ringer's Lactate (RL) and a colloid containing salt solution Plasmanate (PL) on extravascular lung water (EVLW) during aortic surgery was evaluated in a prospective study of 18 patients. Measured blood loss was replaced with packed red blood cells. In addition to red blood cell replacement, either RL or PL was infused (1) to maintain the cardiac output (CO) equal to or greater than the preoperative value, (2) to maintain the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) plus or minus 2 mmHg of preoperative values, and (3) to keep the urinary output greater than or equal to 30 cc/hr. ⋯ EVLW did not change after operation in either group, despite marked decrease in COP in the RL group. These data indicate that crystalloid resuscitation to physiologic endpoints does not increase extravascular lung water. Thus, manipulation of COP by PL was unnecessary in these patients.
-
A major surgical procedure can impair the delayed hypersensitivity response. This impairment is associated with suppressor cell activity that can alter either afferent or efferent responses. ⋯ A serum factor(s) in an adoptive transfer experiment is also capable of enhancing primary tumor growth. A unifying hypothesis, based predominantly on data from the current literature, is presented in an attempt to elucidate the mechanism by which all forms of major trauma are associated in some patients with "paradoxical" immune suppression.
-
Following renal transplantation, immunosuppression is usually increased to treat presumed rejection episodes. However, a) many conditions mimic rejection in the post-transplant period, and b) many rejection episodes are irreversible. As increased immunosuppressive therapy is associated with an increased risk of infection, it would be ideal to limit antirejection therapy to only the rejection episodes that are reversible. ⋯ The results were the following: 1) biopsies represented changes within the kidney. Of 16 kidneys removed within one month of biopsy, no nephrectomy specimen showed less rejection than that seen on biopsy. 2) Eighty-one biopsies (39.7%) led to tapering or not increasing immunosuppression (either no rejection, minimal rejection, or irreversible changes). 3) Kidneys having either severe acute or chronic vascular rejection (less than 30% function at three months) had significantly (p less than 0.05) decreased survival three to 24 months postbiopsy than those with minimal or mild vascular rejection or tubulointerstitial infiltrate (83% function at three months). 4) Kidneys with moderate chronic vascular rejection and those with severe acute tubulointerstitial infiltrate had significantly (p less than 0.05) decreased survival at six to 24 months. 5) Kidneys with moderate chronic vascular rejection (MCV) without an acute infiltrate (ATI) had significantly better survival than those having both MCV and ATI. 6) Similarly, kidneys having severe ATI alone had better survival than those with ATI plus vascular rejection. It was concluded that a) percutaneous allograft biopsy can be done without graft loss or infection; b) biopsy represents changes throughout the kidney; c) biopsy aids in deciding when to treat for rejection and in deciding when to withhold increased immunosuppression, and d) allograft biopsy predicts the outcome of treatment of a rejection episode.
-
Hemipelvectomy utilizing an anterior myocutaneous flap is indicated for aggressive tumors of the buttock and proximal portion of the posterior thigh. A large operative defect created posteriorly by amputation of the lower extremity, hemipelvis, and buttock is covered by a myocutaneous flap of quadriceps femoris muscle and overlying skin and subcutaneous tissue. The superficial femoral artery is preserved to sustain the myocutaneous flap.
-
Ebstein's anomaly is a complex malformation that has been treated by various surgical techniques, with variable results, since 1958. In 1972, the authors developed a repair that consisted of plication of the free wall of the atrialized portion of the right ventricle, posterior tricuspid anuloplasty, and right atrial reduction. ⋯ Not all patients are candidates for this procedure, however, because of significant abnormalities of the anterior leaflet such as inadequate size or attachment of the free edge of the leaflet to the ventricular wall. This report describes a ten-year experience with surgical repair of Ebstein's anomaly.