Morphology of blood cells and the surface of charcoal by scanning electron microscopy during haemoperfusion in patients with hepatorenal syndrome.

The surface structure of non-spherical natural and spherical polymeric charcoal as well as the composition of blood cells in peripheral blood was studied in 52 patients with hepatorenal syndrome using the scanning electron microscope. Our data have allowed us to conclude that the optimal varieties of charcoal in respect of haemocompatibility are non-coated polymeric charcoals with spherical granules. Moreover, these varieties are characterised by an increased ability to absorb deformed erythrocytes.

Aspects of anaesthetic management of heterologous extracorporeal hepatic support in patients with acute liver failure.

Some anaesthetic aspects of heterologous extracorporeal hepatic support for patients with acute liver failure have been investigated in animals and men. Two types of anaesthesia during hepatectomy in pigs were performed in 20 experiments divided into two groups. A convenient anaesthetic technique was found to be the combined use of neuroleptanalgesics, gamma-OH, small doses of thiopental sodium and nitrous oxide--oxygen mixture.