Is rotation the mode of failure in pertrochanteric fractures fixed with nails? Theoretical approach and illustrative cases.

PURPOSE: The present article reviews data from biomechanical and clinical studies which indicate that rotational instability can cause failure of fixation due to the particular characteristics of the fracture, the mechanical properties of the chosen implant or flaws in surgical technique. METHODS: Although radiographs give a similar impression in failure of fractures fixed with cephalomedullary nails, different mechanisms involving rotation of the femoral head may play a key role. RESULTS: The incidence of failure in pertrochanteric fracture fixation is decreasing as implants continue to evolve. It is possible that currently reported low failure rates do not apply equally to all subtypes of this diverse group of fractures. Since the introduction of sliding hip screws, "cut-out" due to varus collapse of the proximal fracture fragment has been the only reported mode of failure. CONCLUSION: Excessive rotation leading to eventual "cut-out" has not been adequately studied, and thus, available evidence is not sufficient to definitely prove this theoretical approach. As nailing is gradually overtaking extramedullary fixation as the treatment of choice, especially for comminuted pertrochanteric fractures which can be rotationally unstable, further research is warranted to improve our understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms of failure.

Colonization and Infection With Extensively Drug Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria in Liver Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND: Infections due to extensively drug resistant Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) after solid organ transplantation are increasing in prevalence and are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Surveillance culture (SC) seems to be an important tool for extensively drug resistant GNB control. The aim of this study was to evaluate colonization rates and subsequent infections by XDR-GNB in liver transplant recipients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study in patients who underwent liver transplantation (LT) between January 2016 and January 2018. Data on demographics, extensively drug resistant colonization, and 3-month clinical outcomes were obtained. Colonization was defined as a positive surveillance culture (SC-perirectal) immediately before transplantation, once weekly after LT, and after intensive care unit discharge, with emphasis to carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CR-GNB). RESULTS: Forty-four patients who underwent LT were included in the study. Ten patients (22.72%) were colonized with CR-GNB prior to transplantation, and 7/10 (70%) developed infection due to the same pathogen (5 patients bloodstream infections, 2 patients pneumonia) during the study period. Intensive care unit length of stay was significantly longer in colonized with CR-GNB patients (P < .05). Mortality rate was higher in colonized patients (30%) than in noncolonized (11.76%) (P = .2). CONCLUSION: Our study results suggest an overall 70% risk of CR-GNB infection among colonized patients. Given the high mortality rate and the difficulty in treating these infections, further research to investigate and develop strategies to eliminate the colonization is needed.

Perioperative Chemoprophylaxis οr Treatment for Extensively Drug Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria in Patients Undergoing Liver Transplantation Based on Preoperative Donor/Recipient Surveillance Cultures: A Prospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: The importance of preoperative donor/recipient colonization or donor infection by extensively drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (XDR-GNB) and its relation to serious post-transplantation infection pathogenicity in liver transplantation (LT) patients has not been clarified. AIM: Prevention of postoperative infection due to XDR-GNB with the appropriate perioperative chemoprophylaxis or treatment based on preoperative donor/recipient surveillance cultures in LT patients, as well as their outcome. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Twenty-six patients (20 male, 6 female) were studied (average preoperative Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score ≈15, range: 8-29) from January 2017 to January 2018. In all patients, blood, urine, and bronchial secretions culture samples as well as a rectal colonization culture were taken pre- and postoperatively, once weekly after LT, and after intensive care unit discharge. Recipients with positive XDR-GNB colonization and patients receiving a transplant from a donor with an XDR-GNB positive culture or colonization received the appropriate chemoprophylaxis one half hour preoperatively according to culture results. De-escalation of the antibiotic regimen was done in 2 to 5 days based on the colonization/culture results of the donor and recipient and their clinical condition. Evaluation for serious infection was done at 1 week and at 28 days for outcome results. RESULTS: Fourteen out of 26 recipients (53.8%) were positive for XDR-GNB colonization preoperative, with 2/14 (14.28%) presenting serious infection due to the same pathogen. Intensive care unit length of stay was significantly longer in colonized with XDR-GNB patients (P < .0001). The outcome of colonized patients was 6/14 (42.8%) expired, but only in 2/14 (14.2%) was mortality attributable to infection. CONCLUSION: Administering appropriate perioperative chemoprophylaxis and treatment may limit the frequency of XDR-GNB infections and intensive care unit length of stay and may improve the outcome in LT recipients.

Implementation of EuroSCORE II as an adjunct to APACHE II model and SOFA score, for refining the prognostic accuracy in cardiac surgical patients.

AIM: The aim of this paper was to assess the comparable applicability of European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II (EuroSCORE II), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) and Sequential Organ Failure (SOFA) scores, in cardiac surgical population, on the basis of morbidity and mortality. METHODS: EuroSCORE II, APACHE II score and SOFA score derivatives such as TMS (total maximum SOFA), MaxSOFA (single-day maximum total), SOFA 1 (admission SOFA), ΔSOFA (TMS minus SOFA 1), ΔmaxSOFA (MaxSOFA minus SOFA 1) and mean SOFA (daily SOFA to ICU stay), were prospectively calculated for 1058 consecutive patients admitted to postcardiac surgery intensive care unit (ICU). The study endpoints were length of ICU stay (LOS-ICU) and hospital mortality. RESULTS: A disproportionate elevation of the studied algorithms was associated with prolonged LOS-ICU (P<0.001). TMS, MeanSOFA, MaxSOFA and EuroSCORE II provided better discrimination for in-hospital death [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) 0.949, 0.929, 0.927 and 0.906, respectively] and LOS-ICU more than 2 days (AUC 0.853, 0.823, 0.819 and 0.806, respectively), compared to other risk models. EuroSCORE II, TMS and MeanSOFA were also identified as independent predictors of prolonged LOS-ICU. CONCLUSION: EuroSCORE II seems to confer noteworthy prognostic value, being almost equivalent to that of TMS, MeanSOFA and MaxSOFA scores, and superior than APACHE II in cardiac surgical population. Thus, EuroSCORE II emerges as an imperative adjunct to ICU-based APACHE II and SOFA algorithms as it enables risk stratification, morbidity and mortality prediction even from preoperative assessment.

Comparison between intubation through ILMA and Airtraq, in different non-conventional patient positions: a manikin study.

BACKGROUND: Tracheal intubation is often difficult in the prehospital setting, especially in trapped casualties, when long extrication time is anticipated and conventional laryngoscopy cannot be achieved. The aim of the present study was the comparison of applicability and efficacy of two alternative techniques: intubation using a laryngeal mask airway (ILMA) or an Airtraq laryngoscope in different patient positions, using an airway management manikin. METHODS: 20 anaesthetists attempted manikin intubations standing behind the manikin (Sup), standing in front and facing the manikin's head (Fac), facing the manikin in the sitting position (Sit) and facing the manikin lying in the lateral decubitus position (Lat), using either Airtraq or ILMA techniques. The intubations were evaluated regarding the success rate, number of attempts and time needed for successful intubation, teeth damage and overall difficulty. RESULTS: All intubation attempts were successful for both techniques. Intubations through ILMA were completed with a significantly greater number of attempts and longer time in the Lat position, compared to Fac, Sit and Sup (p<0.05), whereas intubations using Airtraq in the Sup and Fac positions were completed with a significantly greater number of attempts and longer time, compared to Sit and Lat positions (p<0.05). Both ILMA and Airtraq can be used for securing the airway when direct laryngoscopy is impossible due to patient position. ILMA seems to cause greater difficulty in the Lat position, whereas Airtraq intubation is more easily performed in the Sit and Lat positions. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary data in manikins could indicate the applicability of the methods to the prehospital setting.

Appendectomy for an adult with cyanotic congenital heart disease.

Few patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease reach adulthood without a cardiac operation. The prognosis for ''unrepaired'' pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect is approximately 8% in the 1st decade of age. Consequently, the number of adults with this particular heart disease (unrepaired) who are expected to need a non-cardiac surgery is extremely low. General anesthesia may aggravate the preexisting right to left shunt and lead to persistent severe hypoxemia. The goal of anesthetic management should be to maintain intravascular volume. Systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance changes, such as might occur due to acidosis, hypothermia, hypercarbia or excessive airway pressures, should be avoided. Maintenance of preload, contractility and sinus rhythm is of major importance. The complex pathophysiology of such heart disease, in addition to the circumstances of emergency operation, exacerbate the total anesthetic risk. We present here a rare case of an acute appendectomy with successful outcome in an adult with pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect.

The effect of intra-abdominal hypertension alone or combined intra-abdominal hypertension-endotoxemia in cerebral oxygenation in a porcine model.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) has been recognized as an entity, affecting cardiovascular, pulmonary, and cerebral function, while it is often complicated with sepsis. Goal of the study was the evaluation of brain oxygenation during ACS alone and in combination with endotoxinemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen pigs, undergone intra-abdominal hypertension, were allocated to receive intravenous administration of either saline or endotoxin. Pigs were evaluated regarding brain tissue oxygenation (PbrO2), systemic oxygenation (PaO2) and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed significant reduction of PbrO2 over time for sepsis group, after endotoxin administration. Regarding differences between groups, sepsis group experienced lower PbrO2 values, compared to saline group, only after endotoxin administration. Both groups experienced reduction in arterial oxygenation, with greater pertubations seen after sepsis induction. Regarding rCBF, septic pigs showed greater flow values, while ACS alone did not influence rCBF. ACS has no deleterious effects in cerebral oxygenation and flow, provided systemic oxygenation and CPP are maintained above normal value. CONCLUSIONS: Combined sepsis-ACS lead to perturbations in cerebral oxygenation, in conjunction with greater rCBF values. The latter could be ascribed to abnormalities in oxygen extraction.

Comparison between newer local anesthetics for myofascial pain syndrome management.

Myofascial pain syndromes are characterized by the presence of painful loci within muscles, tendons or ligaments, called trigger points. Infiltration of these points with local anesthetics is often used as a treatment modality. The aim of the study was to comparatively evaluate 0.25% levobupivacaine and 0.25% ropivacaine for trigger point injection regarding pain on injection, treatment efficacy and duration of symptoms remission. Sixty-eight patients, suffering from myofascial pain syndromes, were randomly assigned to two groups to receive either levobupivacaine or ropivacaine for trigger-point injection. After completion of the procedure, patients were asked to rate pain during injection and efficacy of the treatment, based on immediate relief. Two weeks later, they were asked about the duration of this relief. Statistical analysis did not reveal significant differences between groups with respect to pain during injection, efficacy of the treatment and duration of pain relief. The two local anesthetics seem to be equally effective for trigger point infiltration.

Ropivacaine myotoxicity after single intramuscular injection in rats.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: We conducted this study in order to evaluate the potential myotoxic effects of ropivacaine after single injection in rats and the time-course of the possible damage. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-eight male Wistar rats were allocated to four different groups. The first three groups received intramuscular injections with ropivacaine 0.75%, ropivacaine 0.5% and normal saline, respectively, into the right tibialis anterior muscle. The fourth group received needle puncture without injection. Eight rats from each group were sacrificed 2, 4, 7 and 30 days after injection. Samples were blindly examined under light microscope for evidence of myotoxicity, scored as 0 = no damage to 3 = myonecrosis and statistically analysed. Samples obtained 7 days after injection were also examined under transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: Ropivacaine 0.75% and ropivacaine 0.5% caused extensive destruction to muscles fibres, compared to saline or needle on days 2, 4 and 7. Statistically significant differences were found in muscle damage by drug injections among all groups except for saline vs. needle groups. Thirty days after injections all sample appearances had returned to normal. CONCLUSIONS: Ropivacaine after single intramuscular injection caused reversible muscle damage in a dose-dependent manner.