The influence of intravenous solution content on ritodrine-induced metabolic changes.

To examine the influence of intravenous (IV) solution content on ritodrine-induced metabolic changes, 25 patients treated with various IV solutions were studied before and after a bolus of fluid, and during IV drug therapy, for the effect of hematocrit, pH, lactate, glucose, and electrolyte concentrations. Results were viewed on a mg/kg/minute ritodrine dosage basis. Dextrose-containing fluids caused a significant elevation of glucose after bolus therapy, and 5% dextrose in water also significantly altered lactate and potassium levels. Dextrose enhanced drug-mediated changes in potassium, sodium, chloride, pH, and lactate. The CO2 content dropped in all patients, regardless of IV content. The best IV solution would appear to be plain lactated Ringer's, and the least desirable, 5% dextrose in water.

Third trimester ultrasonic presentation of infantile polycystic kidney disease.

Infantile polycystic kidney disease (Potter's Type 1) is an autosomal recessive disorder that affects the kidneys and liver. Use of ultrasound to make the diagnosis prenatally is well documented and, in fact, it is advocated as a screening device for second-trimester identification of potentially affected fetuses. The sonographic appearance is characterized by enlarged hyperechoic kidneys, enlarging fetal abdominal circumference, and oligohydramnios. It is suggested that a ratio of the kidney circumference to the abdominal circumference (KC/AC) be used as method of quantifying renal size and as a potential indicator of early kidney enlargement associated with infantile polycystic kidney disease (IPKD). We report a case of serial ultrasound examination of a pregnancy at risk for IPKD where the in utero diagnosis was not established until the third trimester.

New approaches to the management of acute puerperal uterine inversion.

Six cases of acute puerperal inversion of the uterus are reported. In four of these, tocolytic agents were used to facilitate replacement of the inverted uterus; and in five, Prostin-15M was given after replacement. The use of tocolytics may obviate the need for general anesthesia for uterine replacement in some patients with uterine inversion. Prostin-15M serves to minimize bleeding and to maintain uterine position after replacement.

Thymoma in pregnancy.

The natural history of slow, localized progression usually seen with thymomas seems to be transformed by pregnancy into one of rapid growth and distant metastatic spread. Five of the six previously reported cases had died of the malignancy within 6 months postpartum. The one previous long-term survivor died of treatment-induced complications. Two important questions remain unresolved: What is the risk of recurrence in the patient who has no residual disease at the time of conception? Approximately 50 per cent of female patients can anticipate having complete resection of their thymoma, and their recurrence risk is about 2 per cent. Potentially, there are many patients who have conceived and delivered after surgical therapy. Documentation of these case histories is needed for an accurate prediction of the true risk. Two of the cases within the present review fall within this category. The clinical course in these two patients is consistent with the natural history of the disease. One exhibited local recurrence and progression. The other patient died from sepsis, probably related to immunosuppression. Whether there is a cause and effect relationship between pregnancy and their recurrences is unknown. What is the risk to the patient who is first diagnosed while pregnant? The only survivor in this category was presented by Goldman. This patient underwent immediate therapeutic abortion following diagnosis. She had radiation therapy for invasive unresectable disease and subsequently delivered two term pregnancies, but died of postcesarean cardiac arrest. She had no evidence of recurrence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)