Le phéochromocytome comme cause inhabituelle de choc cardiogénique

The authors reported a case involving a young patient with a cardiogenic shock associated to an acute pulmonary oedema. According to the seriousness of the shock, an external ventricular assist device (VAD) was initially inserted and replaced thereafter because of the cardiovascular instability, by an external pneumatic biventricular assist device. A cardiogenic shock induced by an acute adrenergic myocarditis due to a phaeochromocytoma was diagnosed. The patient was weaned from the VAD on day 84 and was scheduled for elective surgery of the phaeochromocytoma on day 93. The authors discussed the time of the surgery according to the anticoagulation therapy necessary to the VAD and the necessary caution taken if a cardiogenic shock appeared around surgery.

[Contribution of autologous blood transfusion in cardiac surgery in the adult]

The use of autologous blood transfusion in cardiac surgery is still controversial. This study was prospectively designed to evaluate the haemodynamic and haematological benefits of this method, with special attention to its impact on reducing bank blood requirements. Between November 1983 and October 1984, 160 patients underwent cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation and were randomly assigned to two groups: group I (81 patients) was the control group and group II (79 patients) received autologous transfusion following extracorporeal circulation. Blood was withdrawn immediately after the induction of anaesthesia via a jugular catheter and stored in CPD solution at room temperature. The volume of blood removed was replaced with gelatin solutions; after bypass, blood was returned to the patient. There was no difference in systolic, diastolic or mean blood pressures between the two groups. Right atrial pressure and heart rate were not statistically different in both groups. Myocardial perfusion and myocardial oxygen consumption remained unchanged in group II compared with group I. Complete haematological evaluation was carried out before and during bypass, and thereafter daily for the first twelve days of the postoperative period. There was no significative difference between the two groups in platelet counts, fibrinogen levels, prothrombin and partial thromboplastin times. During extracorporeal circulation, mean haematocrit was 22.9 +/- 0.4% in group II and 25.3 +/- 0.5% in group I (p less than 10(-3)). The mean haematocrit time course was similar in both groups during the postoperative period and returned to preoperative value at discharge.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Antibiotic prophylaxis in cardiac surgery: 12-hour cefazolin versus 36-hour cefazolin]

A prospective randomized study was carried out to assess two protocols of antibiotic prophylaxis in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary by-pass. Each patient of the first group received four intravenous injections of 1 g cefazolin over a period of 12 h, whilst in the second group each one received twelve doses over a period of 36 h. Between May 1983 and April 1984, 159 patients scheduled for cardiac surgery entered the study. Those who underwent emergency surgery, or weighed less than 20 kg, or received antibiotics in the week before surgery, or had a previous history of anaphylaxis to cephalosporins were not included in the study. Both groups were similar in their distribution of age, weight, height, sex, past history of infectious disease, surgery and iatrogenic factors. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the number of minor infections and bacterial floral changes. There were no major infections either (septicaemia, mediastinitis, endocarditis). Temperature charts were the same on the first four days. The length of stay at hospital was the same in both groups. Since the efficacy of the two protocols in preventing major infections was the same, the authors recommend the short prophylaxis with cephazolin for cardiac surgery patients.

[Contribution of hemoconcentration in the recovery of residual blood from extracorporeal circulation circuits]

The effects of recuperation from the remaining pump circuit blood with restitution to the patient after hemoconcentration are studied in 80 patients undergoing cardiopulmonary by-pass. This population is randomized into two groups: group 1 of 41 patients represents the control group and is compared with the group 2 of 39 patients who undergo the post-by-pass hemoconcentration. The volume of restored blood is 669 +/- 14 ml with an hematocrit of 38 +/- 6,6% and the total protein concentration is 81,2 +/- 2 g.l-1. The heparin level is high (4,24 units.ml-i) and the perfusion of the hemoconcentrated blood must be preceded by a slow injection of 0,8 mg.kg-1 of protamine sulfate. The advantages of this method represent a saving of two homologous blood units (p less than or equal to 10(-4] and the post operative urine output is increased by 32% (p less than or equal to 0,05). No complication, particularly infectious, was observed in this study.