[Icterohemorrhagic leptospirosis with acute respiratory distress syndrome and pulmonary hemorrhage]. / Leptospirose ictérohémorragique avec syndrome de détresse respiratoire aiguë et hémorragie pulmonaire.

We report a case of the respiratory distress syndrome occurring in a patient with leptospirosis ictero-haemorrhagica (LIH). The respiratory failure was associated with pulmonary haemorrhage. There was a rapid favourable outcome after treatment with antibiotics and artificial ventilation. The diagnosis of LIH has been confirmed by serological examination. The mechanisms of the pulmonary disorder during the course of LIH were discussed.

[Febrile interstitial pneumonia in a HIV positive patient. Diagnosis by transbronchial biopsy after non-contributory bronchoalveolar lavage]. / Pneumopathie interstitielle fébrile chez un sujet VIH+. Diagnostic par biopsies transbronchiques après lavage broncho-alvéolaire non contributif.

The authors report a case of HIV infection revealed by pneumocystosis. Bronchoalveolar lavage failed to provide a diagnosis. A second bronchial fibroscopy associated with transbronchial biopsies enabled the diagnosis of invasive pneumocystosis to be made.

Seizures related to severe hypophosphataemia induced by mechanical ventilation.

A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and acute respiratory failure developed grand mal seizures in the hours following onset of mechanical ventilation. These seizures were associated with an acute increase in arterial pH and were related to the occurrence of acute severe hypophosphataemia associated with recovery from respiratory acidosis.

[Pleural symphysis with tetracyclines for pneumothorax. The value of thoracic peridural analgesia]. / Symphyse pleurale aux tétracyclines pour pneumothorax. Intérêt de l'analgésie péridurale thoracique.

The aim of this study was to assess the value of peridural thoracic analgesia (ATP) to prevent pain observed during pleural symphysis with tetracycline (STP) for pneumothorax (PNO). 12 patients (age 27 +/- 6 years) having a spontaneous PNO benefited from 13 SPT (1 gm, tetracycline diluted in 60 cc of normal saline) under cover of an APT (at the D5-D6 level) with Fentanyl (0.1 mg) and Bupivacaine 0.5% adrenalin (1 mg/kg). The protocol was used on three successive days. Repeated determinations of blood bupivacaine levels were performed in 9 patients on the first day. No patient had an intolerable pain which required injection of parenteral morphine and/or an interruption of the protocol. For two patients (one of them having a right symphysis and then a left symphysis one month later) the treatment sessions to achieve a symphysis were totally painless. 10 patients experienced moderate pain, mainly on the first day, which was relieved by reinjection of peridural bupivacaine (25 mg) (n = 9) or by the parenteral injection of non morphine analgesia (n = 1). No patient had a respiratory depression, collapse or bradycardia. The blood bupivacaine levels were always significantly less than the toxic levels (1.6 mg). The results observed suggest that APT, (Fentanyl and Bupivacaine) is an effective method, non toxic and well tolerated for the prevention of intolerable pain which is seen in SPT for PNO.

Hypophosphatemia induced by mechanical ventilation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The aim of this study was to assess prospectively the variations of serum phosphorus concentration (P) after onset of mechanical ventilation (MV) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and acute respiratory acidosis. In 14 COPD patients, we measured P, PaCO2, and pH, immediately before MV (H0), then one hour (H1), 4 (H4), 7 (H7), 12 (H12), and 24 h (H24) after starting MV. P at H0 was in or above the normal range in ten patients and below normal range in four patients. P decreased significantly (p less than .001) after MV at H1, H4, H7, H12, and H24. Hypophosphatemia was present in all patients after MV, but was severe (p less than .3 mmol/L) in only two patients. There was a significant correlation (r = .56 p less than .01) between the decrease of P and the increase of pH after MV. Hypophosphatemia was a constant and early finding after institution of MV in COPD patients and was presumably related to an intracellular shift of P secondary to the correction of respiratory acidosis.

[Chronic pulmonary manifestations of varicella in adults. Apropos of 2 cases]. / Manifestations pulmonaires chroniques de la varicelle de l'adulte. A propos de 2 cas.

The pulmonary manifestations of varicella are observed more frequently in adults than in children. They make present according to 3 modes: acute, subacute or chronic. The authors report 2 cases of chronic pulmonary manifestations in the form of diffuse, partially calcified micronodular lesions of both lung fields observed in the course of varicella in adults.