Przegla̧d lekarski
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Systemic bacterial infections still remain one of the major causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Early detection of neonatal sepsis can be difficult, because the first signs of the disease may be unspecific and similar to symptoms of other non-infectious processes. Procalcitonin became a new, sensitive marker of bacterial infections in newborns. The aim of our study was to assess the value of PCT as a diagnostic and prognostic tool of neonatal maternofetal infections. We also tried to estimate normal ranges of PCT in uninfected newborns. ⋯ PCT is a useful tool in early diagnosing and monitoring the course of early-onset infections in neonates, particularly when blood cultures obtained from neonates remain negative. The decreasing concentrations of PCT level in children treated due to infection, indicate successful treatment and may help one to take a decision on termination of antibiotic therapy.
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Early epicardial vessel patency and tissue perfusion limit infarct size, improve survival and are crucial for optimum functional recovery of the ischaemic myocardium in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Coronary angiography has been considered the "gold standard" in assessment of reperfusion. Restoration of coronary patency is not a guarantee of myocardial cellular perfusion. ST-segment elevation resolution observed in electrocardiogram (ECG) early after initiation of primary PTCA could be potentially correlated with reperfusion. ⋯ 1. Presence of early ST segment elevation resolution after angiographically successful primary PTCA identifies patients who are more likely to benefit from the early restoration of flow in the infarct related artery. 2. TIMI measures greatly overestimate the success of primary PTCA; they only assess vessel patency, not myocardial cellular perfusion. 3. "Electrocardiographic reperfusion" provides a real-time physiologic marker of cellular perfusion and is a significant predictor of LV contractility recovery--more useful than angiographic reperfusion. 4. ST-segment monitoring is a reliable, non-invasive and inexpensive method to evaluate myocardial perfusion.
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Comparative Study
[Evaluation of selected parameters of blood coagulation and the fibrinolysis system in patients undergoing total hip replacement].
Patients undergoing orthopedic surgery, particularly total hip replacement procedure belong to a group of patients with a high risk of thromboembolic complications. Postoperative deep vein thrombosis may occur in 40-80% of these patients. 4-19% of patients develop clinically evident pulmonary embolism and approximately 7% of cases in this group result in death. A thorough evaluation of coagulation disorders in the perioperative period could lead to detecting risk factors of thromboembolic complications development and could facilitate more effective prophylaxis management. ⋯ After 24 hours marked decrease of coagulation parameters was noted. In group A significantly less thromboembolic complications was observed. On the basis of the performed examinations the following conclusions were drawn. (1) during total hip replacement surgery and particularly during the period of the first 12 hours after procedure, marked activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis occurred. (2) the application of the hemodilution procedure does not influence significantly the degree of coagulation and fibrinolysis disorders in the perioperative period.
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The authors present the diagnostic and therapeutic management in bleeding episodes associated with cardiosurgical operations, which constitutes the policy that is employed at Department of Cardiac Surgery and Transplantology, Silesian Academy of Medicine, Zabrze, Poland. The paper also presents a compendium of information on the pathophysiology of coagulation processes, most significant from the standpoint of cardiosurgical practice. Separate issues associated with providing optimal hemostasis in patients operated on using cardiopulmonary bypass are discussed, along with the effect of cardiac procedures on coagulation processes. ⋯ In both described patients who were characterized by a high risk of surgical bleeding, the employment of the recombinant activated factor VII led to significant improvement in coagulation system indices and the hemostatic outcome was regarded positive. The authors state that the introduction of the recombinant activated factor VII to clinical practice in a selected group of patients presenting with most serious coagulation abnormalities and difficult to control perioperational bleeding allows for improving therapeutic results and decreasing mortality in cardiac surgery patients. In view of the significant economic barrier associated with a high cost of the preparation, the authors propose a consistent approach of employing at all times the classic, well-balanced hemostatic management, based primarily on extended knowledge of the pathophysiology of the clotting system and on very thorough surgical hemostasis, with the recombinant activated factor VII being reserved for exceptional situations only.
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Comparative Study
[Early postoperative period in children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome in the comparison of classic and modified Norwood procedures].
The Norwood operation in neonates with hypoplastic left heart syndrome is associated with very high mortality. ⋯ The new modification of the Norwood procedure ensures stable conditions in early postoperative period. We believe that short circulatory arrest time without prolongation of cardiopulmonary bypass time and higher diastolic pressure (the location of the proximal shunt end beneath the valve of the systemic circulation) improves the function of the heart.