[Endovascular treatment of isthmic aortic rupture: use of second generation stent grafts]. / Traitement endovasculaire des ruptures isthmiques de l'aorte chez le polytraumatisé: utilisation de stents de deuxième génération.

OBJECTIVE: Prospective analysis of endovascular management of traumatic isthmic rupture with second generation stent grafts. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective analysis and follow-up. PATIENTS: Ten consecutive multiple injured patients presenting an acute isthmic traumatic rupture who underwent an endovascular repair with second generation stent grafts. METHODS AND RESULTS: The aortic injury was diagnosed by spiral computed tomography scan. The appropriate time to repair was decided according to multidisciplinary decision after analysis of associated injuries status and mediastinal lesions evolution. Endovascular repair was successfully completed in all patients under general anaesthesia without requirement of haemodynamic manipulations. Despite a prolonged length of stay related to associated injuries, all patients were discharged from hospital without migration of devices or complication related to the endovascular procedure. After a 20 months follow-up (range 6 - 38 months), all patients were alive with a satisfactory CT scan analysis. CONCLUSION: The immediate availability of the second generation of stents-grafts allowed the endovascular treatment of isthmic rupture without haemodynamic manipulations or massive heparinization. The analysis of this selected series reinforces the interest of this non-invasive technique for anaesthetists especially in polytraumatized patients.

The axillary vein: an alternative approach for percutaneous pulmonary artery catheterization.

The axillary vein route was investigated prospectively for percutaneous pulmonary artery catheterization in 79 patients who underwent 83 attempts. Forty nine of these patients were tracheostomized and under mechanical ventilation and eight had hemostasis disorders. Successful catheterization was achieved 74 times in the 79 patients. Pulmonary artery was reached within 6 +/- 2.1 min after the catheter was set in place in the axillary vein. Less than 1 min was needed in 53 cases. Puncture of the axillary artery was noted in 11 patients without complication. No other significant complication was noted following the punctures. Mean duration of catheterizations was 3.6 +/- 2 days. No septicemia was related to the catheterization procedure. One thrombosis of the axillary vein was noted. Catheterization of the pulmonary artery via the axillary vein is safe, simple and reliable and can represent an alternative method should the use of other routes be unsuccessful.

Monitoring of central venous oxygen saturation versus mixed venous oxygen saturation in critically ill patients.

Continuous monitoring of mixed venous (SvO2) and central venous (ScO2) oxygen saturation was compared in 7 critically-ill patients (Apache II score: 19 +/- 2.1) to determine whether or not information derived from ScO2 were reliable in clinical practice. Patients were catheterized with both a pulmonary artery (PA) and a central venous (CV) catheter, each of them mounted with fiberoptic sensors (Opticath PA Catheter P7110 and Opticath CV Catheter U440, Abbott). A total of 580 comparative measurements were obtained during periods without and with therapeutic interventions (drug-titration, bronchial suction, use of PEEP, changes in FiO2 ...). The systematic error between the 2 measurement techniques was 0.6% and 0.3% in periods with and without therapeutic interventions, respectively. The variability between the 2 techniques was 10% for both periods. Differences between the values were greater than or equal to 5% in 49% of values during periods of stability and in 50% of values during periods with therapeutic interventions. There were poor correlations between the values during periods without (r = 0.48) and with therapeutic interventions (r = 0.62). Better, but still less than ideal, correlations were obtained with changes in SvO2 and ScO2 during periods without (r = 0.70) and with therapeutic interventions (r = 0.77). Although there is a need to develop a simple technique to monitor mixed venous oxygen saturation, the present study indicates that ScO2 monitoring was not reliable in the study patients.

Is a short trial of prone positioning sufficient to predict the improvement in oxygenation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a 1-h trial of prone positioning is sufficient to identify responders. DESIGN: Prospective clinical cohort study in a medico-surgical ICU in a teaching hospital. PATIENTS: 49 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. INTERVENTIONS: A 6-h period of prone positioning. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Baseline measurements (blood gas analysis and respiratory parameters) were evaluated in supine position just prior to turning the patients prone. Measurements were then repeated 1 h after the beginning of prone positioning (PP1h) and at the end of the 6-h period of prone positioning (PP6h). The last measurements were performed 1 h after repositioning the patients supine. Prone position induced an increase in the PaO2/FIO2 ratio (p < 0.001). A response (increase in PaO2/FIO2 ratio of at least 20 % at PP1h and/or at PP6h) was observed in 37 of 49 patients (76%). Twenty-seven of these patients (73%) were responders at PP1h while 10 (27%) were responders only at PP6h- In all, two-thirds of the patients were considered persistent responders. However, whereas the PaO2/FIO2 ratio decreased significantly 1 h after repositioning the fast responders supine, the PaO2/ FIO2 ratio remained unchanged after repositioning slow responders. CONCLUSIONS: A short-term trial of prone positioning does not appear a sufficient method to identify patients who would benefit from the postural treatment.

High or low doses of almitrine bismesylate in ARDS patients responding to inhaled NO and receiving norepinephrine?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects on oxygenation and pulmonary haemodynamics of almitrine bismesylate (AB) 5 microg/kg per minute and 16 microg/kg per minute in ARDS patients responding to and receiving inhaled NO (iNO) and presenting septic shock requiring norepinephrine, while no difference was observed in a previous trial including iNO responders and nonresponders. DESIGN: Prospective, cohort study. SETTING: Adult medico-surgical intensive care unit of a university hospital. PATIENTS: Fifteen patients with ARDS receiving and responding to iNO (10 ppm) and presenting septic shock requiring norepinephrine (mean 0.5+/-0.45 microg/kg per minute, range 0.08- 2.08). INTERVENTIONS: The protocol consisted of two consecutive phases in a fixed order: continuous intravenous infusion of AB 5 microg/kg per minute for 30 min, and continuous intravenous infusion of AB 16 microg/kg per minute for 30 min. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: AB 5 microg/kg per minute significantly increased PaO2/FiO2 ( P<0.05) compared with iNO alone [160 (range 77-450) mmHg vs 122 (range 70-225) mmHg]. AB 16 microg/kg per minute produced a greater increase of PaO2/FiO2 ( P<0.05) when compared with 5 microg/kg per minute [227 (range 84-501) mmHg]. AB did not improve shunt at any dose regimen. AB produced an increase in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP) from 22+/-5 to 25+/-4 mmHg ( P<0.03). MPAP did not significantly increase between the two doses. Pulmonary vascular resistances and other haemodynamic and respiratory parameters were not affected by almitrine bismesylate. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that it is possible to obtain a further improvement in oxygenation by increasing AB infusion rate in ARDS patients iNO responders receiving norepinephrine. Due to the potential deleterious effects of AB, this strategy should be used in the most severely hypoxaemic patients.

Use of random amplified polymorphic DNA for epidemiological typing of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.

We used the technique of random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) to type 130 isolates of Stenotrophomonas (Xanthomonas) maltophilia, using four arbitrary short primers. Of the 130 isolates, 51 were from the hospital environment, 48 from clinical specimens and 31 were geographically diverse environmental isolates. DNA amplification with the four sets of primers generated 112 RAPD patterns that differed by two or more bands in one of the four primers. Sixteen pairs of isolates were of the same RAPD pattern and some of these pairs represented clinical strains obtained from patients hospitalized at the same time in the same ward. In three patients, two to three strains of S. maltophilia which gave different RAPD fingerprints were isolated on the same day from different specimens. RAPD fingerprinting demonstrated great genomic diversity within the species S. maltophilia and provided an effective method for the study of the epidemiology of both clinical and environmental strains.

A case of acute reversible renal failure associated with halothane induced liver disease.

A case of acute renal failure associated with halothane-induced hepatitis is reported which responded to treatment. The possible mechanisms of rare disease association are discussed and precautions advised.

[18 and one-half years' survival after cardiac graft. Clinical course and anatomical findings]. / Survie de 18 ans et demi après greffe cardiaque. Evolution clinique et constatations anatomiques.

Operated upon in November, 1968, the last survivor of heart transplant recipients in those times has died on May 11, 1987, having survived 18 years and 6 months. The active life of this patient, however, was marred by episodes of graft rejection during the first post-operative years and by various incidents. It was mainly the complications of the immunosuppressive treatment that hampered his activities (osteoporosis) and provoked his death. Post-mortem examination confirmed that the heart was in good condition, found an active bronchial epithelioma and revealed iatrogenic lesions, namely adenomas, adenocarcinoma of the kidney and "regenerative" nodular hyperplasia of the liver with portal hypertension. Such lesions are observed in patients under long-term treatment with immunosuppressants. A "sleep apnoea" syndrome might have accounted for the formation of pulmonary hypertension lesions. The authors wish to pay their respects to this man who devoted himself to the service of other men.

Acute toxicity of local anesthetic ropivacaine and mepivacaine during a combined lumbar plexus and sciatic block for hip surgery.

Hip fracture is a common pathology in elderly patients. Intercurrent diseases, mainly cardiac and respiratory, often result in significant morbidity and mortality. Anesthesia for hip fracture can be provided by general or regional techniques. The combination of a lumbar plexus and posterior sciatic nerve block represents an alternative to neuraxial technique of anaesthesia such as spinal anesthesia (4, 6). We report a case of acute toxicity resulting in the injection of local anesthetics Ropivacaine and Mepivacaine in elderly patient. An elderly woman was scheduled for surgical repair of a fractured femur neck by dynamic hip screw synthesis. Anesthesia was realized by peripheral nerve bi-block (lumbar plexus and posterior sciatic block) (7). The patient experienced seizures and dysrhythmias twenty minutes after block completion and injection of the anesthetic solution [Ropivacaine 0.75%, administered for lumbar plexus block performed via the posterior approach (WINNIE) and Mepivacaine 1.5%, administered for posterior sciatic nerve block (LABAT)]. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was successful. All signs of toxicity disappeared after injection of midazolam and atropine, intubation and 100% oxygen ventilation. We decided to proceed with surgery. The postoperative course was uncomplicated and made a full recovery.

[Clinical history and anatomic findings following the longest survival after cardiac transplantation]. / Histoire clinique et constatations anatomiques au terme de la plus longue survie après transplantation cardiaque.

The authors report the case history of the first patient in the world to have survived 18 and a half years with a heart transplant. This survival was marked by several episodes of rejection during the early years and various other incidents. The pathology encountered was primarily iatrogenic: diffuse osteoporosis sometimes limited the patient's activity. Two skin cancers and a lung cancer were diagnosed and treated. The patient died from progressive respiratory failure with pulmonary hypertension and signs of right ventricular failure. Pathological examination revealed a subnormal myocardium with a certain amount of overloading of the coronary arteries, confirmed the lung cancer and pulmonary hypertension and, most importantly, revealed the presence of nodular regenerative hepatic cirrhosis responsible for ascites during the last few months of life and a renal adenocarcinoma. These last two lesions are observed in immunosuppressed patients. The authors pay tribute to this patient who led an active and devoted life in the service of others.

[Study of tracheobronchial healing after lung and heart-lung transplantation. Apropos of 64 anastomoses]. / Etude de la cicatrisation trachéo-bronchique après transplantations pulmonaires et cardio-pulmonaires. A propos de soixante-quatre anastomoses.

The authors report an analysis concerning the healing of tracheo-bronchial anastomoses after lung- and heart-lung transplantation. The present study includes 64 anastomoses selected from a total of 80 cases. Sixteen had to be excluded because of early post-operative death; none of these deaths was related to an air-way complication. Bronchial healing was assessed by bronchoscopic follow-up; the appearance of the suture-line was classified according to Couraud's grades. The initial reference was the examination at 2 weeks, which was compared to subsequent follow-up. At the initial assessment, 42 anastomoses were grade I, 4 were grade II, and 18 were grade III. The subsequent anatomic result was satisfactory for 52 sutures (81%). The complications were malacia in 2 cases, stenoses treated with a stenting device in 4 cases, dehiscence in 6 cases. The duration of ischemia and post-operative mechanical respiratory support, as well as the proximal or distal site of the anastomosis appeared to be of significant prognostic value.

[Tracheobronchial healing after lung and heart-lung transplantations. Apropos of 64 anastomoses]. / Etude de la cicatrisation trachéo-bronchique après transplantations pulmonaires et cardio-pulmonaires. A propos de 64 anastomoses.

The authors report an analysis concerning the healing of tracheo-bronchial anastomoses after lung- and heart-lung transplantation. The present study includes 64 anastomoses selected from a total of 80 cases. Sixteen had to be excluded because of early post-operative death; none of these deaths was related to an air-way complication. Bronchial healing was assessed by bronchoscopic follow-up; the appearance of the suture-line was classified according to Couraud's grades. The initial reference was the examination at 2 weeks, which was compared to subsequent follow-up. At the initial assessment, 42 anastomoses were grade 1, 4 were grade II, and 18 were grade III. The subsequent anatomic result was satisfactory for 52 sutures (81%). The complications were malacia in 2 cases, stenoses treated with a stenting device in 4 cases, dehiscence in 6 cases. The duration of ischemia and postoperative mechanical respiratory support, as well as the proximal or distal site of the anastomosis appeared to be of significant prognostic value.

[Prolonged catheterization of the radial artery. Prospective evaluation of the thrombogenic and infectious risk]. / Le cathétérisme prolongé de l'artère radiale. Evaluation prospective du risque thrombogène et infectieux.

The rates of thrombosis and infection were studied in 102 patients who underwent 107 radial artery cannulations. A Leader cath, ORX cannula (Vygon) was placed using Seldinger's method. It was continuously perfused with an heparinized 5% dextrose solution via an Intraflo fixed upon an arterial catheter. The cannulae were used for arterial pressure monitoring and measuring arterial blood gases. Before removing the catheter, a forearm arteriography was realized with 20 ml Hexabrix. Bacterial examination and culture were carried out on the cannula tips. 70 men and 32 women (mean age: 50 +/- 17 years) were studied. Mean duration of cannulation was 9 +/- 7 days (range: 1-34 days). Complete or partial radial artery thrombosis occurred in 85%. Complete thrombosis occurred more frequently in women (84%) than in men (54%) (p less than 0.05). There was no correlation between thrombosis and duration of cannulation (9.9 +/- days for thrombosis and 7.9 +/- 4.3 days without thrombosis). Bacterial cultures of cannula tips were positive in 24% of cannulations. Pathogenic bacilli grew in only 9%. Infected cannulas were in situ for 9.9 +/- 7 days against 8.9 +/- 6.7 days for the non-infected cannulas (NS). There was no correlation between infection and radial artery thrombosis. The use of another material (silicone, Teflon) must be studied in order to decrease the occurrence of thrombosis.

[Pulmonary artery catheterization by the percutaneous approach to the axillary vein]. / Cathétérisme de l'artère pulmonaire par abord percutané de la veine axillaire.

The choice of venous access can be difficult in patients under intensive care. The axillary vein appeared interesting to evaluate. This prospective study involved 63 punctures carried out in 59 patients during a 16 month period (14 females and 45 males; mean age: 54 +/- 4 yr). 34 patients were tracheostomized and under controlled respiration; some had coagulation abnormalities (8 cases). The other 29 patients were undergoing a preoperative haemodynamic study. Puncture of the axillary vein was carried out with the needle inserted at an angle of 30 degrees to the skin surface and directed parallel to the artery medial to its course. The Seldinger technique was used (catheter and guide wire). Overall success rate was 87.5%. In 73%, less than three attempts were required. After the catheter was set in place in the axillary vein, the mean time required to reach the pulmonary artery was 7 +/- 15 min (range: 20 s-45 min). Less than 1 min was needed in 60%. Extrasystoles were observed in 3.6%. The incidence of arterial puncture was 11% without any late complications. In every case, pulmonary artery and capillary wedge pressure curves were obtained, as well as cardiac output measurements. Mean duration of catheterization was 2 +/- 1.1 days in the preoperative haemodynamic group and 4 +/- 1.7 days in the other. No infectious complication was related to the catheterization. One thrombosis of the axillary and subclavian veins was noted (1.8%). The axillary vein appeared therefore to be useful for pulmonary artery catheterization. It is an alternative choice in patients under controlled ventilation and with coagulation problems.

[Somatostatin for the treatment of a post-oesophagectomy chylothorax]. / Somatostatin dans le traitement d'un chylothorax secondaire à une oesophagectomie.

Chylothorax is a rare but serious complication after oesophagectomy procedure. We report the case of a 59-year-old man who underwent an oesophagectomy by Akiyama procedure. A persistent postoperative chylothorax occurred requiring drainage and conservative management. After one week, the failure of this management motivated the institution of continuous infusion of somatostatin. This led to a rapid cessation of chyle production without side effect and to the discharge of the patient from the intensive care unit.

[Acute fatal hepatorenal failure during treatment with mithramycin]. / Insuffisance hépato-rénale aiguë mortelle au cours d'un traitement par la mithramycine.

A case of fatal hepato-renal failure occurring during mithramycin treatment is reported. A 64 year-old female patient was admitted to hospital in a state of acute renal failure. She also presented with hypercalcaemia and bilateral pulmonary metastases. She had been operated on 10 years previously of a parathyroid cancer. Despite treatment with mithramycin (total dose 8.25 mg) and haemodialysis, the hypercalcaemia returned; it was then decided to remove the secretory lung metastases (parathormone 420 micrograms X ml-1). 48 hours before surgery, the patient was again given 1.25 mg mithramycin. Immediately after surgery, she developed hepatic failure with massive cell destruction and anuria. The patient died 48 h after the operation. The hepatic and renal complications of mithramycin are discussed.

[Bronchial cancer associated with atheromatous arteriopathy. Prognostic and therapeutic consequences in pulmonary excision]. / Association cancer bronchique et artériopathie athéromateuse. Conséquences pronostiques et thérapeutiques dans la chirurgie d'exérèse pulmonaire.

Between January 1980 and January 1985, 462 consecutive patients underwent lung resection for bronchogenic carcinoma. Eighty of these patients (17.3 percent) had atherosclerosis involving mainly the coronary arteries (40 percent). The mortality rate was significantly higher in patients with atherosclerosis (10 percent) than in those without it (4.7 percent), but the long-term survival was not affected with the presence of atherosclerosis. The lung carcinoma-atherosclerosis association raises two problems: what investigations should be carried out in this group of patients at risk, and what treatment should be given priority when vascular lesions are present and likely to become complicated by pulmonary surgery? However, the presence of atherosclerosis should not lead to a re-evaluation of the need for lung resection.

[Deep lactic acidosis after valproate self-poisoning]. / Acidose lactique majeure secondaire à une intoxication volontaire par valproate.

A sixty-year-old woman was admitted in the ICU after Depamide (Valpromide) self-poisoning (430 mg/kg). Four hours after the ingestion, the patient presented coma (Glagow coma score of 3) with bilateral mydriasis requiring tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation, hypotension requiring epinephrine infusion (0.9 microg/kg per minute), acidosis and hyperlactatemia (29.7 mmol/l at 12 hours) without any kidney or liver failure. The maximal serum valproic acid concentration measured was 342 mg/l after twelve hours (therapeutic rate: 35-85 mg/l). A continuous infusion of sodium bicarbonate was associated with continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration. Progressive haemodynamic improvement and neurologic recovery leaded to extubation at 36 hours.

[Comparison of extrapleural and intrapleural analgesia with bupivacaine after thoracotomy]. / Comparaison de l'analgésie extrapleurale et interpleurale par bupivacaïne après thoracotomie.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the analgesic and the ventilatory effects as well as blood concentrations of bupivacaine, administered either in the extrapleural or interpleural space after posterolateral thoracotomy. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. PATIENTS: Twenty ASA class I and II patients, scheduled for elective thoracic surgery were randomly allocated either in the IP group (catheter inserted into the interpleural space) or the EP group (catheter inserted in extrapleural position, paravertebrally above the posterior parietal pleura). METHODS: In the catheter, inserted at the Th4 level at the end of the surgical procedure, 20 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine were injected after full recovery from anaesthesia, with the thoracic drains clamped for 30 min. The injection was repeated every six hours. Pain was evaluated after a deep inspiration with a visual analog scale (VAS), before and 1.3 and 6 hours after the injection. Analgesia was considered as effective if the VAS score at the end of the first hour was less than 30 mm. Otherwise 0.1 mg.kg-1 of morphine was administered subcutaneously. The forced vital capacity (FVC) and the forced expiratory volume one second (FEV1) were measured preoperatively and on 1st (D1) and 2nd postoperative Day (D2). Blood samples for measurements of plasma bupivacaine concentrations were obtained at 5, 10, 20, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180 and 250 min respectively after the first injection. RESULTS: Bupivacaine provided a more rapid, deep and prolonged analgesia by extrapleural than by interpleural route. Analgesia was effective in 9 patients in EP group vs 4 patients in IP group (P < 0.05). Morphine requirements were 4 +/- 8 mg in EP group vs 17 +/- 10 mg in the IP group (P < 0.05). The FVC and FEV1 values were similarly decreased on D1, but recovery was better in EP group on D2 (P < 0.05). Bupivacaine peak concentrations in plasma were lower in EP group (0.86 +/- 0.42 microgram.mL-1) than in IP group (1.63 +/- 1.44 micrograms.mL-1), however the difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Extrapleural administration of bupivacaine provides better analgesia as the anaesthetic agent comes in closer contact with intercostal nerves and with lower risk of loss of agent through the pleural drainage. Therefore its use is recommended preferentially over the interpleural route for analgesia after posterolateral thoracotomy.

[Incidence of myocardial lesions after vascular surgery: diagnosis by troponin Ic]. / Incidence des lésions myocardiques après chirurgie vasculaire: diagnostic par la troponine Ic.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence of myocardial damages diagnosed following vascular surgery using the cardiac troponin I measurement technique and conventional methods. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective epidemiological study. PATIENTS: Fifty-four patients who underwent surgery for either aneurysmal disease in 28 cases or occlusive aortic disease in 26 cases. METHODS: Plasma concentration of cardiac troponin I (significant at a concentration > 1.5 ng.mL-1) was measured by immunoenzymofluorimetry on the second and fifth postoperative days. Conventional monitoring methods included daily electrocardiogram (ECG), enzymatic assay of total-PCK, and measurement of plasma levels of the MB isoenzyme of phosphokinase creatine (MB-PCK) (significant at > 1 ng.mL-1 and RI > 1.5). RESULTS: The cardiac troponin I measurement technique allowed the diagnosis of minor myocardial damages during the postoperative period in five patients, whereas with the conventional methods (clinical signs. ECG, and MB-PCK) only three myocardial lesions were diagnosed. CONCLUSION: The cardiac troponin I measurement technique allows diagnosis of minor myocardial damages following vascular surgery. Conventional methods underestimate the incidence of these damages.