ABSTRACT
Two groups of 15 children aged from 15 days to 6 years, undergoing surgery on cardiopulmonary by-pass for congenital heart disease have been retrospectively analyzed. Group A received a low-dose aprotinin treatment (30,000 KIU/kg in the priming solution); group C (control group) did not receive any aprotinin. Groups were homogeneous for pathology, cardiopulmonary by-pass time, aortic cross-clamping time, cyanotic/acyanotic patients ratio, temperature during cardiopulmonary bypass. A number of postoperative data were measured: activated clotting time was without any difference between aprotinin-treated and control patients; the same went for temperatures, urine output, intubation time, stay in Intensive Care Unit, coagulation tests, platelet counts, hematocrit, survival rate, and blood loss. Serum creatinine levels were significantly higher in group A than in group C both at the arrival in Intensive Care Unit (0.81 +/- 0.27 vs 0.66 +/- 0.12, p = 0.032) and in the first postoperative day (1.01 +/- 0.5 vs 0.72 +/- 0.19, p = 0.038). BUN was significantly higher in group A vs group C in the first postoperative day (43.6 +/- 21.1 vs 33.9 +/- 16.7, p = 0.043). We conclude that low-dose aprotinin did not reduce postoperative bleeding; we cannot exclude that higher dosages could be more effective, but the evidence of a moderate tubular function impairment suggests caution in using high-dose aprotinin in children.
Subject(s)
Aprotinin/administration & dosage , Cardiopulmonary Bypass , Kidney/drug effects , Aprotinin/pharmacology , Child , Child, Preschool , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
The procedure used to carry out internal and external saphenectomy operations in a day-hospital is described. The choice of cases is conditioned by phlebographic examination, and by talks between patients, anaesthetist and surgeon. Anaesthesia is local and general at the time of stripping. The technique is the classical one of saphenectomy according to the school of Edmondo Malan, with some variations.
Subject(s)
Ambulatory Surgical Procedures/methods , Day Care, Medical , Saphenous Vein/surgery , Anesthesia, General , Anesthesia, Local , Humans , Varicose Veins/surgeryABSTRACT
In this paper is put in evidence the efficacy of reflexotherapy (acupuncture) in the treatment of ischemic pain. The vasodilatation obtained brings back to a normal aerobic glicolisis in the ischemic tissues, especially in the muscles and consequentially a total or partial analgesic effect.
Subject(s)
Analgesia/methods , Arterial Occlusive Diseases/complications , Ischemia/complications , Pain Management , Aged , Arm/blood supply , Chronic Disease , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Humans , Leg/blood supply , Middle Aged , Pain/etiologyABSTRACT
Angiograms obtained before and after acupuncture in a small series of patients with Raynaud's disease did not give positive evidence of its therapeutic effect. A marked vasodilatatory action was noted, however, suggesting that the technique can be usefully applied along with other forms of management.
Subject(s)
Acupuncture Therapy , Raynaud Disease , Adult , Angiography , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Hand/blood supply , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Raynaud Disease/diagnostic imaging , Raynaud Disease/therapyABSTRACT
The effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of lower limb obliterating arteritis as an alternative to pharmacological sympatheticolumbar block was assessed by comparing local O2 consumption in the ischaemic extremity. It was found that both techniques lead to vasodilation sufficient to normalise local values. Acupuncture, however, has a more protracted effect up to 24 hr., as compared with only 12 hr after pharmacological block.
