תוצאת חיפוש

Severe Heat Stroke in an Intensive Care Unit

Amir Halkin, Dina Lev, Oded Szold, Philip Bidermann, Sarah Bulocnic, Pinchas Halpern, Patrick Sorkine

Depts. of Medicine and Surgery, and Intensive Care Unit, Tel Aviv Medical Center

During the August 1998 heat wave in Tel Aviv we admitted many patients for acute heat-related illness; 6 had severe heat stroke and were admitted in critical condition. We describe their clinical courses during the first 5 days of hospitalization, including response to treatment and implications for future management of this disorder.

The mean APACHE II score of the 6 was 30±3.5 and mean Glasgow Coma Scale rating 3.5±0.5; they were in hypovolemic shock and respiratory failure, necessitating mechanical ventilation. Despite early effective therapy (core temperature in all was reduced to less than 398C in less than 1 hour), there was 1 death (mortality 15%) and 4 required further intensive care for life-threatening multiple organ failure.

During severe heat waves a significant number of referrals for acute heat-related illness must be anticipated, possibly overwhelming admission capacity of regional intensive-care units. Severe heat stroke complicated by multi-organ failure is not necessarily related to prior physical activity. Although important in determining prognosis, early treatment does not prevent severe complications. Mechanisms regulating body heat may remain disturbed for days following early treatment and apparent stabilization, mandating continued hospitalization.

D-Lactic Acidosis in Short Bowel Syndrome

Ben-Ami Sela, Joseph Zlotnik, Tamar Masos, Joseph Danieli, Sarah Mazia-Beni, Anita Jonas

Institute of Chemical Pathology and Pediatric Intensive Care and Gastroenterology Units, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

A boy of 20 months and a girl of 27 months who had previously undergone massive bowel resection due to congenital intestinal obstruction are described. During grad-ual reduction of total parenteral nutrition and initiation of oral feeding, both developed severe, acute metabolic acidosis, accompanied by encephalopathy and ataxia. After the laboratory identification of massive amounts of the d-Disomer of lactic acid in urine and blood, both were successfully treated with IV bicarbonate, and metronidazole to suppress the overgrowth of colonic lactobacilli responsible for the metabolic crisis.

Treating Mother and Baby in Conjoint Hospitalization in a Psychiatric Hospital

Shmuel Maizel, Vladislav Fainstein, Sarah K. Katzenelson

Dept. B, Eitanim Mental Health Center, Jerusalem

Since 1990 we have been admitting mothers with postpartum psychiatric morbidity together with their babies to our open psychiatric ward. The aim of conjoint hospitalization is to maintain and develop the bond between mother and baby while treating the mother's psychiatric disorder. The presence of the infant in the hospital allows both a thorough evaluation of the mothers' maternal ability and to use the infant as a facilitator of the mothers' recovery by engaging maternal functions. It prevents the infants from being placed in a foster home for the duration of the mothers' hospitalization. Readily available in Britain and Australia, such conjoint hospitalization is controversial and rarely available elsewhere. In the past 5 years we hospitalized 10 women with 11 babies (1 woman was hospitalized twice, after different births). All women had received psychiatric treatment prior to childbirth, but this was the first psychiatric hospitalization for 2 of them. Diagnoses (DSM-IIIR) were chronic paranoid schizophrenia (4), disorder (4), schizo-affective schizophrenia (1) and borderline disorder (1). 8 were suffering from active psychotic symptoms on admission. They were treated pharmacologically, received individual and group psychotherapy, and participated in all ward activities. Families were engaged in marital, family and/or individual therapy according to need. All participated in cognitive-behavior treatment tailored to individual need to build and enrich the mother-infant bond. All improved significantly and were able to function independently on discharge, but in 1 case adoption was recommended.

Islet Autoantibody Assays in Type I Diabetes can Replace ICA Test

Daniel Lazar, Naomi Weintrob, Natalia Abramov, Sara Assa, Konstantin Bloch, Regina Ofan, Hadassa Ben-Zaken, Pnina Vardi

Institute for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petah Tikva and Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Tel Aviv University

Islet cell antibodies (ICA) continue to serve as the basis of the principal serological test for definition of active autoimmunity of beta-cells. Its disadvantages are the need for human pancreatic tissue and difficulty in obtaining quantitative results. In the past decade biochemically-defined beta-cell antigens were described, leading to the development of sensitive and specific autoantibody assays, to predict insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). We examined the value of combined biochemically-based serological assays, such as autoantibodies to insulin (IAA), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GADA) and ICA512 (ICA512A) to replace the traditional ICA assay.

Blood samples of 114 newly diagnosed IDDM patients, aged 12‏5 yrs (range 2 months - 29 years) were tested for ICA (indirect immunofluorescence), IAA, GADA and ICA512A (radiobinding assay). The latter 2 assays were performed using recombinant human [35S]-labeled antigen produced by in vitro transcription/translation. We found that fewer sera scored positive for ICA and/or IAA (80.7%, 92/114) than for 1 or more of IAA, GAD, or ICA512 (88.6%, 101/114). We conclude that combined testing for IAA, GAD and ICA512 can replace the traditional ICA/IAA test to predict IDDM and is helpful in the differential diagnosis of insulin-dependent and noninsulin-dependent diabetes.

Telling the Bad News: do the Elderly Want to Know Their Diagnoses and Participate in Medical Decision Making?

Sara Carmel, Alon Lazar

Sociology of Health Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, and Dept. of Behavioral Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba

In view of reported changes in western countries in the preferred model of doctor-patient relations, we evaluated the wishes of elderly persons for open doctor-patient communication with regard to terminal disease. Data was collected in 1994 from 987 elderly persons (70+) by structured interviews. Most of respondents wanted open communication and wished to be involved in medical decisions regarding life-sustaining treatment. However, only a minority tell their physicians and/or family members of their wishes. This suggests that most of the elderly expect physicians to be the first to initiate discussions of these issues. The results also indicate that among the elderly, those more educated, less religious, and those living in Israel longer, are more likely to want open communication with their physicians. This is explained by the relationship of these characteristics with the dominant cultural values of this group, and its acceptable models of relations in other areas of life.

Surgical Repair of Fractures of the Clavicle

O. Safran, R. Mosheiff, Y. Mattan, M. Liebergall

Orthopedic Dept., Hadassah-University Hospital, Jerusalem

Clavicular fractures make up 45% of shoulder girdle fractures. The clavicle's susceptibility to injury is due to its subcutaneous position and its role as the bony connection between the thorax and the shoulder. In 95% of cases the mechanism of injury is a direct blow to the shoulder. These fractures are usually treated conservatively without surgery. But there are a few such fractures that require surgical repair in order to unite well. 9 patients were operated on for clavicular fractures during 1991-1995. The indications for surgical repair were lateral-third fracture, floating shoulder, neurovascular deficit or nonunion. The methods used were open reduction and fixation with either plate and screws, Kirchner wires, cerclage or a combination. All fractures united well, with no infections or new neurovascular deficits. Good range of shoulder motion and acceptable cosmetic results were achieved in all. 1 patient had functional limitation due to brachial neuritis caused by brachial damage at the time of injury. Indications for surgical repair and the methods used in these cases are similar to those described in the literature. The high rate of union and absence of complications support surgical repair for the few clavicular fractures that are not likely to unite properly.

Angina Pectoris and the Severity of Coronary Artery Stenosis

Reuben Ilia, Sara Carmel, Carlos Cafri, Moshe Gueron

Dept. of Cardiology, Soroka Medical Center, and Dept. of the Sociology of Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba

The relationship between angina pectoris and the severity of coronary artery disease was evaluated in 146 patients with normal segmental and global, left ventricular, systolic performance. None had unstable angina or a previous myocardial infarction. A strong relationship was found between angina and the severity of coronary artery disease (p<0.005). Significant, stable, angina pectoris as a clinical symptom indicated advanced coronary artery disease in this selected group of patients.

Multidisciplinary Approach to the Treatment of Musculo-Skeletal Tumors

M. Salai, E. Goshen, T. Tishler, R. Weitzen, S. Apter, A. Garniek, M. Feldman

Depts. of Orthopedic Surgery, Nuclear Medicine, Oncology, Imaging Radiology and Pathology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer

Tumors of the musculoskeletal system are relatively rare. They occur mostly in the young, while in older age groups metastases and myeloma are more prevalent. Treatment has undergone major change in the past 20 years with the introduction of neoadjuvant treatment protocols. According to recent reports 5-year survival rates have increased from 20% to 60-70%. These new protocols involve the use of modern imaging modalities, immunohistochemical pathological analysis and improved surgical technics. This has required establishment of multidisciplinary teams of experts to escort the patient through all the steps of current treatment.

Maggot Therapy for Gangrene and Osteomyelitis

K.Y. Mumcuoglu, M. Lipo, I. Ioffe-Uspensky, J. Miller, R. Galun

Dept. of Parasitology, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem

5 patients with diabetic-foot were treated by maggot therapy. The most serious case was in a 75-year-old man who had gangrene and osteomyelitis of the right foot. Proteus mirabilis, Enterococcus sp., Providencia stuartii and Staphylococcus spec. (coagulase positive) were isolated from lesions which did not respond to antibiotic therapy. The patient had twice refused amputation but agreed to maggot therapy. Larvae of the sheep blowfly Phoenicia (Lucilia) sericata were used for twice-weekly treatment over a period of 7 months. Sterile larvae were applied to the wound and replaced every 3-4 days. After 4 months of treatment, the necrotic tissue around the toes and on the sole of the foot detached from the healthy tissue. During the last 3 months of treatment the larvae removed the remaining infected tissue. As therapy progressed, new layers of healthy tissue covered the wound. The offensive odor associated with the necrotic tissue and the intense pain in the foot decreased significantly. At the end of therapy, during which there were no complaints of discomfort, he was able to walk. In the 4 other patients who had relatively superficial gangrene, the maggots debrided the wounds within 2-4 weeks. Thereafter treatment was continued with antibiotics. Maggot therapy can be recommended in cases of intractable gangrene and osteomyelitis, when treatment with antibiotics and surgical debridement have failed.