[Low concentration Ropivacaine in labor epidural analgesia. A prospective study on obstetric and neonatal outcome]. / Ropivacaina a basse concentrazioni in analgesia epidurale ostetrica. Studio prospettico sull'outcome ostetrico e neonatale.

BACKGROUND: Epidural analgesia effectively alleviates labor pain. However controversy exists about the effect of epidural analgesia on labor outcome. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of a low concentration local anesthetic (ropivacaine 0.08%) in labor epidural analgesia (LEA) on labor pain relief, on the incidence of cesarean sections and instrumental vaginal deliveries, and on neonatal outcome. METHODS: In the period April 1998 - July 2000, 323 women in active labor with live, singleton and in vertex presentation fetuses at term of gestation were included in this prospective study. Women with pre-gestational and/or obstetric diseases or previous caesarean deliveries were excluded. One-hundred and five patients requiring - by written informed consent - LEA were allocated to receive standardised protocol of a low concentration local anesthetic (ropivacaine 0.08%) coadministered with opioid (sufentanil): ropivacaine group. The remaining 239 parturients who didn't require LEA were included in the control group. RESULTS: The demographic characteristics of the two groups were similar; 12 (10.4%) patients receiving LEA delivered by cesarean section, 17 (14.8%) by vacuum extractor whereas 86 (74.8%) had a spontaneous delivery. The risk of cesarean section (adjusted for age, BMI, parity, neonatal weight and gynecologist) resulted lower, even if not significantly, in the ropivacaine group (OR 0.9; 95% IC: 0.6-1.3), while a significant increased instrumental vaginal delivery rate has been reported, although little numbers reduce statistical significance. Neonatal outcome was unaffected by the use of LEA. CONCLUSIONS: The conclusion is drawn that a lower concentration of ropivacaine (0.08%) in LEA produces good labor pain relief with no detectable adverse effects on mother and neonate, and without significantly increasing cesarean section rate.

[Contribution of the CT to a special technique of percutaneous lumbar anesthetic block]. / Contributo della TC ad una particolare metodica di blocco anestetico percutaneo lombare.

The authors suggest the use of CT for the positioning of a permanent catheter, suitable for lumbar anesthetic block in painful lower limbs syndromes. This technique was employed on 12 patients suffering from vascular diseases of the lower limbs. CT allowed a good visualization of both bone structures and soft tissues, which are essential landmarks for catheter positioning. The catheter was inserted with its anterior end fixed to the anterior abdominal wall, which allowed the patient to manage its own treatment. In all cases we obtained marked symptoms regression, after 5 months of treatment. No such complications were observed as those report in literature. The main contraindication appeared to be the aneurysmatic dilatation of both aorta and iliac arteries.

[Hyperparathyroidism in patients with respiratory decompensation]. / Iperparatiroidismo in pazienti in scompenso respiratorio.

Eighteen patients aged between 55 and 65 and affected by respiratory insufficient were included in the study. Serum levels of PTH, total calcium, Ca++ and phosphorus were measured. Special attention was focused on PTH concentrations with in some case provedo to be above normal. Two hypotheses of pathogenesis are put forward. The first suggests that reduced Ca++ levels are responsible for anomalous PTH serum concentrations, whereas the second suggests that this role may be played by hypoxia. The latter would indirectly or directly affect parathyroids, either increasing PTH hyperincretion or slowing down the metabolism of the hormone by kidneys and liver which are in turn negatively affected by low blood oxygen tension.

[Mechanical ventilation and pulmonary vascular resistance: comparison of IPPV, CPPV, CPAP, and PSV in decompensated chronic obstructive bronchopneumopathy with pulmonary hypertension]. / Ventilazione meccanica e resistenze vascolari polmonari: confronto tra IPPV, CPPV, CPAP e PSV in BPCO scompensati con ipertensione polmonare.

Alterations of pulmonary vascular resistance were studied using four different methods of mechanical ventilation. A Servo Ventilator 900 C respirator was used for three of these techniques (IPPV, CPPV and PSV); CPAP was performed using a continuous-flow system because of the latter's advantages compared to demand-flow systems. Five patients (aged 64-75) affected by BPCO uncompensation and pulmonary hypertension (PAP 40 +/- 8 mmHg) were included in the study. A complete hemodynamic test was performed in each patient for each of the methods used by inserting a Swan-Ganz catheter through the right-hand internal jugular vein; intrapleural pressure were also measured using an esophageal balloon. The results of the study revealed a low level of tolerance to CPAP. Of the other methods, PSV was found to be particularly useful since it produced significant constant reductions of PVR and increased levels of CO compared to other techniques. These positive hemodynamic effects may be explained by the pattern of intrapleural pressures and the possibility of "self-adjustment" which this method allows.