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Biomedical subjects

B Rabinowitz

Publications and source records attributed to B Rabinowitz.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Influence of ethanol on the delivery of intravenous nitroglycerin solutions.

In order to evaluate the surface tension lowering effect of ethanol in intravenous nitroglycerin solutions of varying concentrations, drop size was measured in intravenous transfusion sets that should deliver 60 drops/ml. Ethanol 5% solutions led to a significant decrease in drop volume and a concomitant increase in the number of drops per unit volume, up to 79 drops/ml were observed. The surface tension lowering effect may account for decreases of up to 25% in delivered nitroglycerin when drop counting infusion pumps are used, and may be a factor in the development of apparent tolerance to intravenous nitroglycerin.

Ethanol↗
PubMed1988

Haemodynamic effects of intravenous isosorbide-5-mononitrate in acute and chronic left heart failure of ischaemic aetiology.

Isosorbide-5-mononitrate was administered in a continuous intravenous infusion, according to the haemodynamic response, to 19 patients with left heart failure of ischaemic aetiology; 12 with acute heart failure complicating an acute myocardial infarction and 7 with chronic ischaemic failure. In both groups, the following statistically significant haemodynamic changes were observed: a decrease in PCWP from 25.4 +/- 4.6 to 17.2 +/- 4.6 mmHg; an increase in SWI from 19.1 +/- 10 to 23.6 +/- 13.1 gm m-2; a slight increase in cardiac index with no change in arterial pressure and only minimal decrease in vascular resistance. There were two major differences in the haemodynamic response between the patients with acute heart failure and those with chronic disease: (a) the duration of the effect of isosorbide-5-mononitrate on the PCWP was longer in the first group (mean, 8 hours, compared to 1.5 hours in the chronic group), and (b) the effect on afterload was more pronounced in the group with chronic ischaemic failure than in the first group. Thus, isosorbide-5-mononitrate administered by intravenous infusion under careful monitoring appears to have a beneficial role in the treatment of acute as well as chronic ischaemic heart failure.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

The management of penetrating injuries of the back. A prospective study of 230 patients.

This is a prospective study of 230 patients with penetrating injuries of the back. The decision to operate or observe was taken exclusively on the abdominal physical findings. One hundred ninety-five patients (85%) did not require operation, 30 (13%) underwent a therapeutic laparotomy, four (1.7%) an unnecessary operation, and one patient (0.4%) had a completely negative laparotomy. The diagnosis and management was delayed in five (2.2%) patients with no serious consequences. Mortality rates were not recorded in this series. The initial physical examination was accurate in 95.2% of the patients. We suggest that penetrating injuries of the back should be assessed in the same way as anterior abdominal injuries. Physical abdominal examination is reliable in detecting significant intra-abdominal injuries.

Abdomen, Acute↗
PubMed1988

Teaching social sciences in the clinical years through psychosocial conferences.

A program for teaching the social sciences in the clinical years in medical school is described. This program focuses on psychosocial conferences (PSC) held during the clerkships in internal medicine, pediatrics, and surgery. The aim of the PSC is the integration of the knowledge and skills imparted in the preclinical social sciences curriculum with the students' clinical experiences. PSC teaching includes tutorial guidance throughout the student's preparation of a case presentation in which psychological, sociological, and anthropological aspects of the patients' coping with illness and the patient-physician interrelationship are emphasized.

Clinical Clerkship↗
PubMed1988

Hemodynamics, circulating catecholamines and response to intravenous nitrate therapy in a specific subset of acute myocardial infarction: the hypertensive-hyperkinetic-coronary-active group.

A specific subset of acute myocardial infarction was defined and named 'the hypertensive-hyperkinetic-coronary-active' subgroup. This subgroup included patients with acute myocardial infarction without pump failure or hypovolemia who continued to have hypertension and tachycardia, after relief of pain and who also had at least two recurrent ischemic episodes in the first days after a transmural event. Fifteen patients belonging to this group (group A) were studied in comparison with 15 other patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by pump failure (group B). The alterations in hemodynamics, in circulating catecholamine levels and the clinical course during an intravenous infusion of isosorbide dinitrate were evaluated and the data obtained in the two groups were compared. The patients in group A had tachycardia, hypertension and upper normal filling pressures (pulmonary capillary wedge pressures: 15.8 +/- 1.8 mm Hg). They had high levels of circulating catecholamines (1,343 +/- 407 ng/l), a cardiac output of 5.9 +/- 0.6 liters/min and stroke work index of 78 +/- 11 (mean +/- SD). The effect of intravenous nitrates on the left ventricular function curves of the two groups was the following: a marked shift downward and slight shift to the left in group A, as opposed to a moderate but significant shift upward and marked shift to the left in group B. The episodes of recurrent ischemia subsided in 13 out of 15 patients from group A. It appears therefore that the hyperkinetic patients with acute infarction are characterized by a hypersympathetic response, a typical hemodynamic profile and a particular response to nitrate therapy directionally opposite to the changes obtained in patients with acute infarction complicated with failure.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Subclavian vascular injuries.

This study comprises 228 patients with penetrating injuries of the subclavian vessels. The vein alone was involved in 44 per cent, the artery alone in 39 per cent, and both vessels in 17 per cent. The majority of the victims (61 per cent) did not reach the hospital alive, and in those who were operated on the mortality was 15.5 per cent (overall mortality 66 per cent). The overall mortality of venous injuries was significantly higher than the arterial ones (P less than 0.01), probably because of the dangerous complication of air embolism. Physical examination is reliable in the diagnosis of these injuries and there is no need for an emergency angiogram. The clavicular incision was the preferred approach. Repair was performed in 94 per cent of those with arterial injury. Vein injuries were treated by suture in 60 per cent and ligation in 40 per cent. A selective conservative approach is advised.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Hemodynamic effects of oral isosorbide-5-mononitrate and dinitrate in ischemic heart failure.

Isosorbide-5-mononitrate (ISMN), the main metabolite of isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) was recently introduced in clinical use. The hemodynamic effects of oral ISMN and ISDN, administered in equal doses, were studied in a randomized, crossover fashion in 20 patients with pump failure of ischemic etiology. Baseline hemodynamic criteria for admission into the study were: pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCW) of at least 20 mmHg and systolic arterial pressure (AP) above 90 mmHg. Hemodynamic parameters were serially measured and systemic vascular resistance was calculated up to 6 h postadministration of either ISMN or ISDN single dose (40 mg). Maximal effects obtained were statistically significantly different from baseline. While ISMN and ISDN appeared to be equipotent in reducing the filling pressure, with a maximum effect reached in 60-120 min, the mononitrate maintained its effects for a longer period.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1987

Indications for operation in abdominal stab wounds. A prospective study of 651 patients.

This prospective study comprises 651 patients with knife wounds of the anterior abdomen. Three hundred and forty-five patients (53%) had symptoms of an acute abdomen on admission and were operated on immediately. The remaining 306 patients (47%) were managed conservatively with serial clinical examinations. This group included 26 patients with omental or intestinal evisceration, 18 patients with air under the diaphragm, 12 patients with blood found on abdominal paracentesis, and 18 patients with shock on admission. Only 11 patients (3.6%) needed subsequent operation, and there was no mortality. The overall incidence of unnecessary laparotomies was 5% (completely negative, 3%). Of the 467 patients with proven peritoneal penetration, 27.6% had no significant intra-abdominal injury. It is concluded that many abdominal stab wounds can safely be managed without operation. The decision to operate or observe can be made exclusively on clinical criteria. Peritoneal penetration, air under the diaphragm, evisceration of omentum or bowel, blood found on abdominal paracentesis, and shock on admission are not absolute indications for surgery. Alcohol consumption by the patient does not interfere with the clinical assessment.

Abdomen, Acute↗
PubMed1987

Emergency room thoracotomy for stab wounds to the chest and neck.

This study group comprises 73 patients who underwent emergency room resuscitative thoracotomy for cardiac arrest following penetrating chest and neck injuries. Overall, 12 patients (16.4%) were successfully resuscitated but only five (6.8%) left the hospital alive without neurologic defects. None of the 18 cases with no vital signs at all (no cardiac activity, no respiratory efforts, nonreactive pupils) on admission survived. Only one out of the 19 cases with no cardiac activity and with fixed pupils but present respiratory efforts survived (5.3%). Of 14 patients with cardiac arrest but with respiratory efforts and reactive pupils, three survived (21.4%). We suggest that patients with no vital signs on admission to the hospital should not be subjected to resuscitative thoracotomy.

Emergency Service, Hospital↗
PubMed1986

Non-operative management of penetrating liver injuries: a prospective study.

This is a report of a study of 63 cases of penetrating liver injuries. Forty-two patients (67 per cent) who presented with signs of an acute abdomen were operated on. The liver was routinely sutured and drained. There was no incidence of postoperative intra-abdominal sepsis or haematobilia. In the remaining 21 patients (33 per cent) liver involvement was suggested by the fact that the wound was over the liver region, and penetrated the peritoneum, and abdominal paracentesis for blood was positive or the patient was shocked or pale. The patients in this group had a soft abdomen and they were treated conservatively with observation and blood transfusions if necessary. No complications were recorded in this group. It is concluded that many civilian penetrating injuries of the liver may be managed non-surgically. If an operative approach is selected suturing of the liver with drainage is the recommended procedure.

Female↗
PubMed1986

Indications for thoracotomy in stab injuries of the chest: a prospective study of 543 patients.

This is a prospective study of 543 patients with stab wounds of the chest treated in a 15 month period. Four hundred and sixty-seven patients (86 per cent) were selected for conservative treatment with no mortality. Of the 76 patients in the operatively treated group 68 were operated on in the operating theatre with a mortality of 17 per cent, while the remaining eight had a thoracotomy in the resuscitation room with a mortality of 87.5 per cent. Indications for early operation would appear to be the presence of signs of cardiac or major vascular injury (i.e. tamponade, profuse bleeding, an absent or diminished peripheral pulse, and shock not responding to aggressive resuscitation). A cautious digital exploration of the chest wound may help identify these injuries by obtaining information about the knife tract (towards or away from the heart or major vessels). The presence of shock on admission should not be an absolute indication for operation. Half the 156 patients with shock on admission were treated conservatively with no mortality. The presence of a wound over the precordium is not in itself an absolute indication for surgery. Seventy-two such patients, including 14 with shock, were successfully treated non-operatively. Massive air leaks are usually self-controlled and none of the 24 such cases required operation. The amount or rate of blood loss via the thoracotomy tube is not a reliable index of the severity of the injury and it should not be a sole criterion for the selection of the type of treatment.

Adult↗