Psychoactive substance consumption after the Fundão dam mine tailing disaster in Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

Disasters cause changes in morbidity, mortality, and medicine use. Brazil is one of the main producers of mineral ores at great environmental cost. Mine tailings are stored in dams and ruptures have led to major disasters. We investigated the consumption of psychoactive medicines in the municipalities affected by the Fundão dam disaster in Minas Gerais State. An ecological study was carried out on drug consumption, estimated using public purchases in Minas Gerais and dispensing data from private retail pharmacies. Consumption (in number of defined daily doses/100,000 inhabitants per day) was analyzed descriptively in eight municipalities, stratified according to consumption level during a 25-month period. Six comparisons of mean consumption values for both data sets were done for pre- and post-disaster periods. The means of medicine consumption before and after the event were plotted and linear trends were added. Public purchase data evinced high consumption levels. Only pharmaceutical retail showed significant differences between the strata in the pre-disaster versus two post-disaster periods. Smaller municipalities showed an increase in consumption 15 months after the disaster. Clonazepam led the way in pharmaceutical retail consumption, followed by fluoxetine. Medicines showed an upward trend after the disaster. The high public provision may have stifled significant consumption patterns of psychoactive drugs; however, peak consumption were observed in private retail, suggesting a modification in use patterns after the disaster. The decrease in consumption immediately after the event was probably related to lower care-seeking behavior on the part of the population, and significant peaks after the disaster may reflect economic consequences of it.

Psychoactive substance consumption after the Fundão dam mine tailing disaster in Minas Gerais State, Brazil / Consumo de psicoativos após o desastre da Barragem de Fundão, em Minas Gerais, Brasil / Consumo de psicoactivos tras el desastre de la presa Fundão, en Minas Gerais, Brasil

Abstract: Disasters cause changes in morbidity, mortality, and medicine use. Brazil is one of the main producers of mineral ores at great environmental cost. Mine tailings are stored in dams and ruptures have led to major disasters. We investigated the consumption of psychoactive medicines in the municipalities affected by the Fundão dam disaster in Minas Gerais State. An ecological study was carried out on drug consumption, estimated using public purchases in Minas Gerais and dispensing data from private retail pharmacies. Consumption (in number of defined daily doses/100,000 inhabitants per day) was analyzed descriptively in eight municipalities, stratified according to consumption level during a 25-month period. Six comparisons of mean consumption values for both data sets were done for pre- and post-disaster periods. The means of medicine consumption before and after the event were plotted and linear trends were added. Public purchase data evinced high consumption levels. Only pharmaceutical retail showed significant differences between the strata in the pre-disaster versus two post-disaster periods. Smaller municipalities showed an increase in consumption 15 months after the disaster. Clonazepam led the way in pharmaceutical retail consumption, followed by fluoxetine. Medicines showed an upward trend after the disaster. The high public provision may have stifled significant consumption patterns of psychoactive drugs; however, peak consumption were observed in private retail, suggesting a modification in use patterns after the disaster. The decrease in consumption immediately after the event was probably related to lower care-seeking behavior on the part of the population, and significant peaks after the disaster may reflect economic consequences of it.

Resumo: Os desastres provocam alterações na morbidade, mortalidade e no uso de medicamentos. O Brasil é líder na produção de minérios com grande custo ambiental. Os rejeitos de mineração são armazenados em barragens e as rupturas dessas barragens têm causados grandes desastres. Investigamos o consumo de medicamentos psicoativos em municípios atingidos pelo desastre da Barragem de Fundão, em Minas Gerais. Foi realizado um estudo ecológico sobre o consumo de medicamentos, com base em dados de compras públicas e distribuição de farmácias privadas do varejo de Minas Gerais. O consumo (em número de doses diárias definidas/100 mil habitantes por dia) foi analisado descritivamente em oito municípios, estratificados segundo o nível de consumo durante um período de 25 meses. Foram feitas seis comparações de valores médios de consumo para os dois conjuntos de dados dos períodos pré- e pós-desastre. Foram calculadas as médias de consumo de medicamentos antes e depois do evento e adicionadas tendências lineares. Os dados de compras públicas mostraram elevados níveis de consumo. Apenas o varejo farmacêutico apresentou diferenças significativas entre os estratos no período pré-desastre versus dois períodos pós-desastre. Municípios menores apresentaram aumento no consumo a partir do 15º mês após o desastre. Clonazepam liderou o consumo no varejo farmacêutico, seguido pela fluoxetina. Os medicamentos apresentaram tendência de alta após o desastre. A elevada oferta pública pode ter afetado os padrões de consumo significativo de medicamentos psicoativos; no entanto, foram observados aumentos no comércio privado, sugerindo alterações nos padrões de uso após o desastre. A diminuição do consumo imediatamente após o evento estava provavelmente relacionada a um menor comportamento de procura de cuidados por parte da população e os aumentos significativos posteriores podem refletir as consequências econômicas do desastre.

Resumen: Los desastres provocan cambios en la morbilidad, mortalidad y en el uso de medicamentos. Brasil es líder en la producción de minerales con grandes costos ambientales. Los desechos mineros se almacenan en represas y las roturas de dichas represas han causado grandes desastres. Investigamos el consumo de medicamentos psicoactivos en municipios afectados por el desastre de la presa de Fundão, en Minas Gerais. Se realizó un estudio ecológico sobre el consumo de medicamentos, con base en datos de compras públicas y distribución en farmacias privadas minoristas de Minas Gerais. El consumo (en número de dosis diarias definidas/100.000 habitantes por día) se analizó descriptivamente en ocho municipios, estratificados según el nivel de consumo durante un período de 25 meses. Se realizaron seis comparaciones de los valores medios de consumo para los dos conjuntos de datos de los períodos anterior y posterior al desastre. Se calculó el consumo medio de medicamentos antes y después del evento y se añadieron las tendencias lineales. Los datos de compras públicas mostraron altos niveles de consumo. Solo el comercio minorista farmacéutico presentó diferencias significativas entre los estratos en el período anterior al desastre frente a dos períodos posteriores al desastre. Los municipios más pequeños presentaron un aumento en el consumo a partir del 15º mes después del desastre. El clonazepam lideró el consumo en el comercio minorista farmacéutico, seguido de la fluoxetina. Los medicamentos presentaron una tendencia al alza después del desastre. La elevada oferta pública puede haber afectado los patrones de consumo significativo de medicamentos psicoactivos; sin embargo, se observaron aumentos en el comercio privado, lo que sugiere cambios en los patrones de uso después del desastre. La disminución del consumo inmediatamente después del evento probablemente relacionada con un menor comportamiento de búsqueda de cuidados por parte de la población, y los aumentos significativos posteriores pueden reflejar las consecuencias económicas del desastre.

Missed Opportunities of Integration of Palliative Care: Frequency, Causes, and Profile of Missed Visits in an Oncologic Palliative Care Outpatient Unit.

CONTEXT: Many patients with cancer are referred to palliative care (PC) outpatient clinics but do not attend consultations, which increases the difficultly of integrating PC in a timely manner. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the frequency, causes, and profile of missing first-time consultations in a PC outpatient clinic. METHODS: Data from patients with advanced cancer who were scheduled for first-time visits to the PC outpatient clinic from September 2018 to August 2019 were analyzed. Missed consultation was defined as a nonperformed consultation with no prior notice of cancellation, and missed opportunity of palliative care (MOPC) was defined as a nonperformed consultation regardless of being notified in advance. The causes of the absence were identified by telephone using a standardized form. Logistic regression models were used to identify the profile of patients who have MOPC. RESULTS: About 1468 patients were scheduled for first-time visits to the PC outpatient clinic; missed consultation = 21.7% (n = 275) and MOPC = 32.5% (n = 478). Of the total number of patients who had MOPC, 86 (18%) were later seen in a median time (percentile p25-p75) of 29.5 days (range 7.0-66.5). The most common cause of MOPC was death before consultation (n = 92; 29.8%). Referral to PC using a standardized protocol (odds ratio 0.787; P = 0.044) and residence in distant cities (odds ratio 2.394; P < 0.001) were independently associated with MOPC. CONCLUSION: Approximately one-third of patients eligible for PC miss the opportunity to be included earlier; only 18% of them are consulted later. Use of standardized referral protocols may help to reduce these absence rates.

Acute symptomatic complications among patients with advanced cancer admitted to acute palliative care units: A prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Limited information is available on the symptomatic complications that occur in the last days of life. AIM: We documented the frequency, clinical course, and survival for 25 symptomatic complications among patients admitted to acute palliative care units. DESIGN: Prospective longitudinal observational study. MEASUREMENTS: Their attending physician completed a daily structured assessment of symptomatic complications from admission to discharge or death. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: We enrolled consecutive advanced cancer patients admitted to acute palliative care units at MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA, and Barretos Cancer Hospital, Brazil. RESULTS: A total of 352 patients were enrolled (MD Anderson Cancer Center = 151, Barretos Cancer Hospital = 201). Delirium, pneumonia, and bowel obstruction were the most common complications, occurring in 43%, 20%, and 16% of patients on admission, and 70%, 46%, and 35% during the entire acute palliative care unit stay, respectively. Symptomatic improvement for delirium (36/246, 15%), pneumonia (52/161, 32%), and bowel obstruction (41/124, 33%) was low. Survival analysis revealed that delirium (p < 0.001), pneumonia (p = 0.003), peritonitis (p = 0.03), metabolic acidosis (p < 0.001), and upper gastrointestinal bleed (p = 0.03) were associated with worse survival. Greater number of symptomatic complications on admission was also associated with poorer survival (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Symptomatic complications were common in cancer patients admitted to acute palliative care units, often do not resolve completely, and were associated with a poor prognosis despite active medical management.

Análise ecológica dos acidentes e da violência letal em Vitória, ES / Análisis ecológica de los accidentes y de la violencia letal en Vitoria, Sureste de Brasil / Ecological analysis of accidents and lethal violence in Vitória, Southeastern Brazil

OBJETIVO: Analisar o contexto socioeconômico e sua relação com a incidência espacial da mortalidade devido à violência. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado estudo do tipo ecológico no município de Vitória, ES, de 2000 a 2003, sobre a distribuição espacial da mortalidade por acidentes e violência, com base nas informações populacionais e socioeconômicas. Os dados sobre mortalidade foram relacionados a informações como local de residência da vítima, tipo de ocorrência, sexo e raça/cor. A análise das informações utilizou a média espacial, odds ratio e análise de cluster. RESULTADOS: Ocorreram 828 óbitos por violência no período estudado, representando 17 por cento do total de óbitos do município. Destes, 72 por cento eram homicídios, 21,8 por cento acidentes de transporte e 6 por cento suicídios...

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the socioeconomic background and its relationship with spatial distribution of mortality due to violence. METHODS: Ecological study conducted to explore the space distribution of mortality due to violence in the city of Vitória, Southeastern Brazil, between 2000 and 2003, based on population and socioeconomic information. Mortality data were correlated with information on victim's place of residence, type of violence, gender, and skin color. Data were analyzed using space average, odds ratio, and cluster analysis. RESULTS: There were reported 828 deaths due to violence during the study period, accounting for 17 percent of all deaths in the city. Of these, 72 percent were homicides, 21.8 percent traffic accidents, and 6 percent suicides...

OBJETIVO: Analizar el contexto socioeconómico y su relación con la incidencia espacial de la mortalidad debido a la violencia. MÉTODOS: Fue realizado estudio del tipo ecológico en el municipio de Vitória (Sureste de Brasil), de 2000 a 2003, sobre la distribución espacial de la mortalidad por accidentes y violencia, con base en las informaciones poblacionales y socioeconómicas. Los datos sobre mortalidad fueron relacionados con informaciones como lugar de residencia de la víctima, tipo de ocurrencia, sexo y raza/color. El análisis de las informaciones utilizó el promedio espacial, odds ratio y análisis de cluster. RESULTADOS: Ocurrieron 828 óbitos por violencia en el período estudiado, representando 17 por ciento del total de óbitos del municipio. De estos, 72 por ciento eran homicidios, 21,8 por ciento accidentes de transporte y 6 por ciento suicidios...

Ecological analysis of accidents and lethal violence in Vitória, Southeastern Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the socioeconomic background and its relationship with spatial distribution of mortality due to violence. METHODS: Ecological study conducted to explore the space distribution of mortality due to violence in the city of Vitória, Southeastern Brazil, between 2000 and 2003, based on population and socioeconomic information. Mortality data were correlated with information on victim's place of residence, type of violence, gender, and skin color. Data were analyzed using space average, odds ratio, and cluster analysis. RESULTS: There were reported 828 deaths due to violence during the study period, accounting for 17% of all deaths in the city. Of these, 72% were homicides, 21.8% traffic accidents, and 6% suicides. Violence victims were mostly young black males, living in poorer areas of the city. In contrast, as for suicide and traffic accidents, the victims were older white females living in the wealthiest area of the city. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that violence is a phenomenon occurring in all socioeconomic levels but black people at the lowest level are more likely to die from homicides while white well-off people are more likely to die from suicide and traffic accidents.

Clonidina e dexmedetomidina por via peridural para analgesia e sedação pós-operatória de colecistectomia / Epidural clonidine or dexmedetomidine for post-cholecystectomy analgesia and sedation

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A clonidina e a dexmedetomidina são agonistas alfa2-adrenérgicos que, quando administrados por via peridural, possuem propriedades analgésicas e potencializam os efeitos dos anestésicos locais. A presente pesquisa objetivou avaliar a analgesia e a sedação produzidas pela clonidina ou dexmedetomidina associadas à ropivacaína, por via peridural, no pós-operatório de colecistectomia por via subcostal. MÉTODO: Participaram do estudo aleatório e duplamente encoberto 40 pacientes, de ambos os sexos, com idade variando de 18 a 50 anos, peso entre 50 e 100 kg, estado físico ASA I e II, submetidos à colecistectomia por via subcostal, os quais foram distribuídos em dois grupos: clonidina (GC), em que foi administrada clonidina (1 ml = 150 µg) associada à ropivacaína a 0,75 por cento (20 ml) por via peridural; dexmedetomidina (GD), em que foi injetada dexmedetomidina (2 µg.kg-1) associada à ropivacaína a 0,75 por cento (20 ml) por via peridural. A analgesia e a sedação foram observadas 2, 6 e 24 horas após o término da anestesia. RESULTADOS: Ocorreu sedação depois de 2 e 6 horas em ambos os grupos, sendo que houve diferença estatística significante entre os tempos de 2 e 6 horas no grupo dexmedetomidina. Houve analgesia em ambos os grupos, especialmente depois de 2 e 6 horas. Foi detectada diferença estatística significante entre os tempos de 2, 6 e 24 horas no grupo dexmedetomidina; no grupo clonidina essa diferença estatística significante foi observada entre os tempos de 2 e 6 horas e entre 2 e 24 horas. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados permitiram concluir que a clonidina ou a dexmedetomidina associadas à ropivacaína a 0,75 por cento asseguraram analgesia e sedação nos tempos de observação de 2 e 6 horas após o término da anestesia, nos pacientes submetidos à colecistectomia por via subcostal e que a clonidina promove analgesia mais prolongada.

Comparative study of the in-hospital case-fatality rate of leptospirosis between pediatric and adult patients of different age groups.

The main objective was to compare the in-hospital case-fatality rate of leptospirosis between pediatric (< 19 years) and adult (>19 years) patients, taking into account gender, renal function, duration of symptoms and jaundice. Medical records of 1016 patients were reviewed. Comparative analysis was restricted to 840 patients (100 pediatric, 740 adults) with recorded information on the variables included in the analysis. Among these patients 81.7% were male and 91.5% were icteric. The case-fatality rate of leptospirosis was 14.4%. The odds of death adjusted for gender, jaundice, duration of symptoms, serum urea and serum creatinine were almost four times higher for the adult than for the pediatric group (odds ratio (OR) = 3.94; 95% confidence interval = 1.19-13.03, p = 0.029). Among adults, increased age was also significantly and independently associated with increased risk of death (p < 0.01). Older patients were also more often treated by dialysis. In conclusion, the data suggest that the in-hospital case fatality rate of leptospirosis is higher for adults than for children and adolescents, even after taking into account the effects of several potential risk factors of death. Among adults, older age was also strongly and independently associated with higher risk of death.

Comparative study of the in-hospital case-fatality rate of leptospirosis between pediatric and adult patients of different age groups

O objetivo principal foi comparar a letalidade hospitalar da leptospirose entre pacientes pediátricos (< 19 anos) e adultos (> 19 anos), levando em consideração gênero, função renal, duração dos sintomas e icterícia. Prontuários de 1016 pacientes foram revistos. Análise comparativa foi restrita a 840 pacientes (100 pediátricos, 740 adultos) com informações sobre as variáveis incluídas na análise. Entre estes pacientes 81,4 por cento eram do sexo masculino e 91,5 por cento apresentavam icterícia à admissão. A letalidade da leptospirose foi 14,4 por cento. A razão entre número de pacientes que morreram e número de pacientes que sobreviveram, ajustada para gênero, icterícia, duração de sintomas, uréia sérica e creatinina sérica foi quase quatro vezes maior no grupo adulto do que no pediátrico (odds ratio (OR) = 3,94; intervalo de confiança de 95 por cento = 1,19-13,03, p = 0,029). Em adultos, idade mais avançada foi também significantemente e independentemente associada com maior risco de morte (p < 0,01). Pacientes mais velhos foram também mais freqüentemente dialisados. Em conclusão, os dados mostram que a letalidade da leptospirose é mais alta em adultos do que em crianças e adolescentes, mesmo após o ajuste para os efeitos de potenciais fatores de risco de morte. Entre adultos, idade avançada mostrou-se também associada fortemente e independentemente com risco mais alto de morte.

[Epidural clonidine or dexmedetomidine for post-cholecystectomy analgesia and sedation.]. / Clonidina e dexmedetomidina por via peridural para analgesia e sedação pós-operatória de colecistectomia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Clonidine and dexmedetomidine are alpha2-adrenergic agonists with analgesic proprieties which potentiate local anesthetic effects when epidurally administered. The goal of this study was to evaluate the analgesia and sedation promoted by clonidine or dexmedetomidine associated to epidural ropivacaine, in the postoperative period of subcostal cholecystectomy. METHODS: Forty patients of both gender participated in this randomized double-blind study , aged 18 to 50 years, weighing 50 to 100 kg, physical status ASA I or II, submitted to subcostal cholecystectomy. The subjects were distributed in two groups: Clonidine (CG), receiving clonidine (1 mL = 150 microg) associated to 0.75% epidural ropivacaine (20 mL); Dexmedetomidine (DG), receiving dexmedetomidine (2 microg.kg-1) associated to 0.75% epidural ropivacaine (20 mL). Analgesia and sedation were evaluated 2, 6 and 24 hours anesthetic recovery. RESULTS: Both groups present some grade of sedation in the moments 2 and 6 hours , with statistically significant difference between the two moments for the dexmedetomidine group. There has been analgesia in both groups, especially at 2 and 6 hours. There have been statistically significant difference among periods of 2, 6 and 24 hours in the dexmedetomidine group; in the clonidine group, this statistically significant difference was observed between the periods of 2 and 6 hours and between 2 and 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS: Our results allowed to conclude that the association of clonidine or dexmedetomidine to 0.75% ropivacaine induces analgesia and sedation in 2 and 6 hours after anesthetic recovery in patients submitted to subcostal cholecystectomy and that clonidine promotes more prolonged analgesia.

Analgesia e sedação da associação da clonidina e ropivacaína a 0, 75 por cento por via peridural no pós-operatório de colecistectomia aberta / Analgesia and sedation with epidural clonidine associated to 0. 75 percent ropivacaine in the postoperative period of open cholecystectomy

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A clonidina, quando administrada por via peridural, possui propriedades analgésicas e potencializa os efeitos dos anestésicos locais, ocorrendo, contudo, efeitos colaterais que incluem hipotensão arterial, bradicardia e sedação. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a analgesia e a sedação da clonidina associada à ropivacaína a 0,75 por cento no pós-operatório de colecistectomia aberta. MÉTODO: Participaram da pesquisa 30 pacientes, de ambos os sexos, com idades variando de 18 a 50 anos, peso entre 50 e 100 kg, estado físico ASA I e II, submetidos à colecistectomia, os quais foram distribuídos em dois grupos: Controle (GC), em que foi administrada ropivacaína a 0,75 por cento (20 ml), associada ao cloreto de sódio a 0,9 por cento (1 ml); Experimento (GE), em que foi injetada ropivacaína a 0,75 por cento (20 ml), associada à clonidina (1 ml = 150 'g). A analgesia e a sedação foram observadas 2, 6 e 24 horas após o término do ato operatório. RESULTADOS: A média de idade no GC foi de 41 anos e de 37 anos no GE. A média de peso foi de 67 kg no GC e de 64 kg no GE. A sedação no pós-operatório foi significativamente maior nos pacientes as 2 e 6 horas do grupo experimento. A analgesia foi observada em maior número de pacientes do grupo experimento, quando comparada ao grupo controle. CONCLUSÕES: A associação de clonidina e ropivacaína produziu analgesia mais duradoura e sedação em pacientes, nos horários de observação de 2 e 6 horas.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Epidural clonidine has analgesic properties and potentiates local anesthetic effects; there are, however, some side effects including: arterial hypotension, bradycardia and sedation. This study aimed at evaluating analgesia and sedation of clonidine associated to 0.75% ropivacaine in the postoperative period of open cholecystectomy. METHODS: Participated in this study 30 patients of both genders, aged 18 to 50 years, weighing 50 to 100 kg, physical status ASA I or II, submitted to cholecystectomy, who were distributed in two groups: Control Group (CG) received 0.75% ropivacaine (20 ml) with saline solution (1 ml); Experimental Group (EG) received 0.75% ropivacaine (20 ml) with clonidine (1 ml = 150 µg). Analgesia and sedation were observed at 2, 6 and 24 postoperative hours. RESULTS: Mean age was 41 yr in CG and 37 yr in EG. Mean weight was 67 kg in CG and 64 kg to EG. Postoperative sedation was significantly higher at 2 and 6 hours in the Experimental Group. Analgesia was observed in more EG patients as compared to Control Group. CONCLUSIONS: The association of clonidine and ropivacaine has produced longer analgesia and sedation at 2 and 6 hours of observation.

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: La clonidina, cuando administrada por vía peridural, posee propiedades analgésicas y potencializa los efectos de los anestésicos locales, ocurriendo por ello, efectos colaterales que incluyen hipotensión, bradicardia y sedación. El objetivo de ese trabajo fue evaluar la analgesia y la sedación de la clonidina asociada a la ropivacaína a 0,75% en el pos-operatorio de colecistectomia abierta. MÉTODO: Participaron de la pesquisa 30 pacientes, de ambos sexos, con edades variando de 18 a 50 años, con peso entre 50 y 100 kg, estado físico ASA I y II, sometidos a colecistectomia, y que fueron distribuidos en dos grupos: Control (GC), en que fue administrada ropivacaína a 0,75% (20 ml), asociada al clorato de sodio a 0,9% (1 ml); Experimento (GE), en que fue inyectada ropivacaína a 0,75% (20 ml), asociada a la clonidina (1 ml = 150 µg). La analgesia y la sedación fueron observadas 2, 6 y 24 horas después del término del momento operatorio. RESULTADOS: La media de edad en el GC fue de 41 años y de 37 años en el GE. La media de peso fue de 67 kg en el GC y de 64 kg en el GE. La sedación en el pos-operatorio fue significativamente mayor en los pacientes a las 2 y 6 horas del grupo de experimento. La analgesia fue observada en mayor número de pacientes del grupo de experimento, cuando comparada al grupo control. CONCLUSIONES: La asociación de clonidina y ropivacaína produjo analgesia que dura más, y sedación en pacientes, en los horarios de observación de 2 y 6 horas.

Penicillin at the late stage of leptospirosis: a randomized controlled trial.

There is evidence that an early start of penicillin reduces the case-fatality rate of leptospirosis and that chemoprophylaxis is efficacious in persons exposed to the sources of leptospira. The existent data, however, are inconsistent regarding the benefit of introducing penicillin at a late stage of leptospirosis. The present study was developed to assess whether the introduction of penicillin after more than four days of symptoms reduces the in-hospital case-fatality rate of leptospirosis. A total of 253 patients aged 15 to 76 years with advanced leptospirosis, i.e., more than four days of symptoms, admitted to an infectious disease hospital located in Salvador, Brazil, were selected for the study. The patients were randomized to one of two treatment groups: with intravenous penicillin, 6 million units day (one million unit every four hours) for seven days (n = 125) and without (n = 128) penicillin. The main outcome was death during hospitalization. The case-fatality rate was approximately twice as high in the group treated with penicillin (12%; 15/125) than in the comparison group (6.3%; 8/128). This difference pointed in the opposite direction of the study hypothesis, but was not statistically significant (p = 0.112). Length of hospital stay was similar between the treatment groups. According to the results of the present randomized clinical trial initiation of penicillin in patients with severe forms of leptospirosis after at least four days of symptomatic leptospirosis is not beneficial. Therefore, more attention should be directed to prevention and earlier initiation of the treatment of leptospirosis.

Penicillin at the late stage of leptospirosis: a randomized controlled trial

There is evidence that an early start of penicillin reduces the case-fatality rate of leptospirosis and that chemoprophylaxis is efficacious in persons exposed to the sources of leptospira. The existent data, however, are inconsistent regarding the benefit of introducing penicillin at a late stage of leptospirosis. The present study was developed to assess whether the introduction of penicillin after more than four days of symptoms reduces the in-hospital case-fatality rate of leptospirosis. A total of 253 patients aged 15 to 76 years with advanced leptospirosis, i.e., more than four days of symptoms, admitted to an infectious disease hospital located in Salvador, Brazil, were selected for the study. The patients were randomized to one of two treatment groups: with intravenous penicillin, 6 million units day (one million unit every four hours) for seven days (n = 125) and without (n = 128) penicillin. The main outcome was death during hospitalization. The case-fatality rate was approximately twice as high in the group treated with penicillin (12 percent; 15/125) than in the comparison group (6.3 percent; 8/128). This difference pointed in the opposite direction of the study hypothesis, but was not statistically significant (p = 0.112). Length of hospital stay was similar between the treatment groups. According to the results of the present randomized clinical trial initiation of penicillin in patients with severe forms of leptospirosis after at least four days of symptomatic leptospirosis is not beneficial. Therefore, more attention should be directed to prevention and earlier initiation of the treatment of leptospirosis

Analgesia and sedation with epidural clonidine associated to 0.75% ropivacaine in the postoperative period of open cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Epidural clonidine has analgesic properties and potentiates local anesthetic effects; there are, however, some side effects including: arterial hypotension, bradycardia and sedation. This study aimed at evaluating analgesia and sedation of clonidine associated to 0.75% ropivacaine in the postoperative period of open cholecystectomy. METHODS: Participated in this study 30 patients of both genders, aged 18 to 50 years, weighing 50 to 100 kg, physical status ASA I or II, submitted to cholecystectomy, who were distributed in two groups: Control Group (CG) received 0.75% ropivacaine (20 ml) with saline solution (1 ml); Experimental Group (EG) received 0.75% ropivacaine (20 ml) with clonidine (1 ml = 150 microg). Analgesia and sedation were observed at 2, 6 and 24 postoperative hours. RESULTS: Mean age was 41 yr in CG and 37 yr in EG. Mean weight was 67 kg in CG and 64 kg to EG. Postoperative sedation was significantly higher at 2 and 6 hours in the Experimental Group. Analgesia was observed in more EG patients as compared to Control Group. CONCLUSIONS: The association of clonidine and ropivacaine has produced longer analgesia and sedation at 2 and 6 hours of observation.

Electrocardiographic alterations in patients hospitalized with leptospirosis in the Brazilian city of Salvador.

OBJECTIVE: To report the frequency and types of electrocardiographic alterations in patients with leptospirosis in the first 24 hours of hospitalization. METHODS: We analyzed the electrocardiograms of 157 patients admitted to the Hospital Couto Maia in the city of Salvador, in the State of Bahia, Brazil, from March 1998 to June 1999. The electrocardiograms were performed in the first 24 hours after hospital admission, independent of the clinical manifestations of the patients. RESULTS: The mean +/- SD for patients' age was 35.5+/- 13.7 (median = 32) years, and jaundice was present in 95.5% of them. Alterations in the electrocardiogram were detected in 68.2% (107/157) of the patients (95% confidence interval = 60.6% - 75.1%). Atrial fibrillation was the most frequent arrhythmia, occurring in 10.8% (17/157) of the patients. Other frequent findings were alterations in ventricular repolarization detected in 38.9% (61/157) of patients and first-degree atrioventricular block in 10.2% (16/157). The patients with atrial fibrillation were older and had higher levels of creatinine and aminotransferases. CONCLUSION: In this sample, approximately 2/3 of the patients had electrocardiographic alterations after hospital admission. Of the major arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation was the most frequent, and the patients with this arrhythmia had evidence of more severe disease. The relation between the presence and type of electrocardiographic alteration and the prognosis of leptospirosis is yet to be assessed.

Electrocardiographic alterations in patients hospitalized with leptospirosis in the Brazilian City of Salvador

OBJECTIVE: To report the frequency and types of electrocardiographic alterations in patients with leptospirosis in the first 24 hours of hospitalization. METHODS: We analyzed the electrocardiograms of 157 patients admitted to the Hospital Couto Maia in the city of Salvador, in the State of Bahia, Brazil, from March 1998 to June 1999. The electrocardiograms were performed in the first 24 hours after hospital admission, independent of the clinical manifestations of the patients. RESULTS: The mean ± SD for patients' age was 35.5± 13.7 (median = 32) years, and jaundice was present in 95.5 percent of them. Alterations in the electrocardiogram were detected in 68.2 percent (107/157) of the patients (95 percent confidence interval = 60.6 percent - 75.1 percent). Atrial fibrillation was the most frequent arrhythmia, occurring in 10.8 percent (17/157) of the patients. Other frequent findings were alterations in ventricular repolarization detected in 38.9 percent (61/157) of patients and first-degree atrioventricular block in 10.2 percent (16/157). The patients with atrial fibrillation were older and had higher levels of creatinine and aminotransferases. CONCLUSION: In this sample, approximately 2/3 of the patients had electrocardiographic alterations after hospital admission. Of the major arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation was the most frequent, and the patients with this arrhythmia had evidence of more severe disease. The relation between the presence and type of electrocardiographic alteration and the prognosis of leptospirosis is yet to be assessed

The association between serum potassium at hospital admission and the case-fatality rate of leptospirosis in men

Severe leptospirosis affects predominantly males and presents a high susceptibility to hypokalemic acute renal failure. As hypokalemia and hyperkalemia induce severe complications, it is important to evaluate if the initial serum potassium is an independent risk factor for death in leptospirosis. The medical records of 1016 patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of leptospirosis were reviewed. The analysis was restricted to 442, according to the following criteria: male, 18 years or older, information about death or hospital discharge and recorded values of serum potassium, serum creatinine and duration of symptoms at admission. Potassium values lower than 3.5 mEq/L (hypoK), 3.5-5 mEq/L (normoK) and above 5 mEq/L (hyperK) were detected in 180, 245 and 17 patients, respectively. The death rate increased with serum potassium: 11.1 percent in the hypoK, 14.7 percent in the normoK and 47.1 percent in the hyperK group (p = 0.002). In a logistic regression model (normoK as referent), including age, creatinine and duration of symptoms, hypoK was not associated with increased death rate (odds ratio (OR) = 0.80; p > 0.1). On the other hand, hyperK showed a significant association with increased risk of death (OR = 3.95, p = 0.021). In conclusion, in this sample of men with leptospirosis initial serum potassium was positively and independently correlated with the risk of in-hospital death

Chest radiograph abnormalities in patients hospitalized with leptospirosis in the city of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

This study was designed to estimate the prevalence of pulmonary radiograph abnormalities and describe the distribution of the patterns of radiographic alterations among patients hospitalized with leptspirosis. Chest radiographs of 139 patients hospitalized with leptospirosis in Couto Maia Hospital, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, between July, 1997, and July, 1999, were analyzed. The radiographs were requested soon after hospital admission, independent of the clinical manifestations of the patients. Only the first radiograph was considered. Pulmonary radiograph alterations were recorded in 35/139 patients (25.2 percent); 95 percent mid-point confidence interval = 18.5 percent to 32.9 percent. Among the patients with radiograph alterations, alveolar infiltrate was seen in 26/35 (74.3 percent). The lesions were bilateral in 54.3 percent and located in the inferior lobes in 45.5 percent. Pleural effusion, represented by blunting of the costo-phrenic angle, was detected in 8.6 percent of the patients. The pattern of the pulmonary alterations, predominantly bilateral alveolar infiltrates, is consistent with the evidence that the basic pulmonay alteration in leptospirosis is a generalized capillaritis.

Massive ocular hemorrhage resulting in blindness in a patient with the sickle cell trait who developed leptospirosis. Case report

This case report describes the findings of a 18 year-old black male from Bahia, a Northeastern state in Brazil, with the sickle cell trait, who developed bilateral hyphema and vitreous hemorrhage with blindness in the course of leptospirosis. The patient started to complain of blurred vision four days after the start of fever and muscular pain and approximately twelve hours after the introduction of penicillin. The severity of the leptospirosis in conjunction with sickle cell trait was considered to be the most likely explanation for this ocular complication