Because of the large interindividual variability in the difference between SvO2 and ScvO2, the measure of ScvO2 should not replace the measure of SvO2 with a pulmonary artery catheter for the management of patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Monitoring of mixed venous oxygen saturation (Sv̄O2) allows assessment of the global balance between oxygen supply and demand. Sv̄O2 measurement requires the insertion of a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) whereas central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) monitoring only requires a central venous catheter. The aim of this study was to assess how continuous measurements of ScvO2 relate to simultaneous measurements of Sv̄O2 during and after cardiac surgery. Continuous Sv̄O2 and ScvO2 measurements in 15 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery were recorded each minute for 24 hours. Bland-Altman analysis of 9,382 paired data points for Sv̄O2 and ScvO2 revealed a mean bias of 4.4% (95% Cl +22.3, −13.6%). Considerable inter- and intra-individual variability was noted. Based on these data and previous studies, ScvO2 and Sv̄O2 are not interchangeable variables.

No abstract

Ogilvie's syndrome is an acute dilatation of a part or all of the colon and rectum without mechanical obstruction. The diagnosis is based on computed tomography (CT) that excludes organic or functional colonic obstruction and ensures the detection of signs of severity. Rapid diagnosis leads to conservative measures and the resolution of obstruction. Delays in diagnosis can lead to complications imposing a surgical treatment and increased mortality rate. We report the case of a 52 years old woman with Parkinson's disease, who presented Ogilvie's syndrome. The initial assessment did not show signs of severity, so medical treatment was introduced but without improvement; for this reason, the surgical procedure was indicated as a cecostomy. There are several theories that explain the pathophysiology of Ogilvie's syndrome; the most likely is the dysfunction of innervation of the colon which is due to Parkinson's disease in our case. The diagnosis is based on computed tomography. The treatment is pharmacologic, conservative or surgical depending on the severity of the disease and its evolution.