We have compared the cardiorespiratory effects of an inspiratory: expiratory (I:E) ratio of 4:1 with a ratio of 1:2 in 10 adult patients requiring intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) for acute respiratory insufficiency. Further comparisons were made with IPPV with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) which was adjusted to achieve an equal external end-expiratory volume (EEEV) to that produced by the 4:1 ratio, as determined by respiratory inductive plethysmography, and with an I:E ratio that only changed the EEEV minimally (IRV-min). Percentage pulmonary shunt (Qs/Qt) was reduced equally with PEEP and with the 4:1 I:E ratio but both patterns reduced cardiac output and oxygen delivery. IRV-min also reduced Qs/Qt significantly but had no effect on cardiac output so that oxygen delivery was increased. The dead space to tidal volume ratio (VD/VT) during IPPV-4:1 and IRV-min was reduced significantly when compared with that during IPPV-1:2. The clinical implications of the findings suggest that for some ITU patients, a modest increase in I:E ratio to between 1.1:1 and 1.7:1 may produce better gas exchange without significantly effecting the cardiac output.

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IntroductionWe compare open pyeloplasty (OP) versus laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP) in children in a multicenter, prospective, case–control study.Materials and methodsFrom May 2007 to March 2009, a program was established at Hospital Garrahan, the reference center, to perform LP with a mentoring surgeon that would attend the institution once a month. Every new case of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) diagnosed in the reference institution was offered to participate in the study. If the patient was enrolled, it was scheduled for LP. The following patient diagnosed with UPJO was operated on with open technique and served as a case–control. In three other facilities, patients were only offered LP and had a matched control open case at the reference institution. The first end point of the study was patient recovery: analgesia requirement and length of hospitalization (LOH). The second end point of the study was resolution of UPJO in long-term follow-up for the two techniques. Demographic data, surgical time, perioperative complications, analgesia requirement, analgesia score during hospitalization, LOH, and outcome were recorded. Both groups received the same postoperative indications for pain control. Parents were asked to assess pain in their children every 4 h postoperatively and to complete a pain scale chart to which the nurses were blinded.ResultsFifteen OP and 15 LP were compared. Groups were similar with regard to sex, age, weight, and laterality. Mean surgical time was longer in LP than in OP group (mean 188 versus 65 min) (p < 0.01). Hospitalization was shorter for LP group with a mean of 1.9 versus 2.5 days for OP group (p < 0.05). Postoperative analgesia requirement was significantly higher in the OP group with a mean use of morphine of 1.7 versus 0.06 mg/kg in the LP group (p < 0.05). Pain scores were similar in both the groups. At a mean follow-up of 58 months there were no failures.ConclusionIn this prospective comparative cohort, LP was a longer procedure than OP. Both procedures had the same efficacy and complication rates, but patients undergoing LP needed fewer narcotics for pain control and had a shorter hospitalization.

Absence of long-term damaging effects of arterial HFP on erectile tissue combined with the possibility of spontaneous resolution associated with blunt perineal trauma are suggestive signs for the introduction of an observation period in the management algorithm of HFP. Such a period may help to avoid unnecessary surgical intervention. Thus, these cases reinforce the decision to manage these patients conservatively and avoid angiographic embolization as a first therapeutic choice.

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