[Systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance in brain death].

Background: Hemodynamic instability is known to affect brain dead subjects and it can be dangerous for the viability of transplantable organs. Aim of the present study was to assess the hemodynamic performance in brain dead subjects, the changes during the legal observation period and the results of therapeutic management.

Methods: The authors evaluated 28 consecutive adult brain dead subjects, all in intensive treatment, controlled ventilation, infusion therapy and/or dopamine administration and continuous direct monitoring of arterial pressure.

Maintenance of and recovery from anaesthesia in elderly patients. A clinical comparison between sevoflurane and isoflurane.

Background: The goal of this multicenter, prospective, randomized clinical investigation was to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of sevoflurane and isoflurane during the maintenance of and the recovery from general anaesthesia in elderly patients.

Methods: With the approval of the Ethical Committee and the patient informed consent, 104 ASA physical status II-III patients, aged more than 65 years, were randomized in order to receive either isofluorane (n = 54) or sevoflurane (n = 50) as the main general anaesthetic. After an oral diazepam (0.

[Hormone evaluation in brain death].

Background: In this study, the level and the variation of a number of hormone and metabolic parameters during brain death treatment in potential organ donors have been monitored.

Methods: Thirty-nine consecutive brain-dead patients were enrolled in 3 Intensive Care Units of Regional Hospitals of the North of Italy. All patients were potential organ donors and free from diseases before the accident leading to death.

Organizational aspects of donor procurement activity in the North Italy Transplant programme (NITp).

In Italy, organ procurement is insufficient to meet patient need. The aim of this study was to estimate the potential donor pool, quantify nonused donors, identify causes of nonretrieval, and evaluate the impact of some hospital organizational problems on organ procurement. In 1995 a questionnaire was sent to 103 intensive care units (ICUs) in 92 hospitals of the NITp area.

[The organizational problems of the hospitals of the Nord Italia Transplant Program (NITp) engaged in the activities of organ retrieval for transplantation. The Collaborative Group of Resuscitation Anesthetists].

If the quality of results of organ transplantation in NITp is highly satisfactory, the same cannot be said for the number of transplants performed, which only cover 20-25% of the requirement. To understand the causes of organ shortage, a study group of Anaesthesiologists and Transplant Coordinators from the North Italy Transplant Program (NITp) investigated, through a questionnaire addressed to the Heads of 103 Intensive Care Units (ICU) in 92 Hospitals in the NITp area, some of the organizational problems linked to donor identification and treatment and to organ retrieval. The questionnaire took into consideration the number of possible donors identified in 1990, those retrieved and the causes for non retrieving organs and examined a number of variables linked both to retrieval and to ICUs and Hospitals organization.