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Biomedical subjects

P Gomis

Publications and source records attributed to P Gomis.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Emergence delirium in adults in the post-anaesthesia care unit.

BACKGROUND: Emergence delirium in the post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU) is poorly understood. The goal of this prospective study was to determine frequency and risk factors of emergence delirium in adults after general anaesthesia. METHODS: In this prospective study, 1,359 consecutive patients were included. Contextual risk factors and occurrence of delirium according to the Riker sedation scale were documented. Groups were defined for the analysis according to the occurrence or not of agitation, then after exclusion of patients with preoperative anxiety and neuroleptics, or both, and antidepressants or benzodiazepines treatments. RESULTS: Sixty-four (4.7%) patients developed delirium in the PACU, which can go from thrashing to violent behaviour and removal of tubes and catheters. Preoperative anxiety was not found to be a risk factor. Preoperative medication by benzodiazepines (OR=1.910, 95% CI=1.101-3.315, P=0.021), breast surgery (OR=5.190, 95% CI=1.422-18.947, P=0.013), abdominal surgery (OR=3.206, 95% CI=1.262-8.143, P=0.014), and long duration of surgery increased the risk of delirium (OR=1.005, 95% CI=1.002-1.008, P=0.001), while a previous history of illness and long-term treatment by antidepressants decreased the risk (respectively, OR=0.544, 95% CI=0.315-0.939, P=0.029 and OR=0.245, 95% CI=0.084-0.710, P=0.010). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative benzodiazepines, breast and abdominal surgery and surgery of long duration are risk factors for emergence delirium.

Abdomen↗

[Interest and feasibility of a modified supine position for posterior cranial fossa surgical procedures].

The sitting position is considered as a gold standard for posterior fossa surgical procedures. However, in order to decrease the incidence rate of cerebral venous air embolisms, we presently described a modified supine position allowing performance of posterior fossa surgical procedures. Such position is easy and quickly performed with light variations of blood pressure: patients are placed supine with paddings inserted under ipsilateral shoulder and buttock, and head turned to other side of surgical site. Dural tension estimated by the surgeon was always considered as good. We performed more than 100 surgical procedures in this position without any complication for 10 years.

Blood Pressure↗

Evaluation of nonglucose carbohydrates in parenteral nutrition for diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE: There is little information on the advantages of nonglucose carbohydrates in total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for diabetic patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate glycemic control and insulin requirements in diabetic patients who received TPN with different sources of carbohydrates, and to determine whether insulin requirements are different when septic and non-septic diabetic patients are studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One-hundred and thirty-eight patients were randomly divided into two groups receiving either glucose (G), n=71, or glucose-fructose-xylitol 2:1:1 (GFX), n=67. There were no differences between the demographic or anthropometric characteristics of the groups, nor between the patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 and type 2, nor the initial TPN composition. Acceptable glycemic control was considered when glycemia reached <200 mg/dl. RESULTS: Glycemic control was attained in 79.7% of patients (74.6 vs 85.1%), in the same period of treatment. At the end of treatment, insulin requirements were not different (45+/-19 vs 45+/-26 UI/day) in both groups, while similar amounts of carbohydrates (191+/-36 vs 187+/-45 g/day) were infused. The ratio insulin/body weight and insulin/carbohydrates were equal in both groups. In the GFX group nonseptic and septic patients needed less and more insulin, respectively, than their counterparts in the G group. No major adverse events related to carbohydrate infusions were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Either G or GFX could be used in TPN for diabetic patients, providing glycemic control in most cases with similar insulin requirements. GFX mixtures were slightly more beneficial to attain glycemic control in nonseptic patients, but septic diabetic patients had higher insulin needs in this group.

Aged↗

[Home parenteral nutrition. A six-year combined program (adult and pediatric patients)].

BACKGROUND: To describe the outcomes of an adult-pediatric home parenteral nutrition (HPN) program. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective protocol between 1993 and 1999. RESULTS: Sixteen adults (average 45.7 years) and eight children (3.1 years) were included in the program. Mean length of parenteral nutrition was 507 (SD: 624) and 155 (SD: 129) days respectively. Total follow-up time was 8,119 days for adults and 1,242 for children. Cancer was the main diagnosis in adults and intractable diarrhea in children. Central venous catheter related infections were the most usual complication (0.63 and 1.2 episodes/patient/year). There were no deceases due to the HPN in the period of study. CONCLUSIONS: HPN is an effective and safe technique, although prevalence and incidence in Spain are low.

Adult↗

Confocal microscopic evidence of decreased alpha-actin expression within rabbit cerebral artery smooth muscle cells after subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Our objective was to determine whether subarachnoid haemorrhage modifies cerebral artery smooth muscle cell phenotype and the contractile protein alpha-actin measured 7 days after haemorrhage. We used a rabbit subarachnoid haemorrhage model and immunofluorescence labelling of alpha-smooth muscle actin, vimentin and desmin. The paired comparison between the haemorrhage and sham rabbits was performed using confocal laser-scanning microscopy. We found in the haemorrhage group significantly less intense alpha-actin immunostaining (p = 0.036) and more intense vimentin immunostaining (p = 0.043) but no significant change in the intensity of desmin staining. Our results indicate an absolute decrease after subarachnoid haemorrhage in the amount of functional alpha-actin and in the light of the literature may suggest a certain degree of dedifferentiation of smooth muscle cells in the cerebral artery wall.

Actins↗

[High resolution ECG signals in Chagas patients: SEARCH project].

This work presents contributions to the study of a public health problem known as Chagasic Myocarditis. The results of the efforts done in Venezuela to understand the evolution of this disease through a novel technique called High Resolution Electrocardiography (HRECG) are discussed. A review of this methodology is presented and also its potential as a tool to study Chagas disease and to diagnose its different myocardial manifestations is discussed in detail. Several research approaches are presented as well as the results obtained, new techniques for HRECG interpretation such as the analysis of signals from the P-R segment, the intra QRS potentials, and late potentials. This method contributes to early detection and follow up of Chagas myocarditis. The collection and the organization of a HRECG data base that served as the basis for SEARCH, which is a valuable resource for new research lines is also described.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗

[Blood volume changes caused by position under general anesthesia].

The cardiovascular changes in response to general anaesthesia are related to several interacting mechanisms. In addition to the intrinsic effects of anaesthetic agents on the heart and vessels which depress the physiological mechanisms of adaptation, the additive independent effects of posture and mechanical ventilation on intravascular blood volume have to be considered. Physiopathologic studies show that the ultimate related mechanism is the decrease of venous return to the heart. The major effect of posture is the change in the distribution of the blood volume, as the posture modifies the influence of gravity in addition to direct vascular compression and stretching. The deterioration of the cardiac venous return results in dramatic or insidious clinical consequences which lead finally to a low cardiac output. As cardiac function is not a limiting factor of output, any decrease of blood pressure in a patient with a healthy heart must be considered as an hypovolaemic state due to an abnormal contents to container ratio, and must be managed as such.

Anesthesia, General↗

Analysis of abnormal intra-QRS potentials. Improved predictive value for arrhythmic events with the signal-averaged electrocardiogram.

BACKGROUND: Using the signal-averaged ECG (SAECG), this study developed a new electrical index for predicting arrhythmic events: abnormal intra-QRS potentials (AIQP). METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 173 patients followed after myocardial infarction for a mean duration of 14 +/- 7 months. Sixteen arrhythmic events occurred, defined as sudden cardiac death, documented sustained ventricular tachycardia, or non-fatal cardiac arrest. Noninvasive indices of arrhythmia risk were measured, including AIQP, conventional SAECG, Holter, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Abnormal intra-QRS potentials were defined as abnormal signals occurring anywhere within the QRS period. They were estimated with a lead-specific, parametric modeling method that removed the smooth, predictable part of the QRS. AIQPs are characterized by the remaining transient, unpredictable component of the QRS and manifest as low-amplitude notches and slurs. A combined XYZ-lead AIQP index exhibited higher specificity (95%) and predictive value (PV) (+PV, 47%; -PV, 94%) than the conventional SAECG in combination with Holter and LVEF (specificity, 89%; +PV, 25%; -PV, 93%). CONCLUSIONS: AIQP improved specificity and predictive value, compared with conventional tests, for prediction of arrhythmic events. AIQP emerged as the best noninvasive univariate predictor of arrhythmic events after myocardial infarction in this study. A review of several other reports shows that AIQP in the present study outperformed the conventional predictive indices reported in those other data sets.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗

[Bilateral sciatica: a predictive sign of extradural hematoma after lumbar disk herniation].

The authors analyse five cases, in order to recognize a sensitive early clinical feature of extradural haematoma following lumbar diskectomy. Neither time delay (time from surgery to the suspicion of the diagnosis) nor pain intensity (a subjective factor which might be obtunded by an analgesic drug) are valuable features. The only reliable predictive sign is bilateral sciatica, which occurred in all cases, before the diagnosis was confirmed by a sensitive and motor deficit in the lower limbs.

Adult↗

A population pharmacokinetic model of trimethoprim in patients with pneumocystis pneumonia, made with parametric and nonparametric methods.

A population pharmacokinetic model of intravenously and orally administered trimethoprim in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia has been made using a parametric iterative two-stage Bayesian and a nonparametric expectation maximization computer program. When good information was present in the serum level data, both methods obtained similar results. With the nonparametric expectation maximization program, the median apparent rate constant for absorption (Ka) was 1.602 hr-1, median slope (Ks) of the relationship between creatinine clearance and elimination was 0.001168 hr-1, median apparent volume of distribution (Vs) was 1.058 l/kg, and median fraction of oral dose absorbed (Fa) was 0.955. These results permit dosage individualization adjusted to body weight and renal function to achieve chosen serum level peak and trough goals. Peak goals of 9 ug/ml and trough goals of 5 ug/ml appear reasonable for most patients in this population, and should permit most to complete an effective course of therapy with a reduced risk for treatment-terminating hematologic toxicity. However, therapeutic goals should always be selected based on each patient's apparent need for the drug and the risk of toxicity that is justifiably acceptable to obtain the expected benefits of the drug.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Analysis of abnormal signals within the QRS complex of the high-resolution electrocardiogram.

This paper presents a new, quantitative approach to measuring abnormal intra-QRS signals, using the high-resolution electrocardiogram (HRECG). These signals are conventionally known as QRS "notches and slurs." They are measured qualitatively and form the basis for the ECG identification of myocardial infarction. The HRECG is used for detection of ventricular late potentials (LP), which are linked with the presence of a reentry substrate for ventricular tachycardia (VT) after a myocardial infarction. LP's are defined as signals from areas of delayed conduction which outlast the normal QRS period. Our objective is to quantify very low-level abnormal signals that may not outlast the normal QRS period. In this work, abnormal intra-QRS potentials (AIQP) were characterized by removing the predictable, smooth part of the QRS from the original waveform. This was represented as the impulse response of an ARX parametric model, with model order selected empirically from a training data set. AIQP were estimated using the residual of the modeling procedure. Critical AIQP parameters to separate VT and non-VT subjects were obtained using discriminant functions. Results suggest that AIQP indexes are a new predictive index of the HRECG for VT. The concept of abnormal intra-QRS potentials permits the characterization of pathophysiological signals contained wholly within the normal QRS period, but related to arrhythmogenesis. The new method may have other applications, such as detection of myocardial ischemia and improved ECG identification of the site of myocardial infarction, particularly in the absence of Q waves.

Electrocardiography↗

[Postoperative spinal extradural hematomas. 14 cases].

We report 14 cases of post-operative spinal epidural hematoma and compare them with 17 cases reported in the literature. These 14 cases have been drawn from a continuous series of 7950 patients operated on at our institution by the posterior route for a non-traumatic spinal pathology. The symptom-free period after initial surgery was shorter than 5 hours in 13 cases out of 14. The clinical picture was characteristic 11 times. It started with a stabbing pain in the operated site, followed by paresthesia, radicular pain and neurologic palsy which were always bilateral even when the operation had been unilateral. The diagnosis was always established rapidly when the compression was cervical or thoracic and with some delay when the lumbar area was concerned. All patients, except one, have been reoperated without any radiological investigation. The source of bleeding was found 12 time out of 14. Full recovery was obtained in all 14 patients but delayed recovery of a few weeks occurred in 3 patients for whom reoperation was delayed. None of the potentiating factors studied in this work were found to be decisive. Post-operative spinal epidural hematoma is a rather uncommon complication of spinal surgery occurring at a rate of 1 to 2 per thousand. The diagnosis is more often obvious because its clinical picture is similar to that of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma. Early reoperation allows a full recovery. Special attention during the first six post-operative hours for all patients after spinal surgery is essential for early detection of such a complication.

Adult↗

[Problems posed by spinal anesthesia in a patient with Gélineau disease].

A 44-year-old patient, with narcolepsy-cataplexy, underwent surgery for lumbar disk hernia under spinal anaesthesia. Our purpose was to prevent an interaction between the patient's disease and general anaesthetic agents with the risk of postoperative hypersomnia. During surgical procedure, two narcolepsy fits occurred, without clinical consequences. The postoperative course was uneventful. However, spinal anaesthesia cannot be considered as a technique of choice because of the risk of narcolepsy-cataplexy fits with loss of consciousness and atonia, during regional anaesthesia. General anaesthesia seems to be the best choice for these patients cholinergic agents and mainly the alpha1 adrenergic blocking drugs are contra-indicated as they increase the risk of narcolepsy-cataplexy fits. Anaesthetic sleep, narcolepsy, cataplexy and epilepsy are clinically rather similar. The EEG does not allow to differentiate between narcolepsy and anaesthetic-sleep, whereas cataplexy and epilepsy result in specific EEG patterns.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Clinical management of hyperglycaemic patients receiving total parenteral nutrition.

We evaluated the course of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) therapy in patients with hyperglycaemia. We studied 1) incidence of hyperglycaemia, 2) amount of glucose and insulin provided and 3) incidence of metabolic problems in patients receiving TPN who required insulin to attain metabolic control. The group included 91 patients, 38 women (64 +/- 15 years) and 53 men (64 +/- 12 years), who developed glycaemia higher than 200 mg/dl. Nine patients had a previous diagnosis of IDDM, 36 NIDDM and 46 secondary hyperglycaemia.. Total caloric requirements were initially supplied at 132 +/- 20% the basal energy expenditure (Harris-Benedict formula), and 1.4 +/- 0.3 g/kg of amino-acids. Initially, TPN provided 150-200 g/day of glucose (2.1 mg/kg/min). Regular insulin was added to the bag. The annual incidence of hyperglycaemia was estimated to be 121 per 1000 patients. Mean insulin requirements were 50 U/day (25 to 150 U/day), 0.7 +/- 0.3 U/kg. Comparing with prehospitalization insulin dose, 22% needed similar doses, and 11% lower doses. IDDM patients needed 1.7 times their pre-admission dose (1-4.5 times). The ratio of insulin:glucose in TPN was 0.3 +/- 0.1 U/g (0.1-1.2 U/g). Patients with renal failure had similar insulin requirements (56 +/- 26 U/day) than patients with normal renal function (49 +/- 19 U/day). None of the patients developed glycemic complications. In conclusion, diabetic patients receiving TPN have an acceptable metabolic control if individualized prescriptions and supplemental insulin are used.

Journal Article↗