Objective: to study changes in the surface of red blood cell membranes of donor blood at the macro- and ultrastructural level during its storage for 30 days and to evaluate the functional state of the red blood cell membrane during the whole storage period. Material and methods. The investigation was conducted on human whole blood and packed red blood cells placed in the specialized packs containing the preservative CPDA-1, by using calibrated electroporation and atomic force microscopy and measuring plasma pH. Conclusion. The long-term, up to 30-day, storage of whole blood and packed red blood cells at 4°C was attended by lower plasma pH and increased hemolysis rate constant during calibrated electroporation and by the development of oxidative processes. The hemolysis rate constant was also higher in the packed red blood cells than that in the whole blood. On days 5—6, the membrane structure showed defects that developed, as the blood was stored, and caused irreversible cell membrane damage by day 30. Key words: donor blood, red blood cell membranes, atomic force microscopy.

The paper describes a rare case of successful surgical treatment for mitral insufficiency due to heart valvular apparatus damage in the acute period of severe concomitant injury. Prosthetic mitral valve replacement was done on day 3 after injury. The patient was switched to spontaneous breathing on day 7 postoperatively and transferred to a surgical unit on day 11. Timely diagnosis, a comprehensive therapeutic approach, active surgical policy, the availability of up-to-date medical equipment, and the presence of high-quality physicians allowed severe cardiopulmonary insufficiency to be eliminated and the patient was discharged from hospital in a satisfactory state on day 25 after injury. Key words: severe concomitant injury, blunt chest injury, mitral valve damage, cardiac surgery.

Objective: to define the specific features of the psychological status of patients with acute mandibular injury, to compare a psychological reaction to injury in different age groups and in persons with signs of alcohol addiction. Subjects and methods. The study enrolled 37 patients of both sexes over 15 years of age. The patients were distributed by age and chronic alcohol intoxication. Psychological parameters were determined using personality questionnaires: Spielberg-Hanin, Zung, GHQ-28, and Wein ones. Results. The patients with mandibular injury were found to have higher levels of situational and personality anxiety. A state of depression as a response to acute mandibular injury of reactive genesis was found in 29.8% of cases. Autonomic dysfunction occurred in 62.2% of the patients with mandibular fractures. Occult pathopsychological states were detected in 35.1% of the study group patients. Conclusion. The main found peculiarities of the psychological status of the patients with acute mandibular injury were high anxiety and the considerable incidence of autonomic dysfunction syndrome. There were no great age differences in psychological status and the direction of reactions. The patients with chronic alcohol intoxication more frequently developed a depressive state, but the autonomic dysfunction syndrome was just less often encountered and pathopsychological states were less frequently found. Key words: acute low anxiety depression alcohol abuse, psychological status.

Objective: to study the clinical efficiency of escalation and de-escalation procedures for optimizing positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) during mechanical ventilation (MV) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) resulting from direct and in indirect damaging factors. Subjects and methods. During a prospective study, 46 examined patients (30 men, 16 women; their age was 21 to 67 years) with ARDS of different genesis were divided into 2 groups: 1) 22 patients (14 men and 8 women) in whom the causes of ARDS were direct damaging factors: gastric content aspiration, blunt chest injury with lung contusion, and acute bilateral bacterial pneumonia; 2) 24 patients (16 men and 8 women) in whom the causes of ARDS were indirect damaging factors: abdominal sepsis, severe nonthoracic injury, and acute massive blood loss. In Groups 1 and 2, the efficiency of the escalation and de-escalation procedures for PEEP optimization was compared during controlled MV with a managed object. Results. In the patients with ARDS caused by direct damaging factors, the escalation procedure for PEEP optimization was more effective than the de-escalation one. In those with ARDS caused by indirect damaging factors, the de-escalation procedure for PEEP optimization was more effective than the escalation one. Conclusion. It is expedient to use a differential approach to choosing an escalation or de-escalation procedure for PEEP optimization in patients with ARDS induced by direct and indirect damaging factors. Key words: acute respiratory distress syndrome; direct and indirect damaging factors; mechanical ventilation; positive end-expiratory pressure; escalation procedure for PEEP optimization; de-escalation procedure for PEEP optimization; lung opening maneuver.

Triglycerides (TG) may be involved in the pathogenesis of critical impairments. Objective: to study the relationship between the plasma concentration of TG, the outcome of the disease, and the markers of its severity in intensive care unit patients with early-stage acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Subjects and methods. The prospective study included 18 patients with acute lung injury (ALI), who needed respiratory support. For further analysis, all the patients were divided into groups with TG < 1.00 mmol/l (TGlow; n=7) and >1.00 mmol/l (TGhigh; n=11). Results. A negative correlation was found between plasma TG concentration and oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2). In the TG^jgh group, extravas-cular lung water index was significantly higher and cardiac index was lower than those in the TGlow group. Among the deceased patients, there was a 1.03 mmol/l reduction in TG concentration by day 4 of the study whereas in the survivors, TG concentration increased by an average of 0.15 mmol/l (p=0.02). Conclusion. In the patients with ALI, the plasma concentration of TG is related to oxygenation impairments and the degree of pulmonary edema, as well as with the outcome of the disease. Key words: triglycerides, acute lung injury, extravascular lung water index, pulmonary edema.

Objective: to analyze the efficiency of hemofiltration (HF) in the stage of extracorporeal circulation (EC) during cardiac surgery in order to prevent acute renal function lowering and the development of acute renal failure (ARF). Materials and methods. The risk of postoperative ARF requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) was preoperatively assessed by the summed Cleveland risk score and percentage (2005). HF during EC was used in patients at high risk for ARF. The procedure was performed, by combining 2 extracorporeal circuits: EC and a Diapact®CRRT apparatus. With evolving ARF, Stage 3 after Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss of Kidney Function, End-stage Renal Disease (RIFLE), 2004, and Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN), 2007, continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVHF) and continuous high-flow hemodialysis (CHFHD) were done in the dialysate recirculation mode after surgery under EC. The Mann-Whitney non-parametric test was used to estimate the significance of intergroup differences. The results are presented: median (lower quartile; upper quartile), the differences considered to be significant atpResults. HF during EC; 6 patients were aged 65.5 (range 57—70) years with chronic kidney disease, preoperative glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was 50 (range 41.5—65) ml/min/1.73 m2 using the Cockroft-Gault formula. The maximum GFR decrease by 2.9 (range 0.7—7) ml/min/1.73 m2 was seen after EC. A control group comprised 12 patients aged 73 (range 63—75) years. There was a postoperative GFR reduction by 17 (range 13.7—22) ml/min/1.73 m2. One patient from the control group developed ARF and multiple organ dysfunction, which required CVVHF and CHFHD. Conclusion. The use of intraoperative HF in patients at high risk for renal function lowering is likely to prevent a considerable GFR reduction and ARF after surgery under EC.

The aim of our study was to compare the efficiency of the use of intraaortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) and levosi-mendan in patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction operated on under cardiopulmonary bypass. The study included 90 patients who were randomized into three groups according to the strategy of hemodynamic support. Group A patients received IABP 24 hours before surgery. In group B, preventive IABP was combined with intraoperative levosimendan infusion. Group C patients received intraoperative levosimendan infusion only. Hemodynamics, the markers of myocardial damage and heart failure, postoperative complications and length of hospital stay were observed. The patients treated with lev-osimendan had a more stable hemodynamic profile. Troponin I level was significantly lower in Group C six hours after cardiopulmonary bypass than that in group A. Length of stay in intensive care was significantly lower in Group C. The pre-operative concentration of BNP (>360 pg/ml) is a predictor of inotropic support in the postoperative period. The results of our study indicate that the use of levosimendan in high-risk patients is effective and shows the results comparable with those of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation.

Objective: to make a comparative assessment of hemodynamic parameters when correcting combined anesthesia-induced arterial hypotension with dopamine, adrenaline, mesatone, or noradrenaline. Subjects and methods. A prospective study enrolled patients who had undergone prosthetic hip replacement under combined lumbar epidural (ropivacaine)/general (sevoflurane) anesthesia. Intravenous sympathomimetic infusion was initiated when the mean blood pressure decreased below 55 Hg mm. Cardiac index (CI) and systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) were calculated by impedance cardiography. Fifty-six subjects (14 in each group) were selected for analysis. Results. During the study, CI remained in the normal range for all sympathomimetics. When adrenaline was administered, there was an obvious tendency to maintain blood pressure due to heart rate (HR) with preserved low SVRI. The use of mesatone caused a considerable reduction in HR. No statistically significant differences were found between the dopamine and noradrenaline groups in any of the study stages. The start of infusion of these agents was attended by SVRI normalization and HR maintenance within 60—70 beats per minute. Conclusion. The infusion of dopamine, adrenaline, mesatone, or noradrenaline to correct arterial hypotension resulting from combined epidural block/general anesthesia with sevoflurane ensures maintenance of CI within the normal range. That of noradrenaline and dopamine was ascertained to have a more balanced impact on HR and systemic vascular resistance. Key words: combined anesthesia, epidural block, hemodynamics, sympathomimetics, adrenaline, dopamine, mesatone, noradrenaline.

The review describes the morphology and physiology of human red blood cells, as well as changes in their structure and function in various critical, terminal, and postresuscitation states. Key words: blood, red blood cell, red blood cell membrane, rheology, critical conditions.

This paper is the second part of an overview dealing with experimental and clinical studies in ischemic and pharmacological preconditioning. It considers the possibilities of practically using the available knowledge on the mechanisms of preconditioning, the interaction of agents from different groups in exhibiting the protective effects of inhaled anesthetics in anesthesiology and resuscitation. Data are given on the efficacy of the discussed processes in different organs and tissues. The possibility of using opioids and other biologically active substances that are likely to have a protective effect against hypoxia is discussed separately. The problems of remote preconditioning and post-conditioning are touched upon. The available data on the impact of choosing an anesthetic mode on the course of immediate and long-term postoperative periods and mortality rates are analyzed; the problem of the old heart is discussed. It is concluded that studies dealing with the problems of pre- and postconditioning are urgent and of great scientific and practical value. Key words: ischemic preconditioning, pharmacological preconditioning, anesthetic preconditioning, postconditioning.