Intra-peritoneal administration of Ecballium elaterium diminishes postoperative adhesions

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of Ecballium elaterium (EE), Elaterium officinarum, in postoperative intraperitoneal adhesions in rats. METHODS: Thirty rats were divided into three groups and underwent midline laparotomy under 35 mg/kg ketamine and 5 mg/kg xylazine anaesthesia. In group 1 (n=10), the sham operation group, the abdominal walls were closed without any process. In group 2 (n=10), the control group, the antimesenteric border of the ceacum and the corresponding parietal peritoneum were abraded with dry sterile gauze. In group 3 (n=10), the EE group, 2.5 mg/kg dose of EE was administered as intraperitoneally to the rats after abrasion. All rats were sacrificed on postoperative day 15. Samples were obtained RESULTS: The adhesion score was significantly decreased in the EE group (p=0.001) in comparison with the control group. Microscopically, the EE and sham groups were significantly lower than that of the control group (p<0.001 and p=0.000, respectively). Furthermore, the measurement of tissue levels of hydroxyproline was significantly lower in the sham and EE groups compared to the control group (sham group: 47.6 ± 10.6, EE group: 62.9 ± 9.7, Control group: 84.2 ± 22.1 mg /L/g-tissue). CONCLUSION: The grade and severity of abdominal adhesion could be significantly reduced through administered Ecballium elaterium and therefore be a suitable anti-inflammatory agent for the prevention of postoperative peritoneal adhesion in the future. .

Peripherally inserted central catheters in the neonatal period / Cateteres centrais de inserção periférica no período neonatal

PURPOSE: Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) have been extensively used in neonates. However, insertion of these thinnest catheters is a very delicate procedure associated with a high failure rate. In our Neonatal Surgical Intensive Care Unit, we developed a very easy new PICC insertion and evaluated the neonates treated with PICCs which were inserted by using our technique as well as catheter features such as success rate, number of insertion attempts, reason for removal and complications. METHODS: Information was retrospectively collected on all 40 PICCs inserted at Kutahya Evliya Celebi Goverment Hospital and Dicle University Hospital during a 6-years period from September 2004 to September 2010. RESULTS: A total of 40 PICCs were inserted in 37 patients (26, 70 percent males, 11, 30 percent females) by using new technique. The median age of patients was 8.3 days (range 1 to 66 days) and the median weight of patients was 2365 g (range 600 to 5000 g). The vein most commonly accessed was long saphenous vein (85 percent). The length of PICCs in the body was 19.6 cm (range 5 cm to 30 cm). The tip was located in a central vein in all patients. Surgical abdomen was the most common cause for PICC insertion (38 percent). Duration of catheterization was 7.7±5.6 days (1-F 5.5 days, 2-F 8.6 days). Almost all of the PICCs were inserted successfully (40/42, success rate 95 percent) and in the first venipucture (36/42, 86 percent). Completion of therapy and removed after death were achieved with 87 percent of PICCs. Three minor complications were noted. Minor bleeding in the insertion site which was stopped via compression occurred in two neonates. Major complication was not seen. No deaths were directly attributed to PICCs use. CONCLUSION: The new insertion technique of the neonatal peripherally inserted central catheters may be one of the easiest and safest techniques, in comparison to previous techniques reported in the literature.

OBJETIVO: Cateteres centrais de inserção periférica (PICC) têm sido usados extensivamente em neonatos. Entretanto, a inserção destes cateteres tão finos é um procedimento muito delicado associado a uma elevada taxa de falha. Em nossa Unidade de Cuidado Intensivo Neonatal, nós desenvolvemos uma técnica muito fácil de inserção de PICC e avaliamos os neonatos tratados com PICCs que foram inseridos usando nossa técnica assim como características relacionadas ao cateter tais como taxa de sucesso, número de tentativas de inserção, razão de remoção e complicações. MÉTODOS: Informações foram coletadas retrospectivamente de todos os 40 PICCs inseridos no Kutahya Evliya Celebi Goverment Hospital e Dicle University Hospital durante um período de seis anos, desde Setembro de 2004 até Setembro de 2010. RESULTADOS: Um total de 40 PICCs foi inserido em 37 pacientes (26 homens, 70 por cento, 11 mulheres, 30 por cento) usando a nova técnica. A idade media dos pacientes foi de 8,3 dias (variando entre 1 e 66 dias) e a mediana do peso dos pacientes foi 2365g (variando entre 600g e 5000g). A veia mais comumente acessada foi a veia safena magna (85 por cento). O comprimento mediano do PICC no corpo foi 19,6 cm (variando entre 5 cm e 30 cm). A ponta foi alocada em uma veia central em todos os pacientes. Cirurgia abdominal foi a causa mais comum de uso do PICC (38 por cento). A duração do cateterismo foi 7,7±5,6 dias. Quase todos os PICCs foram inseridos com sucesso (40/42, taxa de sucesso de 95 por cento) e na primeira venopunção (36/42, 86 por cento). O término da terapia e a remoção após morte ocorreu em 87 por cento dos PICCs. Foram observadas três complicações menores. Pequeno sangramento no local da inserção, que parou com compressão, ocorreu em dois neonatos. Complicações importantes não foram observadas. Nenhuma morte foi diretamente atribuída ao uso do PICC. CONCLUSÃO: A nova técnica de inserção periférica de cateteres centrais em neonatos pode ser um procedimento seguro e fácil, comparando com as técnicas previamente relatadas na literatura.