Acute coagulopathy after reperfusion of the liver graft in children correction with recombinant activated factor VII.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have proven that massive blood loss increases postoperative morbidity and mortality in liver graft recipients. Since we have successfully corrected coagulopathy preoperatively using an intravenous (IV) bolus of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) in 2 patients with fulminant liver failure, we observed that there was rapid reversal of preexisting advanced coagulopathy in another 40 patients with high risk for intraoperative bleeding by this treatment immediately before transplantation. Recently to control hemostasis we have administered rFVIIa also to patients presenting with acute coagulopathy and nonsurgical bleeding after graft reperfusion as described herein. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have used rFVIIa in 7 children presenting with severe coagulopathy and nonsurgical bleeding after liver graft reperfusion. The dosage of rFVIIa ranged between 37 and 148 mcg/kg. An antifibrinolytic agent (aprotinin, tranexamic acid) was administered simultaneously. RESULTS: APTT before rFVIIa was 86.10 to 183 seconds, (mean, 132.1 +/- 39.88), after the bolus of rFVIIa 49.4 to 206.1 (mean, 112.7 +/- 58.53), and at the end of surgery 71.70 to 180 (mean, 110.3 +/- 40.98). INR after reperfusion was 1.82 to 3.91 (mean, 2.56 +/- 0.67), 1.03 to 1.92 (mean, 1.54 +/- 0.35) after rFVIIa, and 1.74 to 5.58 (mean, 2.64 +/- 1.35) at the end of surgery. Before rFVIIa administration intraoperative blood transfusions after graft reperfusion were 900 to 4200 mL of red blood cells (RBC) (0.82-5.4 total blood volume) and after reperfusion 0 to 1800 mL of RBC (0-2.5 TBV). No postoperative vascular complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: A single dose of rFVIIa effectively reverses the severe coagulopathy developing after graft reperfusion, establishing effective hemostasis in liver transplant recipients without an increased risk of thrombotic complications.

Influence of bone invasion and extent of mandibular resection on local control of cancers of the oral cavity and oropharynx.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the influence of bone invasion on treatment outcome among patients with cancers of the oral cavity and oropharynx and to determine whether or not outcome was influenced by the extent of mandibular resection. A review of 127 prospectively documented patients who were treated with marginal or segmental resection for oral (n = 110) and oropharyngeal (n = 17) cancers was undertaken. There were 97 males and 30 females with a median age of 61 years. Clinical T stages were: T1 17 patients, T2 33, T3 22, T4 55. Median followup was 4 years. A total of 94 patients underwent marginal resections and 33 underwent segmental resections. Histological bone invasion was present in 17 patients (16%) in the marginal resection group and 21 patients (64%) in the segmental group (P<0.05). Soft tissue surgical margins were positive in 11 patients (12%) in the marginal group and in seven patients (21%) in the segmental group (P=not significant). Local control did not correlate significantly with T stage, the extent of mandibular resection or the presence of histological bone invasion, but was significantly influenced by positive soft tissue margins (P<0.01). Among patients with bone invasion, the local control rate was higher following segmental resection when compared to marginal resections (87% vs 75%) but this was not statistically significant. Survival was significantly influenced by positive soft tissue margins but not bone invasion or the type of resection. We conclude that bone invasion alone did not predict for local control or survival rates among patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancers. Involved soft tissue margins were highly predictive of local recurrence and decreased survival. Conservative resection of the mandible is safe as long as marginal mandibulectomy does not lead to compromise of soft tissue margins. Segmental resection should be reserved for patients extensive bone invasion or those with limited invasion in a thin atrophic mandible.

Computerized infusion test compared to steady pressure constant infusion test in measurement of resistance to CSF outflow.

Resistance to cerebro-spinal fluid outflow is together with intracranial pressure the most important parameter in the investigation of patients with disturbances of CSF dynamics. The methods for determination of resistance are either unreliable or too time-consuming for routine clinical use, which has limited the popularity of this kind of measurement. In this paper a method for computerized acquisition and processing of an infusion test is described. A good correlation to a standard technique is documented.

[Characteristics of intracranial volume-pressure relationship in hydrocephalic children with reference to age]. / Charakterystyka wewnatrzczaszkowych stosunków objetosciowo-cisnieniowych u dzieci z wodoglowiem, z uwzglednieniem czynnika wieku.

The purpose of the study was establishing of the effect of child's age, and thus the biomechanical properties of cranial coverings, on the parameters characterizing the intracranial space in the infusion test. The results of the infusion tests performed as a supplementary diagnostic examination in 59 cases of infantile hydrocephalus were subjected to statistical analysis. The studied material and the methods used for its processing no significant differences were found in the mean values of the biomechanical parameters of intracranial space were found between the group of younger children (aged up to 2 years) and older children (over 2 years). This finding may be important in the interpretation of the results of the infusion test, since it was not found that the biomechanical properties of the cranial coverings had any significant effect on the results of this test.

A computer system for the identification of the cerebrospinal compensatory model.

A computer system, based on IBM PC, was designed for the cerebrospinal compensatory model identification. The intracranial pressure (ICP) signal, registered during the lumbo-lumbar infusion test is analyzed by means of the spectral analysis algorithm in order to measure precisely the pulse wave amplitude. The amplitude and the mean ICP level, calculated repetetively within the period of about 8 seconds, are stored on the disk and form the basis for further model identification. Three different methods of identification were applied. They enable one to estimate the fundamental model parameters, such as: resistance to the cerebrospinal fluid resorption, pressure-volume index, baseline pressure, rate of formation of the cerebrospinal fluid. Statistical evaluation of the results of the infusion test analysis obtained by means of the system described in two groups of hydrocephalic patients (children and adults) is presented.

Comparison of hydroxyethyl starch and lactated Ringer's solution on hemodynamics and oxygen transport of critically ill patients in prospective crossover studies.

The cardiopulmonary effects of lactated Ringer's solution (RL) were compared with those of 10% hydroxyethyl starch, hetastarch (HES), given in 44 therapeutic interventions in 15 critically ill patients by crossover design. Each agent was given to each patient at least once; seven patients received each agent twice. Infusions were continued until the wedge pressure (WP) had increased to 16 +/- 2 mm Hg in trauma patients and 18 +/- 2.mm Hg in cardiac patients. HES 10% produced significantly increased cardiac index, left and right ventricular stroke work index, CVP, WP, oxygen delivery, oxygen consumption, and reduced pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI). RL increased CVP, WP, and PVRI, but did not significantly improve other hemodynamic or oxygen transport variables.

[Effect of colloid volume replacement substances and Ringer's lactate on hemodynamics and oxygen consumption of intensive care patients]. / Die Wirkung von kolloidalen Volumenersatzmitteln und Ringer-Laktat auf Hämodynamik und Sauerstoffverbrauch von Intensivpatienten.

Comparison of the effects of various volume substitutes on hemodynamics and oxygen transport variables in critically ill patients. A computerized monitoring system was used to register the hemodynamic effects of lactated ringers solution, human albumin 5%, human albumin 20%, hydroxyethylstarch 6% (Plasmasteril, Fresenius, Oberursel) and hydroxyethylstarch 10% (HAES-Steril, Fresenius, Oberursel) in 25 patients who required invasive monitoring during ICU treatment. In periods of relative volume deficits as documented by a wedge pressure of 11-13 mm of mercury the various substitutes were administered until the wedge pressure reached 15-17 mm of mercury. Comparison of 221 therapeutic interventions demonstrate: Hemydynamic and oxygen transport variables were improved in all colloid trials whereas lactated ringers solution did not improve the patients cardiopulmonary condition. In contrary pulmonary vascular resistance was significantly increased when Ringer's solution was administered. While all colloids produced improvements in the patients hemodynamic and oxygen transport condition, statistically significant improvements could be demonstrated only during infusion of hes 10%.

Analysis of intracranial pressure waveform during infusion test.

An analysis of intracranial pressure (ICP), based on an examination of the temporary correlation between the changes in amplitude of the pulse wave and the mean ICP level, is presented. The paper contains a discussion of the preliminary results of the method when applied to the analysis of ICP as monitored during infusion tests in a group of 24 children. Infusion of a certain volume of CSF is a good example of an uncompensated volume process, introduced externally into the intracranial space. Results allow an interpretation of the short term correlation coefficient RAP (correlation coefficient between ICP and variations of the amplitude of fundamental component of the pulse wave AMP), as a steady state index. According to this interpretation, the presented analysis enables the observation of a loss of equilibrium during the test. Other phenomena can also be observed, for instance a recovery to equilibrium after the test, nonlinearities of amplitude-pressure relationship, vasomotor reflexes etc.