Tramadol for the treatment of the pain of diabetic neuropathy.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D Moulin.
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BACKGROUND: When compared with cadaveric grafts (Cad), the potential advantages of pediatric orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) from living-related (LR) donors may include better graft quality, shorter ischemic time, appropriate preparation of the recipient, and better immunologic compatibility. METHODS: The aim of this study was to analyze early hepatocyte, endothelial, and bile duct cell injury following pediatric OLT using LR (n=15) or uncomplicated Cad reduced-size (n=10) grafts. Median (range) total ischemic times were 190 min (105-261) versus 760 min (418-948) in LR and Cad groups, respectively (P<0.001). RESULTS: The post-OLT cytolytic profile, assessed daily during the first 7 days using both plasma glutamate-pyruvate transaminase and serum alpha-glutathione S-transferase, showed significantly higher levels of both parameters for the 10 uncomplicated Cad cases when compared with the 15 LR grafts (P<0.001). The evaluation of hepatic endothelial cell function during the first week after OLT, using serum hyaluronic acid levels, suggested lower endothelial injury in the LR grafts, when compared with the Cad grafts (P=0.059). Bile duct cell injury, as assessed using plasma gamma-glutamyl transferase levels, was similar in both groups, with a progressive increase at the end of the first week after OLT, which was correlated with a similar incidence of early acute rejection in both groups (80% in the LR group vs. 62% in the Cad group, NS). CONCLUSION: (1) The hepatocellular and endothelial cell damage was reduced after OLT with LR grafts, which may be related to shorter ischemic time when compared with Cad grafts; (2) the putative immunologic advantage for LR grafts was not confirmed in terms of incidence of acute rejection.
Although the oral route is the preferred method of opioid therapy in patients with cancer pain, many patients will require an alternate route of analgesic administration at some point during the trajectory of their illness. This study compared the efficacy and safety of a novel, controlled-release suppository of morphine (MSC-R) and controlled-release morphine tablets (MSC-T) in patients with cancer pain. In a double-blind crossover study, 27 patients with cancer pain were randomized to receive MSC-R or MSC-T every 12 hours for 7 days each, using a 1:1 analgesic equivalence ratio. Pain intensity was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) and the Present Pain Intensity Index of the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Nausea and sedation were also assessed with a VAS. Pharmacodynamic assessments were made by the patient at 8:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 4:00 PM, and 8:00 PM and rescue morphine use recorded in a daily diary. There were no significant differences between MSC-R and MSC-T in overall scores for pain intensity VAS, ordinal pain intensity, and sedation. There was a small but significant difference in overall nausea VAS score in favor of MSC-R. Mean daily rescue analgesic use did not differ significantly during between treatment with MSC-R and MSC-T. MSC-R provides pain control comparable to that provided by MSC-T when given every 12 hours at a 1:1 dose ratio, and represents a reliable alternative method of pain control for patients unable to take oral opioid agents.
Until recently, hypoxaemia was considered as a relative contraindication for liver transplantation. The hepatopulmonary syndrome associated with a right to left shunt of blood through the lungs is reversible in adults and children after correction of the cirrhosis by liver transplantation. However, concerns have been raised regarding the risks of anaesthesia in such hypoxaemic patients. Since the peroperative management of children undergoing liver transplantation and suffering from hepatopulmonary syndrome and severe hypoxemia has never been described, we report here our experience in seven children. Despite the fact that severe arterial desaturation was recorded throughout the procedure, no major complications were recorded peroperatively. The postoperative intubation time was 58 +/- 21 h, five children being extubated while still hypoxaemic. All seven patients reversed their hepatopulmonary syndrome after a mean postoperative period of 24 +/- 10 weeks. This shows that liver transplantation can be successfully achieved in severely hypoxaemic children and that postoperative correction of the right to left shunt is then obtained.
The authors report on their experience of the integrated medical and psychological care in a pediatric intensive care unit. They describe an individualized psychological management of the child at high risk of imminent death. The helpful attitudes and people are identified such as a loving human presence, a climate of trust, life openness and tolerance to child's reactions and receptiveness to the still present life. With the provided support, the child possibly goes through his difficult experience in a more serene way, at his own rythm, with the respect and the acceptance for his individual expression.
The paper gives a brief historical survey of craniostenosis and the first operative approaches. The authors describe a classification of various types of cranio-facio-stenosis and facio-cranio-stenosis and present a detailed study of their experience in this area. Operative results are discussed in function of the selected surgical procedure, the immediate per- and post-operative complications and the short and long term morbidity. The authors present their current attitude for each dysmorphic type. They underline the heavy nature of this long-lasting and bleeding surgical procedure that concerns small children. They have recorded 31 incidents in relation with surgical procedure, 10 complications at short and long term, and 1 death. Such surgery requires an experienced and vigilant team, associating surgeons, anesthetists and intensive-care physicians.
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) is a symptom complex characterized by pain, hyperesthesia, and vasomotor instability. RSD has long been considered a manifestation of sympathetic nervous system dysfunction because of characteristic edema and vasomotor instability in addition to frequent alleviation of RSD symptoms by sympathetic blockade. RSD generally only affects one limb although it is recognized that the contralateral limb is also abnormal and at risk of also developing clinical RSD without the advent of a new injury. An unusual case of three-limb RSD is presented where classical RSD was first seen in the right lower extremity followed by involvement of the left upper extremity and finally the left lower extremity. Each limb went on to develop dystrophic changes. This case underscores the importance of the central nervous system in the pathophysiology of RSD and suggests this central influence is not confined to one or adjacent segments of the spinal cord.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the strategy of a combined diagnostic and therapeutic approach in children with intra-abdominal organ injury following blunt abdominal trauma. DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. SETTING: Pediatric intensive care unit of an university hospital. PATIENTS: 38 children with documented intra-abdominal injury. INTERVENTION: Initial non-surgical treatment by a team of pediatric intensivists, radiologists and surgeons. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Physical examination, oriented blood and urine tests, plain abdominal film, abdominal ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT) with contrast. US documented intra-abdominal fluid in 30 and initial organ lesion in 14 out of 31 patients evaluated. Abdominal CT demonstrated the precise organ lesion in 34 out of 36 patients examined with solid organ lesion. Early laparotomy was needed in 7 because of severe shock, pneumoperitoneum and ruptured diaphragm, and delayed surgery in 6 patients. All 38 patients regained a normal life. CONCLUSIONS: The stepped diagnostic approach combined with initial non-surgical treatment by a team provided accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Abdominal US, by demonstrating free intra-abdominal fluid is very sensitive to detect patients with intra-abdominal organ injury, CT scan with contrast is needed to give precise information of specific organ lesions.
We reviewed the records of 200 children who underwent 238 orthotopic liver transplantations in order to determine which preoperative factors could predict intraoperative blood loss. A coagulation abnormality score (CAS) was calculated by allowing one point for each abnormality in six preoperative coagulation tests. The mean CAS values were significantly greater in children suffering from fulminant hepatic failure (Fulm) or post-necrotic cirrhosis (PNC) and those having retransplantation (ReTx) than in those with disease of other etiologies. No correlation was found between the CAS and the mean blood requirements in the different etiology groups. According to the amount of blood transfused, children could be divided in two groups. Group 1 were those with biliary atresia and ReTx, who received more than 200 ml/kg. Group 2 included those with PNC, Fulm, metabolic diseases, and Alagille syndrome and Byler disease, who received less than 140 ml/kg. The mean CAS was significantly lower and the PT significantly better in Group 1. We conclude that preoperative coagulation tests were weak predictors of intraoperative bleeding. The etiology of the underlying liver disease and previous abdominal surgery play an important role in the occurrence of severe bleeding. Intraoperatively, children presented the same hemostatic changes as adults.
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The influence of ABO-compatibility was reviewed in 70 emergency orthotopic hepatic transplantations (OHT) performed at our institution in 60 highly urgent recipients between February 1984 and March 1989. Thirty-eight were ABO-identical (Id); 16, compatible (Comp), and 16, incompatible (Inc) transplants, respectively. The three groups did not differ statistically with respect to the indications, the adult/child ratio and the proportions of first OHT and retransplantations. Graft survival rates of ABO-Id, ABO-Comp and ABO-Inc OHT at one year were 47, 38 and 19 per cent, respectively (p less than 0.02). Incidences of perioperative mortality, arterial thrombosis and irreversible rejection were slightly (although not significantly) higher in the ABO-Inc group. Retransplantation rates were 19, 7 and 36 per cent in the ABO-Id, Comp and Inc groups, respectively. Patient survival rates at one year were 59 per cent for the ABO-Id group versus 43 per cent for both ABO-Comp and Inc combinations (NS). The results of this series of highly urgent OHT confirm that graft survival is lower with ABO-Inc livers; their use should be strictly considered as a short term life-saving procedure. Improvement of patient survival after a first urgent ABO-Inc OHT may require an aggressive policy of retransplantation.
10 children who died suddenly during liver transplantation were found at necropsy to have extensive obstruction of small lung vessels by platelet aggregates. In 7 of these patients pulmonary artery pressure changes before death were consistent with acute obstruction of the pulmonary vascular bed. Platelet aggregates were not strikingly increased in blood vessels in other tissues. No single obvious cause for these unusual histological findings could be identified, although the presence of intravascular catheters, perioperative blood and platelet concentrate transfusions, and cellular debris from the liver forced into the circulation during surgery might predispose to platelet aggregation.
In a series of 51 children presenting with an accidental caustic burn, symptoms were analysed for their predictive value of significant i.e. necrotizing oesophageal lesions (grade II or III). For the whole group, the incidence of significant oesophageal lesions was 37%. Vomiting and/or respiratory distress were associated with high incidence of significant oesophageal burn (84% and 75% respectively). The particular location of each caustic burn was analysed for its association with caustic burns at other anatomical sites. Of the 18 patients with a laryngeal burn, 72% also had a grade II or III oesophageal burn. The 19 patients with a grade II or III oesophageal burn and the 18 patients with a laryngeal burn, all had lesions at other sites. In the group of 19 patients with a caustic lesion limited to one site, only 1 patient showed mild oesophagitis (grade I) without late sequelae.
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A case of infantile myofibromatosis associated with oesophageal atresia, annular pancreas, additional sacral vertebra and hypoplatic right kidney in a male neonate is reported. The possibility of associated malformations in this rare disease is outlined.
Of 139 children who received an orthotopic liver transplant in our center between March 1984 and July 1989, a total of 17 patients (12%) had transplants before their first birthday (mean age 10.3 months; range 8 to 11). The mean weight was 7.3 kg (range 5.2 to 13). Nine retransplantations were performed in five children because of primary nonfunction (three children), hepatic artery thrombosis (four), or rejection (two). A reduced donor liver was used for 11 of 26 transplants. Baseline immunosuppression included cyclosporine, prednisone, and azathioprine with OKT3 or anti-thymocyte globulin for steroid-resistant rejection episodes. Survivors were discharged after a mean hospital stay of 47 days (range 22 to 87), and nonsurvivors died within a mean of 40 days (range 0 to 120). The 1 year actuarial survival rate was 64.7%, in comparison with 75.8% in the whole series. One patient died perioperatively, two died from primary nonfunction, one from adenovirus infection, two from rejection, and one from bone marrow aplasia. Eighteen rejection episodes, of which 11 were steroid resistant, occurred in 11 patients. Our series shows that liver transplantation can be successful in this age group.
Juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis is a rare and benign tumoral disease of childhood characterized by numerous relapses despite complete resection. The ENT treatment of choice is to vaporize the papillomas with a CO2 laser. Since the discovery of a viral etiology (Human Papilloma Virus), resection has been followed by medical attempts to control the disease by using various antiviral treatments. Among the latter, alfa interferon has proved effective during the first six months of treatment. In this article, we report on five cases of refractory juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis treated by excision (CO2 laser in four children, surgical resections in one child) and alpha-r IFN 1.5 x 10(5) U/kg daily. With this strategy, three of the five children are currently disease-free for periods ranging from 22 to 68 months. This series includes one remarkable observation of one child who responded only to double doses of alpha-r IFN, after initial failure at conventional doses. This therapeutic scheme reduced the frequency of relapses in a fourth child. In only one child the treatment did fail to modify the natural course of the disease. Side effects were tolerable and included anorexia (one case), palmar erythema (one case), a flu-like syndrome (two cases) and mild transient transaminase rise (three cases) not precluding further treatment. CO2-laser caused one laryngeal oedema and synechia of the anterior commisure of the vocal laryngeal cords in one other case.