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Biomedical subjects

A M Elrifai

Publications and source records attributed to A M Elrifai.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Characterization of the cardiac effects of acute subarachnoid hemorrhage in dogs.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We know that significant cardiac involvement can occur in patients with acute intracranial hemorrhage, particularly in those with subarachnoid hemorrhage. These patients may present with electrocardiographic abnormalities that were previously thought to be benign. However, many die of cardiovascular sequelae, which suggests more serious cardiac problems. To characterize the cardiac, rhythmic, and myocardial disturbances that occur 2 to 4 hours after subarachnoid hemorrhage, we conducted an experimental study using autologous blood (7.9+/-0.3 mL) injected into the right frontal lobe and subarachnoid space in canines. METHODS: Nine adult mongrel dogs were anesthetized with isoflurane and their rectal temperatures maintained at 37 degrees C. Electrocardiogram, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, mean pulmonary artery pressure, and intracranial pressure were continuously measured. Transesophageal echocardiography was performed to assess myocardial wall motion changes and aortic and pulmonary flow velocities before, immediately after, and 2 and 4 hours after intracranial hemorrhage. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for catecholamines and cardiac enzymes, and cardiac output was measured. Animals were killed at 2 to 4 hours after subarachnoid hemorrhage, and a piece of the myocardium was freeze-clamped for analysis of tissue catecholamines. Light and electron microscopy were used for histopathologic assessment. RESULTS: Subarachnoid hemorrhage produced significant increases in intracranial pressure, cardiac output, and aortic and pulmonary flow velocities. Also, significant changes in creatine kinase and catecholamines were observed. Electrocardiographic recordings showed changes of tachycardia, ST-segment depression, inverted T wave, and premature ventricular contractions in four animals at 1 to 5 minutes after injection, and echocardiographic changes were evident in all animals at 20 to 240 minutes. Microscopic examination of the heart showed evidence of myocardial changes in one animal with the use of light microscopy and in nine with the use of electron microscopy. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the high incidence of cardiac involvement, specifically wall motion abnormalities, that occur after subarachnoid hemorrhage and suggests the importance of continuous cardiac monitoring, particularly echocardiographic measurements, in those patients.

Acute Disease↗

A new solution for life without blood. Asanguineous low-flow perfusion of a whole-body perfusate during 3 hours of cardiac arrest and profound hypothermia.

BACKGROUND: The benefits of hypothermia for preventing ischemic injury are well known, but its application in surgery to protect the whole body during procedures requiring circulatory arrest is currently limited to < 1 hour at 15 degrees C using 50% hemodilution. In a significant departure from previous methods, we have developed a technique of asanguineous blood substitution with low-flow perfusion and cardiac arrest at < 10 degrees C in a canine model. Our approach has been to design a hypothermic blood substitute that would protect the brain and visceral organs during several hours of bloodless perfusion. Two different solutions have been designed to fulfill separate requirements in the procedure. METHODS AND RESULTS: With the use of extracorporeal cardiac bypass, 14 adult dogs were exsanguinated during cooling; 11 dogs were blood substituted using in combination the "purge" and "maintenance" solutions (group 1), and 3 dogs were perfused throughout with the "purge" solution alone as controls (group 2). After cardiac arrest, the solutions were continuously circulated for 3 1/2 hours by the extracorporeal pump (flow rate, 40 to 85 mL.kg-1.min-1; mean arterial blood pressure, 25 to 40 mm Hg). The temperature was maintained at < 10 degrees C (nadir, 6.6 +/- 0.1 degrees C) for 3 hours, and the hematocrit was kept at < 1% before controlled rewarming and autotransfusion. In the experimental group, the heart always started spontaneously in the temperature range of 11 degrees C to 27 degrees C, and 8 animals have survived long-term (current range, 14 to 110 weeks) without any detectable neurological deficit. In contrast, two control animals survived after extensive and aggressive cardiac resuscitation efforts; after surgery they exhibited transient motor and sensory deficits for approximately 1 week. Evaluation of biochemical and hematological parameters showed only a transient and inconsequential elevation in enzymes (eg, brain, liver, cardiac) in group 1 compared with the markedly greater elevations in group 2. For example, immediate postoperative values (mean +/- SEM) for lactate dehydrogenase were 114 +/- 10 for group 1 versus 490 +/- 210 for group 2 (P < .03); for SGOT, values were 93 +/- 18 for group 1 versus 734 +/- 540 for group 2 (P < .05). On day 1 for creatine kinase (CK), the group 1 value was 7841 +/- 2307 versus 71,550 +/- 2658 for group 2 (P = .03), and for CK-BB, the group 1 value was 108 +/- 22 versus 617 +/- 154 for group 2 (P = .03). Neurological evaluation using deficit scores (NDS) was based on a modification of the Glasgow Coma Scale score: 0, normal; 1, minimal abnormality; 2, weakness; 3, paralysis; 4, coma; and 5, death. At days 1 and 2 after surgery, NDS (mean +/- SEM) were 0 +/- 0 for the experimental group versus 1.5 +/- 0.5 for the control group. At days 3 and 7 after surgery, NDS were 0 +/- 0 for group 1 versus 1.0 +/- 1.0 for group 2. CONCLUSIONS: The faster neurological recovery of dogs treated with the "intracellular-type" maintenance solution supports the biochemical data showing the benefits of this type of blood substitute for extending the safe limits of hypothermic cardiac arrest procedures to > 3 hours.

Animals↗

Rewarming, ultraprofound hypothermia and cardiopulmonary bypass.

Rewarming, a key event in resuscitation from accidental, experimental and clinical hypothermia, is sometimes followed by neurologic, cardiac, and respiratory sequelae and may lead to death. The rate of rewarming has been implicated but not quantified as etiologic in these sequelae. Under anesthesia fifteen dogs were cannulated and connected to an extracorporeal circuit for oxygenation, core cooling and rewarming. They were subjected to ultra-profound hypothermia with a core (esophageal) temperature as low as 1.3 degrees C, cardiac arrest, blood substitution, and continuous low flow perfusion. After 2-3 hours of cardiac arrest, rewarming began. Mechanical activity of the heart was seen between 10 degrees and 28 degrees C and respiration resumed at 29 degrees C. The rewarming rates of the 15 dogs were retrospectively studied. They were placed into three categories (G) based on the outcome. G-I (N=2):no neurological complications, G-II (N=8):transient neurological problems, and G-III (N=5):death, mainly from cardiovascular and respiratory complications confirmed at death by autopsy. Heat gain by each animal was recorded as a function of time for all experiments. The time it took each dog to reach 35 degrees C was determined and a mean was calculated (rewarming rate). Normal body temperature for a dog is 37.8 degrees C. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) was performed ex post facto to determine the relationship between rewarming rate and outcome. Our data contradicts the notion that slow core rewarming from nadir to normal temperature offers better outcome.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of Variance↗

Comparison of the effects of total blood substitution during two different levels of hypothermic cardiac arrest.

The effect of total blood replacement with a solution containing neither hemoglobin nor fluorocarbon was studied under two different levels of hypothermia. Ten dogs were anesthetized and esophageal temperature lowered to about 24 degrees at which time exsanguination began. Upon cardiac arrest and the completion of exsanguination, continuous whole body closed chest extracorporeal circulation of an oxygenated blood substitute was begun. Hematocrit was 1% while core temperature remained less than 10 degrees C for 3 hours of perfusion during which nadirs of 1.3 degrees C (Group I, N = 5) and 7.3 degrees (Group II, N = 5) were achieved. Replacement of the perfusate with whole blood began once the dog was rewarmed to approximately 10 degrees C. All dogs survived the procedure. Two dogs from each group died by the fourth post-operative day but the others survived long term. Group II showed a faster return to normal based on motor behavioral, biochemical and hematological changes. Thus the combination of profound hypothermia and complete blood substitution with a solution lacking any special oxygen carrying molecule, can be tolerated for 3 hours using both levels of hypothermia, however, the warmer one appears to be associated with faster recovery.

Animals↗

Complete blood substitution during profound hypothermic cardiac arrest in dogs.

This study compared the effects of 3 hours of cardiac arrest performed at 2 different levels of profound hypothermia in totally exsanguinated, blood substituted dogs. Dogs (N = 10) were anesthetized and esophageal temperature was lowered to 24 degrees at which time exsanguination began. Once exsanguination was complete and the heart had arrested, continuous whole body perfusion of an oxygenated blood substitute solution was performed for 3 hours. Core temperature during this period remained below 10 degrees C and reached nadirs of 1.3 degrees C in Group 1 (N = 5) versus 7.3 degrees C in Group II (N = 5). Once the dog was allowed to rewarm to 10 degrees C replacement of the perfusate with blood was begun. All dogs survived the procedure but 2 dogs from each group died by 4 days following the experiment. The remaining 6 dogs were observed for between 10 and 85 days. The group perfused with blood substitute at the warmer nadir had a faster recovery of motor behavior and showed smaller changes from normal in several biochemical and hematological parameters. These findings indicate that profound hypothermia and total blood substitution can be successfully achieved at either temperature nadir, but the warmer level appears to be associated with a faster recovery.

Animals↗

Blood substitution: an experimental study.

Priming fluids for cardiopulmonary bypass have been extremely varied, with resultant hemodilution. Furthermore, major surgeries utilizing cardiopulmonary bypass require multiple postoperative transfusions of blood and blood products. The appeal of having a readily available blood substitute for major cardiovascular and neurosurgical operations could prove to be a life saver, while also eliminating the risk of diseases transmitted by transfusion. Blood substitutes could also lessen the reported complications resulting from blood damage due to prolonged circulation of the blood by the extracorporeal pump. A technique was examined in 15 dogs using hypothermia for maximum metabolic suppression, incorporating an aqueous blood substitute (Cryomedical Sciences, Inc., Rockville, MD). The anesthetized animals were cannulated for extracorporeal pump oxygenation. As temperature was lowered the dogs were exsanguinated and volume replaced with blood substitute to lower the hematocrit to less than 1%. After 3 hours of cardiac arrest and continuous perfusion at a core temperature less than 10 degrees C, rewarming began. When temperature reached greater than or equal to 10 degrees C, the blood substitute was drained and the animals were autotransfused. The heart was started at 15 degrees C and spontaneous respiration resumed at 29 degrees C. Using the first generation blood substitute the survival rate was maximal (100%) at 2.5 hrs under 10 degrees C and 3 hours of cardiac arrest. Research is underway on a new blood substitute, which is to serve as a universal hypothermic preservation solution (in situ organ preservation).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Asanguineous whole body perfusion with a new intracellular acellular solution and ultraprofound hypothermia provides cellular protection during 3.5 hours of cardiac arrest in a canine model.

Temporary cessation of blood flow is a necessary aid for certain complex neurosurgical and cardiovascular procedures, and hypothermia is often used to help protect against the deleterious effects of ischemia and anoxia. In an attempt to protect cellular integrity during ultraprofound hypothermia (< 10 degrees C) and complete blood substitution, two new crystalloid-colloid blood substitutes (Hypothermosol-maintenance [HTS-M] and Hypothermosol-purge [HTS-P]) have been evaluated. Using extracorporeal bypass, 14 dogs were totally exsanguinated during cooling using the HTS-P solution, then perfused (40-85 ml/kg/min; mean arterial blood pressure = 25-40 mmHg) with either TS-M (Group I, n = 11), or with HTS-P as controls (Group II, n = 3) for 3 hr at 7 degrees C. During warming, the dogs were autotransfused and observed neurologically and biochemically during recovery. All dogs in Group I recovered and eight have survived long term (12-80 weeks) without apparent neurologic deficits. In contrast, dogs in Group II were more difficult to revive (cardiac resuscitation); two survived long term with delayed neurologic recovery. Evaluation of biochemical parameters showed only a transient and inconsequential elevation in enzymes (e.g., brain, liver, and heart) in Group I compared with the markedly greater elevations in Group II. The faster neurologic recovery of dogs treated with the "intracellular" maintenance solution supports the biochemical data showing the benefits of this type of blood substitute for extending the safe limits of hypothermic cardiac arrest to beyond 3 hr.

Animals↗

Hypothermic blood substitution enables resuscitation after hemorrhagic shock and 2 hours of cardiac arrest.

Uncontrollable hemorrhage accounts for a large proportion of total mortality in both civilian (31%) and military (47%) trauma victims. Hypothermia is a relatively safe method that could provide total body protection during hypovolemic shock and facilitate surgical intervention as a potentially life-saving procedure. This study tested the hypothesis that profound hypothermia and complete blood replacement in an established canine model, would facilitate resuscitative therapy from exsanguinating hypovolemic shock. Adult dogs were prepared for extracorporeal bypass using closed-chest peripheral cannulation under general anesthesia. Controlled hypotensive, hemorrhagic shock (mean arterial blood pressure < 50 mmHg) was induced for 30 min at normal temperature followed by temporary resuscitation using crystalloid infusion for approximately 10 min. Using our established procedure, the dogs were then cooled externally to 27 degrees C before initiating blood substitution with Hypothermosol (Cryomedical Sciences, Inc. Rockville, MD) via the extracorporeal pump. The heart was arrested during further cooling to below 10 degrees C and Hypothermosol was recirculated for 2 hr, with (3 dogs) or without (5 dogs) 1 hr of circulatory arrest. During rewarming the animals were autotransfused, weaned from the pump, and allowed to recover. All dogs (n = 8) survived, all but one with complete neurologic recovery: blood chemistry samples examined immediately after the procedure showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in only a few parameters, including creatine kinase (CK-BB and CK-MB), compared with the previous group of control dogs. The consistent survival of dogs showing apparently normal neurologic, physiologic, and biochemical recovery supports the concept that profound hypothermia using a protective hypothermic blood substitute could provide time for therapeutic resuscitation of currently intractable trauma cases.

Animals↗