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Biomedical subjects

R J Goris

Publications and source records attributed to R J Goris.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Does selective decontamination of the gastrointestinal tract prevent multiple organ failure? An experimental study.

Gut bacteria have been incriminated as causing or contributing to generalized sepsis with multiple organ failure in severely ill patients, and selective decontamination of the gastrointestinal tract of Enterobacteriaceae has been claimed to decrease septic complications in these patients. We studied the effects of selective decontamination of the gastrointestinal tract on survival and organ function in an experimental model of sepsis with multiple organ failure. Wistar rats were inoculated intraperitoneally with zymosan and randomized into control or treatment groups (trimethoprim or streptomycin sulfate). Selective decontamination effectively prevented bacterial translocation of Enterobacteriaceae. However, only early mortality was decreased, and only so in the streptomycin-treated rats. Selective decontamination did not result in a significantly better condition of the surviving animals on day 12.

Animals↗

Bronchial suction by minitracheotomy as an effective measure against sputum retention.

Bronchial suction by means of a minitracheostomy is a new method for treatment of sputum retention and related pulmonary diseases. Through a small coniotomy, a specially designed cannula is inserted into the trachea, allowing frequent bronchial suction. The effectiveness of this method was prospectively analyzed in 74 consecutive patients and the results were compared with those reported in the literature. The operative procedure for insertion of the Minitracheotomy cannula caused nonlethal bleeding in three patients who were receiving anticoagulant medications. Thirty-eight of 43 patients treated on the intensive care ward were detubated and dismissed at an earlier stage than usual because of a minitracheostomy. The method failed in two comatose patients and in one patient with a laryngeal tumor. The method was effective in 18 patients who had serious pulmonary disease postoperatively. Thirteen patients at high risk for pulmonary infections, in whom the cannula had been prophylactically applied after extensive operations, did not have postoperative pulmonary complications. Over-all, the median period for bronchial suction was 4.0 days; decannulation followed on average 4.7 days later. No complications were caused by the presence of the cannula and the device was well tolerated by the patients.

Adolescent↗

Timing of osteosynthesis of major fractures in patients with severe brain injury.

A retrospective study was performed to assess the effects on outcome of early osteosynthesis of major extremity fractures in patients with severe brain injury (GCS less than or equal to 7). In a consecutive series of 58 patients, early osteosynthesis was performed on the day of injury in 15 patients. (Group A). In 43 patients no major fractures were present or no early osteosynthesis was performed (Group B). The severity of brain injury as seen on CT scan was similar in both groups. Mortality was significantly lower in Group A, despite a significantly higher ISS. As to the functional end result of brain injury, an indication of a better outcome was present in Group A.

Adolescent↗

[The clinical symptoms in post-traumatic dystrophy].

The clinical signs and symptoms in 441 patients with post-traumatic dystrophy were recorded. This form of dystrophy occurred three times as often in females as in males and twice as often in the arms as in the legs. In 5% of the patients the first symptom is a cold extremity; these patients run a greater risk of major sequelae. Exacerbation of the symptoms under influence of muscular exercise proved to be an important prognostic factor. A large proportion of the referred patients proved to have undergone a treatment aimed at elimination of the sympathetic nervous system, without success. Post-traumatic dystrophy can impede all structures and functions of the affected extremity and may result in major sequelae and disablement. The pseudoparalysis of the later phase may be mistaken for conversion.

Adolescent↗

Mediators of multiple organ failure.

Multiple Organ Failure (MOF) has largely been attributed to bacterial sepsis, though conclusive evidence of an essential role for bacteria and/or their endotoxins is still lacking. On the other hand, MOF and the clinical syndrome of sepsis may be aseptically induced in germ-free animals. This paper reviews the evidence that excessive activation of endogenous humoral mediators and inflammatory cells may cause this highly lethal syndrome.

Complement Activation↗

Rupture of the supradiaphragmatic inferior vena cava by blunt decelerating trauma: case report.

Lacerations of the inferior vena cava resulting from blunt external trauma are relatively rare, but extremely serious. The high lethality is due to the difficulty in diagnosis and technical problems with repair, particularly if the injury is located above the renal veins. During a 12-month period seven patients with inferior vena cava laceration were seen, of whom two presented with laceration of the inferior vena cava above the diaphragm. Both had a deceleration injury while wearing seatbelts. The clinical presentation was similar. The etiology is discussed. Caval continuity should be repaired because acute sudden occlusion at the suprahepatic level is incompatible with survival. Median sternotomy is advised, moreover it provides good exposure for eventual cannulation.

Adult↗

Oxidative stress. Biochemistry and human disease.

The early involvement of free radicals in the evolution of life may explain their ubiquitous presence and vital physiological role. Imbalance between protection against free radicals and their generation, explains the likely association of various diseases with toxic oxygen species. An elaborate defence system against oxygen-free radicals exists. The effects of oxidative stress are manifold. Direct demonstration of oxygen radicals in intact biological systems is difficult. Frequently, effect-related measurements are used in this respect. The clinical conditions adult respiratory distress syndrome and multiple organ failure, reflex sympathetic dystrophy and sugar cataract are discussed and the role of oxygen radicals in the aetiology of these diseases are described.

Free Radicals↗

Multiple organ failure: whole body inflammation?

Inventarising the inflammatory capacities of the three types of inflammatory cells, PMN, macrophages and mast cells, each type seems able to induce a lethal whole body reaction. This whole body inflammation has hitherto largely escaped our attention, as in clinical studies inappropriate methods have been used such as counting peripheral leucocytes, and as monitoring key-mediators (IL-1, TNF, PGE-2, leukotrienes) and key-cells (activated PMN, macrophages and mast cells) hitherto was impossible. Presently a new set of methods is available, allowing a closer look at this whole body inflammation, such as elastase (monitoring PMN activity), neopterin (monitoring macrophage activity) and hopefully clinically practicable methods to monitor cytokines as well as endotoxin-levels. Only after such comprehensive studies have been performed, it might be concluded that--as in the experimental animal--sepsis and MOF may not necessarily be caused by bacteria or their endotoxins, but by an untoward autodestructive and self-sustaining activation of angry leucocytes and mad macrophages.

Complement Activation↗

Early detection of shock in critically ill patients by skeletal muscle PO2 assessment.

The usefulness of skeletal muscle PO2 assessment in monitoring patients at risk of shock was evaluated in 20 critically ill patients. A shock score, inotropic score, and combined inotropic-shock score were calculated. If the median skeletal muscle PO2 assessment was more than 31.5 mm Hg, no shock occurred in the period from 4 hours before to 6 hours after the measurement. The risk of shock occurring during the first 2 hours after the skeletal muscle PO2 assessment was 2.2 times higher if median skeletal muscle PO2 assessment was below 22.5 mm Hg. If inotropes were administered, no significant difference was found in the incidence of shock if skeletal muscle PO2 was below or above 22.5 mm Hg. Skeletal muscle PO2 assessment enables the determination of the severity of shock and determination of risk of shock in critically ill patients, provided no treatment with inotropes has been instituted.

Humans↗

Conservative treatment of ingrowing toenails.

A combination of conservative measures was used to treat 105 patients with 119 ingrowing toenails. The method proved to be simple and cheap, but time consuming. Post-treatment discomfort and the time taken to return to normal activities were acceptable; the cosmetic result was good. Two-year follow-up revealed that the success rate of the method in less advanced cases (stages I and II) was high (96 per cent), although in the long term there was a tendency to recurrence in stage II cases. The failure rate in advanced cases (stage III) was high (up to 62 per cent). Conservative treatment can be used successfully in mild cases of ingrowing toenails.

Adolescent↗

Neutrophil function and lipid peroxidation in a rat model of multiple organ failure.

Multiple organ failure (MOF) was induced by sterile intraperitoneal inoculation of zymosan in the rat. This results in a typical triphasic illness with maximal clinical signs at Days 2 and 14. In this study, granulocyte superoxide production (unstimulated and phorbol myristic acid stimulated) was studied as well as lipid peroxidation (TBAR) in plasma, liver, and lung tissue. Mainly TBAR levels in liver and lung tissue closely correlated with the triphasic clinical illness, while bacteriological data did not. It is concluded that the severe inflammatory response in this experimental model probably is the result of excessive toxic oxygen radical production. The first phase of illness may mainly be due to oxygen radical formation by activated PMN, the third phase of illness to the production of lysosomal enzymes (proteinases) from PMN, and activated macrophages as indicated by elevated N-acetylglucosaminidase levels.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Renal trauma and hypertension.

A retrospective study (1972-1983) was made of 622 consecutive patients who suffered renal trauma, in order to assess the incidence and prevalence of post-traumatic renal hypertension. In 435 (76%) of the 569 survivors long-term followup data and blood pressure recordings were obtained, 13 months to 12 years after trauma (mean, 5.6 years). Renal trauma could not be linked to an increased incidence of hypertension: on first control, only 94 patients (21%) demonstrated a casual elevated blood pressure (greater than 140/90 mm Hg). The presence of a fixed hypertension was validated in only 14 patients. Twelve of them were extensively screened in the Department of Internal Medicine. In none of these patients could a definite relationship between hypertension and renal trauma be documented. Furthermore, an extensive review was done of 223 cases of post-traumatic renal hypertension reported in the literature from 1951 until 1984. Careful analysis of these previously described cases (71 publications) leads us to criticize the widespread accepted cause-effect condition with regard to post-traumatic renal hypertension. It is concluded that adequate management of renal injuries with early diagnosis and individualised surgical treatment can prevent this extremely rare complication.

Adolescent↗