Reduced sevoflurane loss during cardiopulmonary bypass when using a polymethylpentane versus a polypropylene oxygenator.

PURPOSE: The goal of this investigation was to examine the influence of two oxygenators with different membranes, made of either polypropylene (PPL) or polymethylpentane (PMP), on the plasma concentration of sevoflurane during cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS: The concentrations of sevoflurane during cardiopulmonary bypass were examined in patient plasma, endotracheal tubes, cardiotomy reservoirs and the outlets of the heart-lung oxygenators in twenty patients who underwent elective heart surgery. RESULTS: The sevoflurane losses are smaller in cardiopulmonary bypass when using a polymethylpentane versus a polypropylene oxygenator. Ten minutes after beginning cardiopulmonary bypass, the sevoflurane plasma concentration in the PPL oxygenator group compared to the PMP oxygenator group fell significantly (PPL 0.48-1.79 (0.93) vs. PMP 0.80-2.15 (1.56) µL × 100 mL-1, p = 0.02). This difference persisted until ten minutes after the termination of cardiopulmonary bypass. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that using a polymethylpentane membrane oxygenator rather than a polypropylene oxygenator significantly reduces the losses of sevoflurane, resulting in higher plasma concentrations and greater depth of anesthesia.

Midterm results after arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries: a single centre experience.

BACKGROUND: The arterial switch operation (ASO) has become the surgical approach of choice for d-transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA). There is, however an increased incidence of midterm and longterm adverse sequelae in some survivors. In order to evaluate operative risk and midterm outcome in this population, we reviewed patients who underwent ASO for TGA at our centre. METHODS: In this retrospective study 52 consecutive patients with TGA who underwent ASO between 04/1991 and 12/1999 were included. To analyze the predictors for mortality and adverse events (coronary stenoses, distortion of the pulmonary arteries, dilatation of the neoaortic root, and aortic regurgitation), a multivariate analysis was performed. The follow-up time was ranged from 1-10 years (mean 5 years, cumulative 260 patient-years). RESULTS: All over mortality rate was 15.4% and was only observed in the early postoperative period till 1994. The predictors for poor operative survival were low APGAR-score, older age at surgery, and necessity of associated surgical procedures. Late re-operations were necessary in 6 patients (13.6%) and included a pulmonary artery patch enlargement due to supravalvular stenosis (n = 3), coronary revascularisation due to coronary stenosis in a coronary anatomy type E, aortic valve replacement due to neoaortic valve regurgitation (n = 2), and patch-plasty of a pulmonary vein due to obstruction (n = 1). The dilatation of neoaortic root was not observed in the follow up. CONCLUSIONS: ASO remains the procedure of choice for TGA with acceptable early and late outcome in terms of overall survival and freedom of reoperation. Although ASO is often complex and may be associated with morbidity, most patients survived without major complications even in a small centre.

Heart team approach for transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedures complicated by coronary artery occlusion.

We report on three out of 270 consecutive patients (1.1%) suffering from coronary artery obstruction or occlusion at the end of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The partial or total obstruction of the coronary artery seen in the post-implantation aortography was accompanied by haemodynamic instability and electrocardiographic changes typical for myocardial ischaemia. Immediate percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation was successful in two cases, while in the third case it was not possible to cross the occluded right coronary artery. Emergency coronary artery bypass grafting was performed resulting in uneventful myocardial recovery. All patients were discharged home. These cases highlight the awareness of this rare, life-threatening complication of TAVI, which is in need of a dedicated heart team involved not only in decision-making, but also in the procedure itself.

[Emergency medical treatment of paediatric palliative care patients: a problem for emergency medical care services? A retrospective, multicentre observational study]. / Notärztliche Betreuung kinderpalliativ- medizinischer Notfallsituationen--ein Problem für den Rettungsdienst?--Eine retrospektive, multizentrische Beobachtungsstudie.

BACKGROUND: In Germany a few specialised palliative care teams (PCTs) enable paediatric palliative care patients to stay at home in the final stage of their life. During this stage patients often experience episodes of acute symptoms requiring rapid medical intervention. In this case care-giving relatives can call emergency medical care services. The present investigation aims to show the meaning of emergency medical care services in treating paediatric palliative care patients in a home-care setting. Moreover, mental strain of emergency medical staff in paediatric medical emergencies and end-of-life care will be discussed. METHODS: In a multi-centre retrospective study we analyse all paediatric emergency medical care cases of four emergency sites over a 24-month period. In particular, all cases of acute palliative care in terminal paediatric cancer patients up to the age of 14 were evaluated. RESULTS: In the defined period we analysed 738 paediatric emergency documents (5.7% of all emergency cases); of these we identified two (0.3%) emergency calls by paediatric palliative care patients or their caregiving relatives. In both cases there was no specialised outpatient PCT involved in the treatment of the patients or the assistance to their caregiving relatives. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that emergency medical treatment is less frequently provided to paediatric than to adult palliative care patients. However, these paediatric patients also need help that is based on the principles of palliative care like adult patients do. In the context of quality standard optimisation, specialised PCTs should get more involved in paediatric palliative home and pre-hospital care, even in cases of medical emergencies in these patients. After end-of-life decisions relating to paediatric patients, psychological support to the emergency medical team seems to be both helpful and reasonable.

[Emergency care management of patients with cancer at the final stage of disease--seven cases]. / Notärztliche Betreuung von Tumorpatienten--Sieben Fälle aus der finalen Krankheitsphase.

The care of patients with cancer disease in the final stage amounts to 2.5% of all emergency-medical applications. This corresponded to the number of pediatric emergency cases. For this every emergency physician can be involved in the care of those patients. Emergency physicians may allow adapted treatment in the will or supposed will of the patient always. Therefore it is necessary to know special legal bearings of the case. We analysed seven emergency cases with patients in the final stage of their cancer disease retrospectively. For this we present seven different emergency cases with different regulatory framework for each emergency physician. The cases have shown seven possible care concepts of patients in the final stage of a cancer disease. All patients could be categorised as palliative ones. Nevertheless, the emergency physicians were alarmed by the patients' relatives because of needing professional help at the moment. The differences of the cases appeared in the regulatory framework. The seven cases have shown that different legal meanings could be important in emergency therapy of palliative patients.