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Effects of N-Acetyl-Cysteine on Splanchnic Circulation

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The Splanchnic Circulation

Part of the book series: Update in Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine ((UICM,volume 23))

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Abstract

In stressful circumstances (hermorrhage, sepsis), several endogenous vasoconstrictors (cathecholamines, angiostensin II, leukotriene D4, thromboxane A2) are released into the circulation [1]. These vasonconstrictors affect the splanchnic circulation more consistently than other tissue beds [2–4]. Their net effect is to redistribute blood away from the splanchnic organs to preserve blood flow to the so-called vital organs (brain and heart) [1]. Splanchnic ischemia is frequently observed in experimental models of sepsis [4] and in critically ill subjects [1]. It has been suggested that splanchnic ischemia can be an important contributor to the development of multiple organ failure (MOF), particularly during sepsis [1]. In critically ill patients the detection and treatment of splanchnic ischemia is clinically relevant because it seems to have prognostic implications [5]. This chapter reviews the available methods to detect splanchnic ischemia clinically and the effects of N-acetyl-cisteine (NAC) on whole body tissue oxygenation and splanchnic oxygenation, both in experimental animals and in critically ill patients.

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Authors
  1. A. G. N. Agustí
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  2. J. Ibañez
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  3. B. Togores
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 604 Scaife Hall, 15261, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Michael R. Pinsky

  2. Clinical Pharmacology and Critical Care Medicine, Cochin Port-Royal University Hospital, 27 rue du Faubourg St. Jaques, F-75679, Paris, France

    Jean-Francois Dhainaut

  3. Servei des Medicina Intensiva Parc Tauli, Consorci Hospitalari Parc Tauli, E-08208, Sabadell, Spain

    Antonio Artigas

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© 1995 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Agustí, A.G.N., Ibañez, J., Togores, B. (1995). Effects of N-Acetyl-Cysteine on Splanchnic Circulation. In: Pinsky, M.R., Dhainaut, JF., Artigas, A. (eds) The Splanchnic Circulation. Update in Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, vol 23. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79715-6_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79715-6_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-79717-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-79715-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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