Biomedical subjects

R F Wilson

Publications and source records attributed to R F Wilson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1995

Evidence for functional sympathetic reinnervation of left ventricle and coronary arteries after orthotopic cardiac transplantation in humans.

BACKGROUND: Structural sympathetic reinnervation of the transplanted human heart is believed to occur > 1 year after cardiac transplantation. The functional effects of reinnervating neurons, however, are undefined. METHODS AND RESULTS: To test directly for functional sympathetic reinnervation, we measured left ventricular or coronary hemodynamics in 11 patients < or = 4 months after transplantation, in 45 patients > or = 1 year after transplantation, and in 13 untransplanted, normally innervated patients. Sympathetic neurons were stimulated with left coronary injection of tyramine (10 micrograms/kg), which causes norepinephrine release from intact sympathetic nerve terminals. Reinnervation was defined as a measure of cardiac norepinephrine release after intracoronary tyramine injection. Left ventricular pressure was measured before and at 1-minute intervals after tyramine with a micromanometer-tipped catheter (Millar Instruments). Coronary blood flow velocity (CBFV) was measured with a 3F Doppler catheter (Numed), and coronary artery cross-sectional area was calculated using quantitative coronary angiography. In both early patients and patients studied > or = 4 months after transplantation without reinnervation (late denervated), there was no change in left ventricular function in response to tyramine (delta dP/dt = 31 +/- 61 and 49 +/- 54 mm Hg/s, respectively; P = NS). In transplant recipients with reinnervation (late reinnervated), left ventricular dP/dt rose significantly (delta dP/dt = 210 +/- 97 mm Hg/s; P < .05) but less than in healthy patients (delta dP/dt = 577 +/- 66 mm Hg/s; P < .05). In both early and late denervated patients, there was no change in CBFV in response to tyramine (CBFV = 1.02 +/- 0.1 and 1.0 +/- 0.1 x basal, respectively; P = NS). In late reinnervated patients, CBFV fell significantly (CBFV = 0.94 +/- 0.1 x basal; P < .05). In healthy patients, CBFV fell even more (CBFV = 0.88 +/- 0.1 x basal; P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Stimulation of reinnervating sympathetic neurons with tyramine in transplant recipients causes a significant but subnormal increase in dP/dt and a transient decrease in CBFV, suggesting that reinnervating sympathetic neurons can produce physiologically meaningful changes in left ventricular function and coronary artery tone.

Angiography↗

PubMed1995

Coronary angioplasty, atherectomy and bypass surgery in cardiac transplant recipients.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to analyze the outcomes of revascularization procedures in the treatment of allograft coronary disease. BACKGROUND: Allograft vasculopathy is the main factor limiting survival of heart transplant recipients. Because no medical therapy prevents allograft atherosclerosis, and retransplantation is associated with suboptimal allograft survival, palliative coronary revascularization has been attempted. METHODS: Thirteen medical centers retrospectively analyzed their complete experience with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, directional coronary atherectomy and coronary bypass graft surgery in allograft coronary disease. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients underwent coronary angioplasty. Angiographic success (< or = 50% residual stenosis) occurred in 153 (94%) of 162 lesions. Forty patients (61%) are alive without retransplantation at 19 +/- 14 (mean +/- SD) months after angioplasty. The consequences of failed revascularization were severe. Two patients sustained periprocedural myocardial infarction and died. Angiographic restenosis occurred in 42 (55%) of 76 lesions at 8 +/- 5 months after angioplasty. Angiographic distal arteriopathy adversely affected allograft survival. Eleven patients underwent directional coronary atherectomy. Angiographic success occurred in 9 (82%) of 11 lesions. Two periprocedural deaths occurred. Nine patients are alive without transplantation at 7 +/- 4 months after atherectomy. Bypass graft surgery was performed in 12 patients. Four patients died perioperatively. Seven patients are alive without retransplantation at 9 +/- 7 months after operation. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary revascularization may be an effective palliative therapy in suitable cardiac transplant recipients. Angioplasty has an acceptable survival in patients without angiographic distal arteriopathy. Because few patients underwent atherectomy and coronary bypass surgery, assessment of these procedures is limited. Angiographic distal arteriopathy is associated with decreased allograft survival in patients requiring revascularization.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Intraoperative end-tidal carbon dioxide values and derived calculations correlated with outcome: prognosis and capnography.

OBJECTIVE: To determine how much information concerning resuscitation and outcome is provided by the end-tidal CO2 and derived variables obtained during surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Emergency hospital operating room. PATIENTS: One hundred critically ill or injured patients requiring major surgery and having a mortality rate of 41%. INTERVENTIONS: Standard intraoperative monitoring, including continuous capnography, plus arterial blood gas analyses every 1 to 1.5 hrs during surgery. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: There was only a fair correlation between the PaCO2 and end-tidal CO2 (r2 = .14). The mortality rates in these patients were highest in those patients who had the lowest end-tidal CO2 values, the highest arterial to end-tidal CO2 differences, and the highest estimated alveolar deadspace fraction. A persistent end-tidal CO2 of < or = 28 torr (< or = 3.8 kPa) was associated with a mortality rate of 55% (vs. 17% in those patients with a higher end-tidal CO2). The mortality rate was also increased in patients with a persistent arterial to end-tidal CO2 difference of > or = 8 torr (> or = 1.1 kPa) (58% vs. 23%). CONCLUSIONS: End-tidal CO2 and derived values should be monitored closely in critically ill or injured patients. Efforts should be made--by increasing cardiac output and core temperature and by adjusting ventilation as needed--to maintain the end-tidal CO2 at > or = 29 torr (> or = 3.9 kPa) and the arterial to end-tidal CO2 difference at < or = 7 torr (< or = 1.0 kPa).

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Single-blind studies of the effects of improved periodontal health on metabolic control in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Uncontrolled studies have suggested a beneficial effect of periodontal treatment on metabolic control of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). We therefore conducted controlled single-blind studies, using current metabolic status indicators in IDDM subjects free of significant complications other than periodontal diseases. In the 1st study, 41 IDDM subjects with gingivitis and early periodontitis were randomly assigned to treatment (oral hygiene and scaling) or control groups. The study was completed by 16 experimental and 15 control subjects. Reassessment after 2 months showed a Hawthorne effect in the control group, and no difference between groups. However, further analysis showed a relationship between individual metabolic control variation and gingival inflammation. A 2nd study enrolled 23 IDDM subjects with advanced periodontitis, who were randomised to treatment (full initial therapy including root planning) or control groups. Only 1 subject failed to complete the study, owing to illness. In this study, a significant response to periodontal treatment was not accompanied by any improvement in metabolic control. These results support the concept that the effect of metabolic control may be predominant in the relationship between IDDM and periodontal health.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Direct effects of smooth muscle relaxation and contraction on in vivo human brachial artery elastic properties.

The direct effect of smooth muscle relaxation on arterial elastic properties is controversial. Studies in animals show both a decrease and an increase in elastic modulus. In human subjects, the contribution of smooth muscle to arterial elastic mechanics has been limited by difficulty in separating the direct effects of a vasodilator drug on the arterial wall from the indirect effects due to reduced blood pressure. The purpose of the present study was to assess the direct contribution of vascular smooth muscle to brachial artery elastic mechanics in normal human subjects in vivo. We measured brachial artery compliance and incremental elastic modulus (Einc) in eight normal subjects (age, 22 to 51 years) by using intravascular ultrasound. A 3.5F 30-MHz intravascular ultrasound catheter was placed through a sheath into the brachial artery, and intraarterial pressure, cross-sectional area, and wall thickness were measured simultaneously under baseline conditions and after the administration of intra-arterial nitroglycerin (100 micrograms) and norepinephrine (1.2 micrograms). A pressurized cuff surrounding the brachial artery was inflated to reduce transmural brachial artery pressure. Using this technique, we were able to measure the following arterial characteristics for the first time in human subjects in vivo: (1) the effective unstressed arterial radius and (2) the pressure-area, stress-strain, and pressure-Einc relations over a wide pressure range (0 to 100 mm Hg). Intra-arterial nitroglycerin increased brachial artery area by 22% and intraarterial norepinephrine decreased brachial artery area by 17% at 100 mm Hg transmural pressure (P < .001 versus baseline).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Preliminary characterisation of antigens recognised by monoclonal antibodies raised to Porphyromonas gingivalis and by sera from patients with periodontitis.

A panel of 15 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) was raised to Porphyromonas gingivalis and used to characterise the antigens which they recognise by ELISA, immunofluorescence (IF), Western blotting and patient serum inhibition studies. All the MAbs were specific for P. gingivalis and did not recognise 24 other species. Eight MAbs gave bright ring-like staining patterns against the majority of serotypes of P. gingivalis tested by IF. The antibodies could be grouped into 5 different antigen recognition profiles on Western blotting, and ELISA indicated that 8 of them bound to a capsular extract. Five antibodies bound to antigenic determinants recognised by sera from patients with periodonitis and 4 of these (1A1, 2B/H9, 3B1, 7D5) bound to a P. gingivalis 47kDa protease preparation on Western blotting. These antibodies are potentially useful for the purification and characterisation of biologically active components of P. gingivalis that are recognised by sera from patients with periodontitis.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Splanchnic mucosal perfusion effects of hypertonic versus isotonic resuscitation of hemorrhagic shock.

A porcine hemorrhagic shock (HS) model was used to assess the splanchnic mucosal and systemic effects of hypertonic versus isotonic crystalloid resuscitation. Animals were bled to a mean arterial pressure of 40 mm Hg for 1 hour and then resuscitated with equivalent sodium loads of LR, 7.5 per cent hypertonic saline (HSS), or 7.5 per cent HSS with 6 per cent Dextran (HSD). Intestinal mucosal blood flow (IMBF) was measured by a laser Doppler flow probe placed on the mucosa of the small bowel. Following resuscitation the cardiac output (CO) (relative to baseline values) was significantly higher with HSD (158 17 per cent) and HSS (137 24 per cent) than with LR (84 27 per cent) (P < 0.005). There was prompt restoration of IMBF with both HSD (126 31 per cent) and HSS (106 22 per cent) (vs baseline). Resuscitation with LR was associated with a persistent reduction in IMBF (52 16 per cent) despite restoration of mean arterial pressure and cardiac output to baseline levels (P < 0.05). Thus, hypertonic saline solutions may serve an adjunctive role in the resuscitation of hemorrhagic shock by restoring intestinal nutrient blood flow and, thereby, preventing gut barrier impairment, bacterial translocation, and organ failure.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Coronary revascularisation in insulin-dependent diabetic patients with chronic renal failure.

Insulin-dependent diabetic patients found to have substantial coronary artery disease at the time of assessment for renal transplantation have 2-year survival of less than 50%. Because most of these patients have no angina symptoms their management is controversial. We tried to find out whether coronary artery revascularisation in such patients might decrease the combined incidence of unstable angina, myocardial infarction, and cardiac death. 151 consecutive insulin-dependent diabetic candidates for renal transplantation underwent coronary angiography. 31 had stenoses greater than 75% in one or more coronary arteries, atypical chest pain or no chest pain, and a left ventricular ejection fraction greater than 0.35. Of these, 26 agreed to be randomly assigned medical treatment (a calcium-channel-blocking drug plus aspirin) or revascularisation (angioplasty or coronary bypass surgery). 10 of 13 medically managed and 2 of 13 revascularised patients had a cardiovascular endpoint within a median of 8.4 months of coronary angiography (p < 0.01). 4 medically managed patients died of myocardial infarction during follow-up. Thus, revascularisation decreased the frequency of cardiac events in insulin-dependent diabetic patients with chronic renal failure and symptomless coronary artery stenoses. These findings suggest that diabetic renal transplant candidates should be screened for silent coronary artery disease, because revascularisation may decrease cardiac morbidity and mortality in this population.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

End-diastolic volume. A better indicator of preload in the critically ill.

The relative value of pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) and right ventricular end-diastolic volume index (RVEDVI) as a reflection of the preload status of the critically ill was determined in 29 patients. Regression analysis of 131 hemodynamic studies demonstrated that cardiac index (CI) correlated better with RVEDVI (r = .61) than did PAWP (r = .42). Comparisons of PAWP and RVEDVI showed that possible misleading information concerning filling volume was provided by the PAWP at some time in 15 (52%) of these patients. In 15 patients given 22 fluid challenges, patients with a high PAWP (greater than or equal to 18 mm Hg) "responded" with a rise in CI more frequently than did patients with a low PAWP (less than 12 mm Hg). However, all eight patients with a RVEDVI less than 90 mL/m2 responded with a rise in CI, but all seven patients with a RVEDVI greater than or equal to 139 mL/m2 failed to respond. Thus, RVEDVI more accurately predicted preload recruitable increases in cardiac output.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

The relationship between 48-h dental plaque accumulation in young human adults and the concentrations of hypothiocyanite, 'free' and 'total' lysozyme, lactoferrin and secretory immunoglobulin A in saliva.

Samples of resting and stimulated whole saliva and stimulated parotid saliva were collected from 40 young adults. One week later, after 48 h on a standardized diet without oral hygiene, all available plaque was collected for dry weighing. An inverse relationship was found between the 'free' lysozyme concentration in stimulated parotid saliva and plaque dry weight (r = -0.46, p less than 0.01). There were no other statistically significant correlation coefficients between concentrations of individual salivary constituents and plaque dry weight. However, cluster analysis of constituents in resting whole saliva revealed three groups of subjects with different salivary profiles, and in particular with different concentrations of both IgA and hypothiocyanite. Subsequent analysis revealed differences in plaque dry weight between the groups, demonstrating the potential biological significance of cluster membership based on salivary factors.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Effect of increased intra-abdominal pressure on mesenteric arterial and intestinal mucosal blood flow.

The effects of increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) on intestinal blood flow were studied in eight anesthetized pigs. Mesenteric artery blood flow (MABF), intestinal mucosal blood flow (IMBP), tonometric intramucosal pH (pHi), mean BP (MAP), cardiac output (CO), and pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) were measured as IAP was raised to 10, 20, 30, and 40 mm Hg by infusing lactated Ringer's solution (LR) into the peritoneal cavity. The MAP was kept constant with IV LR. Cardiac output fell slightly from 5.4 +/- 1.1 at baseline to 4.0 +/- 1.2 L/min at an IAP of 40 mm Hg (p less than 0.05). An IAP of 20 mm Hg caused significant decreases in MABF (73% +/- 22% of baseline) (p less than 0.05) and IMBF (61% + 12% of baseline) (p less than 0.05). These changes became progressively greater as the IAP was increased to 40 mm Hg. The pHi fell to 6.98 +/- 0.14 at 40 mm Hg IAP (p less than 0.01), indicating severe mucosal ischemia. Thus increased IAP can cause severe intestinal ischemia, which may be more important than the cardiac, pulmonary, and renal changes usually described.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Effect of increased intra-abdominal pressure on hepatic arterial, portal venous, and hepatic microcirculatory blood flow.

The effects of increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) on hepatic perfusion were studied in five anesthetized pigs. Doppler flow probes were used to measure hepatic artery blood flow (HABF) and portal venous blood flow (PVBF), and laser Doppler flowmetry was used to assess changes in hepatic microvascular blood flow (HMVBF). Hepatic blood flow responses to 10, 20, 30 and 40 mm Hg increases in IAP were assessed while the mean arterial BP (MAP) was maintained at baseline levels with IV crystalloid infusions. Although cardiac output and MAP were normal, HABF and HMVBF fell significantly with 10 mm IAP, and at 20 mm Hg IAP, HABF was 45% of the control value, PVBF was 65% of the control value, and HMVBF was 71% of the control value (p less than 0.05). At 30 and 40 mm Hg, hepatic blood flow was reduced even more. Thus, modest increases in IAP can cause significant impairment of hepatic perfusion despite a normal BP and cardiac output.

Abdomen↗

PubMed1992

Prevalence of clinically undetected and untreated molar occlusal dentine caries in adolescents on the Isle of Wight.

The prevalence of clinically undetected occlusal dentine caries was determined in a group of adolescents living on the Isle of Wight by comparing data from clinical and radiographic examinations carried out in 1987. 6.3% of maxillary molars and 12.9% of mandibular molars which had been designated as clinically sound showed dentine caries on radiographs. Comparison of the radiographic data from 1975 and 1987 showed that there were more sound and fewer filled occlusal surfaces in 1987, but more primary occlusal caries. Approximately 50% of subjects examined in both 1975 and 1987 had at least one molar tooth with primary and/or secondary caries in dentine on radiograph.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Thrombolysis in unstable angina. Randomized double-blind trial of t-PA and placebo.

BACKGROUND: Because coronary thrombosis is important in the pathogenesis of unstable angina and correlates with in-hospital cardiac events, we hypothesized that thrombolytic therapy would decrease cardiac events. METHODS AND RESULTS: We randomized 70 patients with unstable angina to tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) (0.49 MU/kg for 1 hour followed by 0.07 MU/kg per hour for 9 hours) or placebo. All patients received full doses of intravenous heparin for 96 hours and aspirin (325 mg beginning at 72 hours). The primary end points of the study were in-hospital death, myocardial infarction, and urgent revascularization. Three secondary end points were also evaluated. Myocardial perfusion was assessed with resting planar thallium scintigraphy 90 minutes after initiation of therapy. Silent ischemia was assessed with 48-hour Holter monitoring for ST shift beginning at time of initiation of drug therapy. Coronary angiography was performed at 18 +/- 6 hours and analyzed quantitatively to assess the stenosis responsible for unstable angina, the presence of intraluminal filling defects consistent with intracoronary thrombus, and stenosis morphology and severity. There was no difference in total in-hospital cardiac events between patients receiving t-PA (5% or 14%) and those receiving placebo (7% or 20%) (p = 0.83). Resting thallium defects were larger in the patients receiving t-PA than in those receiving placebo (130 +/- 118 versus 76 +/- 84 degrees, p less than 0.04), and this difference persisted when corrected for previous infarction. Although the numbers of patients with ST shift were similar, the duration of ST shift was significantly longer in the patients receiving t-PA than with placebo (20 +/- 46 versus 3 +/- 10 minutes, p less than 0.045). The frequency of intracoronary thrombi in patients with stenoses greater than 50% was significantly less in patients treated with t-PA (11 of 22, 52%) as compared with placebo (23 of 25, 92%) (p = 0.002), but there was no significant difference in minimal lesion cross-sectional area (0.49 +/- 0.42 versus 0.57 +/- 1.08 cm2, p = 0.75) or ulceration index (0.79 +/- 0.16 versus 0.77 +/- 0.15, p = 0.71) of the culprit artery. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that a prolonged infusion of t-PA in unstable angina reduces intracoronary thrombi but does not significantly decrease in-hospital cardiac events. The sample size, however, does not provide sufficient power to rule out a treatment effect. Paradoxically, there appears to be an increase in ST shift and worsening of myocardial perfusion with t-PA compared with therapy with heparin alone.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

Coronary angioplasty in cardiac transplant patients. Results of a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Accelerated allograft atherosclerosis is the main cause of death of cardiac transplant recipients after the first year after transplantation. Because no medical therapy is known to prevent or retard graft atherosclerosis and transplantation is associated with a shortened allograft survival, alternative, palliative therapy with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) has been attempted. Because no single medical center has performed angioplasty in a large number of cardiac transplant recipients, representatives of 11 medical centers retrospectively analyzed their complete experience of coronary angioplasty in cardiac transplant patients to determine the safety, efficacy, limitations, and long-term outcome of angioplasty in allograft coronary vascular disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-five patients underwent 51 angioplasty procedures for 95 lesions 46 +/- 5 months (mean +/- SEM) after transplantation. The primary indications for angioplasty included angiographic coronary disease in 22 cases (43%) and noninvasive evidence of ischemia in 18 procedures (35%). Angiographic success, defined as less than or equal to 50% post-PTCA stenosis, occurred in 88 of 95 lesions (93%). Mean pre-PTCA stenosis was 83 +/- 1.1%; mean post-PTCA stenosis was 29 +/- 2.1% (p less than 0.0001). Periprocedural complications included myocardial infarction and late in-hospital death in one patient and three groin hematomas. Twenty-three of the 35 patients (66%) had no major adverse outcome such as death, retransplantation, or myocardial infarction at 13 +/- 3 months after angioplasty. Four patients died less than 6 months after angioplasty, and four died more than 6 months after angioplasty (range, 6-23 months). Two patients had retransplantation 2 months after PTCA, and one patients had retransplantation 18 months after angioplasty. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary angioplasty may be applied in selected cardiac transplant recipients with comparable success and complication rates to routine angioplasty. Whether angioplasty prolongs allografts survival remains to be determined by a prospective, controlled trial.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

PubMed1992

Prevalence of, and risk factors for, angiographically determined coronary artery disease in type I-diabetic patients with nephropathy.

BACKGROUND--Thirty-five percent of type I-diabetic patients are dead of coronary artery disease by age 55 years, and the risk of death is increased eightfold to 15-fold in patients with nephropathy. However, the prevalence of coronary artery disease with respect to age is unknown and few risk factors have been identified. METHODS--One hundred ten insulin-dependent diabetic patients underwent routine pretransplant coronary angiography and cardiac risk factor assessment. Angiograms were evaluated by two angiographers for presence or absence of coronary artery disease (CAD, defined as one or more coronary artery stenoses of 50% or greater in diameter, and no CAD, defined as no stenosis of 25% or greater in diameter, respectively). Prevalence of CAD by age was determined, and associated risk factors were defined. RESULTS--Fifty-two of 110 patients had CAD. Coronary artery disease prevalence increased significantly with age; 13 of 16 patients older than 45 years of age had CAD. For patients 35 years of age or younger, associated risk factors included a family history of premature myocardial infarction, higher hemoglobin A1c level, hypertension for more than 5 years, lower high-density lipoprotein level, and smoking for more than 5 pack-years. For patients between 35 and 45 years of age, associated risk factors included number of years of diabetes, higher hemoglobin A1c levels, and smoking more than 5 pack-years. CONCLUSIONS--In type I-diabetic patients with nephropathy, CAD prevalence increased significantly with age and was found in the majority of patients older than 45 years of age. Coronary artery disease risk factors operative in the general population were significantly associated with CAD in this high-risk group. In addition, a role for hyperglycemia in accelerated atherogenesis was supported by the association of both higher hemoglobin A1c levels and number of years of diabetes with CAD.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Electrolyte and acid-base changes with massive blood transfusions.

The case records of 471 patients with massive transfusions of ten or more units of bank blood within 24 hours were reviewed to analyze the electrolyte and acid-base changes. The patients who lived had a less severe acidosis (7.23 +/- 0.15 vs 7.11 +/- 0.17) and the HCO3 was higher (19.8 +/- 15.2 vs 13.4 +/- 6.8) (P less than 0.001). The mean anion gap, despite the low HCO3, was 11.8 +/- 7.8 mEq/L. A combined metabolic and respiratory acidosis, often following bicarbonate therapy, was fetal in 83 per cent (39/47). Serum potassium values (K) were high in 22 per cent and low in 18 per cent of patients. If potassium levels were "corrected" by subtracting 0.5 mEq/L for each 0.1 pH of metabolic acidosis, only 5 per cent of patients were hyperkalemic. Patients dying within 48 hours of the massive transfusions had higher potassium levels (4.9 +/- 1.1 vs 4.4 +/- 0.9; P less than 0.001). Ionized calcium levels (Ca++) were less than normal (1.13-1.32 mmol/L) in 94 per cent of patients and were very low (less than 0.70 mmol/L) in 46 per cent (108/234). The mortality rate with severe ionic hypocalcemia was 71 per cent (vs 40% in patients with more normal values); P less than 0.0001. pH, PCO2, K, and Ca++ must be followed closely with massive transfusions. Rapid correction of volume and pH, without overcorrection, is essential.

Blood Gas Analysis↗

PubMed1992

Diagnosis of acute diffuse pulmonary infiltrates in immunosuppressed patients by open biopsy of the lung.

Herein is a review of the results of open biopsies of the lung performed upon immunosuppressed patients between the years 1982 and 1988. The goal was to assess the safety and value of the procedure on a group of patients who are many times in extremis because of multiorgan failure. Obtaining the correct diagnosis and establishing treatment poses a challenge. The study includes 74 patients. Fifty-four had malignant tumors; 20 had various diseases associated with immunosuppression. The biopsy was obtained from the left side in 65 instances. An adequate thoracotomy was done to permit exploration of the thoracic cavity and obtain a representative sample of tissue. The mortality rate related to the operation was 1.4 percent and the complication rate was 11.0 percent. Forty-six percent of the infiltrates were the result of infection. In 42 percent, a change in treatment was made. Thirty-two percent survived and were discharged from the hospital. Patients with adverse drug reaction, with nonspecific pneumonitis and with bacterial infection had a favorable prognosis and benefited most from open biopsy of the lung.

Acute Disease↗