ABSTRACT The study is designed to evaluate the influence of remifentanil/propofol anesthesia on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) occurrence and respiratory support (RS) time after major cardiac surgery. Material and methods: In retrospective-prospective study we investigated the respiratory support time and VAP occurrence in group of 47 patients with remifentanil/propofol and 35 patients with fentanil/midazolam anesthesia after major cardiac surgery in period June 2009–December 2011. Groups are divided in subgroups depending of who underwent cardiac surgery with or without cardiopulmonary by pass (CPB). Results: The time of respiratory support (RS) was the shortest in remifentanil group without CPB (R/Off 63min ± 44.3 vs R/On 94min ± 49.2 p=0,22), but was longer in fentanil group (F/Off 142 min ± 102.2 vs F/On 212 min ± 102.2 p=0.0014). The duration of RS of ON pump remifentanil group was shorter than in ON pump fentanil group (R/On 94 min vs F/On 212 min p=0.0011). The time of RS of OFF pump remifentanil group was lower than in Off pump entangle group (R/Off 63min ± 44,3 vs F/Off 142min ± 102.2 p=0,021) with statistically significance. Ventilator–associated pneumonia was detected in 7 patients (8.5 %). Six patients (17.1%) were from entangle group and one patient (2.1%) from remifentanil group. The most common isolates were Pseudomonas aeruginosa in all patients and both Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia in one patient. Conclusion: The remifentanil anesthesia regimen in cardiac surgery decreases length of respiratory support duration and can prevent development of VAP. The role of remifentanil anesthesia in preventing VAP, as one of the most important risk factor of in-hospital mortality after cardiac surgery is still incompletely understood and should be investigated further.

Increasing gap between demand and availability of human kidneys for transplantation has forced a re-evaluation of the limits on donor age acceptability. The present study included 74 patients who underwent kidney transplantation in University Clinical Centre Tuzla. In an observational cohort study we assessed impact of donor age on post transplant renal function by analyzing following parameters: 24 hour urine output, creatinine clearance (Cr Cl) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Depending on donor age recipients were allocated in to two groups. Group I included patients who received renal graft from donors age up to 55 years, and Group II encountered recipients who received renal graft from donors older than 55 years. Our goal was to determine whether donor age over 55 years significantly diminishes renal graft function in first seven post transplant days. No statistically significant difference was found between Group I and II regarding 24 hour urine output. From second to fifth postoperative day creatinine clearance values were higher in the group of patients who received kidney from donors older than 55 years (47+/-19, 1 vs. 44, 4+/-20, 8). On the fifth, sixth and seventh post operative day GFR was significantly higher in patients who received renal graft from donors age up to 55 years (p<0, 0161). Our data showed no significant difference in observed variables between the two groups, thus indicating that utilization of renal grafts from donors' age > 55 years is acceptable and may considerably expand the donor pool.

The objectives of the study were to identify possible associated respiratory risk factors and to assess incidence of overall postoperative complications after the lung resection. We reviewed 110 patients who underwent lung resections due to malignant neoplasms or benign lung diseases. The risk of postoperative complications was evaluated using the univariate analysis. Results confirmed that low FEV1, postoperative high PaCO2, ASA-status and advanced age were factors associated with development of postoperative complications.