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Biomedical subjects

L S Weilemann

Publications and source records attributed to L S Weilemann.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

[The effect of cortisone on the course of respiratory and clinical parameters in ventilator patients with imminent ARDS].

24 subjects in an intensive care unit with indication for mechanical ventilation with PEEP and predisposition for ARDS have been investigated. All patients received 2 g prednisolone 8 times over 48 hours. In group A (14 patients) this was administered within the first 24 hours of the beginning of the ventilation, and in group B (10 patients) at a later stage in the therapy. Severity of the disease was assessed by TISS, and, in addition to respiratory parameters, coagulation, thrombocytes, blood sugar, lactate and phosphate were determined. The data were evaluated by exploratory data analysis with box plots and median values. According to TISS, the two groups are comparable (group A 31.5 points, group B 31.3 points, age in group A 50.6 years, in group B 54.0 years). FiO2 rose from 0.44 to 0.82 in group B and in group A declined from 0.83 to 0.3 during receipt of PaO2 of more than 60 torr. EIP (endinspiratory pressure) rose from 28.7 cm H2O to 33.5 cm H2O in group B and fell from 29 to 26 cm H2O in group A. Compliance in group B fell and remained constant at over 48 ml/cm H2O in group A. PTT and TZ were normal in both groups, and Quick time values lower in group A than in group B. Thrombocytes fell to 63,000 in group B and rose to 201,000 in group A. Lactate, phosphate and leukocytes were unchanged in both groups. No cases of pulmonary infection were observed in either group. Mortality was 50% in group A and 80% in group B. Critical evaluation of the data from this retrospective study suggest a more favourable course, especially of the respiratory parameters, if a high dose of corticosteroids is administered at an early stage (group A).

Blood Coagulation↗
PubMed1986

[Acute fatty liver of pregnancy. A case report of the differential diagnosis of pregnancy-associated liver diseases].

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a rare, but often fatal disorder in the third trimester of pregnancy. We report on a patient with AFLP complicated by acute hemorrhagic diathesis, who survived after early diagnosis and adequate treatment. On electronmicroscopy, the characteristic microvesicular fatty deposits in the centrolobular hepatocytes could be demonstrated.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1984

Possible coumarin-like mechanism of action for cephalosporins.

In three patients treated with cephalosporins (one patient with latamoxef, two patients with cefazedone) vitamin K1 was injected to investigate whether this was followed by an increase in vitamin K1 2,3-epoxide plasma concentrations as compared to controls. Such a rise in K1-epoxide concentrations in the plasma can be demonstrated following treatment with coumarins. This reflects an inhibition of the vitamin K1-epoxide reductase in the liver. Coumarins are thought to induce hypoprothrombinaemia by such a mechanism. In all three patients we found a considerable increase in the vitamin K1-epoxide plasma concentrations following injection of 10 mg vitamin K1, whereas in normal subjects only traces of K1-epoxide could be detected (less than 0.030 micrograms/ml). The K1-epoxide concentrations found in our three patients treated with cephalosporins were 0.12, 0.16 and 0.19 micrograms/ml, respectively. This indicates that latamoxef or cefazedone might reduce clotting factor synthesis by a coumarin-like mechanism of action in these patients. Although the effect of cephalosporins in enhancing vitamin K1-epoxide plasma concentrations is less than that of coumarins, it might cause severe hypoprothrombinaemia in the presence of latent vitamin K deficiency.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Evidence for impaired hepatic vitamin K1 metabolism in patients treated with N-methyl-thiotetrazole cephalosporins.

In 8 patients on no oral intake and with parenteral alimentation, administration of cephalosporins with N-methyl-thiotetrazole side chain (moxalactam, cefamandole), was associated with prolongation of prothrombin time, appearance in the circulation of descarboxy-prothrombin (counter immunoelectrophoresis and echis carinatus assay) and diminution of protein C. Acute administration of 10 mg vitamin K1 was followed by the transient appearance of vitamin K1 2,3-epoxide, indicating an impaired hepatocellular regeneration of vitamin K1 from the epoxide. Impaired hepatic vitamin K1 metabolism, tentatively ascribed to the N-methyl-thiotetrazole group, is one (but possibly not the only) cause of bleeding complications and depression of vitamin K1-dependent procoagulants in patients treated with the new class of cephalosporins.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

The metabolic status of internal intensive care patients as indicated by 3-methylhistidine excretion and nitrogen balance.

The metabolic status of 15 intensive care patients receiving a standardized total parenteral nutrition regimen was followed up to 15 days immediately after admission by measuring 3-methylhistidine, total nitrogen, and creatinine excretion. The average 3-methylhistidine excretion was within the normal range during the first 3 days, rising on day 4 and reached a maximum of 70% above normal values on day 5. It declined to within normal range thereafter in most of the patients. Mean values for creatinine excretion remained relatively constant within the normal range throughout the study. During all days 3-methylhistidine was negatively correlated with N-balance. It is concluded that these patients had increasing catabolism with a maximum on day 5 and that the catabolic condition was associated with an increased muscle protein breakdown.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1982

Successful treatment of paraquat poisoning: activated charcoal per os and "continuous hemoperfusion".

Ingestion of paraquat results in an extremely dangerous poisoning. The first aim is to clear the gastrointestinal tract by inducing emesis and performing gastric/gut lavage; as much activated charcoal as possible should be administered per os and as quickly as possible. The best measure to eliminate paraquat from blood and tissue is hemoperfusion with coated activated charcoal; it has to be performed in the sense of "continuous hemoperfusion" about 8 h/d over a period of 2-3 weeks. These measures give a chance to lower the lethality of paraquat poisoning.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Significance of hyperlactatemia in acute hypnotic drug poisoning.

Lactate concentration, fibrinogen and fibrin(ogen) -- degradation-products in central venous blood were analysed in 35 unconscious patient with acute hypnotic drug poisoning (HDP) and compared with the results in 13 healthy control persons undergoing the same degree of forced diuresis via central venous catheters. Blood samples were taken on admission and at 12 h intervals up to 36 h after admission. Patients with HDP were attributed to the categories of moderate intoxications (n = 17) and severe intoxications (n = 18) according to their clinical condition. On admission, blood lactate was significantly higher in severe intoxication (3.90 +/- 2.94 mmol/l) as compared to the control group (1.25 +/- 0.17 mmol/l). Blood lactate was less elevated in moderate poisoning (2.74 +/- 1.22 mmol/l). Thirty-six hours after admission blood lactate was completely normalised in patients with moderate intoxication (1.19 +/- 0.69 mmol/l) but still significantly elevated in severely poisoned patients (2.26 +/- 1.48 mmol/l). Lactate concentration was above normal in 15 out of 17 patients with moderate and in 17 out of 18 patients with severe poisoning. A statistically significant linear correlation existed between the duration of unconsciousness and the maximal lactate concentration within 12 hrs after admission. For fibrinogen concentrations statistically significant differences were observed neither between groups nor across time. Titers of FDP were elevated in 9 out of 11 patients with moderate and to a higher degree in all patients with severe poisoning, indicating low rate DIC. Hyperlactatemia is a frequent finding in acute hypnotic drug poisoning. Blood lactate estimations may improve the evaluation of the severity of poisoning and the efficacy of therapeutic interventions.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

[Early PEEP for improvement of prognosis in patients with acute respiratory insufficiency (author's transl)].

One hundred twenty-seven artificially ventilated patients with acute respiratory insufficiency (ARI) were investigated. In 61 patients positive endexpiratory pressure (PEEP) was used when ventilation with ZEEP proved to be insufficient for one or more of the following reasons: increasing I-aDO2m PaO3 below 60 Torr at FiO2 greater than or equal to 0.5, deterioration of clinical status (group = secondary PEEP). The time elapse between beginning of artificial ventilation and institution of PEEP was 46 +/- 47 h (median 33 h). In 66 patients PEEP was used from the beginning of artificial ventilation (group II = primary PEEP). The distribution of underlying diseases (severe poisoning, pancreatitis, polytrauma or major surgery, pneumonia, cardiovascular failure, sepsis) as well as the frequency of additional vital function failure (circulatory shock, acute renal failure) were comparable in both groups (p greater than 0.05). At the beginning of artificial ventilation both groups were comparable in respect to respiratory insufficiency. PaO2 was 75 +/- 26 Torr in group I and 70 +/- 29 Torr in group II at comparable levels of FiO2 (p greater than 0.05). PaCO2 was 34.7 +/- 8.2 Torr in group I and 37.4 +/- 10.5 Torr in group II. Significantly more patients in group II received corticosteroids (greater than 1 gr/die). Mortality was 48/61 (79%) in group I and 37/66 (56%) in group II (p less than 0.01). End-inspiratory pressure exceeding 35 cm H2O was necessary in 42/61 patients in group I and 28/66 patients in group II (p less than 0.01) and FiO2 greater than 0.5 was necessary to keep PaO2 above 60 Torr in 39/61 patients in group I and 27/66 patients in group II (p less than 0.01). It is concluded that early institution of PEEP improves the course and outcome of patients with ARI.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1981

Ultrasonic demonstration of renal vein thrombosis.

The sonographic findings of renal vein thrombosis are described in a patient examined for pain in the upper right abdomen. Since sonographic findings of the kidney itself are nonspecific, as are clinical appearance, laboratory data, and excretory urography, direct sonographic visualization of thrombus within the lumen of the renal vein and the inferior vena cava is of major importance in the diagnosis of renal vein thrombosis.

Humans↗
PubMed1980

[Control of blood coagulation and complications in long-term streptokinase therapy].

Streptokinase was infused for 103 +/- 25 hrs. in 27 patients (6 with deep vein thrombosis of the leg, 7 with thrombosis of Vv. axillaris and subclavia, 9 with acute massive pulmonary embolism, 3 with chronic artery occlusion, 2 with thrombosis of the retinal vein). Blood coagulation studies were performed repeatedly. Anticoagulation (prolongation of thrombin time to 1 1/2-2 1/2 of normal) could be achieved without additional heparin by reduction of streptokinase to doses as low as 20 000 U/h. Reptilase time correlated significantly with thrombin times. Following 24 hrs. of infusion, PTT was less than 50 sec. and Quick test less than 50% of normal in most instances. No correlation was found between PTT or Quick test and factor II, V, VI, X activities during streptokinase infusion. Bleeding was observed in 18 patients. The infusion was stopped because of bleeding in 3 cases. None of the coagulation tests performed in this study correlated with the incidence of bleeding. Hemoglobin concentration decreased 2,6 +/- 1,6 gr% and this decrease could no be explained by blood lesses.

Female↗