Background Human aging is a universal and regular process characterized by uneven and steady progression, inevitably affecting to some extent all levels of biological organization. In the structure of acute exotoxicosis, patients of gerontological age range from 10.3 to 12.9%. After 60, with an increase of years, there is a growth of mortality rate from 9.8% in elderly patients to 25.5% in long-livers. A certain role in its genesis is played by the premorbid background, i.e. somatic diseases preceding and accompanying acute exotoxicosis.

Aim of study To identify the role of concomitant diseases in the course and outcome of acute poisoning by psychoactive drugs in patients over 60. MATErIALS AnD METhODS We retrospectively analyzed hospital records of 99 patients aged 60 to 90 years who died from poisoning with psychoactive drugs at the N.V. Sklifosovsky Research Institute for Emergency Medicine in 2013–2016, as well as their autopsy, forensic and histological research data.

Results In gerontological patients with acute poisoning with psychoactive drugs, the main premorbid background (100%) is atherosclerotic lesion of the heart and vessels of different degree and extent. In case of lethal outcomes, in toxicogenic stage of poisoning on primary electrocardiograms, myocardial ischemia was revealed in 76.9% of cases, heart rhythm disturbances were detected in all patients, most often in the form of supraventricular extrasystoles (38.4%) and atrial fibrillation (23.1%). In the deceased patients during the somatogenic stage of poisoning, cardiac conduction disorders (31.3%) prevailed. Concomitant chronic lesions of the bronchopulmonary system, including terminal bronchi, contributed to the development of hypostatic pneumonia and its long, migratory course. In 50% of cases, large and small droplet fatty liver disease was detected, which could have a negative effect on the course of poisoning, altering biotransformation of toxicants.

Conclusion Atherosclerotic lesion of the heart and vessels, as well as chronic bronchopulmonary disease and fatty liver disease are the main premorbid background factors, which have a negative effect on the course and outcome of acute poisoning with psychoactive drugs.

Background The advantage of thrombolytic therapy (TLT) over anticoagulant therapy(ACT) in patients with a high risk of early death (hemodynamic disorders) in acute pulmonary embolism is considered proven. But the advantage of thrombolytic therapy over anticoagulant therapy remains uncertain in patients with an intermediate risk. Perfusion lung scintigraphy helps provide a quantitative comparison of changes in pulmonary blood flow with the use of different treatment methods in subgroups of high and intermediate risk of an adverse outcome.

The aim of study is to compare the effectiveness of thrombolytic and anticoagulant therapy in the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism in patients with a high and intermediate risk of early death in terms of the dynamics of pulmonary perfusion disorders.

Study design: a prospective non-randomized study. The introduction of a thrombolytic was cosidered as intervention. The comparison group consisted of patients who received an anticoagulant. Thrombolysis in patients with intermediate risk was indicated in the absence of a potential threat of hemorrhagic complications, a deficit of pulmonary perfusion above 40%, a high level of pulmonary hypertension and a high probability of cardiac decompensation. The method of comparison was the quantitative result of pulmonary perfusion deficiency.

Description of the method Radionuclide and CT studies were carried out using a hybrid system SPECT/CT Discovery NM/CT 670 (GE, USA): the perfusion was evaluated with 80–120 MBq of 99mTc macrotech radiopharmaceutical (RP) (effective equivalent dose of 0.8–1.3 mSv), CT angiography was performed with 70–100 ml of radiopaque substance Visipaque (effective equivalent dose of irradiation 9.4–10.3 mSv). The accumulation deficit of an area equal to a segment was counted as a perfusion deficiency of 5% (subsegmental 2.5%), inferior lobe — 25%, an area equal to the right lung — 55%, the left lung — 45%.

Characteristics of the sample In a sample of 503 patients who received treatment at the Intensive Care Unit for Surgical Patients of the N.V. Sklifosovsky Institute for Emergency Medicine from 2011 to 2016, the overall mortality rate was 14.7% (95% CI 11.7; 18.1) (74/503); anticoagulation therapy — 17.8% (95% CI 13.5; 22.8) (50/281); thrombolytic therapy — 10.8% (95% CI 7.1; 15.6) (24/222); p=0.031, Fisher’s test, P=0.60. At a high risk of death, the mortality rate in the thrombolytic therapy group was 30.2% (19/63) versus 47.1% (32/68) in the anticoagulant therapy group; p=0.051, the Fisher’s test; P=0.51. At an intermediate risk, it was 3.2% (5/158) and 8.4% (8/214); p=0.049, the Fisher’s test, P=0.54. Changes in pulmonary perfusion deficiency as a result of treatment were performed in 169 patients who promptly underwent a primary and repeated dynamic scintigraphic study: 127 patients after thrombolysis (of which 38 patients had a high risk and 88 had an intermediate risk) and 42 patients who were treated with an anticoagulant (5 — high risk, 37 — intermediate risk). The groups did not differ in age and gender composition: the mean age was 59±16; Me 61 (49; 71) and 57±14 years; Me 58 (43; 67), respectively; p=0.50 (Mann–Whitney test); men/women: 50/77 and 12/30; p=0.27, the Fisher’s test. The groups differed in the presence of cancer: in the ACT group, the proportion of patients with cancer was 21.4% (9/42), and in the TLT group it was 4.7% (6/127), p=0.003, the Fisher’s test, P=0.85.

Results Patients of high and intermediate risk, who received thrombolysis, were in a significantly more serious condition in terms of baseline characteristics. Both methods of treatment were effective. In high-risk patients, perfusion deficiency regressed: from 57±10% (Me 60 (50; 65)) to 31±15% (Me 30 (20; 40)), p<0.00001 (Wilcoxon test), Es=2.08, P=1.00 after TLT; from 38±9% (Me 40 (35; 40)) to 14±8% (Me 10 (10; 20)), p=0.043 (Wilcoxon test), Es=2.72, P=0.93 after ACT. In patients with intermediate risk, perfusion deficiency regressed: from 48±9% (Me 50 (40, 55)) to 24±13% (Me 20 (15; 30)), p<0.00001 (Wilcoxon test) after TLT; from 38±11% (Me 40 (30; 45)) to 24±15% (Me 15 (15; 30)), p=0.00003 (Wilcoxon test) after ACT. The effect size for TLT was Es=2.16, for ACT Es=1.13. The power of the study was P=1.00 and P=0.99.

Conclusion Thrombolytic therapy was more effective in restoring pulmonary perfusion compared to anticoagulants in patients with an intermediate risk of early death: the effect of thrombolysis was greater than that of anticoagulant therapy (Es=2.16 and Es=1.13). The absence of the effect of restoring pulmonary perfusion during thrombolysis was noted less frequently compared to the results of anticoagulant therapy: in 5.5% (95% CI 2.2–11.0) vs. 19.0% (95% CI 8.6–34.1).

Background Acute dizziness may be the only symptom of stroke. Prevalence of this disease among patients with isolated dizziness differs significantly and depends on study design, inclusion criteria and diagnostic methods. In available investigations, we did not find any prospective studies where magnetic resonance imaging, positional maneuvers, and Halmagyi-Curthoys test had been used to clarify a pattern of diseases with isolated acute dizziness and suspected stroke.

Aim of study To clarify the pattern of the causes of dizziness in patients with suspected acute stroke.

Material and methods We examined 160 patients admitted to N.V. Sklifosovsky Research Institute for Emergency Medicine with suspected stroke and single or underlying complaint of dizziness. All patients were examined with assessment of neurological status, Dix-Hollpike and Pagnini-McClure maneuvers, HalmagyiCurthoys test, triplex scans of brachiocephalic arteries, transthoracic echocardiography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain with magnetic field strength 1.5 T. MRI of the brain was performed in patients without evidence of stroke by CT and in patients with stroke of undetermined etiology according to the TOAST classification.

Results In 16 patients (10%), the cause of dizziness was a disease of the brain: ischemic stroke (n=14 (88%)), hemorrhage (n=1 (6%)), transient ischemic attack (TIA) of posterior circulation (n=1 (6%)). In 70.6% patients (n=113), the dizziness was associated with peripheral vestibulopathy: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (n=85 (75%)), vestibular neuritis (n=19 (17%)), Meniere’s disease (n=7 (6%)), labyrinthitis (n=2 (1,3%)). In 6.9% patients (n=11), the cause of dizziness was hypertensive encephalopathy, 1.9% of patients (n=3) had heart rhythm disturbance, 9.4% of patients (n=15) had psychogenic dizziness, 0.6% of patients (n=1) had demyelinating disease, and 0.6% of patients (n=1) had hemic hypoxia associated with iron deficiency anemia.

Conclusion In 70.6% patients with acute dizziness, admitted to hospital with a suspected stroke, peripheral vestibulopathy was revealed. Only 10% of patients had a stroke as a cause of dizziness.

Aim of study To study of the role of hydrochloric acid in the genesis of stress-induced gastric ulceration in patients with extensive burns.

Material and methods The results of gastroscopy and endoscopic pH-metry of 30 young patients with extensive burns (19 male patients and 11 female patients). The acidity of the gastric contents was measured on day 1,7 and 14 after the trauma.

Results It was found that the early period of burn disease was followed by the pH growth in the acid-producing area of the stomach to 3.8–4.2 (p=0.002–0.020). This indicated that extensive burns provoked a significant decrease of  hydrochloric acid production by parietal cells of the stomach. The restoration of the acid production occurred only 14 days after thermal injury and was not followed by the development of a hyperacid state. The frequency of erosive-ulcerative lesions detection in the gastric mucosa by the end of the first day after receiving burns was 83%, 87% on day 7, and 96% on day 14. In total, stress-induced lesions of the gastrointestinal mucosa were diagnosed in 26 of 30 patients with a shock-induced thermal injury. Consequently, in patients with burn shock the protective factors of the gastric mucosa were depressed so that a minimum amount of hydrochloric acid was sufficient to damage it.

Conclusion Inhibition of acidogenic function is typical for patients with burn disease. Hydrochloric acid does not play a leading role in the genesis of stressinduced ulceration in patients with severe thermal trauma.

Background As life expectancy and quality of health improve, more and more people reach old age, and so does the number of heart diseases. One of the most urgent problems among elderly patients is degenerative stenosis of the aortic valve (AV). The conservative treatment of symptoms of chronic heart failure with AV stenosis improves the patient’s condition only for a while, whereas surgical treatment such as replacement of AV is recognized as the main effective method of treating a defect. Recently, alternative technologies for prosthetic AV have been developed, aimed at reducing adverse effects of artificial circulation (AC) in high-risk patients and minimizing the scope of surgical intervention.

Aim of study The aim of the study was to evaluate the immediate results of surgical treatment of aortic stenosis using different methods in patients over 70.

Material and methods The article presents the results of treatment of 64 patients over 70 with isolated AV stenosis, operated with different surgical techniques from July, 2016 to January, 2018. All patients were divided into three groups, differing in the severity of the initial condition and the method treatment. Group 1 (transcatheter implantation of the prosthetic AV, EuroSCORE II — 21.81%) consisted of 19 patients, Group 2 (non-suture implantation of a Perceval prosthetic valce under the AC, EuroSCORE II — 13.81%) consisted of 13 patients and Group 3 (“standard” prosthetics, EuroSCORE II — 9.89%) consisted of 32 patients.

Results In Group 1, two patients died, the hospital mortality was 10.5%. In Group 2 and Group 3, one patient died, the hospital mortality was 7.6 and 3.1%, respectively. Implantation of a permanent pacemaker was required in three patients (15.7%) from the TAVI group after installation of Medtronic Core Valve and two patients (15.3%) from the Perceval group.

Conclusion The obtained results of AV replacement by various methods allowed to expand indications for the management of AV stenosis in patients of the older age group with a high surgical risk of operation under AC conditions who had not previously been considered candidates for surgical treatment of aortic malformation due to the age and severity of the concomitant pathology.

Despite significant progress in medicine, out-of-hospital cardiac (OHCA) remains one of the leading causes of death around the world. Epidemiological data suggest wide distribution of OHCA, low incidence of cardiopulmonary resuscitation attempts and low efficiency of resuscitation in the Russian Federation. Both implementation of measures for reducing mortality from OHCA and monitoring of their efficiency should be based on up-to-date, reliable data on national and regional OHCA epidemiology and performance of emergency medical services. The aim of this review is to provide a rationale for establishment of the national OHCA registry as a main instrument of collection, arrangement, storage, processing and presentation of data on OHCA epidemiology and efficiency of care provided. The review includes the analysis of OHCA epidemiological studies carried out in Russia, describes general concept and international experience of developing OHCA registries, and discusses Utstein guidelines for uniform reporting of OHCA data.

The presented data of domestic and foreign literature reveal the etiology and pathogenesis of burn anemia caused by the development of systemic inflammatory response (SIR) and blood loss. Manifestations of SIR are characterized by a decrease in the areas of erythropoiesis, inadequate reaction to endogenous and exogenous erythropoietin, a decrease in serum iron, the death of erythrocytes as a result of endogenous intoxication, the development of DIC syndrome, thermal and non-immune hemolysis of erythrocytes, and severe metabolic disturbances. Developing burn anemia progresses as a result of hemorrhage with multiple dressings and operations, as well as bleeding in patients with erosive and ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. Domestic and foreign experience with blood transfusions in the past century indicates the need for blood transfusions during the development of moderate severity of anemia (hemoglobin less than 90 g/l), burn patients, which will increase the effectiveness of treatment, reduce the time of hospital stay and expenses.

Abstract The aim of this study was to estimate volumes of blood loss and infusion and transfusion therapy during Cesarean section in pregnant women with placenta previa and accreta.

Material and methods Тhe study group consisted of 15 patients with placenta previa and accreta. The delivery period was 32–36 weeks. We used clinical and laboratory techniques and special methods of investigation. The analysis of pregnancy course, bleeding volumes, infusion and transfusion therapy, hemostasis system parameters and hemogram was carried out.

Results Тhe mean age of pregnant women was 33.8±4.3 years. All pregnant women underwent fundal Cesarean section. In 80% of women, we performed Cesarean section and metroplasty. In 20% of women, Cesarean section and hysterectomy were performed. The volume of intraoperative blood loss ranged from 750 ml to 6,000 ml and averaged 2,471.4±1,528.5 ml. The volumes of crystalloid solutions were 1,361.53±1,052.40 of Sterofundin, and 688.4±123.5 ml of other solutions. In 80% of patients, Gelofusine was administered (969.66±351.86 ml on the average), as well as Geloplasma (620.8±124.8 ml on the average). The volume of HES solutions 6% 130/04 was 744.4±120.45 ml on the average. FFP in the amount of 1,526.7±762.83 ml was transfused to 60% of women. The mean dose of tranexamic acid was 2.6±0.84 g. The factor rFVIIa was administered in three patients in the dose of 90 mcg/kg. Prothrombin complex concentrate 1200 IU was administered in three patients. The volume of reinfused autoerythrocytes was 793.7±424.17 ml on the average. The volume of donor red blood cells during the operation amounted to 775.12±120.2 ml.

Conclusion Pregnant patients with placenta previa and accrete represent a high-risk group for the development of massive coagulopathic bleeding and postoperative complications. These patients should deliver on a routine basis at the high-tech institutions of obstetric care. The adequate, timely infusion and transfusion maintenance of surgical intervention with this pathology, using modern blood-saving technologies, transfusion of sufficient volumes of blood components, inhibitors of fibrinolysis, coagulation factors, modern balanced crystalloid and colloidal solutions plays a important role in implementation of organpreserving tactics.

The article reports a clinical case of a patient with four recurring episodes of headache, nausea and focal neurological symptoms (hemiparesis, sensorimotor aphasia, adversive epileptic seizures) with a rapid onset of remission. The clinical picture of the disease was supplemented with lymphocytic pleocytosis and cell-protein dissociation in the cerebrospinal fluid, which allowed to diagnose benign recurrent lymphocytic meningitis (Mollaret meningitis) and to conduct pathogenetic therapy. The aim of this work is to improve the diagnosis of rare Mollaret meningitis.

Acetic acid has a local cauterizing effect like coagulation necrosis and significant resorptive hemato-, nephro- and hepatotoxic effect due to hemolysis of erythrocytes, development of toxic coagulopathy, syndrome of disseminated intravascular coagulation. Developing severe hypoxia, microcirculation disorder, and impaired liver and kidney function significantly worsen proliferative processes in the area of chemical burn, leading to the development of such serious complications as late esophageal and gastric bleeding and cicatrical stenosis of the esophagus and stomach. Therefore, the prevention of these complications should include not only local treatment of the burn surface, but also complex therapy aimed at restoring the function of affected organs at the early hospital stage and rehabilitation stage. The article describes the case of practical application of an intensive care algorithm, which includes the use of microcirculation improvers, Cytoflavin — an antihypoxant on the basis of succinic acid, Actovegin — a stimulant of proliferation, prolonged use of glucocorticoids, active nutritional support with a protein-carbohydrate mixture, all initiated upon arrival.

The authors report a case of practice: a foreign body (an open safety pin) in the esophagus of a one-year-old child. This case highlights the risk of accidental swallowing a safety pin, which can lead to serious complications.