Comment prédire la prééclampsie ?

Predicting PE would enable a better understanding of the physiological mechanisms responsible for this disease. It would also permit the identification of an at-risk population and consequently ease the set up of clinical trials.     

Photographie épidémiologique d’une année d’anesthésie pédiatrique en France

Introduction

Nowadays, the epidemiological data on French pediatric anesthesia is limited. The purpose of this study was to perform an “epidemiological picture” of this activity.

Material and method

From the national Program Information System Medicalization, we have identified the institutions of France performing more than 50 anesthesia by year in children under 15 years in 2008 and noted the demographic data, types of institutions, hospital stay and surgeries.

Results

Seven hundred and eighty-nine thousands and two hundred anesthetic procedures have performed during 648,018 hospital stays in 929 institutions. A percentage of 68.4% of children were between 3 and 15 years old, 26.7% between 1 and 3 years, 4.1% between 1 year and 1 month and 0.8% less than one month, including 62% of boys and 38% of girls. A percentage of 53.6% of hospital stays were realized in private institutions, 20.9% in University Hospitals (UH), and 20.4% in General hospitals (GH), mainly in day-case surgery (60%), 15.2% in stay of 24 h and 24.8% in full hospital stay (FHS). The main surgeries were ENT (29%), digestive (21%), orthopedic (14%), urology (12%) and plastics (9%). Children less than 1 year old were managed by University Hospital and during FHS. Older children were managed in private institution and during day-case surgery.

Conclusion

Over 50% of stays with anesthesia were performed in private institution and during day-case surgery. Controversially, the management of children younger than 1 year was mainly in University Hospital.     

Severe trauma patients in a mountain area: an observational study

Objectives

The main objective was to estimate the nature, severity and medical care of severe trauma injuries following mountain activities as compared to severe trauma following traffic accident in a mountain area.

Study design

We conducted a prospective comparative monocentric observational study at a University Hospital located in the northern Alps area, using the First national study database (French intensive care recorded in severe trauma).

Patients and methods

Three hundred and thirty-seven patients were included during a 2-year-period from January 2005 to December 2006. Three hundred and thirty-seven patients, including 223 traffic accidents and 114 mountain accidents were included. The survey data was achieved with a standardized method on a period of 30 days after the accident, and recorded in a computerized file for optimal completeness.

Results

The study did not show higher severity or mortality rates in patients with mountain accidents. In both groups, we found a peak of mortality for young adults and similar causes of death. However, spinal cord injuries were statistically more frequent in mountain accidents.

Conclusion

So, it seems important to continuously warn population about dangers of this playground.     

Effet de la kétamine dans la prévention des douleurs chroniques post-mastectomies. Étude pilote

Objective

This pilot study was designed to evaluate the feasibility of a trial to estimate the preventive effect of ketamine on postmastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS).

Study design

Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial.

Patients and method

Thirty six patients scheduled for a radical mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection were randomized in two groups (n = 18 per group). Before skin incision, a bolus (0.5 mg/kg of ketamine or placebo) followed by a continuous infusion (0.25 mg/kg per hour of ketamine or placebo) was administered and discontinued at the end of surgical procedure. We studied the incidence and characteristics of PMPS three months after surgery as well as the feasibility of chosen methods.

Results

Thirty patients were followed for three months (group ketamine n = 12; group placebo n = 18). At three months, there was no significant difference in the incidence of chronic pain, but a tendency to a decrease of hyperalgesia near the scar. There was no repercussion on the quality of life. The characteristics of the PMPS are similar to those described in the recent literature (intercostobrachial neuralgia 33%, neuroma pain 39%, and phantom breast pain 22%). The feasibility of the experimental study is established by the absence of difficulty during the clinical investigation period.

Conclusion

We found no preventive effect of ketamine on the development of PMPS. However, the non-statistically significant effect of ketamine on hyperalgesia three months after surgery could justify a larger study with the same methodology.     

Inhalation gastrique : épidémiologie et facteurs de risque

Objective

To determine the epidemiology and risk factors for gastric aspiration in a French university hospital.

Methods

Files were prospectively selected from a computer database of rare and severe complications between January 2002 et April 2007. Medical files were then analyzed according to a predetermined list of specific items.

Results

Forty patients suffered from gastric aspiration among 117 033 anaesthesias (4 medical files lost) (31/100,000 global incidence). All occurred during general anaesthesia, 83% at induction, 8% in the recovery room, half of the cases for emergent cases (15% of emergency). In emergency, the incidence of gastric aspiration increased by 4.5. Only 14 patients (39%) had a “full stomach”, 17 (47%) other risk factors and five (14%) none. A rapid induction–intubation sequence with a Sellick manoeuvre was performed in only 50% of patients with a full stomach and in 23.6% of those with other risk factors. Gastric aspiration occurred in three patients with a laryngeal mask. Aspiration was associated with clinical symptoms in 21 patients. Eleven patients developed an ARDS (5 deaths).

Discussion

The incidence of gastric aspiration was slightly higher in this series than in other published series. Rapid induction–intubation sequence with Sellick manoeuvre is not always used in patients with a full stomach. Restraining this technique only to these latter patients does not guarantee practionners to avoid the risk of gastric aspiration. There is a large need to define which patients are at higher risk of gastric aspiration by national recommendations of clinical practice.     

Évaluation de l’utilisation du sulfate de magnésium dans la prévention secondaire de l’éclampsie : étude rétrospective sur 39 cas

Introduction

The use of magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄) has been advocated since 2000 in France in the management of eclampsia. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of use of this treatment for eclampsia in a French department.

Patients and methods

All patients obstetrical patients admitted to Critical Care Units of Seine-Maritime for eclampsia over a period of 7 years (2002–2008) were included. Obstetric data, the treatment used for eclampsia and pre-eclampsia and maternofetal complications were collected. The primary outcome parameter was the use of MgSO₄ in the secondary prevention of eclampsia.

Results

Thirty-nine patients were included. Nineteen patients (48%) had eclampsia in prepartum, three (8%) in per-partum and 17 (44%) in post-partum periods. The use of MgSO₄ in the secondary prevention of eclampsia was observed in 92% of cases (36/39). Primary prevention was seen in 8% of cases. The duration of treatment was 2 days (1–7 days). The maternal and perinatal mortality was respectively 2.5 and 11%.

Conclusion

In this study, the use of MgSO₄ in the secondary prevention is frequent. This result emphasizes the importance of the recommendations of learned societies in the homogenization of the management of rare but serious conditions such as eclampsia.     

Épidémiologie

In France, the incidence of PE is estimated to range between 1 and 3% in the nuliparous and between 0.5 and 1.5% in the multiparous women. Factors associated with the development of PE are ofvarious types. Studies conducted on families affected by PE suggest the existence of a genetic component to the disease, even though the association between PE and certain genes, allotypes and polymorphisms are still under scrutiny. The hypotheses suggesting an immunological mechanism is supported by several arguments. Indeed, being nuliparous, changing partner, insemination with donor semen are factors associated with the development of PE whereas pre-exposition to the father's sperm bears protection.     

Prévention de la prééclampsie

Aspirin has shown efficacy in preventing PE with a 10 % incidence reduction.     

Parvovirus B19 infection after kidney transplantation

Prevalence for human parvovirus B19 infection is estimated to be between 2% and 30% in renal transplant recipients. In post-transplant settings, parvovirus B19 infection may occur either as a primary infection or a reactivation. Parvovirus transmission most commonly occurs through respiratory tract but may also result from graft or blood packs contamination. Co-infections with HHV-6 and CMV viruses are frequent. The hallmark symptom is anemia, more rarely pancytopenia and hemophagocytic syndrome. In respect to renal involvement, parvovirus B19 infection has been associated with graft dysfunction in 10% of cases. Both thrombotic microangiopathies and collapsing glomerulopathies have been reported concomitantly with parvovirus B19 infection but the causal link remains unclear. Other complications are seldomly reported, including hepatitis, encephalitis, and myocarditis. Diagnosis is based on pre and post-transplant serological status. In addition, the management of parvovirus B19 infection in immunocompromised patients requires quantitative assessment of blood viral load by PCR. The treatment relies primarily on reduction of immunosuppression combined with intravenous immunoglobulin infusions. Relapses occur in 30% of cases.     

Contrôle échographique de la position de la sonde nasogastrique en préhospitalier

Objective

To assess the feasibility and actual performance of ultrasound control in verification of the correct positioning of a nasogastric tube in pre-hospital settings.

Study type

Prospective, observational, single-centre study.

Patients and methods

Correct positioning of nasogastric tubes in patients intubated in a pre-hospital setting was verified by ultrasound and routinely compared with the results of two pre-hospital tests, namely a test involving insufflation of air through a syringe coupled with epigastric auscultation and a test involving aspiration of gastric fluid with a syringe. Routine x-ray control was carried out and compared with the pre-hospital results.

Results

Ninety-six patients were included. Mean age was 52 years (median: 53.5 years, SD: 23 years). In 83% of the patients (n = 80), the nasogastric tube was located by ultrasound immediately during the insertion procedure. The mean times to ultrasound confirmation of correct positioning of the nasogastric tube were 7 s (median: 2 s; SD: 16 s) and 19 s for the syringe tests (median 19 s, SD: 5 s). Eight ultrasound control tests were negative. Location coupled with insufflation of air through a syringe allowed detection of the nasogastric tube in the stomach but without providing confirmation of the actual gastric position. The pre-hospital ultrasound results were confirmed by subsequent radiological controls at the hospital.

Conclusion

The ultrasound test performed in our study to verify correct positioning of a nasogastric tube is feasible in a pre-hospital setting. This technique is rapid and non-irradiating and is more sensitive and specific than the syringe tests commonly used in pre-hospital settings, and it may be performed in place of the latter tests.