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Filamentous fungal infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality in solid organ transplant patients, and prevention is warranted whenever possible. An increase in invasive aspergillosis was detected among solid organ transplant recipients in our institution during 1991–92. Rates of Aspergillus infection (18.2%) and infection or colonization (42%) were particularly high among lung transplant recipients. Epidemiologic investigation revealed cases to be both nosocomial and community-acquired, and preventative efforts were directed at both sources. Environmental controls were implemented in the hospital, and itraconazole prophylaxis was given in the early period after lung transplantation. The rate of Aspergillus infection in solid organ transplant recipients decreased from 9.4% to 1.5%, and mortality associated with this disease decreased from 8.2% to 1.8%. The rate of Aspergillus infection or colonization among lung transplant recipients decreased from 42% to 22.5%; nosocomial Aspergillus infection decreased from 9% to 3.2%. Cases of aspergillosis in lung transplant recipients were more likely to be early infections in the pre-intervention period. Early mortality in lung transplant recipients decreased from 15% to 3.2%. Two cases of dematiaceous fungal infection were detected, and no further cases occurred after environmental controls. The use of environmental measures that resulted in a decrease in airborne fungal spores, as well as antifungal prophylaxis, was associated with a decrease in aspergillosis and associated mortality in these patients. Ongoing surveillance and continuing intervention is needed for prevention of infection in high-risk solid organ transplant patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) on the viscoelasticity (viscosity and elasticity) of blood and global and regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) in a neonatal piglet model. After initiation of CPB, all animals (n = 3) were subjected to core cooling for 20 min to reduce the piglets' nasopharyngeal temperatures to 18¡C. This was followed by 60 min of DHCA, then 45 min of rewarming. During cooling and rewarming, the alpha-stat technique was used. Arterial blood samples were taken for viscoelasticity measurements and differently labeled microspheres were injected at pre-CPB, pre- and post-DHCA, 30 and 60 min after CPB for global and regional cerebral blood flow calculations. Viscosity and elasticity were measured at 2 Hz, 22¡C and at a strain of 0.2, 1, and 5 using a Vilastic-3 Viscoelasticity Analyzer. Elasticity of blood at a strain = 1 decreased to 32%, 83%, 57%, and 61% (p = 0.01, ANOVA) while the viscosity diminished 8.4%, 38%, 22%, 26% compared to the baseline values (p = 0.01, ANOVA) at pre-DHCA, post-DHCA, 30 and 60 min after CPB, respectively. The viscoelasticity of blood at a strain of 0.2 and 5 also had similar statistically significant drops (p < 0.05). Global and regional cerebral blood flow were also decreased 30%, 66%, 64% and 63% at the same experimental stages (p < 0.05, ANOVA) . CPB procedure with 60 min of DHCA significantly alters the blood viscoelasticity, global and regional cerebral blood flow. These large changes in viscoelasticity may have a significant impact on organ blood flow, particularly in the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurologic complications are already well documented after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) procedures in neonates and infants. Physiologic pulsatile flow CPB systems may be the alternative to the currently used steady-flow CPB circuits. In addition to the pulsatile pump, a membrane oxygenator should be chosen carefully, because only a few membrane oxygenators are suitable for physiologic pulsatile flow. We have tested four different types of neonateinfant membrane oxygenators for physiologic pulsatility with The University of Texas neonateinfant pulsatile CPB system in vitro. Evaluation criteria were based on mean ejection time, extracorporeal circuit (ECC) pressure, and upstroke of dp/dt. The results suggested that the Capiox 308 hollow-fibre membrane oxygenator produced the best physiologic pulsatile waveform according to the ejection time, ECC pressure, and the upstroke of dp/dt. The Minimax Plus and Masterflo Infant hollow-fibre membrane oxygenators also produced adequate pulsatile flow. Only the Variable Prime Cobe Membrane Lung (VPCML) Plus flat-sheet membrane oxygenator failed to reach the criteria for physiologic pulsatility. Depending on the oxygenator used, the lowest priming volume of the infant CPB circuit was 415 ml and the highest 520 ml. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]