Intravenous feeding with medium chain triglycerides. Effect on blood gases and the complement system in critically ill patients

Critically ill patients are usually in a catabolic state and may require total parenteral nutrition; this often includes lipid emulsions. Any adverse effects of constituents on pulmonary function, white cell function or the haemocoagulation system could have disastrous consequences in such patients. We have investigated the effects of a new intravenous lipid preparation containing medium chain triglycerides, which, in severely ill malnourished patients are theoretically a preferable energy source to conventional drug chain triglycerides. In a pilot study 17 critically ill patients whose lungs were artificially ventilated were given this lipid emulsion; no adverse effects were observed. Arterial oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions, ratio of inspired oxygen fractional concentration to arterial oxygen tension, platelet and white cell counts all remained constant and the complement system was not activated.     

Parity and bone mineral density in middle-aged women

A retrospective study was carried out to determine the relationship between parity and bone mineral density (BMD) in middle-aged women. Eight hundred and twenty-five woman aged 41–76 years were recruited from four general practice registers in Cambridge. Subjects were unselected as to their health status. Each subject completed a detailed health questionnaire. Participation rate was 50%. The main outcome measure was BMD measured at the spine (L2–4,n=825) and hip (neck, intertrochanter and Ward's triangle;n=817) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) using the Hologic QDR-1000 densitometer. It was found that the unadjusted mean BMD was significantly higher at all sites among the parous women (p=0.031 to <0.00001), and remained significantly higher at the femoral neck (p=0.025), intertrochanter (p=0.001) and Ward's triangle (p=0.045) after adjusting for age and body mass index (BMI). Similar findings were seen after stratifying for potential confounding variables. There was a consistent upward trend of BMD with increasing parity at all sites. Parity remained a significant independent predictor of BMD at all sites after controlling for age, BMI, menopausal status, oral contraceptive and hormone replacement therapy use, smoking status and breast-feeding status in multiple linear regression analyses. There was, on average, a 1.0% increase in BMD per live birth. Our findings therefore suggest a positive relationship between parity and bone mass.     

Larsen's syndrome: anaesthetic implications. Six case reports

Six cases were examined to review the important anaesthetic implications of Larsen's syndrome. Potential problems arising in these patients are highlighted and emphasis placed on cervical spine and airway/respiratory management.