[Wash and non-wash system in the perioperative recovery of blood in prosthetic surgery: ultrastructural assessment of corpuscular blood components]. / Sistema wash e non-wash nel recupero perioperatorio del sangue in chirurgia protesica: valutazione ultrastrutturale della parte corpuscolata del sangue.

AIM: The authors aimed to perform an ultrastructural morphological analysis of blood recovered using wash and non-wash systems in patients undergoing full cement-free hip replacement in order to evaluate the integrity of the various blood corpuscle components. EXPERIMENTAL PROTOCOL: An open prospective study in patients undergoing full cement-free hip replacement at the Orthopedics Division of S. Orsola-Malpighi Policlinico in Bologna. Materials of S. Orsola-Malpighi Policlinico in Bologna. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood recovered postoperatively using a non-wash system was studied in 6 patients. In a further 3 patients perioperatively recovered blood was studied after washing using Cell Saver Haemolite 2 before reinfusion. Red globules, white globules and plaelets were isolated from blood collected using these two different recovery systems and analysed by SEM. RESULTS: Study of the ultrastructural morphology of various corpusculated blood fractions. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: From the data in our possession it appears that the ultrastructural morphology of the various corpuscle components of blood in subjects undergoing postoperative recovery is better preserved using a non-wash system. There was no sign of "polluting" material in terms of adipose cells or free bone fragments in either group.

Intensive care units as a source of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Over a 12 month period, 209 isolates of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were obtained in 39 patients admitted to an ICU. In 23 patients MRSA was the major pathogen, producing either pneumonia, bacteremia or wound infection. In eight patients death was directly related to the MRSA infection. This study suggests an increasing occurrence of MRSA infections in ICU and the need to adopt control measures.

[Continuous-infusion ketamine]. / Contributo clinico all'uso della ketamina per infusione continua.

An investigation was made of the employment of ketamin as the sole anaesthetic in general surgery, using continuous infusion of a 1% solution for both induction and maintenance in 118 cases. ECG was monitored and arterial pressure was measured invasively. Central venous pressure was also determined in 10 cases. Changes in serum enzyme values during and after surgery were examined in 35 patients. Blood samples were withdrawn before induction, after the return to consciousness, and 24 hr after the operation. Side-effects were common, but slight. Five patients suffered from nightmares, but these were persons with marked imaginative activity and a melancholic nature. Cardiocirculatory function was satisfactory. In particular, peripheral perfusion was excellent in all cases.

[Clinico-statistical analysis of the problem of the cadaver donor in renal transplantation (clinical experience from 1945 to the present time)]. / Analisi clinico-statistica del problema del donatore cadavere in funzione del trapianto di rene (esperienza clinica dal 1975 ad oggi).

The series of cadaver donors in Bologna hospitals from 1975 to today is reviewed. All possible donors were compared with those actually utilized and the reasons that led to renunciation in a large percentage of cases are analysed. The examination shows that among the factors limiting the number of donors utilized particularly important were the criteria adopted for establishment of donor suitability, family consent and the results of support therapy of the donor's vital functions.