[Role of procalcitonin in monitoring the antibiotic therapy in septic surgical patients]

BACKGROUND

Based on the need for rigorous monitoring of antibiotic and a proper assessment of patients with sepsis, procalcitonina as biological marker appears to have significant value, being proposed for both detection and for evaluation of bacterial infection and antibiotic management.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We conducted a prospective study on a group of 73 patients admitted in Surgical Clinic II you SCJU Constanta between 2010-2011, which is included in the study criteria ACCP/SCCM Consensus Conference in 1992. We have made determinations of the PCT, in dynamic, since the admission of patients, with imunocromatographic method, monitoring the antibiotics on the studied group depending on cut-off fluctuations and PCT.

RESULTS

The level of procalcitonin reflect the degree of systemic inflammatory response. PCT dosages were performed in 17 patients without inflammation/infection in 21 patients with local infections, 20 with systemic infection (sepsis), 7 with severe sepsis and septic shock 3/MSOF. In the studied group we excluded 5 patients with associated pathology (on the first day after a major trauma, major surgery, burns, treatment with drugs that stimulate the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, small cell lung cancer, medullary thyroid carcinoma) in that the PCT was in the absence of an inflammatory process cresct/infectious manifesto. Starting, monitoring and stopping the antibiotic was carried out based on PCT levels. The dosage of procalcitonin (PCT) revealed significantly elevated values in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock/MSOF. PCT was significantly lower in patients with sepsis compared with those with septic shock, and the difference between PCT values in patients with sepsis and severe sepsis was the limit of statistical significance. PCT values were not predictive of death, however.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, dynamic measurement of PCT may be a predictor for life-threatening infections with antibiotics that can monitor and direct the time and efficiency. The value of PCT as a guide of antibacterial therapy which can reduce mortality and morbidity in surgical septic patients remains to be fully evaluated by future studies, but we can say that the determination of this biomarker could be introduced in the dynamically protocol of tracking the clinical course of septic patients.

[Preliminary results for intraperitoneal chemotherapy in abdominal cancers]

The paper presents a review of the the last 20 years experience of some important oncologic and surgical centers all over the world on IntraPeritoneal Hyperthermic Chemotherapy (IPHC) applied by well known specialists in this domain: Sugarbaker P. (SUA), Takeshi S. (Japan, Elias D. (France), Deraco M. (Italy) and others. Then 20 cases of abdominal cancers with or without peritoneal metastases are presented, in which IPCH was applied using a Romanian apparatus of drainage - lavage with hyperthermic solutions of 5 Fluorouracil, alone or combined with cisplatin, over a 3 years period. The results are encouraging although the follow-up of this group is in progress.

[The role of intraoperative ultrasound in the diagnosis and treatment of hydatid liver disease]

Liver hydatid disease still represents a frequent condition in Romania, especially among population of Dobrogea County, which may lead to life-threatening complications. To assess the role of intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) in the diagnosis and treatment algorithms of liver hydatid disease. We could not find any similar studies in the literature in order to compare the results. The paper represents a retrospective study of IOUS performed for liver hydatid disease on a group of 43 patients admitted in the 2nd Clinic of Surgery - Clinical Emergency Hospital of Constanta. IOUS was intraabdominal (36 cases), transdiaphragmatic (7 cases) and was able to diagnose infected liver HC (7 cases), locate bilio-cystic fistulas (6 cases), hydatic cysts (18 cases) or relation with important anatomic elements (12). Ultrasound-guided frenotomy was performed in 5 cases and ultrasound-guided puncture in 9 cases. In 26 out of 43 patients (60.47%), IOUS influenced decision making during surgery. These data recommends IOUS in managing hydatid disease, allowing a complete diagnosis and optimal treatment, thus reducing postoperative morbidity.

[Preliminary data on post-pancreatectomy diabetes mellitus treated by islet-cell autotransplantation]

The present study describes the first islet autotransplant program in Romania, and the first 3 cases of subtotal pancreatectomy for chronic pancreatitis combined with islet autotransplant. The primary objective was to pain relief by pancreatic resection, but also to preserve the endocrine function by islet autotransplant. Extensive distal pancreatectomy is effective in relieving pain, but should be limited to patients with small duct disease, in whom more conservative methods have failed, because of severe metabolic consequences. Islets were prepared by Liberase digestion of the excised pancreas, and infused unpurified into the portal vein in one case and in the omental pouch and peritoneum in two cases. All patients were relieved of pain, have achieved insulin independence, and positive C peptide levels, but one patient died of a acute bronchopneumonia 60 days post-transplantation. The mean islet yields were 2100 islet equivalents/Kg body weight. Islet autotransplantation can be considered a useful therapeutic option serving to prevent the occurrence of surgically-induced diabetes. The results have indicate that the omental pouch is a viable site for islet autotransplantation, that can accommodate a large tissue volume, is easy to access to implant, and the IBMIR (instant blood mediated inflammatory reaction) may be less severe.