In situ decontamination of medical wastes using oxidative agents: a 16-month study in a polyvalent intensive care unit.

Over a 16-month period from September 1997 to December 1998, a prospective study was made of an on-site treatment of medical wastes in a 10-bed intensive care unit. First, the wastes were ground and then, a high concentration of ozone in air was repeatedly injected into the ground wastes. The study analysed the practical application of the system and its microbiological efficiency. Inactivation experiments were made with reference strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus hirae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Bacillus subtilis var niger, Bacillus stearothermophilus, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Two thousand eight hundred treatment cycles, i.e. 84,000 grindings and 140,000 ozone injections gave a treatment capacity of 50 kg of waste per day with a good staff acceptability. All kinds of medical devices used in an intensive care unit were treated. In untreated ground wastes, the median bacterial load was 105.86 (range 10(2.35)-10(8.05)) cfu/g. After ozone treatment, bacteria and fungi were reduced by a factor of 10(5). Aero-contamination of the ward was unchanged. Computer control allowed all events to be tracked. On-site medical waste treatment appears to be an efficient alternative to the usual centralized collection and treatment.

[The value of anesthesia consultation in relation to the single preanesthetic visit]. / Intérêt de la consultation d'anesthésie par rapport à la seule visite préanesthésique.

OBJECTIVE: In France, a preanaesthetic assessment (PAA) several days prior to hospital admission for a scheduled surgical or diagnostic procedure under anaesthesia, associated with a preanaesthetic visit (PAV) the day before, are compulsory. This study aimed at comparing the benefits of PAA with those of a PAV not preceded by a PAA. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, controlled, randomized study. PATIENTS: The study included 296 patients undergoing either a urologic, or ophthalmologic, or ENT procedure, randomly allocated either to a PAA (followed by a PAV) group or a PAV (without previous PAA) group. METHODS: The main criterion of comparison was the duration of preanaesthetic hospital stay and the secondary criteria were the incidence of procedure postponements and patients' satisfaction respectively. RESULTS: In the PAA group, the preanaesthetic hospital stay was shorter by 0.4 days (P = 0.001). Out of the 19 postponed procedures (7%), the cause of postponement was a medical one in 15 patients: 13 in the PAV group and 2 in the PAA group respectively (P = 0.009). The PAA was not considered as a constraint by most patients. CONCLUSION: The PAA shortens the duration of preanaesthetic hospital stay and decreases the incidence of procedures postponed for a medical cause.

Acetate-free biofiltration for acute renal failure.

The characteristics of acetate-free biofiltration (AFB) are now well documented in patients with chronic renal failure: hemodynamic tolerance, correction of acid-base imbalance, buffer-free dialysate (without acetate) and absence of backfiltration. This hemodialysis technique can be beneficial to patients with acute renal failure (ARF). In our intensive care unit, we prospectively studied 29 patients with isolated ARF or ARF associated with failure of other organs. All eligible patients were randomly assigned to undergo dialysis with bicarbonate hemodialysis (BH) or with (AFB). All used the same high flux biocompatible dialysis membranes. Effectiveness and hemodynamic tolerance of hemodialysis sessions and evolution of patients were analyzed. Correction of metabolic disorders, although better in the AFB group was not statistically different from that in the BH group. Re-equilibration of acid-base balance was also similar, with or without mechanical ventilation. Heparin consumption was significantly higher in the AFB group, with no effect on haemorrhagic complications. Analysis of hypo- and hypertensive episodes, defined as arterial pressure (AP) variations 20% greater than initial pressure, showed no difference in terms of number or degree of AP variation. However, weight loss and the rate of ultrafiltration led to a higher hypotensive risk in the BH group (p < 0.05). Finally, the clinical course and prognosis was similar in both groups. In summary, AFB may be considered as effective a hemodialysis technique as BH in patients with ARF. Weight loss was better tolerated in the AFB group and can be a favorable factor considering the deleterious effect of overhydration in patients admitted to an intensive care unit. This study invites a comparison of longer dialysis session of AFB therapy and continuous hemodiafiltration.

Transesophageal echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular function in brain-dead patients: are marginally acceptable hearts suitable for transplantation?

BACKGROUND: The brain-dead donor supply has become one of the criteria limiting the performance of heart transplantation. Conventional screening criteria are too limiting and exclude suitable heart donors. Echocardiography is now widely available and is a reliable tool to assess left ventricular dysfunction in brain-dead donors. Yet few data are available on the degree of left ventricular dysfunction where a transplantation is possible. METHODS: Fifty-five potential brain-dead heart donors (age 38 +/- 11 years) were prospectively evaluated by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) before harvesting. Fractional area change (FAC) was used to assess left ventricular function in potential brain-dead donors. Transplanted hearts were evaluated on the fifth postoperative day. The transplantation was considered a success if the recipient was alive, not retransplanted, without an assistance device or an epinephrine infusion of more than 1 mg/h and showed an ejection fraction above 40%. RESULTS: Of the 55 potential heart donors, 20 exhibited an FAC of less than 50%. Forty hearts were harvested, 36 of which were successfully transplanted. Nine patients had an FAC below 50% (group H2) and 27 had an FAC over 50% (group H1). Four patients died: 2 from hemorrhage (FAC > 50% in donors); 1 from right and one from left ventricular dysfunction (FAC < 50% in donors). The FAC increased significantly from 51 +/- 15% to 57 +/- 11% in 18 hearts that underwent TEE in donors and afterwards in recipients. Overall actuarial survival was 86.2% versus 64.6% at 1 and 2 years in group H1 and group H2, respectively (p = NS). CONCLUSIONS: TEE is useful to assess left ventricular function in potential brain-dead donors. An FAC less than 50% is present in 36% of potential heart donors. Because left ventricular dysfunction is often reversible shortly after transplantation, an FAC below 50% may not necessarily preclude the use of hearts for transplantation.

Clinical application of retroviral gene transfer in oncology: results of a French study with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes transduced with the gene of resistance to neomycin.

PURPOSE: Adoptive immunotherapy with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) has been reported to mediate tumor regression in some human cancers. To define better the biologic characteristics of TIL, especially survival and distribution in vivo, we performed a gene-marker study in patients with advanced malignancies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We treated five patients with metastatic melanoma or renal cell carcinoma with adoptive immunotherapy. TIL were genetically modified, before their infusion, using a recombinant retroviral vector that contained the marker gene coding for resistance to neomycin (NeoR). RESULTS: All of the patients tolerated the treatment well and none of the theoretic safety hazards due to the retroviral gene transduction was observed. The presence of the NeoR gene in TIL was detected by Southern blot analysis, with an efficiency of transduction that ranged from 1% to 26%. With polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, we demonstrated that gene-modified TIL can survive for several months after reinjection, since positive blood samples were observed up to day 260 following reinjection. Eight malignant biopsy specimens were obtained from three patients after cell infusion. TIL were detected in only four of these eight tumor deposits on days 7 and 260. CONCLUSION: These results confirm the feasibility and safety of using in vitro retroviral gene transduction in human lymphocytes to analyze their in vivo distribution for further therapeutic applications. However, a selective and prolonged retention of TIL at the tumor site was not found in this study.

[Can hydroxyethylamidon be used during intensive care of brain-dead organ donors?]. / L'hydroxyéthylamidon peut-il être utilisé lors de la réanimation des sujets en état de mort cérébrale pour don d'organe?

In France, most of the kidney grafts are obtained from brain dead organ donors. Brain death induces numerous changes, especially in haemodynamic status, requiring the infusion of large volumes of fluid. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) on the organ donors and the kidney graft function in recipients. We compared two groups of brain dead organ donors and the kidney grafts, differing by the infused solutions: either a combination of HES (Elohes, Biosedra) and 4% human albumin solutions (HES group), or albumin alone in the control group (Albumin group). In the two groups, sex-ratio, age, cause of brain death and duration of therapy were similar. Fluid requirements were identical in the two groups: respectively 2,211 +/- 1,512 mL in the Albumin group vs 2,452 +/- 1,094 mL in the HES group (p = 0.17). However, the volume of albumin was significantly decreased in the HES group: 711 +/- 822 mL (p = 0.0001). Therefore the cost was lower in the latter: 638 +/- 633 vs 1766 +/- 788 FF. The coagulation status was not significantly different between the two groups. Amylasemia was higher in the HES group, but the difference was not significant. In the Albumin group, urinary output increased, but not significantly and creatinemia was decreased: 113.9 +/- 62 vs 131.5 +/- 44 mumol.L-1 (p < 0.05). The two groups of recipients were also similar for sex-ratio, age, kind of graft, cause of the chronic renal failure and ischaemia times.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Treatment of acute respiratory failure with non-invasive intermittent positive pressure ventilation in haematological patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess whether non-invasive positive pressure ventilation delivered intermittently (Ni-IPPV) by means of a facial or nasal mask is beneficial in haematological patients suffering from acute respiratory failure. DESIGN: Prospective, open, non-randomised study. SETTING: University Hospital, medical intensive care unit. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Eighteen haematological patients with acute respiratory failure which occurred before, during or just after therapeutic aplasia were ventilated with Ni-IPPV delivered via an individual nasal mask or a standard facial mask. Non-invasive ventilation was achieved until weaning (success (S)) or intubation (failure (F)). RESULTS: Twelve patients were ultimately intubated and died (F group). Seven needed intubation within 3 hours following admission because of the inability of Ni-IPPV to provide adequate ventilation in six patients and after cardiac arrest, probably related to cardiac aspergillosis in one patient. Six patients were not intubated and were discharged alive (S group). Of 11 patients who received Ni-IPPV for more than 3 hours, the respiratory rate decreased significantly (p < 0.05) from 33 +/- 7 breaths/min to 24 +/- 5 breaths/min with Ni-IPPV and the PaO2 increased significantly from 6.6 +/- 1.7 kPa upon admission to 17.7 +/- 5.5 kPa during Ni-IPPV. Mean daily ventilation was 12 +/- 7 hours for a mean duration of 5.5 +/- 4.4 days. Pressure support was used in nine patients and appeared the most efficient ventilation mode of non-invasive ventilation. The duration per day of Ni-IPPV was shorter and PaCO2 values during Ni-IPPV were lower in the S group than in the F group. CONCLUSIONS: This technique is able to provide adequate ventilatory support for many haematological patients and allows avoidance of ventilation in some.

[Immunotherapy of metastatic kidney cancer]. / Immunothérapie du cancer du rein métastatique.

Interleukin 2 (IL2), like Interferon alpha (IFN), is active in metastatic renal cancer, considered to be a chemoresistant cancer. 20 to 30% of objective responses, including 5 to 10% of complete remissions are reported with various protocols of IL2 administration. The considerable toxicity is now well controlled, allowing treatments to be administered in standard wards or even on an outpatient basis by subcutaneous injection. IFN, generally given as long-term treatment, achieved average response rates of between 15 and 20%. Although IL2 and IFN have been granted Product Marketing Authorization in France, the modalities of optimal administration, the place of the combination of IL2-Interferon alpha and the factors predictive of response to treatment still remain unclear.

Serum level of interleukin 6 as a prognosis factor in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Interleukin (IL) 6 was measured in the serum of 138 patients with metastatic renal carcinoma before the initiation of IL-2 treatment. IL-6 was detectable in 66 patients with renal cancer (48%) and in only 8 of 70 normal adults (11%). Serum C reactive protein (CRP) and IL-6 levels are correlated, suggesting that IL-6 is involved in CRP increase in these patients. The interval between diagnosis of the primary tumor and metastasis was shorter in patients with a detectable serum IL-6 and/or serum CRP level greater than 50 mg/liter. Serum IL-6 and CRP levels were higher in subgroups of patients previously defined as having a poor life expectancy according to the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group criteria. Pretreatment concentrations of IL-6 and CRP were higher in patients who experienced progressive disease after IL-2 treatment. Patients with detectable IL-6 had a shorter survival from the beginning of IL-2 treatment than patients without circulating IL-6 (median, 8 versus 16 months). Similarly, the median survival from the beginning of IL-2 therapy of patients with CRP levels greater than 50 mg/liter was 6 months, compared to 16 months in those with CRP levels below this threshold. None of the 21 patients with serum IL-6 concentrations greater than 300 pg/ml achieved response to any of the three IL-2 regimens. This subgroup has a median survival of 5 months after IL-2 treatment and consisted of 15% of the patients in our series. These results indicate that serum IL-6 and CRP levels are adverse prognosis factors in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Serum IL-6 level could help in the selection or stratification of the patients in future IL-2 trials.

[Treatment of cancer of the kidney with interleukin 2 in adults, the Lyon experience]. / Traitement par l'interleukine 2 du cancer du rein de l'adulte, l'expérience lyonnaise.

Like interferon-alpha, interleukin 2 (IL2) is active on metastatic kidney cancers, which are regarded as chemoresistant tumors. Out of 20 to 30% objective responses, 5 to 10% complete remissions are reported with various IL2 delivery schedules. The considerable toxicity is well mastered at present, thus allowing treatment in non-intensive care departments, or even in an ambulatory mode for subcutaneous administration. Even though Interleukin 2 has been authorized for sale in France, optimal mode of administration, the role of the IL2-interferon-alpha combination or the predictive factors of response to treatment still raise many questions.

[Propofol versus etomidate in short-time urologic surgery]. / Propofol versus étomidate en chirurgie urologique de courte durée.

Thirty patients, scheduled for short urological surgical procedures and ranked ASA 1 or 2, were randomly assigned to two homogenous groups. In group P, they were given a 2 mg.kg-1 bolus of propofol and 10 micrograms.kg-1 of alfentanil, followed by a continuous infusion of propofol (5 mg.kg-1.h-1) and 5 micrograms.kg-1 doses of alfentanil. In group E, they were given a 0.3 mg.kg-1 bolus of etomidate, followed by an infusion (1.5 mg.kg-1.h-1). The doses of alfentanil were the same as in group P. Further doses of either propofol (0.5 mg.kg-1) or etomidate (0.2 mg.kg-1) were used should anaesthesia prove not to be deep enough. The patients were not intubated, and breathed spontaneously. Surgery lasted a mean of 18.3 +/- 11.8 min (group P) and 18.8 +/- 9.4 min (group E). The following parameters were studied: the amount of each agent required for maintenance of anaesthesia, the duration of apnoea at induction, the quality of anaesthesia and of muscle relaxation, adverse effects (coughing, trismus, restlessness, nausea, vomiting), the time required for recovery, and its quality. In group P, there was a 27% decrease in arterial pressure, without any tachycardia or hypoxia, together with a quick recovery of excellent quality. On the other hand, in group E, there was little or no haemodynamic alteration, but there often was a trismus at induction. Hypoxia also occurred during induction with etomidate, being severe enough in one case to require tracheal intubation and artificial ventilation. The reasons for this hypoxia seemed to be the apnoea and the trismus, which tends to hinder assisted ventilation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Analysis of changes in serum levels of TNF, IL-1 and IL-6 during administration of IL-2. Correlation with clinical response to treatment]. / Analyse des modifications des concentrations sériques de TNF, d'IL-1 et d'IL-6 au cours de l'administration d'IL-2. Corrélation avec la réponse au traitement.

We have investigated the serum concentrations of TNF, IL-1 and IL-6 in 49 patients with metastatic renal carcinoma receiving interleukin 2 (IL-2) or a combination of IL-2 and interferon alpha (IFN). Our results demonstrate that IL-2 and/or IFN induce an increase of serum concentrations of IL-1 and TNF in 95% and 75% of the patients respectively. Serum IL-6 levels increase in 44% of the patients. Serum concentrations of IL-1 and TNF remain elevated 48 hours after the end of IL-2 infusion. IL-1 and TNF levels are higher in patients receiving a combination of IL-2 and IFN. TNF and IL-1 levels in serum are significantly higher in responders to IL-2 treatment 48 hours after the end of IL-2 infusion. These two biological criteria enable a subgroup of patients with a very low response rate to IL-2 to be defined. The persistent increase of these cytokines in serum indicates a persistent activation of the immune system lasting after the end of IL-2 treatment which could be involved in the antitumor response.

[Acute respiratory insufficiency in sickle cell disease]. / Insuffisance respiratoire aigu au cours de la crise drépanocytaire.

Two cases are reported of acute respiratory failure occurring during sickling crises. In the first one, the crisis was characterised by priapism, and in the other one, by abdominal pain. The different causes of these respiratory effects are discussed: infection, fat embolism, pulmonary infarct, haemodynamic pulmonary oedema, as was probably the case in the first patient, or non haemodynamic pulmonary oedema due to sickling, as during conventional treatment of a sickling crisis (oxygen, antibiotics, blood transfusion, cytapheresis). Invasive investigations may contribute to keeping up the clinical picture, because of hypoxic sickling. The water equilibrium of these patients must be monitored with great care. Worsening of the patient's condition despite 48 h of correct treatment must lead to the search for a specific cause.