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Biomedical subjects

G Hedenstierna

Publications and source records attributed to G Hedenstierna.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Effects of phlebotomy on haemodynamic characteristics during exercise in standardbred trotters with red cell hypervolaemia.

Five Standardbred trotters with red cell hypervolaemia (RCHV) were compared before and after removal of approximately 22% (36 ml/kg bwt) of the total blood volume in order to evaluate the haemodynamic responses, haemorheological alterations and oxygen transport during exercise to fatigue. Data were recorded during submaximal exercise at 4 different speeds on a treadmill and then during continued running at the highest speed step until fatigue. Oxygen uptake (VO2), pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), systemic artery pressure (SAP), heart rate (HR), haematocrit and haemoglobin concentrations (Hb) were measured. Arteriovenous O2 content difference (C(a-v)O2), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and total systemic resistance (TSR) were calculated. Whole blood and plasma viscosity and erythrocyte aggregation tendency were determined with a rotational viscometer. Endoscopy was performed after exercise. ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. Phlebotomy resulted in a decrease in haematocrit and Hb during the course of exercise. Blood and plasma viscosity were lower and erythrocyte aggregation tendency was higher after phlebotomy. Throughout exercise, including submaximal work and continued running to fatigue, PAP, SAP, PVR, TSR and C(a-v)O2 were lower after phlebotomy. HR was higher after phlebotomy during submaximal exercise. Oxygen delivery and VO2 were lower after phlebotomy in the period from submaximal exercise to fatigue. Run time to fatigue was shorter after phlebotomy. Four horses showed exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) before phlebotomy and the degree of bleeding was diminished but not abolished after phlebotomy. The reductions in PVR, TSR, PAP and SAP after phlebotomy were probably a result of reduced blood viscosity. In conclusion, although a 22% reduction in blood volume improved the haemodynamic and haemorheological parameters and the degree of EIPH, it was found that RCHV trotters have to rely on high oxygen delivery to the working muscles for maintenance of maximal performance.

Animals↗

Thallium-201 myocardial imaging at rest in male orienteers and other endurance athletes.

During the period 1979 to 1992, 16 sudden unexpected cardiac deaths were known to have occurred in young Swedish orienteers. Autopsy indicated myocarditis to be the most frequent finding, most often combined with extensive myocardial fibrosis. The aim of the present investigation was to explore whether young male orienteers show a higher frequency than other young elite endurance athletes (controls) in the occurrence of Thallium-201 myocardial perfusion defects at rest, suggestive of fibrosis evoked by myocarditis. Thallium-201 perfusion abnormalities at rest were more frequently found in the controls than in the orienteers (26% vs. 12%, p=0.03). Uneven Tl-201 perfusion was associated with left ventricular mass (r=0.32, r=0.24, p<0.01, p=0.02) and body weight (r=0.30, r=0.31, p<0.01, p=0.03) in orienteers and controls, respectively. Echocardiographic left ventricular wall motion abnormalities were found in 11 athletes (9 orienteers and 2 controls) but only two displayed an abnormal Thallium-201 perfusion scan at rest. Perfusion abnormalities at rest did not occur more frequently in the orienteers but were commonly found in both groups of apparently healthy athletes making it futile to discern abnormals from normals. Thallium-201 perfusion aberrations were not associated with left ventricular wall motion abnormalities obtained by echocardiography.

Adult↗

Hyperosmolarity-induced relaxation and prostaglandin release in guinea pig trachea in vitro.

In this study, a tracheal perfusion apparatus was used to investigate the nature of the relaxing factor released by hyperosmolarity on the epithelial side of guinea pig trachea. NaCl induced concentration-dependent relaxation. This relaxation was not affected when the trachea was preincubated with a vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptor antagonist or with the nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA). When the prostaglandin synthesis was prevented by preincubation with the phospholipase A(2)-inhibitor quinacrine, or the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, the maximal relaxation induced by NaCl was suppressed by 50% (P<0.05). Moreover, the prostaglandin E(2) concentration was four times higher (P<0.05) in the organ bath during the relaxations, whereas the nitric oxide concentration remained unchanged. In conclusion, increased osmolarity on the airway surface leads to the release of prostaglandins, which are involved in part in the hyperosmolarity-induced relaxation of airway smooth muscle. This might be relevant for asthmatic patients since prostaglandin may modulate the bronchoconstrictive response to hyperosmolar stimuli and exercise.

Animals↗

Functional lung unit in the pig.

To study the size of the vessels supplying the functional lung unit, polystyrene beads of uniform diameter were injected intravenously in anaesthetised pigs and subsequent gas exchange abnormalities were studied using the multiple inert gas elimination technique. Beads of different sizes, ranging from 63 to 262 microm, were used, each pig receiving beads of only one size. Successive 0.25 g boli of beads (cumulative dose 1.0-1.5 g) increased shunt (from 3% baseline to 20% of cardiac output) and pulmonary artery mean pressure (from 26 to 45 mmHg) and decreased arterial P(O(2)) (from 96 to 43 mmHg) and cardiac output from 2.8 to 2.2 L min(-1) with no differences according to bead sizes. The dispersion of the ventilation dist ribution (log SDV), normal at 0.39 before beads, increased progressively with bead size from 0.48 (63 microm to 0.91 (262 microm). The 63 microm beads were lodged in vessels associated with respiratory bronchioles and smaller airways, whereas larger beads were positioned in vessels associated with non-respiratory airways. A linear correlation analysis between log SDV and bead size showed that 59 microm beads produce a log SDV that is 2 SEM above mean baseline log SDV. These findings suggest that the functional lung unit in this species (with no collateral ventilation) is smaller than in a species of the same size and with collateral ventilation (dog) in whom occlusion of 124 microm or larger diameter vessels is required to increase log SDV.

Animals↗

Atelectasis formation during anesthesia: causes and measures to prevent it.

Pulmonary gas exchange is regularly impaired during general anaesthesia with mechanical ventilation. This results in decreased oxygenation of blood. A major cause is collapse of lung tissue (atelectasis), which can be demonstrated by computed tomography but not by conventional chest x-ray. Collapsed lung tissue is present in 90% of all subjects, both during spontaneous breathing and after muscle paralysis, and whether intravenous or inhalational anaesthetics are used. There is a correlation between the amount of atelectasis and pulmonary shunt. Shunt does not increase with age. In obese patients, larger atelectatic areas are present than in lean ones. Finally, patients with chronic obstructive lung disease may show less or even no atelectasis. There are different procedures that can be used in order to prevent atelectasis or to reopen collapsed lung tissue. The application of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) has been tested in several studies. On the average, arterial oxygenation does not improve markedly, and atelectasis may persist. Further, reopened lung units re-collapse rapidly after discontinuation of PEEP. Inflation of the lungs to an airway pressure of 40 cm H2O, maintained for 7-8 seconds (recruitment or "vital capacity" manoeuvre), re-expands all previously collapsed lung tissue. During induction of anaesthesia, the use of a gas mixture, that includes a poorly absorbed gas such as nitrogen, may prevent the early formation of atelectasis. During ongoing anaesthesia, pulmonary collapse reappears slowly if a low fraction of oxygen in nitrogen is used for the ventilation of the lungs after a previous VC-manoeuvre. On the other hand, ventilation of the lungs with pure oxygen results in a rapid reappearance of atelectasis. Thus, ventilation during anaesthesia should be done if possible with a moderate fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2, e.g. 0.3-0.4). Alternatively, if the lungs are ventilated with a high inspiratory fraction of oxygen, the use of PEEP may be considered. In summary, atelectasis is present in most humans during anaesthesia and is a major cause of impaired oxygenation. Avoiding high fractions of oxygen in inspired gas during induction and maintenance of anaesthesia may prevent formation of atelectasis. Finally, intermittent "vital capacity"-manoeuvres together with PEEP reduces the amount of atelectasis and pulmonary shunt.

Anesthesia, General↗

Thoracic epidural analgesia as an adjunct to general anaesthesia for cardiac surgery. Effects on pulmonary mechanics.

BACKGROUND: A lasting impairment of pulmonary function is common after cardiac surgery. Pain from the sternotomy may contribute to the impairment. Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) can efficiently relieve pain in the postoperative phase, but may also affect respiratory muscle function if local anaesthetics are used. We examined the effects of TEA on pulmonary function and ventilation at rest, before and after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). METHODS: Thirty patients scheduled for CABG were randomized to receive either general anaesthesia alone or general anaesthesia with TEA. Before and after the operation the patients were examined by respiratory inductive plethysmography and spirometric tests. RESULTS: Before the operation, TEA caused significant reductions in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expired volume in 1 s (FEV1), maximal inspiratory (PImax) and expiratory (PEmax) pressure. The rib cage contribution to tidal volume decreased significantly but the co-ordination of the thoracic and abdominal movements remained essentially unaffected. Minute volume and respiratory frequency did not change significantly. On the first postoperative day a decrease in maximal breathing efforts was found in both groups. No differences between the groups in FVC, FEV1 and PImax were found, but PEmax was significantly greater in the TEA group. Despite the impairment, breathing at rest was largely normal in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: A better pain-relief from TEA after CABG may improve the ability to cough by a greater expiratory muscle strength. FVC, FEV1, PImax and breathing at rest are not affected by TEA after cardiac surgery.

Aged↗

The safety of one, or repeated, vital capacity maneuvers during general anesthesia.

UNLABELLED: A vital capacity maneuver (VCM) (inflating the lungs to 40 cm H(2)O for 15 s) is effective in relieving atelectasis during general anesthesia or after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The study was undertaken to investigate the safety of one or repeated VCM. Five groups of six pigs were studied. Two groups had general anesthesia for 6 h and one group received a VCM every hour. Three other groups received CPB. VCM was performed after CPB in two of these groups. VCM was then repeated every hour in one of the groups. Lung damage was evaluated by extravascular lung water (EVLW) measurement, light microscopy, and the half-time (T(1/2)) of disappearance from the lung of a nebulized aerosol containing (99m)Tc-DTPA. No changes were noted in extravascular lung water. The pigs subjected to VCM decreased their T(1/2). In the groups exposed to repeated VCM, T(1/2) remained lowered (CPB pigs) or decreased over time (non-CPB pigs). No lung damage could be seen on the morphology study. These results suggest that one VCM is a safe procedure. The increase in lung clearance of (99m)Tc-DTPA not associated with an increase in lung water when VCM is repeated may have been caused by an increase in lung volume. Therefore, repeated VCM also appears to be safe. IMPLICATIONS: This study demonstrates in an animal model that inflating the lung once or repeatedly to the vital capacity is a safe procedure. This maneuver, also called the vital capacity maneuver, can be used to relieve lung collapse which occurs in all patients during general anesthesia.

Anesthesia, General↗

Effects of inverse ratio ventilation and positive end-expiratory pressure in oleic acid-induced lung injury.

Continuous as well as cyclic (with each expiration) lung collapse in acute respiratory failure can be reduced by positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) or short expiration times, as in inverse ratio ventilation (IRV). In 20 pigs with oleic acid-induced lung edema, we compared the effects of a PEEP of 20 cm H(2)O with IRV, using an inspiratory-to-expiratory ratio of 3:1 without external PEEP. During IRV, expiration times of 0.5 or 1.0 s were obtained with respiratory rates of 30 breaths/min or 15 breaths/min, respectively. In 15 animals, ventilation-perfusion relationships were studied through the multiple inert gas elimination technique, and lung morphology was studied with computed tomography. In another five pigs, blood flow distribution was studied with perfusion scintigraphy. All three ventilatory modes had similar effects on mean arterial blood pressure, cardiac output, oxygen delivery, and mean airway pressure. PEEP reduced shunt and improved oxygenation to a greater extent than the two modes of IRV, although there was a large variation within each group. The improvement, irrespective of which ventilatory mode was superior in a particular pig, was caused by greater and more even aeration of the lung, whereas the perfusion distribution with PEEP was the same as with IRV. Thus, the strategy of stabilizing the lungs through short expiration times, as in IRV, did not offer any advantages in our lung injury model.

Animals↗

Compliance is nonlinear over tidal volume irrespective of positive end-expiratory pressure level in surfactant-depleted piglets.

Between the lower and the upper inflection point of a quasistatic pressure-volume (PV) curve, a segment usually appears in which the PV relationship is steep and linear (i.e., compliance is high, with maximal volume change per pressure change, and is constant). Traditionally it is assumed that when positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and tidal volume (V T) are titrated such that the end-inspiratory volume is positioned at this linear segment of the PV curve, compliance is constant over VT during ongoing ventilation. The validity of this assumption was addressed in this study. In 14 surfactant-deficient piglets, PEEP was increased from 3 cm H(2)O to 24 cm H(2)O, and the compliance associated with 10 consecutive volume increments up to full VT was determined with a modified multiple-occlusion method at the different PEEP levels. With PEEP at approximately the lower inflection point, compliance was minimal in most lungs and decreased markedly over VT, indicating overdistension. Compliance both increased and decreased within the same breath at intermediate PEEP levels. It is concluded that a PEEP that results in constant compliance over the full VT range is difficult to find, and cannot be derived from conventional respiratory-mechanical analyses; nor does this PEEP level coincide with maximal gas exchange.

Animals↗

Time to reconsider the pre-oxygenation during induction of anaesthesia.

Atelectasis is a frequent finding in paralysed and mechanically ventilated patients. Atelectasis, causing shunt, impairs oxygenation and could contribute to postoperative pulmonary complications. Pre-oxygenation used during anaesthesia induction causes atelectasis. A lowering of oxygen fraction from 100% to 80% does not shorten the safety time of apnoea period, particularly useful for a difficult intubation, but it reduces drastically the atelectasis incidence.

Anesthesia↗

Thoracic epidural anesthesia as an adjunct to general anesthesia for cardiac surgery: effects on ventilation-perfusion relationships.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) on ventilation-perfusion (VA/Q) relationships, atelectasis, and oxygenation before and after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). DESIGN: Prospective, controlled, unblinded, randomized trial. SETTING: Cardiothoracic clinic at a major university referral center. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-eight patients undergoing elective CABG. INTERVENTIONS: Perioperative and postoperative TEA was added to general anesthesia (GA) in 14 patients, and 14 patients receiving GA alone served as controls. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: VA/Q relationships were measured by the multiple inert gas elimination technique, and, 20 hours postoperatively, atelectasis was assessed by computerized tomographic scans. Arterial and mixed venous blood gases and hemodynamic variables were measured by standard techniques. TEA per se caused no change in shunt, VA/Q matching, or oxygenation. Induction of GA in the control group and induction of TEA caused similar reductions in mean arterial pressure. The TEA patients needed less morphine analgesia postoperatively and were extubated earlier. Extubation caused significant improvement in VA/Q matching. On the first postoperative day, a slight reduction in PaCO2 was seen in the TEA group, but no differences in shunt, VA/Q matching, or oxygenation compared with the GA group. Both groups showed extensive bilateral atelectasis. CONCLUSION: TEA can reduce respirator time and the need for morphine analgesics after CABG without negative effects on VA/Q matching, oxygenation, or atelectasis formation.

Adult↗

Positive end-expiratory pressure prevents atelectasis during general anaesthesia even in the presence of a high inspired oxygen concentration.

BACKGROUND: General anaesthesia impairs the gas exchange in the lungs, and moderate desaturation (SaO2 86-90%) occurred in 50% of anaesthetised patients in a blinded pulse oximetry study. A high FiO2 might reduce the risk of hypoxaemia, but can also promote atelectasis. We hypothesised that a moderate positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) level of 10 cmH2O can prevent atelectasis during ventilation with an FiO2 = 1.0. METHODS: Atelectasis was evaluated by computed tomography (CT) in 13 ASA I-II patients undergoing elective surgery. CT scans were obtained before and 15 min after induction of anaesthesia. Then, recruitment of collapsed lung tissue was performed as a "vital capacity manoeuvre" (VCM, inspiration with Paw = 40 cmH2O for 15 s), and a CT scan was obtained at the end of the VCM. Thereafter, PEEP = 0 cmH2O was applied in group 1, and PEEP = 10 cmH2O in group 2. Additional CT scans were obtained after the VCM. Oxygenation was measured before and after the VCM. RESULTS: Atelectasis (> 1 cm2) was present in 12 of the 13 patients after induction of anaesthesia. At 5 and 10 min after the VCM, atelectasis was significantly smaller in group 2 than group 1 (P < 0.005). A significant inverse correlation was found between PaO2 and atelectasis. CONCLUSIONS: PEEP = 10 cmH2O reduced atelectasis formation after a VCM, when FiO2 = 1.0 was used. Thus, a VCM followed by PEEP = 10 cmH2O should be considered when patients are ventilated with a high FiO2 and gas exchange is impaired.

Adult↗

Effects of ventilatory pattern on exhaled nitric oxide in mechanically ventilated rabbits.

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide [NOexp] is present in exhaled air in many species. During experiments on pressure-controlled inverse ratio ventilation (PCIRV) in rabbits, increased [NOexp] was observed during PCIRV. The present study was undertaken to clarify which component of PCIRV increased [NOexp]. METHODS: Three groups of six New Zealand White rabbits were anaesthetised and mechanically ventilated. Exhaled nitric oxide, lung mechanics and gas exchange were measured using an experimental protocol designed to assess the effects of variations in 1) flow profile, 2) inspiratory time and 3) time-weighted tidal volume. Ventilator settings used were volume and pressure control ventilation at I:E ratios of 1:2 and 4:1. RESULTS: Constant and decelerating flow gave comparable [NOexp] levels (20.0 +/- 6.4 vs. 21.9 +/- 7.7 ppb, n.s.) when time-weighted tidal volume was kept constant. Using conventional (I:E 1:2) or inverted (I:E 4:1) I:E ratios in combination with decelerating flow and constant time-weighted tidal volumes did not alter [NOexp] (26.0 +/- 3.6 vs. 24.0 +/- 5.8 ppb, n.s.). An increased time-weighted tidal volume produced by pressure control with an I:E ratio of 4:1 increased [NOexp] (29.6 +/- 7.4) in comparison to constant (19.3 +/- 4.1, P < 0.05) and decelerating flow ventilation (19.6 +/- 3.6, P < 0.05) with I:E ratios of 1:2. CONCLUSION: The exhaled NO concentration was affected by ventilator setting. Increased levels of [NOexp] were observed with increases in time-weighted tidal volume, whereas changes in flow pattern and inspiratory time did not seem to influence airway NO production or release.

Animals↗

Hyperosmolarity reduces the relaxing potency of nitric oxide donors in guinea-pig trachea.

1. Non-responders to inhaled nitric oxide treatment have been observed in various patient groups. The bronchodilatory effect of inhaled nitric oxide was attenuated when the airway lumen was rendered hyperosmolar in an in vivo study on rabbits. We used a guinea-pig tracheal perfusion model to investigate the effects of increased osmolarity (450 mOsm, NaCl added) on the relaxing potency of the nitric oxide donors sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and (+/-)-S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP). 2. Under iso-osmolar conditions SNP relaxed the carbachol (CCh, 1 microM) contracted trachea by 83+/-3%. After pretreatment with intraluminal hyperosmolarity SNP relaxed the CCh-contracted trachea by only 31+/-7% (P<0.05). When the trachea was contracted to the same extent under untreated and hyperosmolar conditions, the untreated trachea was completely relaxed by SNP but, after hyperosmolar pretreatment, SNP could no longer relax the trachea. 3. SNAP relaxed the CCh contracted trachea by 27+/-5%. After pretreatment with intraluminal hyperosmolarity, SNAP relaxed the trachea by 11+/-4%, which was less than in the iso-osmolar control (P<0.05). 4. Extraluminal hyperosmolarity did not affect carbachol elicited contraction, and SNP administered externally during extraluminal hyperosmolarity was able to relax the trachea (P<0.05). 5. The cell permeable guanosine 3'5'-cyclic monophosphate analogue 8-Br-cGMP relaxed the CCh contracted trachea in both iso-osmolar (P<0.05) and hyperosmolar conditions (P<0.05). 6. The relaxant effect of nitric oxide donors on tracheal smooth muscle is markedly reduced when the airway epithelium is exposed to hyperosmolar solution.

Animals↗

Wall motion abnormalities in male elite orienteers are aggravated by exercise.

During the period 1979-92, 16 (15 men and one woman) sudden unexpected cardiac deaths occurred among young Swedish orienteers. This finding indicated a sharp increase in the death rate of orienteers, and necropsy demonstrated that myocarditis was a common histopathological finding. Therefore, an extensive non-invasive cardiac investigation was performed. A total of 59 male élite orienteers (mean age 23 years) and 36 cross-country skiers and middle-distance runners (mean age 22 years), serving as controls, were examined by both echocardiography at rest and radionuclide ventriculography at rest and during exercise. Wall motion abnormalities were found in eight orienteers using echocardiography. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the group of orienteers with wall motion abnormalities found using echocardiography had a smaller increase in ejection fraction from rest to exercise using radionuclide ventriculography than the rest of the orienteers and the controls, indicating an aggravation of the wall motion abnormalities during exercise. There were no significant differences in the ejection fraction at rest between the groups. In the orienteers with wall motion abnormalities (group 1), 62% (five out of eight) had less than a 0.05 unit increase in left ventricular ejection fraction compared with 27% (14 out of 51) of the remaining orienteers (group 2) and 19% (7 out of 36) of the controls (group 3). A comparison of athletes in group 1 with those in groups 2 and 3 combined revealed a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). The divergent response in left ventricular ejection fraction during exercise suggests an aggravation of the wall motion abnormalities with exercise. Both the echocardiographic and the radionuclide ventriculographic findings indicate that the orienteers in group 1 had concealed left ventricular damage.

Adolescent↗