Problèmes posés par une rachianesthésie chez un patient atteint de la maladie de Gélineau

A 44-year-old patient, with narcolepsy-cataplexy, underwent surgery for lumbar disk hernia under spinal anaesthesia. Our purpose was to prevent an interaction between the patient's disease and general anaesthetic agents with the risk of postoperative hypersomnia. During surgical procedure, two narcolepsy fits occurred, without clinical consequences. The postoperative course was uneventful. However, spinal anaesthesia cannot be considered as a technique of choice because of the risk of narcolepsy-cataplexy fits with loss of consciousness and atonia, during regional anaesthesia. General anaesthesia seems to be the best choice for these patients cholinergic agents and mainly the alpha 1 adrenergic blocking drugs are contra-indicated as they increase the risk of narcolepsy-cataplexy fits. Anaesthetic sleep, narcolepsy, cataplexy and epilepsy are clinically rather similar. The EEG does not allow to differentiate between narcolepsy and anaesthetic sleep, whereas cataplexy and epilepsy result in specific EEG patterns.     

Étude comparative de l’efficacité et de la tolérance de l’étidronate et de l’alendronate au cours de l’ostéoporose postménopausique. Influence de l’adjonction d’un traitement hormonal substitutif

Objectives. To compare the efficacy and safety of etidronate and alendronate in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis and to assess the efficacy of either bisphosphonate in combination with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Patients and methods. In this pragmatic study, the main efficacy criterion was the mean annual change in bone mineral density (BMD). Patients who had a past or current history of etidronate or alendronate treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis with at least 18 months follow-up and an evaluation in 1999 were eligible. Recruitment was in an outpatient clinic with a special focus on metabolic bone diseases. Osteoporosis was defined as at least one low-energy fracture or as a lumbar spine or femoral neck BMD decrease to at least 2.5 SD below the mean in young women. HRT was not an exclusion criterion provided treatment duration was longer than one year. Etidronate was given cyclically (14-day courses in a dosage of 400 mg/d separated by 76-day intervals with calcium and vitamin D supplementation) and alendronate was given daily in a dosage of 10 mg/day. Results. Of the 99 patients who met our inclusion criteria, 53 received etidronate (including 23 on HRT) and 46 alendronate (18 on HRT). Repeat BMD measurements were obtained in 88 patients, including 11 who stopped their bisphosphonate therapy within the first year of use because of adverse events. Lumbar spine BMD (mean ±SD) increased significantly both in the etidronate group (+2.1%±0.7%/year) and in the alendronate group (+5.3%±0.9%/year). The increase was significantly greater with alendronate (P<0.01). The lumbar spine BMD increase was largest in the patients on alendronate and HRT (+6.5%±1.4%/year) and was smallest (and nonsignificant) in the patients on etidronate without HRT (+1.2%±0.8%). Femoral neck BMD showed no significant changes in any group. In the intention-to-treat analysis, fractures occurred in 12 etidronate patients (22.6%) and six (13.0%) alendronate patients (nonsignificant). Adverse events requiring bisphosphonate discontinuation before the scheduled date of the follow-up BMD measurement occurred in one patient (1.9%) in the etidronate group (generalized osteomalacia) and in ten patients (21.7%) in the alendronate group (upper or lower gastrointestinal tract symptoms in six and four patients, respectively; P<0.01). Conclusion. Both etidronate and alendronate significantly increased lumbar BMD, but the effect was significantly more marked with alendronate. Conversely, adverse effects, most notably gastrointestinal symptoms, were more common with alendronate, so that premature treatment discontinuation because of adverse events were more common in the alendronate group. Both differences should be taken into account when selecting the best drug for a patient with postmenopausal osteoporosis.     

Évaluation des variations de l’état de santé : sensibilité au changement de la version arabisée de l’indice fonctionnel HAQ au cours de la polyarthrite rhumatoïde

Objective. – To test the correlation between clinical improvements in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as defined by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) response criteria and functional improvements as assessed by functional measures in the modified Arabic version of the health assessment questionnaire (Arabic-HAQ) and to estimate the sensitivity to change of the Arabic-HAQ, in a prospective study.Methods. – Eighty-two patients with active RA were given methotrexate and followed up prospectively for 12 months. ACR response rates and score improvements on the modified Arabic-HAQ were compared.Results. – The Arabic-HAQ scores showed significant sensitivity to change after 6 and 12 months and were significantly correlated with the ACR response. Percentages of agreement with ACR response levels were high after 6 months and higher still after 12 months. Standardized effect sizes were 2.34 and 2.84 after 6 and 12 months, respectively. Relative efficiency of the total Arabic-HAQ score in relation to the tender joint count was greater than 1.Conclusion. – The Arabic-HAQ is valid and sensitive to functional status changes in patients with RA. The results are comparable to those of the original HAQ. Thus, the Arabic-HAQ can be used to evaluate treatments and to identify changes that are important to RA patients.     

Intérêts et faisabilité de l’anesthésie locale dans la prise en charge de l’extravasation massive de produit de contraste

Radiographic contrast medium extravasation in the upper extremity is not rare. It can be responsible for functional (compartment syndrome) and cosmetic sequelae. It is very difficult to predict the degree of final tissue injury in emergency. Currently, there is no consensus of emergency treatment. However, liposuction and saline washout as described by Gault is the usual treatment. We report the case of 42 year-old woman with radiographic contrast medium extravasation in the arm (120 cm³) with neurologic complications involving median nerve and medial cutaneous nerves of arm and forearm. Emergency conservative surgical washout with saline solution was performed under local anaesthesia. Drainage was realised by lipoaspiration cannula and arm massages. Clinical and radiological results were estimated. Ultimately, the patient has retained no sequela. Contrast medium extravasation in the arm with tissue complications is exceptional. We think that saline washout and lipoaspiration cannula drainage are an emergency useful treatment for radiographic contrast medium extravasation with tissue complications. Tolerance of the management was quite good. Postoperative X-rays are useful to assess treatment efficacy.     

Résultat de la rééducation sur l’évolution motrice et fonctionnelle au cours du traitement de la tuberculose vertébrale

Objectives. – To evaluate the result of rehabilitation on motor and functional improvement in spinal tuberculosis.Methods. – Prospective case study. Data were collected from 47 patients with spinal tuberculosis medically and/or surgically treated, and rehabilitated over a period of 6 months, after spinal decompression and fusion. The main outcome measures were motor development of the patients was evaluated at the beginning, in the 1st week, in the 3rd month, and in the 6th month. Functional development of the patients was evaluated at the beginning and in the 6th month. Functional assessment was made according to Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and motor examination was make according to American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA).Results. – The study population consisted of 47 patients (22 males and 25 females) mean age 37.9 ± 18.3 years (range 5–76 years). The most common site of spinal tuberculosis was the thoracic region. Localized back pain, paraparesis, sensory dysfunction and fever were typical clinical manifestations. Surgical management was performed as anterior or posterior drainage of abscess and/or stabilization of the spine. The rehabilitation program was performed in all patients during the preoperative, early postoperative and late postoperative 6th month periods. Muscle-strengthening exercises on necessary localization such as pectoral, abdominal, lower extremities, truncal and sacrospinal extansors were started for the rehabilitation. The motor score for the lower limbs and the MBI scores for activities of daily living (ADL) and mobility improved significantly (P < 0.001). The self-care and mobility categories of the MBI on admission were 14.8% severely dependent and 10.6% independent. However, at the end of the rehabilitation program, 4.2% were severely dependent and 70.2% independent.Conclusion. – Early diagnosis and appropriate medical and/or surgical treatment together with a rehabilitation program will improve the life quality of patients with spinal tuberculosis.     

Néphropathie induite par les produits de contraste iodés,l’épuration extrarénale est-elle efficace en prevention ?

A FREQUENT AND EXPENSIVE PROBLEM: Ninety percent of contrast media nephrotoxicity (CMN) occur in patients with pre-existing kidney failure. Its aggravation may require early chronic dialysis. PREVENTIVE MEASURES: CMN prophylaxis is important in these patients. Pre- and post-hydration, with infusion of isotonic saline solution or sodium bicarbonate, and reduction of contrast medium (CM) volume to the strict minimum are essential for preventing CM-induced kidney failure. THE INTEREST OF PROPHYLACTIC HEMODIALYSIS AND HEMOFILTRATION: An interesting approach in preventing CMN is the early elimination of the CM with dialysis techniques. Preventive hemodialysis does not reduce the risk of CMN, but hemofiltration has shown significant efficacy in a population of patients with kidney failure. THE INTEREST OF IMMEDIATE HEMODIALYSIS IN CHRONIC HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS: Although nephrotoxicity is no longer a problem in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis, CM, especially in high-dose injections, may be responsible for fluid and electrolyte abnormalities and/or volemic expansion. No data yet justify a conclusion that a hemodialysis session immediately after injection of a CM in chronic dialysis patients might be helpful.     

Cure du syndrome de Jonction Pyelo-Ureterale par voie laparoscopique : Résultats et clés du succès au cours de la courbe d'apprentissage

ObjectivesWe report our experience of transperitoneal laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasties describing our step-by-step surgical technique, and we retrospectively analyze the impact on operative times of the learning curve and long term results.Patients and MethodsFrom January 2005 to January 2009, 27 consecutive (15 male and 12 female) patients, a mean age of 32 years (range 13-66 years) with ureteropelvic junction obstruction were managed by laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP). In the 27 patients who underwent LP, anastomosis was performed with running sutures and we performed intraoperative antegrade stenting.ResultsMean operative time was 175.1 minutes, and mean hospital stay was 3.4 days. A crossing vessel was found in 50% and 5 patients needed pyelolithotomy for concomitant stone disease. There were no major complications. The mean hospital stay was 3, 46 days (range : 2 ?17). Mean follow-up was 15 months (range 6–50 month) with 100% free of obstruction on radiologic imaging.ConclusionsLaparoscopic pyeloplasty is a safe and effective management option for UPJO with excellent short to medium-term results. The antegrade placement of the ureteral stent and the ureteropelvic anastomosis with two running sutures seemed to be tips of success in reducing operative times. Laparoscopic pyeloplasty has now superseded open surgery in our center as the gold standard surgical management for UPJO.