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PLOS ONE 17(1), e0262110 (2022). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0262110, Published by PLOS, San Francisco, California, US

Perzistentna lijeva gornja šuplja vena najčešća je prirođena anomalija velikoga (kardinalnog) pritočnog venskog sustava. Uobičajeno ne daje simptome pa se otkrije nakon uspostavljanja centralnoga venskog pristupa kroz lijevu unutarnju jugularnu ili lijevu potključnu venu. U radu prikazujemo 86-godišnju bolesnicu primljenu zbog ozljeda glave i lijevog prsišta. Centralni venski kateter (CVK) postavljen je kroz lijevu unutarnju jugularnu venu pod kontrolom ultrazvuka bez teškoća. Na rendgenskoj snimci pluća i srca prikazan je položaj CVK paravertebralno lijevo, što je shvaćeno kao malpozicija. Postavljen je novi CVK u desnu unutarnju jugularnu venu s urednim položajem u gornjoj šupljoj veni na kontrolnom rendgenogramu. Praćenje (monitoriranje) centralnoga venskog tlaka pokazalo je jednake vrijednosti tlakova na oba katetera, uz atipičnu krivulju centralnoga venskog tlaka na lijevom CVK-u. Radiološkom obradom koja je uključivala kompjutoriziranu tomografiju toraksa s kontrastom i digitalnu suptrakcijsku angiografiju kroz lijevu kubitalnu venu prikazana je perzistentna lijeva gornja šuplja vena s utokom u koronarni sinus neposredno prije njegova utjecanja u desnu pretklijetku. Kod opisane anomalije nužno je isključiti utok centralne venske krvi u lijevu pretklijetku, što kontraindicira upotrebu CVK postavljenog u lijevu gornju šuplju venu., Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is the most frequent congenital anomaly of the cardinal systemic venous return. It is usually asymptomatic and discovered incidentally during central venous access procedures via the left internal jugular or subclavian vein. We present a case of an 86-year old female admitted with a head injury and rib fractures on her left side. A central venous catheter (CVC) was inserted into the left internal jugular vein under ultrasound guidance without complication. The post insertion chest X-ray showed the catheter in the left paravertebral position and malposition of CVC was suspected. Another CVC was placed in the right internal jugular vein with the correct positioning of the CVC in the superior vena cava on chest X-ray. Although central venous pressure on the right and left side was the same, the left central venous pressure waveform was atypical. A thoracic computed tomography with contrast and digital subtraction angiography through the left cubital vein confirmed the diagnosis of a PLSVC draining into the right atrium via the coronary sinus. Ascertaining the pattern of cardiac venous return is essential, as the site of drainage (right or left atrium) determines the possible use of a CVC placed in PLSVC.

Vankomicin i drugi lijekovi mogu se previdjeti kao uzrok trombocitopenije kod kritičnih bolesnika kod kojih su sepsa, heparinom izazvana trombocitopenija i diseminirana intravaskularna koagulopatija češći uzroci. U radu je prikazan slučaj teške trombocitopenije kod 53-godišnje bolesnice podvrgnute hitnoj laparotomiji zbog difuznog peritonitisa koja se razvila 24 sata nakon uvođenja terapije vankomicinom. Broj trombocita prije terapije vankomicinom iznosio je 101 x 109/L, a nakon 2 doze broj je pao na 8 x 109/L bez kliničkih znakova krvarenja. Višestruke transfuzije trombocita podigle su broj trombocita najviše do 48 x 109/L. Vankomicin je isključen iz terapije kao mogući uzrok trombocitopenije, a uveden je ciprofl oksacin. U serumu bolesnice dokazana su IgG antitrombocitna antitijela i uveden je u terapiju metilprednizolon 40 mg/dan. Stanje bolesnice i broj trombocita postepeno su se popravljali te je preoperativna vrijednost trombocita postignuta 10 dana nakon ukidanja vankomicina. Nalaz antitrombocitnih antitijela ovisnih o vankomicinu potvrđuje dijagnozu vankomicinom izazvane trombocitopenije, ali je test dostupan samo u specijaliziranim laboratorijima., Vancomycin and other drugs are often overlooked as causes of thrombocytopenia in critically ill patients in whom sepsis, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and disseminated intravascular coagulation are considered as more common causes. We report a case of profound vancomycin-induced thrombocytopenia developing within 24 hours of treatment initiation. A 53-year-old woman with no signifi cant comorbidities underwent laparoscopic surgery for a left-sided ovarian tumor. Two days later, she developed severe sepsis with symptoms and signs of acute abdomen. Emergency laparotomy revealed a lesion of the sigmoid colon and fi brinopurulent peritonitis. Empirical antibiotic therapy started intraoperatively included i.v. metronidazole and gentamicin. On postoperative day 2, it was changed to i.v. meropenem and vancomycin according to the results of microbiological analysis of intraoperatively obtained abdominal fl uid and blood cultures. On the day vancomycin was started, platelet count was 101 x 109/L, falling to 8 x 109/L after two doses of vancomycin, with no clinical signs of bleeding. Vancomycin was excluded from therapy as a potential cause of thrombocytopenia and ciprofl oxacin was introduced. Multiple platelet transfusions elevated the count to a peak of just 48 x 109/L. IgG antiplatelet antibodies were detected in the patient’s serum and methylprednisolone 40 mg i.v. was added to therapy. The patient’s condition improved and she was discharged from the Intensive Care Unit on postoperative day 9 with platelet count of 50 x 109/L. The count returned to the preoperative value 10 days after discontinuation of vancomycin. In conclusion, vancomycin can cause severe thrombocytopenia and should be discontinued from therapy after more common causes have been excluded. Vancomycin dependent antibodies can be detected in some specialized laboratories, but these tests are not widely available.

U ovoj je studiji analiziran učinak endarterektomije unutarnje karotidne arterije (ACI) u bolesnika unutar tri tjedna od razvoja neurološke simptomatologije s obzirom na učestalost i vrstu neželjenih događaja u poslijeoperacijskom tijeku. U studiju su uključeni bolesnici sa simptomatskom stenozom visokog stupnja ACI, koji su preboljeli ishemijski moždani udar (IMU) ili tranzitornu ishemijsku ataku (TIA). Kod svih je bolesnika učinjena uzdužna karotidna endarterektomija u općoj anesteziji s uporabom intraluminalnog shunt-a. Praćenje bolesnika se odnosi na razdoblje između siječnja 2008. i listopada 2012. godine kada je operirano ukupno 69 simptomatskih bolesnika s visokim stupnjem stenoze ACI (70-99 %). Kontrolni ultrazvuk karotidnih arterija (CD) rađen je sedmi poslijeoperacijski dan te nakon jednog, tri, šest i dvanaest mjeseci, a nakon toga jednom godišnje. Od ukupnog broja operiranih (n = 69), 27 (39 %) bolesnika bilo je sa svježe preboljelim IMU-om koji su operirani unutar tri tjedna od razvoja neurološke simptomatologije, a najranije četrnaest dana nakon razvoja inzulta i 42 (61 %) bolesnika sa simptomima TIA-e, a koji su operirani neposredno nakon završetka prijeoperacijske obrade. Od poslijeoperacijskih neželjenih događaja došlo je do razvoja IMU-a u 2 (2,63 %) bolesnika i 2 odgođene restenoze (2,63 %) endarterektomirane unutarnje karotidne arterije koje su zahtijevale endovaskularno liječenje. Zaključujemo da provođenje rane endarterektomije u klinički odabranih bolesnika s visokim stupnjem stenoze ACI, shodno našim rezultatima i rezultatima drugih studija, ne nosi veći rizik od kasne endarterektomije, a zasigurno snižava postotak recidiva IMU i TIA-a, koji su najčešći u ranom razdoblju razvoja neurološke simptomatologije., Carotid endarterectomy is the gold standard as a therapeutic regimen for patients with high grade symptomatic stenosis of the internal carotid artery (ACI). This study analyzed the effect of early carotid endarterectomy in patients undergoing an operative procedure 2-3 weeks after the development of ischemic neurologic symptoms, considering the frequency and type of complications in the postoperative period. Patients included in this study were those with significant symptomatic ACI stenosis (70%-99%), which caused ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attacks (TIA). Patients with ischemic stroke were operated within twenty days of the initial neurologic event, whilst in those with symptoms of TIA, surgery was performed immediately after diagnostic work-up. In all cases, carotid endarterectomy was performed under general anesthesia with the use of protective intraluminal shunt. In the vast majority of cases, tucking or Kunlin’s sutures of the distal intima were applied. All procedures were performed between January 2008 and October 2012, and the total number of patients was 69. All patients underwent the same follow up program. Follow up carotid ultrasound was performed routinely on postoperative day 7 and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. In this study, 27 (39%) patients suffered minor ipsilateral stroke and 42 (61%) patients had TIA symptoms with verified significant ACI stenosis. Postoperative complications were observed in four (5.26%) patients. Two (2.63%) patients developed ischemic stroke after the procedure and two (2.63%) patients developed ACI restenosis in the late postoperative period and were treated by endovascular stenting. In conclusion, we found that early carotid endarterectomy was of greater benefit than delayed endarterectomy, which is in keeping with the published studies. The leading observation was that in selected patients, early carotid end- arterectomy was not associated with a higher risk of postoperative complications in comparison with delayed endarterectomy and could be performed safely.

The aim of this study was to analyze hemodynamic changes in hypertensive and normotensive patients undergoing total hip or knee replacement in spinal and general anesthesia. Eighty patients who underwent total hip or knee replacement surgery in the period between July 2010 and February 2011 at Sveti Duh University Hospital were retrospectively evaluated. Seventeen patients underwent the operation in general anesthesia and 63 patients in regional anesthesia. They were allocated into groups of normotensive (n=24) or hypertensive patients (n=56). The anthropologic and hematologic parameters of normotensive and hypertensive patients were compared, as well as their blood pressures immediately before and during the operation. Blood pressure immediately before anesthesia induction, the highest and the lowest intraoperative blood pressures were recorded. Blood pressure immediately before anesthesia induction was significantly higher in hypertensive patients who underwent the operation in regional anesthesia compared to normotensive patients (158.48 mm Hg vs. 144.71 mm Hg, P0.01). The highest intraoperative systolic blood pressure was also significantly higher in hypertensive patients operated on in regional anesthesia compared to normotensive patients (161.20 mm Hg vs. 146.76 mm Hg, P0.01). The difference between the highest and the lowest intraoperative systolic blood pressure was significantly greater in hypertensive patients undergoing the operation in regional anesthesia compared to normotensive patients (46.41 mm Hg vs. 35.88 mm Hg, P0.05). The results presented in this paper indicate that the fluctuations of intraoperative blood pressure were greater and the highest intraoperative systolic blood pressure was higher in hypertensive compared to normotensive patients undergoing the operation in regional anesthesia. In our study, there were no significant differences in intraoperative blood pressure between hypertensive and normotensive patients who underwent the operation in general anesthesia.

Colorectal surgery leads to high rates of postoperative complications, varying between 28% and 38% (1-3). Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of complications is crucial for a favorable outcome. However, surgical trauma induces systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), which can hinder the diagnosis of postoperative infections (4). Therefore, it would be useful to find a biochemical marker that could accurately differentiate between infectious and non-infectious SIRS. C-reactive protein (CRP), the first of the acute phase proteins to be described, was discovered in 1930 and named for its capacity to precipitate a non-protein somatic fraction (Fraction C) of Streptococcus pneumoniae. It is a sensitive systemic marker of inflammation and tissue damage, but is not specific for infection (5,6). Surgical trauma induces a significant increase in CRP levels, which can reduce its predictive value for the diagnosis of infection in the early postoperative period (7-9). Despite this, an interest in CRP as an infection monitoring tool in the perioperative setting has increased since it was reported that in values higher than 140 mg/L on the postopertaive day (POD) 3-4 it well predicted infectious complications after colorectal surgery (10). Since then, several studies have found it to be a useful predictor of septic complications following colorectal and esophagogastric resections (11-15). Procalcitonin (PCT), the prohormone of calcitonin, was first described as a biochemical marker of infection in 1993 (16). Bacterial endotoxins are potent stimuli for PCT synthesis, which exhibits faster kinetics than CRP. PCT is released into the circulation 3-4 hours after an injection of endotoxin, reaching peak levels after 8-24 hours, while CRP peaks at 36-50 hours after stimulus (5,17). This would make PCT more suitable as an infection monitoring tool in the perioperative setting (18,19). A meta analysis of 33 studies, which included adults in intensive care units or after surgery and trauma, showed that PCT was a good diagnostic marker of sepsis, with greater diagnostic accuracy than CRP (20). Recent studies in surgical patients have also shown that after orthopedic, cardiac, and thoracic surgery PCT was better for detecting postoperative infections than CRP (21-23). To the best of our knowledge, no studies have compared the diagnostic accuracy of CRP and PCT for early detection of postoperative complications in patients undergoing colorectal surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the predictive value of serial postoperative determinations of CRP, PCT, and white blood cell (WBC) count for infectious complications after elective colorectal surgery and to compare the diagnostic accuracy of CRP and PCT.

Operacije ugradnje totalnih endoproteza (TEP) kuka i koljena praćene su znatnim gubitkom krvi, što često zahtijeva transfuziju homologne (od davaoca) ili autologne (vlastite) krvi. S obzirom na rizike od transfuzije homologne krvi, cijenu krvnih pripravaka i elektivnu vrstu zahvata, u novije se vrijeme ističe važnost alternativnih postupaka kako bi se smanjila upotreba homologne krvi. U istraživanju smo prospektivno dokumentirali perioperacijski gubitak krvi i potrošnju krvnih pripravaka kod 65 konsekutivnih bolesnika podvrgnutih primarnim operacijama ugradnje TEP-a kuka (n=30) i koljena (n=35) u našoj ustanovi bez primjene metoda davanja autologne krvi. Ukupni gubitak krvi kod TEP-a kuka (1329,7±364,8 ml) i koljena (1427,3±660,4 ml) bio je u skladu s podacima u literaturi i bez značajne razlike između dvije skupine bolesnika. Međutim postotak bolesnika koji su primili homolognu krv (63,3% kod TEP-a kuka i 82,6% kod TEP-a koljena) bio je znatno veći nego kod sličnih bolesnika u novijim studijama. U radu su navedeni najvažniji postupci za smanjenje transfuzije homologne krvi koji uključuju protokol za perioperacijsko vođenje bolesnika, definiranje vrijednosti hemoglobina kao transfusion triggera, korekciju preoperacijske anemije intravenskim preparatima željeza, upotrebu jedne ili više metoda davanja autologne krvi, primjenu antifibrinolitika (traneksamična kiselina) i/ili druge komplementarne postupke. Na osnovi podataka o efikasnosti pojedinih metoda smatramo da rutinska upotreba krvnih produkata kod operacija TEP-a kuka i koljena nije opravdana ni izvan specijalnih ustanova i klinika za ortopediju., Total hip and knee arthroplasty is associated with significant perioperative blood loss, necessitating often blood transfusions. Because of risks and cost of allogenic blood transfusion and elective types of surgery several alternative methods have been developed to reduce allogenic blood use. We prospectively audited 65 consecutive patients undergoing primary total hip (THR; n=30) or knee replacement (TKR; n=35) at our Department of Orthopaedic Surgery which did not use autologous blood collection methods. Total blood loss in THR (1329.7±364.8 ml) and TKR (1427.3±660.4 ml) was similar to previously reported and without significant difference between the groups. However, we reported high transfusion rates with 63.3% of THR and 82.6% of TKR patients receiving allogenic blood. Important steps to reduce allogenic blood use would include implementation of restrictive transfusion protocols with a defined hemoglobin value as a transfusion trigger, correction of preoperative anemia with i.v. iron ± erythropoietin, use of one or more modalities of autologous transfusion (postoperative autotransfusion, preoperative blood donation), pharmacological agents like tranexamic acid (anti-fibrinolytic) and other complementary procedures. There is sufficient evidence in literature about the cost-benefit of certain methods which makes routine use of allogenic blood in THR and TKR surgery unacceptable even at general orthopaedic surgery departments.

Poslijeoperacijski poremećaji mentalnih funkcija česta su komplikacija u kardiovaskularnoj kirurgiji s ozbiljnim posljedicama. Glavni poslijeoperacijski poremećaji mentalnih funkcija uključuju poslijeoperacijski delirij i poslijeoperacijsku kognitivnu disfunkciju. Njihova učestalost varira do 15-80%. Poslijeoperacijski poremećaji mentalnih funkcija mogu biti reverzibilni i ireverzibilni,a u većini slučajeva su reverzibilni. Povezani su s povećanim mortalitetom i morbiditetom uz povećane troškove liječenja. Liječenje poslijeoperacijskih poremećaja mentalnih funkcija najčešće je simptomatsko i može biti povezano s opasnim nuspojavama. Sigurnije i učinkovitije je preventivno djelovanje. Preoperacijski je potrebno prepoznati, izbjegavati i optimalizirati čimbenike rizika. Intraoperacijska prevencija uključuje održavanje optimalne oksigenacije mozga tijekom kardiovaskularne kirurgije. Za poslijeoperacijsku prevenciju primjenjuje se multimodalni pristup što uključuje ranu ekstubaciju bolesnika, ranu enteralnu prehranu, ranu mobilizaciju, redovitu evaluaciju kognitivnih funkcija, aktivaciju kognitivnih funkcija i optimalnu analgeziju za što je potreban timski rad medicinskog osoblja koje skrbi za bolesnika. Skupna primjena navedenih metoda pokazuje obećavajuće rezultate u smanjenju učestalosti i komplikacija poslijeoperacijskih poremećaja mentalnih funkcija u kardiovaskularnoj kirurgiji., Postoperative mental disorders are a common complication of cardiovascular surgery, with serious consequences. The main types of postoperative mental disorders include postoperative delirium and postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Their incidence ranges up to 15%-80%. Postoperative mental disorders may be reversible and irreversible. Although reversible in most cases, postoperative mental disorders are associated with increased mortality, morbidity and increasing costs of treatment. The treatment is usually symptomatic and may be associated with dangerous side effects. Safer and more effective is preventive action. Preoperative preventive action need to recognize, avoid and optimize risk factors. Intraoperative prevention involves maintaining optimal oxygenation of the brain during cardiovascular surgery. For postoperative prevention, multimodal approach is applied. It includes early extubation, early enteral nutrition, early mobilization, regular evaluation of cognitive function, activation of cognitive function and optimal analgesia, which requires teamwork of medical staff who care for patients. Combining all these methods can show promising results in reducing the incidence of postoperative mental disorders as a complication in cardiovascular surgery.

Tracheal stenosis, a well-known complication of endotracheal intubation and artificial ventilation, is most likely to occur in critically ill patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation. Although a rare complication, and despite technological improvements and better patient care in intensive care units, tracheal stenosis still constitutes a serious clinical problem which can also develop after a short period of mechanical ventilation. In this article, we present a very rare case report of a patient who developed a long-segment tracheal stenosis localized at the posterior wall after a relatively short period of endotracheal intubation with a high-volume, low-pressure cuffed endotracheal tube, and a review of the literature.

Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI) are uncommon infections associated with considerable morbidity and mortality (20%-40%). They are characterized by rapidly progressive necrosis of soft tissue that primarily involves subcutaneous fat and fascia with variable involvement of the overlying skin and muscle. Extensive soft tissue necrosis is often accompanied by systemic toxicity. Establishing the diagnosis in the early stage of the infection can be difficult, which leads to a delay in surgical treatment and a poor outcome. The principles of treatment are early and aggressive surgical debridement, broad spectrum antimicrobial therapy administered empirically and reassessed pending culture and sensitivity results, and intensive care management. We report a case of NSTI of the arm in a 64-year-old female patient caused by group A Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus complicated with toxic shock-like syndrome with emphasis on the pathophysiology of toxic shock-like syndrome and treatment modalities. NSTI developed 10 days after a knife cut wound of the thumb. The patient had no significant comorbidity. Treatment included aggressive surgical debridement with removal of necrotic tissue and extensive fasciotomies 24 h of admission, cardiovascular stabilization and monitoring at intensive care unit, and repeat surgical debridement at 72 h of admission. Early triple drug antimicrobial therapy included high-dose clindamycin, which inhibits protein synthesis and bacterial exotoxin production that is responsible for inflammatory response and toxic shock-like syndrome. In addition, the patient received hyperbaric oxygen therapy (8 treatments in total). The above management led to control of the infective process. Prolonged surgical wound care followed by thin split-skin grafting and placement of secondary sutures on day 36 of admission preserved the extremity with good functional and cosmetic result.

Today, laparoscopic surgery is one of the most important diagnostic and therapeutic tools in general surgery. This minimally invasive procedure requires pneumoperitoneum for adequate visualization and operative manipulation. Carbon dioxide is the most commonly used gas for creating pneumoperitoneum, because of its high diffusibility and rapid rate of absorption and excretion. Certain specific operations that in the past required long hospitalization and were associated with severe postoperative pain and frequent complications are today performed laparoscopically. This minimally invasive technique potentially offers reduced operative time and morbidity, decreased hospital stay and earlier return to normal activities, less pain and less postoperative ileus compared with the traditional open surgical procedures. Because the postoperative benefits are superior to open surgical procedures, laparoscopy is today also used in many high risk patients in advanced age and pre-existent cardiopulmonary and respiratory diseases. However, insufflations of carbon dioxide into the peritoneum may lead to alteration in the acid-base balance, cardiovascular and pulmonary physiology. Although these changes may be well tolerated in healthy patients, in high risk patients they may increase the rate of perioperative complications. Therefore, it is very important that the anesthesiologist thoroughly understands the pathophysiology of carbon dioxide-pneumoperitoneum and treatment of potential complications. In this article, the acid-base balance, cardiovascular and pulmonary changes associated with laparoscopic surgery, and their potential complications and management are discussed based on our experience and literature data.

Despite recent advances in surgical techniques and intensive care management, infectious complications and sepsis remain significant problem after abdominal surgery. Therefore, inflammatory parameters were looked for that could help achieve an early and more reliable diagnosis of postoperative infections. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a nonspecific inflammatory mediator which is significantly increased postoperatively, regardless of the type of operation and the presence or absence of complications. Procalcitonin (PCT), the prohormone of calcitonin, referred to as a marker of sepsis, is increased significantly in severe bacterial and fungal infections. Quantitative PCT measurements in surgical patients have shown that postoperative PCT concentrations depend on the type and extent of surgery. PCT increased most after major abdominal surgery, although PCT concentrations were significantly higher in patients with complications compared to patients with uneventful postoperative course. The aim of the study was to determine PCT concentrations with a rapid semiquantitative PCT-Q test in the early postoperative period after colon surgery and to investigate its potential use in the diagnosis of infectious complications compared to CRP.Thirty-eight adult patients undergoing elective surgery of the intestine were followed up. None of the patients had clinical or laboratory signs of infection preoperatively. Leukocytes, CRP and PCT were determined preoperatively and on postoperative days 1-3 and 5. PCT was measured with the B. R. A. H. M. S PCT-Q semiquantitative test. CRP and PCT measurements in 30 patients with normal recovery were statistically analyzed.CRP was significantly elevated postoperatively in all patients at the 4 time points with maximum values on postoperative day 2. There was no difference in CRP values between patients with and without complications. Although PCT concentration was increased in 15 of 30 patients with normal recovery, only mild increase (0.5-2 ng/L) was recorded in 13, and moderate increase (2-10 ng/L) in only two patients. PCT increase was most frequently found on postoperative day 1 or 2, and more rarely on postoperative day 3. The number of patients with elevated PCT was significantly higher (8 of 8 patients) in the group with complications, which included postoperative infections in 7 of 8 patients, than in the group without complications.In the early postoperative period after major abdominal surgery, CRP is invariably increased and cannot help in recognizing infectious complications. In our study, which included a relatively small number of patients after colon surgery, PCT2 ng/mL, as measured with semiquantitative PCT-Q test on postoperative days 1-5, or0.5 ng/ml after postoperative day 3, was rarely recorded in patients with normal postoperative course. We conclude that PCT-Q test can be helpful in the early diagnosis of infectious complications after abdominal surgery.

In recent years considerable attention has been paid to the treatment of postoperative pain, with regard to the favorable effect of adequate analgesia on patient outcome. Multimodal analgesia (e.g., opioids and nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs] or local anesthetics) is recommended for effective postoperative pain relief. There are few data on the use of NSAIDs in postoperative pain treatment after abdominal surgery. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to assess the analgesic efficacy and safety of ketoprofen after major abdominal surgery. One and nine hours postoperatively patients received 100 mg of ketoprofen i.v. (n = 21) or placebo (n = 22) in addition to a pain-treatment protocol consisting of continuous infusion of tramadol 200 mg and metamizol 5 g over 24 hours with additional 25 mg i.v. tramadol in case of inadequate analgesia. Pain was assessed by numeric rating scale at rest and at deep breath 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively and the total dose of tramadol used in the first 24 hours was recorded. Patients in the ketoprofen group had significantly lower pain scores both at rest and at deep breath, at 3 (p < 0.01), 6, and 12 hours (p < 0.05) postoperatively. The 24-hour use of tramadol was significantly lower in the ketoprofen group (p < 0.01), with less nausea and vomiting. There were no bleeding complications or other adverse events related to ketoprofen therapy. The study showed the value of short-term use of ketoprofen to improve the quality of analgesia after major abdominal surgery without significant adverse effects.

To determine whether sequential change in coagulation parameters such as activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), platelets count and fibrinogen level may predict the outcome of patients in sepsis.Cohort longitudinal study.Patients with positive two or more clinical criteria for sepsis were eligible for the study. Thirty patients were included, 24 male and 6 female. Eight patients survived, while 22 deceased. Median age of survivors was 66 years (range 23-77), and in non-survivors it was 69 years (range 48-79), p=0.37. In 9 patients malignancy was an underlying disease. APACHE II score was calculated at admittance, median value for survivors was 10 (range 7-15) and for non-survivors it was 26 (range 6-35), p=0.001. Calculated MODS score at the time blood cultures was 2 (range 0-9) for survivor and 6.5 (range 2-13) for non-survivors, p=0.007. Blood cultures were taken at the onset of sepsis, and in 29 patients they were positive. Coagulation parameters were measured at admittance, at the onset of sepsis and 48 hours after the introduction of the specific antimicrobial therapy.Analysis of variance for repeated measurements between survivors and non-survivors has shown that there were no differences in values of coagulation parameters. The only significant difference between these groups of patients was APACHE II and MODS score. In 7 patients with severe thrombocytopenia (33,000 x 10(9)/L) as a result of irreversible septic shock a clinically visible bleeding was present in only one patient.Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a clinical-pathological syndrome in which wide-spread intravascular coagulation is induced by procoagulants that are introduced or produced in the blood circulation and overcome the natural anticoagulant mechanisms. DIC causes tissue ischemia from occlusive microthrombi as well as bleeding from both the consumption of platelets and coagulation factors and the anticoagulant effect of products of secondary fibrinolysis. In sepsis, tissue factor which is the most common trigger of DIC can be generated and expressed on membranes of monocytes and endothelial cells during the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). The wide-spread generation of thrombi in sepsis induces deposition of fibrin which leads to vessels obstruction and consumption of substantial amounts of haemostatic factors i.e. platelets, fibrinogen, factors V, VIII and others, protein C and antithrombin III (AT III). Intravascular thrombi trigger secretion of tissue plasmin activator (tPA) from endothelial cells which sets of compensatory thrombolysis which may reopen the occluded blood vessels. But byproducts of thrombolysis such as fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products may enhance bleeding by interfering with platelet aggregation, fibrin polymerization and thrombin activity. The typical feature of sepsis is depression of three powerful anticoagulant systems: protein C pathway, AT III pathway and tissue pathway factor inhibitor (TPFI). This sequence of events led us to hypothesize that alterations in coagulation parameters such as PT, aPTT, fibrinogen, platelets count may predict the outcome of disease, as it is well documented that the development of DIC confers prognosis of sepsis. The failure to distinguish survivors from non-survivors by the alteration in the coagulation parameters in this study may be due to a relatively low sample size or to the clinical necessity of an attending physician to substitute the deficient blood or coagulation product.The coagulation parameters PT, aPTT, platelet count and fibrinogen level can not serve as predictors of outcome in patients with sepsis. Further studies including more discerning coagulation parameters: AT III, D-dimer, soluble fibrin monomer, thrombin/antithrombin complex, plasmin/antiplasmin complex, fibrinopeptid A, fibrinopeptid B are necessary to evaluate whether these procoagulant and anticoagulant factors may help in predicting outcome and severity of sepsis.