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P G al-Rawi

Publications and source records attributed to P G al-Rawi.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Clinical cerebral microdialysis--determining the true extracellular concentration.

Current monitoring of the cerebral extracellular chemistry of neurosurgical patients using microdialysis does not provide the true extracellular concentration because full equilibration across the membrane is not achieved. By varying the flow rate and extrapolating to zero flow, the relative recovery i.e. the concentration of the substance in the microdialysate as a proportion of the true concentration in the extracellular space may be calculated. The disadvantage of this method is that it depends on the underlying baseline chemistry being constant during measurements for the calculations, which is not the case in the changing environment of a neuro-intensive unit. We have therefore designed a modification of the extrapolation to zero flow method using an adjacent constant flow rate catheter to monitor the baseline. The results demonstrate that the relative recovery varies considerably with flow rate, and for the CMA70 10 mm membrane catheter, is approximately 70% at a rate of 0.3 microliter/min and 30% at a rate of 1.0 microliter/min for glucose, lactate, pyruvate and glutamate.

Biomarkers↗

Extracellular lactate/pyruvate and glutamate changes in patients during per-operative episodes of cerebral ischaemia.

OBJECTIVE: Temporary Internal Carotid Artery (ICA) clipping necessary during aneurysm surgery was used as a model to investigate metabolic changes in the human brain during defined episodes of ischaemia. DESIGN: An observational study using intracerebral monitors: PBO2 (Neurotrend) and microdialysis (CMA, Sweden). SUBJECTS: 16 patients monitored during complex aneurysm surgery. OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in extracellular concentrations of glucose, lactate, and glutamate and lactate/pyruvate ratio (L/P). RESULTS: Mean age was 55. 10 patients presented with subarachnoid haemorrhage and 6 with mass effect (4 giant). Temporary ICA occlusion was required for dissection (n = 9), intraoperative rupture (n = 5) or aneurysmal thrombectomy (n = 2). The mean total duration was 15 minutes (range 4-52 minutes). No infarcts developed in the monitored regions. Microdialysis was unsuccessful in 3 patients and Neurotrend in 1. Patients were grouped according to the degree and duration of fall in PBO2: minimal brief falls were not associated with microdialysis changes (n = 5). More pronounced falls were associated with increases in L/P (n = 4). Only prolonged occlusions averaging 42 minutes (n = 3) with PBO2 sustained below 1 kPa were associated with rises in glutamate. CONCLUSIONS: Brief temporary ICA occlusion caused an initial increased L/P. Glutamate increases were only seen after occlusion that was prolonged with PBO2 below 1.0 kPa.

Adult↗

On-line monitoring of substrate delivery and brain metabolism in head injury.

Head injury is associated with complex pathophysiological changes in metabolism. The objective of the study was to investigate these changes by applying on-line bedside monitoring of cerebral metabolism using microdialysis. Following approval by the Local Ethics Committee and consent from the next of kin, a microdialysis catheter was inserted into the frontal cortex of patients with severe head injury. Twenty-one patients were studied for 102.3 +/- 26.9 hours (mean +/- 95% confidence interval; total 89.4 patient monitoring days). The overall cerebral glucose (mean of means) was 1.63 +/- 0.31 mM with periods of undetectable glucose recorded. The cerebral lactate and lactate/pyruvate ratio were 4.69 +/- 0.61 mM and 29.9 +/- 3.73 respectively. Patients who died (n = 4) or who were severely disabled (not proceeding to rehabilitation, n = 5) had a tendency towards lower glucose (1.39 +/- 0.35 mM), higher lactate (5.10 +/- 1.02 mM) and higher lactate/pyruvate ratios (35.5 +/- 7.67) compared to patients with good outcome (home or proceeding to rehabilitation, n = 12, glucose 1.80 +/- 0.49 mM, lactate 4.38 +/- 0.85 mM, lactate/pyruvate ratio 27.9 +/- 4.33). Trends in these metabolic parameters relating to outcome were identifiable. In the majority of patients, cerebral glutamate levels (overall mean of means 9.47 +/- 4.59 microM) were initially high and then declined to stable levels. Patients in whom the glutamate level remained elevated or in whom secondary rises in glutamate were seen had a poor outcome. The application of bedside analysis of microdialysis enables the progress of the patient to be monitored on-line. In addition to establishing trends of improving and deteriorating metabolism, the technique has the potential to monitor the effects of therapeutic manoeuvres on the biochemistry.

Adolescent↗

Multiparameter brain tissue monitoring--correlation between parameters and identification of CPP thresholds.

Continuous monitoring of brain interstitial gas concentrations allows direct regional evaluation of the pathophysiology of cerebral tissues. We have incorporated the Paratrend 7 (P7) multiparameter sensor into our established multimodal monitoring of head injured patients, to investigate the relationship between brain and arterial pO2, pCO2, and pH, as well as defining thresholds for cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP). A P7 sensor was inserted into the brain tissue of 40 adult head injured patients via a modified Camino bolt or triple lumen bolt. A second sensor was placed in the femoral artery for continuous monitoring of blood gases. Data signals from 19 monitored parameters were collected onto computer at the bedside for up to 14 days. No complications were seen. For individual patients the changes in brain tissue parameters showed large variations over 24 hours and the relationship between parameters varied considerably both between patients and during the period of monitoring any one individual. Changes related to periods of arterial desaturation, cerebral hypoperfusion and therapeutic manoeuvres could be seen. Good correlation was seen between brain pCO2 and arterial pCO2 (r = 0.58). Poor correlation was seen between CPP and brain pO2, and between brain pO2 and ICP. However, by grouping values for intracranial pressure (ICP) and CPP, thresholds for brain tissue pO2 were identified in 16 patients where CPP fell below 60 mmHg. No patients where CPP was always > 60 mmHg showed a significant threshold for a drop in brain pO2 (n = 16). In conclusion, the P7 shows potential as a monitor of regional brain oxygenation and for detection of potentially damaging secondary insults. The results must be interpreted whilst considering catheter position, autoregulation and systemic arterial changes for each individual.

Adolescent↗

Head injury monitoring using cerebral microdialysis and Paratrend multiparameter sensors.

INTRODUCTION: Following head injury complex pathophysiological changes occur in brain metabolism. The objective of the study was to monitor brain metabolism using the Paratrend multiparameter sensor and microdialysis catheters. PATIENTS, MATERIAL AND METHODS: Following approval by the Local Ethics Committee and consent from the relatives, patients with severe head injury were studied using a triple bolt inserted into the frontal region, transmitting an intracranial pressure monitor, microdialysis (10 mm or 30 mm membrane; glucose, lactate, pyruvate, glutamate) catheter and Paratrend multiparameter (oxygen, carbon dioxide, pH and temperature) sensor. A Paratrend sensor was also inserted into the femoral artery for continuous blood gas analysis. RESULTS: 21 patients were studied with cerebral microdialysis for a total of 91 monitoring days (range 19 hours to 12 days). Of these, 14 patients were also studied with cerebral and arterial Paratrend sensors. The mean (+/- 95% confidence intervals) arterial and cerebral oxygen levels were 123 +/- 10.9 mmHg and 27.9 +/- 5.71 mmHg respectively. The arterial and cerebral carbon dioxide levels were 34.3 +/- 2.35 mmHg and 45.3 +/- 3.07 mmHg respectively. Episodes of systemic hypoxia and hypotension resulting in falls in cerebral oxygen and rises in cerebral carbon dioxide were rapidly detected by the arterial and cerebral Paratrend sensors. Systemic pyrexia was reflected in the brain with the cerebral Paratrend sensor reading 0.17 degree C (mean) higher than the arterial sensor. Elevations of cerebral glucose were detected, but the overall cerebral glucose was low (mean 1.57 +/- 0.53 mM 10 mm membrane; mean 1.95 +/- 0.68 mM 30 mm membrane) with periods of undetectable glucose in 6 patients. Lactate concentrations (mean 5.08 +/- 0.73 mM 10 mm membrane; mean 8.27 +/- 1.31 mM 30 mm membrane) were higher than glucose concentrations in all patients. The lactate/pyruvate ratio was 32.1 +/- 5.16 for the 10 mm membrane and 30.6 +/- 2.17 for the 30 mm membrane. Glutamate concentrations varied between patients (mean 15.0 +/- 10.5 microM 10 mm membrane; mean 28.8 +/- 17.8 microM 30 mm membrane). CONCLUSION: The combination of microdialysis catheters and Paratrend sensors enabling the monitoring of substrate delivery and brain metabolism, and the detection of secondary metabolic insults has the potential to assist in the management of head-injured patients.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Preliminary evaluation of a prototype spatially resolved spectrometer.

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has become an established research tool and is now being explored in several clinical settings [7]. However, until recently NIRS has not been fully quantified and changes have been difficult to interpret [4]. A new development by Hamamatsu Photonics, called the Spatially Resolved Spectrometer (SRS), proposes to be able to give a quantitative measure of oxygen saturation. We have incorporated the SRS into a multimodality monitoring system in three different clinical situations: 1) patients undergoing routine cardiopulmonary bypass, 2) head injured patients and 3) patients undergoing right-sided carotid endarterectomy. The importance of this investigation is in the development of the SRS machine which shows potential as a useful clinical tool. The results demonstrated good correlation between SRS and jugular venous oximetry (SjO2) in about 50% of patients. Although these results are encouraging, this study suggests that the SRS, in its present form, is not a reliable clinical monitor of cerebral oxygen saturation.

Brain↗