Red blood cell transfusion does not increase oxygen consumption in critically ill septic patients.

BACKGROUND: Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is commonly used to increase oxygen transport in patients with sepsis. However it does not consistently increase oxygen uptake at either the whole-body level, as calculated by the Fick method, or within individual organs, as assessed by gastric intra-mucosal pH. AIM: This study evaluates the hemodynamic and oxygen utilization effects of hemoglobin infusion on critically ill septic patients. METHODS: Fifteen septic patients undergoing mechanical ventilation whose hemoglobin was <10 g% were eligible. Ten patients (APACHE II: 25.5 +/- 7.6) received an infusion of 1 unit of packed RBC over 1 h while sedated and paralyzed. The remaining five control patients (APACHE II: 24.3 +/- 6.0) received a 5% albumin solution (500 ml) over 1 h. Hemodynamic data, gastric tonometry and calorimetry were obtained prior to and immediately after RBC transfusion or 5% albumin infusion. RESULTS: Transfusion of RBC was associated with an improvement in left ventricular systolic work index (38.6 +/- 12.6 to 41.1 +/- 13.0 g/min/m2; P = 0.04). In the control group there was no significant change in the left ventricular systolic work index (37.2 +/- 14.3 to 42.2 +/- 18.9 g/min/m2). An increase in pulmonary vascular resistance index (203 +/- 58 to 238 +/- 49 dyne/cm5/m2; P = 0.04) was also observed, while no change was produced by colloid infusion (237 +/- 87.8 to 226.4 +/- 57.8 dyne/cm5/m2). Oxygen utilization did not increase either by Fick equation or by indirect calorimetry in either group. Gastric intramucosal pH increased only in the control group but did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Hemoglobin increase does not improve either global or regional oxygen utilization in anemic septic patients. Furthermore, RBC transfusion may hamper right ventricular ejection by increasing the pulmonary vascular resistance index.

[Postoperative jaundice syndrome after mitral valve replacement. A case report]. / Síndrome de icterícia pós-operatória após substituição valvar mitral. Relato de caso.

A 52-year old woman was submitted to mitral valve replacement. The operation proceeded without complications. Jaundice had been noted since the first postoperative (po) day and increased progressively due to conjugated bilirubin. Abdominal examination was normal and no signs of infection or circulatory failure were noted. Conjugated bilirubin levels increased from 6 mg/dl on the second po day to 20.4 mg/dl on the sixth po day and to 32 mg/dl on the tenth po day. Gammaglutamyl transferase levels were 600 U/L (normal up to 18 U/L) and lactate dehydrogenase levels were 396 U/L (normal) up to 240 U/L) on the seventh po day. Alkaline phosphatase levels were 1880 U/L (normal up to 170 U/L) whereas glutamic oxalacetic transaminase levels were 60 U/L (normal up to 15 U/L) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase levels were 66 U/L (normal up to 17 U/L) on the tenth po day. Abdominal ultrasonography did not disclose dilatation of intra and extra-hepatic biliary system. The patient died after a percutaneous hepatic biopsy procedure. The jaundice was attributed to a cholestatic syndrome after cardiac surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass, due to an impairment of the excretory function of the hepatocyte.