持续不卧床腹膜透析患者25(OH)D_3水平及铁代谢状况分析

目的:分析持续不卧床腹膜透析患者25-羟基维生素D3[25(OH)D_3]水平及铁代谢状况,探讨25(OH)D_3与铁代谢指标的相关性。方法:选取2015年01月~2017年12月期间我院收治的60例持续不卧床腹膜透析患者进行研究,作为观察组,另选取同期在我院接受体检的30例健康者作为对照组。比较两组的生化指标,包括血红蛋白(Hb)、血白蛋白(Alb)、血肌酐(Scr)、尿素氮(BUN)和全段甲状旁腺激素(PTH)、血清25(OH)D_3、铁调素(hepcidin)和血清铁、血清铁蛋白(Fer)和总铁结合力(TIBC)等铁代谢指标,并分析观察组的25(OH)D_3与铁代谢指标的相关性。结果:观察组患者的Hb和Alb显著低于对照组,观察组的Scr、BUN和PTH等指标显著高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P 0. 05)。观察组患者的25(OH)D_3、血清铁和TIBC均显著低于对照组,观察组的Fer显著高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P 0. 05)。两组的hepcidin相比,差异不具有统计学意义(P 0. 05)。观察组的25(OH)D_3与hepcidin和Fer呈负相关关系(r_1=-4. 252,r_2=-3. 518,P均0. 05),与血清铁和TIBC呈正相关关系(r_1=2. 657,r_2=2. 614,P均0. 05)。结论:持续不卧床腹膜透析患者血清25(OH)D_3水平降低,机体存在铁代谢异常,且两者密切相关,25(OH)D_3可通过降低hepcidin影响肾性贫血,服用维生素D可改善贫血及铁代谢异常。     

维持性腹膜透析患者发生不良心血管事件危险因素的分析

目的 探讨维持性腹膜透析患者发生不良心血管事件的危险因素.方法 选取维持性腹膜透析患者44例,透析时间≥3个月.根据不良心血管事件确认标准分为无心血管事件组24例,有心血管事件组20例.记录两组患者年龄、性别、原发病、透析龄;同时记录血生化指标:血尿酸、血色素、血浆白蛋白、总蛋白、胆固醇、甘油三酯、高密度脂蛋白、低密度脂蛋白、血钙、血磷、钙磷乘积、全段甲状旁腺素(iPTH)、25-(OH)D3、碱性磷酸酶、尿素氮、肌酐水平.结果 有心血管事件组血浆总蛋白、白蛋白、血肌酐、25-(OH)D3水平均低于无心血管事件组,而年龄、血胆固醇、尿酸水平则明显高于无心血管事件组(p＜0.05或p＜0.01);二分类Logistic回归分析显示血浆白蛋白、胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白、血尿酸、25-(OH)D3可能是腹膜透析患者发生不良心血管事件的危险因素.结论 心血管事件是腹膜透析患者常见的并发症之一,血脂异常、营养不良、高血尿酸、低血25-(OH)D3是腹膜透析患者发生不良心血管事件的重要危险因素.     

维生素D与血液透析患者左心室肥厚的相关性研究

目的研究维持性血液透析患者维生素D[25(OH)D_3]水平变化及其与左心室肥厚的关系。方法对80例维持性血液透析患者的临床及实验室结果作回顾性分析。采用放射免疫分析法测定25(OH)D_3水平。采用Pearson相关分析25(OH)D_3与左心室结构指标的相关性;用二分类Logistic回归方法分析左心室肥厚(left ventricular hypertrophy,LVH)的危险因素。ROC曲线分析25(OH)D_3预测LVH的最佳截值。结果 80例维持性血液透析患者25(OH)D_3水平为(15.2±3.6)ng/mL;LVH组患者25(OH)D_3水平显著低于非LVH组患者[(13.5±2.8)vs(17.8±3.2)ng/mL,P0.05];25(OH)D_3水平与左心室舒张末内径(left ventricular end diastolic diameter,LVDd)、左心室后壁厚度(left ventricular posterior wall thickness,LVPWT)、室间隔厚度(interventricular septum thickness,IVST)、左心室心肌质量指数(left ventricular mass index,LVMI)呈负相关,与左心室射血分数(left ventricular ejection fraction,LVEF)呈正相关(r=-0.582,P=0.032;r=-0.562,P=0.038;r=-0.498,P=0.046;r=-0.641,P=0.024;r=0.726,P=0.018),二分类Logistic回归分析显示,低25(OH)D_3、C反应蛋白(CRP)、胆固醇(total cholesterol,TC)、贫血、高血压是维持性血液透析患者LVH的危险因素。ROC曲线分析结果显示,维生素D缺乏预测LVH发生的曲线下面积为0.842,最佳诊断截值为14.28 ng/mL,敏感度为68.8%,特异度为81.2%。结论维持性血液透析患者25(OH)D_3水平显著降低,维生素D缺乏是维持性血液透析患者LVH的独立危险因素。维生素D可能参与血液透析患者心血管疾病的发生、发展。     

全甲状腺切除术后甲状旁腺的功能监测

目的 评估全甲状腺切除术后甲状旁腺功能减退症发生情况,探索早期预测术后低钙血症的方法.方法 对124例患者(甲状腺癌46例、结节性甲状腺肿78例)行全甲状腺切除术,恶性患者加行淋巴结清扫术,术前、术后1 h、1 d、2 d检测血钙和血PTH,观察术后甲状旁腺功能减退症发生情况,并用受试者工作特征曲线研究低钙血症早期预测指标.结果 58例发生术后暂时性甲状旁腺功能减退症(46.8%),甲状腺癌组22例(47.8%),结节性甲状腺肿组36例(46.2%),两组之间无明显差异(λ2=0.033,P=0.857);1例发生永久性甲状旁腺功能减退症(0.8%),发生在甲状腺癌组.术后90例(72.6%)出现血钙下降,58例(46.8%)出现血PTH下降,40例(32.3%)出现低钙症状.甲状腺癌组术后血钙(F=21.358,P=0.000)、血PTH(F=18.253,P=0.000)下降程度重于结节性甲状腺肿组,术后1 h血PTH下降百分比可很好的预测有临床症状的低钙血症(曲线下面积为0.933),以PTH下降76.6%作为分界点,此时预测有临床症状的低钙血症的敏感性为89.7%,特异性为87.9%. 结论全甲状腺切除术加行淋巴结清扫会加重术后血钙、血PTH下降程度但不会增加甲状旁腺功能减退症发生率;术后1 h血PTH下降百分比可预测低钙血症的发生.     

血清25羟维生素D_3的缺乏对慢性肾脏病的影响

目的探讨血清25羟维生素D_3[25(OH)D_3]与慢性肾脏病(CKD)的关系。方法选取2014年1月-2016年1月深圳市龙岗区第五人民医院肾内科确诊的120例CKD患者,根据估算肾小球滤过率(eGFR)分成1~5期,另选取健康人群30例(对照组),分别测定各组的血清25(OH)D_3水平及相关实验室指标,并分析其相关性。结果对照组和CKD各期患者的血肌酐(Scr)、eGFR、白蛋白、甲状旁腺素(PTH)、血红蛋白(Hb)、25(OH)D_3水平差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);CKD患者随着分期增加,Scr、PTH水平逐渐增加,eGFR、Hb、25(OH)D_3水平逐渐降低;各组间血钙、血磷差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。CKD 4期、5期患者25(OH)D_3水平不足患者占比显著高于对照组以及CKD 1期、2期、3期患者(P0.05);CKD 5期患者25(OH)D_3水平不足患者占比显著高于CKD 4期患者(P0.05)。CKD患者25(OH)D_3与Scr、白蛋白、PTH呈显著的负相关(P0.05);与eGFR、Hb呈显著的正相关(P0.05)。结论CKD患者的25(OH)D_3水平较健康人群低,并且与CKD患者肾功能损害程度关系密切。     

维持性血液透析患者血清尿酸与25羟维生素D_3的相关性研究

目的分析维持性血液透析(maintenance hemodialysis, MHD)患者血清尿酸与25羟维生素D_3[25-(OH)VitD_3]的关系,并探讨血清尿酸对MHD患者25-(OH)VitD_3的影响。方法选取山东第一医科大学附属青岛医院MHD患者108例,收集患者性别、年龄、透析龄、维生素D类似物使用情况等一般资料。荧光免疫层析法一次性检测25-(OH)VitD_3水平,并完成其血常规、肝功能、肾功能、血清尿酸、校正钙、磷、甲状旁腺素等指标的检测。根据25-(OH)VitD_3水平将其分为维生素D不良组[25-(OH)VitD_330 nmol/L](n=71)和维生素D适宜组[30 nmol/L≤25-(OH)VitD_3100 nmol/L](n=37),比较两组患者的临床资料,并分析25-(OH)VitD_3与其相关性。结果维生素D不良组MHD女性患者的比例(χ~2=4.354,P=0.037)、透析前血清尿酸(t=2.995,P=0.003)、透析前磷(t=2.072,P=0.041)高于维生素D适宜组。相关性分析:25-(OH)VitD_3与女性(r=-0.263,P=0.006)、平均血小板体积(r=-0.270,P=0.005)、血清尿酸(r=-0.210,P=0.030)呈负相关。多元线性回归分析:女性(β=-3.269,P=0.035)、高平均血小板体积(β=-1.610,P=0.007)、高血清尿酸(β=-0.019,P=0.016)是MHD患者25-(OH)VitD_3降低的独立影响因素。结论 MHD患者女性较男性更容易出现25-(OH)VitD_3的缺乏。高血清尿酸、高平均血小板体积可以降低MHD患者25-(OH)VitD_3水平。     

绝经后女性骨密度与骨代谢生化指标的相关性分析

目的分析绝经后女性骨密度(bone mineral density,BMD)与骨代谢生化指标的相关性。方法选取西南医科大学附属医院2017年1月至2018年12月收治的绝经后女性患者151例。根据骨密度T值将患者分为骨质疏松组(83例)、骨量低下组(47例)和骨量正常组(21例),比较三组患者骨代谢生化指标的差异,并对各项指标与BMD进行相关性分析。结果骨质疏松组甲状旁腺素(PTH)、Ⅰ型前胶原氨基末端前肽(P1NP)、Ⅰ型胶原羧基端肽β特殊序列(β-CTX)显著高于骨量低下组和骨量正常组(P0. 05),骨量低下组显著高于骨量正常组(P0. 05)。骨质疏松组体质量指数(bone mass index,BMI)、25(OH) D_3显著低于骨量低下组和骨量正常组(P0. 05),骨量低下组显著低于骨量正常组(P0. 05)。血钙、血磷、骨钙素(BGP)、血清的骨特异性碱性磷酸酶(BALP)在三组之间比较,差异无明显统计学意义(P0. 05)。Spearman相关分析显示,PTH、P1NP、β-CTX与骨密度呈负相关(r=-0. 538,-0. 520,-0. 462,P 0. 05),25(OH) D_3与骨密度呈正相关(r=0. 517,P0. 05),血钙、血磷、BALP、BGP与骨密度无相关性(P0. 05)。结论血清25(OH) D_3、PTH、P1NP、β-CTX与骨密度存在显著相关性,骨代谢生化指标监测有助于绝经后女性骨质疏松的早期诊断。     

高通量透析对尿毒症继发甲状旁腺功能亢进症的影响

目的了解高通量透析对继发性甲状旁腺功能亢进症(SHPT)的影响。方法将37例维持性血液透析患者随机分成两组：高通量与低通量交替使用的混合透析组(混合透析组，n=20)、低通量常规透析组(常规透析组，n=17)。混合透析组交替采用高通量透析器F60和低通量透析器F6，常规透析组采用低通量透析器F6，进行血液透析2年，观察两组患者临床症状、血肌酐(SCr)、尿素氮(BUN)、全段甲状旁腺素(iPTH)、碱性磷酸酶(AKP)、血钙、血磷水平的变化。结果透析前后混合透析组血磷下降率显著优于常规透析组；随着透析时间的推移，常规透析组患者甲状旁腺功能亢进症状明显加重，iPTH、AKP显著升高，血磷呈升高趋势，血钙呈下降趋势；混合透析组患者甲状旁腺功能亢进症状无明显加重，血钙显著升高，iPTH、AKP升高不明显，血磷呈下降趋势；两组比较，混合透析组iPTH、AKP、血磷显著低于常规透析组，血钙显著高于常规透析组，疗效明显优于常规透析组。结论高通量透析可以延缓维持性血液透析患者SHPT的发生。     

维持性腹膜透析患者血清25羟维生素D浓度及影响因素分析

目的 观察维持性腹膜透析患者体内25羟维生素D[25(OH)D]的浓度及其影响因素分析.方法 选取2015年7月至2015年10月在无锡市人民医院腹膜透析中心行持续不卧床腹膜透析(CAPD)或白天不卧床腹膜透析(DAPD)治疗>6个月的终末期肾衰患者为对象进行横断面调查及回顾性分析.选择同期于本院体检中心行体检健康者100例为健康对照组.采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)方法检测上述研究对象的25(OH)D的水平,根据K/DOQI指南标准分为维生素D正常组、不足组、缺乏组.分析各组患者及健康对照组之间人口学、临床及实验室资料之间的差异.并分析影响25(OH)D浓度的因素.结果 110例腹膜透析患者的25(OH)D水平(23.27±10.22)ng/mL低于健康对照组25(OH)D水平(34.82±9.58)ng/mL,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.0001).腹膜透析患者中25(OH)D水平正常组22例(20%),不足组67例(60.9%),缺乏组21例(19.1%),提示大部分腹膜透析患者存在25(OH)D水平不足、缺乏.入选腹膜透析患者,女性25(OH)D 水平缺乏比例(31.91%)明显高于男性(9.52%).腹膜透析患者中25(OH)D缺乏组的血红蛋白、白蛋白显著低于正常组,而总胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇显著高于正常组(P<0.05).缺乏组的血红蛋白、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇低于不足组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05).25(OH)D水平与白蛋白呈正相关(r=0.2883,P<0.0001),与血磷(r=-0.5156,P<0.0001)、甘油三酯(r=-0.2254,P=0.0179)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(r=-0.3004,P=0.0014)成负相关.结论 腹膜透析患者普遍存在维生素D缺乏或不足.25(OH)D水平与白蛋白呈正相关,与血磷、甘油三酯、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇成负相关.建议对于严重缺乏维生素D的腹膜透析患者予合理补充维生素D.     

老年腹膜透析患者甲状旁腺激素水平达标率及其与年龄相关性研究

目的调查分析老年维持性腹膜透析(peritoneal dialysis, PD)患者甲状旁腺激素(parathyroid hormone, PTH)水平达标率及其与年龄的相关性。方法收集2011年1月至2012年1月期间在四川大学华西医院接受PD治疗3个月以上并规律随访的235例患者的临床资料进行横断面研究,根据年龄分为老年组和非老年组(≥65岁和65岁),比较两组血钙、血磷、PTH及其他生化、营养指标,分析年龄与PTH的相关性。结果两组性别构成、身高、体质量、透析龄等差异无统计学意义(P0.05),糖尿病和高血压患病率在老年组患者更高(P0.05)。老年组PTH达标率低于非老年组(16.66%vs. 25.66%),低PTH水平者(150 pg/mL)老年组高于非老年组(70.83%vs. 48.66%)。老年组血磷、血清白蛋白值水平低于非老年组(P0.05),而血钙及血红蛋白高于非老年组(P0.05)。相关分析显示年龄与PTH水平呈负相关(r=-0.275,P0.05)。结论 PD患者PTH水平与年龄相关,老年PD患者PTH水平明显偏低,这可能是老年患者营养状况较差、血磷下降带来的影响。     

Is the recovery profile of mivacurium independent of the rate of decay of its plasma concentration in patients with normal plasma cholinesterase activity?

Background: The duration of action of muscle relaxants is poorly correlated to the rate of decay of their plasma concentration. The plasma concentration of mivacurium may rapidly decrease below its active concentration because of the extensive hydrolysis of mivacurium. By inflating a tourniquet on one upper limb for 3 min after the administration of atracurium, mivacurium or vecuronium, we studied the influence of the initial decline of their plasma concentration on their effect. Methods: In 50 patients anaesthetised with thiopental, isoflurane and fentanyl, the effect of bolus doses of 0.15 or 0.25 mg . kg^?1 mivacurium (MIV 15, MIV 25), 0.3 or 0.5 mg . kg^?1 atracurium (ATR 30, ATR 50) and 0.06 or 0.1 mg . kg^?1 vecuronium (VEC 06, VEC 10) were measured on both arms (evoked response of the adductor pollicis to train-of-four stimulation every 12 s), a tourniquet being applied on one arm just before and during 3 min after the muscle relaxant bolus. Results: Tourniquet inflation of 3 min almost abolished the neuromuscular effect of mivacurium. In the vecuronium groups and in the ATR 50 group, tourniquet inflation did not modify the maximum degree of depression of the twitch response. Also, the duration of action of vecuronium was unaffected by the tourniquet. In the ATR 30 group, times to return of the twitch response to 25% (duration 25%) and 75% (duration 75%) of control response were significantly shorter in the cuffed arm, 23 min vs 27 min, and 41 min vs 45 min, respectively. In the ATR 50 group, only duration 25% was significantly shorter in the cuffed arm (41 min vs 45 min). Conclusion: The results suggest that the rate of decline of the plasma concentration of mivacurium is so rapid, that a very low and almost clinically ineffective concentration is present as soon as 3 min after its administration. The results also indicate that the recovery from a mivacurium-induced neuromuscular blockade is not influenced by the rate of decay of its plasma concentration in patients with genotypically normal plasma cholinesterase.     

Membranes in Artificial Organs

Abstract: Membrane processes play a pivotal and enabling role in modern replacement therapy for acute and chronic organ failure and in the management of immunologic diseases. In fact, virtually all contemporary extracorporeal blood purification methods employ membrane devices, and the next generation of artificial organs and tissue engineering therapies are almost certain to be similarly grounded in membrane technology. In this short essay, we comment on the similarities and differences among synthetic membranes and their natural counterparts and also provide a critical overview of the demographics and technology of hemodialysis, hemofiltration, apheresis, oxygenation, and emerging membrane technologies and applications.     

Reduction of Plasma Fibrinogen, Immunoglobulin G, and Immunoglobulin M Concentrations by Immunoadsorption Therapy with Tryptophan and Phenylalanine Adsorbents

Abstract Immunoadsorption (1A) therapy with tryptophan (TR-350) or phenylalanine (PH-350) adsorbents has been used to reduce the concentration of serum antibodies in human lymphocyte antigen (HLA)-immunized patients. Other forms of plasma purification have been reported to reduce the level of fibrinogen, which affects the blood properties. In this study we investigated the effects of IA therapy using both adsorbents on plasma fibrinogen and immunoglobulins G and M in 13 patients (8 patients were treated with TR-350, and 5 patients were treated with PH-350). During each session 1 plasma volume (2.8 ± 0.4 L of plasma) was processed through the immunocolumn and then returned to the patient together with the blood cells. Compared with the pretreatment values, the plasma fibrinogen, IgG, and IgM concentrations were significantly reduced after IA therapy (p < 0.01 for TR-350; p < 0.04 for PH-350). There was a positive correlation between the degree of reduction of plasma proteins and the number of IA treatments given. A nonpara-metric test (Wilcoxon's signed-rank test or the Mann-Whitney test) was used for statistical analysis. We conclude from our study that IA therapy effectively lowers the plasma levels of fibrinogen, IgG, and IgM and thus can be considered a valuable alternative to other blood purification methods.     

Dilemma of Membrane Biocompatibility and Reuse

Abstract: Numerous articles have been published on the multiple use of dialyzers and on the effect of different reprocessing chemicals and techniques on the dialyzer biocompatibility and performance. The results often appear contradictory, especially those comparing standard biocompatibility parameters. Despite this confusion, a discerning review of the published works allows certain limited conclusions to be drawn. Reprocessing of used hemodialyzers changes the biocompatibility profile of a dialyzer as defined by the parameters complement activation. leukopenia, and cytokine release. The effect of reprocessing depends on the chemicals and reprocessing technique applied and also on the type of membrane polymer being subjected to the reprocessing procedure. Reports of pyrogenic reactions indicate that the flux of the membrane also influences how suitable it is for safe reuse. An increased risk of allergic and pyrogenic reactions appears to be associated with dialyzer reuse. Furthermore, there has been a lack of investigations into the immunologic effect of the layer of adsorbed and chemically altered proteins that remains on the inner surface of reprocessed dialyzers. We conclude that the clinical benefit of dialyzer reuse cannot be generally accepted from a biocompatibility point of view.     

The analgesic effect of racemic ketamine in patients with chronic ischemic pain due to lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans

Background : Ketamine in sub-dissociative doses has been shown to have analgesic and phantom-Limb pain, where conventional treatment has often failed. Chronic ischemic pain due to lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans often responds poorly to analgesics, and the pain-generating mechanisms are not well understood.
Methods : Eight patients with rest pain in the lower extremity due to arteriosclerosis obliterans were given sub-dissociative doses of 0.15, 0.30, or 0.45 mg/kg racemic ketamine and morphine 10 mg as a 5-min infusion on four separate days in a cross-over, double-blind, randomised protocol. Plasma levels of (S)- and (R)-ketamine and their nor-metabolites were analysed with an enantioselective high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Pain levels were evaluated with a visual analogue scale (VAS).
Results : Individual pain levels were highly variable during and after all the infusions but the pooled pain levels showed a dose-dependent analgesic effect of ketamine with a transient but complete pain relief in all patients at the highest dose (0.45 mg/ kg). Side-effects, mainly disturbed cognition and perception, were pronounced and dose-dependent. Morphine 10 mg had an analgesic peak at 20 min and 5/8 patients had complete pain relief. The remaining 3 patients also had high baseline pain scores, indicating a higher analgesic potency for the 0.30 and 0.45 mg/ kg ketamine doses than for morphine 10 mg.
Conclusion : We have demonstrated a potent dose-dependent analgesic effect of racemic ketamine in clinical ischemic pain. Due to a narrow therapeutic window, this analgesic effect is probably best utilised in combination with other analgesics.     

Intravenous endotoxin does not increase tissue extravasation of albumin in rats

Background : It is unclear whether activation of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) increases or decreases the extravasation of plasma.
Methods : Chloralose anaesthetised male Wistar rats received E. coli lipopolysacharide (LPS), 3 mg kg^-1 i.v., or the corresponding volume of saline, 3 or 5 h before the end of the experiment. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded. Tissue clearance of radio-labelled albumin, during the last 2 h of each experiment, was determined by a double-isotope method. In separate animals, the serum concentration of nitrite and nitrate was determined, 5 h after LPS or the solvent.
Main Results : LPS initially decreased MAP and lastingly increased HR. In the 3-h LPS animals (n=8), tissue plasma clearance was lower in the heart and calf muscle and increased only in diaphragm, compared to corresponding control animals (n=8). In the 5-h LPS rats, clearance was lowered (n=8) in the entire gastrointestinal tract and in testes, compared to controls (n=8). The serum nitrite/nitrate concentration was higher in animals given LPS (n=6) than in controls (n=6).
Conclusion : After LPS, tissue clearance of albumin was not increased in any major tissue, in spite of increased serum levels of NO end products. Apparently, after activation of iNOS, the augmented release of NO is not necessarily associated with increased albumin extravasation.     

The multiply injured child

Blunt trauma is the principal cause of childhood death in many developed countries. This review outlines the differences between adults and children with respect to resuscitation and treatment of orthopaedic injuries in a child with polytrauma. Recent advances in techniques of fracture stabilization are reported.     

Adrenaline markedly improves thoracic epidural analgesia produced by a low-dose infusion of bupivacaine, fentanyl and adrenaline after major surgery: A randomised, double-blind, cross-over study with and without adrenaline

Background: Basic pharmacological research indicates that there are synergistic antinociceptive effects at the spinal cord level between adrenaline, fentanyl and bupivacaine. Our clinical experience with such a mixture in a thoracic epidural infusion after major surgery confirms this. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effects on postoperative pain intensity, pain relief and side effects when removing adrenaline from this triple epidural mixture. Methods: A prospective, randomised, double-blind, cross-over study was carried out in 24 patients after major thoracic or abdominal surgery. Patients with only mild pain when coughing during a titrated thoracic epidural infusion of about 10 ml · h^?1 of bupivacaine 1 mg · ml^?1, fentanyl 2 μg · ml^?1, and adrenaline 2 μg · ml^?1 were included. On the 1^st and 2^nd postoperative days each patient was given a double-blind epidural infusion, at the same rate, with or without adrenaline. The effect was observed for 4 h or until pain when coughing became unacceptable in spite of a rescue analgesic procedure. Rescue analgesia consisted of up to two epidural bolus injections per hour and i.v. morphine if necessary. All patients received rectal paracetamol 1 g, every 8 h. Fentanyl serum concentrations were measured with a radioimmunoassay technique at the start and end of each study period. Main outcome measures were extent of sensory blockade and pain intensity at rest and when coughing, evaluated by a visual analogue scale, a verbal categorical rating scale, the Prince Henry Hospital pain score, and an overall quality of pain relief score. Results: The number of hypaesthetic dermatomal segments decreased (P <0.001) and pain intensity at rest and when coughing increased (P <0.001) when adrenaline was omitted from the triple epidural mixture. This change started within the first hour after removing adrenaline. After 3 h pain intensity when coughing had increased to unacceptable levels in spite of rescue analgesia (epidural bolus injections and i.v. morphine). Within 15–20 min after restarting the triple epidural mixture with adrenaline, pain intensity was again reduced to mild pain when coughing. Serum concentration of fentanyl doubled from 0.22 to 0.45 ng · ml^?1 (P <0.01), and there was more sedation during the period without adrenaline. Conclusions: Adrenaline increases sensory block and improves the pain-relieving effect of a mixture of bupivacaine and fentanyl infused epidurally at a thoracic level after major thoracic or abdominal surgery. Serum fentanyl concentrations doubled and sedation increased when adrenaline was removed from the epidural infusion, indicating more rapid vascular absorption and systemic effects of fentanyl.     

Utilisation des médicaments prokinétiques en réanimation : indications et limites ?

Enteral feeding is often limited by gastric and intestinal motility disturbances in critically ill patients, particularly in patients with shock. So, promotility agents are frequently used to improve tolerance to enteral nutrition. This review summaries the pathophysiology, presents the available pharmacological strategies, the clinical data, the counter-indications and the principal limits. The clinical data are poor. No study demonstrates a positive effect on clinical outcomes. Metoclopramide and erythromycin seems to be the more effective. Considering the risk of antibiotic resistance, the first line use of erythromycin should be avoided in favor of metoclopramide.