Assessment of Systemic and Cerebral Oxygen Saturation during Diagnostic Bronchoscopy: A Prospective, Randomized Study.

Background: Arterial hypoxemia occurs in about 2.5-69% of cases during fiberoptic bronchoscopy and may necessitate administration of supplemental oxygen. Whether routine supplementary administration is indicated for all patients is a debated issue.

A single preoperative dose of diclofenac reduces the intensity of acute postcraniotomy headache and decreases analgesic requirements over five postoperative days in adults: A single center, randomized, blinded trial.

Objective: Postcraniotomy headache causes considerable pain and can be difficult to treat. We therefore tested the hypothesis that a single 100-mg preoperative dose of diclofenac reduces the intensity of postcraniotomy headache, and reduces analgesic requirements.

Methods: 200 patients having elective craniotomies were randomly assigned to diclofenac (n = 100) or control (n = 100).

Assessment of cerebral tissue oxygen saturation in septic patients during acetazolamide provocation - a near infrared spectroscopy study.

Unlabelled: Sepsis-associated encephalopathy is a multifactorially determined process of the brain parenchyma. Among other factors, vasogenic causes have been shown to play a role in its development. The aim of the present work was to assess whether cerebral tissue oxygen saturation is influenced by administration of acetazolamide in septic patients compared to controls.

Diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography pulmonary angiography with reduced radiation and contrast material dose: a prospective randomized clinical trial.

Objective: The objective of the study was to test the diagnostic performance of low-dose computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) at peak tube voltage of 80 kVp with both reduced radiation and reduced contrast material (CM) dose.

Materials And Methods: In this single-center, single-blinded prospective randomized trial, 501 patients with body weights of less than 100 kg with suspected acute pulmonary embolism (PE) were assigned to normal-dose CTPA (100-kVp tube energy and 100-mL CM, 255 patients) and low-dose CTPA (80-kVp tube energy and 75-mL CM, 246 patients). Primary end points were evidence of PE in CTPA and accuracy of CTPA on a composite reference standard.

Cerebral vasoreactivity to acetazolamide is not impaired in patients with severe sepsis.

Introduction: The pathophysiology of sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is not entirely clear, but one of the possible underlying mechanisms is the alteration of the cerebral microvascular function. The aim of the present work was to test whether cerebral vasomotor reactivity is impaired in patients with severe sepsis.

Methods: Patients fulfilling the criteria of clinical sepsis and showing at least 2 organ dysfunctions were included (n = 16).

The impact of serum homocysteine on intima-media thickness in normotensive, white-coat and sustained hypertensive adolescents.

Background And Purpose: In recent decades, elevated levels of homocysteine (Hcy) have been found to be associated with an increased risk of vascular events. Additionally, in some case-control studies, hyperhomocysteinaemia has been found to be related to higher intima-media thickness (IMT), but the results are inconclusive. Therefore, in the present study we intended to assess the relationship between serum levels of Hcy and IMT in normotensive and hypertensive adolescents.

Assessment of thrombotic risk factors predisposing to thromboembolic complications in prosthetic orthopedic surgery.

Background: Congenital thrombophilia is responsible for thromboembolic complications despite prolonged low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) prophylaxis following hip and knee endoprosthesis surgery.

Methods: A series of 86 patients with hip or knee endoprosthesis surgery were assessed 1 year after operation. Antithrombin III, protein C, and protein S were determined, and the activated protein C sensitivity ratio was measured.

The relative exposure of the operating room staff to sevoflurane during intracerebral surgery.

Background: Our primary aim in this study was to investigate whether escape of the volatile anesthetic sevoflurane from the surgical site during craniotomy for tumor resection increases the exposure of the neurosurgeon to the anesthetic when compared with the anesthesiologist.

Methods: Initially, the release of sevoflurane from the surgical site was measured during 35 tumorectomies starting from opening to closure of the dura. Volatile anesthetic absorbers were placed at three detection sites: 1) the surgeon's breathing zone, 2) the anesthesiologist's breathing zone, and 3) the farthest corner of the operation room.

Effects of tocopherols and 2,2'-carboxyethyl hydroxychromans on phorbol-ester-stimulated neutrophils.

Tocopherol vitamers [e.g., alpha-, gamma- and delta-tocopherol (alpha-TOC, gamma-TOC and delta-TOC, respectively)] and their water-soluble 2,2'-carboxyethyl hydroxychroman metabolites (e.

Effect of sevoflurane on cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular resistance at surgical level of anaesthesia: a transcranial Doppler study.

Background And Objective: It is widely accepted that sevoflurane affects cerebral circulation, but there are uncertainities regarding the magnitude of its effect. The aim of the present work was to assess the effect of sevoflurane on the cerebral circulation at surgical levels of anaesthesia.

Methods: Twenty patients undergoing elective lumbar discectomies were investigated.

Successful control of massive coumarol-induced acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding and correction of prothrombin time by recombinant active factor VII (Eptacog-alpha, NovoSeven) in a patient with a prosthetic aortic valve and two malignancies (chronic lymphoid leukaemia and lung cancer).

Severe, life-threatening acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding may occasionally occur in patients receiving coumarol prophylaxis for prosthetic heart valves. These patients are exposed to two potential, serious risks: bleeding due to the severe blood loss induced by excessive anticoagulant effect or as a consequence of the cessation of anticoagulation subsequent thrombotic occlusion of the valve and loss of patency. Herein a short case report is presented.