Evaluation of laboratory markers for the detection of infections in open-heart surgery patients.

This study compared the efficiency of interleukin-6 (IL-6), human neutrophil lipocalin (HNL), C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell (WBC) count for the early detection of postoperative bacterial infections after open-heart surgery. These laboratory markers were determined preoperatively and monitored daily during the first 6 postoperative days. Postoperative bacterial infections were diagnosed in 17 of 54 studied patients needing at least 3 d of intensive care.

Patterns of energy expenditure in intensive-care patients.

We studied the changes in energy expenditure (EE) in response to multiple injury (n = 6), subarachnoidal hemorrhage (n = 8), low-cardiac-output syndrome after open-heart surgery (n = 6), and uncomplicated coronary artery surgery (n = 10). Measurements were made during 5 consecutive days. In the multiple injury group, EE was 30% higher than predicted basal EE (range 10-52%) within 27 h after trauma, and this hypermetabolism remained unchanged throughout the study.

Changes in whole body and tissue oxygen consumption during recovery from hypothermia: effect of amino acid infusion.

Objective: To study the effects of amino acids on whole body and peripheral energy metabolism during recovery from post-operative hypothermia.

Design: Clinical study using three randomly assigned patient groups.

Setting: ICU of a university hospital.

Peripheral tissue energy metabolism during recovery from hypothermia after cardiopulmonary bypass: effect of amino-acid infusions.

We studied the effects of amino-acid administration on the leg exchange of energy substrates and amino-acids during recovery from hypothermia after open heart surgery. Glucose (G, n = 5), glucose and conventional amino-acids (CA, n = 5) or glucose and branched chain amino-acids (BC, n = 5) were infused during recovery from hypothermia after open heart surgery. The leg exchange of energy substrates and amino-acids were measured after arrival at the intensive care unit, after rewarming, and 2h and 4h after rewarming during increasing amino-acid intake.

Impaired utilization of exogenous amino acids after surgery for subarachnoid haemorrhage.

We studied the metabolic response to acute aneurysm surgery and its modification by parenteral nutrition. Forty-eight patients receiving perioperative corticosteroid treatment were randomly assigned to receive glucose alone (7.2 kcal/day, D5W + C), glucose and a conventional amino acid solution (7.