Pancreatic pseudocysts are a well-known complication of acute or chronic pancreatitis, with a higher incidence in the latter. Currently several classification systems are in use that are based on the origin of the pseudocyst, their relation to pancreatic duct anatomy and a possible pseudocyst-duct communication. Diagnosis is accomplished most often by CT scanning, by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP) or by ultrasound, and rapid progress in the improvement of diagnostic tools has enabled detection with high sensitivity and specificity. There are different therapeutic strategies: endoscopic transpapillary or transmural drainage, percutaneous catheter drainage, or open surgery. The feasibility of endoscopic drainage is highly dependent on the anatomy and topography of the pseudocyst, but provides high success and low complication rates. Percutaneous drainage is used for infected pseudocysts. However, its usefulness in chronic pancreatitis-associated pseudocysts is questionable. Internal drainage and pseudocyst resection are frequently used as surgical approaches with a good overall outcome, but a somewhat higher morbidity and mortality compared with endoscopic intervention. We therefore conclude that pseudocyst treatment in chronic pancreatitis can be effectively achieved by both endoscopic and surgical means.

Pancreatic pseudocysts are a well-known complication of acute or chronic pancreatitis, with a higher incidence in the latter. Diagnosis is accomplished most often by computed tomographic scanning, by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or by ultrasound, and a rapid progress in the improvement of diagnostic tools enables detection with high sensitivity and specificity. Different strategies contribute to the treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts: endoscopic transpapillary or transmural drainage, percutaneous catheter drainage, or open surgery. The feasibility of endoscopic drainage is highly dependent on the anatomy and topography of the pseudocyst, but provides high success and low complication rates. Percutaneous drainage is used for infected pseudocysts. However, its usefulness in chronic pancreatitis-associated pseudocysts is questionable. Internal drainage and pseudocyst resection are frequently used as surgical approaches with a good overall outcome, but a somewhat higher morbidity and mortality compared with endoscopic intervention. We therefore conclude that pseudocyst treatment in chronic pancreatitis can be effectively achieved by both endoscopic and surgical means. This review entails publications referring to the classification of pancreatic pseudocysts, epidemiology, diagnostic tools, and therapeutic options for pancreatic pseudocysts. Only full articles were considered for the review. Based on a search in PubMed, the MeSH terms "pancreatic pseudocysts and classification," "diagnosis," and "endoscopic, percutaneous, and surgical treatment" were used either alone or in combination.

Purpose:To describe the epidemiology of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in a Brazilian ICU.Methods: This prospective observational, non-interventional study, included all consecutive patients with ARDS criteria [1] admitted in the ICU of a Brazilian tertiary hospital, between January 1997 and September 2001. Were collected in a prospective fashion the following variables: age, gender, APACHE II score at ICU admission and at ARDS diagnosis, cause of ARDS, presence of AIDS, cancer and immunosuppression, occurrence of barotrauma, performance of traqueostomy, mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation (MV), length of stay (LOS) in ICU and in hospital. The lung injury score (LIS) [2] was used to quantify the degree of pulmonary injury in the first week of ARDS. Results:There was 2182 patients (P) admitted in ICU during the study period, of whom 141 (6.46%) had ARDS criteria. Seventy-six (54%) were men, the mean age was 46 ± 18 years, APACHE II 18 ± 7 and 19 ± 7 at admission and at ARDS diagnosis, respectively. Septic shock accounted for 42% (60 P) of the ARDS causes, sepsis 22% (31 P), diffuse pulmonary infection 16% (23 P), aspiration pneumonia 11% (15 P), non-septic shock 5% (7 P) and others 4% (5 P). Ten percent (14 P) had AIDS, 30% (43 P) cancer and 25% (36 P) immunosuppression. All patients were mechanically ventilated with Tidal Volume between 4 and 8 ml/kg. Only 3.5% (5 P) had barotrauma and 10% (14 P) performed traqueostomy. Mortality rate was 79% in the ICU. The patients required 12 ± 10 days on MV, ranging from 1 to 55 days. The LOS in ICU and hospital was 14 ± 13 (1-69) days and 28 ± 32 (1-325) days, respectively. There was a time delay of 3.7 ± 4.5 days between admission in ICU and the onset of ARDS. The Murray score (mean ± SD) was 3.2 ± 0.4, 3 ± 0.5, 3 ± 0.5, 2.9 ± 0.6, 2.8 ± 0.7, 2.7 ± 0.7 and 2.6 ± 0.8 in the first 7 days, respectively.Conclusions: ARDS in our hospital has a similar incidence of reports in the USA and Europe. There was a higher mortality, which could be explained by a high incidence of infection causes of ARDS, mainly septic shock, and elevated combined occurrence of AIDS, cancer and immunosuppression, along the degree of LIS. The incidence of barotrauma was low, as a consequence of the current mechanical ventilation strategies. References:1. Bernard GR, Artigas A, Brigham KL, et al.: Am Respir Crit Care Med 1994 P2Role of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in ARDS mortality FS Dias, N Almeida, IC Wawrzeniack, PB Nery Hospital São Lucas da PUCRS, Av. Ipiranga 6690, RS, Brazil Purpose: To correlate the occurrence and level of organ dysfunction in ARDS with mortality. Methods:This cohort study includes all consecutive patients with ARDS criteria [1] admitted in the ICU between January 1997 and September 2001. Were collected in a prospective fashion the following variables: age, gender, APACHE II score at the ARDS diagnosis, the occurrence of organ dysfunction determined by the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) [2] in the first week, and mortality in ...

Diaspirin crosslinked hemoglobin (DCLHb) is a cell-free hemoglobin derived from human erythrocytes. DCLHb has been shown to improve blood flow to vital organs in healthy and septic animals. In this study, we determined the efficacy of DCLHb by comparing its effect on systemic O2 uptake to freshly stored and aged red blood cells (RBCs) in septic rats. Twenty-four hours after induction of sepsis by cecal ligation and perforation, O2 supply dependency was created by isovolemic hemodilution with rat plasma. In O2 supply dependency, rats were randomized to receive an exchange transfusion of 7.5 ml "fresh" RBCs (stored < 6 d; Hct: 70%), "fresh" diluted RBCs (stored < 6 d; Hct: 30%), "old" RBCs (stored 28 to 35 d; Hct: 70%), or DCLHb (Hb: 100 g/L). We found, that survival following O2 supply dependency and transfusion with old RBCs was poor (33% versus 91.7% in the other groups; p < 0.01), precluding further analysis of post-transfusion data from this group. Systemic O2 uptake increased in all remaining groups (p < 0.001), while systemic O2 delivery increased with "fresh" RBCs (p < 0.0001) and "fresh" diluted RBCs (p < 0.05) but not with DCLHb. Systemic O2 extraction increased with DCLHb as compared to baseline (p < 0.05) and to the other groups (p < 0.0001). Improved tissue oxygenation was associated with an increase in blood pressure and a fall in arterial lactate in all groups. We conclude that transfusion of DCLHb or "fresh" RBCs was efficacious at increasing systemic O2 uptake in O2 supply-dependent, septic rats.

Sugammadex provides a rapid and dose-dependent reversal of profound neuromuscular blockade induced by high-dose rocuronium (1.0 or 1.2 mg/kg) in adult surgical patients.