1/24. dialysis access induced limb ischemia corrected using quantitative duplex ultrasound.dialysis access induced limb ischemia (DAILI) is a rare complication after the creation of an arteriovenous fistula in infancy but can cause irreversible ischemic limb damage in severe cases. The incidence of DAILI is higher in bridge graft fistulas than in native fistulas. DAILI patients may be managed by surgically reducing the volume flow in the fistula. However, in the pediatric age group, such a reduction of volume flow may result in thrombosis or an inadequate flow for effective dialysis. Several methods have been described to achieve the delicate balance between essential flow in the fistula and adequate limb perfusion pressure. We have developed a new method employing preoperative duplex ultrasonography to predict quantitatively the reduction in volume flow in the fistula that will allow effective dialysis while providing adequate limb perfusion. The preoperative assessment was reproduced on the operating table using intraoperative duplex. A 3-year-old girl thus treated has had resolution of her ischemic symptoms and maintains long-term patency of her dialysis access.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/24. Bartter's syndrome with gouty arthritis.A 45-year-old woman with Bartter's syndrome complicated with gouty arthritis is reported. Bartter's syndrome was diagnosed from hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, high plasma renin activity, normal blood pressure and attenuated pressor response to exogenous angiotensin ii infusion. serum uric acid was 11.8 mg/dl, the renal clearance of uric acid was low (3.0 ml/min) and fractional excretion of uric acid (FEUA) was 7.0%, being the lower limit of the normal range. Fractional excretion of phosphate was low (5.3%) and fractional free water clearance per fractional distal sodium delivery was 0.51. The mechanism of hyperuricemia in this case is discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/24. atrial natriuretic factor and concomitant hormonal, hemodynamic and renal function changes after slow continuous ultrafiltration.We treated a patient with refractory biventricular heart failure, dilutional hyponatremia and prerenal azotemia, by means of ultrafiltration. After ultrafiltration, gas exchange and cardiac output improved, with concomitant reduction of systemic and pulmonary vascular resistances. Despite a decrease of right atrial and wedge pressure, atrial natriuretic factor rose and plasma renin activity decreased.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/24. review of patients' responses to epoetin alfa therapy.The efficacy of epoetin alfa (recombinant human erythropoietin) has been tested for treating the anemia associated with end-stage renal disease. This anemia is caused by severely decreased levels of erythropoietin, 90% of which is ordinarily produced by healthy kidneys. Treatment with epoetin alfa successfully corrected the anemia of 97% of 333 patients, as evidenced by hematocrit levels that increased by at least 6 percentage points or reached a study target level of 35%, 2 points above current guidelines. The 127 patients who previously required red cell transfusions to maintain an adequate hematocrit became completely transfusion independent after receiving epoetin alfa. Furthermore, treatment with this growth factor alleviated many of the symptoms of uremia, such as loss of energy and appetite. The major side effect observed with epoetin alfa treatment was increased diastolic blood pressure; however, this was well controlled by additional antihypertension medication. There have been no reports of antibody formation in response to this drug. Thus, epoetin alfa is a safe and effective means of treating the anemia caused by chronic renal insufficiency.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/24. Treatment of visual loss in pseudotumor cerebri associated with uremia.Ten patients with pseudotumor cerebri associated with renal insufficiency had papilledema and elevated intracranial pressure, but neurologic examinations and CT were normal. The 40% frequency of severe visual loss, 20/100 or worse, was higher than expected for pseudotumor cerebri. While furosemide was effective in 3 patients with renal transplants, administration of corticosteroids to 2 other patients did not halt progressive loss of vision. The visual function of 2 patients deteriorated even after lumboperitoneal shunting. Five patients underwent fenestration of the optic nerve sheath. This procedure improved the visual acuity of 3 patients and stabilized vision in the others. While the pathogenesis of pseudotumor cerebri in renal insufficiency is unknown, optic nerve sheath fenestration is the surgical treatment of choice for visual loss unresponsive to medical therapy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/24. Optic neuropathy in uremia.We examined three patients who developed optic neuropathies while undergoing chronic hemodialysis. One patient developed severe bilateral deterioration of vision, but recovered totally four weeks after discontinuing deferoxamine chelation therapy. Another patient had bilateral visual loss associated with chronic papilledema of idiopathic increased intracranial pressure. A third showed atypically severe consecutive anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. The latter two patients showed little improvement with high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone therapy combined with more vigorous hemodialysis. These cases, in addition to those previously described, underscore the heterogeneity of optic nerve disease in patients with uremia.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/24. Uremic optic neuropathy.Vision loss progressing over several days, reduced pupil reactions to light, and swollen optic nerves were the clinical features in six patients with severe renal disease manifested by uremia, anemia, and (in four patients) moderately or severely elevated blood pressure. In two patients pale edema of the optic nerve head extended into the macula. One patient with renal transplant rejection was in the early phases of cryptococcal meningitis that went undiagnosed for two weeks. Medical management with hemodialysis was followed by improvement of vision in four patients. In one patient, resumption of oral corticosteroid therapy was followed by improvement in vision. The patient whose vision improved the most rapidly was managed by prompt use of both dialysis and oral corticosteroid therapy. The patient with cryptococcal meningitis did not recover vision.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/24. Effect of parathyroidectomy on respiratory muscle strength in uremic myopathy.We report the case of a uremic dialysis patient with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism, proximal muscle weakness and impaired respiratory muscle strength, the latter being assessed by maximal inspiratory pressure. After subtotal parathyroidectomy, we observed a marked improvement in respiratory muscle strength (27 vs. 87 cm H2O) and disappearance of proximal muscle weakness.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/24. nitroprusside-induced acute azotemia.A patient with congestive heart failure and pneumonia was begun on a nitroprusside infusion for cardiac afterload reduction. urine output declined sharply and azotemia ensued despite little change in arterial pressure. Further evaluation supported a prerenal mechanism with dramatic recovery related to tapering and discontinuation of the nitroprusside. The mechanism of renal deterioration is possibly related to a 'steal' syndrome due to preferential dilation of vascular beds other than the renal.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/24. Uremic pulmonary edema.pulmonary edema fluid analyses and hemodynamic evaluations were performed in two uremic patients with acute pulmonary edema. The colloid osmotic pressure of the pulmonary edema fluid ranged from 57 per cent to 93 per cent that of the serum. Although cardiac function was normal in both patients, the serum colloid osmotic pressure--pulmonary artery wedge pressure gradients were markedly reduced. Uremic pulmonary edema is the result of alterations of pulmonary intravascular Starling forces and increases in pulmonary capillary membrane permeability, allowing for the efflux of protein-rich fluid from the capillaries into the lung.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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