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Biomedical subjects

E Hon

Publications and source records attributed to E Hon.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Could the incidence of postoperative urinary tract infection be reduced by reversing the sequence of vaginal cleansing and urethral catheterization?

Postoperative urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common hospital infection after gynaecological operations. A prospective randomized study was performed to examine whether the incidence of UTI could be reduced by reversing the sequence of vaginal cleansing and urethral catheterization. Subjects were randomly allocated to: (1) urethral catheterization before vaginal cleansing; and (2) urethral catheterization after vaginal cleansing. Urine cultures were performed immediately after the procedures as the baseline, on the day of catheter removal, and two days after catheter removal. Patients were examined daily after the operation for any urinary symptoms and fever. The incidences of preoperative asymptomatic bacteriuria were similar in both groups, seven of 84 in group 1 vs. eight of 83 in group 2. Among those with negative urine culture before the operation, 77 in group 1 and 75 in group 2, there was no significant difference in postoperative bacteriuria at catheter removal (23 vs. 22) and two days later (35 vs. 42). No significant difference was noted in the incidence of UTI (5 vs. 10, P = 0.25), with a trend towards less UTI in group 1. Voiding discomfort was more common, and fever less common in group 1. There were significant associations between urine culture results at three different occasions. Bacteriuria at catheter removal is associated with a 7.2 times risk of bacteriuria two days later, 2.4 times risk of urinary symptoms and 3.2 times risk of UTI. Routine surveillance at catheter removal is not cost-effective. We conclude that postoperative bacteriuria and UTI are common. Reversing the sequence of the procedures cannot reduce the incidence. There is no evidence to change the status quo.

Bacteriuria↗

Oxygen-carrying capacity during 10 hours of hypercapnia in ventilated dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To test if a relatively long-term exogenous hypercapnia, equivalent to those maintained during permissive hypercapnia, can persistently increase oxygen-carrying capacity in ventilated dogs. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Research laboratory in a hospital. SUBJECTS: Six mongrel dogs (3 males; 3 females). INTERVENTIONS: The dogs were anesthetized (30 mg/kg pentobarbital, i.v.), intubated, and cannulated in one femoral artery, one femoral vein, and the right jugular vein. The mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and mean pulmonary artery pressure were continuously recorded. Anesthesia, fluid balance, and normothermia were maintained. Arterial hypercapnia was generated by the addition of 60 torr dry CO2 (8 kPa) to the inspired air for 10 hrs, continuously. All subjects were paralyzed (vecuronium bromide) and ventilated with room air, while the ventilator settings were kept constant. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Arterial and venous gas exchange profiles, hemoglobin concentration, oxygen saturation, oxygen content, cardiac output, and oxygen consumption were determined, before, during, and after 10 hrs of hypercapnia, periodically. Both hemoglobin concentration and oxygen content were gradually increased during hypercapnia and reached significant levels at 8 and 10 hrs of hypercapnia, respectively. These increases continued up to 2 hrs after termination of hypercapnia. The PaO2/FIO2, as an index of arterial oxygenation, was significantly increased during the first 3 hrs of hypercapnia and then remained at the normoxic level up to 10 hrs of hypercapnia. No significant changes occurred in the mean arterial blood pressure and oxygen consumption. The heart rate and cardiac output were significantly reduced at 4 and 8 hrs of hypercapnia, respectively. The mean pulmonary artery pressure was increased throughout the hypercapnic trial. CONCLUSIONS: A relatively long-term exogenous hypercapnia can significantly increase oxygen-carrying capacity in normal ventilated dogs. Whether this effect can occur during permissive hypercapnia because of controlled ventilation in patients warrants investigation.

Animals↗

Aggressive angiomyxoma in females: is radical resection the only option?

BACKGROUND: Aggressive angiomyxoma is a rare mesenchymal tumor, characterized by frequent local recurrences. Our aim is to assess the role of radical resection. METHODS: Retrospective case review. The records of five patients with aggressive angiomyxoma during the period from 1984 to 1998 were reviewed and analyzed. A MEDLINE search from 1983 to May 1999 was performed. The clinical presentation, surgical treatment, resection margin involvement and clinical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Together with our five cases, 106 cases have been reported in the world literature. The female-to-male ratio was 6.6:1. The age distribution was wide, with the peak incidence at 31 to 35. The local recurrence rate was high. Seventy-one percent of recurrence occurred within the first 3 years. Patients with clear resection margins have similar chances of remaining disease-free compared with those having tumor-involved resection margins. There was no correlation between the size of the tumors and the chance of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Though we aim for complete resection, incomplete or partial resection is acceptable, especially when high operative morbidity is anticipated and preservation of fertility is an issue. Long-term follow-up and careful monitoring with imaging techniques are essential for timely identification of recurrence and prompt resection.

Adolescent↗

Experimental critical care in rats: gender differences in anesthesia, ventilation, and gas exchange.

OBJECTIVE: To compare normative ventilatory and gas-exchange data and anesthetic requirements in male and female rats subjected to critical care conditions. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Critical care research laboratory in a hospital. SUBJECTS: Twenty-two age-matched young male and female rats (Sprague-Dawley, Long Evans strain). INTERVENTIONS: Anesthesia was induced with 65 and 45 mg/kg pentobarbital in male and female rats, respectively. The rats were then tracheostomized and cannulated in one femoral vein and artery. Anesthesia was maintained using 8-15 mg/kg/hr pentobarbital (iv) and controlled by continuous hemodynamic monitoring. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Normoxic baselines for breathing frequency, tidal volume, minute volume, inspiratory-to-expiratory ratio, inspiratory drive (tidal volume/inspiratory time), respiratory system compliance, peak airway pressure, and gas-exchange profiles were established. Ventilatory and gas-exchange responses to oxygen and CO2 were then determined by exposure to 10 mins of hyperoxia (100% oxygen), two levels of mild and severe hypercapnic hyperoxia (inspired Pco2 of 30 and 60 torr; 4 and 8 kPa), and two levels of mild and severe normocapnic hypoxia (inspired PO2 of 81 and 48 torr; 10.7 and 6.3 kPa). The average anesthetic requirement (during a 5- to 6-hr experiment) was 30% less in the female rats than in the male rats (p < .05). Female rats showed significantly lower breathing frequency, minute volume (mL/min/kg), and inspiratory drive (mL/kg/sec) during hyperoxia, mild and severe hypercapnia, and mild hypoxia. Pulmonary peak airway pressure was significantly lower in the female rats, consistent with a significantly higher weight-indexed compliance during all exposures. The female rats also had significantly higher inspiratory-to-expiratory ratio and higher PaCO2 with lower pH during normoxia, hyperoxia, and mild hypercapnia. These gender differences had no effect on PaO2, which was similar in all exposures. CONCLUSIONS: There are significant gender differences in ventilation, gas exchange, and anesthetic requirements in rats subjected to critical care conditions. The gas-exchange values observed in these spontaneously breathing rats may represent the optimal levels attainable during pentobarbital anesthesia with normal lungs. They may serve as standards for ventilator settings in the rat models used for critical care studies.

Anesthesia↗

Family with partial monosomy 10p and trisomy 10p.

We report on a family with an abnormality of 10p. The propositus has monosomy for the distal region of 10p and severe psychomotor delay, growth failure, congenital heart defect, multicystic kidney, grade V vesicoureteric reflux, and neurosensory hearing loss. The mother and the elder brother of the propositus carry a balanced reciprocal translocation (5q;10p)(q35.3;p12.3). A retarded and epileptic maternal aunt was found to have dup(10p). Study of the family history led to the successful obstetric management of a subsequent twin pregnancy in which an affected fetus with dup(10p) was identified and selectively terminated, while the other normal twin was delivered at term without problems.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗