Ornipressin in the treatment of functional renal failure in decompensated liver cirrhosis

In 11 patients with decompensated cirrhosis and deteriorating renal function, the effect of the vasoconstrictor substance 8-ornithin vasopressin (ornipressin; POR 8; Sandoz, Basel, Switzerland) on renal function, hemodynamic parameters, and humoral mediators was studied. Ornipressin was infused at a dose of 6 IU/h over a period of 4 hours. During ornipressin infusion an improvement of renal function was achieved as indicated by significant increases in inulin clearance (+65%), paraaminohippuric acid clearance (+49%), urine volume (+45%), sodium excretion (+259%), and fractional elimination of sodium (+130%). The hyperdynamic circulation was reversed to a nearly normal circulatory state. The increase in systemic vascular resistance (+60%) coincided with a decrease of a previously elevated renal vascular resistance (-27%) and increase in renal blood flow (+44%). The renal fraction of the cardiac output increased from 2.3% to 4.7% (P less than 0.05). A decline of the elevated plasma levels of noradrenaline (2.08-1.13 ng/mL; P less than 0.01) and renin activity (27.6-14.2 ng.mL-1.h-1; P less than 0.01) was achieved. The plasma concentration of the atrial natriuretic factor increased in most of the patients, but slightly decreased in 3 patients. The decrease of renal vascular resistance and the increase of renal blood flow and of the renal fraction of cardiac output play a key role in the beneficial effect of ornipressin on renal failure. These changes develop by an increase in mean arterial pressure, the reduction of the sympathetic activity, and probably of an extenuation of the splanchnic vasodilation. A significant contribution of atrial natriuretic factor is less likely. The present findings implicate that treatment with ornipressin represents an alternative approach to the management of functional renal failure in advanced liver cirrhosis

Which treatment for low back pain? A factorial randomised controlled trial comparing intravenous analgesics with oral analgesics in the emergency department and a centrally acting muscle relaxant with placebo over three days [ISRCTN09719705]

BACKGROUND: About two thirds of adults suffer from backpain at some time during their life. In the emergency room many patients with acute back pain are treated with intravenous non-steroidal analgesics. Whether this treatment is superior to oral administration of non-steroidal analgesics is unknown. Intravenous administration, however, requires considerable amounts of resources and accounts for high workload in busy clinics. In the further course centrally acting muscle relaxants are prescribed but the effectiveness remains unclear. The objective of this study is on the one hand to compare the effectiveness of intravenous with oral non-steroidal analgesics for acute treatment and on the other hand to compare the effectiveness of a centrally active muscle relaxant with placebo given for three days after presentation to the ED (emergency department). METHODS/DESIGN: This study is intended as a randomised controlled factorial trial mainly for two reasons: (1) the sequence of treatments resembles the actual proceedings in every-day clinical practice, which is important for the generalisability of the results and (2) this design allows to take interactions between the two sequential treatment strategies into account. There is a patient preference arm included because patients preference is an important issue providing valuable information: (1) it allows to assess the interaction between desired treatment and outcome, (2) results can be extrapolated to a wider group while (3) conserving the advantages of a fully randomised controlled trial. CONCLUSION: We hope to shed more light on the effectiveness of treatment modalities available for acute low back pain

CPR in medical schools: learning by teaching BLS to sudden cardiac death survivors – a promising strategy for medical students?

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training is gaining more importance for medical students. There were many attempts to improve the basic life support (BLS) skills in medical students, some being rather successful, some less. We developed a new problem based learning curriculum, where students had to teach CPR to cardiac arrest survivors in order to improve the knowledge about life support skills of trainers and trainees. METHODS: Medical students who enrolled in our curriculum had to pass a 2 semester problem based learning session about the principles of cardiac arrest, CPR, BLS and defibrillation (CPR-D). Then the students taught cardiac arrest survivors who were randomly chosen out of a cardiac arrest database of our emergency department. Both, the student and the Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) survivor were asked about their skills and knowledge via questionnaires immediately after the course. The questionnaires were then used to evaluate if this new teaching strategy is useful for learning CPR via a problem-based-learning course. The survey was grouped into three categories, namely "Use of AED", "CPR-D" and "Training". In addition, there was space for free answers where the participants could state their opinion in their own words, which provided some useful hints for upcoming programs. RESULTS: This new learning-by-teaching strategy was highly accepted by all participants, the students and the SCD survivors. Most SCD survivors would use their skills in case one of their relatives goes into cardiac arrest (96%). Furthermore, 86% of the trainees were able to deal with failures and/or disturbances by themselves. On the trainer's side, 96% of the students felt to be well prepared for the course and were considered to be competent by 96% of their trainees. CONCLUSION: We could prove that learning by teaching CPR is possible and is highly accepted by the students. By offering a compelling appreciation of what CPR can achieve in using survivors from SCD as trainees made them go deeper into the subject of resuscitation, what also might result in a longer lasting benefit than regular lecture courses in CPR

Pneumothorax, significance of X-ray in ER: Report of two cases

INTRODUCTION: Pneumothorax is abnormal collection of air in the pleural space occurring when there is discontinuity between visceral and parietal pleura. When communication between bronchi, alveololi and pleural cavity occurs, atsmopheric and intrapleural pressure are being equalized, which lead to decrease in lung compliance thus causing collapsed lung. Collapsed lung can be partial and complete. Pneumothorax can be primary spontaneous, secondary spontaneous and traumatic. CASE PRESENTATION: We have shown two patients, bot with primary spontaneous pneumothorax, without previous chest trauma, without primary pulmonary disease, that were diagnosed with pneumothorax radiographically in ER. In first case, 20 y/o male presented in ER with chest pain and dyspnoea. He was smoker. Said symptoms occurred for the first time. Auscultatory, breath sounds were inaudible. After x-ray of the chest were performed, there were detected presence of gas collection in the left apical zone, with collapsed lung parenchyma. Toracal drainage catheter were inserted, thus making possible for reexpansion of collapsed lung and patient, with stable condition, was transferred to the internal medicine ward.In the second case, patient 56 y/o was presented, who had spontaneous recurrent pneumothorax and called for an ambulance because of breathing difficulty which he had had for two days. Auscultatory, breath sounds were diminished. Righ-sided pneumothorax was detected after chest x-ray was performed in ER. Thoracic drainage catheter was inserted, collapsed lung reexpanded and in stable condition, patient was discharged after five days. CONCLUSION: Cases that were demonstrated can point out the fact that auscultatory findings can not with certainty indicate pneumothorax. Radiography, which can reveal partial or complete collapsed lung, along with blood gas analysis which are important for evaluation of the disturbed lung functions, are of the great importance for the treatment of this condition

Wiener klinische Wochenschrift / Therapie der akuten diabetischen Stoffwechselentgleisungen bei Erwachsenen (Update 2019) : Hyperglykämisch-hyperosmolare und ketoazidotische Stoffwechselentgleisung

Akute Stoffwechselentgleisungen können für Erwachsene in Abhängigkeit von ihrem Ausmaß lebensbedrohlich sein. Dementsprechend sind eine rasche umfassende Diagnostik und Therapie sowie eine enge Überwachung der Vitalparameter und Laborbefunde erforderlich. Bei der Therapie, die sich bei der ketoazidotischen (DKA) und hyperglykämisch-hyperosmolaren (HHS) Form nicht wesentlich unterscheidet, kommt dem Ausgleich des meist beträchtlichen Flüssigkeitsdefizits mit mehreren Litern einer physiologischen kristalloiden Lösung eine vorrangige Rolle zu. Bei den Elektrolyten ist insbesondere auf eine ausgeglichene Serum-Kalium-Konzentration zu achten. Normal-Insulin oder rasch wirksame Analoga können initial als i.v.-Bolus verabreicht werden, in der Folge jedoch kontinuierlich über einen Perfusor. Die Umstellung auf eine subkutane Insulintherapie soll erst bei ausgeglichenem Säure-Basen-Haushalt und zufriedenstellender Glykämie erfolgen.Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and the hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state (HHS) represent potentially life-threatening situations in adults. Therefore, rapid comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic measures with close monitoring of vital and laboratory parameters are required. The treatment of DKA and HHS is essentially the same and replacement of the mostly substantial fluid deficit with several liters of a physiological crystalloid solution is the first and most important step. Serum potassium concentrations need to be carefully monitored to guide its substitution. Regular insulin or rapid acting insulin analogues can be initially administered as an i.v. bolus followed by continuous infusion. Insulin should be switched to subcutaneous injections only after correction of the acidosis and stable glucose concentrations within an acceptable range.(VLID)365890