Night sweats: it may be hemochromatosis.

The aim of this case report is to show that hemochromatosis can present, unusually, with night sweats. At presentation, hemochromatosis often tends to have non-specific symptoms, making it easy to misdiagnose, especially if it presents with rare symptoms. Misdiagnosis of hemochromatosis can lead to lethal outcomes, given it can cause multiple organ dysfunctions if left untreated and hence the need to identify it early on. The case we present is a 41-year-old woman with previously undiagnosed hemochromatosis complaining of night sweats. She thought she was menopausal. The diagnosis of hemochromatosis was made solely on investigations given that she did not have any other symptoms other than night sweats. Her serum iron concentrations were within the normal range due to menstruation. It is uncommon for women to present with symptoms of hemochromatosis during their reproductive life since their iron concentration is kept within normal range through monthly menstrual bleeding.

[The influence of the new phosphodiesterase inhibitor enoximone in patients with an acute catecholamine-refractory heart insufficiency during open-heart surgery]. / Der Einfluss des neueren Phosphodiesterase-Inhibitors Enoximon bei Patienten mit einer akuten katecholamin-refraktären Herzinsuffizienz während Operationen am offenen Herzen.

19 patients in whom cardiopulmonary bypass (cpb) was performed during different types of cardiac operations, developed myocardial failure which remained refractory to inotropic support with increasing doses of adrenaline, dopamine and dobutamine, so that it was impossible to discontinue cpb. After changing the therapeutic approach to a new regime consisting of adrenaline, dopamine and enoximone, low-output syndrome (LCOS) could be successfully reversed in 12 of the 19 patients. In the 7 remaining patients blood pressure dropped in a clinically relevant way under treatment with enoximone. 5 of these patients needed intraaortic balloon pumping (IABP) inspite of the application of enoximone, before cpb could be successfully discontinued. In three patients receiving enoximone, persisting ventricular tachyarrhythmia appeared under treatment, and disappeared after discontinuation of the drug. One patient needed IABP and left heart bypass by means of the centrifugal pump before cpb could be duly discontinued. One patient died intraoperatively due to untreatable right ventricular failure and inability to discontinue cpb. It is concluded that enoximone represents a useful drug in a significant number of patients developing heart failure refractory to inotropic support, on emerging from cpb during cardiac surgery.

[How safe is isovolemic hemodilution in elderly patients at risk? Clinical studies of geriatric heart surgery]. / Wie sicher ist die isovolämische Hämodilution bei Risikopatienten im hohen Alter? Klinishe Untersuchungen in der geriatrischen Herzchirurgie.

The aim of this study was to evaluate isovolaemic haemodilution (IHD) as a method to reduce the use of homologous blood in high-risk geriatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Haemodynamics were continuously assessed in both the systemic and the pulmonary circulation, and, in addition, the EEG was continuously analysed by on-line power spectrum analysis. The mean blood use in this series could be reduced from 4.2 units to 1.12 units (67 patients). 73% of the patients needed intraoperatively no blood at all. The haemodynamic response to haemodilution in these patients consisted of an increase in stroke volume by 9%, and decreases in systemic vascular resistance and myocardial-O2 consumption (as reflected by the rate/pressure product RPP) by 9% and 10%, respectively. At the same time, O2 transport capacity increased by 8%. No signs of oxygen balance impairment were found in either ECG or EEG during haemodilution. It is concluded that moderate IHD can be safely performed in the geriatric cardiac patient and represents a useful method to reduce homologous blood use in these patients.

[Hemodynamic effects of an etomidate-flunitrazepam or midazolam- fentanyl combination for induction of anesthesia in patients with heart valve diseases]. / Hämodynamische Effekte einer Kombination von Etomidat, Flunitrazepam oder Midazolam mit Fentanyl zur Anästhesie-Einleitung bei Patienten mit Herzklappenvitien.

A comparison of the haemodynamic effects of 3 anaesthetic techniques, the combinations etomidate + fentanyl (I), flunitrazepam + fentanyl (II) or midazolam + fentanyl (III), respectively was carried out in 45 patients undergoing various types of cardiac valve replacement surgery. Haemodynamics were assessed by continuously measuring the heart rate as well as the blood pressure in the systemic and pulmonary circulations whereas the cardiac output was measured intermittently. In the first 30 minutes after induction of anaesthesia, a mean arterial blood pressure drop of 10% (I), 20% (II) or 15% (III) respectively, was observed; at the same time, the rate did not change significantly. Cardiac index, however, fell significantly in all 3 groups by 33% (I) 30% (II) or 28% (III), respectively. Pulmonary pressure, wedge pressure and systemic vascular resistance rose only in groups I and III and decreased in group II (flunitrazepam + fentanyl). On the other hand, pulmonary vascular resistance as well as left ventricular work index were significantly decreased in all 3 groups. We conclude that all 3 anaesthetic techniques investigated here may be effectively applied for safe induction of anaesthesia in patients with valvular lesions of the heart. On account of the effect of the combination flunitrazepam + fentanyl on decreasing pulmonary artery pressure and wedge pressure, this technique seems to be preferable in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

[Anesthesia in aortocoronary bypass surgery: comparison of effects on hemodynamics of recent technics of total intravenous anesthesia]. / Zur Anästhesie bei aortokoronaren Bypassoperationen: Vergleich der hämodynamischen Einflüsse neuerer Techniken der totalen intravenösen Anästhesie.

20 patients electively scheduled for operation were enrolled in the study and anaesthetized randomly with one of the two techniques etomidate + fentanyl (I) or flunitrazepam + fentanyl (II). Haemodynamics were assessed by continuously measuring blood pressure in the systemic and pulmonary circulations, as well as the heart rate, and intermittently determining the cardiac output. It could be shown that systemic arterial blood pressure, in spite of an initial drop after induction of anaesthesia, remained within an acceptable safety margin throughout the investigation period. Whereas heart rate remained almost constant in both groups, the rate-pressure product which may serve as a measure of myocardial oxygen consumption in the clinical setting, decreased considerably in both groups, although more appreciably under the influence of the anaesthetic technique flunitrazepam + fentanyl. Although the diastolic blood pressure as the most significant individual factor determining coronary blood flow was not changed appreciably in both groups, it remained at a higher level under the influence of the anaesthetic technique etomidate + fentanyl (I). We conclude that both anaesthetic regimes described here may be safely applied for the anaesthesia of patients with reduced coronary perfusion and cardio-haemodynamic reserve potential.