[Fast track surgery. Stake in health service, stake for the patients, stake for PMR?].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Chauvin.
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OBJECTIVE: In France, when physicians in ambulances take care of patients, they report medical status to the dispatch centre. Then the dispatching physician search for the available and appropriate hospital service to agree in directly receiving the patient. We attempted to evaluate this direct admission dispatch, in a urban area, with many health care facilities. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective evaluation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All the files for out of hospital interventions with a dispatch process were included. Data collected and analysed were: main pathologies, started time and end time of direct admission dispatch process and number of services called before finding the right place. RESULTS: 959 patients files were included, 849 could be analysed. The average duration of direct admission dispatch process is 10 (+/-13) minutes. Traumatology speciality shows a longer dispatch process than medicine disease (p < 0.001), and this time increased during summer (p < 0.05). The other parameters did not influence this duration. CONCLUSION: The average duration of direct admission dispatch process is acceptable. The increased duration of direct admission dispatch process in some pathology during summer may induce a risk for the patients. This problem will be improved only when the management of the available bed for emergency traumatology, will be implemented a regional coordination.
In 2005, the main subject of interest in the field of pacing was cardiac resynchronisation. The results of CARE-HF (Cardiac Resynchronisation on Morbidity and Mortality in Heart Failure), a large multicentre trial, were published. The investigators set out to establish whether resynchronisation pacing had a favourable effect on morbidity and mortality in patients with advanced cardiac failure and desynchronised compared with an identical population treated medically. The results showed that resynchronisation decreased the interventricular desynchronisation, decreased mitral regurgitation and, above all, improved symptoms and quality of life with a reduction in the incidence of complications and the risk of death. This publication is too recent for evaluation of the eventual repercussions of these results on the implantation of resynchronising pacemakers in France. The indication recommended by the scientific societies is still based on criteria which do not take echocardiographic data into account. However, the recommendations will probably change in the near future when the conclusions of trials currently under way, are published. From the technical point of view, the advances in cardiac pacing were mainly the new algorithms which avoid inappropriate ventricular stimulation of dual chamber pacemakers. It is well known that patients implanted with dual chamber pacemakers may, despite optimal adjustment of pacing parameters, have ineffective ventricular stimulation as the impulse falls in the phase of spontaneous ventricular depolarisation or effective but absolutely valueless. Several manufactures now propose pacemakers with algorithms which "search" for ventriculogrammes in order to avoid these situations of inadequate stimulation. Their efficacy has been demonstrated. Finally, in 2005, the diffusion of defibrillators equipped with a resynchronisation function has been confirmed. The conclusions of the COMPANION trial have been influential in promoting this usage although the results are mainly observed abroad.
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5-fluorouracil, an antimetabolite agent, has been widely used since 1957 for treatment of varied types of cancer such as gastro-intestinal, pancreas, breast, lung, head and neck malignancies. Cardiotoxicity of 5-fluorouracil is rare and was first described in 1975. It can induce severe complications and involve vital prognosis in the short-term. These complications are less known by cardiologists than medical oncologists. The following clinical case represents a potentially serious and rare case of completely reversible cardiogenic shock in a patient with a colo-rectal cancer. A better knowledge of these complications could reduce cases of death by an earlier diagnosis, and a better evaluation of patients with high cardiotoxicity risk.
Compartment syndromes are well recognized following major trauma. However, although uncommon, they may occur following athletic activity. We report a case of acute exertional peroneal compartmental syndrome in a 32-year-old that developed following horse riding. Because of the ignorance of pathology, a regional analgesia was carried out resulting in delayed diagnosis. Postoperative electromyography showed the absence of a fibula nerve compound action potential. At one-year follow-up visit following decompressive fasciotomy, muscular strength of the muscles of the anterior tibial compartment almost returned to normal. The presentation of this case of compartmental syndrome following horse riding allows to discuss the place of the regional anaesthesia. Because this anaesthesia technique can delay the diagnosis and the surgical treatment, it should not be used in first intention in the treatment of severe pain associated with compartmental syndrome.
The year 2004 saw the publication of the results of the COMPANION and PAVE studies concerning cardiac pacing. The former underlined, if it was still necessary, the direct relationship between pacing and rhythmology in terms of sudden death due to rhythm disturbances in cardiac failure. COMPANION attempted to discover whether, in severe cardiac failure with intraventricular conduction defects, the addition of multisite pacing either with or without defibrillation is liable to alter the combined risk of death and hospital episodes compared with optimal drug therapy alone. This study confirmed the advantages of resynchronisation pacing already observed in MUSTIC, MIRACLE, InSync and CONTAK CD: retarded progression of cardiac failure, reduction in the number of hospitalisations and functional improvement. Adding defibrillation to anti-bradycardial resynchronisation pacing improved the survival, but only slightly so. On the other hand, the size of the subgroups did not allow any conclusions to be drawn about function and aetiology of cardiac failure, whether ischaemic or not. The PAVE study allowed comparison between biventricular pacing and right ventricular pacing alone in patients in NYHA class II or III, with atrial fibrillation for more than one month and having undergone elective ablation of the nodo-Hissian pathway. The results gave confirmation of the harmful effects of pacing at the apex of the right ventricle in pacing-dependent patients. On the technological front, there was confirmation that probes designed for left ventricular stimulation are stable and increasingly easy to use thanks to a new configuration and the use of bipolar. Finally, telecardiology has started to proliferate and evaluation of its applications is under way, even though its clinical use is confirmed on a daily basis.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of IV lidocaine on spontaneous and evoked pain (allodynia and hyperalgesia) due to peripheral nerve injury (postherpetic neuralgia or nerve trauma) using quantitative sensory testing. METHOD: The authors randomized 22 patients to receive lidocaine 5 mg/kg IV during 30 minutes or placebo in a double-blind crossover design and 16 patients subsequently received mexiletine on an open basis titrated from 400 to 1,000 mg per day (mean 737 mg/day). RESULTS: Lidocaine induced a significant decrease in ongoing pain for up to 6 hours with a peak effect 60 to 120 minutes postinjection. The drug also decreased mechanical dynamic allodynia and static (punctate) mechanical allodynia/hyperalgesia, but not thermal allodynia and hyperalgesia. The effects of lidocaine and mexiletine on spontaneous pain intensity were significantly higher in patients with concomitant mechanical allodynia in comparison with those without allodynia. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate modality-specific antihyperalgesic effects of IV lidocaine in patients with peripheral nerve injury. Patients with mechanical allodynia may be good candidates for treatment with local anesthetic-like drugs and possibly with other sodium-channel blockers.
BACKGROUND: Intraoperative combinations of volatile and opioid agents are used to achieve unconsciousness, hypnotic sparing, haemodynamic stability and uneventful recovery. This study describes the influence of different remifentanil concentrations on these variables when combined with desflurane during abdominal surgery. METHODS: Sixty-one healthy adult patients were randomly allocated to one of five predefined remifentanil target concentrations (3, 5, 7, 10 or 15 ng ml(-1)). Anaesthesia was titrated to maintain mean blood pressure (MBP), heart rate (HR) and BIS trade mark within predetermined values by adjusting desflurane delivery. Postoperative analgesia using propacetamol and morphine was initiated 30-45 min before skin closure, and continued using morphine PCA. RESULTS: Desflurane requirements adjusted to both BIS and haemodynamics were not significantly modified by the remifentanil concentration (median Fet(DES) 2.7% before incision, 2.5% intraoperatively, and 2.2% during closure), resulting in a calculated drug consumption of 0.22-0.25 ml min(-1) (with 1.5 l min(-1) fresh gas flow). High remifentanil concentration decreased MBP and HR, and reduced the duration of tachycardia, but increased the duration of hypotension. The optimal balance was obtained with a remifentanil concentration of 5-7 ng ml(-1) for intubation, 3 ng ml(-1) until incision, 10 ng ml(-1) during intra-abdominal surgery and 5-7 ng ml(-1) during closure. Post-operative morphine requirements were not significantly modified by intraoperative remifentanil concentrations (median 30 mg/24 h, range [2-88]). CONCLUSION: Remifentanil target concentrations from 3 to 15 ng ml(-1) had little influence on desflurane requirements or postoperative morphine consumption, but markedly modified intraoperative haemodynamic stability, suggesting that the target concentration should closely follow the successive noxious stimulations.
Circulating procoagulant microparticles (MP) were measured as markers of vascular damage and prothrombotic risk in patients undergoing ST-segment myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated by primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and additional GPIIb-IIIa antagonists. Cells possibly more responsive to GPIIb-IIIa (alpha(IIb)beta(3)) antagonists were evidenced through MP phenotypes by comparison with healthy volunteers (HV) and STEMI patients treated by PTCA without GPIIb-IIIa antagonist (CP). In 50 STEMI patients, blood samples were collected at day 1 and day 6. Circulating procoagulant MP were captured on annexin V and quantified by prothrombinase assay as nanomolar phosphatidylserine equivalents (nm PhtdSer). Platelet activation by thrombin was confirmed through independent measurement of soluble GPV (sGPV). With respect to HV, procoagulant MP levels were high in patients with STEMI or unstable angina, platelet-derived MP and elevated sGPV testifying to significant platelet activation. A substantial release of endothelial-derived MP was evidenced simultaneously. In abciximab-treated patients, procoagulant MP, mainly of platelet origin, decreased precociously at day 1 (4.2 +/- 0.6 vs. CP 15.5 +/- 2.1 nm PhtdSer; P = 0.001) together with sGPV (36 +/- 3 vs. CP 58 +/- 8 ng mL(-1); P = 0.02). Leukocyte-derived MP decreased at day 6 (0.12 +/- 0.04 vs. CP 0.56 +/- 0.12 nm PhtdSer; P = 0.01) suggesting a possible effect on underlying inflammatory status. In patients presenting cardiovascular events at 6-month follow-up, procoagulant MP levels at day 1 could be indicative of a worsened outcome. MP could constitute a relevant parameter for the follow-up of STEMI patients treated by GPIIb-IIIa antagonists.
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Technical advances in the design of implantable automatic defibrillators have been constant since the introduction of these devices in the mid 80s. The most obvious advance is the miniaturisation of the devices from which all components have benefited. The capacity of the batteries has improved inversely proportionally to their size, even if the longevity has not always lived up to expectations. The volumic energy of the condensers has improved and their technology also, and their size has decreased. Condensers are still usually made by the electrolytic/aluminium method but tantalum technology is bound to become more generalised because it presents so many advantages. Above all, the circuitry has benefited from the progress of micro-electronics, associating miniaturisation with an increase in more and more complex functions...but requiring more electrical current. Of these functions, algorithms to detect arrhythmias has reduced the number of inappropriate shocks but do not yet have excellent specificity either in single or in dual chamber sensing. Defibrillators incorporating a multisite anti-bradycardiac function are more and more popular because of the close relationship between cardiac failure and sudden death.
Morphine is increasingly used in patients with chronic non-cancer pain, but a major concern associated with chronic use relates to possible cognitive side-effects. The aim of this long-term prospective study was to evaluate the cognitive impact of oral sustained release morphine in patients with non-cancer pain. A battery of neuropsychological tests to explore attention, psychomotor speed and memory was administered. The effects of morphine on pain, quality of life, mood, subjective memory impairment and side-effects were also investigated. Evaluations were performed at baseline in patients free from opioids and then after 3, 6 and 12 months. Twenty-eight patients were included: 18 received oral sustained morphine (range 40-140 mg/day), ten patients stopped morphine prematurely because of side-effects or insufficient pain relief and were followed as a control group. There was no impairment of any neuropsychological variable over time in the morphine treated patients in comparison with the control group. Two measures of information processing speed - the Stroop interference score and the digit symbol test were improved at 6 and 12 months and there were significant correlations with the pain relief and improvement of mood. Self-reported memory impairment improved notably in responders to morphine. Morphine induced persisting effects on pain, and to a lesser extent on quality of life and mood. The visual analog scale score for side-effects increased at 12 months and essentially consisted of gastrointestinal disorders. This study demonstrates that 12 months treatment with oral morphine does not disrupt cognitive functioning in patients with chronic non-cancer pain and instead results in moderate improvement of some aspects of cognitive functioning, as a consequence of the pain relief and concomitant improvement of well-being and mood.
INTRODUCTION: CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) is one of the treatments of the cardiogenic acute pulmonary edema (cAPE). Among the out-of-hospital used devices, Boussignac CPAP (Vygon) shows a good technical usability, but no analysis of delivered FIO2 is available. OBJECTIVE: To measure the FIO2 delivered to patient, using Boussignac CPAP with an input of 100 vol % oxygen. Type of study. - Measurement in a laboratory testing. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Measurement of delivered FIO2 in a three parameters environment: expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP), respiratory rate (RR) and required oxygen flow (ROF). Laboratory test: 100 vol % oxygen input, with a ball-type flow regulator for oxygen 0-30 l x min(-1) (Mediline), Boussignac CPAP valve with manometer (Vygon), Michigan test lung, ventilator César (Taema), oxygen analysis (Servomex) with paramagnetic sensor, with a response time < 10 s, pneumotachographe (Fleisch v 2). RESULTS: Under 10 cmH2O EPAP, the required oxygen flow is < or = 30 l x min(-1). Measured FIO2 ranges from 70 to 100 vol %, for a volume per minute < or = 15 l x min(-1) except for a EPAP at 2.5 cmH2O with a rate = 10 c min(-1) and a tidal volume (VT) at 1500 ml where the measured FIO2 is 60 vol %. For a volume per minute > 15 l x min(-1) and < 20 l x min(-1), measured FIO2 ranges from 59 to 83 vol % depending on the variations of RR and VT. CONCLUSION: Boussignac CPAP with 100 vol % oxygen input, delivers high levels of FIO2, especially for volume per minute values usually met in cAPE. The needed oxygen flow is lower than what is usually required by other CPAP flow generators using the venturi effect that may be used in out-of-hospital medical care.
OBJECTIVES: Theory knowledge and attitude assessment about in-hospital cardiac arrest (CA) basic life support by hospital staff. METHODS: We tested medical and paramedical working staff in a 450 beds university hospital with anonymous questionnaire based on training for basic life support. Questions were about presence of a formation before, clinical signs reached in front of unconscious patient, attitude in front of cardiac-arrest, practical experience with basic life support and ward emergency trolley. RESULTS: Five hundred and seventy one on 996 people answered to handed out questionnaires (57%): 158 from medical staff (Med group) and 413 from nurses "Pmed". Seventy one percent people from "Med" group and 64% from "Pmed" received one time at least training about cardiac-arrest. Front of unconscious patient, no spontaneous breath was reached explicitly by 55% people from Med group and 19% from "Pmed" group and central pulse was reached explicitly by 70% people from "Med" group and 18% from "Pmed" group. Front of CA, 50% people from "Med" group released airway, 75% began ventilation and 86%, External Heart Compression (EHC) and 42% called for rescue. There were respectively 29, 47, 64 and 60% people from "Pmed" group. Eighty-one percent people from "Med" group thought they knew to do ventilation and 82% did it one time at least. Eighty-eight thought they knew to do EHC and 85% did it one time at least. They were respectively 67, 76, 73 and 78% people from Pmed group. Sixty-four per cent of Med group people know that there is emergency trolley in there department versus 89% for "Pmed" group. CONCLUSION: This study showed that theoretical knowledge of hospital staff about cardiac arrest diagnostic and management are insufficient from the point of view of national and international guidelines. Analysis is difficult because of weak response number and knowledge people overestimation.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Intubation of the trachea has been a risky cross-contamination procedure over the past decade because no perfect decontamination procedures exist. Infectious agents found on laryngoscopic devices have the potential for devastating spread of the human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis viruses B and C and transmissible non-conventional agents. The purpose of this prospective observational study was to assess the quality of endotracheal intubation with disposable laryngoscope blades, under normal intubating conditions. METHODS: Anaesthetists were asked to complete daily questionnaires regarding the difficulty of intubation experienced using the Vital View disposable laryngoscope blade (Vital Signs Inc, Totowa, NC, USA). The choice of the type of blade (conventional or disposable blade) for the first attempt at intubation depended only on the operating room assignment. Glottic visualization during laryngoscopy was assessed by the modified Cormack and Lehane classification. Difficult tracheal intubation was evaluated by the intubation difficulty scale (> 5, procedure involving moderate to major difficulty). RESULTS: The anaesthetic staff recorded 219 intubations. One hundred-and-nineteen of first attempts at laryngoscopy were with disposable blades (DB group) and another 100 with conventional blades (CB group). There were no significant differences between the two groups for Cormack and Lehane score 3, for intubation difficulty scale scores > 5 and for intubation difficulty scale score 0. There were 12 blade changes before successful intubation. CONCLUSIONS: In routine use, the Vital View disposable laryngoscope blade appears to be an efficient device because it does not modify the ease of endotracheal intubation in most cases. Nonetheless, it may be advisable to maintain conventional laryngoscopes in reserve for difficult intubations.
Cutaneous warming is reportedly an effective treatment for shivering during epidural and after general anaesthesia. We quantified the efficacy of cutaneous warming as a treatment for shivering. Unwarmed surgical patients (final intra-operative core temperatures approximately 35 degrees C) were randomly assigned to be covered with a blanket (n = 9) or full-body forced-air cover (n = 9). Shivering was evaluated clinically and by oxygen consumption. Forced-air heating increased mean-skin temperature (mean (SD) 35.7 degrees C (0.4) vs. 33.2 degrees C (0.8); p < 0.0001) and lowered core temperature at the shivering threshold (35.7 degrees C (0.2) vs. 36.4 degrees C(0.2); p < 0.0001). Active warming improved thermal comfort and significantly reduced oxygen consumption from 9.7 (4.4) ml x min(-1) x kg(-1) to 5.6 (1.9) ml x min(-1) x kg(-1) (p = 0.038). However, the duration of shivering was similar in the unwarmed (37 min (11)) and active warming (36 min (10)) groups. Core temperature contributed about four times as much as skin temperature to control of shivering. Cutaneous warming improved thermal comfort and reduced metabolic stress in postoperative patients, but did not quickly obliterate shivering.