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Biomedical subjects

A Leguerrier

Publications and source records attributed to A Leguerrier.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Immediate and long-term results of 790 mitral valve replacements].

A total of 790 patients underwent isolated (N = 520) or mitral valve replacement associated with a tricuspid valve procedure for lesions excluding post-myocardial infarction mitral regurgitation. The mean age was 54 years: the sex ratio was 1.9 +/- 1.1, female/male. Three hundred and four patients (38.5%) were in the NYHA functional class II and 406 patients (61.5%) were in classes III or IV. The operative mortality was 9.7% (77 patients). The factors associated with a high operative risk were, on multifactorial analysis: double valve replacement, age over 70 years, NYHA class IV, aortic clamp time over 68 minutes and the presence of mitral regurgitation. Seven hundred and four of the 713 survivors were contacted (98.7% follow-up). The average follow-up period was 5.05 years (range 11 to 219 months) giving a total of 3,997 patient-years. The 5 and 10 year actuarial survival rates were 74.7% and 64.7% respectively. The presence of a tricuspid lesion requiring surgical correction, a high NYHA classification and the presence of mitral regurgitation were poor prognostic factors of long-term survival. Three hundred and sixteen of the 533 survivors at the time of the inquiry were in NYHA class I (59.3%), 188 in NYHA class II (35.3%) and 29 in NYHA class III or IV (5.4%). Mitral valve replacement should be considered early as the immediate and long-term results are closely related to the preoperative myocardial function.

Actuarial Analysis

[Right atrial thrombosis and severe pulmonary embolism].

Two cases of severe pulmonary embolism associated with right atrial thrombosis are reported. In the first case, fibrinolytic therapy was administered and was thought to be a causative factor in the death of the patient due to massive pulmonary embolism. In the second case, the patient was referred for surgery and two enormous thrombi were extracted. Unfortunately, the outcome was fatal. These two cases were confronted with the results of the literature. They strongly suggest that echocardiography should be a first-line investigation in severe pulmonary embolism. The detection of right atrial thrombosis modifies the clinical strategy and orientates treatment towards surgical referral when the patient's condition allows it.

Adult

[Mitral valve replacement in postinfarction mitral insufficiency. Immediate and long-term results apropos of a series of 39 surgically-treated patients].

Thirty nine patients, mainly males (84.6%) with an average age of 66 years underwent mitral valve replacement for postinfarction mitral regurtation between March 1971 and December 1987. Twenty four were in Class IV of the NYHA Classification, 9 in Class III and 6 in Class II. All had a history of myocardial infarction predominantly of the inferior wall. The 33 preoperative coronary angiogrammes showed 13 patients with triple vessel disease, 15 with double vessel disease and 5 with single vessel disease. At operation, 13 patients had ruptured papillary muscles; acute dysfunction was observed in 16 and chronic in 10 patients. The hospital mortality was 36%; over three quarters of deaths were due to myocardial dysfunction. Twenty two patients had an associated myocardial revascularisation procedure with mitral valve replacement. All 25 survivors were followed up for an average of 2.3 years (94 patient-years). The 5 year actuarial survival (operative mortality included) was 55% and 77% of the 17 survivors are in Stages I or II of the NYHA Classification. The quality of these long-term results justifies surgery despite the high operative risk.

Actuarial Analysis

[A comparative evaluation of a prosthetic operation and balloon valvuloplasty in aortic valve stenosis in elderly people].

The results of surgical treatment of aortic stenosis (AS) in elderly patients were studied in a group of 602 patients aged from 70 to 90 years (average age 74.6 years) chosen from a total number of 1,643 persons who underwent operation for AS in 1975-1988. Total operative mortality with consideration for mortality connected with combined interventions was 11.4%, in the group of isolated prosthetics it was 10.4%. The late-term results were appraised in 96.6% of patients (in 3.6 years, on the average). According to actuarial charts, survival after 3 years was 75.9%, after 5 years--66.7%, and after 7 years--55.6%. There was no difference in the survival values of recipients of biological and mechanical prostheses. Significant improvement of the functional condition was noted (96.5% of patients belonged to NYHA classes I and II). Demographic and epidemiological studies showed this pathology in the elderly to be a new problem of surgery. Surgical treatment is justified by the quality of the results, prolonged survival, and an admissible risk level even at the age of 80-90 years. Comparison with the results of aortic balloon valvuloplasty studied on basis of a rich literature review shows these to be much poorer. On the whole, only surgery may be the real method of treatment allowing effective removal of AS. The operation can be carried out even on very old patients if there are no substantiated contraindications on the part of the brain and the patient's general condition.

Actuarial Analysis

[Results of surgical treatment of calcified aortic valve stenosis in 80-year-old patients].

The authors discuss surgical treatment of 67 patients for aortic stenosis in 1978-1988. Their ages ranged form 80 to 90 years. In a relatively low operative risk (8.9% mortality) the results provide evidence of marked improvement both in the functional condition (96% of patients are related to the NYHA classes I and II) and in survival (3-year survival 78.2%). The results of balloon valvuloplasty were much poorer. The indications for aortic valvuloplasty are very limited and determined with difficulty.

Aged

Red blood cell polyamine level changes following heart transplantation in man.

Follow-up of orthotopic heart transplanted patients has revealed the existence of abnormally high red blood cell (RBC) spermidine (Spd) levels during the first two months after surgical procedure (A-period). From the third month after heart transplantation (B-period), RBC Spd concentrations went back to normal values in early cardiac rejection (ECR) patients. During A- and B-periods, significantly higher Spd levels and Spd/Spm ratios were observed in late cardiac rejecting (LCR) patients than in ECR ones. The lack of a direct relationship between the histological grade of rejection and RBC Spd levels leads us to consider these polyamine blood levels as a new biological instrument in the diagnosis of heart rejection.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid

[Calcified aortic stenosis in patients over 80 years of age. Results of surgical treatment. Observations in 67 consecutive cases].

The authors report the results of surgery performed between 1978 and 1988 for calcific aortic stenosis in 67 consecutive patients over 80 years of age; the operative risk is assessed ant the results are compared with those of balloon valvuloplasty. The operative risk seems to be relatively low (6 deaths; 8.9%). All survivors were followed-up and evaluated. The long-term results show a big improvement in survival (78.2% at 3 years) and in functional class (96% of patients in Classes I and II of the NYHA Classification). By comparison, the results of balloon valvuloplasty were very mediocre and are now generally considered to be disappointing to such an extent that the indications of dilatation seem very limited and difficult to define.

Aged

[Traumatic rupture of the aortic isthmus. Apropos of 31 surgically treated cases from 1976 to 1988].

The authors start by presenting a series of 31 traumatic ruptures of the thoracic aorta operated at the stage of fresh rupture between January 1976 and January 1988. These lesions were caused by sudden anteroposterior (29 cases), vertical (1 case) or lateral (1 case) deceleration. The diagnosis was most frequently suggested (by enlargement of the mediastinum in 84% of cases) and was confirmed by aortography which was readily indicated. The aortic lesion was circumferential, respecting the adventitia (122 cases) or partial (8 cases). Surgical treatment consisted of restoring the aortic continuity under partial cardiopulmonary by-pass by direct suture (7 cases) or by means of a prosthesis (23 cases). The hospital mortality was 10%; the 28 survivors were reviewed with a mean follow-up of 5 years. One patient died on the 45th day after the operation due to complications of an oesophagotracheal fistula. The functional result evaluated in the 27 survivors was excellent or good in 87% of cases and poor in 13% of cases. In the light of the literature, the authors then define the principal clinical and radiological signs, discuss the various ways of medullary protection during aortic clamping, discuss the chronology of the operations to be performed (gastro-intestinal, vascular, neurosurgical and orthopaedic).

Adolescent

[Current operative risk in emergency coronary surgery. Experience of the last 5 years].

Technique of fibrinolysis and angioplasty have changed the face of emergency coronary artery surgery, which had developed considerably over recent years. Between 1982 and 1986, in the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery of the University Hospital of Rennes, 1,232 patients underwent isolated coronary artery revascularisation (with the exclusion of mechanical complications of infarction). 1,040 patients were operated electively and 192 patients underwent emergency surgery with very different results: mortality of 2.4% with elective surgery versus 12.5% with emergency surgery, divided into four subgroups: revascularisation after thrombolysis (gradually being replaced by angioplasty), by-pass surgery after a complication of angioplasty (or coronary angiography), by-pass surgery in threatened unresponsive infarction (now less common), by-pass surgery in the context of threatened extension of pre-existing myocardial infraction. The factors of mortality are analysed according to the circumstances (emergency, presence or absence of haemodynamic repercussions), clinical context (age, sex, previous infarction, myocardial function) and lastly the surgical possibilities (complete or incomplete revascularisation in vessels of variable quality ...). In relation to this last point, the authors stress the limitations of reasonable indications for emergency surgery, although surgery is readily proposed in deteriorating patients unresponsive to medical treatment, on vessels with a severely pathological disal bed and in myocardia with severely altered ventricular function.

Aged

[Leiomyosarcoma of the pulmonary artery. Apropos of a case].

The authors report a case of sarcoma of the pulmonary artery in a 41 year old woman hospitalised for syncope on effort associated with effort dyspnoea. Chest Xray and echocardiography were "normal", leading to referral for pulmonary scintigraphy and angiography which showed multiple intravascular filling defects in the pulmonary arterial tree. A tumour implanted on a pulmonary valve was discovered at exploratory thoractomy. It was resected and the pulmonary valve replaced with a Carpentier-Edwards bioprosthesis. The histological findings were those of a leiomyosarcoma. The patient was reoperated 19 months later for a local recurrence but the tumour was too extensive for a complete ablation. The patient developed right heart failure and died the day after surgery. Sarcoma of the pulmonary artery is a rare tumour in adults and carries a very poor prognosis. The clinical course is initially insiduous and polymorphic but early diagnosis and complete excision are the only means of improving survival.

Adult

[Long-term results of isolated aortic valve replacement using a Bjork-Shiley prosthesis. A clinical study of a series of 365 patients with a postoperative follow-up of 8 to 16 years].

365 patients (mean age: 59 years) surviving isolated aortic valve replacement performed between 1971 and 1978 by means of a standard flat disk Bjork-Shiley prosthesis, underwent regular and complete follow-up (100% survival rate) representing 3,248 patient-years with a maximum follow-up of 15.4 years (mean: 8.9 years). All of these patients received anticoagulant treatment, which was considered to be well-controlled in 90.5% of cases. 121 secondary deaths (33.1%) were observed. Cardiac causes were the most frequent (35/121, i.e., 28.9%). Four deaths were directly related to the prosthesis (2 infections, 1 thrombosis, 1 dysfunction). Twenty deaths (16.5%) were related to cerebral vascular accidents and 2 (1.6%) to haemorrhagic complications. In 24 cases, the cause of death could not be determined (19.8%). Overall, 1 out of 5 deaths (21.4%) was directly or indirectly related to the prosthesis. The actuarial survival rate was 85.5% at 5 years and 67.9% at 10 years. Seventeen thromboembolic complications (7 lethal, 10 non-lethal) were observed and represented a linear incidence of 0.5% per patient-year. Fourty-one haemorrhagic complications were observed in 28 patients, i.e. a linear incidence of 1.26% per patient-year. Nine reoperations were necessary, responsible for 3 deaths. No cases of mechanical failure of the prosthesis were observed. All of the lethal and non lethal complications related to the prosthesis represented a linear incidence of 2.6% per patient-year. AT 5 and 10 years after the operation, 89.2% and 79.6% of the patients were free of any valve-related complications. The functional results was considered to be good or excellent in the very great majority of surviving patients (97.8%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Actuarial Analysis

[Aortic valve replacement in persons over 75. 128 operated patients].

Aortic valve replacements are performed in ever older subjects. In the surgical cardiovascular clinic of Rennes, 128 patients aged 75 or over (up to 85 years) and presenting with solitary or predominant (126 cases) aortic stenosis underwent aortic valve replacement between 1976 and 1985 inclusive. Pre-operative evaluation consisted, on principle, of non-invasive explorations. Myocardial protection was ensured by hypothermic cardioplegia. We used a mechanical (Björk-Shiley) prosthesis in the 19 patients operated upon before 1980, and a bioprosthesis (Carpentier-Edwards porcine, supra-annular type since 1983), in the 109 patients operated upon since 1980. The operative mortality rate was 8.6% (11 deaths). The survival curve was similar to that of a control population of the same age-group (survivors 75% at 4 years, operative mortality included). The quality of survival was remarkable since 96% of survivors were in NYHA stages I or II, the poor results being due to early or late cerebral vascular accidents. Advances in surgery (notably myocardial protection), anaesthesia and intensive care make it possible reasonably to operate upon very old patients, provided they have remained in good general and cerebral vascular condition. Non-surgical alternatives, such as percutaneous valvuloplasty, now used in elderly patients can only be reliable if results of similar quality and durability can be expected from them.

Aged

Angiographic and surgical aspects of compressive muscular bridges and intramyocardial paths of the anterior interventricular artery (based on 12 cases).

The authors report 12 cases of myocardial bridges over the anterior interventricular artery discovered surgically. In 5 the compressive myocardial bridges were limited; in 7 the intramyocardial course of the anterior ventricular artery was discovered at operation. Comparison of the operative appearances with the angiographic findings affords a basis for anatomico-radiologic correlation. The authors stress the difference in frequency and significance between the compressive myocardial bridge (an indication for surgery) and the intramyocardial anterior interventricular artery discovered by chance during a procedure for coronary revascularization indicated for stenosing atherosclerotic lesions.

Adult

Valvular replacement for aortic stenosis in patients over 70 years: immediate risk and long-term results (from a consecutive series of 355 patients).

From 1971 to 1985, 355 patients over 70 years of age (mean age 73.7) underwent isolated aortic valve replacement, most of them for pure calcified stenosis (78.6%). Mechanical valves (group A) were used in 112 cases (109 Bjork-Shiley; 3 SJM) and bioprostheses (group B) exclusively implanted since 1981 (192 Edwards-Carpentier; 51 Ionescu-Shiley). Thirty-six patients died post-operatively (10.1%). 36% of the deaths were related to cardiac causes, and 14% to cerebral damage. The follow-up involved 100% of the 319 survivors and spanned 12 years (1 month to 11.8 years), with an average of 3.2 years. The follow-up was almost equally distributed between groups A and B: 474 and 453 patient-years, respectively. Sixty late deaths (18.8%) occurred: 26.7% of them related to cardiac causes, and 20% to cerebral accidents. Twenty-nine cases were in group A (6.1% patient-years), and 31 in group B (5.7% patient-years). Acturial analysis shows that, at five years, 94.1% of patients in group A and 96% in group B were free of valve-related complications, and that 88.9% in group A and 89% in group B were free of valve-related non-lethal complications. Actuarial calculation of survival rates shows that, at five years, the probability of survival was 70.8% for the entire series, including the operative deaths. This curve of survival is similar to that of the normal population of the same age. Moreover, the functional status is dramatically improved by surgery: 99.6% of patients are in the NYHA classes I or II.

Aged