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Biomedical subjects

R Chiolero

Publications and source records attributed to R Chiolero.

53 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Prevention of gram-negative shock and death in surgical patients by antibody to endotoxin core glycolipid.

The prophylactic effect of antibody to endotoxin core glycolipid was studied in surgical patients at high risk of gram-negative infection. At randomisation (on admission to intensive care unit), every 5 days thereafter, and at onset of septic shock, patients received plasma taken from donors before (control) or after immunisation with Escherichia coli J5, a mutant with only core determinants in its endotoxin. Gram-negative shock occurred in 15 of 136 controls and 6 of 126 J5 antibody recipients and related deaths in 9 of 136 and 2 of 126, respectively. J5 antibody was most effective in abdominal surgery patients, in whom shock occurred in 13 of 83 controls and 2 of 71 antibody recipients. Although antibody prophylaxis did not lower the infection rate, it prevented the serious consequences of gram-negative infections and thus improved the overall prognosis.

Bacterial Infections↗

Reduced pulmonary capillary blood volume as a long-term sequel of ARDS.

Lung function was evaluated in nine survivors of ARDS. All patients were asymptomatic at rest at the time of the study, ie, 5.5 to 19 months after extubation (mean 12.5). Six had mild to moderate exertional dyspnea. Chest x-ray films showed no gross parenchymal abnormalities. Spirometry and pulmonary mechanics were either normal or minimally altered, particularly in smokers. At submaximal exercise levels, effort was limited by tachycardia in eight patients; one subject showed ventilatory and cardiovascular limitations. It was concluded that spirometry and pulmonary mechanics are restored to normal within six months after extubation, and gas exchange abnormalities persist after ARDS and might be related to intrapulmonary shunts at rest, whereas during exercise a decreased pulmonary capillary blood volume might be the primary factor.

Adult↗

[Reduction of pulmonary capillary volume following acute respiratory distress syndrome in adults].

Lung function after adult respiratory distress syndrome was evaluated in 8 survivors whose ages ranged from 20 to 54 years. At the time of the study, 5.5 to 19 months after extubation, all patients were asymptomatic at rest but 6 had mild to moderate exertional dyspnea. Physical examination was normal in 7 patients; lung volumes, flow rates and pulmonary mechanics were minimally altered, mainly in smokers. Chest X-rays showed no major abnormalities. On graded submaximal exercise test, performance was limited by tachycardia and not by ventilation. Resting arterial PO2 was low in 6 patients and increased only in one patient during submaximal exercise. The capillary blood volume was decreased in all patients. The mechanisms of hypoxia during exercise and decreased capillary blood volume, the latter apparently unrelated either to pulmonary microvascular obstruction or to fibrosis, remain unexplained. It is concluded that lung volumes and pulmonary mechanics are restored to normal within 6 months after ARDS, whereas gas exchanges persist after ARDS and are associated with a reduced pulmonary blood volume.

Acute Disease↗

Severe cytomegalovirus infection in multiply transfused, splenectomized, trauma patients.

During a 2-year period 5 previously healthy young men who had undergone splenectomy and received multiple transfusions for trauma had severe cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Their illness was characterised by a long period of high fever, severe interstitial pneumonitis with dyspnoea and hypoxaemia, and an unusually high lymphocytosis (12 000-26 000 cells/microliter) with numerous atypical forms. The presumptive diagnosis was based on the patients' seroconversion and viral excretion, on the clinical and haematological findings which were typical of severe CMV infection, and on the absence of other infective organisms. In 1 case widespread CMV pneumonitis was confirmed at necropsy. These observations raise the possibility that splenectomy increases the severity and modifies the pattern of CMV infection, since during the same period no other case of severe CMV infection was observed among a large number of patients who had received multiple transfusions but had not undergone splenectomy.

Abdominal Injuries↗

[Artificial respiration in cerebral resuscitation].

CO2 is a potent cerebral vasodilator which induces major changes in cerebral blood flow and volume. Acute hypocapnia decreases cerebral blood volume; thus the intracranial pressure can be reduced rapidly, thereby improving cerebral hemodynamics. Hypocapnia, rapidly achieved by controlled hyperventilation, is therefore a valid treatment in cerebral resuscitation, especially when associated with elevated intracranial pressure. However, the effect of hypocapnia is short and unusually does not exceed a few hours. Consequently the indications for prolonged hyperventilation are very limited, if they exist at all. Intracranial pressure and cerebral blood flow changes induced by PEEP are still controversial.

Carbon Dioxide↗

Clinical and radiologic features of pulmonary edema.

Pulmonary edema may be classified as increased hydrostatic pressure edema, permeability edema with diffuse alveolar damage (DAD), permeability edema without DAD, or mixed edema. Pulmonary edema has variable manifestations. Postobstructive pulmonary edema typically manifests radiologically as septal lines, peribronchial cuffing, and, in more severe cases, central alveolar edema. Pulmonary edema with chronic pulmonary embolism manifests as sharply demarcated areas of increased ground-glass attenuation. Pulmonary edema with veno-occlusive disease manifests as large pulmonary arteries, diffuse interstitial edema with numerous Kerley lines, peribronchial cuffing, and a dilated right ventricle. Stage 1 near drowning pulmonary edema manifests as Kerley lines, peribronchial cuffing, and patchy, perihilar alveolar areas of airspace consolidation; stage 2 and 3 lesions are radiologically nonspecific. Pulmonary edema following administration of cytokines demonstrates bilateral, symmetric interstitial edema with thickened septal lines. High-altitude pulmonary edema usually manifests as central interstitial edema associated with peribronchial cuffing, ill-defined vessels, and patchy airspace consolidation. Neurogenic pulmonary edema manifests as bilateral, rather homogeneous airspace consolidations that predominate at the apices in about 50% of cases. Reperfusion pulmonary edema usually demonstrates heterogeneous airspace consolidations that predominate in the areas distal to the recanalized vessels. Postreduction pulmonary edema manifests as mild airspace consolidation involving the ipsilateral lung, whereas pulmonary edema due to air embolism initially demonstrates interstitial edema followed by bilateral, peripheral alveolar areas of increased opacity that predominate at the lung bases. Familiarity with the spectrum of radiologic findings in pulmonary edema from various causes will often help narrow the differential diagnosis.

Altitude Sickness↗

Effects of L-carnitine supplemented total parenteral nutrition on lipid and energy metabolism in postoperative stress.

During episodes of trauma carnitine-free total parenteral nutrition (TPN) may result in a reduction of the total body carnitine pool, leading to a diminished rate of fat oxidation. Sixteen patients undergoing esophagectomy were divided randomly in two equal isonitrogenous groups (0.2 g/kg.day). Both received TPN (35 kcal/kg.day; equally provided as long-chain triglycerides and glucose) over 11 days without (group A) and with (group B) L-carnitine supplementation (12 mg/kg.day = 75 mumol/kg.day). Compared with healthy controls, the total body carnitine pool prior to the operation was significantly reduced in both groups, suggesting a state of semistarvation and muscle wasting. In group A the plasma levels of total carnitine and its subfractions (free carnitine, short- and long-chain acylcarnitine) remained stable during the study whereas in group B the total plasma carnitine concentration rose mainly due to an increase in free carnitine. In group A the cumulative urinary carnitine losses were 11.5 +/- 2.6 mmol (= 15.5 +/- 3.1% of the estimated total body carnitine pool). In group B 3.1 +/- 1.9 mmol (= 11.1 +/- 7.6%) of the infused carnitine was retained in the immediate postoperative phase until day 6, but this amount was completely lost at completion of the study period. No significant differences in the respiratory quotient or in the plasma levels of triglycerides, free fatty acids, and ketone bodies were observed, between or within the groups, before the operation and after 11 days of treatment. It is concluded that the usefulness of carnitine supplementation during postoperative TPN was not apparent in the present patient material.

Adult↗

Energy balance in elderly patients after surgery for a femoral neck fracture.

To study energy and protein balances in elderly patients after surgery, spontaneous energy and protein intake and resting energy expenditure (REE) were measured in 20 elderly female patients with a femoral neck fracture (mean age 81 +/- 4, SD, range 74-87 years; weight 53 +/- 8, range 42-68 kg) during a 5-6 day period following surgery. REE, measured over 20-40 min by indirect calorimetry using a ventilated canopy, averaged 0.98 +/- 0.15 kcal/min on day 3 and decreased to 0.93 +/- 0.15 kcal/min on day 8-9 postsurgery (p less than 0.02). REE was positively correlated with body weight (r = 0.69, p less than 0.005). Mean REE extrapolated to 24 hr (24-REE) was 1283 +/- 194 kcal/day. Mean daily food energy intake measured over the 5-day follow-up period was 1097 +/- 333 kcal/day and was positively correlated with 24-REE (r = 0.50, p less than 0.05). Daily energy balance was -235 +/- 351 kcal/day on day 3 (p less than 0.01 vs zero) and -13 +/- 392 kcal/day on day 8-9 postsurgery (NS vs zero) with a mean over the study period of -185 +/- 289 kcal/day (p less than 0.01 vs zero). When an extra 100 kcal/day was allowed for the energy cost of physical activity, mean daily energy balance over the 5-day study period was calculated to be -285 +/- 289 kcal/day (p less than 0.01 vs zero). Measurements of total 24-hr urinary nitrogen (N) excretion were obtained in a subgroup of 14 patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Influence of large intakes of trace elements on recovery after major burns.

Because Cu, Se, and Zn are involved in immune and antioxidative defense mechanisms and tissue repair, deficiencies might aggravate complications classically observed with burns. After measuring massive cutaneous trace element losses in 10 burn patients, our aim in this study was to determine whether large intravenous intakes of Cu, Zn, and Se can modify serum trace element levels and recovery after major burns. Ten patients, aged 34 +/- 6 yr (mean +/- SD), admitted to the burns center of a Swiss university hospital with thermal burns on 41 +/- 9% of their body surface were studied prospectively, with trace element balance studies from day 1 (D1) to D7 postinjury. Urine and blood samples were also collected on D10, D15, D20, and D25. The patients were divided into two groups of five and received either standard (group 1, control) or greatly increased (group 2, treatment: 4.5 mg Cu, 190 micrograms Se, and 40 mg Zn/day) trace element intakes. Energy and protein intake and wound treatment were similar in both groups. The treatment group was characterized by improved Cu, Se, and Zn status (increase in serum levels and various protein indicators), a much larger leukocyte increase between D4 and D14 (mainly neutrophils), and shorter hospital stay (45 days) compared with the untreated group (57 days). Grafting requirements were more extensive in group 1. Although severity of injury and wound treatment were similar in the groups, the duration of hospitalization was lower in the treated group. Further studies are required to determine whether this is related to trace element supplementation.

Adult↗