Background and objectivesTo investigate the possible effect of postoperatively applied analgesics—epidurally applied levobupivacaine or intravenously applied morphine—on systemic inflammatory response and plasma concentration of interleukin (IL)-6 and to determine whether the intensity of inflammatory response is related to postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD).MethodsThis is a randomized, prospective, controlled study in an academic hospital. Patients were 65 years and older scheduled for femoral fracture fixation from July 2016 to September 2017. Inflammatory response was assessed by leukocytes, neutrophils, C reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen levels in four blood samples (before anesthesia, 24 hours, 72 hours and 120 hours postoperatively) and IL-6 concentration from three blood samples (before anesthesia, 24 hours and 72 hours postoperatively). Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination preoperatively, from the first to the fifth postoperative day and on the day of discharge.ResultsThe study population included 70 patients, 35 in each group. The incidence of POCD was significantly lower in the levobupivacaine group (9%) than in the morphine group (31%) (p=0.03). CRP was significantly lower in the levobupivacaine group 72 hours (p=0.03) and 120 hours (p=0.04) after surgery. IL-6 values were significantly lower in the levobupivacaine group 72 hours after surgery (p=0.02). The only predictor of POCD in all patients was the level of IL-6 72 hours after surgery (p=0.03).ConclusionsThere is a statistically significant association between use of epidural levobupivacaine and a reduction in some inflammatory markers. Postoperative patient-controlled epidural analgesia reduces the incidence of POCD compared with intravenous morphine analgesia in the studied population.Trial registration numberNCT02848599.

We suggest that a pulmonary contusion seen on CT only has limited clinical significance and that the use of CT scans in diagnosing and follow-up of these patients should be re-evaluated. Further prospective and randomised studies should be conducted and the patients should be clinically evaluated, with the administration of supportive and antibiotic therapy, maintaining the fluid balance, the administration of diuretics, supportive oxygen therapy, pulmonary toilet, and physical therapy.

SAŽETAK. Sindrom kratkog crijeva očituje se malapsorpcijom koja je posljedica opsežne resekcije crijeva. Duljina crijeva preostaloga nakon kirurške resekcije smatra se glavnom odrednicom ishoda u tih bolesnika. Liječenje sindroma složeno je i nalaže multidisciplinarni pristup radi smanjenja morbiditeta i mortaliteta. Ovaj prikaz opisuje 60-godišnju bolesnicu koja je podvrgnuta multiplim resekcijama crijeva, što je rezultiralo preostalim tankim crijevom duljine 30 cm postduodenalno i terminalnom jejunostomom. Njezin boravak u jedinici intenzivnog liječenja zakomplicirao se zbog razvoja respiratornog zatajenja, bilateralne pneumonije i sepse. Pacijentica je mehanički ventilirana i liječena antimikrobnim lijekovima u skladu s rezultatima mikrobioloških pretraga i antibiogramom. Inicijalno je započeta potpuna parenteralna prehrana, dok se enteralna prehrana uvodila postupno. U liječenju bolesnice sudjelovao je multidisciplinarni tim sastavljen od anesteziologa, kirurga i gastroenterologa. Nakon četiri mjeseca bolničkog liječenja pacijentica je otpuštena kući opremljena tuneliranim središnjim venskim kateterom, a parenteralna je prehrana nastavljena u kućnim uvjetima u kombinaciji s peroralnim hranjenjem.

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