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Biomedical subjects

P Glass

Publications and source records attributed to P Glass.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

CT of cerebrovascular injury after neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: implications for neurodevelopmental outcome.

One hundred forty-six neonates treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) were evaluated with cranial sonography and CT at different times in the course of their disease. Cranial sonography was performed during treatment with ECMO, and CT was done 3-14 days after cessation of ECMO bypass. In 66 (45%), intracranial abnormalities were detected with either sonography or CT. Thirty neonates had hemorrhages only, 24 had nonhemorrhagic abnormalities, and 12 had combined lesions. CT provided additional information in 44 (67%) of the 66 neonates. Sonography was normal in 37 neonates, showed fewer lesions in 10 neonates, and was concordant with CT findings in 14 neonates. It cannot be established whether these lesions went undetected with sonography during ECMO, or occurred after cessation of ECMO bypass. Neurodevelopmental evaluation was performed in 71 of 90 survivors 1 year of age or older. Forty-three infants (61%) were normal; developmental delay was suspected in 12 (17%) and present in 16 (23%). The severity of intracranial abnormality as determined by a neuroimaging score correlated well with short-term developmental outcome. Mean neuroimaging scores were significantly higher, with increasing degree of neurodevelopmental delay (p less than .001 by Kruskal-Wallis rank order test). Although cranial sonography remains the primary technique for the detection of life-threatening hemorrhage during ECMO, cranial CT after ECMO is important in defining the total degree of intracranial injury present in these high-risk neonates.

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗

Alfentanil and midazolam: new anesthetic drugs for continuous infusion and an automated method of administration.

New drugs like alfentanil and midazolam have the primary advantage of metabolizing faster than existing compounds in their class. Because of shorter plasma half-lives, the drugs are well suited for continuous infusion. In our hands, CACI is a valuable clinical instrument and research tool. Although some anesthetic drugs can be given safely and effectively by bolus injection, whenever a titrated continuous infusion is appropriate (and physiologically closed-loop delivery is not possible), use of a CACI-type instrument should be the preferred method of administration. With the availability for continuous infusion of alfentanil and midazolam, with their highly desirable pharmacodynamic properties and relatively effervescent pharmacokinetics, we believe that computerized pharmacokinetic model-driven infusion devices will play a significant role in future anesthetic practice.

Alfentanil↗

Morbidity for survivors of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: neurodevelopmental outcome at 1 year of age.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is an important technology in the treatment of high-risk infants whose long-term outcome is being followed prospectively at our institution. The extracorporeal membrane oxygenation procedure allows temporary cardiopulmonary support for critically ill full-term neonates who are refractory to maximum ventilatory and medical management as a consequence of severe persistent pulmonary hypertension. The technique necessitates both the permanent ligation of the right common carotid artery and jugular vein and systemic heparinization. The survivors constitute a unique group of high-risk infants, from the standpoint of the hypoxic-ischemic insults preceding extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and the risks associated with the procedure. Our results indicate that most of our survivors are developing normally at 1 year. Major morbidity, in terms of either significant developmental delay (Bayley mental and motor indices less than 70) or significant neuromotor abnormality, occurred in only 10% of these infants. Poor outcome was associated with major intracranial hemorrhage and chronic lung disease. Ligation of the right carotid artery and jugular vein was not associated with a consistent lateralizing lesion. Long-term follow-up through school age is essential.

Asphyxia Neonatorum↗

Do evoked potentials measure depth of anaesthesia?

Somatosensory evoked potentials have been suggested as a possible neurophysiological in of anaesthetic depth. In order to test the usefulness of this technique of monitoring, 8 patients were monitored during balanced anaesthesia. Following induction with a sleep dose of thiopentone, a neuromuscular blocking agent was used and the patients' lungs ventilated with N2O/O2(F1O2 = 0.3). This was supplemented with halothane or fentanyl. Somatosensory evoked potentials were recorded every 10 minutes during surgery, blood pressure and heart rate being recorded at the end of each evoked potential measurement. Induction of anaesthesia was associated with the reduction in SEP amplitude from 4.2 +/- 1.04 micro volts to 1.6 +/- 0.9 micro volts. There was an increase in latency from 19.2 +/- 1.3 msec to 20.0 +/- 1.3 msec to 20.0 +/- 1.5 msec. Recovery from anaesthesia was accompanied by an increase in SEP amplitude pre-induction values. There were no apparent correlations between the changes in evoked potential measures and changes in heart rate or blood pressure. Consistent change in somatosensory evoked potentials (prolonged latency, decreased amplitude) occurred with both narcotic and volatile anaesthetics. There was a recovery of evoked potentials at the end of anaesthesia. This is a promising technique, worthy of further evaluation.

Anesthesia Recovery Period↗

Cerebral hemodynamics in infants undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: further observations.

Intracranial Doppler ultrasonographic examinations were performed on 64 infants treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Serial studies were performed on the anterior cerebral artery in 55 infants before and during ECMO bypass, and on the middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) and internal carotid arteries (ICAs) on an additional nine infants. The onset of ECMO was associated with changes in character of pulsatile flow, direction of flow, and mean blood-flow velocity. Pulsatility decreased in all patients, and mean blood-flow velocity increased in 73% of patients (mean change from baseline, 87%). Despite retrograde flow in the right ICA in five of nine infants, antegrade flow to the right MCA was preserved in all cases. We found no correlation between alterations in mean blood-flow velocity and overall mortality, frequency of intracranial hemorrhage, and neuro-developmental outcome. These data suggest that wide variations in cerebral blood flow occur with ECMO therapy, and that these changes appear to be well tolerated.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

Retinopathy of prematurity: progress report.

For the time being, risk of ROP seems inexorably linked to survival of extremely low birth weight prematures, whose embryonic retinas develop in an abnormal and fluctuating environment. Incidence and severity may be reduced by stabilizing ventilation, oxygenation, and perfusion, moderating light exposure, and providing normal levels of vitamin E. Progression of stage 3 retinopathy may sometimes be arrested by cryotherapy. In the future, antioxidants or other pharmacologic agents may be developed to provide a greater margin of safety. In the meantime, the eyes of prematures must be examined and those with ROP will need specialized ophthalmologic care.

Humans↗

Retinopathy of prematurity: what causes it?

Retinopathy of prematurity continues to be a major cause of morbidity in surviving prematures despite attempts to regulate oxygen. Developing retinal vessels apparently can be disrupted by any of a considerable number of influences. By far the preeminent risk factor is extreme prematurity itself.

Humans↗

Neurologic status in infants treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: correlation of imaging findings with developmental outcome.

A retrospective review was done of intracranial images obtained within the newborn period in 46 infants who had been treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). A neuroimaging score was determined on the basis of the extent and severity of findings on both ultrasound and computed tomographic scans. Presence of abnormality at neuroimaging and the neuroimaging score were correlated with the findings of neurodevelopmental evaluations (Bayley scales) performed in infants who were at a mean age of 11.8 months (range, 6-16 months). A significant inverse correlation was found between the neuroimaging score and mental and psychomotor development indexes of the Bayley scale (P less than .005). Mean neuroimaging scores in infants with normal development were significantly lower than those in infants with delayed development (P = .002). Although individual outcomes cannot be predicted with neuroimaging, the neuroimaging score can be a useful adjunct in assigning patients who survive with ECMO treatment to risk categories for developmental outcome.

Brain↗

Effect of bright light in the hospital nursery on the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity.

The preterm infant is subjected to prolonged exposure to ambient nursery illumination at levels that have been found to produce retinal damage in animals. We prospectively investigated the effect of exposure to light in two intensive care nurseries by comparing the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity among 74 infants from the standard bright nursery environment (median light level, 60 foot-candles [ftc]) with the incidence among 154 infants of similar birth weight for whom the light levels were reduced (median, 25 ftc). There was a higher incidence of retinopathy of prematurity in the group of infants who had been exposed to the brighter nursery lights, particularly in those with birth weights below 1000 g (86 percent vs. 54 per cent, P less than 0.01 by chi-square test). We conclude that the high level of ambient illumination commonly found in the hospital nursery may be one factor contributing to retinopathy of prematurity and that safety standards with regard to current lighting practices should be reassessed.

Birth Weight↗

Fetal exposure to narcotics: neonatal sleep as a measure of nervous system disturbance.

Newborn infants, chronically exposed in utero to low doses of methadone with or without concomitant heroin, display more rapid eye movement sleep and less quiet sleep than control infants, while babies fetally exposed to both opiates and nonopiates have less organization of sleep states. Other perinatal factors, such as birth weight and gestational age, are related more to the amount of fetal drug exposure than to the type.

Birth Weight↗

Prehepatic hyperalimentation.

A technique for prehepatic infusion of parenteral nutrients is described. Portal vein hyperalimentation allows hepatic modification and control of the infused nutrients before delivery of these substances into the general circulation and theoretically should reduce the incidence of metabolic complications of hyperalimentation. The clinical experience with prehepatic infusions is reported and the metabolic investigations are described. Transumbilical catheters provided prehepatic delivery of parenteral nutrients for 1 month after esophagogastrectomy for esophageal malignancy without serious infection or portal vein thrombosis. Close surveillance of blood glucose and serum osmolarity demonstrated metabolic stability during the infusion period. Nitrogen balance studies showed better nitrogen economy than is achieved by infusion of similar solutions into the central systemic circulation. Indirect calorimetry indicated that the nitrogen used for production of energy was less than the amount supplied by prehepatic infusions. The same basic liver function abnormalities encountered with systemic infusion of hyperalimentation solutions were noted. The patients gained weight after esophagogastrectomy and did not experience the attrition from malnutrition which usually occurs in the first several months after esophageal resection.

Amino Acids↗

Use of high dose corticosteroids in patients with inoperable brain tumours.

Eleven patients with inoperable brain tumours were treated with high doses of corticosteroids (methylprednisolone 200-2000 mg/day) for up to 151 days (mean 55 days). Neurological improvement occurred in eight patients on high doses after deterioration on concentional doses (methylprednisolone 80-120 mg/day). In two patients steroids could be completely discontinued for several months. Serious adverse effects included sepsis in three patients and myopathy in tow. All three patients with sepsis also received chemotherapy. There were no deaths that could be attributed to steroids. The most likely effect of high dosage steroids is reduction of cerebral oedema. It is conceivable that in some instances high dose steroids may also result in tumour inhibition or oncolysis or both.

Adult↗

A comparison of the bronchodilator effects of the same amounts of terbutaline aerosol given as a single or in divided doses.

Inhalation of 0.5 mg of terbutaline, given as a single dose or as two immediately consecutive doses of 0.25 or four consecutive doses 0.125 mg, produced the same degree of effective bronchodilation in 12 asthmatic patients at all measured intervals from 30 seconds to four hours after administration. Each treatment regimen produced equivalent improvement in FVC, FEV1, MMEF, MVV, PEFR, V Max 50% VC and V Max 25% VC. The most sensitive indicators were MMEF and V Max 50% VC. No significant side effects were encountered with this dosage and route of administration. The clinical significance of this study is that in patients who are trained in the proper use of metered dose dispensers a single 0.5 mg inhalation may be sufficient to deliver the required dose to obtain an effective and safe therapeutic response.

Adult↗