Acute changes in systemic hemodynamics and serum vasopressin after complete cervical spinal cord injury in piglets.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) produces acute hemodynamic alterations through disruption of sympathetic output of the autonomic nervous system and places individuals with SCI at high risk of secondary ischemic insult to the spinal cord as well as to other organs. The purpose of this study was to examine hemodynamics and serum vasopressin concentration in the acute period following complete cervical SCI in piglets.

Methods: We developed a new model of traumatic complete cervical SCI in piglets and measured acute hemodynamic variables and serum arginine vasopressin (AVP) concentrations at baseline and for 4 h after SCI under fentanyl anesthesia.

Stents in the successful management of protein-losing enteropathy after fontan.

A 5-year-old female presented with anasarca secondary to protein-losing enteropathy after fenestrated extracardiac Fontan. There was no response to digoxin, furosemide, spironolactone and captopril. She had coarctation of the aorta and left pulmonary artery stenosis resistant to multiple surgical and balloon interventions.