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Biomedical subjects

E Schindler

Publications and source records attributed to E Schindler.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Fibrin gel for treatment of tympanic membrane perforations: an experimental animal model].

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of a fibrin gel on the healing of tympanic membrane perforation in rats. METHODS: Prolonged tympanic membrane perforations in 12 rats were created by application of mitomycin C to the intact tympanic membranes followed by bilateral myringotomy. Repeated applications of a fibrin gel to the perforation site of one tympanic membrane were performed in each animal. Tympanic membranes were observed for a total of 8 weeks. RESULTS: One perforation in each group was already patent at the end of the observation period. The mean healing period of the remaining tympanic membranes was found to be 16.7 days in the fibrin gel group and 19.6 days in the control group. CONCLUSION: A fibrin sheet does not seem to promote the wound healing process of tympanic membranes. However, the sheet might serve as a drug-delivery system for growth factors in the treatment of tympanic membrane perforations, because of its biocompatibility.

Animals↗

[Traumatic tympanic membrane perforactions. Local application of an alginate matrix loaded with epidermal growth factor in an animal model].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an alginate matrix releasing epidermal growth factor on healing after acute tympanic membrane perforation in rats. METHOD: A total of 20 male rats were divided into two groups. In each animal, a randomly chosen tympanic membrane was perforated by heat. A piece of alginate matrix (control group) or alginate matrix loaded with 0.25 microg epidermal growth factor (EGF group) was then placed on the perforation. The rat ears were examined after days 3, 6, 9, and 14 and every week thereafter for a total of 11 weeks. Each matrix was removed on day 9. To examine the status of the tympanic membranes on day 14, one randomly chosen membrane from each group was histopathologically examined. RESULTS: By day 6, complete closure of the tympanic membrane perforation was achieved in 56% of the EGF group, whereas it was achieved in only 10% in the control group. By day 14, all tympanic membrane perforations were closed in both groups. There were no complications and no significant differences in the histopathologic parameters between the EGF group and the control group. CONCLUSION: An alginate matrix seems to be a useful EGF-delivery system to the tympanic membrane.

Administration, Topical↗

[Structure and process quality of inpatient urologic rehabilitation].

Inpatient rehabilitation and "Anschlussheilbehandlung" (rehabilitation soon after operation or acute intervention) are effective and economic for long-term improvement of urologic patients. Only therapy guided by urologic specialists during rehabilitation and afterwards guarantees the possibility of excellent results. Especially QOL and functional deficits are improved markedly by urologic rehabilitation. Therefore, inpatient urologic rehabilitation should be initiated more often in the future.

Combined Modality Therapy↗

Effects of desflurane and isoflurane on intestinal tissue oxygen pressure during colorectal surgery.

Volatile anaesthetics differ in the effects they have on splanchnic haemodynamics and oxygenation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of desflurane and isoflurane as part of a balanced anaesthetic technique on intestinal tissue oxygenation during colorectal surgery. Data were analysed from 44 patients randomly assigned to receive either desflurane (desflurane group, n = 20), or isoflurane (isoflurane group, n = 24) for inhalational anaesthesia. Tissue oxygen pressure (P(tiss)O2) was measured on the serosal side of the large intestine prior to colonic resection (T1) and following the completion of the bowel anastomosis (T2). In addition, haemodynamic and oxygenation parameters were assessed. No difference in mean P(tiss)O2 was observed between the groups at T1 [desflurane group: 8.1 (2.9) kPa vs. isoflurane group: 7.7 (2.7) kPa]. Following completion of the anastomosis (T2) mean P(tiss)O2 was higher in the isoflurane group [9.6 (2.9) kPa] than the desflurane group [7.7 (2.4) kPa, p = 0.025]. During surgery no difference between the groups could be observed with regard to haemodynamics and global oxygenation parameters. The lack of a difference between the groups in P(tiss)O2 before resection of the colon suggests that, under normal conditions, desflurane and isoflurane have comparable effects on intestinal blood flow and oxygenation. However, following local ischaemia, the reactive hyperaemia seems to be better preserved during isoflurane anaesthesia indicated by a local increase in P(tiss)O2blank(p = 0.013) following completion of the bowel anastomosis.

Adult↗

Incidence and risk calculation of inotropic support in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass using an automated anaesthesia record-keeping system.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study analysed the effects of preoperative and intraoperative factors on the occurrence of inotropic support after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS: The data sets of 1471 adult patients having received elective cardiac surgery with CPB were recorded using an online anaesthesia record-keeping system. Patients were judged to have required inotropic drug support if they had received one or a combination of the positive inotropic drugs, epinephrine, dobutamine and enoximone. The effects of age, height, weight, body mass index, gender, chronic heart failure, documented preoperative myocardial infarction, left main coronary artery disease, preoperative history of hypertension, chronic renal failure, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), preoperative medical treatment, type of surgical procedure, duration of CPB, duration of aortic clamping and reperfusion time were analysed by logistic regression for predictive power of the need for positive inotropic drugs. RESULTS: Of the patients, 32.4% received positive inotropic drugs in the operating theatre after weaning from CPB. The overall 30-day mortality was 2.2%. Of non-survivors, 81.8% received inotropes compared with 18.2% of survivors (P < 0.01). The numbers of previous myocardial infarctions (odds ratio (OR), 2.01), congestive heart failures New York Heart Association class > 2 (OR, 1.85), COPD (OR, 1.85) and age > 65 yr (OR, 1.62), aortic cross clamping time of > 90 min (OR, 2.32) and coronary artery bypass surgery (OR, 0.43) all represented influential factors within the logistic regression model. CONCLUSION: The knowledge of these risk factors should be useful in increasing the anaesthetist's vigilance in those patients most at risk for inotropic support and in providing for more timely therapeutic intervention and optimizing anaesthesia management.

Aged↗

Primary central nervous system lymphoma in AIDS: a wider spectrum of CT and MRI findings.

Diagnosis of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) in patients with AIDS based on radiological findings is still a challenging problem. Our purpose was to review the CT and MRI findings in PCNSL in our patients with AIDS and compare them with those reported in the literature. CT and MRI of 28 patients with AIDS and pathologically confirmed PCNSL were analysed retrospectively for the number of lesions, their site, size, density, signal intensity, contrast enhancement, oedema and mass effect. We found 82 lesions. On CT 45 lesions were found in 22 patients, whereas MRI revealed 66 in 20 patients. The lymphoma was solitary in 20 patients (29 %) and multiple in 20 (71%). Spontaneous haemorrhage was seen in 7 patients. Contrast-enhanced MRI showed no enhancement in 27.3 % (18/66) of the lesions. In one patient diffuse signal abnormalities in the white matter were seen on T2-weighted images. Our findings suggest that the previously described spectrum imaging characteristics of PCNSL has widened. Neuroradiologists should be aware of the variable appearance in patients with AIDS. Spontaneous haemorrhage, a non-enhancing lesion, or diffuse white matter changes do not exclude lymphoma in an immunocompromised patient.

Adult↗

Heart transplantation in children and infants: short-term outcome and long-term follow-up.

Since 1988, 82 heart transplants have been performed in 80 infants and children. Diagnoses pretransplant were: hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) (n = 43); cardiomyopathy (n = 19); endocardial fibroelastosis (n = 6); and other complex congenital heart diseases (n = 12). Age at transplantation was < 1 yr in 61 patients. Overall survival rate was 79% at 1 yr and 73% at 5 and 10 yr. To date, 20 patients have died after transplantation. Causes of death were: rejection (eight patients); right ventricular failure (four patients); transplant coronary artery disease (TCAD) (two patients); and other causes (six patients). In the majority of patients somatic growth is not impaired, and renal function is reduced (but stable) in all patients. Two patients developed post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease, which was treated successfully. Major long-term morbidity is neurologic deficit - severe in three patients and minor in six. TCAD was present or suspected in six surviving patients. We conclude that heart transplantation in infants and children can be performed with good early and late results. Quality of life is excellent in most patients. TCAD, however, will become an increasing problem in the long term.

Child↗

Controlled hypercapnia during one-lung ventilation in patients undergoing pulmonary resection.

BACKGROUND: In a pilot study, the haemodynamic and gas exchange effects of acute hypercapoia during one-lung ventilation in thoracotomy patients were investigated. The effects of normocapnic one-lung ventilation (OLV-N) on haemodynamics and pulmonary gas exchange were compared with those of hypercapnic one-lung ventilation (OLV-H) in 14 patients undergoing pulmonary lobectomy. METHODS: Hypercapnia was induced by decreasing tidal volume until PaCO2 increased to 8-9 kPa. During OLV, minute ventilation was reduced from 8.8+/-1.7 to 4.2+/-0.7 l min(-1). RESULTS: Cardiac index (from 3.3+/-0.6 to 3.9+/-0.6 l min(-1), P<0.01) and pulmonary vascular resistance index (from 245+/-96 to 347+/-125 dyn s cm(-5) m(-2), P<0.05) increased during OLV-H, whereas systemic vascular resistance index decreased from 1952+/-403 to 1636+/-361 dyn s cm(-5) m(-2) (P<0.01). Pulmonary oxygenation remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: All patients had an uneventful course during OLV-H. The determinants of pulmonary oxygenation during hypercapnic one-lung ventilation remain to be further elucidated.

Blood Gas Analysis↗

The use of an anesthesia information management system for prediction of antiemetic rescue treatment at the postanesthesia care unit.

UNLABELLED: We used an anesthesia information management system (AIMS) to devise a score for predicting antiemetic rescue treatment as an indicator for postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). Furthermore, we wanted to investigate whether data collected with an AIMS are suitable for comparable clinical investigations. Over a 3-yr period (January 1, 1997, to December 31, 1999), data sets of 27,626 patients who were admitted postoperatively to the PACU were recorded online by using the automated anesthesia record keeping system NarkoData(R) (IMESO GmbH, Hüttenberg, Germany). Ten patient-related, 5 operative, 15 anesthesia-related, and 4 postoperative variables were studied by using forward stepwise logistic regression. Not only can the probability of having PONV in the PACU be estimated from the 3 previously described patient-related (female gender, odds ratio [OR] = 2.45; smoker, OR = 0.53; and age, OR = 0.995) and one operative variables (duration of surgery, OR = 1.005), but 3 anesthesia-related variables (intraoperative use of opioids, OR = 4.18; use of N(2)O, OR = 2.24; and IV anesthesia with propofol, OR = 0.40) are predictive. In implementing an equation for risk calculation into the AIMS, the individual risk of PONV can be calculated automatically. IMPLICATIONS: The aim of this study was to investigate predictors for postoperative nausea and vomiting by using online anesthesia records. With the help of computerized data evaluation, 7 of 34 variables could be detected as risk factors. By implementing an automatic score into the record keeping system, an individual risk calculation could be made possible.

Adult↗

Initial and follow-up MR imaging findings in AIDS-related progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recent studies have shown the beneficial effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in AIDS-related progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). The purpose of our study was to evaluate the initial and follow-up imaging findings and survival in patients with PML who were treated with HAART. METHODS: The clinical course and MR imaging findings on initial and follow-up MR studies in four consecutive AIDS patients with PML who were treated with HAART are described. RESULTS: Two patients were short-term survivors and died after 3 months. Two patients are still alive, with a survival time of 22 and 43 months, respectively. On initial MR studies, more extensive white matter changes were seen in the short-term survivors. Development of a mass effect and temporary enhancement (in one patient) was observed in two HAART responders on follow-up MR studies. Increased hypointensity on T1-weighted images with concomitant low signal on fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery fast spin-echo (FLAIR-FSE) images was seen in two responders, representing leukomalacia. Atrophic changes of the involved areas of the brain, consistent with burnt out PML lesions, were seen in two long-term survivors. In the short-term survivors, increased hypointensity was present on T1-weighted images with increased high signal on FLAIR-FSE images, representing progressive destructive disease. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that a clinical and radiologic response can be seen in some patients with AIDS-associated PML on HAART while in others there may be no beneficial response. Development of a mass effect and temporary enhancement on MR images in the early phase of treatment might represent positive predictive factors for prolonged survival.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Effects of dopexamine and volume loading on hemodynamics and oxygenation parameters in patients undergoing pulmonary resection.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary resection may result in a reduction in arterial oxygen pressure as well as in cardiac output. Since cardiac index, oxygen delivery, and oxygen consumption are considered as important determinants of patients' outcome, we evaluated the effects of dopexamine and volume loading on cardiopulmonary variables in patients undergoing pulmonary resection. METHODS: Forty adult patients undergoing pulmonary resection for lung or bronchial tumors were included in an open placebo-controlled study. The patients were selected according to a randomized sequence to group A (n=20) or group B (n=20). Dopexamine (2 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1)) was started when steady state conditions were achieved after induction of anesthesia in group A. Saline 0.9% was given as control (group B). Hemodynamic monitoring was performed using a pulmonary artery catheter. RESULTS: Dopexamine increased heart rate, cardiac output and oxygen delivery compared with control without increasing oxygen consumption during anesthesia and surgery. Furthermore, dopexamine was found not to alter the course of PaO2/FiO2 values. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing pulmonary resection, dopexamine can be used perioperatively to increase cardiac index without decreasing the PaO2/FiO2 ratio.

Aged↗

[Recovery of balanced anesthesia with various inhalation anesthetics in comparison to intravenous anesthetics: a retrospective analysis of 20,060 patients].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this investigation was to compare routine balanced anaesthesia with different inhalation agents to intravenous anaesthesia (IVA) using an Anaesthesia-Information-Management-System (AIMS) with regard to time of recovery from anaesthesia, the time of discharge from the postanaesthesia care unit (PACU) and postoperative nausea as well as postoperative therapy with analgesics. METHODS: In 1997 and 1998 all relevant data of each anaesthesia procedure have been recorded using the online documentation Software NarkoData. These data sets have been stored into a relational database during each anaesthesia procedure. For evaluation the information has been exported from the database to a statistics program via 'Structured Query Langvage' (SOL). Balanced anaesthesia has been performed using isoflurane, halothane, and sevoflurane, respectively, supplemented with or without nitrous Oxide (N2O). The intravenous based anaesthesia-groups included propofol-fentanyl or propofol-remifentanil. RESULTS: The fastest recovery was seen in patients of the isoflurane group (11.2 +/- 7.7 minutes), and the longest time for extubation was observed in patients wich halothane anaesthesia (12.8 +/- 9.3 minutes); the overall mean difference was 1.7 minutes. The earliest patient admitted to the PACU had received sevoflurane (7.0 +/- 6.3 minutes) and propofol-remifentanil (7.0 +/- 7.4 minutes) whereas patients of the halothane group (9.5 +/- 7.5 minutes) took more. The shortest stay in PACU was seen in patients of the sevoflurane and isoflurane groups (105.13 +/- 35.7 and 108.4 +/- 60.5 minutes), whereas propofol-remifentanil (126.2 +/- 89.1 minutes) and halothan (120.0 +/- 86.1 minutes) anaesthetised patients had the longest stay in PACU. No difference was noted in the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting nor in the amount of postoperatively given analgesics. CONCLUSION: Results achieved in routine correspond only in part to results from studies. In our investigation balanced anaesthesia with isoflurane and sevoflurane correspond with the shortest stay in PACU compared to balanced anaesthesia with halothane and IVAs with propofol-fentanyl or propofol-remifentanil. One reason for this could be the intraoperatively administered opioide piritramide in IVAs. Furthermore we conclude that an AIMS may provide additional information about overall costs-effectiveness. However this information depends largely on local factors, e.g. patient case mix, staffing, policy of discharge from the PACU etc.

Adolescent↗

Effect of intraoperative angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition by quinaprilat on hypertension after coronary artery surgery.

Activation of the renin-angiotensin system during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) may be involved in early postoperative hypertension after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). As hypertensive episodes may be deleterious in the immediate postoperative period, we have assessed the effects of prophylactic treatment with the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor quinaprilat in an open study. During steady state CPB, patients received quinaprilat 0.02 mg kg-1 (group A, n = 10), quinaprilat 0.04 mg kg-1 (group B, n = 10) or saline solution (group C, n = 10) as an i.v. bolus dose. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was given after operation when systolic arterial pressure was > 150 mm Hg. Requirements for SNP 1 h after arrival in the ICU were significantly less in groups A (two of 10) and B (two of 10) than in group C (eight of 10). Also, patients in group C had a greater systolic arterial pressure compared with groups A and B. There were no significant differences between groups in diastolic arterial pressure, heart rate, cardiac index or cardiac filling pressures. We conclude that quinaprilat can be used during CABG to reduce the incidence of postoperative hypertension. Further studies of the efficacy and safety of this technique are necessary.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

A standardized method of generating time-to-peak perfusion maps in dynamic-susceptibility contrast-enhanced MR imaging.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Perfusion MR imaging, performed as dynamic-susceptibility contrast-enhanced MR imaging, is sensitive to hemodynamic risks for patients with cerebrovascular disease. We sought to define a quantitative parameter for perfusion MR imaging, which shows brain areas at hemodynamic risk and enables direct comparison of different perfusion MR imaging examinations. METHODS: A new standardization procedure for the time-to-peak (TTP) parameter, standardized time to peak (stdTTP), was introduced. The stdTTP automatically calculates a time offset correlated to the earliest enhancing voxels in a section and rescales all TTP values accordingly. Because of a close relation between this offset and stdTTP of early enhancing voxels in central vascular territories (CVTs), stdTTP provides an estimate of the bolus run time between CVTs and related border zones (BZs). The stdTTP in CVTs and BZs was measured in 11 patients without hemodynamic impairment by using high temporal resolution dynamic-susceptibility contrast-enhanced perfusion MR imaging. RESULTS: An excellent comparability of different dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced MR imaging studies was found. The stdTTP in CVTs was 0.4 +/- 0.5 s (minimum, 0 s; maximum, 1.3 s) for the anterior, 0.5 +/- 0.3 s (minimum, 0 s; maximum, 1.0 s) for the middle, and 1.4 +/- 0.5 s (minimum, 0.4 s; maximum, 2.4 s) for the posterior cerebral artery. In the anterior BZ, stdTTP was 2.3 +/- 0.4 s (minimum, 1.6 s; maximum, 3.2 s), and in the posterior BZ, stdTTP was 2.8 +/- 0.4 s (minimum, 2.0 s; maximum, 3.4 s). CONCLUSION: The results suggest a limit for stdTTP of approximately 3.5 s in the anterior and posterior BZs. The stdTTP could serve as a quantitative measure for the hemodynamic risk assessment of patients with cerebrovascular disease. Because stdTTP can be directly derived from the measured curves, the hemodynamic situation of a patient can be judged with a minimum of computational effort.

Adult↗