[Experience in prophylactic peroperative cardiac electrostimulation (author's transl)]. / La nostra esperienza in tema di elettrostimolazione cardiaca provvisoria peroperatoria.

The Authors refer on about 35 cases of prophylactic peroperative cardiac electrostimulation on about 50,500 cases undergoing surgical procedures during seven years. The indications were: bifascicular block, complete left bundle branch block, primitive sinusal bradycardia, surgical correction of carotid synus syndrome, atrial fibrillation with spontaneous low ventricular rate, neurosurgical treatment of cranial trauma by suspected MAS syndrome, surgical implantation of epicardial electrodes. It is enphasized the necessity to continue with prophylactic peroperative cardiac stimulation in all these cases, except for bifascicular blocks for which one has to decide case by case according to the clinical history and ECG findings.

[Value and limitations of determination of total serum CPK in patients with complicated myocardial infarct. Case statistics for 1974-1977]. / Valore e limiti dell'enzima CPK ematico totale in pazienti con infarto del miocardio complicato.

The Authors, starting from a casuistic formed over four years at the "Servizio di Anestesia e Rianimazione dell'Ospedale Fatebenefrateli di Milano" where there is no coronaric unit and that gathers patients with complicated myocardial infarction, considered the developing of the enzyme CPK in the various clinical phases of these patients. On the basis of these data, we confirm with other Authors have already observed: that is, the value of the total serum CPK isn't a prognostic index fit in the evaluation of the clinical developing of the person with myocardial infarction, especially if complicated.

[Hemodynamic and oxygen transport effects of dobutamine in critically ill patients]. / Effetti emodinamici e sul trasporto di ossigeno della dobutamina nei pazienti critici.

The study evaluates the cardiocirculatory and oxymetric effects of dobutamine infusion in doses between 5 and 15 g/kg/min for a period of 48 hours in 18 critical patients of whom 9 with a low cardiac index (mean 2.1) and 9 with a normal or increased cardiac index (mean 3.3). The beta mimetic effect of the drug is particularly evident in the 9 hypodynamic patients who benefited from a 28% increase in the cardiac index. Likewise, oxygen transport and consumption improved by 22% and 15% respectively. In overall terms, the variables which revealed significant modifications were: cardiac index (CI), systolic index (SI), mean pulmonary pressure (MPAP), pulmonary impaction pressure (PAWP), systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance (SVRO), PVRI), oxygen transport and consumption (DO2, VO2) (No major changes were observed in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR). No tachyphylaxia was noted after 48 hours of continuous infusion.

[Presentation of a case of severe abdominal infection caused by anaerobic bacteria]. / Presentazione di un caso di una grave infezione addominale da germi anaerobi.

The problem of surgical infections is discussed, special attention being paid to the commonest bacterial agents, particularly those extremely serious forms induced by gram negative and anaerobic microorganisms. After an introduction regarding isolation methods and respective therapeutic programmes, attention is turned to the case of a young woman observed after an operation for perforated appendicular abscess later complicated by stercoraceous peritonitis. After initial antibiotic treatment, which was without effect, an association comprising Clindamycin, penicillin and gentamycin was employed. In just a few days this led complete remission of symptoms.