Hemorragias obstétricas exanguinantes / Exsanguinating obstetric haemorrhages

Objetivo evaluar la etiología, el tratamiento y la morbilidad en un grupo de gestantes con hemorragias obstétricas exanguinantes, así como proponer medidas para su prevención. Material y método estudio retrospectivo y descriptivo efectuado sobre 25 gestantes con edad de 35±5 años que ingresaron desde marzo de 1991 hasta febrero de 2008 en la División de Cuidados Intensivos por presentar hemorragias de origen obstétrico (con un monto estimado superior a 4.000ml) y que requirieron transfusiones iguales o mayores de 10 U de glóbulos rojos. Resultados hubo 11 desgarros cervicovaginales y roturas uterinas. El 88% de los casos presentó shock hemorrágico. El promedio de hematíes sedimentados transfundidos fue de 14,8±5,1U, y el hematocrito alcanzado al cabo de las siguientes 24h fue del 20,6±6,2%. En el caso de 20 enfermas se recurrió a la histerectomía como última medida para controlar la hemorragia masiva. Siete de las mujeres histerectomizadas presentaron hemorragia retroperitoneal o intraperitoneal, y hubo que reintervenirlas quirúrgicamente por hemorragias persistentes. Veintidós enfermas presentaron coagulopatía por consumo; 6 de ellas, coagulación intravascular diseminada. En la mitad de las puérperas se presentaron complicaciones graves. Cinco mujeres sufrieron lesiones quirúrgicas: 2 mujeres sufrieron lesiones rectosigmoideas, 2 mujeres sufrieron lesiones vasculares y una mujer sufrió lesión vesical. Ocho mujeres presentaron distrés pulmonar; 2 de ellas, disfunción multiorgánica. Las 25 puérperas sobrevivieron sin secuelas. Conclusiones a) Los desgarros cervicovaginales y las roturas uterinas representaron las causas más frecuentes de hemorragias exanguinantes; b) la histerectomía, aunque necesaria, no resolvió la hemorragia en el 40% de los casos; c) hubo un elevado índice de complicaciones, y d) la supervivencia materna fue óptima (AU)

Objective: To evaluate etiology, treatment and morbidity in a group of pregnant women with exsanguinating obstetric haemorrhage and to propose measures for its prevention. Material and methods: We performed a retrospective, descriptive study of 25 pregnant women, aged 3575 years, admitted to the Intensive Care Division from March 1991 to February 2008 with obstetric haemorrhage exceeding 4000 ml and transfusion requirement equal to or greater than 10 units of red blood cells. Results: There were 11 cervico-vaginal lacerations and uterine ruptures. Haemorrhagic shock occurred in 88% of the patients. The mean red cell transfusion requirement was14.875.1 units, and the hematocrit after 24 h was 20.676.2%. Hysterectomy wasperformed as the last option to stop massive bleeding in 20 patients. Retro and/or intraperitoneal bleeding occurred in seven patients with hysterectomy, who underwent reintervention for persistent bleeding. Coagulation factor defects were found in 22 patients, of whom six had disseminated intravascular coagulation. Serious complications occurred in 50% of the patients. Five patients had recto sigmoid(2), vascular (2) and bladder (1) surgical lesions. Eight had respiratory distress; of these, two had multiple organ dysfunction. The 25 puerperal women survived without recurrences. Conclusions: a). The most frequent causes of exsanguinating bleeding were cervicovaginal lacerations and uterine ruptures. b). Hysterectomy, although necessary, did not resolve the bleeding in 40% of the patients. c). There was a high rate of maternal complications d). Survival was optimal (AU)

Hemorragias obstétricas graves en el período periparto / Severe obstetric bleeding in the peri-delivery period

Objetivo: Evaluar la morbi-mortalidad actual en un grupo de pacientes con sangrado obstétrico severo en el período periparto. Diseño: Estudio retrospectivo y descriptivo. Marco: División Terapia Intensiva, en una clínica privada. Buenos Aires, Argentina. Pacientes: 45 pacientes gestantes con edad de 33,2ñ4,8 años, ingresadas a partir de marzo de 1991 hasta febrero de 1998. Método y resultados principales: El 64 por ciento de los casos presentaron shock hemorrágico. El promedio de hematíes sedimentados transfundidos fue 7,6ñ6,3 unidades, y el hematocrito alcanzado al cabo de 24-36 horas fue 23,6ñ4,9 por ciento. En 29 enfermas se recurrió a la histerectomía como última medida para controlar el sangrado masivo. Seis pacientes histerctomizadas presentaron hemorragia retro y/o intraperitoneal, debiéndose reintervenir quirúrgicamente a 5 por sangrados persistentes. Este subgrupo requirió mayor número de transfusiones (18ñ8 vs 5ñ8 unidades; p < 0,01). Diecisiete enfermas cursaron con coagulopatía por consumo, de ellas 6 con coagulación intravascular diseminada. Las 45 puérperas sobrevivieron. Conclusiones: 1. Optimo porcentaje de sobrevida materna vinculado con : a) disponibilidad de hemoderivados y resolución de estudios complementarios, y b) actuación de un equipo multidisciplinario. 2. Se aprecia una alta incidencia de histerectomías como última alternativa para controlar las hemorragias

Hemorragias obstétricas graves en el período periparto / Severe obstetric bleeding in the peri-delivery period

Objetivo: Evaluar la morbi-mortalidad actual en un grupo de pacientes con sangrado obstétrico severo en el período periparto. Diseño: Estudio retrospectivo y descriptivo. Marco: División Terapia Intensiva, en una clínica privada. Buenos Aires, Argentina. Pacientes: 45 pacientes gestantes con edad de 33,2ñ4,8 años, ingresadas a partir de marzo de 1991 hasta febrero de 1998. Método y resultados principales: El 64 por ciento de los casos presentaron shock hemorrágico. El promedio de hematíes sedimentados transfundidos fue 7,6ñ6,3 unidades, y el hematocrito alcanzado al cabo de 24-36 horas fue 23,6ñ4,9 por ciento. En 29 enfermas se recurrió a la histerectomía como última medida para controlar el sangrado masivo. Seis pacientes histerctomizadas presentaron hemorragia retro y/o intraperitoneal, debiéndose reintervenir quirúrgicamente a 5 por sangrados persistentes. Este subgrupo requirió mayor número de transfusiones (18ñ8 vs 5ñ8 unidades; p < 0,01). Diecisiete enfermas cursaron con coagulopatía por consumo, de ellas 6 con coagulación intravascular diseminada. Las 45 puérperas sobrevivieron. Conclusiones: 1. Optimo porcentaje de sobrevida materna vinculado con : a) disponibilidad de hemoderivados y resolución de estudios complementarios, y b) actuación de un equipo multidisciplinario. 2. Se aprecia una alta incidencia de histerectomías como última alternativa para controlar las hemorragias (AU)

Reactive oxygen species are downstream mediators of p53-dependent apoptosis.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated as potential modulators of apoptosis. Conversely, experiments under hypoxic conditions have suggested that apoptosis could occur in the absence of ROS. We sought to determine whether a central modulator of apoptosis, p53, regulates the levels of intracellular ROS and whether a rise in ROS levels is required for the induction of p53-dependent apoptosis. We transiently overexpressed wild-type p53, using adenoviral gene transfer, and identified cell types that were sensitive or resistant to p53-mediated apoptosis. Cells sensitive to p53-mediated apoptosis produced ROS concomitantly with p53 overexpression, whereas cells resistant to p53 failed to produce ROS. In sensitive cells, both ROS production and apoptosis were inhibited by antioxidant treatment. These results suggest that p53 acts to regulate the intracellular redox state and induces apoptosis by a pathway that is dependent on ROS production.

A company's commitment to waste reduction, recycling, and reuse.

Charles Heiman would be proud to see his vision being carried on and that Standard Textile is not only doing well, but also doing good. As an industry leader, Standard Textile has incorporated the entire cradle-to-grave concept in product creation. As a result, Standard Textile can compete in tomorrow's markets because the end user will mandate an environmentally sound product or process when alternatives are available. As a society, we are faced with some tough decisions about our environment and the world we live in. A very positive step all health care facilities can take for our future and our children's future is to employ a reusable and recyclable system. Switching from disposable to reusable textiles dramatically reduces the amount of solid waste but does so without using excessive water because of state-of-the-art recycling facilities now available. It also can offer the user better performance of the products they need to use. The answer is simple enough--investment in reusable and recyclable systems is in everybody's interest.

Physician's attitudes toward the ill aged and nursing homes.

A survey of physicians in private practice (exclusive of pediatricians) was conducted in a medium sized suburban city in the New York metropolitan area, to determine whether physicians' attitudes toward the ill aged and nursing homes were predictors of the quality of medical care available to area nursing home patients. Questionnaires were circulated to 302 practitioners. Of the 28 percent who responded, 32 percent were psychiatrists, 15 percent primary care physicians and 8 percent orthopedists. Physicians felt competent to manage the ill aged, although 50 percent had had no significant degree of exposure to geriatric medicine in their medical education, and 70 percent of the primary care group had had none. Primary care and older physicians were more likely to treat patients in nursing homes. Almost 40 percent viewed the nursing home as a place to die. Although 85 percent studied that physicians should be involved in the nursing home displacement process, only 21 percent believed that they continued to be in charge of their patients after placement. The findings demonstrate generalized medical disinterest in the care of ill aged patients in institutions. The persons responsible for awarding government grants and those involved in planning medical school curricula should pay more attention to the needs of the chronically ill aged.

Assessment of ambulatory care: application of the tracer methodology.

Utilizing a tracer method in the assessment of care was investigated in a large pediatric clinic. A set of tracers were selected and agreement was obtained concerning the relevance of care criteria by at least 80 per cent of the facility physicians. One tracer, iron-deficiency anemia, was studied using two nonphysician abstractors to review a sample of 100 patient records with hemoglobins of 11.0 gm/100 ml or less. Results were compared with an implicit review by a panel of physicians. In 52 patients, the low hemoglobin level was not recognized. Only 25 patients proceeded through the care levels of evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Poor compliance was found with the approved criteria. Weighted scores of the explicit tracer method were closely related to ratings by the implicit reviewers. Utilizing tracer assessment with nonphysician abstractors demonstrated remediable deficiencies in health care services.

Simplified method for testing mutagens in Saccharomyces.

Pretreatment of yeast auxotrophs with mutagen on complete medium stimulates the reversion frequency.