Evaluation of the Diagnostic Sensitivity of Digital Vibration Sensors Based on Capacitive MEMS Accelerometers.

In recent years, there has been an increasing use of digital vibration sensors that are based on capacitive MEMS accelerometers for machine vibration monitoring and diagnostics. These sensors simplify the design of monitoring and diagnostic systems, thus reducing implementation costs. However, it is important to understand how effective these digital sensors are in detecting rolling bearing faults.

Stress ulcer prophylaxis in critically ill patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Background/aims: Critically ill patients especially who require mechanical ventilation or have coagulopathy are at increased risk for stress-related gastrointestinal hemorrhage. There are conflicting data on the efficacy and complication rates of various prophylactic regimens.

Methodology: Our single-center randomized, placebo-controlled study included 287 patients with high risk for stress-related upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (>48 h mechanical ventilation, coagulopathy).

Helicobacter pylori is not a risk factor for stress ulcer bleeding in polytraumatized patients.

Background/aims: The pathogenesis of acute stress-related hemorrhage in critically ill polytraumatized patients is uncertain and any role of Helicobacter pylori infection is unknown. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between Helicobacter pylori serological status of patients developing stress-related bleeding and those with no appearance of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Methodology: In our single-center prospective cohort study we investigated over a 3-year period all consecutive patients with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage for Helicobacter pylori infection by serology.

[CRASH--the first large randomized controlled study of head injuries].

CRASH (www.crash.lshtm.

[Preventive sclerotherapy of esophageal varices with a high risk of hemorrhage: a prospective randomized controlled study].

Endoscopic sclerotherapy (ES) is known to be effective in the treatment of bleeding esophageal varices, but the efficacy in the prophylaxis of first variceal bleeding has not been clear yet. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of first variceal bleeding, eradication and recurrence of varices, and survival after treatment with ES compared to non-treated control group. A total of 104 patients with liver cirrhosis and advanced esophageal varices with no previous history of upper gastrointestinal bleeding were randomly assigned to either endoscopic sclerotherapy group--SKL n = 56, or non-treated control group--KON n = 48.

[Does insufflation of the abdomen in laparoscopic surgery affect acid-base and ventilatory parameters?].

The cardiopulmonary and metabolic changes experienced by patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy with CO2 pneumoperitoneum are not well understood. The purpose of this study is to determine changes of basal parameters during laparoscopy and evaluate their prognostic value. One hundred patients (26 obese, 39 older than 60 years, 7 obese and older than 60) undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy for uncomplicated cholecystolithiasis were included in the study.

[Changes in acid-base equilibrium, ventilation parameters and immunologic reactions in thoracoscopic operations].

In the thoracoscopic operations it is usually necessary to deflate completely the ipsilateral lung. The aim of this study was to determine changes of blood gases and alterations of immune response mediators during thoracoscopic surgery with one-lung ventilation OLV. In the study 38 patients were included undergoing thoracoscopic or video-assisted thoracic surgery.

A prospective randomized controlled trial of sclerotherapy vs ligation in the prophylactic treatment of high-risk esophageal varices.

Background: Endoscopic ligation (EVL) and endoscopic sclerotherapy (EIS) are both effective in the treatment of bleeding esophageal varices, but the efficacy of the two techniques in the prophylaxis of first variceal bleeding has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of first variceal bleeding, the recurrence of varices, and survival after treatment with the two techniques, as compared to a nontreated control group.

Methods: A total of 157 patients with liver cirrhosis and advanced esophageal varices with no previous history of upper gastrointestinal bleeding were randomly assigned to either an EIS group (n = 55), an EVL group (n = 52), or a nontreated control group (n = 50).

[Laparoscopy in abdominal injuries].

Application of laparoscopy in trauma was studied in Traumatological Hospital in Brno, within a more widely concipated project of grant IGA, Ministry of Health in Czech Republic. In the series of 28 patients there was detected neither a single complication, nor a reoperation nor any significant damage to the patient in connection with the use of the endoscopic method detected. Results of the research and author's observations act as a guide for use of more precise indication criteria and adequate selection of patients and for the proper evaluation of the method.

Benefit of prophylactic endoscopic sclerotherapy of esophageal varices. A retrospective analysis.

Background: The therapeutic schedule in bleeding esophageal varices is today established: emergency endoscopy with sclerotherapy or ligation combined with somatostatin and decreasing portal pressure drug followed by repetitive sclerotherapy or ligation. But the approach to varices that do not bleed is not clear.

Methods: The authors submit the results of a 6-year sclerotherapeutic program.

[Recurrent source of bleeding in patients with esophageal varices].

During last 7 years were in Endoscopic Centre of Brno Traumatologic Hospital treated 824 patients (624 male, 200 female) with esophageal varices, indicated to endoscopic sclerotherapy, ligation, or tissue adhesive injection. For one or more episodes of bleeding were treated 659 patients and resting 165 received therapy prophylactically. Recurrent acute bleeding from upper GIT occurred from 1 January 1990 to 30 April 1997 in 212 of them.

[Laparoscopic inguinal hernioplasty--results in the initial group 2 years after surgery].

The authors evaluate retrospectively after a two-year interval the results of laparoscopic inguinal hernioplasty (L.I.H.

Pantoprazole-based dual and triple therapy for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection: a randomized controlled trial.

Background/aims: The eradication of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection in duodenal ulcer and dyspepsia has been achieved using various therapy regimens. The efficacy of protein pump inhibitor pantoprazole as part of these regimens has not been widely studied.

Methodology: During a prospective randomized trial, 250 Hp positive patients with either duodenal ulcer, erosive bulbitis, or gastritis and dyspepsia were treated using 14 days of therapy 1) pantoprazole 40 mg daily and clarithromycin 500 mg b.

Recent position of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in the treatment of portal hypertension.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a side-to-side portocaval shunt for threatening complications of portal hypertension. TIPS effectively decreases portal hypertension connecting the hepatic and portal vein with an expandable metal stent without the mortality and morbidity of an open surgical procedure. Technical success can be achieved in over 90% of patients, with procedure related mortality of 1-2%.

[Repeat laparoscopy in the management of biliary leaks after laparoscopic cholecystectomy].

The incidence of bile leaks increased with the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in surgery. The present paper is focused on biliary leaks-their diagnosis and treatment in a large group of patients, with special emphasis on a miniinvasive approach. Nine biliary leaks were found (i.

[Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in the treatment of complications in portal hypertension].

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a side-to-side portocaval shunt for threatening complications of portal hypertension. The purpose of this study was to evaluate in first 33 patients indicated for TIPS insertion in our institution the efficacy, complications, and mortality. Indication was failure of sclerotherapy or ligation in control either of acute (n = 4) or repetitive (n = 25) variceal bleeding and refractory ascites (n = 4).

[Trauma and emergency thoracoscopy].

Authors present their first experience with urgent videothoracoscopy in polytraumatism and in isolated thoracic trauma patients. During the prospective study in 1993-1995 thoracoscopically was treated 41 (18%) from 229 multiple trauma patients including thorax trauma, hospitalised in our Institute. Thoracoscopy underwent 62 (4%) from 1452 patients with simple thoracic trauma.

[Thoracoscopic major pulmonary resection--pro and con].

The first reports of thoracoscopic video-assisted procedures are from 1993. The main reason for this new techniques was that they allow the performance of standard thoracic surgical procedures in a less invasive ways. The operation trauma is minimalised that could be a cause not only of postoperative pain but often also of chronic future problems.

[Stress ulcers in patients with polytrauma].

Authors treat in their institution yearly 100-120 patients with polytrauma. In the Endoscopic Centre of the hospital approx. 20 gastroduodenal ulcers are diagnosed yearly in patients with supposed stress etiology.

The role of relaparoscopy in the management of bile leaks after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

The incidence of bile leaks has increased with the advent of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The present paper is focused on bile leaks--their diagnosis and management approaches with special consideration to relaparoscopy. From February 1992 to May 1995 a total of 1223 laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed in two hospitals.

Our experience with early integration of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in surgical residency training.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is now a method of choice in treating symptomatic cholelithiasis. The aim of this study was to assess an early integration of surgical residents into performing laparoscopic cholecystectomies and the significance of the integration for their training. Since February 1992 laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has been performed in our institutions.

[Cytokine levels in patients with multiple injuries].

Background: The role of cytokines in trauma still has not been satisfactorily elucidated. Multiorgan failure (MOF) development should be also under the direction of cytokines, endotoxin, and other mediators.

Methods And Results: Therefore we prospectively studied 88 patients with multiple trauma admitted to Traumatological Hospital Brno from June 1, 1992 to May 31, 1993.

[Serum levels of cytokines as a measure of response to stress after various types of elective gallbladder surgery].

The authors investigated the cytokine levels in patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LCHE), conventional open cholecystectomy (OCHE) and complicated open cholecystectomy (KOMPL) in order to assess whether there is a relationship between cytokine levels and the general reaction of the organism, the type and extent of the operation. They did not find an increase of IL-1 or IL-2 levels in any of the patient groups. The IL-6 concentration was slightly raised only in three patients of the OCHE group three hours after surgery and this rise persisted for 24 hours.

[Hemopurification methods in the surgical unit].

The authors submit their initial experience with the activities of the hemodialyzation centre at a surgical department. They present an analysis of 79 patients where some hemopurifying procedures or their combinations were applied. These methods make it possible to perform more safely extensive surgery, they improve the care of patients with multiple injuries and extend therapeutic possibilities in acute pancreatitis and hyperbilirubinaemia when they cannot be treated by other methods.

[Is it possible to predict a decrease in portal pressure after administration of ACE inhibitors?].

We have previously shown that angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril causes a potent decrease in portal pressure gradient, but only in about one half of patients with portal hypertension and an episode of bleeding esophageal varices in patient's history. Twenty-one consecutive patients after first episode of bleeding from esophageal varices were enrolled in the trial. Patients were treated by sclerotherapy in combination with enalapril.