1,722,060 research outputs found
[Myocardial dysfunction during sepsis: epidemiology, prognosis and treatment]. FT Disfunzione miocardica in corso di sepsi: epidemiologia, significato prognostico e trattamento
About 50% of patients with sepsis show myocardial involvement characterized by biventricular enlargement, reduced contractility and diastolic dysfunction. This increases the risk of death and leads to an extremely poor prognosis in the case of severe sepsis or septic shock, with full recovery of cardiac function seen in survivors at 7-10 days. The pathogenesis of myocardial dysfunction has long been investigated and, although it is still not fully understood, seems not to be due to reduced coronary flow, but to circulating substances released by pathogens (e.g. endotoxins) and host immuno-inflammatory responses (e.g. cytokines and mechanisms related to nitric oxide). First-line therapy is causal and consists of antibiotics plus the surgical excision of the infectious focus; in the presence of severe sepsis or septic shock, it is also necessary to promptly start circulatory and multiorgan support treatment. This review describes current knowledge concerning the instrumental and clinical characteristics, pathophysiology, prognosis and therapy of myocardial dysfunction during sepsis, and briefly considers possible future therapeutic perspectives. © 2011 Il Pensiero Scientifico Editore
SIMMED SIMulation in MEDicine, Italian Society for simulation in medicine position paper: executive summary
Systemic arterial waveform analysis and assessment of blood flow during extracorporeal circulation
Background: The pressure recording analytical method (PRAM) is a method for real-time beat-to-beat quantification of peripheral blood flow based on the analysis of arterial waveform morphology. Since PRAM can be implemented in any conditions of flow, whether physiological or artificial, we assessed its accuracy in patients undergoing cardiac surgery during extracorporeal circulation (ECC), using the roller-pump device as the reference gold standard. Methods: We prospectively studied 32 patients undergoing elective coronary surgery. Flow values obtained by PRAM from the radial artery were compared with simultaneous values by thermodilution in physiological conditions of flow and with the roller-pump device readings during ECC. Results: Before and after ECC, the overall estimates of flow measured by PRAM closely agreed with thermodilution (mean difference 0.07±0.40 L/min). During ECC, PRAM estimates of flow also closely correlated with simultaneous pump readings (mean difference 0.11±0.33 L/min). At time of weaning from ECC, two patterns of hemodynamic adaptation were documented by PRAM following resumption of cardiac contraction: in most patients (n =26; 80%), cardiac output (CO) was stable (reduction ≤ 10% compared to the steady ECC phase); six patients (20%) showed a fall in CO exceeding 10% and up to 38%. Conclusions: PRAM provided accurate, continuous quantification of peripheral blood flow during each phase of cardiac surgery, including ECC, and allowed early recognition of patients with low CO during weaning from the pump. © 2006 Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd
Effects of 1:1, 1:2 or 1:3 intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation/heart support on coronary haemodynamics and cardiac contractile efficiency in an animal model of myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion
OBJECTIVES: The effects of operational modes of intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) on coronary haemodynamics and oxygen delivery/demand ratio are unknown and were investigated in an experimental model of myocardial ischaemia reperfusion.
METHODS: Healthy swine (n = 24) underwent 120-minute ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery followed by 24 h of reperfusion and were randomly assigned to have IABP 1:1 (n = 6), IABP 1:2 (n = 6), IABP 1:3 (n = 6) in the descending aorta or to no IABP implantation (n = 6) 5 min after the onset of reperfusion. Systolic (CBF(Sys)) and diastolic (CBF(Dia)) coronary blood flow, systolic (CR(Sys)) and diastolic (CR(Dia)) coronary resistances and endocardial viability ratio (EVR), as an expression of the oxygen delivery/demand ratio, were measured at 30 min, 1, 6, 12 and 24 h after coronary reperfusion, respectively.
RESULTS: IABP at the 1:1 operational mode significantly increased CBF(Dia) and EVR, and reduced CR(Dia) throughout the experiment. Contrastingly, IABP at 1:3 mode resulted in a significant reduction in CBF(Dia), in a steady increase in CR(Dia), in a steady reduction in O(2) delivery and a constant increase in O(2) demand over time. IABP at the 1:2 mode had no overall effect on assessed parameters.
CONCLUSIONS: IABP at the 1:1 mode enhanced coronary haemodynamics and cardiac contractile efficiency in an acute animal model of coronary ischaemia/reperfusion. On the contrary, IABP support set at the 1:2 or 1:3 modes failed to provide benefit. Progressive reduction in balloon inflation with a 1:1 mode instead of decreasing the heart/IABP operational ratio might represent a better IABP withdrawal protocol and is currently under investigation
Caratteristiche ed utilizzo pratico di rivaroxaban nella fibrillazione atriale e nel tromboembolismo venoso
A group of patients with Marfan's syndrome, who have finger and toe contractures, displays tendons' alterations upon an ultrasound examination: are these features common among classical Marfan patients?
The involvement of the musculoskeletal system with other mild pleiotropic manifestations represents a clinical criterion, called "systemic features," to d iagnose Marfan's syndrome. We aimed to investigate the features of the hands and feet redressable contractures present in a group of Marfan patients. In 13 patients with previously diagnosed Marfan's syndrome, an accurate clinical examination was performed. In particular the characterization of the musculoskeletal system by visual analogic scale to measure muscle pain (VAS) and muscle strength (MRC system) was carried out; the Beighton scale score was used to evaluate the articular hypermobility. Ultrasound examination (US) was performed to detect deep-superficial flexor tendons and extensor tendons of both hands, and the short and long flexor and extensor tendons of the fingers and toes in static and dynamic positions. The ImageJ program was adopted to measure a profile of tendon echo-intensity. A reduction of the thickness of all tendons was detected by US in our patients; the VAS and Beighton scale scores were in normal ranges. The profile of tendon echo-intensity showed different textural details in all Marfan patients. This study provides evidence for other contractures' localization, and for altered findings of the tendons in patients with Marfan syndrome and finger/toe contractures. These changes may be associated with structural modifications in connective tissue
Trent'anni di storia delle aziende del SSN: quali coerenze tra evoluzione delle missioni e sviluppo degli strumenti di governo?
Il capitolo analizza l'evoluzione della diffusione degli strumenti manageriali delle aziende pubbliche del SSN dal 1978 al 2008 individuando i principali trend e clusterizzando le epoche e le tipologie di diffusione. In parallelo analizza l'evoluzione della missione delle aziende sanitarie pubbliche inizialmente soggetti di mediatore politico locale poi aziende indivise di produzione infine network di pubblico interesse. Il lavoro analizza la coerenza tra l'evoluzione degli strumenti manageriale e quella delle missioni aziendali interrogandosi sullo iato tra soluzioni emergenti e assetti istituzionali auspicati dal legislator
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