PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Actis Dato

Publications and source records attributed to A Actis Dato.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The seagull wing self retaining prosthesis in the surgical treatment of pectus excavatum.

BACKGROUND: Between June 1958 and June 1996 we operated many patients affected by pectus excavatum with an original surgical technique. In this study we evaluated the durability of the results. METHODS EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Retrospective study with a mean follow-up time of 15.8 years/pt, and 60% complete. SETTING: private and institutional practice. PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS: 357 patients (253 males and 104 females, mean age = 18.2+/-5.1 years) affected by pectus excavatum. The grade of PE (Chin classification) was I in 76 patients, II in 165 and III in the remaining 116. Most of the patients required operation for aesthetic reasons only (339 patients; 95%). INTERVENTION: the surgical technique consisted of a double transversal sternotomy at the level of the lowest and highest part of the depression associated with a longitudinal sternotomy. A wedge resection of the ribs was then performed and the sternum was fixed using an original stainless steel strut prosthesis moulded into a seagull wing. The strut was removed 12 months postimplantation. RESULTS: There were no operative deaths. Four patients (1.2%) had sternal wound infection, which was successfully treated. From the aesthetic point of view, the postoperative results were excellent in 262 patients (73.4%), good in 82 (22.9%) and poor in 13 (3.6%). All subjective symptoms, when present, disappeared after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The seagull wing prosthesis appears to be safe, easy to implant and to remove, and comfortable for the patient. This technique has shown good long-term results independently of type of deformity and patient age.

Adolescent↗

Bjork-Shiley convexo-concave valve: is a prophylactic re-replacement justified?

BACKGROUND: The Bjork-Shiley convexo-concave (BS-CC) heart valves represent the improved model of the standard valve first introduced with a different design of the disc valve to ameliorate hemodynamic performances and reduce thromboembolic complications. About 86,000 BS-CC were implanted during 1979-1986 and of them a small number developed an intrinsic dysfunction resulting in sudden death. METHODS: From 1979 to 1986 we implanted in 117 patients (48 males, 69 females, mean age 46.35+/-12.47, range 8-65 years) 125 BS-CC. In 38.5% (45/117) of the cases heart valve replacement represented the second cardiac procedure after a previous closed heart digital commissurotomy. The mean size of the implanted prosthesis was 25.6+/-2.8 for aortic valve and 29.5+/-1.2 for mitral valve. RESULTS: Hospital mortality was 4.27% (5/117) and survival rate at 10 years is 71.4% and at 17 years 54.7% (Kaplan-Meier). At follow-up causes of death proved valve related in most of the patients but with no evidence of valve fracture. We had 1 case of sudden death in patients at high risk (largest size, aortic position) and 30 cases of death by unknown causes but they did not have an autopsy to confirm the cause of death. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that in our population with BS-CC at the moment there is no indication for prophylactic replacement because of the higher risks of a reoperation (third or fourth in the 35.4% of our patients) than a strut fracture. Nevertheless we believe an autopsy mandatory in all these patients at risk, when sudden death occurs.

Adolescent↗

Atrial septal defect and pregnancy: a retrospective analysis of obstetrical outcome before and after surgical correction.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To describe the obstetrical outcome and long-term cardiac follow-up of a group of patients who had surgery for atrial septal defect repair before pregnancy and a group who underwent pregnancy before surgical correction. DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: Public Institution. PATIENTS: Eighty women (mean age 20.15 +/- 4.5 years) complaining of atrial septal defect, 60 of which had surgical correction before pregnancy and subsequently had 115 pregnancies, and 20 of which underwent pregnancy before the correction of cardiac defect and subsequently had 48 pregnancies. INTERVENTIONS: Surgical correction of atrial septal defect: 49 by open heart technique (13 with cardiopulmonary bypass, 36 with light hypothermic circulatory arrest), 11 by closed heart techniques. RESULTS: Patients who underwent pregnancy before surgery had an increased incidence of miscarriage, pre-term delivery and cardiac symptoms during pregnancy. Patients operated before pregnancy required more frequently cesarean section and pharmacological therapy. The frequency of stillbirths, malformations in the offspring and long-term cardiac complications were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical correction of atrial septal defect before pregnancy is recommended even in case of apparently well compensated hemodinamic situation for the low rate of surgical complications in spite of the higher incidence of obstetrical problems in case of medical therapy alone.

Adult↗

Williams-Beuren syndrome. Long-term results of surgical treatments in six patients.

To settle long-term outcome after surgery for supravalvular aortic stenosis in the Williams-Beuren syndrome, we reviewed the records of 6 patients who had repair of the localized form (n = 5) or diffuse form (n = 1) at our Institution from 1965 to 1971. Four patients were females and 2 males, ages at operation ranged from 9 to 16 years (mean = 13 +/- 2.37 years). In all the patients was present the typical elfin facies with mental retardation and reduced I.Q. Preoperative omeral pressure was different between left and right arm (89 +/- 7/67 +/- 8 vs 105 +/- 8/77 +/- 4). Chest X-ray showed and enlargement of the cardia silhouette in all the patients. Cardiac catheterization, performed in all the patients, allowed diagnosis of supravalvular aortic stenosis and, in one case of subaortic stenosis associated. Intraoperatively a coronary tree enlargement was found in all cases with particular involvement of the right coronary in two patients. The mean diameter of the ascending aorta was 5.67 +/- 1.97 mm but the smallest (3 mm) was in the diffuse group. In group with localized stenosis the aortic root was enlarged with a teardrop patch in Dacron (n = 4) or a simple transverse suture after a longitudinal incision (n = 1). A pantaloon-shaped patch was necessary in the diffuse form case. There were no operative deaths and all the patients were discharged from the hospital after 2 weeks. A clinical follow-up was possible in all the patients (10%) extended from 25 to 30 years (mean = 27.7 +/- 2.19 years); there were no late deaths and at presents time the mean age of the patient is 40 +/- 3 years. All patients were in functional class I or II. There was no significant difference between patients with a teardrop-shaped or pantaloon-shaped patch in terms of late gradient, survival, or aortic insufficiency studied by Echocardiography and color-Doppler. Of six patients two are living with parents or relatives but four are in a farm-college for disable people working and having some responsibility. We conclude that surgery for the correction of supravalvular aortic stenosis in Williams-Beuren syndrome is mandatory and both the procedures with patch techniques provide excellent long-term results of gradients and aortic valve competence. Moreover the patients after the operation can have a normal activity with a satisfactory style and expectation of life.

Adolescent↗

Correction of pectus excavatum with a self-retaining seagull wing prosthesis. Long-term follow-up.

Between June 1958 and December 1991, 315 patients (217 male and 98 female, mean age = 17.8 +/- 5.5 years) affected by pectus excavatum (PE) were surgically treated. Most of the patients required operation for aesthetic reasons only (299 patients; 95 percent). The grade of PE (Chin classification) was I in 72 patients, II in 152, and III in the remaining 91. The surgical technique consisted of a double transversal sternotomy at the level of the lowest and highest part of the depression associated with a longitudinal sternotomy. A wedge resection of the ribs was then performed and the sternum was fixed using a stainless steel strut molded into a seagull wing prosthesis. The strut was removed 12 months postoperatively. There were no operative mortalities. Four patients had sternal wound infection that was successfully treated. The mean follow-up was 15.8 years per patient and was 60 percent complete. From the aesthetic point of view, the postoperative results were excellent in 246 patients (78 percent), good in 57 (18 percent), and poor in 12 (4 percent). All subjective symptoms, when present, disappeared after surgery. The seagull wing prosthesis appears to be safe, easy to implant and to remove, and comfortable for the patient. This technique has shown good long-term results independently of type of deformity and patient age.

Adolescent↗

A rare complication of mitral valve replacement: sudden cardiac death for immobilization of disc valve by an unraveled suture.

Disc immobilization caused by an unraveled suture in a mitral valve prosthesis represents a rare extrinsic complication in heart valve replacement. We report a case of a 54-year-old white male who underwent mitral valve replacement because of a severe mitral regurgitation. A Björk-Shiley tilting disc was implanted with interrupted "U" shaped 3/0 silk sutures. There were no complications and the patient was discharged in the 10th postoperative day. Twenty days after surgery the patient died for acute pulmonary edema. Autopsy revealed an unraveled suture producing interference with the tilting disc as a cause of disc prosthesis immobilization in closed position. The possible explication of this rare complication is the combination between unraveled suture and the pleating held by Teflon sewing ring after restoring heart function. A flaccid heart can produce an overestimation of the annulus size and the valve ring can bring an anomalous interference with the valve mechanism. In conclusion disc immobilization by an unraveled suture is a complication that can occur very rarely but an accurate prevention must be warrant particularly with a tilting disc more than a beleaflet prosthesis.

Death, Sudden, Cardiac↗

[Percutaneous tricuspid valvuloplasty].

The authors herein describe the case of a 44 year old woman, who 14 years ago underwent surgical intervention after a rheumatic disease. A double mitral-aortic valvular implantation and a tricuspid commissurotomy was carried out. The patient come under our observation for severe congestive heart failure, while both mechanical prostheses were working well. Furthermore, the Doppler echocardiography showed a severe tricuspid stenosis (mean gradient = 8.6 mm Hg) and a concurrent mild to moderate valvular regurgitation. Because of her poor clinical condition and due to the high surgical risk it was decided to perform a balloon valvuloplasty of the tricuspid stenosis. The procedure, using the percutaneous femoral approach, was carried out with a TRIAD-TWIN AT (diameter = 18 + 18 mm; length = 4 cm; Mansfield) catheter and an Amplatz guide wire was advanced up to the apex of the right ventricle. Both balloons were inflated simultaneously on three occasions to a maximum pressure of 3.5 atmospheres for 60". At the end of the procedure there was the complete disappearance of telediastolic gradient, the valvular regurgitation remained unchanged (when compared to the pre-valvuloplasty control) and the mean trans-tricuspid gradient reduced to 4 mm Hg. Immediately following the procedure there was a remarkable, rapid hemodynamic improvement of the patient and at three months her condition is constant. In conclusion tricuspid valvuloplasty even using the percutaneous femoral approach can be performed and considered a simple and effective treatment.

Adult↗

[The long-term results in multiple procedures on the heart valves].

In the period 1972-1988, 209 patients (81 males, 128 females, mean age 42.4 +/- 11.9, range 20-71 years) underwent surgery for multiple valve repair (MVR) at the Italian Institution of Cardiac Surgery. Ninety-five patients had previously undergone mitral commissurotomy (MC). NTHA function class was III-IV in 89% of the patients. The procedures were: aortic valve replacement (AVR) + MC (63 patients; 30.2%), mitral valve replacement (MVR) + tricuspid valvuloplasty (TRVPL) (57 patients; 27.4%), AVR + MVR (50 patients; 24%), AVR + MVR+TRVPL (22 patients; 10.5%), AVR + CM + TRVPL (6 patients; 2.8%), AVR + mitral valvuloplasty (6 patients; 2.8%), AVR-TRVPL (2 patients; 0.9%), AVR + MVR + tricuspid valve replacement (2 patients; 0.9%), AVR + MVR + TRVPL + ventriculoplasty (1 patients; 0.5%). The inserted valves were mostly (147/209) Bjork-Shiley tilting disc type. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time was 119.6 +/- 53.9 and the mean aortic clamp time was 69.2 +/- 31.6. A complete follow-up was possible in 158/209 patients (75%) with a mean observation time of 8.11 +/- 4.92 years (total of 778 patients years). Thromboembolism was defined as the cause of any new focal neurologic deficit. All cases of peripheral embolisation were considered to be valve-related. The valve related early and late complication are as follow: fifteen patients in NYHA class III-IV, died perioperatively (7%). We had a thrombotic encapsulation of valve in one patient who required a redo operation after 8.25 years, 6 cases of thromboembolism in patients who interrupted anticoagulants (2 deaths), 4 cases of prosthetic leak, 8 cases of prosthetic valve endocarditis (1 death) 9 cases of anticoagulant-related hemorrhage (2 deaths).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[Autohemotransfusion in cardiac reoperations].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of intraoperative autotransfusion with hemodilution (AHT) to reduce postoperative transfusion of blood or blood products (BT) after cardiac surgery reoperation. DESIGN: Retrospective study, follow-up control. SETTING: Italian Institution of Cardiac Surgery (IICC). PATIENTS: 169 patients (51 males, 118 females; mean age 49.5 years) undergoing a reoperation from May 1982 to December 1991. INTERVENTIONS: 143 patients single valve replacement, 16 patients double valve replacement and 10 patients radical correction for tetralogy of Fallot. AHT (mean 620.2 +/- 226.9 ml) was performed in all patients. The shed blood was reinfused at the end of the surgery. PT, PTT, TT, TT Coagulase, FDP, pre- and postoperative platelet count, bleeding and needs for BT were recorded. RESULTS: Preoperatively: PT 71.3 +/- 8.1, PTT (sec.) 36.9 +/- 3.5, TT (sec.) 16.2 +/- 2.3, TTC (sec.) 16.9 +/- 1.7, FDP (ng% ml) 3.8 +/- 2.7, Platelet count (No./mu 11 170 +/- 58. Postoperatively: PT 36.5 +/- 6.5, PTT(sec.) 49.5 +/- 8.7, TT(sec.) 19.1 +/- 1.8, TTC(sec.) 18.9 +/- 2.1, FDP (ng% ml) 13.5 +/- 8.9, Platelet count (No./mu 11) 85 +/- 34. We had one reentry because of bleeding. The mean units of blood or blood products need after surgery were 2.2 +/- 1.02. Bleeding from the drainage was 105.2 +/- 103.8. Two patients died in the postoperative period because of low output syndrome. In a period of one year of F.U. we had only one patient with hepatitis B. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that AHT is a safe method, reduces needs for banked blood or blood products, risks of infectious disease transmission and of immunologic reactions and presents hemorheologic benefits because of the diminished blood viscosity.

Blood Transfusion, Autologous↗

Long-term follow-up of cardiac myxomas (7-31 years).

Between 1961 and 1985, 14 patients (9 males, 5 females; mean age 42.3 +/- 7.26 years) underwent surgery for excision of cardiac myxoma. Origin of the neoplasm was left atrium in all patients. In the last 7 cases diagnosis was obtained by echocardiographic examination. The clinical manifestations were dyspnea in 8 cases, palpitation in 5 and neurological symptoms in 3. One patient with concomitant mitral and aortic incompetence died on the 13th postoperative day because of low-output syndrome. All 13 operative survivors are alive and well without echocardiographic evidence of neoplastic recurrence at a follow-up ranging from 7 to 31 years. These results indicate a low incidence of recurrence with a complete tumor excision even without its extension to the normal atrial endocardium.

Adult↗

[Antibiotic pretreatment of heart valve prostheses].

Bacterial endocarditis on cardiac valvular prosthesis is still a frequent and dangerous complication: septicemia, embolism, valvular dysfunction and mortality. To prevent these complications, intraoperative treatment of prosthesis, by immersion in antibiotic solution, was performed in 1262 patients. The postoperative results have been compared with results of a nontreated group. The incidence of endocarditis in the treated group was 1.3%, in non-treated cases 5.45%. The cases of early endocarditis, was 0.08% of total cases of complications in the treated patients group; and 4.54% in the nontreated patient group. This study's results, confirm the utility of valvular prosthesis antibiotic treatment in cardiac surgery.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

[Technical expedient in the case of phrenic stimulation complicating an epicardial pacemaker].

In the event of abnormal stimulation of the phrenic nerve with diaphragm contractions, a possible complication in carriers of pacemakers with epicardial electrodes, interposition of an insulating lamina in the pericardial lead between electrodes and pericardium is proposed. This expedient has been adopted in a case followed up over an 8 year period and can protect the phrenic nerve from pacemaker stimuli and resolve the complication simply and lastingly.

Adams-Stokes Syndrome↗