Differential effect of L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine in pure autonomic failure and multiple system atrophy with autonomic failure

Summary Treatment with L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (L-threo-dops), a synthetic precursor of norepinephrine, significantly increased upright blood pressure in patients with multiple system atrophy but had no effect on the upright blood pressure of patients with pure autonomic failure. These results suggest that the site of action of L-threo-dops is central and that its pressor effect requires intact peripheral sympathetic neurons.     

Comparison of the haemodynamic effects of intermittent positive pressure ventilation with high frequency jet ventilation

The cardiorespiratory effects of intermittent positive pressure ventilation and high frequency jet ventilation with and without positive end expiratory pressure were compared in patients following valvular heart surgery (mitral and/or aortic). Twenty patients received intermittent positive pressure ventilation and high frequency jet ventilation with 0, 0.5 and 1.0 kPa positive end expiratory pressure. High frequency jet ventilation was well tolerated. The addition of 1.0 kPa positive end expiratory pressure was associated with preservation of the arterial oxygen tension without any increase in shunt or significant adverse haemodynamic effect. The results are discussed and compared with a previous study of high frequency jet ventilation following aortocoronary bypass graft surgery.     

Pressure stability of nasal CPAP and bilevel devices

Summary Question of the study   Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) prevents collapse of the upper airway during sleep in patients with obstructive sleep apnea provided that a positive transmural pressure can be maintained during inspiration. We examined pressure-flow characteristics in seven CPAP and bilevel devices during spontaneous breathing.
Methods   The CPAP devices were set to a pressure level of 9.8  hPa (10  cm H₂O) and adapted to a pneumotachograph using a standard CPAP hose and an outlet valve. We continuously measured flow, volume and pressure during resting ventilation and increasing voluntary hyperventilation and analysed the dependence of the variables on a breath-to-breath basis.
Results   Mean CPAP pressures differed between the devices (9.9 – 10.6  hPa) despite the same settings. In all machines pressure fell during inspiration to 8.4 – 9.8  hPa and increased during expiration to 11.1 – 11.7  hPa. This effect increased with higher flow rates. Maximum expiratory pressures rose to 12 – 19  hPa at peak flow rates of 2 l/s, mean expiratory pressures to 9.5 – 16  hPa. Inspiratory pressures dropped to 8.5 – 4.5  hPa (minimum) and 10.5 – 6.0 (mean). Bilevel devices showed a higher stability than CPAP devices. Pressure swings during the respiratory cycle increased the additional work of breathing.
Conclusions   Due to differences in mean and effective CPAP levels CPAP devices are not simply exchangeable but should be individually adapted. Patients with higher minute ventilation might benefit from more stable CPAP machines. The impact on patients' compliance remains to be evaluated.     

无创正压通气不同压力支持水平对正常人呼吸做功的影响

目的 :观察无创正压通气 (NIPPV)不同压力水平对正常人呼吸做功的影响 ,为临床合理地应用NIPPV提供理论依据。方法 :选择 9例正常人行NIPPV并寻找出“最舒适”的吸气压力水平 (IPAP) ,在此压力基础上增加或减少 2 5 %的压力 ,构成低IPAP、最舒适IPAP和高IPAP三个压力水平 ,每一IPAP水平通气 15min以上 ,比较不同压力水平呼吸做功改变。结果 :受试者认为“最舒适”的IPAP为 (11.33± 3.2 0 )cmH2 O ,EPAP为 (4 .5 6± 0 .88)cmH2 O[相当于PSV水平为 (6 .77± 3.2 0 )cmH2 O]。与自主呼吸相比 ,NIPPV增加VE的同时 ,总的呼吸做功(Wtot)明显增加 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,而受试者吸气肌做功占总的吸气做功的百分比 (Wi,p/Wi)明显减少 (P <0 .0 5 )。在最舒适IPAP时 ,Wi,p/Wi降低到基础值的 14 %± 9%。这种变化趋势与IPAP的水平相关。结论 :NIPPV可以显著降低吸气肌肉做功。吸气肌做功减少的比例与IPAP的水平相关。研究的结果为NIPPV时PSV的参数设定提供了生理学的依据。     

Non-invasive dynamic assessment of the elasticity of intracranial structures

The dynamics of the speed of transcranial propagation of ultrasonic impulses has been established in humans. The possibility of detecting the changes in mechanical state of intracranial structures by dynamic measurement of the time of transcranial propagation of ultrasonic impulses (TUPT) has been ascertained for 10 healthy persons and 11 patients with different neurological pathology. The cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFP) was simultaneously monitored for 4 of the patients. Spontaneous fluctuations in TUPT and the changes caused by jugular veins, inferior vena cava compression, hyperventilation and temporary retention of breathing were detected for all investigated subjects. Spontaneous TUPT changes in the range of 0.25-0.85 x 10(-4) of initial mean value, which are related with cardiac and respiratory cycles, have been found in healthy persons while in patients they ranged from 0.07 x 10(-4) to 4.5 x 10(-4) of mean time. In healthy persons bilateral jugular vein compression leads to a decrease in TUPT by 1.8-3.0 x 10(-4), while the compression of inferior vena cava gives an increase in TUPT by 1.6-2.6 x 10(-4). Changes in TUPT during these maneuvers in neurological patients were found to be of different amplitude and direction. The rise of CSFP by 8.4-20.2 mmHg (mean 12.4 mmHg) was observed in 4 investigated patients during the compression of jugular veins or during the inferior vena cava compression, while the changes in TUPT obtained during each of such maneuvers were of opposite character. The results suggest that dynamic evaluation of acoustic impedance of intracranial system reflects the changes in the mechanical state of brain parenchyma.     

高血压病人药物治疗期间动态血压变化

目的评价高血压病人药物治疗期间２４ｈ动态血压变化。方法２６例住院的高血压病人经药物治疗４周连续３ｄ随测血压，血压正常后进入本研究。治疗前后进行２４ｈ动态血压监测。结果患者随测血压（８～９ＡＭ，３～４ＰＭ）血压恢复到正常水平，但动态血压显示在一段时间内（６～８ＡＭ，６～１１ＰＭ）平均收缩和舒张压仍明显高于正常人平均水平（Ｐ＜０．０１），而该时间段易被临床医生忽视。结论随测血压不能实际全面反映高血压病人药物治疗的疗效，２４ｈ动态血压的监测可以正确评价高血压病人药物治疗的效果并根据高血压分布的时间来调整降压药的种类和剂量。     

Influence of ileal pouch capacity and anal sphincteric function on the clinical outcome after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis

This study was designed to determine the influence of ileal pouch capacity and anal sphincteric function on the clinical outcome after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. A total of 24 patients who had undergone ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (J pouch) for ulcerative colitis were studied. The 24-hour stool frequency was found to be inversely correlated with the sensitivity threshold volume (STV), maximal tolerance volume (MTV), and distensibility, but was independent of the maximal resting pressure and maximal squeeze pressure. Patients experiencing nocturnal fecal incontinence had maximal resting pressures that were significantly lower than those of nocturnally continent patients. Among the patients with fecal incontinence, those with frequent soiling had lower resting pressures, STV, and distensibility than the patients with intermittent spotting. In addition, the STV in patients needing nocturnal evacuation were lower than those of patients who did not evacuate after falling asleep. The conclusions are as follows. Both stool frequency and the need for nocturnal pouch evacuation correlated directly with pouch volume. Anal incontinence was more common in patients with low internal sphincteric function. In addition, frequent and gross nocturnal incontinent patients demonstrate a worse function in both the anal sphincter and reservoir than those with intermittent spotting.     

The effects of inverse ratio ventilation on intracranial pressure: a preliminary report

Objective: To determine the effects of pressure control inverse ratio ventilation [PC-IRV], as compared with volume controlled normal ratio ventilation [VC], on the intracranial pressure [ICP] of patients with severe head injury. Design: A prospective study with unblinded intervention. Setting: The Intensive Therapy Unit of a base hospital. Patients and participants: Nine cases of head injury requiring mechanical ventilation and intracranial pressure monitoring were studied. Interventions: Patients were twice transferred from VC (I:E ratio 1:2) to PC-IRV (I:E ratio 2:1). Firstly, tidal volume was maintained at an equal value. Secondly, end tidal CO₂ was maintained at an equal value. No other changes were made to ventilation, vasopressor therapy or ICP control. Measurements and results: Measurements were taken of ICP, mean arterial pressure (MAP) end tidal CO₂ and respiratory parameters. In the first observation, there were significant changes in peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), mean airway pressure (Paw) and intrinsic positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) but not for ICP, end tidal CO₂, MAP and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP). The correlation between change in ICP and change in end tidal CO₂ was r=–0.74. In the second observation there were significant changes in tidal volume, PIP, Paw and intrinsic PEEP but not for ICP, MAP and CPP. The correlation between the change in ICP and the change in Paw was insignificant. Conclusions: PC-IRV has a minimal net effect on ICP. Changes in ICP correlate more strongly with changes in CO₂ than changes in Paw. Received: 16 January 1996 Accepted: 2 September 1996     

Does the shunt opening pressure influence the effect of shunt surgery in normal pressure hydrocephalus?

Summary Thirteen patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus were operated upon with an externally manoeuvrable shunt system (Sophy SU8) in order to investigate its influence on clinical outcome, intracranial pressure and cranial CT parameters. The opening pressure was set at high at surgery and lowered stepwise at intervals of three months to medium and low. The clinical condition, intracranial pressure and cranial CT parameters were examined at the end of the 3 months interval on each pressure level.The patients improved within the first 3 months inspite of an unchanged mean intracranial pressure and remained in a stable clinical condition during the rest of the study period. The intracranial pressure was significantly reduced at 9 months. The ventricular index, Evans index, temporal horn and third ventricle width were reduced 3 months post-operatively and did not change significantly during the rest of the study. The pre-operative third ventricle width was correlated to high psychometric test results after shunt surgery. Reduction in ventricular index, Evans index and third ventricle width after surgery correlated to improvement in psychometric scoring.The clinical improvement after shunt surgery for normal pressure hydrocephalus is seen within 3 months and is independent of the adjusted valve pressure.