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Thirty-one critically ill patients with acute respiratory failure and circulatory shock were divided into three groups. Group 1 included 11 patients with an inserted mixed venous saturation ([SvO.sub.2]) catheter using [...]

HYPOTHESIS Under standard conditions following aortic reconstruction, nonocclusive ischemic colitis (IC) type 1 (mucosal ischemia) and type 2 (mucosal and muscularis ischemia) can be managed nonoperatively, whereas type 3 (transmural ischemia) requires emergency surgery. Our objective was to standardize the surgical approach for IC complicating aortic reconstruction. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING General surgery, vascular surgery, anesthesiology, and critical care units in a university-affiliated hospital. METHODS From January 5, 1997, to December 15, 2003, 49 cases of IC complicating aortic reconstruction were diagnosed (rate, 2.7%). Nonoperative management was used for patients with type 1 or type 2 without multiple organ failure (MOF). All patients with type 3 or with type 2 with MOF underwent urgent resection of the ischemic colon without anastomosis. RESULTS Immediate surgery was performed on 24 patients (49.0%). Nineteen (76.0%) of 25 patients without MOF and with transient endoscopic findings underwent secondary surgery for progression to final IC type 3 (16 patients) or to final IC type 2 with MOF (3 patients). Twenty-three (53.5%) of 43 patients died after colorectal resection (overall mortality, 46.9%). Factors causing significant risk of death were surgery, MOF, final IC type, and amount of perioperative transfusion. The mortality was 57.1% for final IC type 3, 37.5% for final IC type 2 with MOF, and 0% for final IC type 1 or type 2 without MOF. CONCLUSIONS Selective management of postoperative IC, based on MOF and the degree of ischemia, is the suggested course of action. For patients with mild ischemia and MOF, an aggressive approach is recommended.Arch Surg. 2006;141:678-682--

Fifty five patients suffering from blunt chest trauma were studied to assess the diagnosis of myocardial contusion using thallium 201 myocardial scintigraphy Thirty-eight patients had consistent scintigraphic defects and were considered to have a myocardial contusion. All patients with scintigraphic defects had paroxysmal arrhythmias and/or ECG abnormalities. Of 38 patients, 32 had localized STT segment abnormalities; 29, ST-T segment abnormalities suggesting involvement of the same cardiac area as scintigraphic defects; 21, echocardiographic abnormalities. Sixteen patients had segmental hypokinesia involving the same cardiac area as the scintigraphic defects. Fifteen patients had clinical signs suggestive of myocardial contusion and scintigraphic defects. Almost 70 percent of patients with blunt chest trauma had scintigraphic defects related to areas of myocardial contusion. When thallium 201 myocardial scintigraphy directly showed myocardial lesion, two-dimensional echocardiography and standard ECG detected related functional consequences of cardiac trauma.