Identification of the hydration state in emergency patients: correlation between caval index and BUN/creatinine ratio.

BACKGROUND: Dehydration is a frequent clinical problem. No single laboratory value has been found to be accurate; however, the BUN/Creatinine Ratio appears the most sensitive parameter. The respiratory variation (Caval Index, CIn) in the diameter of the inferior vena cava has been investigated as a non-invasive marker for the intravascular volume status. AIM: The present study is performed with the aim to explore the relationship between CIn and BUN/creatinine ratio. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective, observational study was conducted at Emergency Department (ED) of San Paolo Hospital (Savona, Italy), in October 2011. RESULTS: 113 patients were considered eligible (mean age of 63 years). We found a good correlation between CIn and BUN/Cr Ratio (Pearson Index 0.76, p < 0.001). Receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) analyses indicated that the maximum value was 0.884 (p < 0.0001) and corresponded to CIn 60.7%, (sensitivity 79%, specificity 89%). CIn was a good predictor for patients with BUN/Cr ratio greater than 20, and was particularly strong in determining patients with lower BUN/Cr ratio. DISCUSSION: Our study suggests that inferior vena cava could provide indications on the state of hydration of the patients: we found that a caval index greater than or equal to 60% was associated with a BUN/Cr Ratio over 20, which is considered an important marker for dehydration. Therefore, bedside sonography can give emergency physicians immediate information on patient volume status long before obtaining laboratory findings. CONCLUSIONS: Our study seems to support the hypothesis that CIn can be a useful bedside marker to predict dehydration in Emergency Department (ED) patients.

[Intraoperative manometry during functional surgery of the esophagus]. / La manometria intraoperatoria nella chirurgia funzionale dell'esofago.

The purpose of this investigation was to verify the suitability of intra-operative manometry in the course of functional surgery of the esophagus, especially with reference to the results obtained in terms of sphincter functionality, related to the overall changes in symptoms and pH-metry. The practice disclosed herein refers solely to the Heller-Dor operation for esophageal achalasia and to the Nissen Rossetti operation for gastro-esophageal reflux. The promising results obtained using this method to achieve a complete myotomy during Heller's operation, in our opinion testify in favor of its usefulness with this type of surgical procedure. On the contrary, for preparing a fundoplication we feel that method is of orientative value only, since there is no correspondence between the values obtained at the end of the fundoplication and those recorded 18 to 24 months after surgery. The predictive nature of the examination is thus denied.

[Functional evaluation of gastric and jejunal transplant after esophagectomy]. / Valutazione funzionale dell'impianto gastrico e digiunale dopo esofagectomia.

Increased survival rates after esophagectomy for cancer and the significant development of forms of therapy alternate to surgical treatment, today compel surgeons to devote far more attention to the methods will pursue in reconstructing the alimentary tract after removal of the esophagus. Nine patients with esophago-gastro-plasty and 6 with esophago-jejuno-plasty, after esophagectomy for cancer, experienced a study of esophageal function. The study consisted of extended esophago-gastro-intestinal manometry, performed both while at digestive rest after a semi-solid meal, and of scintigraphy, performed to investigate gastric emptying. 24-hours esophago-gastric pH-metry was also executed, along with basal and stimulated acidity metering in, patients with gastroplasty. The fundamental alterations, from the manometric point of view in esophago-gastro-plasty, are the absence of phase III of the IMMC interdigestively and in the absence of a motor response when ingesting the meal. Scintigraphically this coincides with a fundamental alteration of gastric tubule emptying. On the contrary, in jejunoplasty the jejunal loop retains adequate motility, both during the interdigestive phase and following a meal. Such strikingly diverse motor behavior explains the higher quality of life of patients with jejunoplasty versus patients in whom the stomach is used to substitute for the esophagus.

[Computerized analysis of esophageal manometry]. / Analisi computerizzata della manometria esofagea.

Computerized analysis of esophageal manometry should consider the following objectives: a) objectivation of data acquisition; b) precision in calculating the various parameters; c) speed of analysis; d) an easy-to-read and promptly understandable graphic display of the manometric data; e) computation of new parameters capable of defining normal and pathologic function. It is with these objectives in mind that we launched our research project. Five normal subjects and 10 patients, of whom 5 presented esophageal achalasia and 5 gastroesophageal reflux disease, underwent computerized esophageal manometry and were evaluated on the basis of both traditional and innovative parameters, of our own inception. Among the various indexes tested, the "Esophageal transport" parameter, calculated as the ratio of momentum (dp*dT) over speed of propagation of the esophageal contractions, gave rise to particular interest. In our opinion, this parameter can be used as an index of the dynamic function of the organ.

[Esophago-gastro-intestinal manometry: study methods and potential clinical applications]. / La manometria esofago-gastro-intestinale: metodo di studio e possibili applicazioni cliniche.

Simultaneous manometry of the esophagus and stomach and/or of the jejunum is an unconventional investigative maneuver that, for the most part, maintains features typical of a physiopathologic inquiry rather than those of clinical testing. This method contemplates the radiologically guided installation of an 8-channel probe, with measuring sites spaced 5 cm one from the other. The proximal measuring site is generally positioned at the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), while the remaining are chosen in order to attain 3 or 4 tips in the stomach and 2 or 3 tips in the duodenum (in the jejunum following stomach resection). The examination lasts approximately 6 hours during digestive rest and 2 hours after administration of a solid test meal. Hence it is possible to evaluate the functional changes at the LES with reference to the phases of the Intestinal Migrating Motor Complex, as well as the possible adverse reactions of poor gastroduodenal motility on the sphincter, both during digestive rest and after a meal. The examination, besides the obvious interest of physiopathological nature, in the Authors' experience, has made it possible to attain quite helpful functional clarifications in identifying the clinical picture of patients with complex esophageal and gastric symptoms, reduced gastric emptying, whether or not associated with mixed reflux in the esophagus. This evaluation was found to be useful both in patients with an "intact" stomach and in those who experienced surgery of the initial portion of the digestive tract.

[Sphincter function after low anterior resection of the rectum]. / La funzionalità sfinteriale dopo resezione anteriore bassa del retto.

Until a few years ago, surgical technique and the age-old convictions of oncological radicality rejected very low rectal resections for cancer, particularly as the problem of postoperative incontinence did not exist. Currently, on the other hand, with the advent of mechanical staplers, the surgeon attempts increasingly to reconcile the possibility of using new sphincter-saving techniques with adequate oncological radicality, backed by accurate pre- and intraoperative staging. It is underlined that postoperative assessment of sphincter function in all its aspects, both clinical and instrumental, may be useful for the purpose of clarifying what anatomical structures should really be saved, delegated to retaining sphincter sensitivity and reflexes, so improving the functional results of operations. In addition, the almost rare identification of manifest or latent postoperative incontinence would make it possible to intervene in operated patients, for example by functional reeducation techniques as happens in the relatively recent biofeedback techniques.