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Biomedical subjects

F Wegener

Publications and source records attributed to F Wegener.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Subcutaneous tunnelling of epidural catheters for postoperative analgesia to prevent accidental dislodgement: a randomized controlled trial.

The use of subcutaneous tunnelling to prevent movement of epidural catheters was examined in a prospective controlled trial. There were 113 patients in the standard group and 100 in the tunnelled group. The groups were similar with respect to age, sex and weight. There were 176 thoracic catheters, and 37 lumbar catheters. Mean duration of catheterization in the tunnelled group was 3.5 +/- 1.3 days and in the standard group, 3.1 +/- 1.5 days. In total, 60 catheters moved significantly from their initial position: 17 (28%) moved inwards and 43 (72%) moved outwards. 159 catheters were still functioning at the time of their removal, 76 standard and 83 tunnelled. This represents 67 and 83% of the two groups respectively. Subcutaneous tunnelling was shown to prevent clinically significant inwards (P = 0.043) and outwards (P = 0.0005) movement of epidural catheters and is more likely to result in a functional epidural blockade at the time of catheter removal (P = 0.0084).

Aged↗

Epidural analgesia: prospective audit of 1062 patients.

A prospective survey of one thousand and sixty-two patients receiving epidural analgesia in surgical wards was undertaken over a two-year period. The duration of infusion ranged from one to fourteen days, with a mode of three days. There were 1131 episodes where a local anaesthetic and opioid mixture was used and 160 where opioids were used alone. Local anaesthetic was not used without opioids. 23% of catheters were removed prematurely because of catheter related problems including accidental dislodgement (13%) and skin site inflammation (5.3%). No epidural abscess or haematoma was identified. In 14% of the total number of episodes there was either no demonstrable block or complications occurred requiring a change of solution: 30% of this group were salvaged following intervention by the Acute Pain Service (APS). The incidence of respiratory depression was 0.24%. There was no case of delayed respiratory depression. Epidural analgesia can be used safely in surgical wards provided that regular review of the patients is undertaken. It must be anticipated however, that up to 20% of patients will not receive adequate analgesia for the first 48 hours postoperatively. The failure rate could be halved if accidental dislodgement of epidural catheters could be eliminated.

Adolescent↗

Wegener's granulomatosis. Thoughts and observations of a pathologist.

The clinical entity now known as Wegener's granulomatosis was first reported in 1936. Since then the disease's histopathology has been clarified, although its etiology remains unknown. Treatment requires immuno-suppressant therapy and careful following of affected patients. The present report reviews the historical background for the discovering of Wegener's granulomatosis and current clinical considerations.

Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis↗

[50 years of Wegener's granulomatosis].

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) was discovered as an independent "new" disease in 1936. The author describes in retrospect the conditions, favorable circumstances and lucky coincidences that chanced to lead to this discovery. Subsequently, a detailed impression of the morphology of the disease is given, portraying especially the unusual diversity of the microscopic anatomy, both of the granuloma and of the vasculitis and nephritis. In conclusion the author shows the progress that has been made in clinical research on diagnostic techniques, knowledge of the stages and courses of WG and accordingly adapted treatment and in understanding the immunology of this disease.

Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis↗

Concanavalin A capping in polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Various polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) functions are dependent on an intact intracellular cytoskeleton consisting of the microtubules and the microfilaments. To investigate the microtublule system in PMNs we observed the spontaneous, Colchicine and Diamide induced cap-formation by fluorescence microscopy ion PMNs obtained from children with bacterial and viral infections demonstrated with 47 +/- 1% a significantly increased number of spontaneous capped PMNs compared to 22 +/- 1% capped cells obtained from controls. Furthermore, 52 +/- 2% PMNs of patients on immunosuppressive therapy exhibited spontaneous surface capping. There was no significant elevation in the number of capped PMNs (30 +/- 2%) obtained from children with viral infections. Colchicine and Diamide increased the number of capped cells in control PMNs as well as in PMNs from patients to 69 +/- 1% and 67 +/- 1%, respectively. Since the increased spontaneous cap formation in PMNs is associated with a defect of microtubule assembly, the various leukocyte function defects described in patients with bacterial infections, bronchial asthma or on immunosuppressive therapy may have to be considered the consequence of an altered microtubule system.

Asthma↗