[Hepatology]. / Hépatologie.

Therapy by pegylated interferon-alpha (PEG-IFN-alpha), lamivudine and adefovir have significantly improved treatment perspectives for patients with chronic hepatitis B. New nucleos(t)ide analogues should permit the development of more effective combination therapies. In autoimmune hepatitis, if there is no response or an intolerance to therapy with prednisone and imurek, administration of mycophenolate mofetil should be envisaged. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) therapy, at a dosage of 13-15 mg/ kg/day, remains the treatment of choice for primary biliary cirrhosis and should be administered at an early stage to improve patients' survival. In the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, thiazolidinediones show considerable promise, but further clinical studies are required in order to prove their efficacity and safety.

[Auto-immune liver diseases and their treatment]. / Les hépatopathies auto-immunes et leurs traitements.

There are three main types of auto-immune liver disease, auto-immune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis. In the case of auto-immune hepatitis, prednisone therapy, with or without azathioprine, can improve quality of life and halt progression to cirrhosis. If there is no response or if the therapy is poorly tolerated, mycophenolate mofetil or cyclosporin should be considered. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), at a dosage of 13 to 15 mg/kg/day slows the progression of fibrosis in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. Pruritus may be treated with cholestyramine, rifampicin or opiate antagonists. Ursodeoxycholic acid at a dosage of 20 to 30 mg/kg/day will slow the evolution of fibrosis.

Do explicit appropriateness criteria enhance the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy?

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Appropriateness of use of colonoscopy is an important issue in health care in the quest to improve quality of care while at the same time containing costs. This prospective study examined whether detailed and explicit appropriateness criteria significantly improve the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients referred for diagnostic colonoscopy at five centers (one university hospital and its outpatient department, two district hospitals, and two gastroenterology practices) were prospectively studied over a 17-month period. The appropriateness of the indications for these colonoscopies was assessed using explicit Swiss criteria developed by the Rand Corporation/University of California at Los Angeles (RAND/UCLA) panel method, and the relationship between appropriateness of use and the presence of clinically relevant endoscopic lesions was analysed. RESULTS: 1188 patients were included in the study. Indications for 1144 (96.3 %) of the colonoscopies could be evaluated using explicit criteria; 64.1 % of the colonoscopies were judged appropriate, 13.3 % uncertain and 22.6 % inappropriate. Significant endoscopic lesions were found in 23.8 % of the colonoscopies. Colonoscopies judged appropriate or uncertain yielded significantly more relevant lesions than did those judged to be inappropriate (25.6 % vs. 17.4 %; P = 0.007). Of 51 colon cancers, all but one were found in colonoscopies judged to be appropriate or uncertain. In a multivariate analysis, the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy was significantly influenced by appropriateness, patient gender and treatment setting. CONCLUSIONS: The use of detailed and explicit appropriateness criteria for colonoscopy significantly enhances the identification of relevant lesions and in particular of colon cancer. The use of such criteria could therefore improve patient selection for colonoscopy and thus contribute to efforts aimed at enhancing the quality and efficiency of care.

Is the diagnostic yield of upper GI endoscopy improved by the use of explicit panel-based appropriateness criteria?

BACKGROUND: Increasing the appropriateness of use of upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is important to improve quality of care while at the same time containing costs. This study explored whether detailed explicit appropriateness criteria significantly improve the diagnostic yield of upper GI endoscopy. METHODS: Consecutive patients referred for upper GI endoscopy at 6 centers (1 university hospital, 2 district hospitals, 3 gastroenterology practices) were prospectively included over a 6-month period. After controlling for disease presentation and patient characteristics, the relationship between the appropriateness of upper GI endoscopy, as assessed by explicit Swiss criteria developed by the RAND/UCLA panel method, and the presence of relevant endoscopic lesions was analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 2088 patients (60% outpatients, 57% men) were included. Analysis was restricted to the 1681 patients referred for diagnostic upper GI endoscopy. Forty-six percent of upper GI endoscopies were judged to be appropriate, 15% uncertain, and 39% inappropriate by the explicit criteria. No cancer was found in upper GI endoscopies judged to be inappropriate. Upper GI endoscopies judged appropriate or uncertain yielded significantly more relevant lesions (60%) than did those judged to be inappropriate (37%; odds ratio 2.6: 95% CI [2.2, 3.2]). In multivariate analyses, the diagnostic yield of upper GI endoscopy was significantly influenced by appropriateness, patient gender and age, treatment setting, and symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Upper GI endoscopies performed for appropriate indications resulted in detecting significantly more clinically relevant lesions than did those performed for inappropriate indications. In addition, no upper GI endoscopy that resulted in a diagnosis of cancer was judged to be inappropriate. The use of such criteria improves patient selection for upper GI endoscopy and can thus contribute to efforts aimed at enhancing the quality and efficiency of care. (Gastrointest Endosc 2000;52:333-41).

[When competence and creativeness coincide]. / Wenn Kompetenz auf Kreativität trifft.

Hepatitis B is not perceived as a serious health hazard in the general population, even less so in adolescents. Specific information in a clear and understandable language is crucial to obtain good acceptance of vaccination against hepatitis B. Adolescents are the best mediators to communicate this message to persons of their age as they take into account the group's specific sensitivity, culture and language. A close collaboration between youngsters and experts is needed to produce attractive, precise and correct information concerning the prevention of hepatitis B infections.

Performance of panel-based criteria to evaluate the appropriateness of colonoscopy: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Prospective data describing the appropriateness of use of colonoscopy based on detailed panel-based clinical criteria are not available. METHODS: In a cohort of 553 consecutive patients referred for colonoscopy to two university-based Swiss outpatient clinics, the percentage of patients who underwent colonoscopy for appropriate, equivocal, and inappropriate indications and the relationship between appropriateness of use and the presence of relevant endoscopic lesions was prospectively assessed. This assessment was based on criteria of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and explicit American and Swiss criteria developed in 1994 by a formal panel process using the RAND/UCLA appropriateness method. RESULTS: The procedures were rated appropriate or equivocal in 72.2% by criteria of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, in 68.5% by explicit American criteria, and in 74.4% by explicit Swiss criteria (not statistically significant, NS). Inappropriate use (overuse) of colonoscopy was found in 27.8%, 31.5%, and 25.6%, respectively (NS). The proportion of appropriate procedures was higher with increasing age. Almost all reasons for using colonoscopy could be assessed by the two explicit criteria sets, whereas 28.4% of reasons for using colonoscopy could not be evaluated by the criteria of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (p < 0.0001). The probability of finding a relevant endoscopic lesion was distinctly higher in the procedures rated appropriate or equivocal than in procedures judged inappropriate. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of inappropriate use of colonoscopy is substantial in Switzerland. Explicit criteria allow assessment of almost all indications encountered in clinical practice. In this study, all sets of appropriateness criteria significantly enhanced the probability of finding a relevant endoscopic lesion during colonoscopy.

Nitric oxide and prostacyclin as test agents of vasoreactivity in severe precapillary pulmonary hypertension: predictive ability and consequences on haemodynamics and gas exchange.

BACKGROUND: In patients with primary pulmonary hypertension who respond to vasodilators acutely, survival can be improved by the long term use of calcium channel blockers. However, testing for such a response with calcium channel blockers or prostacyclin (PGI2) may cause hypotension and adversely affect gas exchange. Nitric oxide (NO), which does not have these effects, could be a better test agent. METHODS: NO (10, 20, and 40 ppm for 15 minutes), PGI2 (1-->10 ng/kg/min), and oral nifedipine (10 mg, then 20 mg/h) were administered sequentially to 10 patients after determination of the 24 hour spontaneous variability of their pulmonary and systemic mean arterial pressures. Patients were considered responders if the mean pulmonary artery pressure or pulmonary vascular resistance decreased by 20% or more. RESULTS: Six patients (60%) responded to all three agents, and three to none of the agents. One patient responded to PGI2 only. In those who responded to vasodilators, NO had no major effect on gas exchange or systemic haemodynamics, while PGI2 and nifedipine both induced systemic hypotension (mean (SD) systemic arterial pressure 72 (14) versus 89 (19) mm Hg with PGI2 and 72 (15) versus 86 (17) mm Hg with nifedipine, p < 0.05) and hypoxaemia (PaO2 8.7 (1.4) versus 10.8 (1.0) kPa with PGI2 and 8.6 (1.4) versus 10.2 (1.5) kPa with nifedipine, p < 0.05) and increased venous admixture (28 (9) versus 14 (4)% with PGI2 and 22 (9) versus 13 (5)% with nifedipine, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: NO inhalation can accurately predict a vasodilator response to nifedipine in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension without adverse effects on systemic haemodynamics and gas exchange. This absence of side effects may make it a more appropriate agent for testing the vasodilator response.

Sedation and analgesia for colonoscopy: patient tolerance, pain, and cardiorespiratory parameters.

BACKGROUND: Colonoscopy is generally performed with the patient sedated and receiving analgesics. However, the benefit of the most often used combination of intravenous midazolam and pethidine on patient tolerance and pain and its cardiorespiratory risk have not been fully defined. METHODS: In this double-blind prospective study, 150 outpatients undergoing routine colonoscopy were randomly assigned to receive either (1) low-dose midazolam (35 micrograms/kg) and pethidine (700 micrograms/kg in 48 patients, 500 micrograms/kg in 102 patients), (2) midazolam and placebo pethidine, or (3) pethidine and placebo midazolam. RESULTS: Tolerance (visual analog scale, 0 to 100 points: 0 = excellent; 100 = unbearable) did not improve significantly more in group 1 compared with group 2 (7 points; 95% confidence interval [-2-17]) and group 3 (2 points; 95% confidence interval [-7-12]). Similarly, pain was not significantly improved in group 1 as compared with the other groups. Male gender (p < 0.001) and shorter duration of the procedure (p = 0.004), but not amnesia, were associated with better patient tolerance and less pain. Patient satisfaction was similar in all groups. Oxygen desaturation and hypotension occurred in 33% and 11%, respectively, with a similar frequency in all three groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the combination of low-dose midazolam and pethidine does not improve patient tolerance and lessen pain during colonoscopy as compared with either drug given alone. When applying low-dose midazolam, oxygen desaturation and hypotension do not occur more often after combined use of both drugs. For the individual patient, sedation and analgesia should be based on the endoscopist's clinical judgement.

Effects of inhaled salmeterol and salbutamol (albuterol) on morning dips compared in intensive care patients recovering from an acute severe asthma attack.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of a long-acting inhaled beta 2-agonist, salmeterol (SM), compared to a short-acting inhaled beta 2-agonist, salbutamol (or albuterol, SB) on the occurrence of morning dip (MD) in patients recovering from an acute severe asthma attack (ASA). DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: 18-bed, medical intensive care unit (ICU) in a university hospital. PATIENTS: 19 patients suffering from an ASA. INTERVENTIONS: Serial measurements of the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), arterial blood gases, vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were performed from admission. All patients were first treated with i.v. methyl prednisolone and i.v. SB. Once the PEFR was stable and > 35% of predicted value, i.v. SB was stopped while i.v. steroids were maintained, and patients were randomised to either inhaled SB (9 patients, 400 micrograms every 4 h) or inhaled SM (10 patients, 100 micrograms every 12 h). RESULTS: The mean admission PEFR was 26.1 +/- 11.7% of the predicted value and was not different between the two groups. MD was more frequent with SB (6/9 patients) than with SM (4/10). The severity of MD, expressed in l/min fall in PEFR, was higher in SB than in SM (106 +/- 25 vs 55 +/- 37; p < 0.05). DISCUSSION: MD is frequent in ASA. In ASA, SM appears to reduce the frequency and the severity of MD more than SB. The clinical implications of this observation, particularly a lowering of mortality and a shortening of the ICU stay, remain to be investigated.

Haemodynamic and endocrinological effects of noninvasive mechanical ventilation in respiratory failure.

The aim of this study was to investigate the haemodynamic and endocrinological effects of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV). Eleven patients with oedema and recent hypercapnic and hypoxaemic worsening of a chronic respiratory insufficiency were included. Echocardiography, cardiac radionuclide assessment, blood catecholamines, salt and water handling hormones were measured at admission and discharge (long study (LS)). To discriminate between the action of NIPPV and other treatments, measurements were performed on the fourth day, for 4 h without NIPPV and 4 h with NIPPV (short study (SS)). NIPPV entailed a correction of P(a,CO2) and an increase of P(a,O2) in LS and SS. Oedema disappeared. Body weight decreased (from 85+/-42 to 81+/-40 kg) during LS. Systolic and mean pulmonary arterial pressure decreased in LS and SS. Right ventricular ejection fraction increased in LS. Left ventricular ejection fraction did not change. Cardiac index was normal on admission and then decreased. Natriuretic peptides and catecholamines were increased on admission, whereas plasma renin activity, aldosterone and vasopressin were normal. We suggest that in these patients, oedema can occur independently of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-vasopressin and with a normal cardiac output. Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation allowed a correction of blood gases, associated with the resolution of oedema, a decrease in pulmonary arterial pressures and an increase in right ventricular ejection fraction.

Appropriateness and diagnostic yield of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in an open-access endoscopy unit.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: This prospective study tested the appropriateness of referrals for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in an open-access endoscopy unit, using the criteria of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. It also examined whether there was any relationship between appropriateness of use and the presence of significant lesions detected by endoscopy. METHODS: Four hundred fifty consecutive upper gastrointestinal endoscopies were studied prospectively. The referral indication was recorded by the endoscopist before the procedure was performed, and was compared with the current criteria of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and with endoscopic findings. RESULTS: The appropriateness of referral was assessed in 442 consecutive endoscopies. Of these, 252 (57%) were judged to be appropriate. In 168 (88%) of the 190 endoscopies rated as inappropriate, the reason was that the patient had not undergone empirical anti-ulcer therapy before endoscopy. The probability of finding a significant lesion did not differ between the endoscopies judged to be appropriate (50%) and those judged to be inappropriate (46%) CONCLUSIONS: Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was frequently used for inappropriate indications. The main reason for inappropriate use was insufficient treatment, or no treatment, of dyspeptic symptoms prior to endoscopy. In this study, the criteria for appropriateness did not predict the probability of finding a significant endoscopic lesion.

Unusual cause of lethal pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Two patients admitted to two different medical wards of our institution following respiratory decompensation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were subsequently transferred to the same room of the medical intensive care unit (ICU) and intubated. Both patients developed invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and died soon after. Because COPD itself is rarely associated with lethal pulmonary aspergillosis, both cases were reviewed, and a retrospective investigation was conducted. Both patients had repeated sputum cultures while on the medical ward before their admission to the ICU; none of the sample grew Aspergillus spp. A. fumigatus was found in tracheal aspirates of both patients from the first day of their intubation while in the ICU. The pulmonary condition of both patients worsened, and invasive aspergillosis was diagnosed by bronchoalveolar lavage. Despite therapy with amphotericin B, the patients died 16 and 22 d after intubation, respectively. Both deaths were attributed to pulmonary aspergillosis; autopsy confirmed a massive pneumonia of the five lobes due to A. fumigatus in one patient. Investigation revealed that an air filter had been replaced 30 h before the first patient was admitted to the room. Experimental air filter replacement performed 12 d after the second patient died revealed the presence of A. fumigatus on the surface of the filters as well as a 10-fold increase in room air fungal counts during the procedure. This study shows that exposure to high concentrations of airborne Aspergillus spp. related to air filter change was associated with fatal invasive aspergillosis in two mechanically ventilated patients. Such infection can be prevented by the establishment and application of guidelines for air filter replacement.

Bacterial overgrowth during treatment with omeprazole compared with cimetidine: a prospective randomised double blind study.

BACKGROUND: Gastric and duodenal bacterial overgrowth frequently occurs in conditions where diminished acid secretion is present. Omeprazole inhibits acid secretion more effectively than cimetidine and might therefore more frequently cause bacterial overgrowth. AIM: This controlled prospective study compared the incidence of gastric and duodenal bacterial overgrowth in patients treated with omeprazole or cimetidine. METHODS: 47 outpatients with peptic disease were randomly assigned to a four week treatment regimen with omeprazole 20 mg or cimetidine 800 mg daily. Gastric and duodenal juice were obtained during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and plated for anaerobic and aerobic organisms. RESULTS: Bacterial overgrowth (> or = 10(5) cfu/ml) was present in 53% of the patients receiving omeprazole and in 17% receiving cimetidine (p < 0.05). The mean (SEM) number of gastric and duodenal bacterial counts was 6.0 (0.2) and 5.0 (0.2) respectively in the omeprazole group and 4.0 (0.2) and 4.0 (0.1) in the cimetidine group (p < 0.001 and < 0.01; respectively). Faecal type bacteria were found in 30% of the patients with bacterial overgrowth. Basal gastric pH was higher in patients treated with omeprazole compared with cimetidine (4.2 (0.5) versus 2.0 (0.2); p < 0.001) and in patients with bacterial overgrowth compared with those without bacterial overgrowth (5.1 (0.6) versus 2.0 (0.1); p < 0.0001). The nitrate, nitrite, and nitrosamine values in gastric juice did not increase after treatment with either cimetidine or omeprazole. Serum concentrations of vitamin B12, beta carotene, and albumin were similar before and after treatment with both drugs. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that the incidence of gastric and duodenal bacterial overgrowth is considerably higher in patients treated with omeprazole compared with cimetidine. This can be explained by more pronounced inhibition of gastric acid secretion. No patient developed signs of malabsorption or an increase of N-nitroso compounds. The clinical significance of these findings needs to be assessed in studies with long-term treatment with omeprazole, in particular in patients belonging to high risk groups such as HIV infected and intensive care units patients.

Relationship between pulmonary oxygen consumption, lung inflammation, and calculated venous admixture in patients with acute lung injury.

OBJECTIVE: To determine in patients with acute lung injury whether increased pulmonary oxygen consumption (VO2pulm), computed as the difference between oxygen consumption measured by indirect calorimetry (VO2meas) and calculated by the reverse Fick method (VO2Fick), would: (1) correlate with the degree of lung inflammation assessed by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL); (2) lead to an overestimation of calculated venous admixture (Qva/Qt). DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University hospital, medical intensive care unit. INTERVENTION: None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: In nine mechanically ventilated patients with acute lung injury (Apache II 12 +/- 5, lung injury score 2 +/- 0.6, mean +/- SD), whole-body VO2 (VO2wb) was determined simultaneously by indirect calorimetry and the reverse Fick technique, after which BAL was immediately performed. VO2meas was significantly higher than VO2Fick (128 +/- 24 and 102 +/- 18 ml/min per m2, respectively, p < 0.001). Median VO2pulm was 25.3 ml/min per m2 (range 1.98-51.5), thus representing 19 +/- 11% of VO2wb. Total BAL cellularity was increased in all patients (median 47, range 24-200 x 10(4)/ml), as was the total polymorphonuclear (PMN) count (median 78 range 5-93 x 10(4)/ml). Macrophage counts were in the normal range. There were raised BAL levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) (median 945, range 23-1800 ng/ml) and elastase (median 391, range 5-949 ng/ml). Median protein levels were 270 micrograms/ml (range 50-505). There was no correlation between VO2pulm and BAL cellularity, PMNs, elastase, IL-6, or protein. Qva/Qt was 31.7 +/- 8%. Qva/Qt, corrected for the presence of VO2pulm, (Qva/Qtcorr), was 30.3 +/- 8% (P < 0.01 vs Qva/Qt), a 4.2% overestimation due to VO2plum. There was no correlation between Qva/Qt or Qva/Qtcorr and VO2pulm. CONCLUSIONS: In mechanically ventilated patients with acute lung injury, VO2pulm was increased and led to a 19% underestimation of VO2wb determined by the reverse Fick method, as well as to a 4.2% overestimation of calculated Qva/Qt. Lung inflammatory activity was increased, as assessed by BAL cellularity, IL-6 and elastase levels. However, there was no correlation between VO2pulm and the intensity of pulmonary inflammation.

Effects of rapid permissive hypercapnia on hemodynamics, gas exchange, and oxygen transport and consumption during mechanical ventilation for the acute respiratory distress syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the effects of rapid permissive hypercapnia on hemodynamics and gas exchange in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: 18-bed, medical intensive care unit, university hospital. PATIENTS: 11 mechanically ventilated ARDS patients. INTERVENTION: Patients were sedated and ventilated in the controlled mode. Hypercapnia was induced over a 30-60 min period by decreasing tidal volume until pH decreased to 7.2 and/or P50 increased by 7.5 mmHg. Settings were then maintained for 2 h. RESULTS: Minute ventilation was reduced from 13.5 +/- 6.1 to 8.2 +/- 4.1 l/min (mean +/- SD), PaCO2 increased (40.3 +/- 6.6 to 59.3 +/- 7.2 mmHg), pH decreased (7.40 +/- 0.05 to 7.26 +/- 0.05), and P50 increased (26.3 +/- 2.02 to 31.1 +/- 2.2 mmHg) (p < 0.05). Systemic vascular resistance decreased (865 +/- 454 to 648 +/- 265 dyne.s.cm-5, and cardiac index (CI) increased (4 +/- 2.4 to 4.7 +/- 2.4 l/min/m2) (p < 0.05). Mean systemic arterial pressure was unchanged. Pulmonary vascular resistance was unmodified, and mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) increased (29 +/- 5 to 32 +/- 6 mmHg, p < 0.05). PaO2 remained unchanged, while saturation decreased (93 +/- 3 to 90 +/- 3%, p < 0.05), requiring an increase in FIO2 from 0.56 to 0.64 in order to maintain an SaO2 > 90%. PvO2 increased (36.5 +/- 5.7 to 43.2 +/- 6.1 mmHg, p < 0.05), while saturation was unmodified. The arteriovenous O2 content difference was unaltered. Oxygen transport (DO2) increased (545 +/- 240 to 621 +/- 274 ml/min/m2, p < 0.05), while the O2 consumption and extraction ratio did not change significantly. Venous admixture (Qva/Qt) increased (26.3 +/- 12.3 to 32.8 +/- 13.2, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that acute hypercapnia increases DO2 and O2 off-loading capacity in ARDS patients with normal plasma lactate, without increasing O2 extraction. Whether this would be beneficial in patients with elevated lactate levels, indicating tissue hypoxia, remains to be determined. Furthermore, even though hypercapnia was well tolerated, the increase in Qva/Qt, CI, and MPAP should prompt caution in patients with severe hypoxemia, as well as in those with depressed cardiac function and/or severe pulmonary hypertension.

Influence of the quality of nursing on the duration of weaning from mechanical ventilation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of nursing on the duration of weaning from mechanical ventilation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. DESIGN: Data were collected prospectively over a 1-yr period (study year) and compared with previously collected prospective data recorded in our chronic obstructive pulmonary disease database during a 5-yr period. SETTING: The medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital. PATIENTS: Eighty-seven patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Fifteen patients had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that required mechanical ventilation for acute exacerbation of their disease (study year), and 72 were patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from the previously collected data. INTERVENTIONS: The ICU course (duration of mechanical ventilation, mortality) was recorded, as well as several respiratory parameters (pulmonary function tests and arterial blood gases in stable conditions, and nutritional status), and they were compared with an "index of nursing." MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We developed an "index of nursing", comparing the effective workforce of the nurses (number and qualifications) with the ideal workforce required by the number of patients and the severity of their diseases. A value of 1.0 represented a perfect match between the needed and the effectively present nurses, whereas a lesser value signified a diminished available workforce. This index was compared with the complications and duration of weaning from mechanical ventilation. During the first 5 yrs, the duration of mechanical ventilation increased progressively from 7.3 +/- 8.0 to 38.2 +/- 25.8 days (p = .006). A significant inverse correlation between the duration of mechanical ventilation and the nursing index (p = .025) was found. In the sixth comparative year, the number of nurses increased (nursing index = 1.05) and the duration of mechanical ventilation decreased to 9.9 +/- 13 days (p < .001, yr 5 vs. yr 6). CONCLUSIONS: The quality of nursing appears to be a measurable and critical factor in the weaning from mechanical ventilation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Below a threshold in the available workforce of ICU nurses, the weaning duration of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease increases dramatically. Therefore, very close attention should be given to the education and number of ICU nurses.

Adult and paediatric size bronchoscopes for bronchoalveolar lavage in mechanically ventilated patients: yield and side effects.

BACKGROUND: Bronchoalveolar lavage is considered a safe procedure. When performed in the mechanically ventilated patient, however, potentially harmful effects on respiratory and haemodynamic functions have been reported in which the size of the bronchoscope may play a part. Two different size bronchoscopes (adult and paediatric) were therefore investigated with regard to bronchoalveolar lavage yield and side effects. METHODS: Twenty mechanically ventilated patients underwent bronchoalveolar lavage with both adult and paediatric bronchoscopes in a randomised sequential manner. RESULTS: In a total of 45 pairs of bronchoalveolar lavage procedures no difference was noted between adult and paediatric bronchoscopes with regard to total cell yield, differential cell count, and microbiological results. Peak intratracheal pressure increased with the adult bronchoscope only. Systemic arterial pressures increased more with the adult than with the paediatric bronchoscope. PaO2 decreased with the adult but not with the paediatric bronchoscope. CONCLUSIONS: The paediatric bronchoscope offers a comparable bronchoalveolar lavage yield in mechanically ventilated patients to the adult bronchoscope, while the respiratory and haemodynamic side effects are significantly lower than with the adult size instrument.

Effect of cisapride on gallbladder motility after extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Altered gallbladder motility is regarded as one of the important factors involved in the formation and recurrence of gallstones. Previous studies have suggested that cisapride increases postprandial gallbladder contraction and may therefore be theoretically useful in preventing stone recurrence. The aim of our study was therefore to investigate the effect of cisapride on gallbladder motility in stone-free patients after extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy, as compared to healthy volunteers pair-matched for age and sex. METHODS: Each subject received cisapride or placebo in a double-blind, cross-over, random order. Gallbladder volumes were measured by ultrasonography in the fasting state and after intake of a standard liquid meal. Plasma cholecystokinin levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Fasting gallbladder volumes were smaller in patients as compared to volunteers (20.7 +/- 1.3 ml vs. 46.0 +/- 9.2 ml; p < 0.05) but were not modified by cisapride (21.1 +/- 1.7 ml vs. 58.6 +/- 11.3 ml). The maximal postprandial decrease in gallbladder volume was similar in patients and volunteers (64.5 +/- 12% vs. 62 +/- 10%; NS) and was not significantly altered by cisapride (59 +/- 9.4% vs. 54 +/- 9%; NS). In patients, cisapride increased integrated postprandial gallbladder volume by accelerating gallbladder refilling as compared to placebo by 37 +/- 15% (p < 0.05). Integrated cholecystokinin plasma levels were similar in patients and volunteers and were 13.4 +/- 4.7% higher after cisapride as compared to placebo (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that cisapride does not alter postprandial gallbladder contraction but accelerates gallbladder refilling in patients free from gallstones after extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy. This effect of cisapride is probably due to an acceleration of gastric emptying also causing a secondary enhanced cholecystokinin release.

Conscious sedation for gastroscopy: patient tolerance and cardiorespiratory parameters.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Most patients receive conscious sedation for gastroscopy. However, the benefit of the most often used combination of low-dose intravenous midazolam and topical lidocaine on patient tolerance remains poorly defined and has not been shown to outweigh cardiorespiratory risks. To respond to these issues, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled prospective study was performed. METHODS: Two hundred outpatients undergoing diagnostic gastroscopy were assigned to receive either (1) midazolam (35 micrograms/kg) and lidocaine spray (100 mg), (2) midazolam and placebo lidocaine, (3) placebo midazolam and lidocaine, or (4) placebo midazolam and placebo lidocaine. RESULTS: Tolerance (visual analogue scale, 0-100 points; 0, excellent; 100, unbearable) improved as compared with placebo midazolam and placebo lidocaine by 23 points (95% confidence interval, 15-32) in group 1, 15 points (95% confidence interval, 7-24) in group 2, and 10 points (95% confidence interval, 2-18) in group 3. Increasing age (P < 0.001), low anxiety (P < 0.001), and male sex (P < 0.03), but not amnesia, were associated with better patient tolerance. Oxygen desaturation (< 1 minute) occurred in 8.2% and was not more frequent after midazolam treatment. Hypotension was rare (2.1%), and no adverse outcome occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Both low-dose midazolam (35 micrograms/kg) and lidocaine spray have an additive beneficial effect on patients tolerance and rarely induce significant alterations in cardiorespiratory monitoring parameters, thus supporting the widespread use of conscious sedation.