Predictive value of interleukins 6, 8 and 10, and low HLA-DR expression in acute renal failure.

AIMS: HLA-DR expression and plasma levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10) and their predictive value concerning survival of critically ill systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) patients with and without acute renal failure (ARF) were evaluated. MATERIAL: A total of 103 consecutive adult patients with SIRS from 2 university hospital intensive care units participated in the study. METHOD: Laboratory data for all patients were prospectively collected on the day of admission and 2 days thereafter. Patients with acute renal failure (ARF) and non-ARF patients were compared by Mann-Whitney U-test. Independent predictors of mortality were tested using forward stepwise logistic multiple regression analysis. The discriminative power of different variables was tested using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: ARF developed in 36 patients (35%). ARF patients showed significantly lower HLA-DR expression and higher plasma levels of IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 than non-ARF patients. In ARF, moderate discriminative power in predicting survival was observed for day 2 IL-6 and IL-10 plasma levels (AUCs 0.703 and 0.749, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: We found no clinically significant discriminative power in predicting survival of ARF patients for monocyte HLA-DR expression or cytokine plasma levels. Therefore, our results do not support the use of HLA-DR expression or cytokine plasma levels for that purpose.

Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) after fresh frozen plasma in a patient with coagulopathy.

BACKGROUND: Transfusion-related acute long injury (TRALI) is due to specific antigen-antibody reaction involving the donor's leucocyte or granulocyte antibodies towards the recipient's antigens. Aggregation in small pulmonary vessels occurs, leading to derangement of permeability. CASE HISTORY: TRALI after transfusion of four units of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) for factor V deficiency prior to elective cholecystectomy is presented. Within a few minutes after the third unit of FFP a florid pulmonary oedema developed. Hypotension and hypoxia with SpO2 83-87% at FiO2 1.0 followed. Prompt monitoring of central haemodynamics revealed a normal cardiac index without pulmonary hypertension. The operation was then conducted as planned. The bilateral pulmonary oedema resolved after 72 hours with ventilatory support. The patient recovered without complications. When tested postoperatively, the second unit of FFP contained granulocyte antibodies and the third unit contained HLA antibodies. The crossmatch of the patient's granulocytes and lymphocytes towards the two donors of the two units of FFP was positive. CONCLUSION: When TRALI is suspected the donor blood has to be tested against the recipient. Ventilatory support of the patient is continued until adequate oxygenation is reached.

The effect of dextran infusion on antithrombin III concentrations and on platelet function during minor surgery.

The effects of dextran on the antithrombin (AT) III activity and blood coagulation, evaluated with thromboelastography, were investigated in 26 patients (anaesthesia risk class I or II) scheduled for minor surgery under general anaesthesia. In the Dextran group the patients were infused first with dextran 7 ml/kg, then with Ringer's acetate. In the Ringer group, the patients received only Ringer's acetate. In the recovery room fluid therapy was continued with 5% dextrose in water until the first postoperative day. Blood loss and fluid replacement were comparable in the groups. Haematocrit (Hcr) decreased significantly in the Dextran group, and the platelet count decreased in both groups during surgery. The median baseline AT III values were similar in the study groups. In the recovery room, the median AT III value was lower in the Dextran than in the Ringer group, 78% and 92%, respectively (P < 0.05). By the following day, the AT III values had returned near the initial level. After surgery, the maximal amplitude of thromboelastogram was 48 mm in the Dextran group, and 58 mm in the Ringer group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, fluid replacement with dextran resulted in modest and short-lived alterations in blood coagulation.

Sudden cardiorespiratory arrest after renal transplantation in a patient with diabetic autonomic neuropathy and prolonged QT interval.

A 31-yr male with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus for 20 years underwent general anaesthesia for renal transplantation. During transfer from operating theatre to ICU he developed bradycardia advancing to ventricular fibrillation and had to be resuscitated. Bradycardia did not respond to atropine. Postoperative autonomic nervous function tests showed advanced autonomic neuropathy. He was found to have constantly prolonged QTc interval in his pre- and postoperative ECGs (462-503 ms). Prolongation of QTc interval could be used as a valuable predictor of postoperative cardiac complications in diabetic patients with autonomic neuropathy.

Late biliary stenosis after conservative management of traumatic liver rupture: case report.

An extensive liver rupture developed in a 50-year-old woman after she received severe blunt injuries in a criminal assault. Nonsurgical management of the liver injury led to recovery of the patient despite a serious blood loss and multiorgan failure. However, 3 months after the injury a complete left bile duct stenosis with liver dysfunction and two hepatic artery pseudoaneurysms were found. Biliodigestive bypass restored normal liver function.

Increased volume of gastric contents in diabetic patients undergoing renal transplantation: lack of effect with cisapride.

Gastroparesis is a frequently unrecognized complication of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, which subjects these patients to the risk of aspiration at induction of anaesthesia. The effect of oral cisapride on volume and pH of gastric contents was studied in 24 diabetic and 24 non-diabetic uraemic patients undergoing renal transplantation. All patients were allocated randomly in a double-blind fashion to receive either 10 mg of cisapride or placebo orally approximately 100 min before anaesthesia and three times daily for the first 2 postoperative days. After the induction of anaesthesia, gastric contents were aspirated through a nasogastric tube, and the pH and volume were measured. The emptiness of the stomach was verified by gastroscopy. Gastric volumes exceeding 0.4 ml.kg-1 were observed in 12/24 of the diabetic and 4/24 of the non-diabetic uraemic patients (P < 0.01). The pH of the gastric contents did not differ between the groups, ranging from 1-8 in diabetics and 1-7 in non-diabetics. Cisapride lacked effect on gastric contents and postoperative gastrointestinal motility. Diabetic uraemic patients had larger gastric volumes than their non-diabetic controls at induction of anaesthesia. Cisapride had no effect on gastric emptying preoperatively nor on postoperative bowel function.

Alpha-human-ANP response to preanesthetic volume expansion and subsequent renal transplantation in diabetic and nondiabetic uremic patients.

alpha-Human atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentrations were measured in 11 diabetic patients with uremia and in 16 nondiabetic uremic controls undergoing renal transplantation after preanesthetic volume expansion with 1000 ml saline solution within 10 min. Two diabetic and seven nondiabetic patients received grafts from living donors and the rest from cadaveric donors. Volume expansion induced a significant increase in the cardiac filling pressures (P less than 0.001), which were kept at that level especially at declamping, which was preceded by mannitol infusion. The baseline mixed venous ANP levels were significantly higher in the diabetic (252 +/- 6 pg/ml) than in the nondiabetic group (103 +/- 14 pg/ml; P less than 0.05). In the nondiabetic group, ANP increased to 177 +/- 40 pg/ml as a response to volume loading (P less than 0.05); it was not clearly changed in the diabetic group. Arterial ANP increased from 267 +/- 55 to 343 +/- 75 pg/ml in the diabetic group (P less than 0.05 and from 102 +/- 17 to 147 +/- 31 pg/ml in the nondiabetic group (P less than 0.05). During transplantation, mixed venous ANP decreased to 125 +/- 55 pg/ml in the diabetic and to 80 +/- 10 pg/ml in the nondiabetic group (P less than 0.001). About 30% of circulating ANP was taken up by the transplant irrespective of postoperative graft function. Two patients in each group showed delayed diuresis requiring postoperative dialysis therapy (22% of all cadaveric transplantations). ANP levels at declamping had no correlation to the outcome of kidney function.

Effect of verapamil on right ventricular pressure and atrial tachyarrhythmia after thoracotomy.

We have studied the effect of verapamil on the incidence of ECG changes and right ventricular pressures (RVP) in 25 male patients (aged 62 (SD 9) yr) undergoing thoracotomy in a placebo-controlled double-blind trial. Verapamil 0.01 mg kg-1 h-1 (n = 12) or saline (n = 13) i.v. was started after surgery and continued on the first day after operation with oral verapamil 80 mg or placebo, 8-hourly. Haemodynamic data were collected before operation and on three days after operation with the patients breathing air and then 60% oxygen (FIO2 0.60) for 10 min. Atrial tachyarrhythmia (AT) (4/13) and new ischaemic ECG changes (3/13) occurred only in the control group (P less than 0.05). With an FI02 of 0.21, systolic RVP increased by 54% on the first two days after operation in the control group and by 13% in the verapamil group (P less than 0.02). With an FIO2 of 0.60 for 10 min, systolic RVP decreased more in the control than in the verapamil group (P less than 0.01). In the control group, an increase in end-diastolic RVP (P less than 0.001) and central venous pressure (P less than 0.05) on the first day after operation was predictive of AT occurring on the second day.

Predictability of difficult laryngoscopy in patients with long-term diabetes mellitus.

The laryngoscopic conditions of 62 diabetic patients who underwent renal transplantation or vitrectomy were studied. Anaesthesia was induced with fentanyl and a sleep dose of thiopentone. Conditions for direct laryngoscopy after 0.1 mg/kg vecuronium were scored from 0 to 3 (easy-very difficult). All patients gave their palm prints after operation which were scored: 0, phalangeal areas completely visible; 1, phalangeal areas partly visible; 2, phalangeal areas hardly visible; 3, only fingertips printed. The incidence of difficult laryngoscopy was 31%. The higher the scores in the palm test, the more difficult was the laryngoscopy. The correlation coefficient between these two factors was r = 0.6 (p less than 0.001). Our study shows that joint rigidity possibly caused by tissue glycosylation may also involve laryngeal and cervical areas resulting in a strenuous laryngoscopy. A defective palm print is a warning sign for difficult laryngoscopy.

Peroperative fluid management of the brain-dead multiorgan donor.

Brain-dead organ donors are often dehydrated and have serum electrolyte disorders. This study was designed to analyse the haemodynamic condition and serum electrolyte balance of liver donors. Two different fluid management plans for the harvesting operation were studied. Sixteen consecutive organ donors were included. They were randomly infused either with a combination of colloid (hydroxy ethyl starch) and electrolyte solution (group COL) or with crystalloid fluid alone (group CR). Arterial pressures, heart rate, central venous pressure and oesophageal temperature were monitored and serum electrolytes were analysed before the beginning of the operation and during harvesting. The amount of fluid needed in the COL group was significantly less (P less than 0.01) than in the CR group. There were no statistical differences between the groups in the haemodynamic parameters during the study period. The oesophageal temperature was maintained in both groups. All donors were initially hypernatraemic, but the serum sodium values returned towards normal during surgery in both groups. Immediate function was seen in all livers. In conclusion, the haemodynamic stability is maintained with a smaller infused volume if hydroxyethyl starch is combined with crystalloid fluids. The formation of interstitial oedema will be less when colloids are used, but its significance in organ donation needs further evaluation.

Significance of ionized calcium during liver transplantation.

In liver transplant patients low plasma protein, acid base abnormalities and high citrate concentrations in the blood affects the binding of ionized calcium. In the present study plasma ionized calcium as well as serum total plasma calcium were measured in ten patients undergoing liver transplantation because of end-stage liver failure. During the operation, ionized calcium fell to as low as 0.46 mmol/l although calcium chloride was administered frequently at doses of 10 mg/kg. Serum total calcium concentration values did not fall but rose well above normal at the end of the operation. The measuring of total serum calcium may thus be dangerously misleading in patients undergoing liver transplantation.

Intravenous infusion of midazolam, propofol and vecuronium in a patient with severe tetanus.

An adult patient with severe tetanus was successfully treated with alternating long-term infusions of propofol (20-80 mg/h, 8 + 3 days) and midazolam (5-15 mg/h, 29 days) for sedation, and with vecuronium infusion (6-8 mg/h, 35 days) for muscle relaxation. In addition, continuous infusion of labetalol (10-20 mg/h, 39 days) was given to control arterial blood pressure. Blood samples were taken daily for assays of propofol, midazolam and vecuronium plasma concentrations. No accumulation of propofol and vecuronium could be detected. There was an increase in liver enzyme activity at the end of the first 8-day propofol infusion. During the 4-week midazolam infusion, there were two marked plasma concentration peaks at times when the infusion rate was fairly stable. These changes coincided with pulmonary infection (C-reactive protein elevated) and ciprofloxacin treatment. The patient awoke rapidly after the last propofol infusion. He was unable to recall anything about his stay in the intensive care unit.

Diagnosis of acute rejection in liver transplantation.

Eleven acute rejections were found in 9 patients with liver transplantation due to end-stage liver cirrhosis. The rejections were diagnosed with fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) giving the cellular picture of immunoactivation in the liver graft when compared to a simultaneous sample of peripheral blood. s-Alkaline phosphatase and s-bilirubin increased within 1 week after onset of rejection in 7 and 10 cases, respectively. s-Alanine amino-transferase and b-ammonium were of no value in the diagnosis of acute rejection. A core biopsy was obtained only in a case of severe liver damage, mainly to estimate the need for retransplantation. One year after grafting, 6 out of 7 cirrhotic patients are well, all with normal liver function. Two have died of sepsis. One patient died from pulmonary metastases of occult liver carcinoma 6 months after the transplantation. FNAB seems helpful in detecting early acute rejection and also excluding such an event in the liver graft.