Long-term therapy and retreatment of hepatorenal syndrome type 1 with ornipressin and dopamine.

Peripheral vasodilation is considered an important factor in the pathophysiology of the hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of the vasoconstrictor ornipressin plus dopamine in the treatment of the most severe form of HRS, namely HRS type 1. Seven cirrhotic patients (creatinine clearance 15 +/- 1 mL/min, UNaV 7 +/- 2 mmol/24 h) with HRS type 1 were included in the study after normalization of central venous pressure with intravenous albumin and low-dose dopamine had failed to prevent further deterioration of renal function. Ornipressin was given continuously (intravenous 6 IU/h) in combination with dopamine (2-3 microgram/kg/min) until creatinine clearance had increased to above 40 mL/min or adverse events prevented further treatment. HRS was reverted in 4 of 7 patients after 5 to 27 days (creatinine clearance 51 +/- 4 mL/min, UNaV 47 +/- 11 mmol/24 h) of treatment. Withdrawal was necessary in 1 patient after 15 days because of intestinal ischemia. Treatment failure was observed in 2 of 7 patients (creatinine clearance 19 +/- 10 mL/min, UNaV 8 +/- 3 mmol/24 h). Two of 4 responders had recidivant HRS 2 and 8 months after initial therapy, respectively. HRS in 1 of these patients was reverted with 18 days of ornipressin retreatment. The other patient had to be withdrawn from ornipressin after 2 hours because of ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Altogether, 3 of 7 patients survived HRS type 1, 1 after successful ornipressin therapy and liver transplantation, 1 with 2 successful courses of ornipressin, and 1 with liver transplantation after ornipressin treatment had failed. Thus, ornipressin plus dopamine can be a useful therapeutic option in patients with HRS type 1, especially as bridge to liver transplantation.

Embarazo ectópico intersticial: tratamiento laparoscópico, informe sobre 5 casos / Interstitial pregnancy: laparoscopic treatment, report of 5 cases

Se analiza la experiencia de un servicio de cirugía translaparoscópica (CTL) en embarazos intersticiales. Se trata de 5 casos resueltos totalmente por laparoscopia. Se describen los estudios prequirúrgicos necesarios. Su técnica quirúrgica y las maniobras necesarias para evitar un complicante sangrado. Destaca un abordaje conservador del mismo. Se informan datos sobre evolución reproductiva

Embarazo ectópico intersticial: tratamiento laparoscópico, informe sobre 5 casos / Interstitial pregnancy: laparoscopic treatment, report of 5 cases

Se analiza la experiencia de un servicio de cirugía translaparoscópica (CTL) en embarazos intersticiales. Se trata de 5 casos resueltos totalmente por laparoscopia. Se describen los estudios prequirúrgicos necesarios. Su técnica quirúrgica y las maniobras necesarias para evitar un complicante sangrado. Destaca un abordaje conservador del mismo. Se informan datos sobre evolución reproductiva (AU)

[Clinico-pharmacological case (2). Bradycardia and ventricular tachycardia of the torsades de pointes type as a side effect of vasopressin: 3 case reports]. / Der klinisch-pharmakologische Fall (2).Bradykardie und ventrikuläre Tachykardia vom Typ Torsade de pointes als Nebenwirkung von Vasopressin: drei Fallberichte.

We present three patients with ornipressin-induced bradycardia, one of which developed also ventricular tachycardia of the torsade de pointes type. All three patients were treated with this vasopressin derivative because of bleeding esophageal varices due to portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis. Bradycardia ceased after discontinuing ornipressin therapy. One patient was treated successfully with atropine, one with isoprenalin and magnesium (he had to be defibrillated); the third patient recovered after cessation of ornipressin administration. Bradycardia is a known but rarely reported side effect of vasopressin and its derivatives. Animal studies suggest that this effect is due to its cardiodepressive action and also to a vagus-mediated reflex following vasopressin-induced increase in blood pressure. When injected directly into the ventricles of the brain, vesopressin leads to a decrease of the heart rate without affecting blood pressure; however, it remains unclear whether this mechanism is responsible for bradycardia after intravenous administration. Careful monitoring is essential during the treatment with vasopressin and its derivatives.

[The effect of nitroglycerin on ornipressin (POR 8)-induced systemic and cardiovascular circulatory changes. An animal experimental study]. / Untersuchungen zur Wirkung von Nitroglyzerin (TNG) auf die Ornipressin (POR 8)-induzierten systemischen und kardiovaskulären Kreislaufveränderungen. Eine tierexperimentelle Studie.

OBJECTIVE: Local infiltration of ornipressin (OR) is widely used to reduce intraoperative bleeding. However, OR can cause severe side effects including hypertension, deterioration of cardiac performance and coronary vasoconstriction. Suggestions for therapy of haemodynamic side effects of OR include the use of nitroglycerin (TNG). This experimental study was designed to investigate the influence of TNG on changes of systemic haemodynamics and coronary perfusion produced by i.v. administration of OR. METHODS: 16 anesthetized closed-chest mongrel dogs were studied. Anaesthesia was administered using N2O/O2 (FiO2: 0.33) and enflurane (1Vol%ET). Saline-filled catheters were used to measure intravascular pressures. Left ventricular pressure change (dP/dt) was monitored with a cathetertip manometer. Cardiac output (CO) was determined using thermodilution, myocardial blood flow (MBF) using a Pitot catheter. Baseline values were taken (control) followed by a bolus injection of 0.03 U/kg OR i.v. The dogs were randomly assigned to two groups. Group I (Gr.I) (n = 9) received OR only and group II (Gr.II) (n = 7) was treated by infusion of 4 mg/kg.min TNG 7 to 30 min after injection of OR. Haemodynamic and cardiovascular changes were measured for 60 min at fixed time intervals. RESULTS: In both groups (Gr.I; Gr.II) OR produced significant changes in systolic (APS) (+29%; +32%) and diastolic (APD) (+47%; +37%) aortic pressure, cardiac index (CI) (-33%; -33%), peripheral vascular resistance (TPR) (+116%); +104%), stroke volume index (SVI) (-23%; -34%), ejection fraction (EF) (-29%; -29% endsystolic volume (ESV) (+39%; +45%) and left ventricular enddiastolic pressure (LVEDP) (+50%; +66%). Myocardial blood flow (MBF) was reduced by 30% and 29% respectively and coronary vascular resistance (CVR) was increased (+97%; +84%). Coronary venous O2 saturation (SO2cor) decreased to 19% and 20% resulting in high AVDO2cor. As compared to Gr.I the administration of TNG resulted in significant decreases of APS, APD, TPR, ESV and LVEDP close to control values. However, administration of TNG did not effect MBF, CVR, SO2cor and AVDO2cor. CONCLUSION: Systemic haemodynamic effects of OR include hypertension due to peripheral vasoconstriction and impaired cardiac performance resulting in reduced cardiac output with low EF, high ESV and LVEDP. Concomitantly, OR produces coronary constriction with a distinct fall in MBF. Thus, myocardial oxygen balance is impaired. With TNG peripheral vascular effects of OR can be abolished but there is no effect of TNG on OR-induced reduction of coronary blood flow. Therefore, use of TNG for treatment of cardiovascular complications following the administration of OR must be considered with extreme caution.

[Signs of a severe myocardial ischemia following peritonsillar infiltration with ornipressin (POR 8)]. / Zeichen einer schweren Myokardischämie nach peritonsillärer Infiltration mit Ornipressin (POR 8).

Ornipressin (OR), a synthetic derivative of natural vasopressin, is widely used in combination with local anaesthetics in order to reduce surgical bleeding and systemic absorption of the local anaesthetic. As shown previously in experimental studies, OR causes severe coronary vasoconstriction. The myocardial oxygen balance is compromised by an increase in myocardial oxygen demand due to hypertension and impaired oxygen delivery following coronary vasoconstriction. We describe the case of a 19-year-old male who was admitted to the hospital for elective tonsillectomy. There was no evidence of systemic or cardiovascular disease (ASA I). Following the induction of anaesthesia with thiopentone 4 mg/kg and ventilation with N2O/O2 (FiO2:0.25), vecuronium was administered to facilitate orotracheal intubation. Anaesthesia was maintained with N2O/O2 (FiO2:0.33) and 2 MAC isoflurane. After reaching an anaesthetic steady state with stable haemodynamic conditions, peritonsillar infiltration with a prilocaine solution containing a total of 0.8 IU OR (0.1 IU/ml) produced marked tachycardia and hypertension. Concomitantly, distinct ST-segment-depression was observed in a lead II ECG. Hypertension and tachycardia occurred within 3 min after the local infiltration with prilocaine/OR. Maximum ST-segment depression and haemodynamic changes were recorded 11 min after infiltration, with an increase in heart rate from 58 to 136 min and a rise in blood pressure from 115/50 to 217/130 mmHg. Considering experimental results, the ECG changes in this case show clear evidence that even in healthy humans OR-induced systemic haemodynamic changes may be complicated by severe myocardial ischaemia due to coronary vasoconstriction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[The adverse effects induced by ornipressin during oral and maxillofacial surgical interventions under general anesthesia]. / Effetti indesiderati indotti dall'ornipressina durante interventi di chirurgia orale e maxillo-facciale in anestesia generale.

There are various methods used in maxillofacial surgery for the control of superficial hemorrhage. The purpose is to achieve a better identification of the anatomical structures and reduce operating times without side effects. Ornipressin has no arrhythmogenic effects in presence of inhalational anesthetics and should therefore be considered safer then adrenalin. The authors examined the cardiocirculatory effects of this drug by means of an invasive hemodynamic study on five patients. The results showed that ornipressin causes worrying increases in blood pressure and peripheral vascular resistances, with reduction in the cardiac output.

[Use of etilefrin as local vasoconstrictor in lower gynecologic surgery ]. / Utilisation de l'étiléfrine comme vasoconstricteur local dans la chirurgie gynécologique par voie basse.

In this randomized prospective study the authors have compared the effectiveness and side-effects of two local vasoconstrictor agents, etilefrine (Effortil) and ornithine 8 vasopressin (Por 8) in vaginal gynaecological surgery. Thirty-three patients entered the trial and were divided into two groups: G1 (15 patients) received Effortil, and G2 (18 patients) received Por 8. The products, administered at random, were diluted in saline 40 ml and injected into the cervix through 6 points. A 3-minute interval was allowed between injection and incision. The results were assessed on the basis of trans- and postoperative haemorrhage and haemodynamic variations. Palor of the cervix was achieved after 3 minutes in both groups; moderate bleeding was observed in only one of the G1 patients. Postoperative renewal of packing was necessary in 2 patients in G1 and 4 patients in G2. No electrocardiographic anomaly was recorded in any of the two groups. Diastolic BP was significantly higher in G2 than in G1 (P less than 0.002, Fisher test). Systolic BP was also elevated in that group (P less than 0.03, chi 2 test). Moderate reduction in heart rate was observed in both groups (P less than 0.3, Fischer test), but severe (48 beats/min) bradycardia was noted in one G2 patient.

Acute pulmonary oedema following administration of ornithine-8-vasopressin.

We report the case of a patient who developed acute pulmonary oedema following a short and uneventful surgical procedure. Among the differential diagnoses, the role of ornithine-8-vasopressin is emphasized.

[Undesirable effects following the local injection of ornipressin during general anesthesia: can the risk be lessened? A prospective study]. / Unerwünschte Wirkungen nach Lokalinjektion von Ornipressin während der Allgemeinanaesthesie: Lässt sich das Risiko vermindern? Eine prospektive Studie.

Complications associated with local infiltration of ornithine-8-vasopressin (O-8-V) during general anesthesia (GA) are documented. Severe and extremely severe complications range around 20%; fatalities have been reported. The incidence of complications is associated with age, pre-existing cardiovascular or pulmorespiratory disease, and dosage administered. In a prospective study, we investigated 169 patients following a standardized protocol. Maximum dosage was 2 IU, diluted to 0.25 IU/ml in 0.9% saline. Patients with cardiovascular or respiratory disease and those below 1 or above 50 years of age were excluded. GA consisted of tracheal intubation and controlled ventilation with enflurane in N2O/O2 and intravenous fentanyl. Cardiovascular monitoring was by ECG with arrhythmia detection, plethysmography, and oscillometric - in some patients intraarterial - blood pressure measurement. Ventilatory monitoring included respiratory rate, tidal volume, inspiratory and expiratory O2 concentrations, capnometry, and end-tidal enflurane concentration. Local infiltration of the oral soft tissues with O-8-V was performed after a steady-state of anesthesia was achieved and 20 min before commencement of surgery. No severe or extremely severe complications or arrhythmias were observed. A moderate increase in blood pressure was seen in 43% of patients; in 10% this increase was 30-70 mmHg (systolic and/or diastolic). For data analysis, patients were allocated to 4 groups according to the dosage of O-8-V administered. Systolic and diastolic pressures increased to above control in all groups; however, no inter-group differences were found for blood pressure or heart rate. It is concluded that the risks associated with local infiltration of soft tissues with O-8-V during GA can be attenuated by a protocol such as the one established for this prospective study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Supraventricular tachycardia following POR 8 (ornipressin)--administration in an infant]. / Supraventrikuläre Tachykardie nach POR 8 (Ornipressin)--Anwendung bei einem Säugling.

Prevention of surgical blood loss by local vasoconstrictors is a useful technique in necrectomy after severe burns. It allows excision of large areas and grafting without severe side effects even in very young patients. Nevertheless, we have observed an episode of supraventricular tachycardia in an 11-month-old patient after Ornipressin during wound excision and grafting. Possibilities for prevention and treatment are discussed.