Surgery
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Because of the rarity of child donors, in cases of adult donors room requirement for the liver graft is a major technical obstacle to liver transplantation in children. To overcome this difficulty in a child, the authors performed an orthotopic transplantation with an adult liver that had been reduced to the left lobe. The absence of technically-related complications suggests that this procedure might facilitate the performance of liver transplantation in children.
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Portacaval or mesocaval shunts may relieve ascites that is caused by chronic forms of primary Budd-Chiari syndrome. When inferior vena cava stenosis is severe or is the site of thrombosis, another procedure has to be used. Portoatrial or cavoatrial shunting has been suggested, and a few reports have been made after only a short follow-up period. ⋯ Cavoatrial bypass performed with the use of a long Dacron graft was successful as noted at a 4 1/2-year postoperative follow-up, and there was angiographic proof of patency. Budd-Chiari syndrome with stenosis or thrombosis of the inferior vena cava may be cured by prosthetic bypasses to the right atrium. Combined mesocaval and cavoatrial shunt should be encouraged in this specific situation.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Effect of end-expiratory pressure on total oxygen dynamics.
The role of altered end-expiratory pressure on total oxygen dynamics was studied prospectively in 18 patients with injuries and sepsis. Eight patients received high tidal volumes (12 to 18 ml/kg), continuous positive airway pressure, and intermittent mandatory ventilation (CPAP/IMV); 10 patients received low tidal volumes (8 to 10 ml/kg) with zero end-expiratory pressure and assist control mode of ventilation (ZEEP/A-CM). CPAP/IMV patients had better oxygen tension, reduced physiologic shunting in the lung (24% versus 18%), and an improved arterial tension: inspired oxygen concentration ratio. ⋯ Consequently, the total oxygen delivery was reduced for all 3 days following insult and for the cumulative data for all 3 days (266 versus 306 ml/min) in the CPAP/IMV patients. Oxygen consumption was also reduced in the CPAP/IMV patients; this reduction was not significant for each of the first 3 days but was significant when the data for the 3 days were added to the analysis (306 versus 272 ml/min). Future prospective randomized studies are needed to determine the most effective use of ventilatory support on total oxygen dynamics including oxygen delivery and oxygen consumption.
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The clinical course and final outcome were determined for 63 trauma victims who underwent resuscitative thoracotomy (RT) for hypovolemic cardiac arrest in the Department of Emergency Medicine during a 24-month period. The objectives of the study were to determine the efficacy of and indications for RT and to define the prognostic signs for survival. Of 63 patients, six were successfully resuscitated (9.5%), and five of these were discharged from the hospital (7.9%). ⋯ In our experience, RT is most beneficial for victims of penetrating thoracic trauma, especially those with cardiac injuries. However, routine use of this high cost/low benefit procedure cannot be recommended for patients who have cardiac arrest secondary to blunt trauma or severe head injuries. Also, it is not recommended for patients whose pupillary reflexes and respiratory movements are absent.
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Although cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with hypothermia and circulatory arrest is routinely used for certain cardiovascular procedures, its advantages have infrequently been applied for other unusual surgical problems. Fourteen patients (six men and eight women, average age 48 years, range 29 to 74 years) underwent 15 operations over a 4-year period beginning in November 1978. Preoperative diagnosis included giant middle cerebral aneurysm (n = 8), internal carotid aneurysm (3), basilar artery aneurysm (2), and medullary hemangioblastoma (2). ⋯ The intended operation was accomplished in all cases with 13 of 14 patients being discharged from hospital, having had a good neurosurgical result. One patient sustained a hemorrhagic infarction of the cerebellum and pons and is presently recovering. Our experience indicates that peripheral CPB with induced hypothermia and circulatory arrest is a safe technique for approaching otherwise inoperable neurosurgical lesions.