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Biomedical subjects

P J Kearns

Publications and source records attributed to P J Kearns.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

The incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia and success in nutrient delivery with gastric versus small intestinal feeding: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Enteral feeding provides nutrients for patients who require endotracheal tubes and mechanical ventilation. There is a presumed increase in the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) with tube feeding. This has stimulated the development of procedures for duodenal intubation and small intestinal (SI) feeding as primary prophylaxes to prevent VAP. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the rate of VAP and adequacy of nutrient delivery with gastric (G) vs. SI feeding. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: A medical intensive care unit of a county hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 44 endotracheally intubated, mechanically ventilated patients requiring enteral nutrition. INTERVENTION: Subjects were randomized to receive enteral nutrition via G or SI feeding. Protocols directed the placement of the feeding tube and the infusion of enteral nutrition and defined the radiographic and clinical criteria for a diagnosis of VAP. MEASUREMENTS AND OUTCOMES: The incidence of VAP and the adequacy of nutritional supplementation were prospectively followed. The relative risk of VAP with SI was 1.1 (95% confidence interval 0.96-2.44) compared with G. The SI group received a greater percentage of their caloric requirements (SI 69 +/- 7% vs. G 47 +/- 7%, mean +/- SEM, p < .05). Mortality did not differ between G (26 +/- 9%) and SI (24 +/- 10, p = .86). CONCLUSIONS: There is no clear difference in the incidence of VAP in SI compared with G enteral nutrition. Patients given feeding into the SI do receive higher calorie and protein intakes.

Enteral Nutrition↗
PubMed1998

Prospective evaluation of anticoagulant reversal with oral vitamin K1 while continuing warfarin therapy unchanged.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To study the efficacy and safety of partially correcting therapeutic anticoagulation by administering oral vitamin K1. DESIGN: Prospective interventional trial. SETTING: Outpatient anticoagulation clinic. PATIENTS: Patients who required reversal of their normal or excessive therapy with oral anticoagulant drugs were recruited. INTERVENTIONS: All patients received a single oral dose of vitamin K1. The dose was calculated using a regression formula and was intended to decrease the international normalized ratio (INR) to a predetermined value. Patient follow-up continued for 8 weeks. We compared the actual change of the INR to the predicted change. RESULTS: Sixty-five reversals of anticoagulant therapy were initiated in the study group. Sixty-four of the 65 reversals were successful. The mean (+/-SEM) initial INR was 2.6+/-0.1 for the preprocedure patients and 8.4+/-0.5 for the excessively anticoagulated patients. The predicted change in the INR correlated with the actual change (r = 0.92, p < 0.0001). There were no thromboembolic events and only one hemorrhagic complication. The mean (+/-SEM) dose of oral vitamin K1 was 5.0+/-0.3 mg for the preprocedure patients and 10.0+/-1.0 mg for the excessively anticoagulated patients. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of a single oral dose of vitamin K1 is a safe and effective method for partially reversing anticoagulant therapy without disrupting the daily maintenance dose of warfarin. A reliable regression formula was developed to predict the dose of vitamin K1 needed to achieve the desired INR.

Anticoagulants↗
PubMed1997

Group I: choosing the appropriate method of placement of an enteral feeding tube in the high-risk population.

The traditional nasogastric/nasoenteric feeding tube is the preferred access device for short-term feeding (< 30 days), with delivery into the stomach suggested unless aspiration or motility abnormalities are present. Preference for a long-term access device is operator- and facility-dependent. Endoscopic or fluoroscopic placement is preferred as first choices over laparoscopic placement because of considerations of cost, need for general anesthesia, and need for operating room time. Gastrostomy is preferred over intestinal placement for long-term access unless problems with aspiration or motility abnormalities exist.

Critical Illness↗
PubMed1992

Accelerated improvement of alcoholic liver disease with enteral nutrition.

This prospective study compared the effects of tube-fed nutrition with those of a regular diet in alcoholic liver disease. The high prevalence of malnutrition in patients with alcoholic liver disease requires clarification of the benefits of aggressive nutritional support. Patients were randomly assigned a regular diet without or with tube-fed supplementation, delivering 1.5 g/kg protein and 167 kJ/kg daily. Comparisons of encephalopathy, antipyrine clearance, metabolic rate, and biochemical parameters were performed weekly for 4 weeks. Sixteen patients receiving enteral supplementation had antipyrine half-life (50% vs. 3% reduction), serum bilirubin (25% vs. 0% reduction), and median encephalopathy scores that improved more rapidly than those of controls. Initially, 15 controls did not consume adequate calories to meet measured resting energy expenditure. Aggressive nutritional intervention accelerated improvement in alcoholic liver disease. Adverse effects did not offset the demonstrated benefits of a 2-cal/mL, casein-based tube-fed supplement. These findings support the use of standard, casein-based solutions in the treatment of alcoholic liver disease and as the control condition for future studies.

Antipyrine↗
PubMed1986

Streptococcus bovis catheter infection and the short bowel syndrome.

Streptococcus bovis bacteremia has been associated with several gastrointestinal disorders, most notably carcinoma of the colon. This report describes a 57-year-old woman with short bowel syndrome in whom S. bovis bacteremia and an infection of an indwelling parenteral nutrition catheter developed. A barium enema revealed diverticula and a foreshortened small intestine. This case implicates the short bowel syndrome in the pathogenesis of S. bovis bacteremia and supports empiric antibiotic coverage for both skin flora and enteric pathogens in patients with Hickman catheter sepsis and known gastrointestinal pathologic conditions.

Catheterization↗
PubMed1985

Hepatorenal syndrome managed with hemodialysis, then reversed by peritoneovenous shunting.

A patient with acute decompensated chronic liver disease developed acute tubular necrosis after an episode of hypotension. Renal failure was managed by hemodialysis for 11 weeks during which period hepatic function improved. Despite persistently severe oliguria, tubular function recovered as judged by a fall in urine sodium content and a rise in specific gravity, suggesting the development of the hepato-renal syndrome. Therefore, a peritoneovenous shunt was inserted. This was followed by a prompt diuresis; further dialysis was not required. This case suggests potential roles for hemodialysis and peritoneovenous shunting in patients with advanced, but potentially reversible hepatic and renal failure and draws attention to the need for formal evaluation of such a possibility.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1980

Possible thiabendazole-induced theophylline toxicity.

Strongyloidiasis in immunosuppressed patients often requires prolonged administration of the antihelminthic, thiabendazole. The case described herein represents the first report of theophylline toxicity induced by concurrent administration of thiabendazole. Preliminary studies suggest that interference with theophylline clearance by thiabendazole may be the mechanism involved in this drug interaction.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bioavailability of warfarin in a patient with severe short bowel syndrome.

Acquired warfarin resistance has resulted from altered drug metabolism and excessive vitamin K. A third possible mechanism, decreased gastrointestinal absorption of the drug, was examined in a patient with short bowel syndrome and severe malabsorption who demonstrated transient warfarin resistance. Despite the resistance, bioavailability studies demonstrated normal drug absorption and a prolonged half-life. The parenteral administration of vitamin K proved to be the cause of the prolonged warfarin resistance.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nutritional and metabolic response to acute spinal-cord injury.

The metabolic response to complete spinal cord injury was prospectively studied in 10 patients with Frankel class A spinal cord injury. Weekly excretory and balance studies profile the changes in nitrogen, calcium, and 3-methylhistidine excretion in relation to body weight and metabolic rate. The initial resting energy expenditures were 10% below what was predicted, and body weight decreased by 10%. Nitrogen excretion paralleled the changes in body weight. Calcium excretion increased for 3 weeks and reached a plateau 150% above baseline. Our results chronicle the magnitude of metabolic response to spinal shock. Comparison with reported values shows this response exceeds that seen in immobilized patients. Nitrogen excretion rose to levels seen in highly stressed patients and must be considered in the management of patients with acute spinal-cord injury.

Acute Disease↗