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Berend Mets

Publications and source records attributed to Berend Mets.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

A genetic association study of the functional A118G polymorphism of the human mu-opioid receptor gene in patients with acute and chronic pain.

In this prospective, observational study we explored whether A118G single nucleotide polymorphism in the human mu-opioid receptor (MOR) gene could explain the inter-individual differences in opioid analgesic requirements in patients with acute postoperative pain and chronic pain. The frequency of the wild-type A118 MOR (major) and variant G118 MOR (minor) alleles in the subjects with chronic, noncancer pain (n = 121) and opioid-naïve subjects with acute postoperative pain (n = 101), serving as the control group, were examined. The relationships among the A118G MOR genotype, opioid requirements, and the numerical pain score were analyzed in both groups. The frequency of the minor allele was significantly lower in the subjects with chronic pain when compared with the group with acute postoperative pain (0.079 versus 0.158; P = 0.009 by chi2 test). No statistically significant association was observed between the presence of A118G MOR polymorphism and the average postoperative pain score or the doses of morphine used in the immediate postoperative period. In the high-quartile, opioid utilization, chronic pain patients, the homozygotic carriers of the major allele required significantly higher opioid dose than did the carriers of the minor allele. The results indicate that although the presence of the minor allele does not appear to affect opioid analgesic use in acute postoperative pain, the minor allele is less common in chronic pain patients, especially in those requiring higher doses of opioid analgesics.

Abdomen↗

Abnormal gastric tonometric variables and vasoconstrictor use after left ventricular assist device insertion.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal gastric tonometric variables, a surrogate for splanchnic ischemia, occur in approximately 50% of patients at the end of routine cardiac operations and are associated with postoperative morbidity. We sought to determine whether gastric tonometric variables deteriorate after left ventricular assist device insertion and to explore the association between abnormal gastric tonometric variables and vasoconstrictor use. METHODS: Nineteen patients who had insertion of a left ventricular assist device were enrolled in a prospective, observational study. Automated air tonometry was used to determine the difference between gastric and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (CO2 gap) at five time points perioperatively. RESULTS: Compared with baseline, systemic blood flow was significantly increased at the end of operation (1.9 +/- 0.6 versus 2.9 +/- 0.7 L x min(-1) x m(-2), p < 0.0001). Tonometric variables, which were normal at baseline, became abnormal in 90% of patients (baseline CO2 gap 4 +/- 2 mm Hg versus end of operation CO2 gap 24 +/- 15 mm Hg, p < 0.0001). Elevated CO2 gaps correlated with larger doses of norepinephrine (r = 0.69, p = 0.001) and vasopressin (r = 0.88, p < 0.0001). Abnormal gastric tonometric variables at the end of operation correlated with postoperative intensive care unit length of stay (r = 0.70, p = 0.0009) and multiple organ dysfunction score (r = 0.64, p = 0.0033). CONCLUSIONS: Despite a significant increase in systemic blood flow after left ventricular assist device implantation, abnormal gastric tonometric variables developed and were associated with larger vasoconstrictor dose. These data provide evidence that gastric ischemia can develop independently of changes in systemic blood flow and support the potential role of vasoconstrictors as a cause of splanchnic ischemia.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

Anesthesia for robotic repair of the mitral valve: a report of two cases.

IMPLICATIONS: We describe the anesthetic management of two patients who underwent successful mitral valve repair with use of a robot-assisted cardiac surgical technique. We describe the robot used, as well as the surgical procedure, and highlight aspects of the anesthetic management, in particular the need for one-lung ventilation and the utility of transesophageal echocardiography.

Adult↗