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Biomedical subjects

G Barrier

Publications and source records attributed to G Barrier.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Measurement of post-operative pain and narcotic administration in infants using a new clinical scoring system.

We developed a clinical neurologic and behavioral scoring system composed of 10 items to measure the post-operative pain levels in infants: (1) sleep during preceeding hour, (2) facial expression of pain, (3) quality of cry, (4) spontaneous motor activity, (5) Spontaneous excitability, (6) flexion of fingers and toes, (7) sucking, (8) global evaluation of tone, (9) consolability and (10) sociability. Using this system, a group of infants ranging from one to seven months in age and undergoing minor surgical procedures was studied. The infants were randomly assigned to two groups: Group I received Fentanyl intravenously (3 micrograms/kg) prior to surgery, and Group II received a placebo. The infants then were studied post-operatively in the recovery room at 30, 60, 90 and 120 min intervals. Over the entire post-operative observation period, 54% of the infants in Group I had satisfactory analgesia compared to 18% in Group II. There were no significant differences in Group I and Group II in oxygenation, carbon dioxide elimination, blood pressure, heart rate or temperature.

Fentanyl↗

[Fatal pulmonary leukoagglutination after administration of fresh frozen plasma].

A case is reported of a 73 year old female patient who died during surgery for enlarged nephrectomy as a result of a massive non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema. She had been given 2 red cell concentrates (450 g) and 3 fresh frozen plasma units (900 g). A postmortem examination did not reveal any pulmonary embolus, acute myocardial infarct, haemorrhage or cardiac tamponade. Further tests on the sera of the 5 plasma donors revealed a neutrophil-specific anti-NA2 antibody. Alveolar leukostasis was confirmed on the postmortem lung slices. This type of transfusion accident occurs for about 1 in 5,000 units transfused, fortunately not all as serious. This case confirms once more that fresh frozen plasma is not the ideal treatment for acute hypovolaemia, 4% human albumin being safer.

Aged↗

[Anesthesia and bone marrow harvesting in children].

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is increasingly used to treat a great variety of disorders which range from genetic conditions to leukaemia. Most often, the donor is a healthy sibling of the patient. Bone marrow harvesting in young children is a very painful procedure requiring anaesthesia; this presents yet more risk for the donor. In order to analyse the specific problems related to this procedure, a retrospective study was carried out on 30 anaesthetic records of marrow-harvesting procedures performed between January 1980 and December 1987. The 30 harvests were carried out in 28 patients (15 boys, 13 girls). Mean age of donors was 6 +/- 0.8 yr (range: 13 months to 17 yr). Twenty-seven patients were classed ASA I and one ASA II. The harvests were all carried out in prone and intubated patients. The volume of removed marrow was 350 +/- 80 ml (range 170 to 600 ml). This was equivalent to a mean 21% estimated blood volume (6-37%). Blood transfusion with phenotyped irradiated blood was carried out in 18 patients, and with autologous blood in one. Mean duration of the procedure was 88 +/- 6 min and the mean stay in hospital was three days. The potential risks for the children are discussed, as well as the related legal problems.

Adolescent↗

[Ventilation with metallic tubes in CO2 laser surgery of the larynx].

One of the risks of laryngeal laser surgery is the ignition of the disposable plastic endotracheal tubes used for ventilation. In 1985, Hunton and Oswal (Anaesthesia, 40: 1210, 1985) developed a metallic tube which is now available in France. In this study, the tube has been tested on 30 patients undergoing this type of surgery. The tube was sterilized in glutaraldehyde before re-using it. There never was any problem with placing the tube and surgical conditions were satisfactory. There was neither incident due to the laser, nor any difficulties with the use of high-frequency jet-ventilation. The blood gas values were satisfactory (mean PaO2: 19.4 +/- 4.2 kPa; mean PaCO2 5.0 +/- 0.46 kPa). After a use in 30 consecutive patients, the tube was not damaged. The advantages and disadvantages of this tube are discussed, considering the other types of special laser surgery endotracheal tubes. This metallic tube is not flammable, can be used several times, occupies only a small space and does not hurt tissues. Moreover, it is cheaper than disposable tubes when the price is calculated per patient. It would therefore seem that Hunton and Oswal's metallic tube, used with high-frequency jet-ventilation is a good alternative for tubes used today.

Adult↗

[Continuous monitoring of mixed venous oxygen saturation in anesthesia in pulmonary surgery].

The multiplicity of potential causes of variations in mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) during one lung ventilation (OLV), including a constant ventilation/perfusion mismatch, explains that it has been suggested as a routine monitoring procedure. To assess its usefulness, 12 adults undergoing OLV were monitored during surgery with an Oximetrix pulmonary catheter, placed on the side opposite to the surgical field under fluoroscopic control. Seventy two complete sets of haemodynamic measurements were obtained at 6 different times during surgery. We studied the ability of changes in SvO2 to predict changes in arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), cardiac output (CO), and venous admixture (VA) by calculating sensitivities (Se), specificities (Sp) and predictive values with regard to these variables. There were no complications due to the protocol. However left-sided catheter placement failed in four cases. Correlation between optical and measured SvO2 was very strong (r = 0.94; p less than 0.001). SvO2, oxygen consumption (VO2) and the rate of oxygen extraction remained constant throughout the procedure, even when CO, mean arterial pressure, VA, SaO2 and PaO2 varied. Clamping the pulmonary artery returned VA, SaO2 and PaO2 values to those found before OLV, but produced a significant decrease in CO. SvO2 had low Se and Sp for changes in other variables (CO: 76 +/- 7, 48 +/- 9; PaO2: 79 +/- 6, 59 +/- 9; VA: 54 +/- 7, 48 +/- 7 respectively). In this type of surgery, alterations in variables related to oxygen are probably balanced by haemodynamic changes. In fact, according to Fick's formula, SvO2 is almost completely determined by SaO2 and CO, when VO2 and haemoglobin remain stable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Emergency medical services for treatment of mass casualties.

The French emergency medical system (EMS) is the Service d'Aide Médicale Urgente (SAMU). In case of mass casualties, involving 100 simultaneous victims, SAMU has developed a disaster plan, "The White Plan." This plan is closely correlated to the Red Plan of the Fire Department, to provide advanced life support (ALS) at the incident site, followed in a continuum by medical transport and hospitalization in the appropriate services. To obtain the best chance of survival and recovery, there must be optimal coordination among all rescuers. This objective was approached by adopting a formal protocol designed for each city. In France, the medical organization for the treatment of casualties is operated by anesthesiologists who are qualified to perform ALS, preanesthetic evaluation en route, anesthesia for the multitrauma patient, and postanesthetic resuscitation in a continuum from the accident scene to the ICU.

Disaster Planning↗

[Prehospital fibrinolysis with rt-PA in acute myocardial infarction].

Thrombolytic therapy has been shown to be very effective in the acute phase of myocardial infarction and the benefits are greater if the treatment is initiated as soon as possible. In France, early treatment in the prehospital phase is possible through the SAMU, an emergency ambulance and care unit organisation. Between December 1987 and November 1988, 80 patients (73 men and 7 women) with an average age of 55 +/- 9 years were treated by rt-PA (100 mg i.v. in 90 minutes) for acute myocardial infarction within three and a half hours of the onset of symptoms. The average delay between the onset of pain and the administration of rt-PA was 126 +/- 43 minutes, which represents an estimated average time gain of 55 minutes compared with thrombolysis started after hospital admission. No haemorrhagic or allergic complications occurred during hospital transfer and there was no mortality. There were, however, two diagnostic errors. Thrombolysis was estimated to be effective on clinical, electrocardiographic and enzymatic criteria in 60 p. 100 of cases. Thirty early coronary angiographies (within 48 hours) showed that 83 p. 100 of the arteries thought to be responsible for the infarct were patent. Haemorrhage was a rare complication during the hospital phase and had a favourable outcome. Hospital mortality was 6 per cent. The low morbidity and the reliability of diagnosis indicate that prehospital thrombolysis is feasible in the acute phase of myocardial infarction.

Adult↗

Anomalous left coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery: a series of 27 infants undergoing operation in the first years of life.

Between 1977 and 1987, 27 infants (aged 3 to 54 months) underwent surgical treatment for correction of an anomalous left coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA). All had a direct aortic reimplantation. The overall operative mortality was 18.5% (five deaths). The follow-up period was from 2 months to 8 years (mean, 38 months). No late deaths occurred. During the 10 years, modifications of the surgical procedure and myocardial preservation were introduced (ie, complete resection of the pulmonary trunk made anastomosis easier; since 1982, cardioplegia in both coronary systems has been used, and left atrial-to-aortic assistance was introduced). The latter was carried out when surgical repair was associated with acute cardiac failure and a high left atrial filling pressure at the end of cardiopulmonary bypass. In view of the results during the latter part of this series, it is felt that surgery should not be restricted in younger patients (< 12 months). If medical treatment is unsuccessful, surgery aims to avoid irreversible left ventricular dysfunction and development of severe endocardial fibroelastosis.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗