PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J L Rodriguez

Publications and source records attributed to J L Rodriguez.

131 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of triglycyl-lysine-vasopressin on skin blood flow and blood loss during wound excision in patients with burns.

Excisional therapy often results in large-volume blood loss. Triglycyl-lysine-vasopressin selectively decreases dermal blood flow and therefore was tested for efficacy in limiting intraoperative blood loss in a series of patients undergoing excisional therapy. Ten patients with symmetric injuries were treated with intravenous triglycyl-lysine-vasopressin after excision of half of their burn wound. Blood loss, which was quantified by weighing sponges used to absorb shed blood, was significantly decreased after treatment. Triglycyl-lysine-vasopressin treatment was safe and effective and should be considered in cases when large-volume blood loss is expected.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Biomechanical alterations in normal skin and hypertrophic scar after thermal injury.

Functional recovery after burn injury can be significantly limited by scar contraction and contracture. Mechanisms to explain these problems are not well described. Surface (shear) waves were generated in normal skin and hypertrophic burn scar with a newly described device. The velocity of propagation was used to examine biomechanical changes after burn injury. Shear wave velocity was markedly higher in scar and slightly higher in injured tissue without obvious scarring, verifying increased skin stiffness. Normal skin anisotrophy was exaggerated in scar tissue and not seen in the uninjured skin adjacent to hypertrophic scar. This result suggests the reorganization of normal tissue attempts to compensate for scar contraction. Measurements of shear wave velocity objectively document changes in skin properties that affect the recovery from thermal injury. Use of this or alternate technologies may increase understanding of postburn skin dysfunction, improving our ability to treat such patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Carotenoids and antioxidant vitamins in patients after burn injury.

Oxidative stress may contribute to secondary tissue damage and impaired immune function in patients after burn injury. The purpose of our study was to describe plasma antioxidant micronutrient concentrations in 26 adult patients admitted with extensive burn injuries (> 20 % total burn surface area) to a level-1 trauma burn center during a 21-day period after admission. The effect of administering beta-carotene was also examined with use of a prospective randomized subjects design: patients received either placebo or 30 mg/day in an enteral feeding. Plasma concentrations of alpha- and gamma-tocopherol, carotenoids (alpha and beta-carotene, lycopene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein), and retinol were measured with high- performance liquid chromatography, and vitamin C was quantified with spectrophotometry, at baseline and twice per week. Vitamin C, tocopherol, and retinol concentrations were low at baseline, but levels increased significantly over the study period in both groups (p < 0.05). Plasma beta-carotene concentration increased when this carotenoid was provided in the oral feeding. Otherwise, plasma carotenoid concentrations were low at baseline and remained low throughout the study period despite normalization of associated lipids.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical experience with the multiple lumen central venous catheter.

One hundred four multiple lumen central venous catheters (MLC) were evaluated in 74 seriously ill patients. Eighty percent of the catheters were placed in an intensive care unit. Each MLC served as access for a mean of 4.5 different functions, including infusions, central venous monitoring and phlebotomy. Complications occurred with 16 MLC (15.4%), including two aberrant placements, 10 mechanical problems, and four septic catheters (3.8%). Simultaneous administration of TPN and other infusions through MLC did not affect the rate of catheter sepsis. MLC are well tolerated and cost effective. They increase the comfort of patients who require complex venous access or who lack peripheral veins. They allow safe concurrent administration of TPN, medications, and central venous monitoring.

Bacterial Infections↗