[Total parenteral nutrition: a study of the microbial contamination of the bags and the infusion lines]. / Nutrizione parenterale totale: studio sulla contaminazione microbica delle sacche e delle linee di infusione.

The authors have examined during 60 groups of patients submitted to TPN each for a period of 10-15 days. In the first group the whole infusional set became replaced after 24 h., in the second and in the third group such replacement was done, respectively, after 48 and 72 h. The bacteriological examination of the fluid in the was always sterile 6 h. after preparation except in one case of the third group. The bacteriological examination of the terminal part of the infusional set was always negative in the first group, it was positive in the 3.33% of the cases, in the second group and in the 6.66% of the cases in the third group. The authors, consequently, believe that the infusional set has to be replaced after a period no longer than 24 h. Total parenteral nutrition: study on microbial contamination of bags and infusion lines.

[Artificial nutrition in emergency surgery]. / La nutrizione artificiale in chirurgia d'urgenza.

In emergency surgery the artificial feeding is clearly a treatment exclusively post-operatory but it is necessary to establish an exact indication that excludes abuses and too many limitations. The Authors believe that artificial feeding must be realized in emergency surgery considering the duration, the kind of operation and the patient's conditions. The Authors believe that artificial feeding is necessary when the blood loss is more than 1000 ml., the duration of operation is longer than 3 hs., there is an important inflammatory process and it is likely that an adequate natural feeding will be impossible after the operation for period longer than 7-8 days. The patient is valued as a critical patient likely to have an artificial feeding, bearing in mind the clinical examination, the anamnesis, the weight of the patient, the values of haematocrit, albumin, haemoglobin, lymphocytes and skin-tests. The Authors believe that in emergency it is necessary to use some simple and easily valuable parameters.

[Protective effect of hyperbaric hypoxygenation for paraquat poisoning in the rat]. / Effet protecteur de l'hypoxygénation hyperbarique au cours de l'intoxication par le paraquat, chez le rat.

The effect to paraquat in normobaric conditions and hyperbaric conditions with either a normal or low (10%) oxygen percentage was investigated in rats. Results showed that hyperbaric conditions increased the toxic effect of paraquat on the lung. By contrast, in hypoxic-hyperbaric conditions, the toxic effect of paraquat was decreased either clinically or macro-/microscopically, and lung injury was reduced.

[A clinical study of prevention of stress ulcer]. / Studio clinico sulla profilassi nelle ulcere "da stress".

The authors have studied the possibilities of preventing digestive bleedings caused by "stress ulcers" in a large number of risk-patients recovered in the Reanimation Center of St. Camillo in Rome. On 1012 patients recovered from 1985 to 1987 the authors have pointed out 69 cases of bleeding by "stress ulcer" (6.9%). The mortality was in these patients 75%. In every patient with risk factors the Authors have performed a prophylactic treatment. This treatment, achieved with randomized standards, has been performed in a group of 311 patients with ranitidine and in a second group of 170 patients with ranitidine and somatostatin joined. In the group of patients treated with ranitidine alone the incidence of digestive bleeding was of 30 patients (9.9%), in the second group treated with ranitidine and somatostatin the incidence was of 18 patients (10%). In a previous study the authors have noted an incidence of digestive bleeding by "stress ulcers" in the 16.6% of patients prophylactically treated with cimetidine and in the 8.66% in a first group of patients treated with anti-acids and in the 11.92% of a second group of patients equally treated with anti-acids. The authors point out that their results are disappointing in opposition to the good results relieved by other Authors possibly in connection with the seriousness, the number and the length of the risk factors in the patients they have treated. They believe that the results will be better when it will be possible to dispose of effective treatment able to increase the defensive powers of the gastric mucosa, seriously impaired by the stress factors.