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Biomedical subjects

C Harrigan

Publications and source records attributed to C Harrigan.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

The influence of an anesthetic regimen on patient care, outcome, and hospital charges.

The effects of the anesthetic regimen on patient care, outcome, and hospital charges were studied in 86 morbidly obese patients who underwent gastric reservoir reduction at two hospitals (A and B) in the Detroit Medical Center. At Hospital A, postoperative ventilation was routinely planned in 36 patients who received two intravenous lines, an arterial ine, and a Foley catheter. At Hospital B, postoperative ventilation was not routinely planned for in 50 patients who received one intravenous line and no Foley catheter or arterial line. For anesthesia, Hospital A routinely used isoflurane (0.98%) and N2O (53.0%) with little fentanyl (0.7 mg in 26 patients). Muscle relaxation with pancuronium (13.2 mg) was reversed in only five patients. In contrast, Hospital B patients used little isoflurane (0.4% in 14 patients),* more N2O (64.0%),* more fentanyl (1.3 mg),* and less pancuronium (9.7 mg)*; reversal with naloxone and pyridostigmine was routine. The operating room time was longer in Hospital A patients (5.0 vs 4.6 hours),* and they received significantly more intravenous fluids (6.2L vs 3.2L).* Routine postoperative ventilation in Hospital A patients led to a 46.5 hour intensive care unit stay and a 9.7 day postoperative stay. In contrast, routine anesthetic reversal allowed operating room extubation, patient self-transfer to the stretcher, and ambulation on the day of surgery in Hospital B where patients had a 1.7 hour recovery room stay and a 9.6 day postoperative stay. Total hospital charges in Hospital A patients averaged $14,524.00 due to the increased cost of the intensive care unit ($2,094.00) and support services versus $7,580.00* in Hospital B patients. All 86 patients survived.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

The effect of hemorrhagic shock on the clotting cascade in injured patients.

The effects of injury with hemorrhagic shock on the clotting and fibrinolytic systems were studied serially in 22 patients receiving 21 +/- 13 transfusions and 1.26 +/- 0.58 L of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) during operation (OR). The PT, aPTT, thrombin time (TT), fibrinogen (FI), factors V (FV) and VIII (FVIII), fibrin(ogen) split products (FSP) and fibrin monomers were measured in OR and after OR at 6 and 15 hours, days 2 and 4, and at convalescence (25 days). The TT, PT, and aPTT were were prolonged in OR and reflected the low FI, FV, and FVIII, respectively. After OR, clotting times and factor levels returned toward normal. By day 4 and convalescence, FI, FV, and FVIII exceeded normal levels. FSP levels were normal in OR. After OR FSP rose progressively through day 4 when all patients had levels greater than 10 mcg/ml and most patients had levels above 40 mcg/ml. Fibrin monomers were absent until the 15-hour study after which a small number of patients had monomers through the convalescent study. The acute fall in clotting factors is likely due to increased hemostatic demands, plasma dilution from resuscitation, and extravascular relocation from shock-induced extravascular expansion. Later factor restoration likely reflects enhanced hepatic synthesis, factor half-life, capillary selectivity retaining large molecular weight factors, and intravascular relocation from abundant extravascular stores. Throughout this biphasic response, the clotting times reflect factor levels. Fibrinolysis contributes little to these changes.

Adolescent↗

Spatulated versus end-to-end anastomosis for small vessel injury.

Spatulated anastomosis (SA) was compared to end-to-end anastomosis (EEA) with small arteries (3-4 mm) in nine conditioned dogs (22-30 kg). A 1-cm segment of both common femoral arteries with an average of 3.5-mm external diameter was resected and reconstructed by EEA and by contralateral SA using a running suture of 5/0 proline. Pre- and postoperative flow rates, flow rates at 1 year in three dogs, arteriography at 1 year in six dogs, and gross examination at 1 year were done. The preoperative flow rates averaged 86 ml/min for the SA and 76 ml/min for the EEA; early postoperative flow rates averaged 100 ml/min and 92 ml/min, respectively, whereas 1-year flow rates averaged 63 ml/min and 57 ml/min, respectively. None of these differences is significant. Preoperative and 1-year external diameters averaged 3.54 mm and 3.39 mm in the SA group compared to 3.5 mm and 3.44 mm in the EEA group. Arteriograms showed good flow except for slight narrowing in one SA which, on postmortem exam, was seen to result from a fibrous band which extended from the spatulated segment to the opposite wall. These data show that SA and EEA yield comparable results both acutely and long term. The choice of EEA versus SA for primary repair of injured small vessels should be determined by surgical preference.

Animals↗

The beneficial role of calcium supplementation during resuscitation from shock.

The role of calcium (Ca) in resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock is controversial and in the present report three regimens were compared: supplementation (Ca-S), avoidance (No-Ca), and Ca channel blockade (Ca-B). This was studied in 40 splenectomized dogs subjected to reservoir shock (MAP 60 torr/90 min, then 40 torr/30 min) and treated with: a) 20 ml/kg balanced electrolyte solution (BES); b) shed blood; c) 30 ml/kg BES; and d) 250 ml autologous bank blood. Three groups of six dogs received Ca-S (0.5 mEq/kg), No-Ca, or Ca-B (verapamil 0.15 mg/kg) in BES. Postoperative therapy of 50 ml/kg/d BES with Ca-S, No-Ca, or Ca-B was given for 3 days. The effects of parathyroidectomy (P) via wide thyroidectomy in 22 dogs treated with calphosan (20 ml/d) and L-thyroxin (0.02 mg/kg) preceding shock was also studied as above: Ca-S/P, No-Ca/P, and Ca-B/P; four sham dogs had anesthesia but no shock (Anes/P). Studies done before, during, and after shock and on day three included systemic pressures (MAP), central pressures (CFP), cardiac output (CO), resistance (SVR), heart work (LVW), and outcome. Post-resuscitation Ca was significantly less in all groups (1.6-3.7 mg%) compared to Ca-S (4.8 mg%). Compared to Ca-S dogs, the post-resuscitation studies in the No-Ca and Ca-B dogs showed lower MAP, CO, and LVW in both intact and hypoparathyroid animals. Post-resuscitation CFP was also lower in the Ca-S and Ca-S/P dogs compared to the other euparathyroid and hypoparathyroid dogs. Death after the initiation of resuscitation occurred in two No-Ca/P and three Ca-B/P dogs. These data suggest that calcium supplementation plus an intact calcium-parathyroid axis enhance the resuscitation effort.

Animals↗

Serial changes in primary hemostasis after massive transfusion.

Primary hemostasis was studied in 22 injured patients in the operating room (OR) after a minimum of 10 transfusions, 6 and 15 hours after surgery, on postoperative days 2 and 4 and during convalescence (mean 25 days after surgery). The platelet count was low in the OR and continued to fall after surgery through the second postoperative day; it began to rise by day 4 and was above normal at convalescence. Most patients had prolonged bleeding time through day 4. Platelet aggregation with adenosine diphosphate and collagen was depressed in the OR and platelet aggregation remained depressed. The platelet-specific proteins, beta-thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4, were elevated in the OR and fell throughout the first 4 postoperative days. A secondary rise in these proteins occurred at convalescence. Despite severe alterations in both the number and function of platelets after massive transfusion for injury, no patient had clinical oozing. Therefore the routine administration of platelets in comparable patients without "medical bleeding" is unwarranted.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Parathyroid response to hypocalcemia after treatment of hemorrhagic shock.

Hypocalcemia often follows resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock. The role of calcium supplementation is controversial, whereas, little data are available regarding the parathyroid (PTH) response. Therefore this response was studied in 41 injured patients who required 15 blood transfusions and 11.7 L balanced electrolyte solution during emergency room and operating room therapy. Postoperative reduced total calcium (7.5 +/- 0.8 mg/dl SD) and ionized calcium 1.85 +/- 0.2 mEq/SD) paralleled a rise in PTH (69.7 +/- 37 microliters Eq/ml SD) and the severity of insult as reflected by shock time and hypoalbuminemia. Renal function was normal. Increased PTH is probably homeostatic and belies the theoretical merits of calcium channel blocker administration after hemorrhagic shock. Calcium supplements may be of benefit during resuscitation when bone flow is low and calcium release from bone in response to PTH is reduced.

Adult↗

Impaired renal concentrating ability during resuscitation from shock.

Renal concentrating ability was tested in 20 severely injured patients who received an average of 21 blood transfusions. Timed measurements were made of urine output (UO), and the clearance of creatinine glomerular filtration rate (GFR), sodium (CNa), osmols (COsm), and free water (CH2O) during operation and were repeated at 12 and 18 hours postoperatively, and on postoperative days 2 and 4. During operation the GFR was markedly reduced (36 mL/min), while UO, CNa, and COsm were all markedly increased (8.5, 5.9, and 8.1 mL/min, respectively). The CH2O was positive (0.4 mL/min). Following operation the rate of renal excretion of water and solutes was still high: UO, 4.0 mL/min; CNa, 4.3 mL/min; and COsm, 6.0 mL/min. Five hours postoperatively the CH2O had returned to normal. By day 2 the excretion rate of water had returned closer to normal: UO, 2.1 mL/min; CNa, 2.6 mL/min; COsm, 4.0 mL/min; the CH2O was normal. Subsequent study results were normal. These data demonstrate a renal concentrating impairment during and following operation. An osmotic diuresis, transient tubular ischemia, a washout of interstitial inner medullary osmoles, or some cryptic factor may be causative.

Glomerular Filtration Rate↗

Significance of hypocalcemia following hypovolemic shock.

Changes in calcium levels during and after resuscitation from severe shock were studied in 22 seriously injured patients who received an average of 21 blood transfusions and 26 mEq supplemental calcium. Total serum proteins (TSP), serum albumin (SA), total calcium (TC), and ionized calcium (CA++), were studied intraoperatively after the tenth transfusion and postoperatively at 5 hours, 15 hours, day 2, day 4, and during convalescence (day 25). The intraoperative TSP fell to 3.7 gm%; the TC and Ca++ fell to 7.2 mg% and 1.4 mEq/L. The TSP and SA remained low throughout day 4 (4.8 and 2.6 gm%); the TC was also low on day 4 (7.5 mg%), whereas the Ca++ rose to normal (2.1 mEq/L) by day 2. The severity of hypocalcemia paralleled the hypoproteinemia, the number of transfusions given during resuscitation, and the duration of shock; paradoxically, hypocalcemia correlated inversely with Ca++ supplementation of blood transfusions during resuscitation, suggesting increased extravascular Ca++ flux with more severe shock. Further studies in comparably injured patients are needed to identify the concomitant responses of the calcium homeostatic factors such as parathormone in order to help identify the optimal role of calcium manipulation during resuscitation from hypovolemic shock.

Blood Proteins↗

Primary hemostasis after massive transfusion for injury.

Primary hemostasis, the formation of a platelet plug, was studied in 22 injured patients receiving an average of 21 transfusions during the operation for control of bleeding. The storage age of the blood averaged 15 days; no platelet transfusions were given. Platelet counts (PLT) and bleeding time (BT) were studied intraoperatively; postoperatively at 6 hours, 25 hours, day 2, day 4; and during convalescence (8 days to 3 months). Serial PLT and BT levels were correlated with the number of transfusions and age of blood. During operation, the PLT fell to 109,000/mm3 and the BT was greater than 15 minutes. Thrombocytopenia did not correlate with the number of transfusions or age of blood. The PLT averaged 106,000/mm3 at 6 hours and then fell significantly to 73,000/mm3 at 15 hours and to 76,000/mm3 on day 2. The PLT rose significantly to 110,000/mm3 by day four and increased to supernormal levels by convalescence. The BT remained elevated at 6 hours, 15 hours, day 2, and day 4, and declined to normal by convalescence. Thrombocytopenia and prolonged BT after massive transfusion for injury indicate platelet dysfunction which may protect against disseminated intravascular coagulation. Correction of the thrombocytopenia should be reserved for patients with bleeding.

Bleeding Time↗