Liver transplantation for fulminant hepatic failure: importance of renal failure

Abstract One hundred eighty-one consecutive patients with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) presenting in a 2-year period were reviewed. In this cohort we examined the impact of pretransplant renal failure on mortality and morbidity following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx). Twenty-seven patients (18 female, 9 male) with a median age of 43.5 years (range 19–65 years) underwent OLTx. FHF was due to idiosyncratic drug reaction ( n = 4), paracetamol overdose ( n = 3), seronegative hepatitis ( n = 17), hepatitis B ( n = 1), veno-occlusive disease ( n = 1), and Wilson's disease ( n = 1). Renal failure was present in 14 patients, 7 of whom died (whereas there was 100 % survival in patients without renal failure). Pretransplant renal failure was associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation (13 days vs 6 days, P = 0.05), prolonged intensive care stay (17 days vs 8 days, P - 0.01) and prolonged hospital stay (27 vs 21 days, P = NS). Pretransplant renal failure did not predict renal dysfunction at 1 year after OLTx. We conclude that the survival of patients transplanted for FHF is inferior to that of patients transplanted for chronic liver disease (67 % vs 88 % 1-year survival in Birmingham). For patients with FHF undergoing transplantation, pretransplant renal failure strongly predicts poor outcome with significantly greater consumption of resources.     

The nurse's work in the care plan for families in the mountains

In this investigation is demonstrated that the nurse needs, in order to carry out a successful work, to learn about the composition of the population of the area under her care. In Patana, a Maisí municipality with 165 inhabitants, 93 male and 72 females, prevailing ninth grade school level and an initial low hygienic culture level, which is considered as regular at the present time, intestinal parasitism and malnutrition are the main diseases in the zone. It is well demonstrated that there is a wide relationship between hygienic conditions at home and community and the incidence of the fore-mentioned diseases and that the educational work performed by the nurse in the area under her care exerts a positive influence, but the support of grassroot mass organizations is required.     

High vasoactive intestinal polypeptide plasma levels in patients with Barrett's esophagus

We have evaluated the correlation between vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) plasma concentration and severity of gastroesophageal reflux in patients with Barrett's esophagus and the possible differences in the VIP values of these patients compared with healthy volunteers. We also evaluated the relation between VIP plasma concentration and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure in 24 patients with Barrett's esophagus. The mean VIP plasma concentration in 14 patients with severe gastroesophageal reflux was 25.6 +/- 0.75 pg/ml, significantly higher than the mean value observed in 10 patients with moderate reflux (18.9 +/- 0.67 pg/ml) (p less than 0.01). The mean LES resting pressure was significantly lower in the group of patients with severe gastroesophageal reflux than that observed in patients with moderate reflux (3 +/- 0.64 and 10.3 +/- 0.69 mm Hg, respectively; p less than 0.01). The mean VIP plasma concentration in 11 healthy volunteers (20.6 +/- 0.65 pg/ml) was significantly lower than the mean value observed in the subgroup of patients with severe gastroesophageal reflux (p less than 0.01). VIP values in patients with moderate reflux were not significantly different from those observed in our volunteers. There was a significant correlation between LES pressure and VIP plasma level (r = -0.9253; p less than 0.01). In conclusion, it is possible that the decreased LES resting pressure observed in patients with Barrett's esophagus and severe gastroesophageal reflux may be due to impairment of the VIPergic innervation, resulting in an increased local VIP release with possible overflow to peripheral plasma.     

Glomus jugulare tumours: A review of 61 cases

Summary A retrospective study of 61 patients with glomus jugulare tumours treated at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, and at the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, London. The average age at presentation was 41.7 years. The patients were mainly treated by a posterolateral combined otoneurosurgical approach. 42/61 of the patients had total or subtotal excision of their tumours, 7/61 had partial removal and the remaining 11/61 had no operation. Only one case required a 2-staged procedure. There were two deaths in the postoperative period, one from intracerebral haemorrhage and the other from the left hemisphere infarction.Postoperative radiotherapy was given to 5/7 of the patients who had partial removal. 3/40 of the patients with total removal had postoperative radiotherapy, and a further 3/40 had received radiotherapy pre-operatively.Of the 11 patients who did not undergo surgery, 7/11 were treated with radiotherapy and 4/11 had embolisation only.