Effect of low-dose methyl prednisolone on serum cytokine levels following extracorporeal circulation.

The systemic inflammatory response to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with increased production of cytokines. This systemic inflammatory response characterized by the activation of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) during and after CPB is well documented. A prospective, randomized, double-blind study was performed so as to understand the effects of low-dose methyl prednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) on the circulating levels of serum cytokines and clinical outcome. Twenty patients were randomly divided into two groups on the basis of the administration of low-dose (1 mg/kg) MPSS (n = 10) and placebo (n = 10) into the pump prime solution. All patients were scheduled to undergo a primary elective coronary artery bypass grafting operation. Patients receiving concurrent corticosteroids, salicylates, dipyridamol or anticoagulants were excluded from the study. Other exclusion criteria were concurrent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic renal failure, insulin-dependent diabetes, congestive cardiac failure, peptic ulcer history, prior cardiac operations, recent (in a one-month period) myocardial infarction and steroid dependency. Mild systemic hypothermia (30-32 degrees C, rectal) was assured during the CPB. Four blood samples were drawn from the radial artery catheter immediately before starting CPB (T1), following protamine administration (T2) and at 24 (T3) and 48 h (T4) after completion of CPB. In each sample, creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB), white blood cell (WBC), IL-6 and IL-8 levels were measured. IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations were measured by enzyme immunoassay and enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant assay methods. Serum IL-6 T2 and serum IL-6 T3 levels were significantly higher than IL-6 T1 levels in both groups (p < 0.001) and (p < 0.01), and there was no significant elevation in serum IL-8 levels in either group. Serum IL-6 levels were significantly higher in the placebo group than in the MPSS group at T3 (p < 0.009). There was no significant difference in CK-MB T1 levels between the groups. Although there was no significant difference between CK-MB T1 and T2 levels in the MPSS group, the CK-MB T2 and CK-MB T3 levels were significantly higher than T1 levels in the placebo group (p < 0.001) and (p < 0.05). There was significant elevation of WBC levels at T2 and T3 in both groups without notable difference between the groups (p < 0.05). This study has shown that low-dose MPSS suppresses CPB-induced inflammatory response. Further clinical studies (on larger and higher risk groups) may reveal more information on relations between morbidity and cytokine levels which may have some predictive value on clinical outcome following CPB.

Management of foreign body aspiration in infancy and childhood. A life-threatening problem.

It is well known that young children have tendency to place objects in their mouths, frequently leading to aspiration of foreign bodies (FBs) into the tracheobronchial tree (TBT). The patient group comprised 596 patients with a history of suspected aspiration of FBs into the TBT who were bronchoscoped for diagnosis and treatment. There were 306 male (51.3%) and 290 female (48.7%) patients, with a mean age of 2.4 years (range 3 months-13 years). Sunflower seeds and hazelnuts were the most common FBs that were extracted using an open-tube rigid bronchoscope (Storz, Germany) and suitable coaxial forceps (Storz, Germany). Patients admitted within 48 hours following the aspiration numbered 341 (57.2%). The distribution of FBs between the right and left lung and trachea was 53, 37 and five percent, respectively. The aspirated material was visible on the chest x-ray in only 10 percent cases, which facilitated in making the diagnosis. Despite a history of aspiration, bronchoscopy was negative in 21 (3.4%) of the cases. Thoracotomy and subsequent bronchotomy was the treatment of choice in seven (1.5%) and lobectomy in two (0.3%) cases. Cardiorespiratory arrest was observed in five (0.8%) cases, three of whom (0.5%) died during bronchoscopy (2 cases) or thoracotomy (1 case). In conclusion, patients with FB aspiration are rapidly recognized from their histories and easily treated by bronchoscopy and extraction of the aspirated foreign body. A high index of suspicion is crucial for early diagnosis. However, education is the best preventive measure for decreasing the incidence of this problem.

Venous lesions in Behçet's disease.

OBJECTIVES: Review of venous lesions in Behçet's disease (BD). DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: University Hospital, Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty nine patients with BD diagnosed and treated in our hospital during the last 10 years were reviewed. Fifty-two patients with 54 vascular lesions of Behçet's disease were identified. MAIN RESULTS: The incidence of isolated venous lesions in BD was 26%. Venous lesions developed after the initial diagnosis of BD in all patients within 10 years. Thirty-four (63%) of the 54 vascular lesions were venous and 15 (28%) were arterial. In 5 (9%) patients, both arterial and venous lesions were present. Deep vein thrombosis was the most frequent lesion (76%), followed by superficial thrombophlebitis (10%), superior vena cava thrombosis (10%) and inferior vena cava thrombosis (2%) and varicose veins (2%). CONCLUSIONS: Venous lesions are not rare and affect the prognosis of BD. For this reason, venous lesions of BD should always be sought at follow-up of patients with BD.

Surgical management of infected permanent transvenous pacemaker systems: ten year experience.

BACKGROUND: Between January 1985 and June 1995, more than 1800 consecutive patients underwent implantation of a new permanent cardiac pacemaker at our institution. Thirty-six patients (0.02%) had 45 reinterventions for infected pacemaker systems. METHODS: in group A, 24 of 27 patients received simultaneous implantation of a new pacemaker. One had reimplantation of the same pacemaker in the same pocket, and two did not require reimplantation. The leads were retained in 19 (70%) of the patients. In group B, nine patients underwent cardiopulmonary bypass or "pursestring" surgery for removal of an infected pacemaker; a new epicardial pacemaker system was simultaneously implanted in seven patients. RESULTS: Identification of an infectious agent failed in 17 patients (47%), and Staphylococci were found in 15 patients (42%). The time from pacemaker implantation to onset of infection ranged from 1 month to 11 years (mean 31 months; median 19 months) and the time from onset of infection to surgical treatment from 1 month to 7 years (mean 7 months; median 2 months). The mean follow-up time is 74 months (range, 1 month to 10 years; median 5 years). There were 9 reoperations in 3 patients (16%) of group A for recurrent infection of their retained leads ultimately necessitating the use of open cardiac surgery. There was no early death; six patients died late due to unrelated causes. CONCLUSIONS: Complete removal of all pacemaker leads is recommended; open heart surgery with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass is indicated in selected cases and is effective and safe.

Vascular injury during lumbar disc surgery. Report of two cases; a review of the literature.

Iatrogenic vascular injuries are unusual complications of lumbar disc surgery. The incidence of such injuries is very low but probably underestimated because clinical manifestations may be extremely variable depending on the extension of trauma. Diagnosis is suspected when early signs of retroperitoneal haemorrhage appear, but may often be delayed for weeks or years due to formation of a pseudoaneurysm or an arteriovenous fistula which may be of gradual onset and produce initially only a few symptoms. Prompt diagnosis and aggressive treatment can improve the current mortality rate of more than 50%. Two cases are described that illustrate the full spectrum of acute and chronic manifestations of such injuries. One case of acute haemorrhage due to arterial trauma was immediately detected and the other case with arteriovenous fistula was recognized several years post-operatively.

[The incidence of Campylobacter jejuni and other pathogenic bacteria in childhood summer diarrhea]. / Cocukluk çagi yaz ishallerinde Campylobacter jejuni ve diger patojen bakterilerin arastirilmasi.

It was investigated the incidence of Campylobacter jejuni which has been recognized as a common cause of akut gastroenteritis and other pathogenic bacteria in childhood summer diarrhea. It was examined 94 diarrheic patients stool in 0-5 years old in summer months 1985-86. Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella, Shigella were isolated as a pathogenic bacteria.