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Hypothesis: Safety differences exist among colloids widely used for fluid management in acutely ill patients, as judged according to the comparative incidence of adverse events.Data Sources: Colloid safety data for human subjects were sought, without language or time period restrictions, by means of computer searches of bibliographic and clinical trial databases, hand searches of medical journals and Index Medicus, inquiries with investigators and colloid suppliers, and examination of reference lists. Search terms included "colloids", "morbidity", and "mortality".Study Selection: Controlled trials, cohort studies, pharmacovigilance studies, and prior meta-analyses were independently selected by 2 unblinded investigators. Of 189 candidate studies, 113 were included, with safety data encompassing 1.54 ϫ 10 6 patients and 1.09 ϫ 10 8 colloid infusions.Data Extraction: Two unblinded investigators independently extracted data. Study limitations and confounding factors were tabulated.

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Treatment recommendations and results reported for the management of staghorn calculi are highly variable. In an attempt to provide a more objective means to compare treatment results for staghorn renal calculi, stone burden as measured by stone surface area was used. Stone surface area was determined by computer analysis. A total of 380 cases of staghorn calculi treated at the same institution was evaluated. Treatment consisted of initial percutaneous nephrostolithotomy with or without extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL*) in 298 cases and ESWL monotherapy in 82. When considered as a group, the overall stone-free rate for initial percutaneous nephrostolithotomy (mean surface area 1,378.3 mm.2) was 84.2% compared to 51.2% (p less than 0.0001) for ESWL monotherapy (mean surface area 693.4 mm.2). For staghorn calculi smaller than 500 mm.2 a stone-free rate of 94.4% was achieved in the percutaneous nephrostolithotomy with or without ESWL group compared to 63.2% for ESWL monotherapy (p = 0.0214). For calculi of 501 to 1,000 mm.2 the stone-free rates were 86% and 45.7%, respectively (p less than 0.0001). When stone surface area exceeded 1,000 mm.2 the stone-free rate for percutaneous nephrostolithotomy with or without ESWL was 82.4% but it was only 22.2% for ESWL monotherapy (p = 0.0002). Overall, when adjusted for stone surface area the odds of being stone-free were more than 8 times higher for initial percutaneous nephrostolithotomy versus ESWL monotherapy (odds ratio = 8.36, p less than 0.0001). While percutaneous nephrostolithotomy with or without ESWL appears to be the procedure of choice for most staghorn stones, ESWL monotherapy may have a role for some stones smaller than 500 mm.2. In 12 such cases associated with a nondilated renal collecting system (mean surface area 380.5 mm.2) a stone-free rate of 91.7% was achieved. The number of procedures required to complete therapy was higher in the initial percutaneous nephrostolithotomy group (2.8 versus 2.1, p less than 0.0001). Although complications were more common in the ESWL monotherapy group (manifested as obstruction in 30.5%), bleeding requiring blood transfusion was more frequent in the initial percutaneous nephrostolithotomy group (9.4%).

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Factors that improved long-term survival after left ventricular surgical remodeling were intraventricular patch repair, preoperative ejection fraction of 26% or greater, and pulmonary artery occlusive pressure of 17 mm Hg or less without the need for balloon pump assist.

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