[Acute renal insufficiency following a snake bite in a 3-year-old child].

Acute renal failure after viper bite is rare in France. We describe a case in a 3 years-old child, treated with peritoneal dialysis. The physiopathology and the methods of treatment are discussed.

[Effect of continuous barbiturate treatment on the blood flow of the mean cerebral artery in severe brain injured patients. A transcranial Doppler study].

Blood flow velocity (BFV) of the MCA has been studied by TCD of 15 patients with non operated serious cranial trauma, treated with continuous barbiturate therapy. Without hemodynamic and ventilatory modifications (PaCO2), average BFV were lowered during the course of treatment and were raised significantly when it was stopped. This study poses the question of the indication and the methods of barbiturate treatment during serious cranial trauma.

[Fluctuation charts and monitoring in pediatric anesthesia].

Automated anesthesia record with trend curves is a real progress for the anesthetist, offering complete and rigorous documentation. The medico-legal aspects are important and justify a non discussed technology.

[Treatment of postoperative pain in children in the recovery room. Use of morphine and propacetamol by the intravenous route].

The analgesic efficiency of morphine and propacetamol for postoperative pain, in the recovery room, was studied in two groups of children, who had undergone either orthopedic or visceral surgery. An injection of 50 mcg/kg of morphine chlorhydrate was given to the first group of 239 children ASA I, who were admitted to the recovery room and who presented signs of severe pain (agitation, crying, complaining). The analgesic efficiency of morphine was judged on physiological criteria (blood pressure, heart rate) and on behavioral criteria (calming of the child).

[Plasma concentrations of ornidazole in newborn infants and infants after iterative administration].

Ornidazole was administered for ten days to twelve hospitalized neonates at the same daily dose of 20 mg/kg either by one or two IV infusions. Minimum steady-state concentrations measured between the 4th and 10th day ranged from 7.8 to 17.

[Final arrest of a pacemaker after use of electrocautery].

A case is reported of irreversible damage being caused to a permanent programmable pacemaker by electrocautery used in the epigastric region. The pacemaker was rapidly replaced, and the patient had no adverse effects of this accident. The use of monopolar electrocautery in patients who have one of the new generation of programmable pacemakers is very dangerous.

[Evaluation of the efficacy and tolerance of flumazenil in antagonism of the effects of flunitrazepam on the central nervous system].

The efficacy and tolerance of flumazenil were assessed in a double-blind randomized multicentre trial on 120 ASA I or II patients aged 40.3 +/- 13.9 years.

[Hemodynamic effects of intranasal nifedipine during clamping of the abdominal aorta].

The haemodynamic changes due to cross-clamping of the abdominal aorta below the renal arteries were studied in ten patients. Anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone and maintained with fentanyl and vecuronium and inhalation of 60% nitrous oxide in oxygen. At the fifth minute, clamping increased mean arterial pressure (Pa) by 11%, systemic vascular resistance (Rsa) by 26% and decreased cardiac output (CO) by 20%.

Pharmacokinetics of ornidazole in neonates and infants after a single intravenous infusion.

The single dose pharmacokinetics of ornidazole has been evaluated in 12 neonates or infants (aged 1 to 42 weeks) after the infusion of 20 mg/kg over 20 min. Plasma disposition was described by a two-compartment open model. The distribution phase was short (T1/2 (1) = 0.

[Propofol in urological endoscopy in elderly patients. Comparison with methohexital].

Twenty patients undergoing cystoscopy (group A) and forty patients undergoing transurethral resection (group B), aged more than 65 years, were anaesthetized. Duration of anaesthesia was less than 15 min for cystoscopy, and more than 30 min for transurethral resection. No premedication was given.

[Determination of thresholds of external cardiac pacing during anesthesia].

The efficacy of transcutaneous pacing was studied in 33 patients during general anaesthesia. The temporary pacing was effective in all cases. Stimulation thresholds ranged from 85 to 150 mA (mean : 110 +/- 17).

[Pharmacokinetics of thiopental in women and newborn infants].

Plasma thiopentone concentrations after a single intravenous dose were determined by high pressure liquid chromatography in female surgical patients (n = 13), in pregnant women at term (n = 13) and in neonates (n = 13). In pregnant women, the apparent volume of distribution (Vd = 10.02 +/- 3.

[Anti-arrhythmia effects of magnesium salts. 4 cases].

Known since 1935, the antiarrhythmic effects of magnesium salts are periodically forgotten. They are illustrated here by 4 cases with entirely different clinical and biological features. Of unquestionable therapeutic value was the use of magnesium for the treatment of 2 episodes of severe ventricular extrasystoles with "torsades de pointe".

[Endobronchial hemostasis with a Fogarthy catheter].

In a case of profuse and persistent traumatic haemoptysis uncontrolled by thoracotomy, haemostasis was achieved by introducing a Fogarthy's catheter under bronchoscopy into the bronchus involved. Some practical details facilitating the procedure are given, e.g.