Ochsner Medical Center

About: Ochsner Medical Center is a healthcare organization based out in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Heart failure. The organization has 980 authors who have published 1159 publications receiving 49961 citations. The organization is also known as: Ochsner Hospital & Ochsner Foundation Hospital.

Cellular mechanisms of brain injury and cell death.

Abstract: An array of clinical events may lead to perioperative neurological injury. We first review the general cellular mechanisms leading to brain tissue injury and death. The genesis and mechanisms of injury after cerebral aneurysm surgery, traumatic brain injury, postoperative vascular insult in patients with severe cerebrovascular disease are discussed, as are strategies for prevention and treatment. More has become known about the epidemiology, risk factors and potential preventive strategies in postoperative delirium, and, to a lesser extent, postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Finally, emerging concepts in clinical brain protection are discussed, including preconditioning, gene therapy and stem cells.

Preferential protection against Marek's disease pathogenesis by immunisation with syngeneic virus-nonproducer lymphoblastoid cells.

Abstract: The effect of immunisation with virus non-producer Marek's disease (MD) lymphoma-derived lymphoblastoid cells on virus replication and lymphoid organ pathogenesis following MD virus challenge was studied with chickens from two related inbred lines and their F(1 )offspring. Protection against peripheral blood lymphocyte-associated viraemia as well as MD virus-caused weight changes of the spleen and bursa of Fabricius and degenerative bursal lesions was significantly greater among syngeneic and semi-syngeneic (F(1)) recipients than among allogeneic recipients of the lymphoblastoid cells. The results suggest that the protective immunity observed may be major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen-restricted and that non-infectious MD virus-transformed cells possess antigens that can induce anti-viral immunity.

Extensive necrotizing fasciitis from Fournier's gangrene.

Abstract: Fournier's gangrene is rapidly progressive necrotizing fasciitis that mainly affects the male perineum. Despite the advancement in surgical intervention, Fournier's gangrene carries high rates of mortality. Here, we present a 51-year-old male with hypertension and history of alcohol abuse presented to the emergency department with scrotal pain and swelling for a one-week period without preceding trauma to perineal area. He underwent emergent surgical debridement for and extensive necrotizing fasciitis. Early initiation of antibiotics, surgical intervention and good wound care postoperatively were cornerstone in his recovery.

Who should provide continuous renal replacement therapies? Nephrology nurses are better prepared to provide CRRT.

Abstract: Although critical care nurses are fully capable of learning CRRT, there are substantial, irrefutable challenges to achieving and sustaining proficiency. There is also diminished opportunity and motivation for critical care nurses to advance CRRT practice through quality initiatives, education, or research when it is a small piece of their practice. Consequently, I believe that it is incumbent upon acute care nephrology nurses to clarify the magnitude and value of what we do and to support our critical care colleagues in doing what they do best. The debate as to who should perform CRRT began in an effort to explore the better opportunity for cost-saving; but, in the end, it really boils down to the better opportunity for life-saving. I suspect improving outcomes for patients requiring CRRT will ultimately save hospitals more money than the short-sighted gains from critical care nurses performing tasks outside of universally-applied critical care RN processes.