Volume control associated with better cardiac function in long-term peritoneal dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of long-term blood pressure (BP) reduction, achieved with salt restriction and strict volume control, on frequency and regression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. METHODS: 56 patients who had been treated for more than 2 years under our care were enrolled. After echocardiographic (Echo) evaluation, 46 patients were included in the follow-up study. In our unit, we aim to keep patients' BP below 130/85 mmHg and cardiothoracic index below 0.50. To reach these targets, moderate salt restriction is advised, and if necessary, hypertonic PD solutions are used. Echo was performed at the beginning of the study (after a mean period of 36 months on PD) and at the end of the prospective follow-up period (24 months later). RESULTS: At the time of the first Echo, LVH was detected in only 8 (21%) patients. Residual urine volume was significantly decreased compared to data taken when they first started PD (658 +/- 795 vs 236 +/- 307 mL/day). Mean left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was 107 +/- 26.5 g/m2. LVMI was significantly decreased at the end of the follow-up in patients who had LVH at baseline. No LVH developed in patients who had normal LVMI at baseline. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that control of hypertension is possible when extracellular fluid volume is kept under control using hypertonic PD solutions in case of recruitment in addition to salt restriction in long-term PD patients. Sustained normovolemia is associated with low incidence and regression of LVH.     

Electrocardiographic criteria of left ventricular hypertrophy in the presence of left bundle branch block

When left bundle branch block (LBBB) is present on the electrocardiogram, the diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) may be difficult. The left ventricular mass in 70 patients with LBBB was estimated by echocardiography, and was compared to the QRS configuration on the electrocardiogram. We found that there was agreement between a monophasic R pattern in lead 1 or V6 (sensitivity 79.3%, 70.7%) and left ventricular hypertrophy. We suggest that a monophasic R pattern in L1 and V6 may provide a useful simple index of left ventricular hypertrophy in the presence of left bundle branch block.     

CT and MRI of the middle ear

Summary High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) provides excellent contrast between osseous structures, air and soft tissue in conjunction with high spatial resolution. Therefore, thin-section HRCT with bone window setting is the method of choice for the examination of the middle ear structures. The indications are acute and chronic inflammatory changes, cholesteatoma and tumor, the “postoperative middle ear”, and malformations. In most cases, HRCT enables differentiation between inflammatory changes, cholesteatoma, and tumor. The excellent depiction of subtle osseous details enables the identification of erosions of the ossicles or of the bony walls of the mastoid cells, of osseous defects of the tegmen, of the bony labyrinth, and of the tympanic course of the facial canal. In addition, HRCT enables excellent depiction of reconstructions of the ossicles or prosthesis of the ossicles. Although HRCT is the first method of choice, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may provide additional information and lead to a more accurate diagnosis in some cases. This is explained by the excellent soft tissue contrast provided by MRI. In addition, MRI offers the possibility of using various pulse sequences and the administration of IV contrast material. Therefore, MRI may allow the differentiation between inflammatory changes, cholesteatoma, and tumor in those cases in which accurate diagnosis cannot be made by HRCT. The differentiation between a meningocele or meningoencephalocele and other entities such as tumors or cholesteatoma can be established by MRI. Furthermore, MRI can accurately depict cases of labyrinthitis or of neuritis of the facial nerve or of intracranial disease caused by middle ear processes, while this is not always possible by HRCT. In summary, HRCT of the middle ear is the method of choice, but MRI may provide supplementary information in those cases in which accurate diagnosis cannot be established by HRCT.      

Objective and early diagnosis of chylous fistula in the postoperative period.

OBJECTIVE: The study goal was to evaluate whether quantitative analysis of neck drainage contents is an important parameter of objective and early diagnosis of chylous fistula (CF) in the postoperative period. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We prospectively evaluated 103 consecutive neck dissections during a 2-year period at a tertiary academic referral center. Six of the patients (5.8%) had CF. The data obtained from the patients with CF were matched with normal data obtained from patients without CF. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was found between total drainage volumes of the patients with and those without CF (P < 0.05). In almost all patients with CF, drainage levels of triglycerides and cholesterol on postoperative day 1 were higher than serum levels. The difference between the drainage levels of triglycerides and cholesterol of the patients with and without CF was highly significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Serum and drainage levels of triglycerides and cholesterol on postoperative day 1 can be used as objective and early predictive parameters of CF.     

Effect of valproic acid on withdrawal therapy in patients with overuse of chronic daily headache medications.

Discontinuation of medication is the treatment of choice for patients with chronic daily headache (CDH) who overuse their medications. This treatment may be difficult due to increased headache severity observed in patients immediately after withdrawal. We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy of valproic acid therapy in 66 patients with overuse of CDH medication during withdrawal therapy. Patients were all withdrawn from medications and valproic acid started at 250 mg or 500 mg daily. Forty-two (63.6%) patients had decreased headache severity, including 27.3% objective responses in the first week. At the last visit in the 12th week, 50 patients were headache-free and only one patient had persistent headache. Fifteen patients withdrew from therapy due to side effects and lost to follow-up within this timeframe. Thus, low dose valproic acid appears to be safe and effective in the management of withdrawal therapy.     

A neurotrophic model for stress-related mood disorders.

There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating that stress decreases the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in limbic structures that control mood and that antidepressant treatment reverses or blocks the effects of stress. Decreased levels of BDNF, as well as other neurotrophic factors, could contribute to the atrophy of certain limbic structures, including the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex that has been observed in depressed subjects. Conversely, the neurotrophic actions of antidepressants could reverse neuronal atrophy and cell loss and thereby contribute to the therapeutic actions of these treatments. This review provides a critical examination of the neurotrophic hypothesis of depression that has evolved from this work, including analysis of preclinical cellular (adult neurogenesis) and behavioral models of depression and antidepressant actions, as well as clinical neuroimaging and postmortem studies. Although there are some limitations, the results of these studies are consistent with the hypothesis that decreased expression of BDNF and possibly other growth factors contributes to depression and that upregulation of BDNF plays a role in the actions of antidepressant treatment.     

Preliminary findings for preemptive analgesia with inhaled morphine: efficacy in septoplasty and septorhinoplasty cases.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of inhaled morphine for preemptive analgesia in patients who undergo septoplasty or septorhinoplasty. STUDY PLAN AND METHODS: Eighty ASA I-II patients scheduled for septoplasty or septorhinoplasty were recruited and randomly divided into 2 groups that received different treatments 10 minutes prior to induction. The preemptive analgesia group (Group P, n = 40) received 65 mug kg(-1) morphine sulphate (a 3-mL volume) via an oral nebulizer, and the control group (Group C, n = 40) received 3 mL 0.9% sodium chloride (physiological saline) via the same type of nebulizer. Blood pressure, oxygen saturation, heart rate, time to first requirement for analgesia, and occurrence of nausea/vomiting were recorded. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between Groups P and C with respect to age, body weight, sex distribution, or duration of surgery. There was also no significant difference between the group frequencies of postoperative nausea/vomiting. The time to first requirement for analgesia was significantly longer in Group P than Group C. CONCLUSION: The results of this preliminary study suggest that a single dose of inhaled morphine administered preemptively prior to septoplasty or septorhinoplasty provides effective postoperative analgesia. EBM rating: B-3b.     

Low molecular weight heparin fractions as an alternative therapy in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia

Eight patients with a delayed-onset heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, with thrombotic complications requiring immediate anticoagulation in 7 of them, were given low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) fractions as alternative therapy. This treatment led to normalization of platelet count within 3-5 days in 6 patients with clinical recovery in 5. In 2 patients, thrombocytopenia persisted despite LMWH therapy. In vitro platelet aggregation tests performed in all patients gave evidence of a relationship between the presence (or absence) of a LMWH-dependent platelet-aggregating factor in the patients' plasma and the persistence (or correction) of the thrombocytopenia with LMWH therapy. Although positive in vitro tests may not necessarily be associated with thrombocytopenia, in vitro testing may prove to be a useful guide before giving LMWH fractions as an alternative therapy in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia requiring immediate anticoagulation.     

Incidence of complications in 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy based on the surgical indications.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The complications of 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy based on the surgical indications were reviewed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients underwent 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy. Indications for vitrectomy, preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity, preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure, and any intraoperative or postoperative complications were recorded. RESULTS: Complications included the need to suture a leaking sclerotomy intraoperatively in four eyes (9%), all of which involved oil removal; postoperative hypotony with choroidals in two eyes (5%); mild progression of nuclear sclerotic cataract in one eye (2% of all eyes, 4% of phakic eyes); the need to switch to 20-gauge pars plana vitrectomy in one eye (2%); corneal abrasion in one eye (2%); and retinal detachment in one eye (2%). Sclerotomy leakage and hyopotony with choroidals were only encountered in cases involving previously vitrectomized eyes, whereas none of the eyes without previous vitrectomy had leakage-related complications. CONCLUSIONS: Previously vitrectomized eyes have a higher incidence of complications related to postoperative leakage, possibly due to the lack of plugging effect of peripheral vitreous on the unsutured sclerotomy. One should consider suturing any leaking sclerotomy at the conclusion of surgery involving previously vitrectomized eyes.