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Biomedical subjects

D Balogh

Publications and source records attributed to D Balogh.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Use of cardiac troponin I to diagnose perioperative myocardial infarction in coronary artery bypass grafting.

Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a regulatory protein unique to myocardium. We used a cardiospecific 30-min ELISA to measure cTnI in EDTA-plasma samples serially drawn from 28 patients before and after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)--26 elective and 2 salvage cases. The cTnI increase in 22 of the elective CABG patients, who did not have perioperative myocardial infarction (not-PMI), reflected the inevitable myocardial damage caused by cannulation and cardioplegic arrest, with peak values of 1.7 +/- 1.0 microgram/L (mean + 2 SD = 3.7 micrograms/L), the peaks occurring on average 8 h (range 4-24) after aortic unclamping. Two of the 22 not-PMI, elective CABG patients showed cTnI peaks > 3.0 micrograms/L (3.9 and 3.4 micrograms/L), indicating more extensive perioperative myocardial damage than the other 20, as confirmed by clinical and electrocardiographic or echocardiographic signs, although creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CKMB) activity was below our PMI decision limit of 20 U/L (25 degrees C). As classified by electrocardiography, echocardiography, and increased CKMB activity, four of the 26 elective CABG patients did have a PMI. One patient with Q-wave PMI had peak cTnI approximately 30 micrograms/L, and three with non-Q-wave PMI had lower peak values (approximately 5 micrograms/L). The two salvage CABG cases had increased cTnI before surgery. One developed a Q-wave acute myocardial infarction with a 3-h cTnI peak of approximately 35 micrograms/L. We conclude that, after elective CABG, cTnI peaks > 3.7 micrograms/L and concentrations > 3.1 micrograms/L at 12 h or 2.5 micrograms/L at 24 h indicate PMI with high probability.

Aged↗

Noise in the ICU.

OBJECTIVE: The growing number of technical devices in ICUs makes noise exposure a major stressor. The purpose of this study was to assess noise levels during routine operation in our ICU. DESIGN: Our ICU is an open ward with four rooms, constructed in the 1960s. During the study period, 4 patients were in the controlled room and were treated by 4 nurses during the day and by 2 at night. A-weighted sound pressure levels (SPL) were measured continuously for 2 days and nights. Also measured were the alarms of various appliances. For gross overall evaluation it is customary to state the Leq, i.e. the energy-averaged level during measurement. The annoyance caused by noise depends more on rare events of high intensity. Therefore, the distribution of SPL values (Ln) over time was also analysed. RESULTS: SPL was roughly the same during the day and at night, with Leq between 60-65 dB(A) and peaks up to 96 dB(A). Most alarms reach an SPL of 60-70 dB(A), but some exceed 80 dB(A). During teaching rounds Leq exceeds 65 dB(A). CONCLUSION: During the day and at night SPL always surpasses the permissible noise exposure for 24 h of 45 db(A) recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Alarms cause the most irritating noise. Hospital management should pay attention to internal noise, and SPL should be measured routinely.

Austria↗

Cardiac troponin T: a new marker of myocardial tissue damage in bypass surgery.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate cardiac troponin T (TnT) in the diagnosis of minor perioperative myocardial tissue damage and small myocardial infarctions during aortocoronary bypass surgery. In 15 patients without enzymatic or electrocardiographic signs of perioperative myocardial ischemia (group 1, uncomplicated bypass surgery), TnT did not exceed 3.55 micrograms/L. In 3 patients with perioperative non-Q-wave infarctions (group 2), TnT was significantly higher than in group 1 patients. In all 3 patients, TnT peak concentrations exceeded 3.5 micrograms/L. Thirteen patients (group 3, borderline cases) showed either signs of perioperative myocardial ischemia by creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CKMB) activity levels (CKMB > 20 U/L on the first postoperative day, 3 patients) or by electrocardiography (new ST-T segment alterations, 10 patients). TnT concentrations were comparable to group 1 patients and indicated uncomplicated bypass surgery in all 3 patients with solely elevated CKMB activities. On the other hand, TnT concentrations in 3 patients with electrocardiographic signs of perioperative myocardial ischemia were significantly higher than in uncomplicated patients (group 1) with peak values exceeding 3.5 micrograms/L. Thus, TnT indicated perioperative non-Q-wave infarctions not detected by CKMB activity in these 3 patients. These results are in accordance with findings in nonsurgical patients. They suggest a higher sensitivity and specificity of cardiac TnT compared to CKMB activity in the diagnosis of small perioperative myocardial infarctions after bypass surgery.

Aged↗

Early and rapid diagnosis of perioperative myocardial infarction in aortocoronary bypass surgery by immunoturbidimetric myoglobin measurements.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To evaluate measurements of myoglobin in the diagnosis of perioperative myocardial tissue damage in aortocoronary bypass surgery. A new immunoturbidimetric myoglobin assay, which yields quantitative concentrations of myoglobin within approximately 1 min, was used. DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. PATIENTS: Thirty-two patients scheduled for elective aortocoronary bypass surgery. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Myoglobin concentrations in patients without perioperative myocardial infarction (n = 27) increased with aortic unclamping, peaked after 1 h, and decreased to almost baseline values within 4 h. By contrast, myoglobin concentrations in patients with perioperative myocardial infarction (n = 5) further increased after 1 h of aortic unclamping and were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in patients without myocardial infarction as soon as 3 h after aortic unclamping. In all patients with myocardial infarction, myoglobin concentrations exceeded 400 micrograms/L over a minimum period of 4 h. Ten of 27 patients without perioperative myocardial infarction had episodes of minor perioperative myocardial ischemia (defined as ST-T segment changes in the ECG without a concomitant increase in the activity of creatine kinase isoenzyme MB). Myoglobin concentrations (but not creatine kinase isoenzyme MB activity) were significantly higher in these 10 patients when compared to the 17 completely uneventful cases. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma concentrations of myoglobin are a sensitive marker of perioperative myocardial tissue damage in aortocoronary bypass surgery. Myoglobin measurements with the immunoturbidimetric assay have an important contribution to make to the early and rapid diagnosis of perioperative myocardial infarction.

Aged↗

[Effects of short-term application of recombinant human growth hormone on urea production rate in patients in the early postoperative phase].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of short-term recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) administration on urea production rate (UPR), N balance and aminograms. DESIGN: Prospective, double-blind placebo-controlled study. SETTING: Intensive care unit of a University Hospital. PATIENTS: 20 adult patients after major abdominal surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Postoperative substitution of rhGH (Saizen, Serono, Aubonne, CH) in a dose of 0.15 IE/kg BW for 3 days. The serum levels of hGH, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), ACTH and cortisol were measured as well as the amino acids in plasma. The degree of catabolism was calculated according to Woolfson's formula, which is based on the UPR, and by calculation of the cumulative N balance. RESULTS: With exception of proline, the plasma amino acids between the groups receiving active substance and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and those receiving placebo and TPN did not differ significantly. Neither was there a significant difference between the groups for any other parameter measured. The UPR and IGF-1 levels showed only a tendency towards higher values as compared with the placebo group (UPR verum group, values in g/day: 1st measurement, 29.8 +/- 16.7; 2nd measurement, 28.3 +/- 17.7; 3rd measurement, 32.1 +/- 19.1; 4th measurement, 33.1 +/- 21.2. UPR placebo, values in g/day; 1st measurement, 32.6 +/- 23.9; 2nd measurement, 30.8 +/- 17.9; 3rd measurement 41.6 +/- 28.7; 4th measurement, 47.3 +/- 29.5. IGF-1 verum group, values in nmol/l; 1st measurement, 25.7 +/- 19.2; 2nd measurement, 44.8 +/- 23; 3rd measurement, 52.4 +/- 30; 4th measurement, 54.3 +/- 20. IGF-1 placebo, values in nmol/l; 1st measurement: 22.9 +/- 11.7; 2nd measurement, 37.0 +/- 19.4; 3rd measurement, 38.4 +/- 21.4; 4th measurement, 40.0 +/- 23.0). The ACTH-cortisol axis was only slightly depressed in the group receiving active substance. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that short-term rhGH administration over 3 days is not capable of significantly reducing the UPR in postoperative patients, but we cannot exclude a significant difference between rhGH group and placebo after a longer administration period.

Abdomen↗

Increase in cerebrospinal fluid pressure in normocapnic volunteers in response to nalbuphine.

We have carried out a double-blind randomized study of the effect of nalbuphine (0.2 mg.kg-1 i.v.) or placebo on mean lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure, mean cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), transcutaneous PCO2 (tcPCO2), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR) in 10 spontaneously breathing volunteers using invasive CSF pressure measurement. Nalbuphine increased CSF pressure from 9.2 mmHg to 16.4 mmHg and decreased CPP from 83.6 mmHg to 74.4 mmHg without significantly changing tcPCO2, MAP, or heart rate. In the placebo group there were no significant changes in CSF pressure, CPP, tcPCO2, MAP, or heart rate. These findings suggest that nalbuphine should be used with caution in patients at risk of intracranial hypertension.

Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous↗

Neopterin plasma levels in burn patients.

Burn victims have severely depressed cellular immunity and despite careful hygiene, antibiotics and early surgical therapy the infection rate remains high. The assessment of plasma neopterin levels can be considered as an indirect measurement of macrophage function, because activation of macrophages is accompanied by the release of D-erythro-neopterin. The influence of burn trauma on neopterin levels was investigated to determine whether neopterin estimations might have a prognostic or diagnostic value. Twenty patients with a mean age of 36 +/- 16 years and a TBSA of 45.5 per cent +/- 23 were studied. During the whole hospital treatment daily blood samples were analysed for neopterin levels using radioimmunoassay. Starting from normal levels (9 +/- 1.6 nmol/l), neopterin content increased continuously until day 10 (30-40 nmol/l), then fluctuated around these high levels for several weeks. There were no differences between patients with TBSA less than 35 per cent or greater than 35 per cent, and between survivors and non-survivors. Burn injury caused a constant increase of plasma neopterin indicating an intact reaction by macrophages. It can be used as an additional parameter for the diagnosis of sepsis: high values being a sign of adequate reaction by macrophages, whereas low neopterin values in the presence of bacteraemia and clinical symptoms of sepsis show a deleterious impairment of immune functions.

Adult↗

Graft replacement of post-traumatic thoracic aortic aneurysm: results without bypass or shunting.

From 1986 to 1991 13 cases of post-traumatic thoracic aneurysm were treated at our department. All patients had apparent thoracic injury at the time of trauma, and their mean age was 35 years. The mean time between trauma and operation was 3 years and six patients were asymptomatic. In all patients the diagnosis was made by computed tomography and angiography and all post-traumatic thoracic aneurysms were located at the aortic isthmus. No spinal cord protection by bypass or shunting was used during surgery and the clamp-and-repair method with a mean clamping time of 38 min was used in all 13 patients. No renal or neurological complications were observed postoperatively and there were no hospital deaths. The data of 202 patients who had been operated upon for post-traumatic thoracic aneurysms since 1981 have been reviewed with regard to the relationship between spinal cord protection and the incidence of postoperative paraplegia. Different methods of spinal cord protection were used in 121 patients resulting in paraplegia rate of 1.6%. In 81 patients the clamp-and-repair method was used and no case of paraplegia was observed in this group.

Adult↗

Fentanyl increases cerebrospinal fluid pressure in normocapnic volunteers.

In a double blind randomized study, the effect of fentanyl 1 microgram kg-1 i.v. or placebo on mean lumbar cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFP), mean arterial pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure, transcutaneous PCO2 and heart rate was studied in 10 spontaneously breathing volunteers in the lateral decubitus position via a 22-gauge spinal needle inserted into the subarachnoidal space at level L3/L4. Fentanyl increased mean CSFP (+/- SD) from 12.4 +/- 2.7 mmHg to 16.0 +/- 2.3 mmHg (P < 0.05) without significant changes in the other variables. No significant changes in any of the measured variables were seen after administration of placebo. Cerebral perfusion pressure decreased significantly after fentanyl (P < 0.05).

Adult↗

[Plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide, cyclic guanosine monophosphate and renin following 7.5% NaCl + 6% hydroxyethyl starch or Ringer's lactate. A comparative study of 6 normal subjects].

Small-volume resuscitation with hypertonic saline in combination with dextran appears to be very successful in experimental animals, where better results are achieved than in animals treated with a traditional infusion regime. This effect is apparently related to improved organ blood flow due to reflex vasodilatation. This reflex is based on the arrival of hypertonic solution in the pulmonary circulation. The expansion of intravascular volume would seem to be of secondary importance. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is released from secretory granules located in atrial cardiocytes. Atrial distention appears to be the predominant stimulus triggering ANP production. In addition to the natriuretic and diuretic effects, ANP leads to vasodilation, especially when vascular tone is elevated; the sympathetic reflex seems to be attenuated. Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate (cGMP) is an intracellular messenger and is partly released by ANP in the membrane-bound form. Renin excretion is highly influenced by ANP. The object of this study was to evaluate the influence of a hypertonic solution on this hormonal regulatory system. METHOD. This study compared a hypertonic sodium chloride solution (7.5%) in combination with hydroxyethyl starch (6%) (HH) to Ringer's lactate (RL). Six healthy volunteers received 4 ml/kg HH and 1 week later 500 ml RL. The infusion was administered in 20 minutes via a central venous catheter 70 cm in length. Blood pressure, heart rate, hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hk), colloid osmotic pressure (COP), sodium (Na+), chloride (Cl-), and plasma osmolarity were measured before starting and 5 and 30 min following infusion. At the same times ANP, cGMP, and plasma renin were also determined. RESULTS. Both groups showed no change in blood pressure or heart rate. The decrease of Hb, Hk, and COP in the HH and RL groups indicated the expansion of circulating plasma volume. HH infusion caused significant increases in ANP and cGMP, whereas plasma renin declined significantly. After RL infusion, ANP and renin values were very similar to the HH group except in one volunteer, who showed an extreme increase in ANP (760 pg/ml) 5 min after HH infusion. cGMP did not increase significantly in the RL group. On comparison of the two groups, only a significant difference in plasma osmolarity and in sodium and chloride levels was noted. CONCLUSION. We found that hypertonic NaCl (7.5%) with HH was well tolerated. Release of ANP and cGMP after HH infusion in healthy volunteers was not as high as expected, and the vasodilatory effect of hypertonic solutions was not explained by ANP or cGMP release in this investigation.

Adult↗

[Differentiated enteral feeding in the post-aggression phase in polytrauma patients. Comparison of a high calorie nutritionally defined diet (whole protein high calorie diet) with a peptide diet].

Two groups of 10 patients with an identical mean injury score (25 + 5) were treated from day 3 after injury until day 10 with a whole protein high caloric (WPHC) diet (group A) or with a peptide diet (PD) (group B). Intake of calories, protein, water, Na+ and K+ was measured daily as well as excretion of urine, Na+ and K+. Gastric reflux, bowel movement and plasma levels of Na+ and K+ were registered and the nitrogen balance and Na+/K+ quotient in urine were calculated daily. Clinically both diets were well tolerated, with low gastric reflux and no diarrhea. The calculated caloric demand could be covered in group A on day 7 post-injury (or day 4 of enteral nutrition) and in group B on day 11 post-injury (or day 7 of enteral nutrition). The caloric intake in group A remained significantly higher on days 4-10. There was no difference in nitrogen balance. Total enteral Na+ and fluid intake were significantly lower in group A, but some additional parenteral Na+ had to be given to keep plasma Na+ levels in the normal range. There was no difference in urine output between the 2 groups; therefore, there was a significant fluid retention in group B. Interestingly, the Na+/K+ quotient in urine was significantly higher in group A. The low Na+ intake might influence the back flow of interstitial edema in the 'flow phase'. This diet seems to be adequate, especially for the nutrition of burn patients and of patients with cardiac disease, and can cover the high caloric needs of polytraumatised patients within a few days.

Adolescent↗

Clinical follow-up of burn patients after long-term mechanical ventilation.

13 burn patients who had been treated for inhalation injuries (9), respiratory failure (3) or fractured ribs (1) were followed up after an average period of five years. Tracheal stenosis was found in five patients, increased pulmonary resistance in six patients. Even in patients who had sustained inhalation traumas there was only a minimal impairment of pulmonary function and physical work capacity.

Burns, Inhalation↗

[Hearing loss, a complication of antibiotic therapy in severely burned patients].

Two severely burned patients became virtually deaf during the course of treatment. The systemic and local applications of aminoglycosides and the high dosage of furosemide were the probable ototoxic agents. Renal insufficiency and persistent shock were enhancing agents. None of these factors were felt to be the individual cause of the complication, but in combination were felt to cause the deafness.

Adult↗

[Follow-up of patients with burn injuries following long-term ventilation].

Follow-ups were performed five years post burn on 13 severely burned patients after long-term ventilation in order to identify damage to the trachea and lung. The study comprised clinical examination, tracheal X-rays, pulmonary function tests with whole-body plethysmography for thoracic compliance, and spiroergometry. Tracheal stenosis was detected in five patients (38%), two patients had reduced total lung capacity and functional residual capacity was increased. Six patients had high values of pulmonary resistance. The comparison between actual and predicted physical work capacity in the spiroergometry showed a reduction below 85% of normal in five patients, but only one patient had a marked low output (51%). It is remarkable that patients after long-term ventilation, even after inhalation trauma have only minimal impairment of pulmonary function and physical work capacity five years after trauma. The high incidence of tracheal-stenosis after tracheotomy has to be considered as a serious finding.

Burns, Inhalation↗