A new method for continuous intramucosal PCO2 measurement in the gastrointestinal tract.

Gastric tonometry has been introduced for the early detection of impaired splanchnic perfusion by determination of the intramucosal PCO2. However, due to methodological problems, i.e.

Gastric tonometry: precision and reliability are improved by a phosphate buffered solution.

Objective: To compare a phosphate buffered solution with normal saline as tonometric fluid in intramucosal PCO2 measurement in humans.

Design: Prospective, unblinded comparison.

Setting: Postsurgical critical care unit of a university hospital.

Postoperative alpha 2-adrenergic stimulation attenuates protein catabolism.

The metabolic effects of continuous intravenous (IV) application of the alpha 2 agonist clonidine were evaluated by assessment of nitrogen economy and postaggression endocrine patterns. Twenty-four patients undergoing abdominothoracic esophageal cancer resection were studied. Thirteen of these patients with alcohol abuse were treated postoperatively with IV clonidine for prevention of alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

Repeated administration of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-I in patients after gastric surgery. Effect on metabolic and hormonal patterns.

Objective: The primary objective of this investigation was to evaluate the anticatabolic effects of repeated subcutaneous administration of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-I (rhlGF-I) in patients after gastric surgery.

Summary Background Data: The anabolic and protein-sparing effects of growth hormone are primarily mediated by IGF-I. Malnutrition and catabolic states result in increasing blood levels of growth hormone and decreasing levels of IGF-I.

Improved PCO2 measurement in six standard blood gas analysers using a phosphate-buffered solution for gastric tonometry.

The measurement of gastric intramucosal pH serves as a non-invasive technique for early detection of gastrointestinal ischaemia in critically ill patients. The method is based on the determination of the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in a 0.9% saline solution using a standard blood gas analyser.