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Biomedical subjects

D R Morel

Publications and source records attributed to D R Morel.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Long-term angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor treatment attenuates adrenergic responsiveness without altering hemodynamic control in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: The sympathoadrenal and the renin-angiotensin systems are involved in blood pressure regulation and are known to be markedly activated during cardiac surgery. Because unexpected hypotensive events have been reported repeatedly during anesthesia in patients chronically treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, the authors questioned whether renin-angiotensin system blockade would alter the hemodynamic control through attenuation of the endocrine response to surgery and/or through attenuation of the pressor effects of exogenous catecholamines. METHODS: Patients with preserved left ventricular function undergoing mitral valve replacement or coronary revascularization were divided into two groups according to preoperative drug therapy: patients receiving ACE inhibitors for at least 3 months (ACEI) group, n = 22) and those receiving other cardiovascular drug therapy (control group, n = 19). Anesthesia was induced using fentanyl and midazolam. Systemic hemodynamic variables were recorded before surgery, after anesthesia induction, during sternotomy, after aortic cross-clamping, after aortic unclamping, as well as after separation from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and during skin closure. Blood was sampled repeatedly up to 24 h after surgery for hormone analysis. To test adrenergic responsiveness, incremental doses of norepinephrine were infused intravenously during hypothermic CPB and after separation from CPB. From the dose-response curves, pressor (defined as mean arterial pressure changes), and vasoconstrictor (defined as systemic vascular resistance changes) effects were analyzed, and the slopes and the dose of norepinephrine required to increase mean arterial pressure by 20% were calculated (PD(20)). RESULTS: At no time did the systemic hemodynamics and the need for vasopressor support differ between the two treatment groups. However, for anesthesia induction, significantly less fentanyl and midazolam were given in the ACEI group. Although plasma renin activity was significantly greater in the ACEI group throughout the whole 24-h study period, plasma concentrations of angiotensin II did not differ between the two groups. Similar changes in catecholamines angiotensin II, and plasma renin activity were found in the two groups in response to surgery and CPB. The pressor and constrictor effects of norepinephrine infusion were attenuated markedly in the ACEI group: the dose-response curves were shifted to the right and the slopes were decreased at the two study periods; PD(20) was significantly greater during hypothermic CPB (0.08 micro/kg in the ACEI group vs. 0.03 micro/kg in the control group; P < 0.05) and after separation from CPB (0.52 micro/kg in the ACEI group vs. 0.1 micro/kg in the control group; P < 0.05). In both groups, PD(20) was significantly less during hypothermic CPB than in the period immediately after CPB. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term ACE inhibitor treatment in patients with preserved left ventricular function alters neither the endocrine response nor the hemodynamic stability during cardiac surgery. However, a significantly attenuated adrenergic responsiveness associated with incomplete blockade of the plasma renin-angiotensin system supports the hypothesis that inhibition of angiotensin II generation and of bradykinin degradation within the vascular wall mediates some of the vasodilatory effects of ACE inhibitors.

Adult↗

Lung mechanics and pulmonary but not systemic vascular responses to ET-1 are Tx and infusion rate dependent.

The role of cyclooxygenase metabolites formation in the systemic and pulmonary vascular and airway responses to different intravenous infusion rates of endothelin-1 (ET-1) was investigated in eight barbiturate-anesthetized mechanically ventilated adult sheep. ET-1 (20, 200, and 400 pmol/kg) was infused into the femoral vein over either 1, 10, or 180 s before and after pretreatment with indomethacin (1.5 mg/kg i.v.). ET-1 infusion produced a dose-dependent systemic vasoconstriction that was similar with all three infusion rates. In contrast, the pulmonary vascular and airways responses to ET-1 were not only dose dependent but also infusion rate dependent so that consistent effects on the pulmonary vasculature and airways were observed only when the peptide was injected over 1 s. At the highest dosage and at the fastest rate of administration, ET-1 produced a fivefold rise in pulmonary vascular resistance, a twofold rise in airway resistance, and a 45% decrease in dynamic pulmonary compliance, whereas no changes were observed when the peptide was injected over 180 s. Plasma levels of 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) increased 20-fold when ET-1 was administered over 1 s but only 5-fold when it was administered over 180 s. Thromboxane B2 (TxB2) increased 5-fold when ET-1 was administered over 1 s and did not increase when ET-1 was given over 180 s. Plasma TxB2 levels were linearly correlated with pulmonary vascular or airway resistance during the bolus ET-1 infusion. Pretreatment with indomethacin completely prevented the ET-1-induced rise in TxB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and blocked pulmonary vaso- and bronchoconstriction observed, whereas it enhanced systemic vasoconstriction. These results demonstrate that in adult sheep intravenous ET-1 produces pulmonary vaso- and bronchoconstriction that is infusion rate dependent and is associated with the rate-dependent production of thromboxane. In contrast, the increase in systemic vascular tone elicited by ET-1 is not affected by its rate of infusion and does not depend on the secondary generation of cyclooxygenase metabolites.

Animals↗

Phenotypic and functional analysis of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells from patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

The purpose of this study was to assess the phenotypic and functional characteristics of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (MVEC) in the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Pulmonary MVEC were isolated from the lungs of five patients who developed ARDS, and from four patients who had undergone a lobectomy for lung carcinoma, as controls. Adhesion molecules and other surface molecules were quantitated on these cells by flow cytometry and the cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 were measured in the supernatants by ELISA. The constitutive expression of intercellular adhesion molecule and, to a lesser extent, vascular adhesion molecule-1, was significantly increased on MVEC isolated from all ARDS patients, as compared with control MVEC. CD14 and TNF receptor p75 were also increased on the surface of MVEC isolated from most patients with ARDS. The expression of ELAM-1 and TNF receptor p55 (TNF-R1) was not significant on the surface of either ARDS-derived or control pulmonary MVEC. The constitutive ability of ARDS-derived MVEC to secrete IL-6 and IL-8 was markedly enhanced as compared with control MVEC. Upon in vitro restimulation by TNF, pulmonary MVEC from ARDS patients showed lower ICAM-1 upregulation, but similar IL-6 and IL-8 production capacity, when compared with control MVEC. Selective differences were found in cell adhesion molecules and TNF receptor p75 expression on pulmonary MVEC isolated from patients with ARDS. These pulmonary MVEC spontaneously overexpress some adhesion molecules and produce greater amounts of the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-8 and IL-6. These findings suggest that ICAM-1 and TNF receptor p75 may have a particular involvement in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury, and that the endothelium may be an important source of cytokines detected in broncho-alveolar lavage during this syndrome. It is tempting to hypothesize that the differences observed result from either a genetic predisposition to ARDS based on MVEC phenotype or to a long-lived MVEC phenotypic change induced by ARDS. By allowing the monitoring of phenotypic and functional parameters, cultures of pulmonary MVEC isolated from ARDS patients may thus represent a useful system to analyze further the mechanisms of acute lung injury and to evaluate the efficacy of drugs, including inhibitors of cytokines and of adhesion molecules.

Adult↗

Systemic and splanchnic oxygen supply-demand relationship with fenoldopam, dopamine and noradrenaline in sheep.

The effects of intravenous administration of fenoldopam (0.3-10 micrograms.kg-1.min-1), dopamine (1-10 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) and noradrenaline (0.1-1 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) on systemic and splanchnic haemodynamics and oxygen supply-demand relationship were studied in 12 chronically instrumented, sedated sheep. Fenoldopam produced dose-dependent peripheral and splanchnic vasodilatation without change in arterial blood pressure. The coeliac trunk and portal vein blood flows were particularly sensitive to fenoldopam, whereas dopamine vasodilated these vascular beds only at high doses. Renal blood flow was not influenced by dopamine or fenoldopam, but decreased by noradrenaline. Fenoldopam maintained systemic oxygen extraction constant by increasing both oxygen supply and demand, while noradrenaline and dopamine increased oxygen supply more than demand, thus decreasing oxygen extraction. Both dopamine and fenoldopam increased oxygen delivery to the splanchnic organs while noradrenaline reduced it. Splanchnic oxygen consumption decreased with noradrenaline and increased with dopamine, resulting in a conserved oxygen extraction with both drugs, whereas oxygen consumption remained constant at all doses of fenoldopam infusion (i.e. dose-dependent decreased oxygen extraction). Both noradrenaline and fenoldopam, but not dopamine, were accompanied by increased portal lactataemia. We conclude that in sheep fenoldopam is a potent and selective splanchnic vasodilator but without vasodilatator effect on the renal circulation. The portal lactataemia associated with a decreased splanchnic oxygen extraction may present a significant limitation for some clinical applications of this drug.

Animals↗

Intrathecal midazolam reduces isoflurane MAC and increases the apnoeic threshold in rats.

The purpose of this study was to examine the anaesthetic requirement of intrathecal midazolam in a dose-response fashion in isoflurane-anaesthetized, tracheostomized rats, and to evaluate the apnoeic threshold after each intrathecal midazolam dose. Intrathecal midazolam, 5, 10, 20, and 30 micrograms, was administered to 25 anaesthetized tracheotomized rats. Isoflurane MAC was determined by the tail-clamp method. The effect of intrathecal midazolam on the apnoeic threshold was evaluated, and light and electron microscopy studies were performed on cervical, thoracic and lumbar sections of the spinal cord to investigate possible midazolam-induced neurotoxic effects. Intrathecal midazolam 5, 10, 20 and 30 micrograms decreased isoflurane MAC by 16%, 31%, 42%, and 53% respectively (P < 0.05). The apnoeic threshold was increased by midazolam 5 micrograms (from a PaCO2 of 4.25 +/- 0.55 to 5.28 +/- 0.76 kPa, P < 0.05) when compared with baseline values, but not further by additional doses. Light and electron microscopy studies on sections taken from the spinal cord of four animals did not show any morphological changes suggestive of midazolam-induced neurotoxicity when compared with similar preparations obtained from controls. These data suggest that intrathecal midazolam possesses dose-dependent antinociceptive properties which, associated with the ceiling effect of the apnoeic threshold obtained at the lowest midazolam dose and the lack of neurotoxic effects, may potentiate inhalational anaesthesia without producing marked respiratory depression.

Anesthesia, Spinal↗

Time course of systemic and renal plasma prostanoid concentrations and renal function in ovine hyperdynamic sepsis.

1. We continuously recorded systemic and renal haemodynamic changes, and arterial, renal venous and urinary concentrations of thromboxane B2, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha and prostaglandin E2, and determined their relationship to renal function in an ovine model of progressive hyperdynamic sepsis. 2. Nine chronically instrumented unanaesthetized sheep were given a continuous intravenous infusion of Escherichia coli endotoxin (20 ng min-1 kg-1) for 3 days. 3. Within the first 12 h of infusion, endotoxin induced a major hypotensive septic syndrome, including a persistent 30% reduction in mean arterial pressure, a 50% decrease in systemic vascular resistance and a 50% increase in mean pulmonary artery pressure, associated with severe lactacidaemia. 4. Renal blood flow decreased by 40%, and creatinine clearance, urine flow, and fractional sodium excretion decreased by more than 75%, of baseline values. After 12 h of endotoxin infusion, cardiac output increased two-fold and renal blood flow recovered to baseline values, whereas creatinine clearance remained depressed. Four sheep died between 13 and 22 h of endotoxaemia; these animals (allocated to group 1) presented a significantly and persistently more reduced renal blood flow (-23%) and creatinine clearance (-77%) after 4 h than the remaining five sheep (allocated to group 2), which survived more than 36 h (-16% and -21%, respectively), whereas systemic and pulmonary haemodynamic and gas exchange data remained similar in both groups. 5. The more pronounced decreases in renal blood flow, creatinine clearance and urine flow in group 1 were associated with higher plasma renin activity and plasma 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha concentrations and a lower fractional urinary excretion of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha than in group 2, whereas plasma thromboxane B2 concentrations were similarly increased in both groups. Plasma prostaglandin E2 concentrations and urinary excretion were not notably affected by endotoxin infusion in either group. 6. Our results are not in favour of a significant renal production of any of these three prostanoids during endotoxaemia. In both groups, values of creatinine clearance were linearly correlated with simultaneous mean arterial pressure values after starting endotoxin infusion (group 1: creatinine clearance = 1.99 x mean arterial pressure--105, r = 0.95; group 2: creatinine clearance = 2.06 x mean arterial pressure--104, r = 0.80).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

Vecuronium neuromuscular blockade reflects liver function during hepatic autotransplantation in pigs.

BACKGROUND: Rapid assessment of hepatic function early after reperfusion of the liver graft is of great importance, because it may allow for prompt detection of incipient hepatic graft failure. The current study was undertaken to determine whether the continuous recording of neuromuscular transmission could be used as an on-line assessment of hepatic function during liver transplantation when a muscle relaxant with high hepatic uptake is used. METHODS: We quantified and compared the effect of liver exclusion and graft reperfusion on the level of vecuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade in nine pigs studied twice within 3 days. During the 1st day (control session), an intravenous infusion of vecuronium was administered to maintain a constant 90-95% twitch depression during 180 min. The twitch response was then allowed to recover spontaneously to 75% of its prerelaxant value. Neuromuscular transmission was continuously measured on the right anterior leg using an acceleration transducer. During the same time period, the metabolic rate of 14C-labeled aminopyrine (a well-established quantitative test of the liver microsomal function) was determined by measuring the excretion of 14CO2 in expired air after administration of an intravenous bolus of 14C-labeled aminopyrine. Two days later, the pigs underwent a hepatic autotransplantation, during which vecuronium was administered to maintain a constant 90-95% twitch depression. After reperfusion of the liver graft, the vecuronium infusion rate was maintained at its anhepatic level, and the recovery index of the neuromuscular blockade (the time from 25% to 75% recovery of twitch height) was calculated. The aminopyrine breath test was performed during the last 30 min of the anhepatic phase, and during 3 h after reperfusion of the liver graft. RESULTS: During control studies, the mean infusion rate of vecuronium was 1.30 +/- 0.33 mg.kg-1.h-1 and the recovery index was 3.4 +/- 0.5 min. During liver dissection, the infusion rate of vecuronium was similar to the control value (1.18 +/- 0.16 mg.kg-1.h-1), then considerably decreased to 0.05 +/- 0.03 mg.kg-1.h-1 during the anhepatic phase. After reperfusion of the liver graft, the recovery index was markedly prolonged to 35.5 +/- 15.8 min, indicating a prolongation of the recovery of neuromuscular blockade by a factor of 10.4. Excretion of 14CO2 was equal to zero during the anhepatic phase and then increased to 0.19 +/- 0.11% during the 1st h after reperfusion of the liver graft, an excretion rate corresponding to 11.2% of control conditions. The relationship between individual changes in the recovery index of the neuromuscular blockade and 14CO2 excretion in expired air after reperfusion of the liver graft showed a strong significant correlation (r2 = 0.71). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that, compared with the control studies, there is a similar decrease in the recovery rate of vecuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade and in the metabolic rate of 14C-labeled aminopyrine during the progressive recovery of hepatic function immediately after unclamping of the liver vessels. Metabolism of 14C-labeled aminopyrine increased progressively during the reperfusion phase. Therefore, recording of neuromuscular transmission during liver transplantation could serve as a continuous and easy to perform assessment of liver graft function provided that a muscle relaxant with a high hepatic uptake is used for neuromuscular blockade.

Aminopyrine↗

Effect of continuous positive airway pressure applied by face mask on right ventricular function after cardiac surgery.

The effect of respiratory therapy with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on right ventricular function 24 hours after elective cardiac surgery was evaluated in patients with or without severe coronary artery disease. The first group included 10 patients following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, and the second group included 10 patients following aortic valve replacement (AVR) without preexisting coronary artery disease. Patients of both groups had preoperative left ventricular ejection fractions above 40%. CPAP was applied by face mask at a flow rate of 20 L/min with 40% oxygen in nitrogen and with a positive end-expiratory pressure of 12 cmH2O. Right ventricular function was estimated at end-expiration by a fast-response thermodilution cardiac output catheter. The results demonstrate that in both groups of patients, CPAP did not significantly modify right ventricular indices, ejection fraction, end-systolic and end-diastolic volume indices, and stroke volume index, indicating that CPAP can safely be applied after elective cardiac surgery in patients with or without severe coronary artery disease and preoperative left ventricular ejection fractions above 40%. Furthermore, the concomitant postoperative intravenous infusion of nitroglycerin (to all 10 patients of the CABG group and to 4 patients of the AVR group) counteracted the expected beneficial effect of CPAP therapy on arterial oxygenation.

Adult↗

Sequential changes in the splanchnic circulation during continuous endotoxin infusion in sedated sheep: evidence for a selective increase of hepatic artery blood flow and loss of the hepatic arterial buffer response.

On-line recording of the sequential changes in systemic, pulmonary, mesenteric, hepatic and renal circulations during onset of endotoxaemia and at 24 h of established hyperdynamic sepsis were evaluated in seven chronically instrumented and sedated sheep receiving a continuous intravenous infusion of Escherichia coli endotoxin (20 ng min-1 kg-1). A transient and significant (P < 0.05) pulmonary arterial vaso-constriction was noted after 13 +/- 4 min, and was followed immediately by a simultaneous significant decrease of coeliac trunk, superior mesenteric artery, and portal vein blood flow to below 50% of baseline values. The superior mesenteric artery and portal vein blood flows partially recovered pre-endotoxin levels to 69 and 75% of baseline, respectively, after 70 min of endotoxin infusion. In contrast, the coeliac trunk blood flow remained reduced for a more prolonged period of time, but then completely recovered baseline values at 100 min. The response of the hepatic artery was biphasic, and consisted of a transient (5-10 min) vasoconstriction at 40 min followed by transitory increase of hepatic artery blood flow reaching a maximum of 921% of baseline values at 102 min. Contrasting with the early changes observed in mesenteric vascular resistances mostly unrelated to systemic haemodynamics, the response of the renal vasculature appeared to be more dependent on changes of renal perfusion pressure. A follow-up at 24 h revealed that the continuous intravenous infusion of endotoxin reproduced some of the most characteristic features of human sepsis with increased cardiac output and decreased vascular resistances of all vascular beds. We conclude that hepatic artery blood flow is selectively and considerably increased in early endotoxaemia in sheep independently of changes in portal vein blood flow, suggesting a disregulation of the physiologic hepatic arterial buffer response, most probably secondary to an increased liver oxygen demand required for phagocytosis, transport, and digestion of the the sudden overload of bacterial endotoxins.

Animals↗

Absence of agonist effects of high-dose flumazenil on ventilation and psychometric performance in human volunteers.

Flumazenil, a specific benzodiazepine antagonist, reverses sedative and respiratory depressant effects of benzodiazepines. We determined whether a large dose of flumazenil, injected alone, induces respiratory depression or alteration of psychomotor performance. After informed consent, eight healthy volunteers participated at three different sessions: 1) flumazenil (0.1 mg/kg) (a dose 7-15 times the clinically recommended dose) injected intravenously over a 5-min period, followed by placebo (NaCl 0.9%); 2) flumazenil at the same dose and injection rate as in Session 1, followed by midazolam (0.1 mg/kg) injected over 5 min; and 3) placebo followed by midazolam at the same dose as above and administered over 5 min. All drug combinations were administered in a randomized and double-blind manner. Tidal volume, respiratory frequency, minute ventilation, and mean inspiratory flow were continuously measured from 15 min before until 120 min after drug injection by noninvasive on-line data acquisition methods. Psychometric performance was evaluated 15 min before the first drug and 15 min after administration of the second drug. During the placebo-midazolam session, tidal volume (-40%), minute ventilation (-25%), and inspiratory flow (-25%) were significantly (P < 0.01) decreased compared both with baseline and with the other two sessions, and psychometric performance was significantly (P < 0.01) altered; in contrast, there was no significant change in any of the measured respiratory or psychometric variables during the flumazenil-placebo or flumazenil-midazolam sessions. We conclude that flumazenil, administered at about 10 times the clinically recommended dose, has no agonist effects on resting ventilation or psychomotor performance in normal subjects.

Adult↗

Vascular control of the pig nasal mucosa: distribution and effect of somatostatin in relation to noradrenaline and neuropeptide Y.

By means of immunohistochemistry and radioimmunoassay (RIA), we have investigated the possible occurrence of somatostatin (SOM)-like immunoreactivity (-LI) in the autonomic innervation of the pig nasal mucosa. SOM-immunoreactive (-IR) fibres were present around nasal arteries, arterioles and venous sinusoids. Double-labelling experiments revealed that SOM-LI was co-localized with the noradrenaline (NA) markers tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase as well as with neuropeptide Y (NPY) in a subpopulation of neurons in the superior cervical sympathetic ganglion and in perivascular nerve terminals. Furthermore, SOM-LI was also present in perivascular fibres containing vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and NPY of presumably parasympathetic origin. The parasympathetic fibres that were associated with glands contained peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI), VIP and NPY but not SOM, suggesting that in the nasal mucosa SOM-IR is restricted to perivascular nerves. As revealed by RIA, the content of SOM-LI in biopsies of both nasal mucosa and superior cervical sympathetic ganglion was about 12 pmol/g and the reverse phase HPLC characterisation of SOM-LI shown two separate peaks for SOM-28 and SOM-14. In thiopentone anaesthetized pigs (n = 10), local intra-arterial (i.a.) infusion of SOM (1-14) induced dose-dependent, long lasting and parallel reduction of the nasal arterial blood flow, the volume of the nasal mucosa (reflecting capacitance vessel function) and decrease of the laser Doppler flowmeter signal (reflecting superficial nasal mucosal blood flow). These functional responses were not modified after pretreatment with the alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist phenoxybenzamine (1 mg kg-1 i.a.) whereas the effects of NA were almost abolished. SOM (6.10(-6) mol, i.a.) did not influence the nasal vascular responses to single impulse stimulation of the nasal sympathetic nerve supply providing no evidence for prejunctional activity in spite of clear-cut vascular effects. It is concluded that SOM-LI is co-localized with NA and NPY in sympathetic nerves and with VIP/NPY in parasympathetic perivascular nerves of the pig nasal mucosa. Since SOM evokes vasoconstriction via non-adrenergic mechanisms, this peptide should also be considered when discussing mediator candidates for the neural regulation of the nasal vascular bed.

Animals↗

Different effects of prostacyclin and phentolamine on delivery-dependent O2 consumption and skin microcirculation after cardiac surgery.

Inadequate tissue oxygen uptake autoregulation has been reported during the first hours after extracorporeal circulation for cardiac surgery. In the present study, we examined whether a dependence of oxygen consumption (VO2) on oxygen delivery (DO2) can be detected 24 hr after cardiac surgery using two different vasodilating agents. Cardiac output in triplicate was measured by thermodilution. Oxygen saturation of arterial and mixed venous blood was measured using a CO-oximeter. Oxygen consumption was assessed from the reverse Fick equation. In addition skin blood flow was assessed continuously by laser Doppler flowmetry. To investigate the VO2/DO2 relationship in 15 patients an increase in cardiac output and DO2 of at least 15% was achieved by systemic vasodilatation with iv prostacyclin (5-10 ng.kg-1.min-1) or phentolamine (5-10 g.kg-1.min-1). Infusion of phentolamine produced a 29 +/- 2% (mean +/- SE) increase in DO2 which was associated with a 20 +/- 6% increase in VO2. In contrast, prostacyclin produced a 22 +/- 3% increase in DO2 without change in VO2. Phentolamine did not alter skin microvascular blood flow, whereas prostacyclin increased skin microvascular blood flow by 33 +/- 3%. The results of the present study demonstrate a supply-dependency of VO2 in clinically stable patients 24 hr after cardiac surgery, suggesting the presence of an inadequate tissue O2 uptake autoregulation. The type of the vasodilator used to increase DO2 seems to play an important role in detecting such a supply-dependency of VO2, as well as changes of skin blood flow.

Adult↗

Comparison of extradural administration of sufentanil, morphine and sufentanil-morphine combination after caesarean section.

We have studied postoperative analgesia and unwanted side effects of a single dose of a mixture of morphine and sufentanil administered extradurally with the effects produced by extradural injection of each opioid alone in 64 patients after Caesarean delivery. The patients were allocated randomly to receive morphine 4 mg (n = 21), sufentanil 50 micrograms (n = 22) or morphine 2 mg with sufentanil 25 micrograms (n = 21) via an extradural catheter in a double-blind design. Intensity of pain was measured using a linear visual analogue scale. Compared with the effect produced by morphine alone, the morphine-sufentanil combination produced more rapid onset of pain relief (19 (SD 5) min vs 79 (23) min for a 75% reduction of pain; P less than 0.01), whereas the duration and quality of analgesia assessed during 12 h was similar for these two groups. In contrast, patients receiving sufentanil alone required significantly more supplementary analgesia 4 h after administration than with morphine alone or morphine combined with sufentanil. There were no significant changes in cardiorespiratory variables in any group. Side effects consisted mainly of pruritus and nausea and did not differ between groups, with the exception of early and transient dizziness which was observed only in patients given sufentanil either alone or in combination with morphine. We conclude that a single extradural injection of morphine and sufentanil combines the short onset time produced by sufentanil and the long duration of analgesia attributable to morphine, thus providing excellent and prolonged analgesia after Caesarean delivery.

Adolescent↗

Fatal anaphylactoid response to protamine after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

A generalized skin erythema and severe hypotension developed following administration of protamine for the reversal of heparin anticoagulation after an unsuccessful attempt at percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in a patient who had never been exposed to protamines before. Evidence of classical pathway complement activation was present indicating that this reaction could have been triggered by a non-immunological mechanism. The patient could not adequately be resuscitated because of the presence of severe coronary artery disease.

Aged↗

Sequential changes in renal oxygen consumption and sodium transport during hyperdynamic sepsis in sheep.

The sequence of changes in systemic and renal oxygen delivery (QO2) and consumption (VO2) and renal function in an ovine model of progressive hyperdynamic sepsis was investigated. Nine chronically instrumented awake sheep were given a continuous intravenous Escherichia coli endotoxin infusion (20 ng.kg-1.min-1) for 3 days. After 8 h of the infusion, systemic arterial blood pressure and vascular resistance stayed decreased by 30% (P less than 0.001). Systemic QO2 progressively increased to a maximum of 157% of baseline values at 24 h and was associated with a decreased O2 extraction ratio from 33 +/- 2 (SE) to 23 +/- 2% (P less than 0.05), resulting in an unchanged systemic VO2. Renal blood flow and renal QO2 decreased by 40% during the first 12 h, returning to and staying at baseline values after 24 h. Renal VO2 decreased significantly by 35% at 12 h and then partially recovered to baseline values. Plasma creatinine clearance was maximally reduced to 25% of baseline values at 12 h and thereafter remained significantly (P less than 0.01) below 50% of baseline values. Both total and fractional sodium excretion fell at 12 h by 95 and 74%, respectively, and remained reduced over time, indicating conserved tubular function. The ratio of moles of sodium reabsorbed to moles of O2 consumed by the kidney was transiently reduced, from 33.4 +/- 4.1 to 12.4 +/- 3.6 at 12 h (P less than 0.05), indicating a relative increase in energy expenditure for tubular transport or renal synthetic activities, but recovered to baseline values after 24 h.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Absorption↗