Arthroscopic repair of massive rotator cuff tear. The role of the LHB distal tenotomy.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the results of an all arthroscopic technique for the treatment of massive rotator cuff tears using the long head of biceps as a graft to reconstruct the superior capsule and to reinforce the cuff. METHODS: A retrospective review of a consecutive series of arthroscopic repair of massive rotator cuff tears using the long head of biceps tendon was conducted. Twenty-five patients underwent surgery, and none were lost at follow-up. Minimum follow-up period was more than 12 months. Constant, UCLA and VAS scores as clinical outcome were analyzed. Time for surgical procedures was also registered. Two alternative procedures (transosseous or anchors) were employed to fix laterally the long head of biceps to the greater tuberosity and to reinforce the cuff. This choice was essentially determined by the bone quality of the greater tuberosity. RESULTS: All patients of both groups (Transosseous: 15 and Anchors: 10) showed a significant improvement of clinical and functional scores. Difference of the operative times between two procedures was statistically significant in favor of the anchor approach. No intraoperative complications were recorded. Postoperative shoulder stiffness was found in two male patients. In no case biceps tenodesis was performed: Popeye sign was easily detected in 16 patients but they did not complain any superior arm pain and weakness. CONCLUSION: This technique represents a valid solution for treatment of massive rotator cuff tears resulting safe, easier and cost saving in comparison with other published techniques.

Beach nourishment using sediments from relict sand deposit: Effects on subtidal macrobenthic communities in the Central Adriatic Sea (Eastern Mediterranean Sea-Italy).

Nowadays nourishment is the most popular shore reconstruction strategy to counteract erosion of coastal areas. Sediments used for nourishment can have terrestrial or marine origin. This study analysed the effects of nourishment with relict sand on the subtidal macrobenthic communities and on the surface sediment at 7 sites of the Marche Region (Central Adriatic Sea, Italy). Samples for biological and physical analyses were collected in each site before and after nourishment. One year after nourishment the presence of the relict sands used for the replenishment is still visible in the sediment of each site. In the same period macrobenthic communities are characterised by the dominance of a few species able to avoid burial and suffocation phenomena, showing a low variability respect to the communities present before.

Asymptomatic atrial fibrillation burden and thromboembolic events: piecing evidence together.

BACKGROUND: Contributory evidence on a direct association between asymptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) burden and thromboembolic events is conflicting and contradictory. The aim of the article is to gather evidence available for a direct correlation between burden and stroke. METHODS: A literature search was performed to capture studies reporting data on the impact of asymptomatic AF burden on the risk of stroke. Data was then extracted from each included study including burden of AF, hazard ratio (HR) for stroke, and CHADS2 score. A random effects meta-analysis was carried out on the log-transformed HRs for different subgroups of AF burden. A meta-regression was performed on the two variables: burden of asymptomatic AF and CHADS2 score. RESULTS: The random-effect pooled analysis performed on a single subgroup of the six studies reporting data on HR, showed a HR of 2.150 (95% CI 1.523-3.003) for stroke during asymptomatic AF compared to sinus rhythm. At univariate meta-regression, no correlation was detected between burden of asymptomatic AF and HR for stroke (p-value 0,874). When CHADS2 score was included in the regression model as a covariate, no significant association was detected (p-value 0,939). CONCLUSION: A direct correlation between burden of asymptomatic AF and HR for stroke cannot be detected in our pooled analysis. However, due to the limitations acknowledged in the analysis, our findings need to be confirmed in large cohort studies.

Risk of pocket hematoma in patients on chronic anticoagulation with warfarin undergoing electrophysiological device implantation: a comparison of different peri-operative management strategies.

OBJECTIVE: Periprocedural management of warfarin remains challenging in patients requiring electrophysiological device surgery. For patients at high risk of thromboembolic events, guidelines recommend bridging therapy with heparin; however, this strategy is associated with a high risk of pocket hematoma. This paper systematically reviews studies appraising the risk of pocket hematoma with different perioperative anticoagulation strategies. METHODS: All relevant studies identified in MEDLINE/PubMed, The Cochrane Collaboration CENTRAL, clinicaltrials.org and in bibliographies of key articles. Estimates were combined using a fixed effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed by p values of χ2 statistics and I2. Publication bias was assessed by visual examination of funnel plots and by Egger test. Fifteen studies enrolling 5911 patients met all inclusion criteria and were included in this review. RESULTS: Heparin bridging compared with no heparin was associated with increased risk of pocket hematoma (OR = 4.47, 95% CI 3.21-6.23, p < 0.00001), and prolonged hospital stay (9.13 ± 1.9 days vs. 5.11 ± 1 .39 days, p < 0.00001). Warfarin continuation was not associated with increased pocket hematoma compared to warfarin discontinuation (p = 0.38), but was associated with reduced risk of pocket hematoma compared with heparin bridging (OR = 0.37, 95% CI 0.2-0.69, p = 0.002). Thromboembolic complications were reduced with heparin bridging vs. no heparin (0.50% vs.1.07%, p = 0.02), and no significant differences were reported between heparin bridging vs. warfarin continuation (p = 0.83). CONCLUSIONS: Heparin bridging is associated with a higher risk of pocket hematoma and a prolonged hospital stay. Perioperative continuation of warfarin reduces the occurrence of pocket hematoma compared with heparin bridging without any significant differences in thromboembolic complications.

Stress-related biomarkers of dream recall and implicit memory under anaesthesia.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether auditory presentation of a story during general anaesthesia might influence stress hormone changes and thus affecting dream recall and/or implicit memory. One hundred and ten patients were randomly assigned either to hear a recording of a story through headphones or to have routine care with no auditory recording while undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Anaesthesia was standardised. Blood samples for cortisol and prolactin assays were collected 20 min before anaesthesia and 5 min after pneumoperitoneum. Dream recall and explicit/implicit memory were investigated upon awakening from anaesthesia and approximately 24 h after the end of the operation. Auditory presentation was associated with lower intra-operative serum prolactin concentration compared with control (p = 0.0006). Twenty-seven patients with recall of dreaming showed higher intra-operative prolactin (p = 0.004) and lower cortisol (p = 0.03) concentrations compared with those without dream recall. The knowledge of this interaction might be useful in the quest to ensure postoperative amnesia.

EPO modulation in a 14-days undersea scuba dive.

Erythropoiesis is affected during deep saturation dives. The mechanism should be related to a downregulation of serum Erythropoietin (s-EPO) concentration or to a toxic effect of the hyperbaric hyperoxia. We evaluated s-EPO and other haematological parameters in 6 scuba divers before, during and after a 14-days guinness saturation dive (8-10 m). Athletes were breathing air at 1.8-2 ATA, under the control of a team of physicians. Serum parameters were measured before diving (T0) and: 7 days (T1), 14 days (T2) after the beginning of the dive and 2 h (T3) and 24 h (T4) after resurfacing. Hgb, and many other haematological parameters did not change whereas Ht, s-EPO, the ratio between s-EPO predicted and that observed and reticulocytes (absolute, percent) declined progressively from T0 to T3. At T4 a significant rise in s-EPO was observed. Hgb did not vary but erythropoiesis seemed to be affected as s-EPO and reticulocyte counts showed. All these changes were statistically significant. The experiment, conducted in realistic conditions of dive length, oxygen concentration and pressure, allows us to formulate some hypotheses about the role of prolonged hyperbarism on erythropoiesis. The s-EPO rise, 24 h after resurfacing, is clearly documented and related to the "Normobaric Oxygen Paradox". This evidence suggests interesting hypotheses for new clinical applications such as modulation of s-EPO production and Hgb content triggered by appropriate O2 administration in pre-surgical patients or in some anemic disease.

Split spectrum: a multi-channel approach to elastic optical networking.

This paper introduces Split Spectrum, which enhances elastic optical networking by splitting a bulk traffic demand into multiple channels, when a single-channel transmission is prohibited by distance or spectrum availability. We performed transmission simulations to determine the maximum reach as a function of modulation format (dual polarization BPSK, QPSK, 16QAM), baud-rate (from 5 to 28 GBd), and number of ROADMs, for a Nyquist WDM super-channel with subcarrier spacing equal to 1.2 × baud-rate. Performance evaluation on two representative topologies shows that, compared to the previously proposed elastic optical networking, Split Spectrum doubles the zero-blocking load and achieves 100% higher network spectral efficiency at zero-blocking loads as a result of extended transmission distance and efficient utilization of spectrum fragments.

A physiologic comparison of proportional assist ventilation with load-adjustable gain factors (PAV+) versus pressure support ventilation (PSV).

PURPOSE: To compare patient-ventilator interaction during PSV and PAV+ in patients that are difficult to wean. METHODS: This was a physiologic study involving 11 patients. During three consecutive trials (PSV first trial--PSV1, followed by PAV+, followed by a second PSV trial--PSV2, with the same settings as PSV1) we evaluated mechanical and patient respiratory pattern; inspiratory effort from excursion Pdi (swing(Pdi)), and pressure-time products of the transdiaphragmatic (PTPdi) pressures. Inspiratory (delay(trinsp)) and expiratory (delay(trexp)) trigger delays, time of synchrony (time(syn)), and asynchrony index (AI) were assessed. RESULTS: Compared to PAV+, during PSV trials, the mechanical inspiratory time (Ti(flow)) was significantly longer than patient inspiratory time (Ti(pat)) (p < 0.05); Ti(pat) showed a prolongation between PSV1 and PAV+, significant comparing PAV+ and PSV2 (p < 0.05). PAV+ significantly reduced delay(trexp) (p < 0.001). The portion of tidal volume (VT) delivered in phase with Ti(pat) (VT(pat)/VT(mecc)) was significantly higher during PAV+ (p < 0.01). The time of synchrony was significantly longer during PAV+ than during PSV (p < 0.001). During PSV 5 patients out of 11 showed an AI greater than 10%, whereas the AI was nil during PAV+. CONCLUSION: PAV+ improves patient-ventilator interaction, significantly reducing the incidence of end-expiratory asynchrony and increasing the time of synchrony.

Chest ultrasounds to guide manual reexpansion of a postoperative pulmonary atelectasis: a case report.

Reexpansion of a pulmonary atelectasis is often difficult, even after removing possible causes of bronchial obstruction. Chest ultrasounds, inexpensive and readily available at the patient bedside, may offer valuable support to guide recruitment maneuvers. We report the case of a 57-year-old woman that developed a complete collapse of the left lung seven days after undergoing an intestinal resection for perforation. A mucous plug occluding the main bronchus was removed with bronchoscopy, but persistent hypoxemia required mechanical ventilation; 24 hours later, an attempt to wean the patient from the ventilator failed. Chest X-rays revealed the persistence of a partial collapse of the left inferior lobe associated with a pleural effusion. A chest ultrasound confirmed the presence of a lung consolidation and of a modest pleural effusion. Manual reexpansion was then attempted, and ventilatory pressures as well as the duration of forced inspirations were based on real-time ultrasound images. Complete reexpansion was achieved within a few minutes and confirmed by chest X-ray. The patient was weaned from mechanical ventilation on the same day and discharged from ICU three days later.

Influence of ventilator settings on patient-ventilator synchrony during pressure support ventilation with different interfaces.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate patient-ventilator interaction during pressure support ventilation (PSV) delivered with three interfaces [endotracheal tube (ET), face mask (FM), and helmet (H)] at different pressurization times (Time(press)), cycling-off flow thresholds (Tr(exp)), and respiratory rates (RR) in a bench study, and with FM and H in a healthy volunteers study. DESIGN: Bench study using a mannequin connected to an active lung simulator, and human study including eight healthy volunteers. MEASUREMENTS: PSV was delivered through the three interfaces with three different RR in the bench study, and through FM and H at two different RR in the human study. The mechanical and the neural RR, Ti, Te, inspiratory trigger delay (Delay(trinsp)), pressurization time, and expiratory trigger delay were randomly evaluated at various ventilator settings (Time(press)/Tr(exp): 50%/25%, default setting; 20%/5%, slow setting; 80%/60%, fast setting). RESULTS: Bench study: patient-ventilator synchrony was significantly better with ET, with lower Delay(trinsp) and higher time of assistance (P < 0.001); the combination Time(press)/Tr(exp) 20%/5% at RR 30 produced the worst interaction, with higher rate of wasted efforts (WE) compared with Time(press)/Tr(exp) 80%/60% (20%, 40%, and 50% of WE versus 0%, 16%, and 26% of all spontaneous breaths, with ET, FM, and H, respectively; P < 0.01). In both studies, compared with H, FM resulted in better synchrony. CONCLUSION: Patient-ventilator synchrony was significantly better with ET during the bench study; in the human study, FM outperformed H.

Use of corticosteroids in critically ill septic patients : a review of mechanisms of adrenal insufficiency in sepsis and treatment.

Adrenal insufficiency has being reported with increased frequency in critical ill patients with sepsis and other inflammatory states. Its incidence varies widely depending on the criteria used to define it and the patient population studied. Increased glucocorticoid action is essential in the stress response to acute injury and even minor degrees of adrenal insufficiency can be fatal. Recently the so-called relative or functional adrenal insufficiency (CIRCI) has been described: in this syndrome cortisol levels may be low or high but nonetheless inadequate to meet the elevated metabolic demand. Since laboratory diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency is still controversial, the diagnosis of ICU associated adrenal insufficiency is essentially a clinical diagnosis. Whether exogenous corticosteroid support may be beneficial in critical illness is still matter of debate: most international guidelines recommend that the decision to treat patients with corticosteroids should be based on clinical criteria (low blood pressure poorly responsive to vasopressor despite adequate fluid resuscitation) rather than on tests of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis alone. As regards specifically the role of steroids in the treatment of sepsis and septic shock, at present there are no strong evidence-based recommendations. More studies are needed to reach consensus about several issues: which is the best target population, whether a cosyntropin test should be used to guide treatment, whether fludrocortisones should be given along with hydrocortisone, and how long treatment should continue.

Intensive care after elective surgery: a survey on 30-day postoperative mortality and morbidity.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative admission to the surgical intensive care unit (S-ICU) is routinely planned in order to prevent and treat early complications. Currently, limited studies have been conducted on this topic, and as such, early morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing postoperative intensive care were investigated. METHODS: This prospective analysis was performed in the S-ICU of a University hospital and included 1045 consecutive patients. All patients underwent elective surgery and were admitted to the S-ICU on the basis of preoperative clinical assessment. On the second, seventh, and thirtieth postoperative days, the location of the patients was recorded (ICU, surgical ward, or home) as were any complications that occurred. Predicted mortality and morbidity were assessed using the POSSUM score. RESULTS: The observed postoperative mortality rate was 2.4% (95% CI: 1.5-3.3%), which was much lower than the rate predicted by both POSSUM (6.2%) and P-POSSUM (5.3%) analyses, and 36% of patients experienced complications, a percentage slightly higher than that predicted by POSSUM (30.2%). The first 48 hours following surgery were characterized by the highest mortality rate (2.85 deaths per thousand vs 0.7 per thousand by the third postoperative day) as well as the highest morbidity rate (7.7% vs 4.3% between the third and seventh postoperative days, and 0.9% between the eighth and thirtieth postoperative days). The presumed causes of early death were primarily secondary to cardiovascular complications (five out of six). CONCLUSIONS: The first 48 hours after surgery is a critical period in high-risk patients, and a stay in the S-ICU should be seriously considered. Planned admission to the S-ICU may effectively decrease postoperative mortality, as suggested by the highly significant difference between expected and observed deaths following S-ICU admission.

All-optical 40 Gbits/s packet regeneration by means of cross-gain compression in a semiconductor optical amplifier.

We experimentally demonstrate all-optical reshaping of 40 Gbits/s packets by using cross-gain compression in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). This scheme, which is based on cross-saturation effects between two conjugate signals copropagating in a single SOA, is wavelength preserving and polarization independent and does not suffer from any transient effect at packet edges. We report evidence of noise redistribution and packet reshaping by means of the bit-error rate versus threshold measurements for different input optical signal-to-noise ratios.

Leptin and perioperative neuroendocrine stress response with two different anaesthetic techniques.

BACKGROUND: Stress response to surgery is modulated by several factors, including magnitude of the injury, pain, type of procedure and choice of anaesthesia. Our purpose was to compare intra- and post-operative hormonal changes during total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) using propofol and remifentanil vs. sevoflurane anaesthesia in a low stress level surgical model (laparoscopy). METHODS: We randomly allocated 18 patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for benign ovarian cysts in two groups to receive either TIVA (group A=9) or sevoflurane anaesthesia (group B=9). Perioperative plasma levels of norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol and leptin were measured. Blood samples were collected pre-operatively (time 0), 30 min after the beginning of surgery (time 1), after extubation (time 2), and 2 h (time 3) and 4 h after surgery (time 4). RESULTS: The comparative analysis between the groups shows significantly higher values of NE (P<0.001 at time 1 and P<0.01 at time 3), E (P<0.001 at times 1 and 2; P<0.01 at time 3 and P<0.05 at time 4), ACTH (P<0.001 at times 1 and 2; P<0.05 at time 3) and cortisol (P<0.001 at times 1 and 2; P<0.01 at time 3; P<0.05 at time 4) in group B. The serum values of leptin were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The choice of anaesthesia does not seem to affect the leptin serum levels but influences the release of stress response markers: ACTH, cortisol, NE and E.

Fibrinolysis or hypercoagulation during radical prostatectomy? An evaluation of thrombelastographic parameters and standard laboratory tests.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Radical prostatectomy is at high risk for intraoperative and postoperative bleeding due to surgical trauma, release of urokinase and tissue type plasminogen activator. We conducted this prospective, observational multi-centre study to assess the degree of systemic fibrinolysis or hypercoagulation in the perioperative period. We studied serial changes in standard laboratory values and in thrombelastographic (TEG; Haemoscope Corporation, Skokie, IL, USA) parameters including lysis at 30 and 60 min (LY-30, LY-60), alpha-angle (alpha) and maximum amplitude. METHODS: In all, 49 patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy in five Italian University Hospitals were included. Blood samples were taken before surgery (T1), at the removal of the prostate (T2), 4 h after surgery (T3) and then 1 day after surgery (T4). Native blood samples were analysed using a thrombelastograph Haemoscope 5000 (Haemoscope Corporation). RESULTS: We did not see any relevant activation of fibrinolysis during any stage. Intraoperatively, we showed even more activated blood coagulation with consumption of fibrinogen and a reduced TEG percentage clot lysis. Only at the first postoperative sample point we saw a trend towards a more fibrinolytic state indicated by increasing partial thromboplastin time, LY-30 and LY-60 values, and a peak of the fibrin degradation product D-dimers. This is consistent with a normal reaction to the hypercoagulable state before and is unlikely to be due to an intraoperative tissue type plasminogen activator release. We found no evidence of an uncontrolled activation of fibrinolysis on the day after surgery. On the contrary, alpha-values which indicate the rate of clot formation and which increase during hypercoagulation showed the tendency to rise slightly compared with the preoperative value. CONCLUSION: Neither standard coagulation parameters nor TEG values showed any significant activation of fibrinolysis or of hypercoagulation in the preoperative period. Nevertheless, hypercoagulation seems to have a substantial clinical impact as it has been shown that cardiovascular complications and pulmonary embolism were the most common causes of death after retropubic prostatectomy.

Exposure to noise during continuous positive airway pressure: influence of interfaces and delivery systems.

BACKGROUND: We measured noise intensity and perceived noisiness during continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) performed with two interfaces (face-mask, helmet) and four delivery systems. METHODS: Eight healthy volunteers received CPAP in random order with: two systems provided with a flow generator using the Venturi effect and a mechanical expiratory valve (A: Venturi, Starmed; B: Whisperflow-2, Caradyne Ltd); one 'free-flow' system provided with high flow O(2) and air flowmeters, an inspiratory gas reservoir, and a water valve (C: CF800, Drägerwerk, AG); and a standard mechanical ventilator (Servoventilator 300, Siemens-Elema). Systems A, B, and C were tested with a face-mask and a helmet at a CPAP value of 10 cm H(2)O; the mechanical ventilator was only tested with the face mask. Noise intensity was measured with a sound-level meter. After each test, participants scored noisiness on a visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: The noise levels measured ranged from 57+/-11 dBA (mechanical ventilator plus mask) to 93+/-1 and 94+/-2 dBA (systems A and B plus helmet) and were significantly affected by CPAP systems (A and B noisier than C and D) and interfaces (helmet CPAP noisier than mask CPAP). Subjective evaluation showed that systems A and B plus helmet were perceived as noisier than system C plus mask or helmet. CONCLUSIONS: Maximum noise levels observed in this study may potentially cause patient discomfort. Less noisy CPAP systems (not using Venturi effect) and interfaces (facial mask better than helmet) should be preferred, particularly for long or nocturnal treatments.

Unusual presentation of leptospirosis in the late stage of pregnancy.

Here we report a case of leptospirosis without fever during the late stage of pregnancy in which the initial clinical presentation was more suggestive of a pregnancy-related liver dysfunction rather than an infectious disease. A 32-year-old primipara at 37 week of gestation was hospitalised with a 10-day history of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain without fever. Initial routine blood tests showed hyperbilirubinemia, a moderate increase in transaminase levels, severe coagulopathy and an increased creatinine level. On clinical suspicion of pregnancy-related liver dysfunction such as HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme levels, low platelet count) or acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP), emergency caesarean section was performed and a healthy baby was delivered. Postoperatively, the patient was stable, but 5 days later she developed clouding of consciousness, severe jaundice and respiratory failure. At this time, an infectious disease was considered and leptospirosis was confirmed by serological tests. In conjunction with intensive care management, antibiotic therapy was given; the patient was discharged in good condition and her baby did not develop signs of active leptospirosis. While leptospirosis is rare in pregnancy, this is the first report of acute infection without fever mimicking the clinical pattern of HELLP syndrome or AFLP

A normal response to Synachten test does not rule out corticosteroid effectiveness in weaning from catecholamine after septic shock.

Corticosteroids may improve haemodynamics and facilitate weaning from catecholamines in septic shock. According to some authors, such effects are only accomplished in the presence of absolute or relative adrenal insufficiency. Consequently, corticosteroids are usually given only to patients that present low blood cortisol values or show an inadequate response to cosyntropin (Synachten test). We report the case of a woman affected by septic shock secondary to pneumonia and dependent on norepinephrine infusion for 26 days, who was weaned from catecholamines with hydrocortisone, 100 mg/day i.v. She exhibited a normal response to Synachten, but corticosteroid therapy was continued because haemodynamics improved promptly. A pharmacological effect was hypothesized; the contemporary increase of platelet, decrease of white blood cells, and decrease of plasma fibrinogen supported this hypothesis.