Intranasal Esthesioneuroblastoma: CT Patterns Aid in Preventing Routine Nasal Polypectomy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Esthesioneuroblastoma is a neuroectodermal tumor that commonly arises in the nasal cavity olfactory recess and, when isolated to the intranasal cavity, can be indistinguishable from benign processes. Because lesional aggressiveness requires a more invasive operation for resection than polypectomy, patients with isolated intranasal lesions were studied to define distinguishing CT characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with intranasal esthesioneuroblastoma and controls without esthesioneuroblastoma with olfactory recess involvement were identified by using a report search tool. Studies demonstrating skull base invasion and/or intracranial extension were excluded. The imaging spectrum of these lesions was reviewed on both CT and MR imaging, and CT findings were compared with those of controls without esthesioneuroblastoma. Two blinded readers assessed subjects with esthesioneuroblastomas and controls without esthesioneuroblastoma and, using only CT criteria, rated their level of suspicion for esthesioneuroblastoma in each case. RESULTS: Eight histologically proved cases of intranasal esthesioneuroblastoma were reviewed. All cases had CT demonstrating 3 main findings: 1) an intranasal polypoid lesion with its epicenter in a unilateral olfactory recess, 2) causing asymmetric olfactory recess widening, and 3) extending to the cribriform plate. Twelve patients with non-esthesioneuroblastoma diseases involving the olfactory recess were used as controls. Using these 3 esthesioneuroblastoma CT criteria, 2 blinded readers evaluating patients with esthesioneuroblastoma and controls had good diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve = 0.85 for reader one, 0.81 for reader 2) for predicting esthesioneuroblastoma. CONCLUSIONS: Esthesioneuroblastoma can present as a well-marginated intranasal lesion that unilaterally widens the olfactory recess. CT patterns can help predict esthesioneuroblastoma, potentially preventing multiple operations by instigating the correct initial operative management.

Isolated tracheoesophageal fistula versus esophageal atresia - Early morbidity and short-term outcome. A single institution series.

PURPOSE: We compared the postnatal course, morbidity and early results after repair for cases of isolated or "pure" TEF with those for cases of esophageal atresia (EA) with distal tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF). METHODS: Twenty-four consecutive infants were divided into two groups: isolated TEF [TEF group] (n = 5) and EA with distal TEF [EA group] (n = 19). RESULTS: A high rate of prematurity (29%) and major cardiac and other surgically-relevant malformations (0.8 vs. 0.7 per infant) was found in both groups. The median age at surgery was 8 days for the TEF group vs. 1 day for the EA group (p < 0.01). Most infants of both cohorts had stable acid-base and respiratory parameters at admission. Generally, tracheoscopy provided valuable information regarding the position of the TEF. Surgery for isolated TEF was performed via right cervicotomy in 4 cases and via thoracotomy in one. Postoperative thoracostomy tubes were inserted in 3 cases and one emergency gastrostomy was created for acute gastric overextension (exclusively in patients with EA). The duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation (49 vs. 113 h, p = 0.045) and the median length of stay in the pediatric surgery unit (10 vs. 20.5 days, p = 0.003) were shorter for the isolated TEF group. Four EA patients experienced severe events. Total mortality was 8% (0 out of 5 with TEF vs. 2 out of 19 with EA). CONCLUSION: Developmental delay and a high rate of morbidity were found in both groups. More complex surgery increased perioperative morbidity in cases of EA. With early recognition of isolated TEF, a less complicated course can be expected in comparison with esophageal atresia.

Radiation Necrosis in Pediatric Patients with Brain Tumors Treated with Proton Radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Proton radiotherapy has been increasingly utilized to treat pediatric brain tumors, however, limited information exists regarding radiation necrosis among these patients. Our aim was to evaluate the incidence, timing, clinical significance, risk factors, and imaging patterns of radiation necrosis in pediatric patients with brain tumors treated with proton radiation therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 60 consecutive pediatric patients with primary brain tumors treated with proton radiation therapy. Radiation necrosis was assessed by examining serial MRIs and clinical records to determine the incidence, timing, risk factors, imaging patterns, and clinical significance associated with the development of radiation necrosis in these patients. Radiation necrosis was defined as areas of new enhancement within an anatomic region with previous exposure to proton beam therapy with subsequent decrease on follow-up imaging without changes in chemotherapy. RESULTS: Thirty-one percent of patients developed radiation necrosis with a median time to development of 5.0 months (range, 3-11 months). Risk factors included multiple chemotherapy agents (>3 cytotoxic agents) and atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor pathology (P = .03 and P = .03, respectively). The most common imaging patterns were small (median, 0.9 cm) and multifocal (63% of patients) areas of parenchymal enhancement remote from the surgical site. The median time to complete resolution on imaging was 5.3 months (range, 3-12 months). Among patients with imaging findings of radiation necrosis, 25% demonstrated severe symptoms with medical intervention indicated. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric patients with brain tumors treated with proton radiation therapy demonstrate a high incidence of radiation necrosis and a short time to development of necrosis. Multiple small areas of necrosis are frequently identified on imaging. Exposure to multiple chemotherapy agents was a significant risk factor associated with radiation necrosis in these patients.

[Double tracheo-oesophageal fistula, oesophageal atresia, and tracheal stenosis--an exceptional tracheoscopic view]. / Doppelte tracheoösophageale Fistel, Osophagusatresie und Trachealstenose--ein ungewöhnlicher tracheoskopischer Befund.

This report highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges which occurred in a newborn with oesophageal atresia of the type Vogt III c in association with a tubular supracarinal tracheal stenosis.

Increasing resistance against antibiotics in bacteria isolated from the lower urinary tract of an outpatient population of spinal cord injury patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate changes of the bacterial spectrum and susceptibility in bacteria isolated from urine samples of spinal cord injury patients followed in a strict outpatient setting. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Due to neurogenic dysfunction, urinary tract infections are common in spinal cord injury patients. Nosocomial urinary tract infections and resistance against antibiotics are increasing problems in hospitalized spinal cord injury patients. Urine samples were obtained by aseptic catheterization during 1,293 outpatient appointments at our institution over a period of 6 years. The urine samples were analyzed for bacterial colonization and microbiologically evaluated. RESULTS: We demonstrate significant changes in both bacterial spectrum and bacterial resistance in an outpatient population as well. Even multiresistant staphylococcus species were detected, in spite of excluding nosocomial infections. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotic treatment should be limited to symptomatic urinary tract infections and be initiated after sensitivity testing only. Empiric use of antibiotics must be limited to highly symptomatic infections until the results of sensitivity testing are available.

Analysis of behavioural and physiological parameters for the assessment of postoperative analgesic demand in newborns, infants and young children: a comprehensive report on seven consecutive studies.

Many different systems for the assessment of pain in newborns and infants have been tested for validity, rarely for reliability but never for sensitivity or specificity. We aimed to determine whether the assessment of an analgesic demand in the lower age group during the postoperative period is possible by observational methods only. In an repetitive and sequential prospective process for identifying observationable behaviour and measurable physiological parameters as indicators of a postoperative analgesic demand, 584 newborns, infants and young children were studied (7 prospective studies, 4238 observations). Twenty-six items were selected as suggested by current literature and for reasons of economy and practicability. The factor analyses resulted in a two-factorial solution with the behavioural items loading on one factor and the physiological parameters on the other (principal component analyses). The physiological parameters blood pressure, respiratory rate and heart rate were found to be unreliable and had no discriminant power to detect an analgesic demand during the postoperative period (discriminant analyses, ROC-curves). In newborns and infants, nine observational items were identified as equally selective, reliable, sensitive and specific to the assessment of postoperative analgesic demand, whereas in young children only five items could be identified (discriminant analyses, ROC-curves). For economic reasons, these five items (crying, facial expression, posture of the trunk, posture of the legs, motor restlessness) were chosen as the basis of an additional pain scale ranging from 0=no pain to 10=maximal (Children's and Infants' Postoperative Pain Scale, CHIPPS). Its internal consistency yielded values for Cronbachs' alpha with 0.92 for toddlers and 0.96 for infants. The coefficient for interrater reliability was 0.93. The scale was validated constructively by the intravenous administration of metamizol, tramadol, nalbuphine, piritramide and ketamine (repeated measures analysis of variance). The Toddler-Preschooler Postoperative Pain Scale and CHIPPS equally identified painfree situations or analgesic demand in 87.4%. In cases with definite pain, the score of CHIPPS was never below 4 points. Seventy-one toddlers gave verbal comments on their pain intensity: in 29 painfree situations the CHIPPS score was 3.0 and in 29 painful situations it was 5.7. The values for sensitivity and specificity of CHIPPS were calculated to be 0.92-0.96 and 0.74-0.95, respectively (discriminant analyses). We conclude that it is possible to determine postoperative analgesic demand in the low age group of children by using an observational system such as CHIPPS alone.

Influence of bolus size on efficacy of postoperative patient-controlled analgesia with piritramide.

We have examined the influence of bolus size on efficacy, opioid consumption, side effects and patient satisfaction during i.v. patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) in 60 patients (ASA I-II, aged 32-82 yr) after abdominal surgery. Patients were allocated randomly, in a double-blind manner, to receive PCA with a bolus dose of either piritramide 0.75 mg or 1.5 mg (lockout 5 min) for postoperative pain control. Mean 24 h piritramide consumption differed significantly between groups (11.4 (SD 5.8) mg vs 22.5 (18.3) mg; P = 0.001). There were no significant differences in the number of applied bolus doses, pain scores, pain relief (VAS), sedation, nausea, pruritus and patient satisfaction. We conclude that a PCA regimen with a bolus dose of piritramide 0.75 mg and a lockout time of 5 min was effective in the treatment of postoperative pain, but did not reduce the occurrence of side effects.

[Respiratory and circulatory parameters as indicators of the postoperative analgesic demand in newborns and infants]. / Atem- und Kreislaufparameter als Indikatoren des postoperativen Analgetikabedarfs bei Neugeborenen und Säuglingen.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Due to immature cognitive functions, infants are unable to communicate their pain perception verbally. To assess postoperative analgesic demand, the anaesthetist has to rely on observational techniques. Generally, pain expression is considered to be a multidimensional phenomenon consisting of physiological, motor-reflex and behavioural patterns. The majority of observational approaches to pain assessment in infants use the behavioural dimension only, regardless of the fact that pain perception might contribute substantially to the stress response. The aim of this study is to evaluate, whether sensitivity and specificity of a behavioural pain scale (CHIPPS [1]) can be improved by adding physiological measures, especially those representing the stress response. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 30 infants aged 0-12 months and scheduled for unilateral herniorrhaphy were studied prospectively. In addition to 9 behavioural items (crying, facial expression, wrinkling of the forehead, motoric restlessness; posture of fingers, arms, legs, toes and torso) the ratio of actual physiological measurements (heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure) and their respective preoperative baseline values were recorded by a single observer in 5 minutes intervals during the first hour after recovery from anaesthesia. Maximal efforts were made to achieve valid measures. Factor analysis was performed to determine the dimensionality of the complete item pool. For additional validity testing, receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) were calculated using the independent opinion of an experienced clinician as an external criterion. Discriminant analysis was performed to assess the accuracy of a combined behavioural and physiological scale. RESULTS: The factor analysis resulted in two independent dimensions: behaviour and cardiocirculatory measurements. The strong intercorrelations of all behavioural items and the fact, that the affective pain experience is expressed by a specific mimic behaviour, suggest the behavioural dimension to be regarded as pain expression. Because of the strictly orthogonal structure of the factor system, the circulatory and the respiratory dimension lack any relationship to pain experience. In addition to these statistical reasons, considerations on practicability disprove blood pressure and respiratory rate as useful pain indicators: Whereas the observer never failed to obtain a behavioural score, only 60% of the blood pressure measures and 80% of the respiratory rates were valid. In contrast, heart rate counts were obtained in over 99% and thus have to be considered as the only practicable physiological measurement in the early postoperative period. Corresponding to the results of the factor analysis, ROC curves suggest that the ability of the heart rate alone to assess pain is not substantially better than a random process, whereas the behavioural scale performs well. In addition the heart rate failed to improve the accuracy of the behavioural scale as shown by the results of a discriminant analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the multidimensional approach and the corresponding multivariate analyses, a unidimensional scale consisting of behavioural items was found to be a valid indicator of an postoperative analgesic demand. Due to the lack of diagnostic properties and difficulties to obtain sound values even under research conditions, physiological measurements like blood pressure, respiratory rate and heart rate are not suitable for the assessment of a postoperative analgesic demand in infants, neither for clinical nor for research purposes.

[Development of an observational scale for assessment of postoperative pain in infants]. / Entwicklung eines Fremdbeobach-tungsbogens zur Beurteilung des postoperativen Schmerzes bei Säuglingen.

In a prospective trial in 139 infants ASA classification I-II 13 observational items were scaled during the first postoperative hour (13 assessments). The items were drawn from the literature and chosen for economic purpose. Factor analyses (Principal component, Kaiser Criterion, Scree-test) were used for the elimination of useless items and for the identification of suitable ones. The discriminative properties of single items and different subsets of items to detect an analgetic demand were tested in discriminant analyses and variance analyses with repeated measurements. Due to insufficient variance four items had to be eliminated: "nasolabial folding", "colour of the face", "sweating of the head", and "muscle tone". The factor analysis if the remaining 9 items resulted in a one factorial solution. Neither the corrected item-scale-correlations nor the inter-item-correlations showed advantageous properties of single items compared with the others. For economic reasons two 5-item scales were chosen for further evaluation in regard to sensitivity, specify and validity. The items "crying", "facial expression", "positioning of the legs", "positioning of the trunc" and "motoric restlessness" built the Children's and Infants Postoperative Pain Scale (CHIPPS) whereas an Infants Postoperative Pain Scale (IPPS) contained the items "crying", "facial expression", "positioning of the arms", "positioning of the trunc" and "motoric restlessness". The latter five items had shown the highest factor loadings. The two systems had a high intern consistency with alpha > 0.90 (p < 0.01) with at least 73% explained variance. Inter-item-correlations and corrected item-scale-correlations showed no differences between the two scales. The discriminant analyses resulted in almost identic data for specify, sensitivity and predictive values of the IPPS compared with the CHIPPS. There was a significant interaction between repeated measurements and the supply of Piritramide and Ketamine, but not of Midazolam. Concurrent and constructive validation were positive for both systems, using administration of Piritramide as a criterion. For clinical purpose the CHIPPS should be preferred, because it has been proven to be valid in children up to 4 years of age and because controlled data on its sensitivity, specify, reliability and validity could already be presented.

Improved assessment of intravascular Doppler coronary flow velocity profile.

Easy and safe in-vivo flow velocity studies in small coronary arteries have become feasible using a 0.014 'or 0.018' guidewire with an integrated Doppler probe in its tip (FloWire, Cardiometrics). Assessment of the flow velocity profile by the ratio of diastolic to systolic flow velocity (DSVR) is used as a diagnostic parameter. However, DSVR is a coarse quantifier of the flow velocity profile, and is subject to large physiologic variance and depends crucially on the quality of the Doppler signal. The aim of our study was to test parameters derived from statistical time series analysis for monitoring the quality of the instantaneous peak velocity (IPV) signal. Improvement of quantification of changes in quality and shape of flow velocity profiles by these parameters as compared to DSVR was a second goal. We investigated analog-digital converted IPV-signals and video registrations of corresponding greyscale spectra of intracoronary Doppler flow velocity signals. The signals were analyzed by using the autocorrelation function (ACF) in the time domain and a fast Fourier transform (FFT) in the frequency domain (standard time series statistics). The first minimum of autocorrelation function turned out to be very sensitive to signal quality, and Fisher's g of the periodogram was the parameter of choice for shape analysis. In 11 patients with coronary artery disease, pre and post PTCA, the sensitivity of DSVR and signal to noise ratio to changes in shape and quality of the flow velocity signals was compared to that of the new parameters. Nineteen Doppler flow velocity samples of good quality from measurements in nonstenotic vessels and 7 flow velocity tracings with visible artefacts were used to assess the value of these parameters in monitoring signal quality. By comparison with corresponding parameters in use (SNR and DSVR) a significantly improved performance of the new statistical parameters was observed with respect to sensitivity to changes in signal quality and flow profile. In view of these results and because of the short calculation time of these variables they should be used for on-line quality control and analysis of flow velocity profiles.

[Clinical relevance of incidental prostate carcinoma. A retrospective study]. / Klinische Relevanz des inzidentellen Prostatakarzinoms. Eine retrospektive Analyse.

Between July 1973 and December 1992, 5156 men underwent either TURP (n = 4259) or open prostatectomy (n = 897) because of infravesical obstruction supposedly due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In this retrospective study, 86 men in whom an incidental carcinoma of the prostate had been found were followed up. Thirty-seven cases had been classified as pT1a tumor and 49 cases as pT1b tumor; 73 patients had undergone TURP and 13 open surgery. The mean age of the patients was 70.6 years (range 54-89). Twenty-seven patients (73%) with a pT1a tumor and 19 patients (38.8%) with a pT1b carcinoma received no further treatment. Radical prostatectomy was performed in four cases, one of pT1a and three of pT1b tumor. In all other cases the patients received androgen deprivation, and in four cases external radiotherapy was applied. With a mean follow-up of 5 years (range 17-229 months) 48 patients died (55.8%). The median survival was 73 months (95% CI: 52; 89). Compared to the overall population in the same age range, the standard mortality rate (SMR) was 1.72 and 2.05 (95% CI: 1.23; 2.21 and 1.46; 2.64 respectively) using the "Allgemeine Sterbetafel" of the Federal Republic of Germany (1949-1951 and 1986-1988). Using the log-rank test (P = 0.5, two-sided) no difference in survival was found between patients staged pT1a and pT1b. Ten of 48 patients dead at the time of evaluation died of prostate cancer. This means that 20.8% (pT1a n = 3; pT1b n = 7) of the patients succumbed to progressive disease during follow-up. All four patients who underwent radical prostatectomy are free of tumor at time of this evaluation. These results are in accordance with other studies. In younger men with incidental carcinoma of the prostate and life expectancy of more than 10 years, radical surgery of the prostate should be recommended.

[TULIP (transurethral ultrasound-controlled laser-induced prostatectomy)--experiences with over 80 patients]. / TULIP--Erfahrungen an über 80 Patienten.

Of the many methods currently under investigation for the treatment of symptomatic and obstructive benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), laser treatment seems the most likely to yield results comparable to those achieved with transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Between May 1991 and December 1993 a total of 83 men were treated in our department with the TULIP (transurethral ultrasound-guided laser-induced prostatectomy) device. Within the first year of follow-up there was a marked improvement in both signs and symptoms. The average urinary peak flow increased from 6 to 16 ml/s, the residual urine volume decreased from 218 ml to 36 ml, and the symptom score (assessed against a modified Boyarsky score) decreased from 17 to 4 points. Our experience so far indicates that the advantages of TULIP are minimal blood loss, no post-transurethral resection syndrome, and a low rate of retrograde ejaculation postoperatively. In addition, the procedure can be performed with analgosedation. Disadvantages are the delayed onset of improvement, combined with irritative symptoms in the early weeks after the procedure. In addition, no tissue can be obtained for histological examination, which may be important in the long-term. Randomized prospective studies, including cost-benefit analyses, are needed to check for advantages of TULIP over TURP.

[Quality assurance in tumor surgery--the effect of tumor surgery interventions on the quality of life of patients with urologic tumors]. / Qualitätssicherung in der Tumorchirurgie--der Einfluss tumorchirurgischer Eingriffe auf die Lebensqualität bei Patienten mit urologischen Tumoren.

During the last 20 years important improvements in diagnosis, staging and indications as well as in operative and conservative treatments of urological malignancies have been achieved. In consequence the prognoses of patients with these cancers have been improved. One remaining question concerns the impact of curative radical surgery on the individual's quality of life and life perspective. The purpose of this prospective study was to obtain relevant data upon which to develop tumor-specific modules according to the guidelines of the EORTC, so that this question can be studied. Between July, 1993 and July, 1994 data from 106 cancer patients with non metastatic urological malignancies (prostate, kidney and bladder) were gathered for analysis. Patients include 37 with prostatic cancer, who were treated by a radical prostatovesicalectomy. Fourty-two patients with renal cell carcinoma underwent radical nephrectomy. In 30 bladder cancer patients radical cystoprostatovesicalectomy with an ileum conduit was carried out. The first step was to describe the symptomatology in these patients by means of open interviews. In addition, one day postoperatively, the day before discharge and one year after surgery the patients completed self-administered symptomatic and psychological questionnaires. The symptomatic questionnaire contained 20 items, each with six response choices. For evaluating subjective well-being, we selected the "Basler Befindlichkeitsbogen" (Basler Psychological Balance), which has four dimensions: Vitality, vigilance, social extrovertivity and psychological balance. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed with an SPSS programme. Comparing the preoperative and one year postoperative values, all patients groups showed a significant deterioration in the four dimensions of the psychological parameters. The data from the present study were the basis for the development of EORTC-specific tumor modules for urological cancer according to the guidelines of the EORTC.

[Initial results of the reliability and validity of a German-language scale for the quantitative measurement of postoperative pain in young children]. / Erste Ergebnisse zur Zuverlässigkeit und Gültigkeit einer deutschspachigen Skala zur quantitativen Erfassung des postoperativen Schmerzes beim Kleinkind.

In a previous study it was proved impossible to evaluate the validity of a system modified according to McGrath et al. for measuring postoperative pain in children. Three reasons were postulated for this result. The analgesics used did not modulate the pain in such a manner that the statistical analysis was effective; or the postoperative pain had an acute onset or fluctuated and the regular observations did not allow detection of the pain peaks; or the system used did not measure pain. Therefore, a new and different approach was adopted to evaluate the reliability and validity of a scoring system for the measurement of postoperative pain in small children. MATERIAL. Sixty children classed as ASA I and II and aged between 1 and 5 years were randomly allocated to 2 groups: one group received Tramadol (0.5 mg/kg) after the induction of anesthesia and the other group received placebo. Premedication and anesthesia were standardized. All indications were accepted except for urgent operations and painful diseases. For 1 h after the operation the children were continuously observed by an experienced pediatric anesthetist who did not know what drugs had been given. Every 15 min and when the observer was convinced that the children were in pain and needed analgesics the following items were scaled: wakefulness, wake-up reaction, crying, facial expression, position of the trunk, position of the legs, muscle tone, making contact, verbal communication on being asked about pain, special defense against stimuli and consolability. The items were included in a factor analysis (principal components). The number of the factors was detected using the Scree test. The only items accepted as reliable were those that had a substantial load of at least 0.4 at each measurement. The reliability coefficient was computed with the split-half technique (odd-even). The validity was estimated with a multifactorial analysis of variance with repeated measurements. When the observer was convinced that any child was in pain, Metamizol (15 mg/kg) was administered. Significance was assumed at P less than 0.05. The study was accepted by the ethical committee of the Ruhr University, Bochum. RESULTS. A replication verified the results of the previous study: the factor analysis resulted in a one-factorial solution. Of the 8 items (wakefulness, wake-up reactions, crying, position of the trunk, position of the legs, verbal communications on being asked about pain, special defense against stimuli) only 4 had a sufficiently substantial load on all measurements (crying, facial expression, position of the trunk and position of the legs). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[Nalbuphine and piritramid in the postoperative period in young children. 2. External respiration]. / Nalbuphin und Piritramid in der postoperativen Phase beim Kleinkind. Teil 2. Aussere Atmung.

The use of opioid analgesics often seems to be necessary for postoperative analgesia in small children. There is a risk however, that interactions between anesthetics and the opioid analgesics may cause significant respiratory depression. There is no reliable information about the influence of nalbuphine and piritramide on respiration in small children. Therefore, the actions of nalbuphine and piritramide versus placebo on the respiratory patterns of 46 children in ASA groups I and II and aged between 1 and 4 years were tested in a randomized double blind trial. METHODS. Selection criteria were: no disturbed development, no signs or symptoms of neurological disease, uncomplicated operation, no pain at time of admission, no indication for urgent operation, written parental consent. Operations, premedication and anesthesia were standardized as mentioned in the comparison paper. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with oxygen in nitrous oxide and halothane (FiO2:0.3). Intubation was performed without the use of any relaxant. Postoperatively the ventilation was continued with the same FiO2 and with 0.5 vol% of halothane over a period of at least 20 min until spontaneous breathing was reestablished and stable ventilatory parameters were obtained. A single bolus injection of either nalbuphine or piritramide 0.1 mg/kg or a placebo was then given i.v.. The breathing parameters VT, VI, respiratory rate, maximal inspiratory flow and the inspiratory/expiratory time ratio were evaluated using the computer-assisted pneumotachometric device with hot wire anemometers (Büttner et al.). They were measured before and 2, 5, 10 and 15 min after the drugs were administered. Capillary blood-gas values were sampled before and 10 min after administration of the drug and again 5 min after extubation. Heart rate and blood pressure were recorded by means of a Dinamap monitor. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out by means of the chi 2-test or Fisher's exact test when appropriate. For the metric data analysis of variance was performed. A full factorial design was calculated with drugs and time after injection as factors and baseline values as a covariate. Multiple comparisons were performed using the Tukey test. The level of significance was set at P less than 0.05. Homogeneity was considered when p greater than 0.2. RESULTS. In spite of randomization the 3 groups could not be regarded as homogeneous for weight. In 4 of the 46 children apnea developed after drug administration and controlled ventilation was needed. These were all in the piritramide group. This result was significant against nalbuphine and placebo. There was no significant correlation between the apnea and any anamnestic, demographic or respiratory parameters. Since apnea and breathing constitute different qualities, a pooling of the apnea data and the non-apnea data within the piritramide group is not allowed...

[Nalbuphine and piritramid in the postoperative phase in young children. 1. General condition]. / Nalbuphin und Piritramid in der postoperativen Phase beim Kleinkind. Teil 1. Allgemeines Befinden.

The influence of piritramide and nalbuphine versus placebo on the postoperative comfort of 54 children of ASA-group I and II in the age between 1 and 4 years was tested in a randomized double blind trial using the comfort/discomfort scale according to Büttner et al. METHODS. Operations, premedication and anesthesia were standardized. The patients were premedicated with midazolam 0.5 mg/kg rectally and a subsequent i.m. injection of ketamine 2.0 mg/kg with atropine 0.01 mg/kg. Anesthesia was induced and maintained by inhalation of oxygen/nitrous oxide and halothane (FiO2 = 0.3). All children were intubated and ventilation was controlled during the operation. After the operation, while in steady-state anesthesia with 0.5 vol% halothane and during spontaneous respiration the children received either piritramide (n = 17) or nalbuphine (n = 20) at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg, or placebo (n = 17) i.v. Respiratory and circulatory parameters were recorded for 15 min before the end of anesthesia. At 5 min after halothane had been discontinued the first measurement of the children's behavior was started, with 4 subsequent measurements at fixed time intervals of 15 min. The measuring system included the following 6 scaled items: wake-up reaction, methodical defense against stimuli, crying, facial expression, posture of the torso, posture of the legs. In addition, the waking state was scored at the same time intervals as awake, arousable, or not arousable. During the 1-h observation period all children who seemed to feel uncomfortable received midazolam i.v. at a maximal dose of 2 mg. Up to 24 h the required supplemental analgesics were noted, as were episodes of psychomotor agitation and vomiting. Written consent was obtained from the ethical committee and the children's parents. The results were tested in a 2-factorial analysis of variance (treatment factor: drugs; within-subject factor; repeated measurements). RESULTS. The 3 groups were considered to be comparable in terms of age, body weight, kind and duration of operation and circulatory values. The use of supplementary analgesics showed a significant effect in the treatment factor and in the within-subject factor: during the 1-h observation period the placebo group received midazolam significantly more often (64.7%) than the piritramide group (5.9%) or the nalbuphine group (35%). During the following 7 h 29.4% of the children of the placebo group required supplementary analgesics (piritramide: 23.5%; nalbuphine: 20%). Subsequently up to the 24th postoperative hour there was no need for any analgesic in the placebo group, whereas 11.8% of the piritramide group and 15% of the nalbuphine group required analgesics.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[Critical aspects of an outside evaluation of postoperative pain in infants. A placebo-controlled double-blind study of the question of the reliability and validity of the measurement system]. / Kritische Aspekte einer Fremdbeurteilung des postoperativen Schmerzes beim Kleinkind. Eine Placebo-kontrollierte Doppelblindstudie zu Fragen der Zuverlässigkeit und der Gültigkeit eines Messsystems.

Postoperative analgesia in infants and young children is a topic of growing interest in pediatric anesthesia. Two systems measuring postoperative pain in this group of patients have been offered recently: CHEOPS (Childrens Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale) by McGrath et al. and OPS (Objective Pain Scale) by Hannallah et al. and Broadman et al. [3, 7, 8]. Both systems are economical and not reactive, but their validity is not satisfying. The validity of CHEOPS is based on the statements of experienced nurses, using the method of convergent validation by an expert's assertion. Hannallah and Broadman et al. judged the validity of their objective pain scale for infants and young children by statements of juveniles between 13 and 18 years of age. McGrath et al. accepted the item of spontaneous verbal communication as useful in the CHEOPS, although no such verbal comment occurred in their study on interrater and inter-item correlations. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the statistical qualification of items for measurements of the intensity of postoperative pain in young children and to investigate some aspects of their validity. MATERIAL AND METHODS. The study was performed in 54 children of ASA groups I and II aged 29.2 +/- 10.7 months. They were included in the study if they were pain-free before the operation and had no signs and symptoms of neurologic disease. The following operations were accepted: herniorrhapy, orchidopexy, circumcision, and umbilical herniorrhaphy. Premedication and general anesthesia were standardized. The patients were premedicated with midazolam 0.5 mg/kg rectally and subsequent intramuscular injections of ketamine 2.0 mg/kg with atropine 0.01 mg/kg. Anesthesia was induced and maintained by inhalation of oxygen/nitrous oxide and halothane (FiO2 0.3). All children were intubated and ventilation was controlled during the operation. After the operation and under steady-state anesthesia with 0.5 vol.% halothane and spontaneous respiration, the children received either nalbuphine 0.1 mg/kg, piritramide 0.1 mg/kg, or placebo in a randomized and double-blind manner. Respiratory and circulatory parameters were recorded for 15 min before anesthesia was discontinued. Five minutes after halothane had been discontinued the first measurement of the childrens' behavior was started with four subsequent measurements at fixed time intervals of 15 min. The measuring system was based on the six items of CHEOPS complemented by five items related to the waking state because it was assumed that the waking state generally modulates the child's ability to demonstrate pain. The design of the study was accepted by the ethic committee with the provision that neither a sedative nor an analgesic drug should be withheld from any child if indicated. Therefore, all children who seemed to feel discomfort according to the subjective impression of the anesthetist received midazolam intraveneously to a maximal dose of 2 mg. All the behavioral data were included in a factor analysis (principal components)...

[Significant CO2 retention in children after premedication with Dormicum and Thalamonal]. / Bedenkliche CO2-Retention bei Kindern nach Prämedikation mit Dormicum und Thalamonal.

Whereas in adults the use of Innovar for premedication has been abolished, the combination of midazolam and Innovar is still recommended for the premedication of children. This combination may lead to an additional depressive effect on respiration. A prospective, randomized study was performed to evaluate the risk of ventilatory depression. In 36 infants capillary blood gas values were measured pre- and postmedication with either rectal midazolam (0.4 mg/kg) and i.m. Innovar (0.04 ml/kg) or after oral chlorprothixene (2.0 mg/kg). After chlorprothixen the blood gas values did not change, whereas after the combination of midazolam and Innovar pCO2 rose significantly from 35.5 to 43.0 mmHg. In 7 of 22 cases pCO2 reached values above 45 mmHg. This difference compared to the chlorprothixene group was significant (p less than 0.05). The pH fell significantly from 7.42 to 7.36 in the combination group. Clinical signs of respiratory depression could not be observed in this group. The combination of midazolam with Innovar is therefore not useful for premedication in infants and young children.

Localization and orientation of subunit delta of spinach chloroplast ATP-synthase within the CF0 CF1 complex. 2. Identification of C-terminal residues of delta, exposed on the thylakoid membrane.

The amino acid residues of spinach CF1 subunit delta are identified which are accessible and thus exposed within the quaternary structure of the ATP-synthase complex on the thylakoid membrane. Two types of antibodies in the monospecific polyclonal antiserum 306 against CF1 delta, described in the previous publication [Z. Naturforsch. 44c, 153-160 (1989)], were separated by virtue of their different affinity to thylakoid membranes and used for specific analysis of the products of proteolytic digestion of delta in situ. Polypeptide delta in situ, i.e. within the CF0 CF1 complex on the membrane, is not susceptible to digestion by aminopeptidase M and trypsin, but is shortened by about 1 kDa by carboxypeptidase Y and digested at residues Glu173 and Glu179 by the Staphylococcus aureus protease V8. The epitope on delta reacting with the agglutinating antibodies from serum 306 is lost after these proteolytical treatments and therefore situated on residues Met180-Val187. Since trypsin destroys this epitope only after prolonged incubation and with at least 50 micrograms trypsin/mg Chl, residue Lys169 of delta probably is inaccessible in situ. We conclude that the C-terminal amphipathic alpha-helix of spinach CF1 subunit delta is exposed on the thylakoid membrane, with the hydrophilic face directed to the outside, and that CF1 delta starts to be shielded within the quaternary structure of the CF0 CF1 complex between Glu173 and Lys169. The hydrophobic face of the c-terminal helix may be part of the binding surface towards CF0. Antibodies from serum 306 inhibit the PMS mediated cyclic photophosphorylation by reacting with C-terminal residues of delta.