Multi-injection paravertebral block with low volume local anesthetic for anesthesia in radical mastectomy - randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Paravertebral block (PVB) is generally used in breast cancer surgery in combination with general anesthesia. Only multi-injection PVB can decrease the volume of local anesthetic (LA) while maintaining the efficacy of the block. The use of small LA volumes in PVB prevents its undesirable distribution from the injection site.

The prognostic value of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein and cholesterol in patients with an infection and multiple organ dysfunction.

Background: To establish the prognostic value of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein and cholesterol levels for mortality in patients with an infection and multiple organ dysfunction.

Methods: A prospective case-control study was performed, including 67 patients admitted to the intensive care unit with an infection and multiple organ dysfunction in whom cholesterol, procalcitonin, and C-reactive protein levels were measured on admission and during the course of treatment.

Results: The associations between in-hospital mortality and procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, and cholesterol levels were analyzed.

[Analysis of postoperative quality of life and survival of patients after surgical interventions on carotid arteries].

The authors analysed the quality of life and survival of patients from 1 to 4 years after operative treatment for stenosmg lesions of internal carotid arteries (Group One) or pathological kinking of internal carotid arteries (Group Two). The highest frequency of the problems in the first group was in the components pain/discomfort (91.7%) and motility (88.

[The fatty acids and fatty aldehydes of blood as a biochemical of multiple organ failure].

The article presents the results of analysis of fatty acids and fatty aldehydes of plasma and blood erythrocytes in patients with the syndrome of multiple organ failure. The increase of relative level of mono-unsaturated fatty acids and decrease of poly-saturated fatty acids and saturated stearic acid in blood plasma is demonstrated. The reliable alterations in erythrocytes concerning the content of saturated palmitic and poly-saturated linoleic fatty acids are detected.

[Experience with sevofluorane and halothane used during general anesthesia in children].

The investigators made a prospective analysis of the specific features of anesthesias with sevoflurane and halothane in 70 children aged 1 to 11 years with systemic surgical diseases and assessed their physical status as ASA Class I. The anesthetics sevoflurane, 3.1 +/- 0.

[Quantitative assessment of pain tolerance].

Pain tolerance was assessed in 44 volunteers by the analysis of their reports during blood collection using a 12-point verbal rating scale. Thereafter, pain intensity in response to 5 successive pricks was measured with a mechanical algesimeter, and the participants of the study were asked to evaluate pain sensation based on a 0-100 score visual-analogous scale. The test was discontinued as soon as a patient reported painful feeling in excess of 50 scores.

[Evaluation of the efficiency of using two different visual scales for quantitative measurement of acute pain].

The paper provides quantitative assessment of acute pain during the standard blood sampling procedure. The estimates of the impact of sex and age on the level of pain sensation were determined using two different visual scales in the evaluation of pain.

[Intensive care and anesthesia maintenance in neonatal infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia].

The authors pool their experience gained with intensive care in 27 neonatal infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernias (CDH) in 1975 to 2006. Group 1 consisted of 13 infants admitted in 1975 to 1992; Group 2 included 14 infants admitted in 1993 to 2006; All Group 1 neonates were operated on within 6-18 hours after birth; eight children died (61.5% mortality).

[Experience in using plasmapheresis as a component in the intensive therapy of critical states].

Ninety-six plasmapheresis sessions were carried out in 54 patients. The indications to the treatment were the DIC syndrome, positional compression syndrome, pancreonecrosis, acute poisonings, acute hepatic failure, sepsis, and immunocomplex diseases. The volume of plasma removed during a session was 300-1500 ml.

[Experience in intensive care of acute massive bleeding in children].

The authors describe the treatment of 6 children hospitalized with an acute massive blood loss. The principal components of therapy were erythrocytic mass, fresh-frozen plasma, concentrated platelets, and donor warm whole blood. Improvement of the clinical status and recovery were attained in all the cases.

[Experience in intensive therapy of diffuse peritonitis in children].

The authors analyze their experience gained in the treatment of diffuse peritonitis in 51 children. The principal components of intensive therapy were effective antibacterial therapy, infusion therapy and parental feeding, prolonged peridural blocking and drug-induced sympathetic blocking, autotransfusions of UV-irradiated blood, and hemoperfusion. The activity of the gastrointestinal tract recovered in all the 51 patients, their clinical and laboratory parameters normalized, and the children were discharged in good condition.

[Complications in ultraviolet irradiation of the blood].

2380 sessions of ultraviolet blood irradiation have been analysed. A DRB-8 lamp was used as a source of irradiation. The complications observed were divided into 2 groups.

[Experience with the use of UV irradiation of autologous blood in oral surgery].

Autotransfusions of UV irradiated blood were used in the treatment of 20 patients with grave pyoinflammatory maxillofacial diseases. 54 sessions were carried out, that resulted in a manifest clinical effect. The results evidence that this method may be effectively used as the main treatment modality in the management of recurrent furunculosis of the face.

[Controlled heparinization during hemosorption].

The authors used a method of graded heparinization with special reference to the individual reaction of the patients to heparin. The initial (starting) dose of heparin was injected intravenously, the sustaining dose of heparin was infused through the tube for blood taking. The method described prevented thrombosis of the HMS apparatus and considerably reduced the quantity of heparin used.