A BPA survey of recently appointed consultants

A postal survey of recently appointed consultant paediatricians was undertaken to determine whether they perceived their training had adequately equipped them for their current job. The response rate was 69% (207/299). After excluding replies from consultants trained outside the UK the analysis was carried out on 167 replies. Trainees held a mean 5.2 posts during general and higher professional training, necessitating a mean 1.8 house moves. Altogether 82% felt moves were beneficial to training but 46% found moves 'very disruptive' to family life. Only 12% of district general hospital and 22% of teaching hospital senior registrars took two research sessions a week. Supervision and training in research was absent or poor for more than 60%; 24% felt major changes and 55% moderate changes were needed to current training. Training in non-clinical skills was particularly in demand and a curriculum for both trainers and trainees with regular appraisals is required. Research at senior registrar level needs review and educational methods improved to achieve better training in a shorter period.     

Insignificant effect of desflurane-fentanyl-thiopental on hepatocellular integrity--a comparison with total intravenous anaesthesia using propofol-remifentanil

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Inhalational anaesthetics have been associated with hepatotoxicity. Even desflurane, with its low solubility in blood and tissues, and its minimal hepatic biotransformation, is known to affect hepatic integrity. The effects of propofol on hepatic function are, however, a matter of controversy. Alpha-glutathione S-transferase (alpha-GST), a sensitive and specific biomarker for hepatic integrity, was measured to assess the influence of total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) with propofol vs. anaesthesia with desflurane. METHODS: Forty-two patients scheduled for elective prostatectomy were randomly allocated to receive either desflurane, fentanyl and thiopental (desflurane group) or propofol and remifentanil (TIVA group). Depth of anaesthesia was guided by bispectral index. Plasma concentrations of alpha-GST and aminotransferases were measured before induction of anaesthesia (TO), at the end of surgery (T1), as well as 2 h (T2) and 24 h (T3) postoperatively. Haemodynamic parameters and bispectral index values were documented. RESULTS: alpha-GST increased significantly in the desflurane group from TO (3.0 +/- 2.2 microg L(-1)) to T1 and T2 (5.5 +/- 4.3 and 5.6 +/- 3.7 microg L(-1), respectively), whereas no changes were seen in the TIVA group. alpha-GST values above the normal upper limit (> 7.5 microg L(-1)) were seen in 24% of the patients receiving desflurane. Aminotransferases remained unchanged in both groups throughout the study period. CONCLUSIONS: The use of propofol as part of a TIVA regimen seems to have no influence on hepatocellular function during and after surgery. In contrast, patients receiving desflurane showed a transient slight, but significant, increase of alpha-GST to above the normal upper limit after anaesthesia, although this was without further clinical relevance.     

Influence of prophylactic use of pentoxifylline on postoperative organ function in elderly cardiac surgery patients

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of pretreatment with pentoxifylline before cardiac surgery on postoperative organ function in elderly patients (>80 yrs) undergoing cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study. SETTING: Two-day clinical investigation in an intensive care unit of a university-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: Forty elderly patients (age >80 yrs) undergoing first-time elective aortocoronary bypass grafting. INTERVENTIONS: In 20 patients, pentoxifylline (loading bolus of 300 mg followed by a continuous infusion of 1.5 mg.kg-1.hr-1 until the second postoperative day) was given after induction of anesthesia; another 20 patients received saline solution as placebo. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Concentrations of soluble adhesion molecules (soluble E-selectin, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and soluble intercellular adhesion molecules) were measured to assess endothelial function. Liver function was evaluated by monoethylglycinexylidide test and by measuring alpha-glutathione S-transferase plasma concentrations. Renal function was assessed by measuring serum creatinine and urine concentrations of alpha-1-microglobulin. Splanchnic perfusion was assessed by monitoring intramucosal pH by using continuous tonometry. All measurements were performed before pentoxifylline infusion (T0), at the end of surgery (T1), 5 hrs after surgery (T2), and at the morning of the first (T3) and second (T4) postoperative day. Postoperative concentrations of all measured soluble adhesion molecules were significantly higher in the nontreated controls than in the pentoxifylline-treated patients. Monoethylglycinexylidide serum concentrations were significantly lower and abnormal (<50 ng/mL) postoperatively only in the untreated control patients. alpha-Glutathione S-transferase increased in both groups with a significantly higher increase in the control group (from 3.2 +/- 1.2 to 24.1 +/- 4.2 ng/mL) than in the pentoxifylline-treated patients (from 3.8 +/- 1.9 to 11.5 +/- 2.1 ng/mL). Serum creatinine was unchanged in both groups, whereas alpha-1-microglobulin increased significantly more in the control group than in the pentoxifylline-treated group. Intramucosal pH remained almost unchanged in the pentoxifylline patients (>7.35) but decreased significantly in the control group (5 hrs after surgery, intramucosal pH 7.29 +/- 0.13). CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment of patients aged >80 yrs undergoing cardiac surgery with pentoxifylline attenuated deterioration of endothelial, renal, and liver function as seen in an untreated control group. Splanchnic perfusion also appears to be improved in the pentoxifylline-treated group. Whether pretreatment with pentoxifylline will improve outcome in this patient population remains to be elucidated.