Annales françaises d'anesthèsie et de rèanimation
-
Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Feb 2014
ReviewConsequences of brain damage in the public debate regarding the end of life. The mediatic prism: A reflection of reality?
For the last 20 years or so, conflicts on life-support have become the object of widespread media coverage. By focusing public opinion on the alleged physicians' unreasonable obstinacy, these publicized cases impact social debates on life-support. By these, they justify claims for the legalization of assisted suicide, specifically the practice of termination of life by lethal injection. ⋯ As it turns out, the publicized filter does not reflect the true reality of cases involving unreasonable care. Specific procedures could aid in notifying the existence of such situations. The role of health care professionals (excluding physicians) appears to play an essential part in preventing these situations from happening.
-
Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 2014
Review Meta Analysis[Prehabilitation. Preparing patients for surgery to improve functional recovery and reduce postoperative morbidity.]
Prehabilitation consists in providing a repetitive physical exercise before surgery to improve the postoperative recovery course. This review aims to evaluate the feasibility and the expected benefits of prehabilitation on the postoperative recovery course and the reduction of the postoperative morbidity. ⋯ The effectiveness of prehabilitation has been demonstrated in cardiovascular surgery and probably in abdominal surgery. Prehabilitation must be integrated into the overall patient medical management, and must be associated with preoperative refeeding and postoperative rehabilitation protocols. By optimizing all stages of the surgical patient management, from diagnosis to recovery, prognosis of high-risk surgical patients could be improved.
-
Lymphohistiocytic activation syndrome (LHAS) is related to inappropriate stimulation of macrophage cells in bone marrow and lymphoid system. LHAS combines the non-specific clinical signs (fever, poor general condition, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy) and suggestive biological elements (bi-or pancytopenia, abnormal liver function, coagulopathy, increased LDH, ferritin and triglycerides). The diagnosis of SALH remains an emergency every clinician should discuss before any febrile cytopenia. The etiology of LHAS is still obscure, but recent advances in the genetic study of familial forms provide some essential elements in understanding.
-
Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Dec 2013
Review[Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and inert gases in cerebral ischemia and traumatic brain injury.]
Cerebral ischemia is a common thread of acute cerebral lesions, whether vascular or traumatic origin. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) improves tissue oxygenation and may prevent impairment of reversible lesions. ⋯ The addition of inert gases to HBO sessions, especially argon or xenon which show neuroprotective experimental effects, may provide an additional improvement of cerebral lesions. Further multicentric studies with a strict methodology and a better targeted definition are required before drawing definitive conclusions about the efficiency of combined therapy with HBO and inert gases in acute cerebral lesions.
-
In pediatric intensive care unit, the available modalities of acute renal replacement therapy include intermittent hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and continuous renal replacement therapies. No prospective studies have evaluated to date the effect of dialysis modality on the outcomes of children. The decision about dialysis modality should therefore be based on local expertise, resources available, and the patient's clinical status. ⋯ Peritoneal dialysis, a simple and inexpensive alternative, is the most widely available form of acute renal replacement therapy. However, its efficacy may be limited in critically ill patients. The use of continuous renal replacement therapy permits usually to reach a greater estimated dialysis dose, a better control of fluid balance, and additionally, to provide adequate nutrition.