Donald S. Prough

Nosocomial pulmonary infection: possible etiologic significance of bacterial adhesion to endotracheal tubes.

Biomaterials are essential for life support and monitoring of critically ill patients, but their use increases the risk of nosocomial infection. Of the various plastics used for life support and monitoring devices, polyvinyl chloride is one to which bacteria most readily adhere. Through the use of qualitative culture techniques and scanning and transmission electron microscopy, we studied the surfaces of polyvinyl chloride endotracheal tubes removed from 25 ICU patients, to determine if bacterial adhesion to those tubes was sufficient to provide a possible source for repeated contamination of the tracheobronchial tree. Of the surfaces studied, 16% were partially covered and 84% were completely covered by an amorphous bacteria-containing matrix. Some biofilm-enclosed bacterial aggregates projected from the matrix into the lumen of the tube. The mechanism by which endotracheal tubes repeatedly inoculate the lungs of intubated patients may prove to be dislodgment of such aggregates by suction apparatus.

Validation in Volunteers of a Near-infrared Spectroscope for Monitoring Brain Oxygenation In Vivo

Cerebral oximeters based on near-infrared spectroscopy may provide a continuous, noninvasive assessment of cerebral oxygenation. We evaluated a prototype cerebral oximeter (Invos 3100; Somanetics, Troy, MI) in 22 conscious, healthy volunteers breathing hypoxic gas mixtures. Using the first 12 subjects (training group), we developed an algorithm based on the mathematic relationship that converts detected light from the field surveyed by the probe to cerebral hemoglobin oxygen saturation (CSf O2). To develop the algorithm, we correlated the oximeter result with the estimated combined brain hemoglobin oxygen saturation (CScomb O2, where CScomb O2 = Sa O2 times 0.25 + Cj O2 times 0.75 and Sj O2 = jugular venous saturation). We then validated the algorithm in the remaining 10 volunteers (validation group). A close association (r2 = 0.798-0.987 for individuals in the training group and r2 = 0.794-0.992 for individuals in the validation group) existed between CSf O2 and CScomb O2. We conclude that continuous monitoring with cerebral oximetry may accurately recognize decreasing cerebral hemoglobin oxygen saturation produced by systemic hypoxemia. (Anesth Analg 1996;82:269-77)

Optoacoustic technique for noninvasive monitoring of blood oxygenation: a feasibility study

Replacement of invasive monitoring of cerebral venous oxygenation with noninvasive techniques offers great promise in the management of life-threatening neurologic illnesses including traumatic brain injury. We developed and built an optoacoustic system to noninvasively monitor cerebral venous oxygenation; the system includes a nanosecond Nd:YAG laser and a specially designed optoacoustic probe. We tested the system in vitro in sheep blood with experimentally varied oxygenation. Our results demonstrated that (1) the amplitude and temporal profile of the optoacoustic waves increase with blood oxygenation in the range from 24% to 92%, (2) optoacoustic signals can be detected despite optical and acoustic attenuation by thick bone, and (3) the system is capable of real-time and continuous measurements. These results suggest that the optoacoustic technique is technically feasible for continuous, noninvasive monitoring of cerebral venous oxygenation.

Hyperchloremic Metabolic Acidosis Is a Predictable Consequence of Intraoperative Infusion of 0.9% Saline

Hyperchloremic Metabolic Acidosis Is a Predictable Consequence of Intraoperative Infusion of 0.9% Saline Donald Prough;Akhil Bidani; Anesthesiology

Traumatic Cerebral Vascular Injury: The Effects of Concussive Brain Injury on the Cerebral Vasculature

In terms of human suffering, medical expenses, and lost productivity, head injury is one of the major health care problems in the United States, and inadequate cerebral blood flow is an important contributor to mortality and morbidity after traumatic brain injury. Despite the importance of cerebral vascular dysfunction in the pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury, the effects of trauma on the cerebral circulation have been less well studied than the effects of trauma on the brain. Recent research has led to a better understanding of the physiologic, cellular, and molecular components and causes of traumatic cerebral vascular injury. A more thorough understanding of the direct and indirect effects of trauma on the cerebral vasculature will lead to improvements in current treatments of brain trauma as well as to the development of novel and, hopefully, more effective therapeutic strategies.

Effects on intracranial pressure of resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock with hypertonic saline versus lactated Ringer's solution.

Hypertonic saline (2400 mOsm/L) has been used successfully for fluid resuscitation of dogs subjected to severe hemorrhagic shock. This study compared the effects of resuscitation with hypertonic saline vs. lactated Ringers solution on intracranial pressure (ICP) in dogs subjected to 30 min of sustained hypovolemic shock. Hypotension was produced by rapid withdrawal of blood until mean arterial pressure was 50 mm Hg, maintained at that level by withdrawal or infusion of blood over the next 30 min as necessary. Eight animals were resuscitated with hypertonic saline solution and nine with lactated Ringers solution. Both solutions restored systolic blood pressure and cardiac output to control values. However, diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure did not return to control values. The most prominent difference between the two groups was in ICP measured after resuscitation. ICP was lower in dogs resuscitated with hypertonic saline than in dogs resuscitated with lactated Ringers solution (p = .029). Hypertonic saline fluid resuscitation may represent a potential alternative when aggravation of intracranial hypertension during resuscitation would place a patient at greater risk.

Cerebral blood flow is reduced in patients with sepsis syndrome.

The relationship between sepsis-induced CNS dysfunction and changes in brain blood flow remains unknown, and animal studies examining the influence of sepsis on cerebral blood flow (CBF) do not satisfactorily address that relationship. We measured CBF and cerebrovascular reactivity to CO2 in nine patients with sepsis syndrome using the 133Xe clearance technique. Mean CBF was 29.6 +/- 15.8 (SD) ml/100 g.min, significantly lower than the normal age-matched value in this laboratory of 44.9 +/- 6.2 ml/100 g.min (p less than .02). This depression did not correlate with changes in mean arterial pressure. Despite the reduction in CBF, the specific reactivity of the cerebral vasculature to changes in CO2 was normal, 1.3 +/- 0.9 ml/100 g.min/mm Hg. Brain blood flow is reduced in septic humans; the contribution of this reduction to the metabolic and functional changes observed in sepsis requires further study.

Regional Cerebral Blood Flow Following Resuscitation from Hemorrhagic Shock with Hypertonic Saline Influence of a Subdural Mass

After severe hemorrhage, hypertonic saline restores systemic hemodynamics and decreases intracranial pressure (ICP), but its effects on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) when used for resuscitation of experimental animals with combined shock and intracranial hypertension have not been reported. We compared rCBF changes (by radiolabeled microsphere technique) after resuscitation from hemorrhage with either 0.8 or 7.2% saline in animals with and without a right hemispheric subdural mass. We studied 24 mongrel dogs anesthetized with 0.5% halothane and 60% nitrous oxide. In group 1 (n = 12), hemorrhage reduced mean arterial pressure (MAP) to 45 mmHg for 30 min. In group 2 (n = 12), ICP was increased and maintained constant at 15 mmHg, whereas hemorrhage reduced MAP to 55 mmHg for 30 min (cerebral perfusion pressure [CPP] approximately 40 mmHg in each group). After the 30-min shock period, 6 animals in each group received one of two randomly assigned resuscitation fluids over a 5-min interval: 1) 7.2% hypertonic saline (HS; sodium 1,232 mEq.l-1, volume 6.0 ml.kg-1); or 2) 0.8% isotonic saline (SAL; sodium 137 mEq.l-1, volume 54 ml.kg-1). Once fluid resuscitation began, ICP was permitted to vary independently in both groups. Data were collected at baseline (before subdural balloon inflation in group 2), midway through the shock interval (T15), immediately after fluid infusion (T35), and 60 and 90 min later (T95, T155). In groups 1 and 2, ICP was significantly less in animals resuscitated with HS compared to those receiving SAL (P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Preoperative and intraoperative predictors of inotropic support and long-term outcome in patients having coronary artery bypass grafting.

The prognostic value of preoperative symptoms, preoperative left ventricular function, and intraoperative factors as related to postoperative outcome in coronary artery bypass grafting is unclear. This study was performed to identify risk factors that could be used as markers to predict immediate and long-term outcome, knowledge of which might allow physicians to modify these factors to decrease the likelihood of an adverse outcome. We retrospectively evaluated preoperative factors (including age, sex, New York Heart Association [NYHA] classification of symptoms, ejection fraction [EF], wall motion abnormalities, baseline left ventricular end-diastolic pressure [LVEDP], postradiographic contrast infection LVEDP, change in LVEDP with contrast injection, cardiac enlargement, and collateral vessels) and intraoperative factors (duration of bypass and aortic cross-clamp time) in 128 patients. The need for inotropic drug support was used as a marker of immediate outcome. A 36-mo follow-up used death and the postoperative NYHA classification of symptoms as markers of long-term outcome. The various factors associated with the use of inotropes and immediate outcome were analyzed by logistic regression. The factors related to inotrope use (and presumed adverse short-term outcome) in order of decreasing significance were lower EF, older age, cardiac enlargement, female sex, and higher baseline and postcontrast LVEDP. Patients with EF s 55%, but also having wall motion abnormalities and LVEDP change ≥ 10 mm Hg, and all patients with EF ≥ 55% were more likely to require inotropic drug stimulation after cardiopulmonary bypass. Neither the change in LVEDP nor the presence of wall motion abnormalities independently predicted the need for postoperative inotropic support. Analysis of long-term outcome in 113 patients revealed an improvement in mean NYHA score from 2.8 ± 0.9 (mean ± SD) preoperatively to 1.6 ± 0.7 postoperatively. Those factors that predicted a worse long-term outcome (defined as higher postoperative NYHA scores or death) were higher preoperative NYHA scores, older age, female sex, and prolonged duration of cardiopulmonary bypass. Only 5 of 113 patients had died at the 36-mo follow-up, precluding statistical analysis of mortality. In contrast to randomized trials of oral inotropic agents in chronic congestive heart failure, in this study the perioperative use of inotropes (our marker of immediate outcome) was only marginally predictive of a less favorable long-term outcome.

Response of cerebral blood flow to changes in carbon dioxide tension during hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass

Changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) in response to changes in Pa were measured by intraaortic injection of133Xe in 12 patients during hypothermic (23–30°C) cardiopulmonary bypass. In each patient, CBF was determined at two randomly ordered levels of Paco2 obtained by varying the rate of gas inflow into the pump oxygenator (Group I, n = 6) or by varying the percentage of CO2 added to the gas inflow (Group II, n = 6). Nasopharyngeal temperature, mean arterial pressure, pump-oxygenator flow, and hematocrit were maintained within a narrow range. In group I, a Paco2 (uncorrected for body temperature) of 36± 4 mmHg (mean ± SD) was associated with a CBF of 13 ± 5 ml.100 g−1·min−1, while a Paco2 of 42 ± 4 mmHg was associated with a CBF of 19± 10 ml · 100 g−1·min−1. In group II, a Paco2 of 47 ± 3 mmHg was associated with a CBF of 20± 8 ml. 100 g−1·min−1, and a Paco2 of 53± 3 mmHg was associated with a CBF of 26 ± 9 ml. 100 g−1·min−1. Within group I, the difference in CBF was significant (p < 0.05); within group II, the difference in CBF was significant at the P < 0.002 level. All CBF measurements were lower than those reported for normothermic, unanesthetized subjects of similar age. The response of the cerebral circulation to changes in CO2 tension was well-maintained during hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. CBF increased by an average of 1.07 ± 1.19 (SD) ml. 100 g−1·min−1·mmHg−1increase in temperature-uncorrected Paco2 in Group I, and by 1.05 ± 0.54 ml · 100 g−1·min−1· mmHg−1increase in group II.