Preoperative treatment of thyrotoxicosis in developing countries: a comparative study of carbimazole and propranolol.

Preoperative management of treatment in thyrotoxicosis was investigated in a comparative study of carbimazole and propranolol in 41 consecutive patients collected during a 3-year period. The groups included 20 and 21 patients respectively, of equal sex and age distribution and of similar severity. The length of the preoperative treatment was significantly reduced in the propranolol pretreated patients (P greater than 0.001). Intraoperative blood loss, postoperative function with regard to the thyroid, parathyroids and vocal cords were similar in both groups. Three and two patients respectively had permanent hypothyroidism requiring thyroxin treatment. In patients with therapy compliance problems treatment with propranolol would entail a definite advantage, particularly in developing countries.     

Bolus administration of landiolol, a short-acting, selective beta1-blocker, to treat tachycardia during anesthesia: a dose-dependent study

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinical efficacy of landiolol, a selective beta(1)-blocker, in patients developing tachycardia during anesthesia. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, and placebo-controlled study. SETTING: A single university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients undergoing resection of intracranial or maxillofacial tumors under general anesthesia. INTERVENTIONS: Intravenous bolus administration of landiolol. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients with heart rates exceeding 90 beats/min for more than 5 minutes received an intravenous bolus dose of landiolol. These patients who developed tachycardia were randomized into 4 groups receiving landiolol in the dose of 0, 0.1, 0.2, or 0.3 mg/kg. Heart rate and blood pressure were recorded before drug injection and 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 minutes after the injection. Heart rate was significantly reduced with each dose of landiolol compared with the placebo group between 3 and 20 minutes after drug injection. The lowest heart rate was 93 +/- 4, 80 +/- 8, 79 +/- 8, and 77 +/- 6 beats/min (mean +/- standard deviation) in the landiolol 0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mg/kg groups, respectively. On the other hand, reduction of blood pressure was not as remarkable as that of heart rate. Landiolol, 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg, did not significantly reduce systolic or diastolic blood pressure during the study period, although significant reduction of blood pressure was observed in the landiolol 0.3-mg/kg group between 5 and 10 minutes after drug injection. CONCLUSION: The results showed that bolus administration of landiolol was effective in the treatment of tachycardia during anesthesia in surgical patients. Landiolol was more efficacious in reducing heart rate than blood pressure.     

Plasmapheresis in preoperative care of patients with thyrotoxicosis

The authors studied the efficacy of plasmapheresis in preoperative management of patients with thyrotoxicosis in intolerance of and resistance to thyrostatic agents. Seventy-three patients were examined. Preoperative management was accomplished by gravitation plasmapheresis (PP) with a PP-0.5 apparatus according to the continuous flow principle. The course consisted of 1-5 sessions during which a total volume of 800-5,000 ml of plasma was removed. Heparin was administered in a dose of 150-200 U/kg before PP. It was proved that the most rational technique was replacement of the lost plasma by reopolyglucin with albumin--300% of the total volume of the plasma substitute. Dynamic study of the level of the T3, T4, and TSH hormones proved that the use of such substituting medium leads to stable euthyroidism and that PP is the optimal method of preoperative management of patients with thyrotoxicosis in intolerance of and resistance to thyrostatic agents.     

Experience with the use of propranolol in the surgical management of thyrotoxicosis

A review of the preoperative preparation of 47 patients undergoing subtotal thyroidectomy for thyrotoxicosis was carried out to evaluate the role of propranolol hydrochloride. Based on the premise that subtotal thyroidectomy is performed at least risk in the patient who is euthyroid, propranolol has its primary role as an adjunct to preparation with thioamide drugs. The most common indications for its use are inadequate control with thioamides and drug toxicity. Less frequent indications are its use in pregnant patients and patients who cannot be relied on to comply with a medical regimen outside the hospital environment. Patients can safely be treated preoperatively in the hospital in a reasonable period of time. When propranolol is used without thioamide drugs, the addition of Lugol's solution is of value in control of the thyrotoxicosis.

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Résumé Les auteurs ont examiné le rÔle du propanolol dans la préparation opératoire de 47 patients soumis à la thyroidectomie subtotale pour thyrotoxicose. Etant donné que le but recherché est de rendre les patients euthyroidiens, le rÔle principal du propanolol est réduit à celui d'adjuvant aux thioamides. Les indications les plus fréquentes sont la faillite ou la toxicité des thioamides. Son emploi chez la femme enceinte ou chez certains patients peu susceptibles de se soumettre à un traitement médical extra-hospitalier constituent des indications plus rares. Son emploi en milieur hospitalier est sans danger et efficace dans un laps de temps raisonnablement court. En l'absence des thioamides, l'additon de la solution de Lugol est utile pour contrÔler la thyrotoxicose.

     

Effects of a selective beta 2-blocker (ICI 118,551) on hepatic haemodynamics in the cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic rat

The effects of a selective beta 2-blocker (ICI 118,551) on hepatic haemodynamics were studied in cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic rats. Infusions of 10 and 20 microgram (kg body wt)-1 min-1 beta 2-blocker (in cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic rats) significantly reduced portal pressure, portal venous flow and liver blood flow without altering heart rate. Splanchnic vascular resistance was significantly increased following infusions of 10 and 20 micrograms (kg body wt)-1 min-1 beta 2-blocker. An intraportal injection of beta 2-blocker (10 micrograms body wt)-1 or hepatic artery ligation lowered portal pressure by approximately the same magnitude. Intraportal injection of beta 2-blocker after hepatic artery ligation did not further reduce portal pressure. The results indicate that a selective beta 2-blocker reduces portal pressure by a combination of increased splanchnic vascular resistance and hepatic arterial resistance. It is concluded that a selective beta 2-blocker may be of clinical value in the long-term managements of portal hypertension.     

The use of a selective beta-adrenergic receptor blocker for the preoperative preparation of thyrotoxic patients.

Metoprolol, a cardioselective beta-blocker, was used in two asthmatic, thyrotoxic patients in preparation for thyroidectomy. Adequate reduction in resting heart rate was achieved in both individuals without inducing clinically significant airway obstruction. Beta-1-blockade can be selectively employed in this clinical setting, but patients should be hospitalized and closely monitored for adverse effects on pulmonary function. Metoprolol therapy in patients with reversible airway obstruction is discussed with reference to recent studies on relative cardioselectivity.     

The selective beta 1-blocking agent metoprolol compared with antithyroid drug and thyroxine as preoperative treatment of patients with hyperthyroidism. Results from a prospective, randomized study.

Despite the increasing use of beta-blocking agents alone as preoperative treatment of patients with hyperthyroidism, there are no controlled clinical studies in which this regimen has been compared with a more conventional preoperative treatment. Thirty patients with newly diagnosed and untreated hyperthyroidism were randomized to preoperative treatment with methimazole in combination with thyroxine (Group I) or the beta 1-blocking agent metoprolol (Group II). Metoprolol was used since it has been demonstrated that the beneficial effect of beta-blockade in hyperthyroidism is mainly due to beta 1-blockade. The preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative courses in the two groups were compared, and patients were followed up for 1 year after thyroidectomy. At the time of diagnosis, serum concentration of triiodothyronine (T3) was 6.1 +/- 0.59 nmol/L in Group I and 5.7 +/- 0.66 nmol/L in Group II (reference interval 1.5-3.0 nmol/L). Clinical improvement during preoperative treatment was similar in the two groups of patients, but serum T3 was normalized only in Group I. The median length of preoperative treatment was 12 weeks in Group I and 5 weeks in Group II (p less than 0.01). There were no serious adverse effects of the drugs during preoperative preparation in either treatment group. Operating time, consistency and vascularity of the thyroid gland, and intraoperative blood loss were similar in the two groups. No anesthesiologic or cardiovascular complications occurred during operation in either group. One patient in Group I (7%) and three patients in Group II (20%) had clinical signs of hyperthyroid function during the first postoperative day. These symptoms were abolished by the administration of small doses of metoprolol, and no case of thyroid storm occurred. Postoperative hypocalcemia or recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis did not occur in either group. During the first postoperative year, hypothyroidism developed in two patients in Group I (13%) and in six patients in Group II (40%). No patient had recurrent hyperthyroidism. The results suggest that metoprolol can be used as sole preoperative treatment of patients with hyperthyroidism without serious intra- or postoperative complications. Although the data indicate that the risk of postoperative hypothyroidism is higher after preoperative treatment with metoprolol than with an antithyroid drug, a longer follow-up period than 1 year is needed to draw conclusions regarding late results.     

An evaluation of the perioperative efficacy of selective beta 1-blockade in coronary surgery. Studies with a late preoperative dose of metoprolol

The plasma concentration of metoprolol was measured hourly following an oral dose on two consecutive days--the day before, and the day of, coronary surgery. No significant difference was found between the two sampling days, though there was a tendency to lower concentrations during and after extracorporeal circulation. After a median dose of 50 mg the peak concentration (reached on average after 1.5 h) was 545 +/- 70 nmol/l on the first day and 388 +/- 57 on the day of surgery. The respective elimination rates from plasma, expressed as half-life, were 3.4 +/- 0.21 and 3.5 +/- 0.19 hours (NS). On the day of surgery the heart rate rose during the second half of the observation period, peaking above 130 beats/min. Heart rate was inversely correlated to metoprolol concentration in plasma with coefficient -0.68 before induction of anesthesia and -0.77 two hours after termination of extracorporeal circulation. The perioperative efficacy of beta-blockade following a late preoperative oral dose of the agent thus appeared to be reduced and inadequate.     

结直肠癌术前vivonex替代肠道准备的临床研究

目的探讨口服vivonex可否替代结直肠癌术前肠道准备。方法结直肠癌患者40例,分vivonex组(20例)和对照组(20例),手术前后行肠道菌群分析,血浆D-乳酸、血中细菌DNA检测,观察术中肠道清洁情况和术后感染性并发症的发生率。结果两组术前双歧杆菌/大肠杆菌(B/E)比值倒置,对照组术后B/E比值(0.25±0.06)较术前(0.72±0.59)倒置更为明显,P<0.01。vivonex组术后B/E比值(1.36±0.34)较术前(0.76±0.47)显著增加,P<0.05;两组术后B/E比值比较,vivonex组较对照组显著增加(P<0.01)。术后血浆D-乳酸对照组较vivonex组显著增加(P<0.05),血中DNA阳性率(40%)、术后感染性并发症发生率(25%)对照组均高于vivonex组(25%和15%)。结论vivonex用于结直肠癌术前肠道准备可维护肠屏障功能,降低术后感染性并发症发生率。     

A dose titration study evaluating terazosin, a selective, once-a-day alpha 1-blocker for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia.

The efficacy and safety of terazosin, a selective long-acting alpha-1-adrenergic blocker, were evaluated in 45 normotensive patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia ranging from 50 to 76 years old. All patients underwent a complete urodynamic evaluation and transrectal prostatic ultrasonography before enrollment into the study. The dose of terazosin was titrated to 5 mg. per day for a 1-month interval, provided adverse drug reactions were not observed. Of the patients 39 (87%) completed the dose titration study. The parameters used to assess the effectiveness of terazosin included peak and mean urinary flow rates, micturition symptom scores and the global assessment by the patient of symptomatic improvement. Over-all, the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures changed by less than 1%. The peak and mean urinary flow rates increased by 42 and 48%, respectively. The obstructive and irritative symptom scores improved by 63 and 35%, respectively. Over-all, 30 of the 45 participants (67%) indicated that the voiding symptoms were markedly improved while on terazosin. Five patients did not complete the dose titration study due to development of adverse drug reactions, including erectile dysfunction (7%), tiredness (7%), light-headedness (4%), palpitations (4%), nasal congestion (2%) and asymptomatic hypotension (2%). There were 25 patients (55%) followed on terazosin for 4 to 10 months (mean 6.5 months). The improvements in urinary flow rates and symptom scores were maintained for this interval. Although this preliminary experience with terazosin is encouraging, the ultimate role of terazosin for the long-term treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia needs further evaluation.     

Acupuncture and reflexotherapy of thyrotoxicosis patients in the preoperative period

The authors have selected the most optimal variants of biologically active points which may be used in order to arrest symptoms of thyrotoxicosis. Acupuncture and reflex therapy used in 183 patients with thyrotoxicosis in the preoperative period gave more considerable and rapid effect as compared with medical drugs.     

The role of color-Doppler ultrasonography in preoperative study of hyperparathyroidism

The different diagnostic modalities (MIBI scan, ultrasound, CT, MNR) applied in the preoperative study of hyperparathyroidism, have given excellent sensitivity results, only slightly lower than those obtained by surgical exploration performed by experienced surgeons. Yet, their only limitation lies in a lower level of specificity. Other cervical tumours, such as thyroid nodules, lymphoadenopaties, vascular and macular lesions, can in fact be erroneously taken as hyperfunctioning parathyroids. The present paper shows a clinical experience of 27 patients affected by IPT (14 primary IPT, 10 secondary, 3 terziary) who underwent Color-Doppler Ultrasonography and US before surgical exploration. As a result, global sensitivity level reached 81.5%, specificity 100%. In IPT I and III, sensitivity reached 100% while in IPT II it was only 72.2%. In conclusion, Color-Doppler associated with conventional US increases the specificity rate of IPT pre-operative diagnosis.     

Magnetic resonance imaging for preoperative evaluation of breast cancer: a comparative study with mammography and ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: The widespread use of mammographic screening has led to increased detection of small tumors that are often difficult to diagnose with conventional imaging modalities such as mammography and ultrasonography. Intraductal spread of breast cancer, a principle risk factor for local recurrence, is also difficult to diagnose with mammography and ultrasonography. We investigated the clinical usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging of the breast in the therapy of breast cancer and we compared it with mammography and ultrasonography. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 183 patients with primary breast cancer underwent surgery at our institute between September 1, 1999, and November 30, 2002. They were examined preoperatively with magnetic resonance imaging, mammography, and ultrasonography. Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation included contrast-enhanced dynamic studies using IV injection of gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid. RESULTS: Detection rates of breast cancers by magnetic resonance imaging, mammography, and ultrasonography were 93.7%, 84.6%, and 97.3%, respectively (magnetic resonance imaging versus mammography, p < 0.05). Patterns of time-intensity curves in dynamic magnetic resonance imaging differed with histologic types. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of detection of intraductal spread were 66.7%, 64.2%, and 65.6% with MRI; 22.2%, 85.7%, and 50% with mammography; and 20.6%, 85.2%, and 50% with ultrasonography, respectively (sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy; p < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic resonance imaging can diagnose breast cancer as accurately as ultrasonography and more accurately than mammography. Patterns of time-intensity curves correlated with tumor histology. In addition, magnetic resonance imaging can detect intraductal spread more accurately than the other two methods. Magnetic resonance imaging appears to be indispensable in breast-conserving surgery to minimize local recurrence.     

A randomized long-term comparative study of clinical efficacy of alpha 1-blocker with or without antiandrogen therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia: focusing on improvement of I-PSS

This study was conducted to examine the efficacy of administration of tamsulosin hydrochloride alone or in combination with chlormadinone acetate (CMA) against lower urinary tract symptoms for a period of 52 weeks in 33 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. The patients were randomly allocated into a group administered tamsulosin alone and a group administered tamsulosin in combination with CMA. Based on the assessment of the total I-PSS (International Prostate Symptom Score), significant symptomatic improvement was noted 4 weeks after the commencement of drug administration in the tamsulosin + CMA group, whereas no significant improvement was observed in the tamsulosin group. Both irritative and obstructive bladder symptoms improved significantly at any time of assessment after 4 weeks of drug administration in the tamsulosin + CMA group; however, significant improvement was noted only at week 16 and week 52 for irritative symptoms and at week 16 for obstructive symptoms in the tamsulosin group. In particular, obstructive symptoms showed significant improvement at week 4 in the tamsulosin + CMA group, as compared with that in the tamsulosin group. The average value of peak urinary flow rate was significantly increased in the tamsulosin + CMA group (10.4 ml/s to 15.6 ml/s) as compared with that in the tamsulosin group (8.5 ml/s to 10.5 ml/s). These findings indicate that combined administration of tamsulosin and CMA resulted in early improvement of lower urinary tract symptoms in these patients. Long-term combined administration of tamsulosin and CMA thus appears to be a promising treatment strategy for the improvement of obstructive symptoms and peak urinary flow rate, particularly, 16 weeks onward after administration in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.