Biomedical subjects
J Harten
Publications and source records attributed to J Harten.
Tracheal intubating conditions after induction with propofol, remifentanil and lignocaine.
We have studied the intubating conditions in 60 ASA I or II patients, after induction of anaesthesia with propofol 2 mg kg-1, allocated to one of the following three groups: group 1, remifentanil 1 microgram kg-1; group 2, remifentanil 1 microgram kg-1 and lignocaine 1 mg kg-1; group 3, remifentanil 2 micrograms kg-1. No neuromuscular blocking agents were administered. Intubating conditions were assessed using a four-point scoring system based on ease of laryngoscopy, jaw relaxation, position of vocal cords, degree of coughing and limb movement. Overall intubating conditions were acceptable in 35% of patients in group 1, 100% of patients in group 2 and 85% of patients in group 3. There was a statistically significant drop in blood pressure after induction in groups 2 and 3, and two patients in each group required ephedrine 6 mg i.v. boluses, as dictated by the intervention criteria (mean arterial pressure fall > 25% from baseline). Similarly, there was a drop in heart rate in groups 2 and 3, but this did not reach statistical or clinical significance, and no patient required atropine.
[Pulmonary mucormycosis in an HIV-infected patient].
A 51-year-old man, known to have chronic-aggressive hepatitis B, HIV infection and exertional dyspnoea, was hospitalized because of acute physical deterioration, cough with whitish exudate and dyspnoea at rest. Despite a CD4/CD8 ratio of 0.16 no prophylactic measures against Pneumocystis carinii had been taken. On examination the lungs were unremarkable, but the liver was enlarged and there were petechiae over all parts of the body. Laboratory tests showed impaired liver functions and a rise in lactate dehydrogenase activity (538 U/l). Chest radiogram demonstrated small to very small infiltrates in the lung. As Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was suspected but bronchoscopy was too risky, he was at first treated with trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole (four times 320/1600 mg/24 h intravenously). When this failed, he received pentamidine (4 mg/kg, after 4 days 2 mg/kg intravenously), and finally cefotiam (twice 2 g daily), tobramycin (three times 40 mg daily) and corticoids (100 mg). Despite this treatment he died after 10 days from respiratory failure. Autopsy revealed interstitial pneumonia throughout the lung as well as focal mucor infiltrations in the wall of middle-calibre lung veins. Mucor is a ubiquitous, facultatively pathogenic mold fungus.