Annals of surgery
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To develop and validate a preoperative risk index for predicting postoperative respiratory failure (PRF). ⋯ The respiratory failure risk index is a validated model for identifying patients at risk for developing PRF and may be useful for guiding perioperative respiratory care.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of intravenous/oral ciprofloxacin plus metronidazole versus piperacillin/tazobactam in the treatment of complicated intraabdominal infections.
To compare the safety and efficacy of intravenous (IV) ciprofloxacin plus IV metronidazole (CIP+MET) with that of IV piperacillin/tazobactam (PIP/TAZO) in adults with complicated intraabdominal infections, and to compare the efficacy of sequential IV-to-oral CIP+MET therapy with that of the IV CIP-only regimen. ⋯ CIP+MET, initially administered IV and followed by CIP+MET oral therapy, was clinically more effective than IV PIP/TAZO for the treatment of patients with complicated intraabdominal infections.
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Comparative Study
Effect of endotoxin on opossum gallbladder motility: a model of acalculous cholecystitis.
To determine whether endotoxin causes histologic changes in the gallbladder consistent with acalculous cholecystitis, and to determine the effects of endotoxin on gallbladder motility. ⋯ Endotoxin causes an ischemic insult to the gallbladder similar to that seen in acalculous cholecystitis. Also, endotoxin may lead to gallbladder stasis by decreasing gallbladder contractile responses to hormonal and neural stimuli.
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To define the potential influences of donor brain death on organs used for transplantation. ⋯ Donor brain death is a significant risk factor for peripheral organs used for transplantation. The activated state of such organs appears to trigger host immune mechanisms that accelerate the process of acute rejection. The effects of this central injury may explain in part the less satisfactory performance of cadaver organs in human transplantation compared with those from living sources.
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To determine whether ischemic preconditioning protects the human liver against a subsequent period of ischemia in patients undergoing hemihepatectomy, and to identify possible underlying protective mechanisms of ischemic preconditioning, such as inhibition of hepatocellular apoptosis. ⋯ Ischemic preconditioning is a simple and effective modality protecting the liver against subsequent prolonged periods of ischemia. This strategy may be a more attractive technique than intermittent inflow occlusion, which is associated with increased blood loss during each period of reperfusion.