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A De Bernardi

Publications and source records attributed to A De Bernardi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

[The superior vena cava obstruction syndrome after the implantation of a permanent pacemaker: a clinical case report].

Occlusion of the superior vena cava is a rare but serious complication of transvenous endocardial pacing. We describe 1 case of superior vena cava obstruction associated with permanent transvenous DDD pacemaker, following local infection. Thrombolytic therapy was initially effective, resulting in relief of signs of obstruction. However systemic infection occurred 3 months later. The patient was subsequently submitted to surgical removal of the infected pacemaker apparatus. Several therapeutical options described in previous papers are reviewed: anticoagulants, thrombolytics, percutaneous dilatation, surgical removal of the catheter. In conclusion, when a chronic process induced by local infection is present, surgical treatment is the best therapeutical approach.

Combined Modality Therapy↗
PubMed1996

[Prehospital management of acute myocardial infarct in an experimental metropolitan system of medical emergencies].

BACKGROUND: Feasibility, safety and efficacy of prehospital management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and prehospital thrombolysis have been widely demonstrated. On this background, in March 1992 we started up an Emergency Medical Service (EMS)--Servizio per le Emergenze Cardiologiche Territoriali, SECT--aimed to prehospital care of overall cardiac emergencies (CE), including AMI. The Service, operating in the metropolitan area of Turin (130 Km2, 964,000 inhabitants), is based on a properly equipped ambulance, manned with a physician and a nurse, skilled in treatment of CE. METHODS: From March 1992 to December 1994, 5000 missions were performed, 2586 (51.7%) for chest pain, 1383 (53.5%) of presumed cardiac origin. Within the latter group, 426 (30.8%) cases of AMI, 109 (7.9%) cases of suspected AMI and 848 (61.3%) cases of angina were identified and treated. Decision time in AMI patients (pts) was 189.4 +/- 289.5 min (median 73), longer in pts over 70 years and in women. By means of a direct phone line between Emergency Communication System and metropolitan Coronary Care Units (CCU), 303/423 (71.6%) AMI pts, were directly admitted to CCU. Prehospital thrombolysis (PT) was performed in 211/426 pts (49.5%), with delay from symptom onset of 126.8 +/- 106.1 min (median 93). A rtPA "front loaded" regimen was used, with a full heparin and ASA as adjunctive therapy. Exclusion criteria for PT in 215 pts were: age > 75 years in 109 pts (50.7%), delay from symptom onset > 6 hrs in 55 (25.6%), ST depression in 33 (15.3%), contraindications to thrombolysis in 18 (8.4%). Eligibility to PT was 8.1% in chest pain pts and 43.5% in pts with AMI diagnosis at discharge. Another group of 38 pts underwent thrombolysis in hospital, after a review of inclusion criteria, with a longer delay of 231 +/- 184 min (median 150). RESULTS: Out-of-hospital diagnosis was confirmed in 91% of both AMI pts and PT pts, and in 56.7% of suspected AMI pts. Overall complication rate was 32.1%, with similar rates in PT treated pts and not PT treated pts. Prehospital mortality rate was 0.7%. In-hospital mortality rate was 5.2% in PT pts with confirmed AMI, and 16.2% in not PT pts with confirmed AMI. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience confirm efficacy of out-of-hospital management of AMI within an EMS designed to treat overall CE, considering successful treatment of complications and early thrombolysis with reduction of time delay. Inclusion of SECT in the growing up "118" Emergency Medical System raises logistic questions. Process will be completed when the "medical final authority" will submit each intervention to a full evaluation in terms of efficiency and efficacy, and will not only prepare, as now happens, dispatch and intervention protocols.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in an experimental model of the management of cardiologic emergencies in a metropolitan area].

Since March 1992, an emergency medical system--EMS--(Servizio Emergenze Cardiologiche Territoriale, SECT) operates in the metropolitan area of Turin (130, 16 Km2), for a population of 964,000 inhabitants. SECT is based on a mobile intensive care unit, staffed with a physician and a nurse, trained in advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and equipped to treat all cardiac emergencies. According to the "Utstein Style" we report the demographic and clinical features of the patients (pts) suffering Cardiac Arrest (CA) and the impact of SECT on out-of-hospital CA. During 26 months of activity, SECT performed 3,648 missions (most important among these: 457 acute myocardial infarction, 723 angina, 523 arrhythmias, 270 acute heart failure, 154 cardiac arrest), and managed 207 confirmed CA (154 calls for CA, 53 CA occurred after team arrival because of other symptoms). Resuscitation was attempted in 135 pts, in 72 pts medical personnel accerted an irreversible death state. 86% of CA occurred at home. In all cases a cardiac etiology was presumed. All CA were witnessed: 53 by EMS personnel, 82 by lay bystander. In 53 EMS witnessed CA, ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) was showed in 47.2%, asystole in 43.4%, other rhythms (Oth) in 9.4%. Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was obtained in 52.8% pts, 76% in VT/VF Group. 43.4% were admitted alive to intensive care unit (ICU), 68% in VT/VF Group. 37.7% were discharged alive, 64% in VT/VF Group. In 82 lay witnessed CA initial rhythm was VT/VF in 31.7%, asystole in 59.7%, Oth. In 8.6%. CPR was attempted by lay bystander in 28% of cases. ROSC was obtained in 18.3%. CPR was attempted by lay bystander in 28% of cases. ROSC was obtained in 18.3% pts, 42.3% in VT/VF Group. 15.8% were admitted alive to ICU, 34.6% in VT/VF Group. 9.7% pts were discharged alive, 23% in VT/VF Group. Discharged alive rate in lay attempted CPR cases was 17.4%. The collapse-EMS CPR interval was 16 +/- 6.13 min (range 4-29), with a collapse-call receipt interval of 8.57 +/- 5.75 min (range 1-23) and a call receipt-EMS CPR interval of 8.06 +/- 3.56 min (range 2-19). The same intervals are significantly longer in not attempted CPR cases: respectively 26.53 +/- 10.73 min (range 10-65) -p < 0.001-, 19.29 +/- 11.3 min (range 5-60) -p < 0.001- and 8.26 +/- 3.96 (range 3-25) -p = NS-. Although far from the international effectiveness standards, SECT seemed to improve the out-of-hospital CA prognosis. High rate of CA occurred at home, time delay in early access link, better trend in survival in lay bystander attempted CPR cases and lack in early defibrillation lead to strategies for system improvement through targeted CPR training as well as semiautomatic external defibrillators introduction.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

[Tumor markers in colorectal neoplasm pathology: our experience of the diagnostic and prognostic importance of CEA antigen].

It is well known that the presence of a tumour may be accompanied by production and release into the serum of a substantial number of protein and/or hormonal substances. Only relatively recently, however, have investigators begun to identify which of these supposed markers may actually be clinically useful. A picture is thus gradually emerging of a number of markers (in actual fact only very few) which are already clinically useful, as well as others which are clinically promising and numerous markers which require more thorough clinical evaluation. Prominent among those already in clinical use is undoubtedly CEA. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a glycoprotein isolated for the first time by Gold and Friedman in 1965. Very recently, sensitive radioimmune and immuno-enzymatic assays have made it possible to determine serum levels lower than 3 ng/ml. Though high plasma levels of CEA do not indicate the presence of a tumour with certainty, very high levels are, however, to some extent indicative of its existence. In view of the fact that CEA possesses neither the sensitivity nor the specificity to be able to diagnose the presence or otherwise of a tumour, its use is generally recommended when formulating a prognosis or for monitoring surgical and/or medical therapy (chemotherapy and radiotherapy) in asymptomatic patients. We therefore carried out tests in 357 patients on file as having undergone surgery for neoplasms of the colon-rectum-anus, monitored in our colostomy outpatients' department, which was started up in 1980. 188 of these patients had already been submitted to CEA assay prior to surgery. The data are analyzed in relation to the site, stage and grade of differentiation of the neoplasm, the supposed radicality of the operation and the period of follow-up in these patients.

Carcinoembryonic Antigen↗