Randomized studies are still necessary.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Claude Lentschener.
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We diagnosed transient left ventricular apical wall motion abnormalities after surgery in a patient presenting with a clinical and electrocardiographic picture of acute myocardial infarction in the absence of significant coronary disease. These angiographic, clinical, and electrocardiographic features satisfied the criteria of the recently described tako-tsubo-like left ventricular dysfunction.
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Blood transfusion can adversely affect patient outcome and graft survival in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). With this respect, prophylactic aprotinin administration decreases blood loss, transfusion requirements, and the hemodynamic changes associated with graft reperfusion in patients undergoing OLT. However, data indicate limiting the use of aprotinin in OLT: (a) clinical, biological, echocardiographic, and postmortem findings recorded in patients with chronic liver disease or undergoing OLT suggest that a continuous prothrombotic state exists in these patients. Whether the inhibition of fibrinolysis associated with aprotinin therapy will expose some patients to untoward thrombosis is questionable; (b) aprotinin does not appear to alter postoperative outcome in patients undergoing OLT; (c) aprotinin decreases blood transfusion requirements only when surgery is associated with significant blood loss. However, at the present time, median transfusion requirements of 2 to 5 red blood cell units are required in OLT.
We diagnosed cauda equina syndrome 15 h after uneventful single spinal administration of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 12.5 mg through a 27-gauge pencil-point type needle. No preexisting neurologic disorder was recorded. There was no pain or paresthesia during needle placement or drug injection. The sensory levels were bilateral, symmetric, and caudal to T8. Resolution of most of the symptoms occurred within a few days but some foot drop persisted for 2 yr after the procedure. Bupivacaine neurotoxicity is suggested by the absence of any other identifiable cause for this neurologic deficit.
UNLABELLED: We investigated whether recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) administration would reduce red blood cell (RBC) transfusion requirements in patients undergoing elective liver resection. We retrospectively investigated 200 patients undergoing elective liver resection. Factors likely to predict perioperative RBC transfusion were studied using a logistic regression analysis. A mathematical model was used to simulate RBC transfusion requirements if (a). transfusion thresholds had been predefined at a hemoglobin concentration of 7-8 g/dL, (b). preoperative hemoglobin concentrations had been increased to 15 g/dL by rHuEPO administration in patients with preoperative hemoglobin concentration in the range 10-13 g/dL, and (c). both interventions had been used. A cost/benefit evaluation of rHuEPO administration formed part of this simulation. RBC transfusion was correlated with major and median liver resection, total liver vascular exclusion, and a combined nonhepatic abdominal surgery but was not correlated with a preoperative hemoglobin concentration in the range 10-13 g/dL. Adherence to a small transfusion threshold or rHuEPO administration alone would have resulted in a slight reduction in transfusion requirements and transfusion rates for the whole population. However, the two interventions in combination would have significantly reduced both variables. One-hundred-eighteen patients undergoing median and major liver resection received 92% of RBC transfused. Sixty-six of these 118 patients had preoperative hemoglobin concentrations in the range 10-13 g/dL and could have received rHuEPO before surgery. rHuEPO alone would have avoided the transfusion of 63 RBC packs of 203 in this subgroup and 12 transfused patients of 31 (P = 0.02). rHuEPO administration to these 66 patients would have cost 186000 Euro. The 63 RBC saved would have cost 10,710 Euro. IMPLICATIONS: A mathematical model simulation suggests that the routine preoperative administration of erythropoietin to patients scheduled for major and median liver resection presenting with a preoperative hemoglobin concentration in the range 10-13 g/dL could reduce blood transfusion requirements. However, the cost/benefit ratio warrants consideration.
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IMPLICATIONS: Anesthesia may acutely reveal angle-closure glaucoma. This complication is an ophthalmologic emergency. However, symptoms of acute glaucoma may be overlooked or misinterpreted in a sedated or comatose patient, and this may result in delayed treatment. Immediate diagnosis and appropriate treatment should be done to prevent visual loss.
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