Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0729233 (Thoracic)
 6,478 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The effect of a fractional epidural blockade on acute pancreatitis was investigated in a prospective study. PATIENTS AND METHODS. Thoracic (20 patients) or lumbar (six patients) epidural blockade was carried out in 26 patients with severe abdominal conditions comprising sub-ileus in 100%, pancreatic edema indicated by sonography/computer tomography in 57.8%, and necrosis of the pancreas in 34.6%. RESULTS. On average, 3.4 (1-6) injections with single doses of 6-20 ml 0.25% bupivacaine were injected per day. In four patients, morphine (up to 4 mg per 24 h) was added to the local anesthetic. The duration of treatment was between 1 and 15 days. After 10.5% of the injections, the systolic pressure decreased by more than 20%, and after 12.8% of the injections the blood pressure decreased by more than 30%. Hypotension of more than 30% was treated with 0.3 to 0.5 ml theodrenaline (Akrinor) and/or 0.1 to 0.2 mg dihydro-ergotamine (Dihydergot). General analgesics had to be administered in addition on 21.8% of the treatment days and intensive care treatment (artificial ventilation) on 32% of the treatment days. The duration of epidural analgesia varied between 1 and 15 days depending on the intensity of symptoms (pain, ileus). Within 4 days, the enzyme activity of the lipase fell from 8120 to 427 IU, and that of alpha amylase fell from 1401 to 143 IU. In 3 patients laparotomy (for drainage) was performed. An ERCP was carried out in 16 patients. Cardiopulmonary failure necessitated artificial ventilation over a period of 1-15 days in 6 patients; the epidural blockade was continued during the artificial ventilation. Cholecystectomy was carried out as an interval operation in 6 patients. No neurological complications were observed. All patients survived and were discharged from hospital.
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PMID:[Epidural blockade for analgesia and treatment of acute pancreatitis]. 178 Apr 89

In severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), the mechanisms leading to adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are usually attributed to the release of active enzymes and vasoactive substances from the pancreas. Thoracic duct drainage has been proposed as a means of removing the portion of these substances that drain through retroperitoneal lymphatics before they reach the systemic circulation. This technique was used in six patients with ARDS complicating SAP. The levels of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF alpha], interleukin-1 [IL-1], and interleukin-6 [IL-6]), neutrophil enzymes (myeloperoxidase and lactoferrin), and pancreatic enzymes (amylase, lipase and trypsin) were measured in plasma and lymph in the first 24 h of ARDS and then on Day 2, Day 4, and at the end of the drainage (Day 8). High plasma concentrations of these products were measured. A moderate lymph-to-plasma gradient was observed for IL-6, lipase, and trypsin, while similar levels in plasma and lymph were recorded for the other substances. Plasma levels of pancreatic enzymes were weakly correlated with the lung injury score and lymph level of cytokines. These results suggest that in patients with ARDS due to SAP, cytokines as well as pancreatic enzymes could contribute to the development of the lung injury, and that lymphatics are potential vectors of these mediators.
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PMID:Lymphatic release of cytokines during acute lung injury complicating severe pancreatitis. 758 88