Giancarlo Bertoni, M.D.

Prevalence of normal tension glaucoma in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients
Sergi, Margherita; Salerno, Daniela Eva; Rizzi, Maurizio; Blini, Mirella; Andreoli, Arnaldo; Messenio, Dario; Pecis, Marica; Bertoni, Giancarlo
2007 Jan;16(1):42-46, Journal of glaucoma
PURPOSE: To explore the prevalence of normal tension glaucoma (NTG) among patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and to examine OSAS as a risk factor of NTG. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-one consecutive white patients with OSAS were compared with 40 healthy subjects. All the study subjects underwent blood gas analysis, polysomnography, oxyhemoglobin saturation, and an ophthalmologic examination including visual field, visually evoked potential (VEP), and pattern electroretinography (PERG) and disc analysis with the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II. RESULTS: Three of 51 OSAS patients (5.9%) had NTG. No patient in the control group had OSAS or NTG. The severity of OSAS correlated with intraocular pressure, the mean deviation of the visual field, the cup/disk ratio and the mean of the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (P<0.01 to 0.001). Apnea hypopnea index and intraocular pressure were significantly greater in OSAS patients with abnormal VEP and PERG, compared to those with normal PERG and VEP. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that the prevalence of NTG in our OSAS patients is higher than expected in a white population of the same age and that OSAS may be an important risk factor for NTG. Our data underline the importance of taking an accurate sleep history from patients with NTG and referring patients with sleep disturbance for polysomnography
— id: 95132, year: 2007, vol: 16, page: 42, stat: Journal Article,

Rapid volume expansion in patients with interstitial lung diseases
Carlon, G C; Kahn, R C; Bertoni, G; Campfield, P B; Howland, W S; Goldiner, P L
1979 Jan-Feb;58(1):13-18, Anesthesia & analgesia
Rapid administration of intravascular volume expanders is often necessary during anesthesia. Significant controversy still exists on the relative values of different volume expanders. Fifteen hypoxemic patients (Pao2 less than 70 torr on room air) were studied preoperatively. They were randomized into three groups. One group received 1.5 ml/kg of 25% salt-poor human albumin, a second group, 7 ml/kg of fresh frozen plasma; a third group, 7 ml/kg of 0.9% NaCl in water (normal saline). The infusions were given intravenously and completed in 20 minutes. Changes in hemodynamic pressures and flows, blood chemistries, and oxygen uptake and transport variables were studied. It was concluded that fresh frozen plasma afforded the greatest increase in cardiac output and oxygen availability with the least increase in left ventricular stroke work. Colloid osmotic pressure was more significantly increased by fresh frozen plasma than by salt-poor human albumin. Normal saline caused both a decrease in oxygen availability and colloid osmotic pressure. Pulmonary venous admixture increased to some extent in all patients receiving fresh frozen plasma or normal saline. In three patients, this increase was very marked and accompanied by severe arterial hypoxemia
— id: 125637, year: 1979, vol: 58, page: 13, stat: Journal Article,

Unexpected giant "V" waves during pulmonary artery catheterization
Carlon, G C; Kahn, R C; Bertoni, G; Howland, W S
1979 May;5(2):55-58, Intensive care medicine
Two cases of catheterization of the pulmonary artery, in which the hemodynamic findings were very different from the initial clinical diagnosis, are presented. The importance of verifying the adequate position and motion of the pulomonary artery catheters with two consecutive chest x-rays is discussed. In particular, attention is brought to the possible misinterpretation that occurs in patients with very elevated pulmonary artery mean pressure
— id: 125636, year: 1979, vol: 5, page: 55, stat: Journal Article,

Adverse effects of calcium administration. Report of two cases
Carlon, G C; Howland, W S; Goldiner, P L; Kahn, R C; Bertoni, G; Turnbull, A D
1978 Jul;113(7):882-885, Archives of Surgery (Chicago)
Calcium chloride, 7 mg/kg, and calcium gluconate, 20 mg/kg, were administered to patients with low or low-normal levels of serum ionized calcium. Both patients had low blood pressure and cardiac index, and did not respond to digitalis, volume expansion, and beta-adrenergic stimulation with dopamine. Administration of calcium rapid increase of serum ionized calcium levels, decrease of serum potassium levels, and development of severe cardiac arrhythmias. Atrioventricular dissociation and further fall of cardiac index and blood pressure were common features of both cases. Administration of exogenous calcium can cause severe complications, even when theoretically indicated
— id: 125640, year: 1978, vol: 113, page: 882, stat: Journal Article,