PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L Andreu

Publications and source records attributed to L Andreu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

[Acute iron poisoning. A case report].

The ingestion of iron-containing products is a potential toxicological emergency. It is a leading cause of pediatric unintentional ingestion fatalities because some iron-containing compounds are readily available (vitamin mixtures, iron pills). Among adults, it has been described as accidental overdoses (mainly in pregnancy) and as suicidal attempts. We report a 42 years old woman, admitted due to the intentional ingestion of iron pills with suicidal purposes. A plain abdominal X ray showed at least 20 pills in the gastric fundus and antrum. She was successfully treated with intravenous desferroxamine chelation. Plain abdominal X ray examination can be very useful in the diagnosis of acute iron poisoning.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Beta adrenergic modulation of extrarenal potassium disposal in terminal uraemia.

In order to study the effect of epinephrine on potassium (K) metabolism, an epinephrine infusion (0.1 micrograms/kg/min for 30 min) was carried out in 12 essentially anuric and usually hyperkalaemic haemodialysis patients, 72 hr post-dialysis. Two groups emerged, group I (five patients) serum K decreased at least 0.75 mEq/L (from 6.6 +/- 0.2 to 5.4 +/- 0.1 mEq/L) and there were increases in heart rate, serum glucose and insulin values, group II (seven patients), serum K did not decrease and heart rate remained unchanged, but serum glucose and insulin increased slightly. Plasma renin, aldosterone and arterial pH did not change in either group. Propranolol blocked the epinephrine induced decrease in serum K in group I patients. Patients from group II had higher pre-infusion endogenous epinephrine concentrations than patients from group I. In haemodialysis patients beta adrenergic stimulation enhances extrarenal K disposal but about 50 per cent of patients fail to respond, perhaps because of receptor occupancy due to higher endogenous epinephrine concentrations.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed1983

Increase in serum potassium caused by beta-2 adrenergic blockade in terminal renal failure: absence of mediation by insulin or aldosterone.

To test the hypothesis that beta-blockade might impair potassium (K) tolerance in terminal renal failure we gave propranolol, and then atenolol, to a group of 12 clinically stable non-diabetic patients on chronic haemodialysis and on a constant diet containing approximately 50 mEq of K/day. Propranolol, 60 to 80 mg/day for 10 days induced a significant increase in predialysis serum K from 5.1 +/- 0.1 to 5.8 +/- 0.2 mEq/L (p less than 0.005). Atenolol (50 mg/day for 10 days) in the same group of patients did not produce a significant change in predialysis serum K (5.5 +/- 0.2 vs 5.2 +/- 0.2 mEq/L). Both propranolol and atenolol decreased heart rate but neither drug induced significant changes in plasma aldosterone, arterial pH, serum insulin or blood glucose. Thus in haemodialysis patients, beta-2 adrenergic blockade by propranolol is associated with a significant increase in serum K not mediated by pH, aldosterone or insulin, and probably due to inhibition of intracellular K uptake. Selective beta-1 adrenergic blockade by atenolol at low doses does not change serum K, and therefore, if indicated, cardioselective beta-blockers might be preferable to nonselective drugs in haemodialysis patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

[A rare case of silent cholinesterase genetic variant (author's transl)].

Some patients present prolonged apnea following the administration of succinylcholine because of substantial portion of plasma cholinesterase (the enzyme responsible for the hydrolysis of this muscle relaxant) is present as an atypical variant. Up to the present four types of cholinesterase genes are known which combination can cause apnea to a greater or less extent. Silent homozygous EsEs present apnea of greatest duration due to the complete absence of cholinesterase activity. The case reported belongs to a family of four members and is an example of this extremely uncommon genetic variant, with a frequency of 1/170.000. To determine total cholinesterase activity genetic typing of the whole family was carried out utilizing the spectrophotometric technique of Szasz and Knedel with butirylthiocholine iodide as substrate. Inhibition studies were performed using benzoylcholine and dibucaine, sodium fluoride, scholine, and sodium chloride as inhibitors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

[A case of succinylcholine apnea. Identification of genetic variants].

A report of a case of prolonged apnoea after succicurarium in a female patient with abnormal pseudo-cholinesterases is followed by a presentation of a study of pseudo-cholinesterases in 12 members of the family. The value of the use of 4 tests of inhibition of cholinesterase activity in determining the genotype of an individual is emphasised.

Apnea↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The influence of hygienic practices to the exit site/tunnel on peritoneal catheter infections.

In Peritoneal Dialysis (PD), correct handling of the equipment and especially of the catheter exit site are essential. The PD nurse is responsible for preparing the patient to be able to carry out self care. As there are no universally accepted procedures for catheter care, we evaluated the procedure recommended in our unit, to identify the level of achievement by our patients and compare it with the infection incidences of exit site/tunnel (ES/T). 31 patients were surveyed on aspects related with hygiene, care and support of the catheter. This was complemented with a direct observation of the way of fixing and protecting the catheter and exit site, relating these facts with the incidence of infection. The results show the incidence of the infection is similar to data from other centres. It seems that the non compliance with the recommendations is due to either a misunderstanding on the patients' part or difficulty to adapt these recommendations to their particular way of life.

Catheterization↗