BACKGROUND: Low dose dopamine is widely used during the perioperative period to preserve renal perfusion. Low dose dopamine (3-5 microgram/kg/min) was administrated to partial hepatectomy patients and BUN, creatinine in serum were measured to determine the effects of low dose dopamine on renal function. METHODS: Liver group (n = 28) were administered low dose dopamine (3-5 microgram/kg/min) and the stomach group (n = 23) were not administered any vasoactive drugs during the operation. Perioperative plasma BUN, and creatinine, creatinine clearance, BUN/creatinine ratio, serum Na+ and K+, and central venous pressure (CVP) were checked 3 times, just after starting operation, 4 hours after starting the operation, and at PACU for both groups. We also evaluated intravascular volume status using the CVP and the BUN/creatinine ratio. Changes in BUN, and creatinine level during the operation in both group were compared. All the patients in this study were confirmed as having euvolemia by CVP and BUN/creatinine ratio. RESULTS: Urine volume increased significantly in the liver group with low dose dopamine compared to the stomach group (P < 0.05). The BUN level in the liver group increased significantly versus the stomach group (P < 0.05). In both groups, the creatinine level increased significantly (P < 0.05) and the plasma Na+ level decreased significantly (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that low dose dopamine significantly increases urine volume in euvolemia status cases during liver surgery. But we were unable to determine why increased diuresis by the administration of low dose dopamine during operation and has a renal protective effect.
Central Venous Pressure ; Creatinine ; Diuresis ; Dopamine* ; Hepatectomy* ; Humans ; Liver ; Perfusion ; Perioperative Period ; Plasma ; Stomach

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility and safety of CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with saline infusion of pulmonary tissue in rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight New Zealand White rabbits were divided into two groups: an RFA group (n=10) and a saline-enhanced RFA (SRFA) group (n=18). In the RFA group, percutaneous RFA of the lung was performed under CT guidance and using a 17-gauge internally cooled electrode. In the SRFA group, 1.5 ml of 0.9% saline was infused slowly through a 21-gauge, polyteflon-coated Chiba needle prior to and during RFA. Lesion size and the healing process were studied in rabbits sacrificed at times from the day following treatment to three weeks after, and any complications were noted. RESULTS: In the SRFA group, the mean diameter (12.5+/-1.6 mm) of acute RF lesions was greater than that of RFA lesions (8.5+/-1.4 mm) (p < .05). The complications arising in 12 cases were pneumothorax (n=8), thermal injury to the chest wall (n=2), hemothorax (n=1), and lung abscess (n=1). Although procedure-related complications tended to occur more frequently in the SRFA group (55.6%) than in the RFA group (20%), the difference was not statistically significant (p = .11). CONCLUSION: Saline-enhanced RFA of pulmonary tissue in rabbits produces more extensive coagulation necrosis than conventional RFA procedures, without adding substantial risk of serious complications.
Animal ; *Catheter Ablation ; Lung/radiography/*surgery ; Lung Neoplasms/radiography/*surgery ; Male ; Rabbits ; Sodium Chloride ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: To evaluate the utility of seizure scoring system in the prediction of neurodevelopmental outcomes in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants who presented with neonatal seizures. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed in VLBW infants who were treated with antiepileptic drugs (AED) for the control of neonatal seizures. A total of 25 infants who survived and were followed-up for at least 2 years of age were included. A new seizure scoring system (the composite score 0-8) was constructed by choosing the following variables: onset, response to the AED, presence of status epilepticus, seizure types and EEG findings including background activity and epileptiform discharges. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were graded from 1 to 5 based on the developmental status and the neurologic abnormalities assessed at 18 to 24 months of postconceptional age. Risk factor analyses for predicting unfavorable outcomes (grade 3-5) versus favorable outcomes (grade 1-2) were performed. RESULTS: Compared to favorable outcome group (n=11), unfavorable outcome group (n=14) had higher incidence of subtle or generalized tonic-type seizures, the abnormal EEG background activity and poor response to AED. The composite seizure score was significantly higher in the unfavorable outcome group (3.2+/-0.7) than in the favorable outcome group (1.2+/-1.2) and it significantly correlated with the neurodevelopmental grading (P<0.001). In multivariate analysis, abnormal MRI findings at term and the composite seizure score were significant risk factors for unfavorable outcomes. CONCLUSION: In VLBW infants with neonatal seizure, the proposed seizure scoring system was a simple and useful predictor of long-term neurologic outcomes.
Anticonvulsants ; Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Multivariate Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Seizures* ; Status Epilepticus