[Fetal systolic time intervals. A non-invasive parameter for assessing the intrauterine condition of the fetus]. / Føtale systoliske tidsintervaller. En ikke-invasiv parameter til vurdering af fosterets intrauterine tilstand.

Various methods are employed in obstetric prophylaxis and treatment to assess the intrauterine condition of the foetus. The systolic time-intervals appear to be a promising new method because they reflect the contractility of the foetal heart which is a reflection of various physiological factors indluding hypoxia and asphyxia. Monitoring of the foetal systolic time intervals is therefore a more sensitive parameter of cardiac function than the foetal heart rate alone. By measurement of the foetal systolic time-intervals, it is therefore theoretically possible to evaluate the intrauterine situation of the foetus as abbreviated pre-exjection time (PEP) is a normal physiological reaction to scalp compressions, uterine contractions, or umbilical cord complications. Finally, the relationship between PEP and the ejection time (PEP/VET) is raised in asphyxia and greatly raised in imminent foetal death.

Intravenous magnesium in acute myocardial infarction.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 273 patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were randomised to receive either magnesium intravenously or placebo immediately on admission to hospital. Of 130 patients with proven AMI 56 received magnesium and 74 received placebo. During the first 4 weeks after treatment mortality was 7% in the magnesium group and 19% in the placebo group. In the magnesium group 21% of patients had arrhythmias that needed treatment, compared with 47% in the placebo group. No adverse effects of intravenous magnesium were observed.

A comparison of the hemodynamic effects of prenalterol and isoprenaline in patients with complete heart block.

Prenalterol is a new beta-adrenergic agonist which stimulates mainly beta 1-receptors, in contrast to isoprenaline which stimulates both beta 1- and beta 2-receptors. We studied the hemodynamic effects of prenalterol and isoprenaline in seven patients with complete heart block and idioventricular escape rhythm due to ischemic heart disease. Isoprenaline was given as a continuous infusion at two increasing doses (1.7 micrograms/min and 3.4 micrograms/min each given for 30 min). After the second dose of isoprenaline the cardiac index was increased from 2.27 +/- 0.06 to 3.61 +/- 0.60 1/min/m2, heart rate was increased from 34.1 +/- 1.2 to 50.4 +/- 3.1 beats/min and mean blood pressure was decreased by 12.4 mm Hg. Mean pulmonary artery pressure was increased by 2 mm Hg. Prenalterol was given as two i.v. bolus injections of 3.5 mg and 7.0 mg at 15-min intervals. The first dose of prenalterol increased the cardiac index from 2.22 +/- 0.10 to 2.42 +/- 0.12 and heart rate from 37.0 +/- 1.8 to 40.1 +/- 1.7. Mean blood pressure and mean pulmonary artery pressure were unchanged. The second dose of prenalterol did not change the hemodynamic variables significantly compared to the changes after the first dose. We conclude that isoprenaline is preferable to prenalterol for treatment of complete heart block.

Analgesic treatment with levomepromazine in acute myocardial infarction. A randomized clinical trial.

The efficacy of a non-narcotic analgesic is evaluated in a double-blind randomized series of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Levomepromazine or pethidine were given in 328 consecutive cases to 316 patients within 24 hours after the onset of symptoms. Levomepromazine, 12.5 mg, appeared as effective as pethidine, 50 mg, in the alleviation of pain, though the initial dose had to be higher. Nausea and vomiting were half as frequent in the levomepromazine group as in the pethidine group (p less than 0.001). The incidences of arrhythmias, lung oedema, hypotension and thromboembolic complications did not differ between the groups. The mortality rate in the first 4 weeks was 22% in the levomepromazine group and 37% in the pethidine group (p less than 0.005), and after one year 39 and 50% (p less than 0.05), respectively. It is concluded that levomepromazine is better tolerated than pethidine in AMI. This suggests that the present management of pain in AMI should be reconsidered.