Results of the 75-year Research and Clinical Activities of the V. A. Negovsky Research Institute of General Reanimatology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences

Objective: to study whether anemia may be corrected with recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) in patients with severe concomitant injury and acute blood loss. Subjects and methods. The investigation included 78 patients with severe concomitant injury. The basic inclusion criterion was a hemoglobin level of 60 to 110 g/l. The concentration of endogenous EPO, hematological parameters, volume of blood transfusions, the number of thromboembolic events, and the results of treatment were analyzed in patients receiving EPO in addition to standard therapy. Not later than 2 days after admission, EPO (Epocrin) was given in a single intravenous dose of 40000 IU. Results. Within the first week after injury (but within the first 24 hours), the level of endogenous EPO was not above the background physiological values despite remaining anemia. Administration of EPO on day 1 day after injury was not followed by a clinically relevant hematopoietic effect. That on day 2 following injury produced a noticeable hematopoietic effect as elevated hemoglobin levels on days 9 to 14 of the follow-up. The use of recombinant EPO caused a 35% reduction in the need for blood preparations and no increase in the incidence of thrombotic and thromboembolic events. Conclusion. The peak hematopoietic effect was achieved by EPO given on day 2 after injury. The single administration of EPO in a dose of 40000 IU in this period induced an increase in hemoglobin levels on days 9 to 17, which decreased the need for blood transfusions, without affecting the incidence of thrombotic events. Key words: anemia, hypoxia, erythropoietin, blood transfusion, injury.

Objective: to retrospectively study the results of emergency medical care for patients with uncomplicated attacks of atrial fibrillation and to provide a clinical and economic assessment of their prehospital management tactics. Material and methods. A comparative retrospective study was conducted to examine the results of emergency medical care rendered to 1200 patients with uncomplicated atrial fibrillation attacks lasting as long as 24 hours. Ambulance call and outpatient cards and inpatient case reports were used. A clinical and economic assessment of the prehospital management tactics for the patients was made. Results. The prehospital therapy of atrial fibrillation was found to be ineffective in the first hour of observation. In more than 90% of cases, an atrial fibrillation attack was eliminated by the end of the first 24 hours regardless of which antiarrhythmic agent had been used. Conclusion. The proposed prehos-pital management tactics for patients with uncomplicated atrial fibrillation attacks lasting as long as 24 hours make it possible to decrease the length of stay of a called ambulance team and to enhance its efficiency, without reducing the clinical effect of performed antiarrhythmic therapy. Key words: atrial fibrillation, emergency medical care, prehospi-tal stage, clinical and economic analysis.

Objective: to evaluate the efficacy of the nerve growth factor mimetic GK-2 used to improve the structural and functional state of the brain in the early postresuscitation period. Material and methods. Cardiac arrest was induced in mature male albino rats for 12 minutes, followed by resuscitation. The neurological state of the resuscitated animals was assessed by a scoring scale. On postresuscitation day 7, the density and composition of neuronal populations of Purkinje cells in the lateral cerebellar region and pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal CA1 sector were determined by a differential morphometric analysis. The results were statistically processed using the ANOVA method. Results. The use of GK-2 was found to accelerate neurological recovery in the resuscitated animals. On day 7 after 12-minute cardiac arrest, the resuscitated animals showed neuronal dystrophic changes and death in the neuronal populations highly susceptible to ischemia. It was shown that the systemic administration of the nerve growth factor mimetic GK-2 contributed to a reduction in the magnitude and depth of postresuscitation changes in the cerebellar Purkinje cells and prevented dystrophic changes in the pyramidal cells of the hippocampal CA1 sector. The findings suggest that GK-2 has a neuroprotective effect in the recovery period after total body ischemia. Conclusion. The results of this study indicate the efficiency of the systemic administration of the nerve growth factor mimetic GK-2 in improving the brain structural and functional state in the early postresuscitation period. This determines perspectives for the use of GK-2 to prevent and correct posthypoxic encephalopathies. Key words: the nerve growth factor mimetic GK-2, postresuscitation period, neuronal dystrophic changes and death, neurological status.

Background. Postoperative lung injury is a cause of most fatal outcomes after extensive lung resections. Death rates due to postpneumonectomy pulmonary edema have remained unchanged within the past 20 years and are currently tending to 100%. Objective: to make prolonged lung edema monitoring in patients after extensive thoracic interventions. Subjects and methods. The observational study covered 27 patients who had undergone pneumonectomy (PE) (n=16) or lung resection (n=11). Invasive monitoring by the PiCCOplus system was performed to examine the systemic and pulmonary hemodynamics of all the patients during surgery and within 48 postoperative hours. Results. PE rather than lung resection was accompanied by a significant reduction in the extravascular lung water index (EVLWI). Most patients who had undergone PE were found to have a subclinical increase in EVLWI 36-48 hours after termination of the intervention. Conclusion. In this observational clinical study, isolated thermodilution showed an immediate decrease in EVLWI after PE and its increase at 36—48 postoperative hours. Lobar or segmental interventions failed to cause significant changes in EVLWI in the perioperative period. Key words: pneumonectomy, lung resection, lung edema, extravascular lung water, acute lung injury.

Objective: to study the effect of 7.2% NaCl/hydroxyethyl starch 200/0.5 on extravascular lung water and respiratory and cardiovascular systems in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) after myocardial revascularization under extracorporeal circulation (EC). Subjects and methods. A prospective, randomized study was conducted in 40 patients with coronary artery disease. A study group (n=20) received 7.2% NaCl/hydroxyethyl starch 200/0.5; a control group (n=20) had 0.9% NaCl in a dose of 4 ml/kg within 30 min before EC. Extravascular lung water and central hemodynamic parameters were assessed using transpulmonary thermodilution and a Swan-Ganz catheter; respiratory function was estimated by the arterial oxygenation index, alveolar-arterial oxygen tension difference, and venous shunt fraction. Plasma osmolality and Na concentration were determined using an Osmomat 030 device. Conclusion. The intraoperative use of 7.2% NaCl/hydroxyethyl starch 200/0.5 in patients with CHD leads to a significant reduction in extravascular lung water after myocardial revascularization, thereby effectively protecting pulmonary oxygenizing function. The single administration of 7.2% NaCl/hydroxyethyl starch causes a short-term increase in cardiac index and it is a relatively safe in preventing neurological disorders and heart failure. Key words: 7.2% NaCl/hydroxyethyl starch 200/0.5; extravascular lung water, respiratory function, cardiac index, osmolarity.

Objective: to reveal risk factors for postoperative neurological complications (PONC) during surgery under extracorporeal circulation (EC). Subjects and methods. Five hundred and forty-eight patients were operated on under EC. Multimodality monitoring was performed in all the patients. Pre-, intra-, and postoperative data were analyzed. Results. Two patient groups were identified. These were 1) 59 patients with PONC and 2) 489 patients without PONC. The patients with PONC were older than those without PONC (61.95±1.15 and 59±0.4 years) and had a smaller body surface area (1.87±0.02 and 1.97±0.01 m2); in the PONC group, there were more women (37.3±6.4 and 22.1±1.9%). In Group 1, comorbidity was a significantly more common indication for surgery (33.9±6.22 and 9.2±1.29%). In this group, cerebral oxygenation (CO) was significantly lower (64±1.41 and 69.9±0.38%). In the preoperative period, there were group differences in hemoglobin (Hb), total protein, creatinine, and urea (135±2.03; 142±0.71 g/l, 73±0.93; 74.9±0.3 mmol/l, 104.7±3.3; 96.3±1.06 mmol/l, 7.5±0.4; 6.5±0.1 mmol/l, respectively). The PONC group more frequently exhibited more than 50% internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis (28.8±5.95; 15.3± 1.63%; р<0.05), dyscirculatory encephalopathies (DEP) (38.9±6.4 and 19.4±1.8%; р<0.05), CO, Hb, hematocrit, and oxygen delivery were lower in Group 1 at all stages. In the preperfusion period, cardiac index was lower in Group 1 (2.3±0.1 and 2.5±0.03 l/min/m2; р<0.01). In the postper-fusion period, blood pressure was lower in Group 1 (72.3±1.4 and 76.4±0.47 mm Hg; р=0.007) and higher rate was higher (92.65±1.5 and 88.16±0.49 min-1; р=0.007). Lower PCO2a was noted in Group 1. In this group, the patients were given epinephrine more frequently (33.9±6.2 and 20.5±1.8%; р<0.05) and in larger dosages (0.02±0.001 and 0.01±0.003 ^g/kg/min; р<0.05). Conclusion. The preoperative risk factors of CONC is female gender, lower body surface area, comorbidity, lower Hb and total protein, higher creatinine and urea, concomitant DEP, and a more than 50% ICA steno-_sis. The risk factor of PONC was lower CO values in both preoperative and intraoperative periods. A reduction in perfusion pressure, determinants of oxygen delivery determinants and hypocapnia should be avoided in risk-group patients. Key words: extracorporeal circulation, cerebral oximetry, neurological dysfunction, cerebral oxygenation.

Objective: to define risk factors for chronic postoperative pain syndrome (CPPS) in gynecological patients. Subjects and methods. The pre- and intraoperative examination data of 339 gynecological patients who had been operated on via only laparotomic approach and received postoperative traditional therapy (without adaptogens and antioxidants) were used to study the risk factors of CPPS. Postoperatively, subjective self-assessment tests were carried out using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and 4-point pain rating scale to measure pain intensity. Results. The material of 339 patients who had undergone gynecological surgery was used to investigate the importance of CPPS risk factors associated with their preoperative features and with the indicators characterizing the performed intervention. The reasons that were of statistically confirmed significance to the risk of CPPS were identified. The findings may be used to individualize a postoperative analgesic therapy regimen and they determine priority measures to prevent CPPS. Conclusion. The reasons associated with a significant increase in the relative risk of CPPS (RR, 1.3 to 2.6; p<0.05) are a more than 2-hour operation, an intraoperative blood loss exceeding 500 ml, third-to-fourth-degree obesity, anemia with a preoperative hemoglobin concentration of < 100 g/l, and preoperative sympatotonia. The factors that are of no statistically confirmed significance to the risk of CPPS (p>0.05; 95% CI for RR and OR) are anemia with a preoperative hemoglobin concentration of 100 to 120 g/l, first-to-second-degree obesity, a less than 2-hour operation, an intraoperative blood loss of less than 500 ml, and preoperative parasympatotonia. Key words: gynecological surgery, chronic postoperative pain syndrome, risk factors.

Objective: to improve the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and the results of its treatment in pregnant women. Subjects and methods. Two hundred and forty-three pregnant women sent with the diagnosis of acute appendicitis were followed up. Clinical and laboratory methods were used to diagnose acute appendicitis. One hundred and thirty-nine pregnant women were operated on, of them 47 underwent laparotomy, two-step abdominal sanitation, and drainage for general purulent peritonitis. Results. The authors have elaborated and introduced into practice a diagnostic algorithm for acute appendicitis in pregnant women, a procedure to estimate an electrical cecal cupula potential that allows its location to be specified, improved laparo-scopic techniques, and introduced a procedure long-term autonomous intestinal motility stimulation, which fails to affect uterine tone in pregnant women. An antibiotic cocktail that has an effect on different types of the microflora has been proposed to sanitize the abdomen in pregnant women with complicated acute appendicitis. Conclusion. Examination of pregnant women with suspected appendicitis according to the proposed algorithm makes it possible to rule out diagnostic errors, to specify indications for appendectomy, to correctly choose an access, by estimating the electrical potential of the cecal cupula, to guard against the development of peritonitis, by administering the proposed antibiotic cocktail, to implement a package of measures for the detoxification and early recovery of intestinal motility, and to prevent antenatal fetal death. The mortality rates in pregnant women with acute appendicitis were 0.7%. Key words: acute appendicitis in pregnant women.

Objective: to compare the postoperative efficacy and safety of non-selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients undergoing endoprosthetic total knee and hip arthroplasty (ETKAP and ETHAP). Subjects and methods. The study included 60 patients who were referred for ETKAP or ETHAP and randomly assigned to 3 groups. Groups 1, 2, and 3 patients were anesthetized with ketorolac, metamizol, and paracetamol, respectively. Real-time evaluation of the efficiency of postoperative analgesia was carried out within 3 days after surgery; the patients were questioned about bowel function, the onset of the first active movement in the ward, and occurring unpleasant sensations. Results. Reduced or no appetite was more common in the paracetamol and metamizol groups than in the ketorolac; the paracetamol group was found to have dizziness in 20% of cases, which was not observed in the two other groups. The patients who started to have routine hospital diet in the first 24 postoperative hours were significantly fewer among the paracetamol-treated patients. The shortest time to the first active movement was observed in the ketorolac group, which corresponded to the end of the first 24 hours and significantly distinguished it from the other groups. This appeared to be due to the best analgesic effect that, after epidural block, was significantly more effective (according to VAS scores) in the ketorolac group, if not enhanced in any group, which agrees with information available on the drug as a worthy alternative to opioids due to its valid analgesic effect. Conclusion. __Intravenous ketorolac is a worthy alternative to narcotic analgesics in ensuring the comfortable course of the immediate postoperative period in patients operated on the knee and hip joints. Key words: ketorolac (ketorol), postoperative analgesia, endoprosthetic knee and hip arthroplasty.

The review presents the current view of the etiology and pathogenesis of hormonal and metabolic changes in critically ill patients. To build up a system accessible to clinicians to establish an early diagnosis of hypermetabolism syndrome will be able to make differential correction of endocrine and metabolic disorders until decompensated multiple organ failure develops. Key words: critical condition, metabolism, hypercatabolism, somatotropin, insulin-like growth factor.

The review summarizes data on a problem with the evaluation of oxygen transport in extremely low birth weight neonates. In particular, it discusses problems with the safety and reliability of methods to monitor the parameters of the body’s oxygen status, with the diagnostic value of some widely available estimates of the degree of respiratory system injury, and with the possibility of their use to predict the duration of ventilatory support and the development of complications and a fatal outcome. Key words: premature infants, extremely low birth weight, respiratory therapy, oxygen status, oxygen gradients.