Articles: function.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Nov 2015
ReviewComplications of immunosuppressive agents therapy in transplant patients.
Solid organ transplantation remains the gold standard for the treatment of end-stage organ dysfunction and saves thousands of lives. Besides the progress of surgery, advances in understanding transplant physiology, immunology and the development of immunosuppressive drugs lead to improved short- and long-term survival. ⋯ Approximately one third of organ recipients require hospital readmission after transplantation because of a multitude of clinical problems related to immunosuppressive therapy. We review the current knowledge on typical complications associated with immunosuppressants with emphasis on the intensivist's perspective.
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Review Meta Analysis
Uterine exteriorization compared with in situ repair for Cesarean delivery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
To compare perioperative outcomes following uterine exteriorization vs in situ repair after Cesarean delivery. ⋯ Uterine repair by exteriorization may reduce blood loss and the associated decrease in hemoglobin, but the difference may not be clinically relevant. There was no statistically significant difference between the two repair techniques for intraoperative nausea, vomiting, or pain. In situ repair may be associated with a faster return of bowel function.
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MRI has emerged as radiation-free imaging modality for assessment of cystic fibrosis lung disease. Here, we review the current status and new developments of MRI in cystic fibrosis. ⋯ MRI is sensitive to detect hallmarks of cystic fibrosis lung disease such as bronchial wall thickening, bronchiectasis, mucus plugging and abnormal lung perfusion. A morpho-functional MRI score has been established for semiquantitative assessment of these characteristic abnormalities over a broad range of disease severity. Recent studies demonstrated that MRI is sensitive to detect changes in mucus plugging and lung perfusion in response to antibiotic therapy for pulmonary exacerbations. These results suggest that MRI may be suitable for noninvasive monitoring and as a quantitative endpoint in clinical trials for cystic fibrosis. Technical advances including ultra-short echo time and Fourier decomposition imaging are expected to enhance morphological and functional MRI of cystic fibrosis lung disease without the need of contrast medium in the near future.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2015
Randomized Controlled TrialThe Effect of Low-Dose Dexmedetomidine as an Adjuvant to Levobupivacaine in Patients Undergoing Vitreoretinal Surgery Under Sub-Tenon's Block Anesthesia.
This study evaluated the motor and sensory block durations and the postoperative analgesic effects of adding dexmedetomidine to levobupivacaine for sub-Tenon's block anesthesia in patients undergoing vitreoretinal surgery. Motor and sensory block durations were considered as a primary end point. ⋯ For patients undergoing vitreoretinal surgery, adding 20 μg of dexmedetomidine to levobupivacaine for sub-Tenon's block anesthesia in vitreoretinal surgery extended the motor and sensory block durations and provided more effective postoperative analgesia with improvement in the sleep quality in the first postoperative night compared with levobupivacaine alone.