Haemodynamic effects of moderate normovolaemic haemodilution in conscious and anaesthetized patients.

We have assessed the haemodynamic effects of moderate normovolaemic haemodilution in ASA I patients, either conscious or during enflurane-fentanyl anaesthesia (10 patients in each group). Cardiac index (CI), stroke index (SI) and ejection fraction (EF) were measured by transthoracic electrical bioimpedance and, in the anaesthesia group, arterial and central venous blood samples were obtained to assess oxygen delivery (DO2), oxygen consumption (VO2) and oxygen extraction ratio (O2ER). In conscious patients, heart rate (HR) remained unchanged as SI, EF and CI increased.

[Infection after long lasting procedure in neurosurgery].

A retrospective study was performed to appreciate the frequency of infectious complications following long duration neurosurgical procedure with or without antibiotic prophylaxis. Among the 6,702 surgical procedures studied 87 lasted more than 6 hours. The frequency of wound infections of those 87 patients was 13.

[Shaken baby syndrome].

The shaken baby syndrome is a relatively recent concept concerning mishandled children and characterized by cerebral lesions (subarachnoid haemorrhage, oedema, axonal injuries). A case is reported of a 11-month-old female infant, who was admitted in a paediatric intensive care unit with clinical signs of brain death after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The CT scan showed subdural haemorrhage.