PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S A Albert

Publications and source records attributed to S A Albert.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Meckel's diverticulitis in an elderly man diagnosed by computed tomography.

Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital abnormality of the gastrointestinal tract. Complications most frequently arise in children younger than 2 years who present with gastrointestinal bleeding. The diagnosis is usually made via radionuclide scintigraphy or intraoperatively. The authors report a 71-year-old man who developed a sudden onset of right lower quadrant abdominal pain, without bleeding, and was diagnosed as having Meckel's diverticulitis via computed tomography. The presence of Meckel' s diverticulitis was confirmed at surgery. Complications of a Meckel's diverticulum must be considered at any age. Computed tomography is another modality that may be helpful in the preoperative diagnosis.

Acute Disease↗

Low-dose digital urography in the pregnant patient.

In the pregnant patient when visualization of the ureters is requested, excretory urography is often ordered. We propose the use of digital radiography using single exposure as an alternative to conventional urography. This technique allows significant dose reduction while visualizing the entire urinary tract. It can be performed on most current-generation computerized tomographic scanners. In addition to dose reduction, the ability to manipulate, magnify, and avoid repeat exposures makes this an attractive alternative to the conventional film-screen technique.

Adult↗

Cellular changes with graded limb ischemia and reperfusion.

Following distal arterial and venous cannulations in both hind limbs of 10 dogs, left leg arterial pressure was reduced to less than 50 torr (group I) and 50 to 75 torr (group II). Muscle membrane potential difference (PD) measurements, muscle biopsies, and arterial and venous blood samples were taken at baseline, after 3 hours of ischemia, and following 3 hours of reperfusion. Blood gas tensions and blood and muscle metabolites were measured. Muscle creatine phosphate levels fell during the ischemic period, but the adenosine triphosphate concentration remained normal. The PD fell in both groups during ischemia and declined further after reperfusion (p greater than 0.01). The deterioration in cell membrane function occurred in spite of intracellular energy repletion and persisted after reperfusion. The PD appears to be a more sensitive indicator of ischemia-induced cell dysfunction than levels of blood or intracellular metabolites. The cause of the progressive fall in the membrane potential is uncertain, but it may be due to cytotoxicity produced by oxygen free radicals.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Response of extravascular lung water to intraoperative fluids.

The effect of Ringer's Lactate (RL) and a colloid containing salt solution Plasmanate (PL) on extravascular lung water (EVLW) during aortic surgery was evaluated in a prospective study of 18 patients. Measured blood loss was replaced with packed red blood cells. In addition to red blood cell replacement, either RL or PL was infused (1) to maintain the cardiac output (CO) equal to or greater than the preoperative value, (2) to maintain the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) plus or minus 2 mmHg of preoperative values, and (3) to keep the urinary output greater than or equal to 30 cc/hr. Cardiac output, EVLW, PCWP, serum colloid osmotic pressure (COP), and intrapulmonary shunt fraction (Qs/Qt) were measured serially. All baseline values were similar between groups. The groups were well matched for age, associated disease, operating time, blood loss, and blood transfusions. During operation, the RL group required two times the rate of infusion of the PL group. Urine flow rates were similar on the day of surgery, but by postoperative days one and two, the PL group had approximately one-half of the urine flow rate compared to the RL group. Cardiac output and Qs/Qt increased in both groups. EVLW did not change after operation in either group, despite marked decrease in COP in the RL group. These data indicate that crystalloid resuscitation to physiologic endpoints does not increase extravascular lung water. Thus, manipulation of COP by PL was unnecessary in these patients.

Aged↗

Hepatocyte dysfunction in thermal injury.

Transmembrane potential difference (PD) is a reliable indicator of cellular function. Decreased PD in hepatocytes in hemorrhagic shock occurred concomitant with decreased adenosine triphosphate (ATP), suggesting energy depletion as the mechanism of cell dysfunction. This study correlates changes in liver and muscle PD with hepatocyte ATP, glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P), and lactate levels in burn shock and resuscitation. Six adult female baboons were subjected to 52.4 +/- 6.3% body surface area third-degree scald burns. The animals were resuscitated using the Parkland formula, after the muscle PD had fallen to -70 mV. Liver PD decreased from 46.2 +/- 2.4 mV to 22.4 +/- 3.8 mV in burn shock. The PD recovered toward normal with resuscitation. ATP and G-6-P contents did not change significantly, while lactate rose threefold in burn shock. A severe cellular derangement was indicated by this marked hepatocyte depolarization. Maintenance of normal intracellular ATP excludes energy depletion as the mechanism of this cell dysfunction. These findings are consistent with failure of active ion transport or changes in cell membrane permeability which were partially recovered during fluid resuscitation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Effects of naloxone in hemorrhagic shock.

The endorphins appear to play an integral role in the physiopathology of hemorrhagic shock. Blockade of these endodgenous opiates by naloxone can significantly alter the course of this syndrome. While the administration of naloxone to normal rats had no effect upon the circulation or cellular function, it improved the hemodynamic status of rats subjected to hemorrhagic shock, resulting in improved tissue perfusion. In addition, the administration of this drug prevented the cellular dysfunction normally seen in hemorrhagic shock. This effect was independent of its salutary effects upon the circulation.

Animals↗