[Results and surgical complications of living donor nephrectomy: open vs hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy]. / Résultats et complications chirurgicales de la néphrectomie donneur vivant : lombotomie vs laparoscopie manuellement assistée.

PURPOSE: Hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy in living donors is a minimally invasive surgical modality. Laparoscopic nephrectomy is now a routine procedure. This study compares an initial group of patients undergoing laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy to a group of patients undergoing open donor. Donor morbidity and graft function in the laparoscopic group were compared with those in the open group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 53 consecutive laparoscopic nephrectomy and compared them with 60 consecutive open donor nephrectomies. RESULTS: Demographic data of donors and recipients were similar in the two groups. No conversion to open surgery was necessary. Laparoscopic group patients had a shorter hospital stay compared to those undergoing open surgery. Long-term follow-up of serum creatinine levels revealed no significant differences among the two groups: at 3.6 and 12 months: 112 (+/-27) versus 122 (+/-11), 111 (+/-25) versus 119 (+/-19), 114 (+/-23) versus 122 (+/-25). There was no difference between hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy (two vesico ureteral leak, three hematoma (one needed a surgical revision) and lombotomy (one vesico ureteral leak, one hematoma needed a surgical revision, two arteries stenosis). The rate of recipient ureteral stenosis in the laparoscopic and open nephrectomy groups was 0 of 39 cases and two of 60, respectively. Two vesico ureteral leak versus none appear in the lapararoscopic group. CONCLUSION: Hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy in living donors is a safe procedure which presented low morbidity after surgery. This provides equal graft function equal urological complications compared to open live donor nephrectomy. This is our reference method.

[Local guidelines and quality of antibiotic treatment in urinary tract infections: a clinical audit in two departments of a university hospital]. / Impact de recommandations locales sur la qualité de l'antibiothérapie dans l'infection urinaire. Audit clinique dans 2 services d'un hôpital universitaire.

AIM: To assess the effect of local guidelines implemented at the Nantes University Hospital regarding antibiotic therapy for urinary tract infections. DESIGN: Before/after study of one medical ward and one urologic surgery ward. Quality was measured by two principal criteria: compliance with guidelines and medical justification in the specific clinical situation. Both criteria considered simultaneously the choice of drug, dose and duration of treatment. Deviations from the guidelines were described. RESULTS: 1086 UTI cases were identified over two 12-month periods, before and after the dissemination of guidelines (for prostatitis, pyelonephritis, indwelling catheter-associated UTIs, and other undefined UTIs). The guidelines were applicable in 313 (30%) cases. Overall, after implementation of the guidelines, the percentage of justified prescriptions did not change significantly (41.8% compared with 38.7%, p=0.299), but the percentage of correct (conforming) prescriptions fell (from 30.4% to 15.7%, p=0.0022). The percentages of correct and justified prescriptions differed in the medical (respectively 45.0% and 46.6%,) and surgical units (13.1% and 36.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Issuing guidelines does not necessarily improve the quality of antibiotic therapy for UTIs in hospitals.

[Adequate prescription of antibiotic therapy for urinary tract infections in hospital: identifying and correcting non-observance of guidelines]. / Bonnes pratiques de prescription des antibiotiques pour la prise en charge des infections urinaires en milieu hospitalier: identification des écarts aux recommandations et actions correctrices.

OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the adequacy of antibiotic therapy prescribed for urinary tract infections (UTI): prostatitis, pyelonephritis, indwelling catheter-associated UTIs, or other undefined UTIs. DESIGN: The adequacy of prescriptions to local guidelines was assessed retrospectively in two wards (Internal Medicine and Surgical Urology) of the Nantes University Hospital. The principal criteria involved simultaneously: choice of the molecule, dose, and treatment duration. Non-observances of guidelines were major (non-adequacy of the molecule, prescription of a non-active molecule according to in vitro susceptibility tests, non-appropriate treatment abstention), or minor (non-justified treatment, non-justified bitherapy, no prescription of bitherapy when requested, no treatment adaptation when requested, too short or too long treatment length, dosage mistakes). RESULTS: One thousand eighty-six infections were collected over a 24-month period. The overall rate of adequate prescriptions was 40.1% (46.6% in Internal Medicine and 36.5% in Surgical Urology). In Internal Medicine (226 non observance among 389 prescriptions), the ratio of major non-observance of guidelines was 9.8%. Among them, 44.7% were non-appropriate treatment abstentions. In Surgical Urology (539 non observance out of 695 prescriptions), non-observance related to treatment length were the most frequent. The ratio of major non-observance was 19.9%. Among them, non-adequacy of the molecule reached 60.7%. Non-justified treatment and non-appropriate bitherapies were frequent. CONCLUSIONS: For both units, indwelling catheter-related UTIs and other UTIs accounted for more than 50% of the infections although not detailed in the local guidelines. Identifying and analyzing Non observance may lead to targeted correcting actions to improve prescription quality.

[Anaesthesia and prostate surgery]. / Anesthésie et chirurgie de la prostate.

OBJECTIVES: To review the current data about anaesthetic management in prostate surgery with special regards on analysis and prevention of specific risks, appropriate anaesthetic procedure keeping with surgery and patient, recognition and treatment of adverse events. DATA SOURCES AND EXTRACTION: The Pubmed database was searched for articles (1990-2004) combined with references analysis of major articles on the field. DATA SYNTHESIS: It is strongly recommended to settle germfree urine in the preoperative period. The thromboembolic risk of radical retropubic prostatectomy for cancer parallels lower abdomen oncologic surgery and is prolonged. Preoperative evaluation of cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological and metabolic comorbidity is a source of prognostic information and an essential tool in the management of elderly patients with prostate disease. Extreme patient positioning applied in prostate surgery induces haemodynamic and respiratory changes and are associated with severe muscular and nervous injuries. The laparoscopic access for radical prostatectomy is a growing alternative to the open surgical procedure. Acute normovolaemic haemodilution is a consistent and cost-effective blood conservation strategy in reducing allogenic blood transfusion for radical retropubic prostatectomy. Whether open transvesical or transurethral prostatectomy for treatment of benign hypertrophy depends on the size of the gland: transurethral resection is safe up to 80 g. Intrathecal anaesthesia with a T9 cephalad spread of sensory block, produces adequate conditions for transurethral prostatectomy and allows a rapid diagnosis of irrigating fluid absorption syndrome. In spite of recommended preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis, bacteriemias are frequent during transurethral prostate resection.

Sedation caused by clonidine in patients with spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND: In patients with spinal cord injury, cephalad spread of intrathecal (i.t.) medication could be delayed. METHODS: We used bispectral index and an observer scale to assess sedation after two different doses of i.t. clonidine in patients with or without spinal cord injury. Twelve patients with neurological deficit caused by trauma (Spinal Cord Injury, SCI) were compared with patients without neurological disease. They received 10 mg of i.t. bupivacaine with clonidine, with either 50 microg (low dose, n=6) or 150 microg (high dose, n=6) at L(2)-L(3). A further 12 patients, six with spinal trauma lesion and six healthy, received i.t. bupivacaine and 150 micro g of i.m. clonidine. RESULTS: Sedation and a decrease in BIS occurred only in patients receiving 150 microg of clonidine. Onset of sedation and the decrease in BIS was delayed in most spinal cord injured patients whatever the route of administration (P<0.001). Duration of sedation was not different between the groups. Delayed sedation and decrease of BIS after i.t. clonidine in patients with spinal cord injury are similar than those observed after i.m. clonidine. CONCLUSION: A systemic effect is likely to be the main reason for sedation.

Intrathecal anesthesia: ropivacaine versus bupivacaine.

We compared intrathecal ropivacaine to bupivacaine in patients scheduled for transurethral resection of bladder or prostate. Doses of ropivacaine and bupivacaine were chosen according to a 3:2 ratio found to be equipotent in orthopedic surgery. One hundred patients were randomly assigned to blindly receive either 10 mg of isobaric bupivacaine (0.2%, n = 50) or 15 mg of isobaric ropivacaine (0.3%, n = 50) over 30 s through a 27-gauge Quincke needle at the L2-3 level in the sitting position. Onset and offset times for sensory and motor blockades and mean arterial blood pressure were recorded. Pain at surgical site requiring supplemental analgesics was recorded. Cephalad spread of sensory blocks was higher with bupivacaine (median level, cold T(4) and pinprick T(7)) than with ropivacaine (cold T(6) and pinprick T(9)) (P<0.001). Eight patients in Group Ropivacaine received IV alfentanil (P<0.01). Onset time (mean +/- SD) to T(10) anesthesia and offset time at L2 were not different (bupivacaine = 13 +/-8 min, 127+/-41 min; ropivacaine = 11+/-7 min, 105+/-29 min). Complete motor blockade occurred in 43 patients with bupivacaine and in 41 patients with ropivacaine (not significant). Total duration of motor blockade was not different. No difference in hemodynamic effects was detected between groups. No patient reported back pain. We conclude that 15 mg of intrathecal ropivacaine provided similar motor and hemodynamic effects but less potent anesthesia than 10 mg of bupivacaine for endoscopic urological surgery.

Intrathecal bupivacaine in humans: influence of volume and baricity of solutions.

BACKGROUND: The effects of volume and baricity of spinal bupivacaine on block onset, height, duration, and hemodynamics were studied. METHODS: Ninety patients undergoing endoscopic urologic procedures were randomized to receive 10 mg of intrathecal bupivacaine at L2-L3 level in sitting position. In the operating room, commercial products were diluted as needed with NaCl 0.9% to obtain isobaric solutions (density, 1.005-1.008) or with NaC 10.9% and glucose 30% to obtain hyperbaric solutions (density, 1.031-1.037) of 2, 5, or 10 ml (six groups of 15 patients each). Three minutes after spinal injection the patients were placed in lithotomy position. Sensory blockade was assessed using pinprick and cold sensation tests, and motor blockade was assessed using a four-point scale. RESULTS: Onset times to maximal cephalad spread of spinal blockade were similar with isobaric and hyperbaric solutions. A greater maximal cephalad spread of anesthesia was obtained with diluted isobaric bupivacaine but was not associated with more hypotension. Volume had no effect on cephalad extent of anesthesia with hyperbaric bupivacaine. Times for regression of anesthesia to L2 and offset of motor block were longer with isobaric than with hyperbaric solutions of bupivacaine. The intensity of motor blockade was decreased with diluted hyperbaric bupivacaine. No patient reported back pain. CONCLUSION: In this study, volume had no significant influence on either cephalad spread or duration of sensory blockade for either isobaric or hyperbaric bupivacaine. Time for offset of anesthesia was shorter with hyperbaric bupivacaine compared with isobaric solutions.

The urodynamic effects of intravenous opioids and ketoprofen in humans.

UNLABELLED: We used a double-blind design to study urodynamic changes induced by mu-agonists (fentanyl, morphine), a partial mu-agonist antagonist (buprenorphine), a putative mu-antagonist, kappa-agonist (nalbuphine), and ketoprofen, an injectable nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug. Men (20-55 yr old) were randomly assigned to receive one of the following i.v. before anesthesia for endoscopic extraction of a ureteral stone: 10 mg of morphine, 0.3 mg of buprenorphine, 0.35 mg of fentanyl, 20 mg of nalbuphine, 100 mg of ketoprofen, or 10 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride. The urodynamic study consisted of cystometry followed by urethral pressure profile. Measurements were taken before the i.v. infusion of drugs and 15 min thereafter. Statistical comparisons were performed by using analysis of variance with repeated measurements (P < 0.05). Ketoprofen and saline did not induce any urodynamic changes. Opioids altered bladder sensations, and the residual volume after voiding increased, except after morphine. Detrusor contraction decreased only after the administration of fentanyl and buprenorphine. Some patients could not micturate after receiving morphine, fentanyl, and buprenorphine. Compliance and urethral pressures did not change with any drug. This study suggests that ketoprofen and nalbuphine are useful analgesics in terms of their urodynamics. IMPLICATIONS: We compared the urodynamic effects of opioids and ketoprofen used as analgesics in surgical patients. In contrast to ketoprofen, opioids altered urodynamics. The opioid nalbuphine had no effect on detrusor contraction. This study suggests that ketoprofen and nalbuphine are useful analgesics in terms of their urodynamics.

A chronic model for experimental investigation of epidural anesthesia in the rabbit.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A rabbit chronic model has been developed for investigation of epidural anesthesia without surgery. METHODS: A catheter was implanted via a nontraumatic route in the lumbar epidural space between the apex coccis sacri and the first vertebra coccygea after a 1-cm incision was made in the skin at the root of the tail. The ligamentum was punctured to allow the catheter to slide gently 10 cm into the epidural space and avoid subperiosteal soft tissue dissection. The motor block effects of epidural lidocaine and bupivacaine were studied 1 week after implantation. Three injections of lidocaine 1% (group I) or 2% (group II) or bupivacaine 0.25% (group III) or 0.5% (group IV) were given at 48-hour intervals to four rabbits in each group. Increasing concentrations (0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0%) of lidocaine and bupivacaine (0.125, 0.25, and 0.5%) were injected into eight rabbits in each of groups V and VI. The spinal cord and meninges were examined histopathologically in eight other chronically implanted rabbits that received no drugs. RESULTS: Catheters were kept in place during 2 months in 40 rabbits without neurologic disturbance, discomfort, infection or weight loss. Complete motor block was observed during a mean 27, 43, and 51 minutes with increasing doses of lidocaine. Administration of bupivacaine 0.125% led to incomplete motor deficit in three rabbits, whereas all other rabbits exhibited complete motor block, lasting a mean of 26, 53, and 93 minutes for increasing doses. Linear relationships were found between the concentration of each drug and the duration of motor block (r = .902, P < .001 for lidocaine; and r = .857, P < .001 for bupivacaine). Repeated injections of local anesthetics produced consistent durations of motor block (Bland and Altman test). No significant histologic changes were observed. CONCLUSION: This rabbit model appears to be a suitable tool for evaluating motor block of epidural agents under standardized experimental conditions.

Pharmacodynamic dose-response and safety study of cisatracurium (51W89) in adult surgical patients during N2O-O2-opioid anesthesia.

After administration of doses ranging from 0.025 to 0.25 mg/kg, the neuromuscular blocking effect of cisatracurium was assessed in 119 adult surgical patients receiving N2O-opioid-midazolam-thiopental anesthesia. The calculated 95% effective dose (ED95) for inhibition of adductor pollicis twitch evoked at 0.1 Hz was 0.053 mg/kg. With 0.10 mg/kg injected over 5-10 and 20-30 s, median onset times (range) were 5.8 (3.0-7.7) and 4.8 (1.2-10.2) min, respectively, and median times to 5% and 95% recovery (range) were 27 (19-46) and 48 (25-68) min, respectively. For doses of 0.10, 0.20, and 0.25 mg/kg, median 5%-95% and 25%-75% recovery indexes ranged from 48 to 90 min and 8 to 9 min, respectively. After administration of neostigmine (0.06 mg/kg) at 10%-15% or 16%-30% recovery, the median times to 95% recovery (range) were 6 (2-22) and 4 (2-5) min, respectively. There were no changes in heart rate, blood pressure, or plasma histamine concentrations during the first 5 min after administration of cisatracurium at doses up to 5 x ED95 injected over 5-10 s. No cutaneous flushing or bronchospasm was noted. In summary, cisatracurium is a potent neuromuscular blocking drug with an intermediate duration of action, characterized by excellent cardiovascular stability, with no apparent histamine release.

Ketamine and norketamine plasma concentrations after i.v., nasal and rectal administration in children.

It has been suggested that nasal administration of ketamine may be used to induce anaesthesia in paediatric patients. We have examined the pharmacokinetics of ketamine and norketamine after nasal administration compared with rectal and i.v. administration in young children. During halothane anaesthesia, 32 children, aged 2-9 yr, weight 10-30 kg, were allocated randomly to receive ketamine 3 mg kg-1 nasally (group IN3) or ketamine 9 mg kg-1 nasally (group IN9); ketamine 9 mg kg-1 rectally (group IR9); or ketamine 3 mg kg-1 i.v. (group IV3). Venous blood samples were obtained before and up to 360 min after administration of ketamine. Plasma concentrations of ketamine and norketamine were measured by gas liquid chromatography. Statistical comparisons were performed using ANOVA and the Kruskall-Wallis test, with P < 0.05 as significant. Mean plasma concentrations of ketamine peaked at 496 ng ml-1 in group IN3 within 20 min, 2104 ng ml-1 in group IN9 within 21 min, and 632 ng ml-1 in group IR9 within 42 min. Plasma concentrations of norketamine peaked at approximately 120 min after nasal ketamine, but appeared more rapidly after rectal administration of ketamine and were always higher than ketamine concentrations in the same situation. Calculated bioavailability was 0.50 in groups IN3 and IN9 and 0.25 in group IR9. We conclude that nasal administration of low doses of ketamine produced plasma concentrations associated with analgesia, but using high doses via the nasal route produced high plasma concentrations of ketamine similar to those that induce anaesthesia. However, the large volume of ketamine required was partly swallowed and led to an unacceptable variability of effect that precludes this route for induction of anaesthesia.

Retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy: animal and human anatomic studies.

Retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy with CO2 insufflation was performed in 11 goats. The hemodynamic and blood gas repercussions of retroperitoneal laparoscopy were compared during the first 30 minutes with those induced by intraperitoneal laparoscopy. With the animal placed in the left lateral supine position, the hemodynamic and blood gas changes were similar with the two techniques and had a similar time course. The technical feasibility of retroperitoneal laparoscopy in animals was confirmed in the fresh human cadaver. The technical feasibility of retroperitoneal laparoscopy and the absence of any particular hemodynamic and blood gas repercussions encourage us to develop this approach for clinical upper urinary tract surgery.

Motor and blood pressure effects of epidural sustained-release bupivacaine from polymer microspheres: a dose-response study in rabbits.

The incorporation of local anesthetics into injectable polymer microspheres can be useful in providing prolonged regional effects. This randomized study was designed to compare the effects of bupivacaine and bupivacaine-loaded microspheres on the time course of motor block in rabbits injected epidurally. Bupivacaine-loaded microspheres and drug-free microspheres 1-10 microns in size were devised from poly-d,l-lactic acid by using a solvent evaporation/extraction method. The effects of bupivacaine and of similar amounts of bupivacaine-loaded microspheres were studied in 26 rabbits as follows: 0.9% sodium chloride, followed by drug-free microspheres, then 1.25 mg of bupivacaine and 1.25 mg of bupivacaine-loaded microspheres (Group I; n = 8); 2.5 mg of bupivacaine, then 2.5 mg of bupivacaine-loaded microspheres (Group II; n = 8); and 5 mg of bupivacaine and 5 mg of bupivacaine-loaded microspheres (Group III; n = 10). Motor block was evaluated blindly by observation of walking disturbances, using a scale from 0 (free movements) to 3 (total limb paralysis). A period of 3 days elapsed between each injection. No limitation on movements was observed after 0.9% sodium chloride and drug-free microsphere injection. With 5 mg, both bupivacaine solutions provided complete motor block which was significantly more prolonged (+244% +/- 129%, mean +/- SD) with bupivacaine-loaded microspheres than bupivacaine. With 2.5 and 1.25 mg, block intensity was less marked, and block duration was shorter after administration of bupivacaine-loaded microspheres than after bupivacaine. We concluded that blocks resulting from bupivacaine-loaded microspheres are highly influenced by the amount of drug initially released by the polymer.

Premedication with midazolam in children. Effect of intranasal, rectal and oral routes on plasma midazolam concentrations.

We report a study performed to compare the time and plasma drug concentrations necessary to achieve a similar state of sedation after midazolam premedication given by various routes in children of 2-5 years old. Children were randomly allocated to one of three groups to receive midazolam 0.2 mg.kg-1 given intranasally, 0.5 mg.kg-1 given orally or 0.3 mg.kg-1 given rectally. Sedation was measured regularly until venepuncture was possible in a cooperative child. At this time, a first blood sample was taken to measure plasma concentration, followed by another 10 min later. Anaesthesia consisted of intravenous propofol supplemented with regional analgesia. At recovery from anaesthesia, a third blood sample was taken. Adequate sedation occurred sooner (7.7, SD 2.4 min) with intranasal than oral (12.5, SD 4.9 min) or rectal (16.3, SD 4.2 min) midazolam. The initial blood levels were lower when the drug was given by the alimentary routes despite higher doses (146, SD 51 ng.ml-1 in 11.5, SD 3.9 min; 104, SD 34 ng.ml-1 in 21 +/- 6 min; and 93, SD 63 ng.ml-1 in 23.1, SD 3.5 min for the intra nasal, rectal and oral routes respectively). Duration of surgical procedures, and of propofol infusion, and recovery from anaesthesia was similar for the three groups. The only problem arose in a 30-month-old boy in the intranasal group who developed respiratory depression with a plasma midazolam concentration of 169 ng.ml-1. Intranasal midazolam is an excellent alternative for rapid premedication provided that respiratory monitoring is used.

Acute effects of urapidil on left ventricular function in hypertensive patients: comparison with clonidine using radionuclide angiography.

We have studied the effects of urapidil 0.4 mg kg-1 i.v. and clonidine 2.5 micrograms kg-1 i.v. on left ventricular volume and function in 20 patients with chronic coronary artery disease and essential hypertension. Patients were studied using 99mtechnetium radionuclide angiography with first-pass and ECG-gated equilibrium blood-pool techniques and non-invasive sphygmomanometry. Administration of both urapidil and clonidine caused a similar decrease in mean arterial pressure (20%), associated with an equivalent reduction in systemic vascular resistance. Despite the decrease in mean arterial pressure, heart rate did not change after administration of clonidine, but there was an early and transient increase of 13% after urapidil. There were no changes in cardiac index, but in contrast with clonidine, urapidil caused a decrease in stroke index. In both groups, global left ventricular ejection fraction did not change. Urapidil produced a mean decrease in end-diastolic volume of 8% and a mean decrease in end-systolic volume of 13%, in contrast with clonidine which caused little change. Reduced arterial pressure, systemic vascular resistance and preload after urapidil 0.4 mg kg-1 i.v., associated with lack of prolonged tachycardia and preserved global left ventricular performance, may have obvious clinical implications in anaesthesia.

Plasma concentrations of midazolam after i.v., nasal or rectal administration in children.

Midazolam is used frequently for premedication in children, preferably by non-parenteral administration. We have compared plasma concentrations of midazolam after nasal, rectal and i.v. administration in 45 children (aged 2-9 yr; weight 10-30 kg) undergoing minor urological surgery. General anaesthesia consisted of spontaneous respiration of halothane and nitrous oxide in oxygen via a face mask. After administration of atropine and fentanyl i.v., children were allocated randomly to receive midazolam 0.2 mg kg-1 by the nasal, rectal or i.v. route. In the nasal group, children received 50% of the dose of midazolam in each nostril. In the rectal group, midazolam was given rectally via a cannula. Venous blood samples were obtained before and up to 360 min after administration of the drug. Plasma concentrations of midazolam were measured by gas chromatography and electron capture detection. After nasal and rectal administration, midazolam Cmax was 182 (SD 57) ng ml-1 within 12.6 (5.9) min, and 48 (16) ng ml-1 within 12.1 (6.4) min, respectively. Rectal administration resulted in smaller plasma concentrations. In the nasal group, a plasma concentration of midazolam 100 ng ml-1 occurred at about 6 min. After 45 min, the concentration curves after i.v. and nasal midazolam were similar.