PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Ergin

Publications and source records attributed to A Ergin.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Predictors of long-term survival in patients with malignant ventricular arrhythmias.

The study consisted of 369 patients (age 62 +/- 13 years) who presented to our institution from April 1984 to April 1994 for malignant ventricular arrhythmias presenting as sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) in 57% of patients, ventricular fibrillation in 25% of patients, and syncope due to VT in 17% of patients. Coronary artery disease was present in 74% of patients, cardiomyopathy in 19% of patients, and no evident heart disease in 7% of patients. Two hundred twenty-one patients were given drug, therapy, 47 patients underwent arrhythmia surgery, and 75 patients had an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). During a mean follow-up of 30 months (range 1 to 101), 66 patients (18%) died from a cardiac death of which 26 (39%) were sudden. Cox regression analysis was conducted utilizing a total of 19 variables (clinical and therapeutic) in the entire population and separately in patients with coronary artery disease and cardiomyopathy. The most significant variables (multivariate analysis) of survival from cardiac mortality in the entire population were: congestive heart failure (CHF) class (p = 0.0003), ejection fraction (p = 0.02), and the use of drug therapy (p = 0.03); in patients with coronary artery disease, CHF class (p = 0.0001) and ejection fraction (p = 0.0006); and in patients with cardiomyopathy, CHF class (p = 0.009) and sustained VT on Holter monitoring (p = 0.007). Kaplan-Meier survival rates from cardiac death were: significantly lower (p = 0.005) in patients with CHF class III and IV compared with CHF class I and II (25% vs 58%, p = 0.005) with drug therapy; marginally significant (47% vs 88%, p = 0.06) from 20 to 40 months in patients with an ICD; and nonsignificant in patients who underwent arrhythmia surgery (63% vs 71%). Patients with an ICD had a better expected survival (82%) than patients who had arrhythmia surgery (69%) and drug therapy (65%). Thus, in patients with malignant ventricular arrhythmias, CHF class was the most significant independent predictor of survival from cardiac mortality over all disease substrates, and therapy influenced survival depending on the CHF class. Patients in CHF class III and IV who underwent arrhythmia surgery or had an ICD had a better expected survival than those taking drug therapy, and the negative impact of antiarrhythmic therapy was most prominent in patients with CHF class III and IV.

Aged↗

Carnitine levels in patients with chronic rheumatic heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: Carnitine, a small aminoacid derivative plays a major role in fatty acid oxidation. Myocardial carnitine deficiency may cause malfunction of the heart. Rheumatic valvular heart disease can be associated with myocardial dysfunction. We have investigated myocardial and plasma-free carnitine levels in patients with chronic rheumatic heart disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eleven patients with chronic rheumatic heart disease requiring valve replacement were selected for study. Ten patients with no cardiac failure, myocardial wall motion abnormalities and myocardial infarction and for whom coronary bypass surgery was planned were selected as the control group. Carnitine levels of myocardial tissue obtained from the right atrium and plasma during the operation were evaluated using spectrophotometric method. Myocardial-free carnitine levels expressed as mumol/g (dry weight) were determined according to Ceberblad and Lindstedt technique. RESULTS: Myocardial-free carnitine levels in patients were found to be 0.72 +/- 0.37 mumol/g (dry weight) in comparison with 1.44 +/- 1.03 mumol/g (dry weight) in the control group. Myocardial-free carnitine levels in patients were statistically decreased when compared to control group. Plasma-free carnitine levels in patients were 80.91 +/- 28.22 mumol/L and 89.52 +/- 48.21 mumol/L in the control group, respectively. There was no significant difference between plasma-free carnitine levels of the groups. CONCLUSION: In our study, myocardial-free carnitine levels were decreased while plasma-free carnitine levels were normal in patient with chronic rheumatic heart disease.

Adult↗

The use of molded tympanic heterograft (lamb peritoneum).

The molded heterograft tympanic membrane was applied to twenty-five ears during tympanoplasty. The advantages and disadvantages of the graft material are discussed. Although autograft use is the principal choice, we strongly believe that this heterograft technique may be an alternative for tympanic membrane grafting; especially in revision cases in which temporalis fascia has already been used.

Animals↗

Three faces of the Bentall procedure.

Since the original description of composite replacement of the aortic valve and ascending aorta by Bentall in 1968, several modifications of the technique have been described. In order to evaluate the results of these different techniques, we have retrospectively reviewed our results with 140 consecutive patients who underwent Bentall operations between October 1986 and March 1994, using three different anastomotic techniques: Classic, n = 30; Button, n = 95, and Cabrol, n = 15. Overall hospital mortality was 5%. In univariate analysis, acute type A dissection, rupture, new preoperative neurological symptoms, and the Cabrol technique were associated with a higher hospital mortality, but by multivariate analysis no independent risk factors were demonstrated. Overall rates of reoperation did not differ among the three techniques (Classic 4.1%/pt-yr, Button 2.7%/pt-yr, Cabrol 0%/pt-yr; p = 0.44). The actuarial freedom from reoperation was 87% at 5 years. The 5-year actuarial survival for all patients was 79% (Classic 85%, Button 82%, Cabrol 52%): the poorer results with the Cabrol modification are likely due to patient selection, complicated by a higher early mortality in this small group of patients. The presence of dissection was associated with a higher mortality in Marfan patients (50% vs 8%, p = 0.03). The rate of aortic valve-related complications was 3.6%/pt per year. Actuarial event-free survival was 67% at 5 years. Current indications for an elective Bentall procedure include an ascending aortic diameter of 6 cm or greater, with significant aortic valvular dysfunction, and dilatation of the ascending aorta greater than 5 cm in patients with Marfan syndrome or a bicuspid aortic valve. The routine procedure of choice is the Button Bentall technique, with the Classic Bentall and the Cabrol variation reserved for use under special circumstances.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Clinical and electrophysiologic determinants, treatment and survival of patients with sustained malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias occurring late after myocardial infarction.

To assess the clinical and electrophysiologic determinants, treatment and survival of patients with sustained malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias late after myocardial infarction, a total of 108 patients (mean age 61 +/- 10 years) were studied. Thirty-two patients (Group I) had sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias 8 to 60 days (mean 13 +/- 9) after acute myocardial infarction. The remaining 76 patients (Group II), who served as a control group, had no sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias less than or equal to 60 days after infarction. The most significant independent determinants of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias late after infarction were the presence of late potentials (chi square = 16.07, p = 0.0001), defined as an abnormal signal-averaged QRS complex in association with an abnormal root-mean-square voltage in the terminal 40 ms of the QRS complex, and an abnormal ejection fraction of less than 40% (chi square = 10.09, p = 0.001). Sustained ventricular tachycardia was induced in 27 (96%) of 28 Group I patients. Among the 32 patients in Group I, antitachycardia therapy included antiarrhythmic drug therapy as the sole preventive measure in 14 (44%); map-guided surgery or coronary artery bypass surgery, or both, in 14 (44%) and the automatic cardioverter-defibrillator in 4 (12%). The arrhythmias were rendered noninducible in 83% of patients after map-guided surgery and in 41% after drug therapy. During a follow-up period of 20 +/- 14 months, five Group I patients (15%) had an arrhythmic event and four (9.3%) had a cardiac-related death. All five patients who had an arrhythmic event were receiving antiarrhythmic drug therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anti-Arrhythmia Agents↗

A comparative analysis of signal averaging of the surface QRS complex and signal averaging of intracardiac and epicardial recordings in patients with ventricular tachycardia.

To test the hypothesis that late potentials may be more enhanced by signal processing of intracardiac and epicardial electrograms, we performed a comparative analysis of signal averaging (SA) of the surface QRS complex (method I), signal averaging of an endocardial electrode catheter recording (method II), and epicardial recording (method III) in 24 patients (mean age = 55 +/- 14 years). Sixteen of the 24 patients (66%) had spontaneous as well as induced sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT), whereas the remaining 8 patients (33%) had spontaneous non-sustained VT. SA by the three methods was performed within less than or equal to 24 hours of each other, utilizing a band pass filter frequency of 25 to 250 Hz. The duration of the SA-QRS complex, low amplitude signals (LAS) of less than 40 microV and the RMS-voltage (V) of the terminal 40 ms were determined for the three methods. There was a significant correlation between method I and methods II and III for the SA-QRS duration (r = .928, p less than .001), RMS-V (r = .634, p less than .002) and LAS (r = .783, p less than .001). There was no significant difference in the quantitative signal-averaged parameters between the three methods. The incidence of the RMS-V of less than 25 microV (37.5% vs 21%); LAS of greater than 32 ms (46% vs 37.5%) and SA-QRS of greater than 120 ms (54% vs 42%) was higher but statistically non-significant by methods II and III when compared to method I. We concluded that: (1) SA of intracardiac electrograms correlate well with SA of the surface QRS. This observation further validates the technique of surface SA to detect delayed ventricular activation. (2) SA of intracardiac electrograms may provide additional information on quantitative SA parameters relative to surface QRS in some patients with VT.

Adult↗

Left-to-right shunts in control of bleeding following surgery for aneurysms of the ascending aorta.

Surgical repair of complex thoracic aneurysms requiring aortic valve replacement and coronary revascularization is occasionally complicated by significant bleeding despite the experience of the surgeon. While bleeding from the mediastinal tissues and the anterior suture line is usually easily controlled, posterior bleeding may require dismantling the repair and a second bypass run. The synergism of a second bypass run and continued bleeding may result in increased mortality and/or morbidity. We recently encountered bleeding in a patient who developed ventricular dysfunction after bypass and opted to interpose a Gore-tex graft between the aneurysm wall and the right atrium with immediate hemostasis and a benign course. Subsequently we used four different shunts successfully in 9 of 33 patients. The average bleeding rate 30 minutes after protamine was 221 +/- 60 ml/minute with a range of 190 to 350 ml/minute. The initial two hour chest tube drainage averaged 880 +/- 285 ml with a range of 490 to 1300 ml. There were no re-explorations for bleeding. The shunt in the first patient has remained open without cardiac decompensation. The last patient developed heart failure and required elective repair of a leak at the descending end of an arch replacement. Our experience suggests that these shunts can be effective, particularly if posterior suture line bleeding is encountered.

Aged↗

Study on tear function abnormality in pterygium.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is any abnormality in the tear function in patients with pterygium. Eighty-four patients with pterygia (56 with unilateral and 28 with bilateral involvement) and 45 healthy controls were entered in the study. Schirmer's test, breakup time test and mucus fern test were applied to both eyes of the subjects. This was a prospective, comparative and interventional study. Tear function test results between the eyes with pterygium and controls were compared. They were similar in the eyes with or without pterygium. There were no tear function abnormalities in pterygium.

Adult↗

The effects of cyclopentolate on intraocular pressure and retrobulbar hemodynamics in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes of intraocular pressure (IOP) and retrobulbar hemodynamics after cyclopentolate administration in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma. METHODS: Eighteen patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and 18 patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma were enrolled in the study. After baseline measurements of IOP, the peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), and resistivity index (RI) of the ophthalmic, central retinal, and posterior ciliary arteries were investigated by color Doppler imaging. Then, 1% cyclopentolate was instilled in one eye of each subject. After 45 minutes of instillation of the cyclopentolate, the measurements of IOP and retrobulbar blood flow velocities were repeated. The results were compared with those of 20 age-matched normal subjects. RESULTS: Neither IOP nor retrobulbar blood flow velocities changed significantly in control subjects after cyclopentolate administration. IOP increased significantly after cyclopentolate instillation in pseudoexfoliation syndrome (p = 0.004). Retrobulbar blood velocities did not change significantly after the cyclopentolate in this group. In pseudoexfoliation glaucoma group, it was observed that basal mean IOP showed a statistically significant increase after cyclopentolate drop (p = 0.002). Although blood flow velocities of ophthalmic artery did not change significantly, PSV and EDV of the central retinal and posterior ciliary arteries decreased significantly (p < 0.05) and RI of the posterior ciliary artery increased significantly (p = 0.01) after cyclopentolate instillation. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of our findings, pseudoexfoliation appears to be a predictive factor for an IOP rise after cyclopentolate. In pseudoexfoliation glaucoma patients, an increase of IOP after cyclopentolate could lead to a decreased retrobulbar blood flow. IOP must be rechecked after cyclopentolate administration in these patients to avoid further damage to the ganglion cells.

Aged↗

Sputum bacteriology and its antibiotic susceptibilities in Turkish cystic fibrosis patients.

To identify lower respiratory tract pathogens and their in-vitro antibiotic susceptibilities in Turkish cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, a total of 383 sputum cultures were evaluated from 45 CF children in 168 symptomatic and 215 control periods over 25 months. Microorganisms were isolated in 252 of the cultures. The isolation rate was 82 percent for symptomatic periods and 53 percent for control periods. The most common microorganism was P. aeruginosa in the symptomatic period and S. aureus in the control period. Other microbiological species included E. coli, H. influenzae, K. pneumoniae, S. epidermidis, beta-hemolytic streptococcus, H. parainfluenzae, K. oxytoca, E. aerogenes and E. aglomerans. P. cepacia was not found. In 20 cultures more than one microorganism was isolated at the same time. In in-vitro conditions, high susceptibility rates were detected to amikacin, ciprofloxacin and ceftazidim for P. aeruginosa; cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, amikacin, cephalothin, chloramphenicol and erythromycin for S. aureus; amikacin and ceftriaxone for E. coli; ampicillin-sulbactam, amoxicillin-clavulanate, cefuroxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone and aztreonam for H. influeanzae; and aztreonam and amikacin for K. pneumoniae. Lower respiratory tract pathogens and their antibiotic susceptibilities in Turkish CF children were not significantly different from those indicated previously in the literature.

Adolescent↗