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Biomedical subjects

M Rapin

Publications and source records attributed to M Rapin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The ethics of intensive care.

An explanation is provided of the logical steps taken before assigning patients to critical care therapy in a major multidisciplinary intensive care unit of the University of Paris at the Hospital Henri Mondor. The factors considered by the staff in deciding to terminate intensive therapy are also enumerated. This system has not been influenced by the major legal pressures found in the United States but has been shaped by more chronic fiscal constraints.

Brain Death

Cardiopulmonary effects of ketanserin infusion in human pulmonary embolism.

The release of platelet-derived vasoactive substances, particularly serotonin (5-HT), have been implicated in the pulmonary vasoconstrictor response following acute pulmonary embolism. Therefore, we studied the effects of infusing ketanserin, a 5-HT blocking agent, upon pulmonary and systemic hemodynamics and gas exchange in 10 patients with severe acute pulmonary embolism. These patients evidenced 45 +/- 17% mean angiographic pulmonary vascular obstruction. Ketanserin significantly decreased the mean pulmonary arterial pressure from 26 +/- 6 to 23 +/- 5 mm Hg (p less than 0.001). The total pulmonary vascular resistance decreased from 9.1 +/- 3.2 to 8.3 +/- 2.5 mm Hg/L X min X m2 (p less than 0.001). However, the mean cardiac index was unchanged. The systemic arterial and right atrial pressures were significantly decreased after ketanserin. The PaO2 increased in all patients from 60.5 +/- 12.6 to 66.5 +/- 13.6 mm Hg (p less than 0.05), whereas the venous admixture was unchanged. This was attributed to an increased PVO2 (27 +/- 7 to 30 +/- 5 mmHg, p less than 0.01) secondary to a reduction of calculated peripheral oxygen consumption during ketanserin infusion. The results indicate ketanserin is a mild pulmonary vasodilator and can reduce the pulmonary hypertension and increase the PaO2 after pulmonary embolism.

Adult

Diagnosis of central venous catheter-related sepsis. Critical level of quantitative tip cultures.

The results of a simplified quantitative broth dilution quantitative tip culture (QTC) of 331 central venous catheters were compared with clinical data prospectively recorded in critically III patients to diagnose bacteremic or nonbacteremic catheter-related sepsis (CRS) (36 catheters), as opposed to contamination (42 catheters) or simple colonization from a distant septic focus (seven catheters). Thirty-five of 36 catheters associated with CRS yielded 10(3) colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL) or more, and 3.8 X 10(2) Candida organisms grew from one. In contrast, 5 X 10(2) CFU/mL or less grew from 37 of 42 contaminated catheters. A QTC of 10(3) CFU/mL or more was 97.5% sensitive and 88% specific for the diagnosis of CRS. The QTC appeared especially useful for the diagnosis of CRS secondary to blood-borne seeding of catheters, or associated with coagulase-negative staphylococci.

Catheterization

The role of drug-induced illness in admissions to an intensive care unit.

All patients admitted during a 33-month period to a multidisciplinary intensive care unit were prospectively studied in order to determine the incidence and severity of drug-induced illness leading to the admission. The role of underlying diseases was assessed and the avoidability of drug-induced illness considered. Out of 1651 patients, 97 (5.88%) were admitted because of drug-induced illness; 74 of these had serious underlying diseases. 13 (13.4%) of the 97 patients died, but underlying diseases accounted for 4 of the 13 fatalities. In nearly half of the cases, the drug-induced illness appeared potentially avoidable.

Adolescent

[Pefloxacin].

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Humans

[Acute adult respiratory distress syndrome after lymphography].

Pulmonary complications of lymphography are usually described as radiological infiltrates without clinical symptoms. However, a case is here reported of an adult respiratory distress syndrome occurring after lymphography in a 60 year old female lymphoma patient. Pulmonary oedema developed within 48 h; haemodynamic study showed a normal capillary wedge pressure. The patient died from intractable low cardiac output within 24 h. Post-mortem examination showed pulmonary lymphocytic infiltration and multiple fat emboli. The lack of lymphatic drainage was probably responsible for the intravascular passage of lipid-soluble contrast medium, this giving endothelial lesions. In such patients with preexisting lung disease or pulmonary involvement in haematological disease, lymphography has to be considered carefully.

Embolism, Fat

Recurrent high-permeability pulmonary edema associated with diabetic ketoacidosis.

Delayed-onset pulmonary edema complicating severe diabetic ketoacidosis was observed twice in one patient. Hemodynamic measurements during the second episode showed normal transmural pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, suggesting an alteration in alveolocapillary permeability. Hyperventilation and acidosis may underlie this alteration. Vigorous fluid therapy, while decreasing oncotic pressure, may also contribute to the pulmonary edema. The two episodes in one patient suggest that pulmonary microvascular diabetic angiopathy may predispose some diabetics with severe ketoacidosis to increased-permeability pulmonary edema.

Adult

Naloxone therapy of human septic shock.

A 0.01 and 0.1-mg/kg dose of iv naloxone was administered to seven patients in septic shock, in order to evaluate naloxone's hemodynamic effect and possible relation to changes in plasma beta-endorphin and catecholamine levels. Naloxone failed to modify cardiac index, blood pressure, heart rate, and systemic vascular resistance. Plasma beta-endorphin, norepinephrine, and epinephrine were elevated but did not change after naloxone administration. These results suggest that beta-endorphin release is a consequence but not a cause of shock, and that the beneficial hemodynamic effects of naloxone in animal studies could be related to species differences or nociceptive stimulations.

Adult

Fatal nonmeningitic Listeria rhombencephalitis. Report of two cases.

Two cases of rapidly fatal Listeria rhombencephalitis with normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings occurred in previously healthy adults. The infection presented with nausea and headache followed by fever and signs of lower cranial nerve dysfunction, without associated meningismus, and progressed to death within four and six days of hospitalization. Because of normal CSF findings (including ventricular fluid in one patient) and negative culture results of both blood and CSF, the diagnosis was not suspected. Listeriosis should be considered early in any febrile patient presenting with signs of brain-stem dysfunction, even if CSF findings are normal.

Adult

Decreased plasma epinephrine concentrations after glucose ingestion in humans.

Plasma levels of norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), immunoreactive insulin (IRI), and glucose were measured in six healthy volunteers after glucose consumption and in six volunteers after a water solution. Ingestion of the glucose (100 g) solution significantly decreased E levels from 46.7 +/- 8.0 to 20.8 +/- 1.9 pg/mL (P less than 0.01). Three hours after the glucose ingestion, plasma E levels nearly returned to basal values. Plasma IRI and glucose levels peaked at 45 minutes after glucose consumption (P less than 0.01), then declined toward basal values. Plasma NE levels were unaffected by glucose consumption. There were no changes in glucose, IRI, NE, or E levels in the control group. These results suggest that E behaves as a counter-regulatory hormone to insulin under stimulation by glucose.

Adult

[Prospective evaluation of the complications of anticoagulants in an intensive care unit].

A prospective study was undertaken in a multidisciplinary intensive care unit to determine the proportion of complications due to anticoagulant therapy, to evaluate their severity and to estimate what proportion was potentially avoidable. Among 1911 hospitalized patients over a 3 year period, 30 patients had a complication of anticoagulant therapy (1,57 p. 100). The causality was definite in 14 cases, probable in 14 and possible in 2 cases. Nineteen p. 100 were hemorrhagic complications. These iatrogenic illnesses were fatal in 5 cases, life-threatening in 6, moderate in 15 and minor in 4 cases. Potentially avoidable complications accounted for 60 p. 100 of the cases and were due to biological overdosage or interaction between drugs. Our results indicate that some complications of anticoagulant therapy could be reduced or eliminated by medical education and increased information.

Anticoagulants

[Increase in partial arterial carbon dioxide pressure due to parenteral nutrition during artificial ventilation].

The influence of increased enteral caloric intakes on respiratory gas exchanges was evaluated in 6 patients (5 men, 1 woman; mean-age: 54 years) in steady state and requiring continuous ventilatory support. Oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), respiratory quotient (R), determined using an open circuit indirect calorimetric method, and arterial blood gases were measured on two consecutive days while ventilation conditions were unchanged. On the first day, the patients received a water diet only and on the following day an enteral caloric load (1491 +/- 65 Kcal/m2/24 h). The results showed a significant increase in VO2 (p less than 0.05) and R (p less than 0.001) and a rise in VCO2 from 106 +/- 4 to 139 +/- 9 ml/mn/m2 (p less than 0.01). The rise in VCO2 induced an increase of arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) from 26.3 +/- 1.6 to 34.4 +/- 2.4 mmHg (p less than 0.001). This study showed that because of the constancy of alveolar ventilation, the enteral nutrition-related increase of VCO2 is responsible for a PaCO2 increase and emphasized the need for adjusting artificial ventilation to any change in caloric intake in patients supported with mechanical ventilation.

Carbon Dioxide

[Hyperthermia during parenteral nutrition].

In a woman with caustic burn of the oesophagus total parenteral nutrition (3000 calories, 16 g nitrogen daily) resulted in a rise in body temperature from 37 to 39 degrees C. Temperature returned to normal when nutrition was discontinued to rise again when it was resumed. No infection or other cause of fever was detected. This case suggests that high calorie and nitrogen parenteral nutrition may induce hyperthermia, the possible mechanisms of which are discussed.

Adult