Pia Olofsson

Gastrointestinal microcirculation and cardiopulmonary function during experimentally increased intra-abdominal pressure

Objectives:The aim of this study was to assess gastric, intestinal, and renal cortex microcirculation parallel with central hemodynamics and respiratory function during stepwise increase of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). Design:Prospective, controlled animal study. Setting:Research laboratory, University Hospital. Subjects:Twenty-six anesthetized and mechanically ventilated pigs. Interventions:Following baseline registrations, CO2 peritoneum was inflated (n = 20) and IAP increased stepwise by 10 mm Hg at 10 mins intervals up to 50 mm Hg and subsequently exsufflated. Control animals (n = 6) were not insufflated with CO2. Measurements and Main Results:The microcirculation of gastric mucosa, small bowel mucosa, small bowel seromuscular layer, colon mucosa, colon seromuscular layer, and renal cortex were selectively studied at all pressure levels and after exsufflation using a four-channel laser Doppler flowmeter (Periflex 5000, Perimed). Central hemodynamic and respiratory function data were registered at each level and after exsufflation. Cardiac output decreased significantly at IAP levels above 10 mm Hg. The microcirculation of gastric mucosa, renal cortex and the seromuscular layer of small bowel and colon was significantly reduced with each increase of IAP. The microcirculation of the small bowel mucosa and colon mucosa was significantly less affected compared with the serosa (p < 0.01). Conclusions:Our animal model of low and high IAP by intraperitoneal CO2-insufflation worked well for studies of microcirculation, hemodynamics, and pulmonary function. During stepwise increases of pressure there were marked effects on global hemodynamics, respiratory function, and microcirculation. The results indicate that intestinal mucosal flow, especially small bowel mucosal flow, although reduced, seems better preserved in response to intra-abdominal hypertension caused by CO2-insufflation than other intra-abdominal microvascular beds.

Super-selective venous sampling in conjunction with quickPTH for patients with persistent primary hyperparathyroidism: report of five cases

Selective venous sampling (SVS) helps to interpret imaging results in patients with persistent primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). However, one of the drawbacks of conventional SVS may be low “spatial resolution”, depending on the sample size. We modified SVS in the following way: first, patients underwent conventional SVS with up to 11 parathyroid hormone (PTH) samples taken. The quickPTH assay was used to measure PTH levels. The patients subsequently underwent super-selective venous sampling (super-SVS) in the region with the highest quickPTH level in the same session. The subjects were five consecutive patients with persistent pHPT investigated by various imaging techniques, none of which was considered conclusive. Therefore, all five patients underwent super-SVS, which was done successfully in four. Re-evaluation of the imaging results of these four patients resulted in localization of the parathyroid adenoma. Curative surgery was performed successfully in all four patients during the study period. Super-SVS increases the “spatial resolution” of conventional SVS and may have advantages when imaging results of patients with persistent pHPT are interpreted. Its true value must be analyzed in larger studies.

Changes in patterns of treatment of burned children at the Linkoping Burn Centre, Sweden, 2009–2014

INTRODUCTION Children are a relatively large group among patients with burns in Sweden. We changed the management of childrens burns to a flexible, outpatient-based plan. The aim was to follow up the outpatient management for childrens burns during the period 2009-2014, and track it, to find out to what extent the patients had been treated flexibly as outpatients, and to clarify the reasons behind those who did not fit in the plan. METHODS Descriptive retrospective analysis dividing the patients into three groups: inpatients only, flexible management, and outpatients. Other variables recorded included: age, sex, percentage total body surface area burned (TBSA%), percentage full thickness burn (FTB%), cause of burn, county of residence, operations required, number of visits to the outpatient department, costs, and duration of overnight stay in the hospital. RESULTS The study group included 620 children: nine were managed strictly as inpatients, 204 as flexible outpatients, and 407 strictly as outpatients. Among the total there were 269 children who came from remote areas (43%), and of these 260 were treated as outpatients and flexible outpatients. Median TBSA% in the whole group was 1 (10th-90th centile 0-9) with the biggest median TBSA% 12 (5-38) in the inpatient group. The most common cause of injury was scalds (332/620, 54%). Costs/patient (US

Three Years' Experience of a Novel Biosynthetic Cellulose Dressing in Burns

) was lower in the flexible outpatient group than in the inpatient group (median 10 557 (3213-35802) and 35343 (7344-66554), respectively). CONCLUSION Based on the results, we expect that the flexible outpatient treatment plan for children with minor to moderate burns can be expanded in the future. The results encourage us to continue the service and to further reduce duration of stay in hospital below the level already achieved (25% of the whole period of care).

The effects of early rapid control of multiple bowel perforations after high-energy trauma to the abdomen: implications for damage control surgery

Objective: The use of porcine xenograft (PX) is widely spread in burn care. However, it may cause immunologic responses and other ethical and cultural considerations in different cultures. Therefore, there is a need for alternatives. The aim of this work is to test a novel biosynthetic cellulose dressing (Epiprotect®) on burn patients. Approach: Charts from 38 patients with superficial burns (SBs) (n = 18) or excised burns (n = 20) that got biosynthetic cellulose dressing instead of PX at a national burn center during 3 years were reviewed. Time to healing, length of stay, and wound infection were extracted from the medical records. Results: SBs hospitalization time was 11 days comparable to PXs reported by others. In the excised group, median duration of hospital stay was 35 days. Time to healing was 28 days. Seven wound infections were confirmed in the superficial group (39%) and 11 infections in the excised group (61%). Patients with superficial wounds reported pain relief on application. Innovation: A dressing (17 × 21 cm) consisting of biosynthetic cellulose replacing PX. Conclusion: Outcome of treatment of SBs or temporary coverage of excised deep burns with biosynthetic cellulose is comparable to treatment with PX. However, biosynthetic cellulose has benefits such as providing pain relief on application and ethical or cultural issues with the material is nonexistent.