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Biomedical subjects

P Gaussorgues

Publications and source records attributed to P Gaussorgues.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Severe pulmonary varicella in 7 non-immunodepressed adults].

We report seven cases of seven pulmonary varicella occurring in seven adults without any previous history of known immunological deficit. In all the cases the vesicular eruption was diffuse, occurring after contact with a child presenting with benign varicella. The respiratory signs appeared five to seven days after the cutaneous signs. On admission there was significant hypoxaemia (PaO2 = 35 to 47 mmHg on air), requiring positive pressure expiration (10 to 18 cmH2O) on mechanical ventilation (4 times) or spontaneous ventilation (3 times). The pulmonary radiographs showed diffuse nodular interstitial shadowing. Treatment consisted of Acyclovir (10 mg/kg/8 h). Five patients were cured without any sequellae five to six days after ventilation. One patient died (3 months pregnant), 1 patient presented with a superinfection with staphylococcus aureus. The occurrence of respiratory signs in an adult presenting with varicella requires hospitalisation for treatment with Acyclovir and also the prevention of superinfections.

Acyclovir↗

[Sleep apnea syndrome: late sequela of poliomyelitis].

A syndrome of sleep apnoea may appear 15 to 29 years after acute anterior poliomyelitis (PAA). It is generally a mixed syndrome with an association of central type and obstructive apnoea in variable proportions. We report such a case occurring in a patient who had presented 30 years before with PAA, and presenting on this occasion with resting pulmonary artery hypertension, polycythaemia but without disturbance of blood gases. Treatment with positive pressure ventilation was given by the nasal route at 10 cm of water leading to an improvement with a significant decrease in the number and duration of apnoeic episodes and a disappearance of desaturation. The sleep apnoea syndrome (SAS) should be considered as a possible late sequel of PAA.

Adult↗

[Mediastinitis caused by anaerobic bacteria. 4 cases].

In 4 cases of mediastinitis caused by anaerobes and consecutive to dental abscess (2 cases), perforation of the oesophagus and tonsillar abscess, the diagnosis was based on widening of the mediastinum associated, in 2 cases, with pneumomediastinum. II all 4 cases, Bacteroides fragilis was present among other germs. Treatment consisted of surgical drainage by thoracotomy (2 cases), or cervicotomy and antibiotic therapy. Two of the patients, who were old and had underlying diseases, died.

Adult↗

[Laryngeal edema after extubation. Do corticosteroids play a role in its prevention?].

The role of corticosteroids in the prevention of post-extubation laryngeal oedema was evaluated in a randomized study of 276 patients under mechanical ventilation. Fifty per cent of the patients received methylprednisolone 40 mg intramuscularly and intravenously. The nasotracheal tubes used had a large volume, low-pressure balloon. Laryngeal oedema, confirmed by laryngoscopy, occurred in six patients (2%), 4 of whom were in the corticosteroid-treated group, and required immediate reintubation in 4 cases. Thus, the incidence of laryngeal oedema was not modified by corticosteroids. Regular prescription of corticosteroids does not seem to be useful before extubation of patients intubated with large volume, low-pressure balloon tubes.

Adolescent↗

[Intracranial hypertension in comatose bacterial meningitis].

The intracranial pressure of 31 patients with bacterial meningitis, in a comatose state and with a score lower than 6 on Glasgow's scale, was monitored by means of an extradural captor in order to detect intracranial hypertension and optimize its treatment. All patients had intracranial hypertension during the first 48 hours. Brain perfusion pressure was inferior to 50 mmHg in 5 cases. Computed tomography of the brain showed cerebral oedema in 16 cases. Twenty (64%) of the patient survived, 15 of them without sequelae. Monitoring intracranial pressure in patients with bacterial meningitis and coma makes it possible to optimize treatment and shows that a less than 50 mmHg brain perfusion pressure is associated with a 100% death rate.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of high-frequency jet ventilation to conventional ventilation in adults with respiratory distress syndrome.

Sixteen patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) were studied. In group I (12 patients, 15 explorations) patients were treated with continuous positive pressure ventilation (CPPV) during conventional ventilation (CV), pulmonary lesions (PL) were severe (Qsp/Qt = 0.24 +/- 0.16 with PEEP = 14 +/- 7 cm H2O) and high-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) was performed without spontaneous ventilation (SV). In group II (5 patients, 12 explorations) patients were treated with intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV) during CV, PL were moderate (Qsp/Qt = 0.13 +/- 0.05 with PEEP = 8 +/- 3 cm H2O) and HFJV was performed with SV. In both groups, frequency was 120 c/mn and I:E ratio = 1:2. The cannula size, the driving pressure and the PEEP (water column) were progressively adapted to obtain the same blood gases as those observed during CV, FIO2 being the same. Results on HFJV were compared to CV. In both groups there were no differences between PaCO2, PaO2, FIO2, Qsp/Qt during CV and HFJV. In group I peak airway pressure (PAWP), mean artery pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), transmural mean pulmonary and wedge pressure (MPAPtm, PWPtm) were not different. Mean airway pressure (MAWP), PEEP and pleural pressure (PP) were higher, cardiac index (CI) was lower. In group II, PP, CI, MAP, HR, MPAPtm, MPWPtm were not different. PAWP was lower, MAWP and PEEP were higher. We conclude that during HFJV it is possible to obtain the same blood gas as during CV, but HFJV without CV may not be indicated in patients with severe PL, because circulatory impairment is higher.

Adult↗

[Intracranial hypertension during status asthmaticus].

In three consecutive patients suffering from life-threatening asthma in a comatose state (mean age: 37 +/- 4 yr; Glasgow coma score: 3; bilateral mydriasis), intracranial pressure was monitored with an extradural transducer set-up a mean of 2 h after the onset of the coma. The aims were to detect intracranial hypertension and to improve its therapy. Basal therapy associated: 1) mechanical ventilation; 2) theophylline 1.5 g X 24 h-1, salbutamol 30 mg X 24 h-1, hydrocortisone 2 g X 24 h-1, pancuronium 0.5 mg X kg-1 X 24 h-1; 3) pentobarbitone 35 mg X kg-1 X 24 h-1, normal hydration, normothermia and 30 degrees head-up tilt. If the intracranial pressure rose above 15 mmHg, an i.v. bolus of pentobarbitone (5 mg X kg-1) was given if the barbiturate blood level was equal or below 100 micrograms X l-1. In case of failure, a dose of mannitol (20 mg) completed the therapy if blood therapy was equal or below 320 mosm X l-1. All patients developed intracranial hypertension (21, 53 and 23 mmHg, respectively). The intracranial hypertension followed the bronchospasm and disappeared with it. Hypoxaemia, hypercapnia and high peak airway pressures could explain the intracranial hypertension. All patients recovered without sequelae. This data should make us use with great care all treatments likely to increase the intracranial pressure during life-threatening asthma.

Adult↗

[Value of thrombolysis in situ without general fibrinogenolysis in pulmonary embolisms of more than 5 days duration].

Fibrinogenolysis induced by thrombolytics exposes the risk of haemorrhagic complications. The efficacy is proved for pulmonary emboli of recent origin. The aim of this study is to research into the effect of local administration of low dose urokinase in six patients aged 40 (+/- 16 years) and presenting with old emboli (10 +/- 4 days). The initial clinic picture was serious with shock (2 cases), hypoxaemia (6 cases), pulmonary arterial hypertension (mean 40 +/- 8 mmHg) and a Miller index of 58 (+/- 8%). Mechanical ventilation was necessary four times. Urokinase was administered in situ using a Swan Ganz catheter, with 1,000 units per Kg per hour for six hours followed in sequence with 30 microkatals per hour of plasminogen for two hours. This eight hourly rotating sequence was followed for at least 72 hours. Six patients were cured with an end of treatment (5 +/- 2 days) improvement in their hypoxaemia of 22%, a fall of 47% of the pulmonary arterial pressure and a rise of 71% in the Miller index. The fibrinogenesis fell by 11% and the thrombolytics could not blamed for any side-effect. The sequence urokinase-plasminogen in low dose administered locally may represent an alternative treatment for severe and long standing pulmonary emboli in patients with a risk of haemorrhage.

Adult↗