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Biomedical subjects

Alessandro Frigiola

Publications and source records attributed to Alessandro Frigiola.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

A comparison between the early and mid-term results of surgical as opposed to percutaneous closure of defects in the oval fossa in children aged less than 6 years.

OBJECTIVES: To compare surgical as opposed to percutaneous interventional closure of isolated atrial septal defects in the oval fossa in terms of hospital stay, efficacy, and complications, and to study the respective role of the two techniques in current practice. METHODS: Between January 1998 and April 2004, 126 out of 1210 patients treated at our institution for closure of an isolated defect in the oval fossa were aged less than 6 years. The mean age of these 126 patients at procedure was 4.2 plus or minus 1 year. The ratio of females to males was 74 to 52. RESULTS: Of the patients, 62% were treated successfully using a percutaneous approach. The groups treated surgically or percutaneously did not differ for age, gender, or indications for treatment. No deaths occurred. The rates of total and major complications were higher in the group undergoing surgical closure, at 34% versus 9%, p less than 0.0001, and 10.5% versus 1%, p equal to 0.01, respectively. Embolisation of the device requiring subsequent surgery occurred in 1% of patients. The stay in hospital was shorter in those closed percutaneously, at 3.2 plus or minus 0.9 days versus 6.8 plus or minus 2.8 days, p equal to 0.0001. During a mean follow-up of 3.4 plus or minus 1.9 years, no major complications occurred in either group, and symptoms improved significantly in both groups. Additional sequels occurred in 2 patients who had major complications subsequent to surgical closure. CONCLUSIONS: Even in young children, it is both feasible and safe to close defects in the oval fossa percutaneously. Compared to surgical closure, the transcatheter approach allows a shorter stay in hospital, and has a lower rate of complications. Early and mid-term follow-up has confirmed the safety and efficacy of both techniques.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed2006

Percutaneous closure of ventricular septal defects in children aged <12: early and mid-term results.

AIMS: The aim of the article is to study the safety, efficacy, and follow-up of percutaneous closure of muscular ventricular septal defect (mVSD) and perimembranous ventricular septal defect (pmVSD) in children. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between January 2000 and June 2005, among 140 patients who underwent percutaneous closure of an mVSD or a pmVSD, 88 were aged lt;12. Two different Amplatzer devices were used: the mVSD occluder and the pmVSD occluder. Mean age and weight at procedure were 4.5+/-3.3 years and 18.7+/-11.2 kg, respectively. Percutaneous closure was successfully achieved in 83 subjects (94%). No deaths occurred. Thirteen patients (14.7%) had early complications: device embolization (n=4), vascular complications (n=3), and rhythm abnormalities (n=6). These were transient complications in all but one case [1.1% complete atrioventricular block (cAVB) needing pacemaker implantation]. During a median follow-up of 24 months, three subjects treated for a pmVSD needed pacemaker implantation due to the occurrence of cAVB. Multivariable analysis using Cox's proportional hazard regression showed that age was the only risk factor associated with the occurrence of cAVB (P=0.028; relative risk: 0.25). CONCLUSION: Percutaneous closure of mVSD and pmVSD in children can be performed safely and successfully. The occurrence of cAVB is a major concern in young children with pmVSD.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗
PubMed2006

Left ventricular geometry in normal and post-anterior myocardial infarction patients: sphericity index and 'new' conicity index comparisons.

BACKGROUND: Anterior myocardial infarction leads a sequence of structural changes that alter the size and the shape of the left ventricle. Efforts to assess shape have been made by global left ventricular (LV) chamber analysis (sphericity index, SI) but this analysis does not detect regional shape abnormalities like those at the apical level, which precede global ventricular dilatation. OBJECTIVE: The present study will introduce a new analysis of regional apical changes in 52 normal subjects and in 92 patients with previous anterior myocardial infarction. METHODS: All patients had transthoracic echocardiogram and multiple views were obtained (long axis, 4CH, 2CH and short axis view). From the 4CH view the long and the short axes were measured and their ratio was calculated (sphericity index). In the same view, the apical axis length was also measured and the ratio between apical and short axis length was calculated (apical conicity index, ACI). RESULTS: Patients had all the measured parameters significantly worse than normal, except the sphericity index which remained unchanged. Ventricular length and width increased following anterior MI but the ratio between the two measurements did not change. Conversely, apical conicity index is significantly different following anterior MI, thereby indicating anterior infarction produces a less conical shape. SI and ACI differed when correlations were made in the relationship of mitral valve function; SI correlates with the degree of mitral regurgitation (MR) and with the distance of papillary muscles, conversely ACI shows an inverse correlation with the determinants of mitral regurgitation. These observations reflect differences between apical versus global dilatation in ischemic cardiomyopathy, so that mitral function is better (lower tenting area and lower coaptation height) when the apex is markedly dilated in respect to the short axis (high conicity index). In contrast, mitral function is impaired (bigger distance between papillary muscles and higher degree of mitral regurgitation), when sphericity index is high. CONCLUSIONS: Sphericity index fails to detect regional apical shape abnormalities. To address this focal change, we introduce a simple new measure termed apical conicity index, which is abnormal in patients with myocardial infarction, and can be useful to evaluate changes induced by the subsequent surgical approach of ventricular re-shaping.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Right ventricular restoration during pulmonary valve implantation in adults with congenital heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary regurgitation may cause progressive right ventricular dilatation and dysfunction in adult patients previously repaired for right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (RVOTO), and who require subsequent valve implantation for relief of these symptoms. Right ventricular recovery after pulmonary valve implantation (PVI) may be closely linked to the functional importance of the structural presence of an aneurysm or akinetic segment in the RVOT area. To test this concept, the impact of the right ventricular restoration with a new surgical ventriculoplasty technique is evaluated following pulmonary valve implantation in patients with severe pulmonary regurgitation and right ventricular dilatation. METHODS: Sixteen patients with severe pulmonary valve regurgitation (PVR) and right ventricular dilatation with RVOT aneurysm underwent right ventricular remodelling since January 2002. Each underwent preoperative evaluation by Doppler echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and right ventricular myocardial acceleration during isovolumic contraction (IVC). The surgical procedure included pulmonary valve implantation and RVOT restoration achieved by removal of the aneurysm tissue, coupled with a ventriculoplasty to reduce volume, accomplished by creating a satisfactory RVOT dimension by placing with 2-0 Gortex suture to allow acceptance of a 26 Hegar dilator to avoid restriction. Thirteen associate surgical procedures were added in nine patients. RESULTS: All patients survived the operative procedure and underwent a 16-month follow-up interval. A reduction of cardio thoracic index and a clinical improvement occurred in each patient. Significant reduction of RVEDV and RVESV and increased right ventricular ejection fraction was observed, and IVC changed from 0.7+/-0.5 m/s2 to 1.3+/-0.6 m/s2 in the 13 patients that underwent MRI and IVC during the preoperative control interval and 6 months after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary database implies that the right ventricular restoration is a simple and effective procedure, and introduces a structural component that should be added during pulmonary valve implantation in patients with severe right ventricular dilatation and underlying aneurysm or akinesia of the right ventricular outflow tract.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Percutaneous versus surgical closure of secundum atrial septal defect: comparison of early results and complications.

BACKGROUND: Surgical closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) provides excellent results. Given the increasing popularity of percutaneous techniques, a comparison between the 2 methods is needed. METHODS: Between December 1988 and June 2003, we performed 1284 procedures in 1268 consecutive patients with isolated secundum ASD. Five hundred and thirty-three patients underwent surgical repair of ostium secundum ASD (group A). Seven hundred and fifty-one consecutive patients underwent percutaneous ASD closure (group B). The following outcomes were studied: mortality, morbidity, hospital stay, and efficacy. RESULTS: There were no postoperative deaths. The overall rate of complications was higher in group A than in group B: 44% (95% CI 39.8%-48.2%) versus 6.9 % (95% CI 5%-8.7%) (P < .0001). Major complications were also more frequent in group A: 16% (95% CI 13%-19%) versus 3.6% (95% CI 2.2%-5.0%) (P = .002). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that surgery was independently strongly related to the occurrence of total complication (odds ratio [OR] 8.13, 95% CI 5.75-12.20) and of major complications (OR 4.03, 95% CI 2.38-7.35). The occurrence of minor complications was independently related to surgery (OR 7.33, 95% CI 4.75-11.02), childhood (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.01-2.34), and presence of systemic hypertension (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.01-4.41). Hospital stay was shorter in group B (3.2 +/- 0.9 vs 8.0 +/- 2.8 days, P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous ASD closure provides, in experienced hands and in highly specialized centers, excellent results with a lower complication rate and requires a shorter stay in hospital.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Combined atrial septal defect surgical closure and irrigated radiofrequency ablation in adult patients.

BACKGROUND: Atrial arrhythmias are relatively common among patients over 40 years old with atrial septal defect (ASD) and are a precipitating cause of heart failure. Surgical closure of the ASD in these patients is feasible and is associated with a low mortality rate and a beneficial effect on the clinical status; however the occurrence of atrial arrhythmia does not decrease after surgery. We present the results of our preliminary experience with surgical ASD closure combined with intraoperative irrigated radiofrequency (IRF) ablation in adult patients. METHODS: During a 26-month period between September 2002 and December 2004, 15 patients more than 40 years old with ASD and atrial arrhythmia underwent elective surgical closure of the defect and intraoperative IRF ablation. All patients had supraventricular arrhythmias: 8 had permanent atrial fibrillation, whereas 7 had previous episodes of atrial flutter or intra-atrial reentry tachycardia. The biatrial approach (Cox-Maze III procedure) was used in 7 patients and a right-sided Maze procedure (ablation lines on the right atrium only) was carried out in the remaining 8 patients. RESULTS: All patients survived the procedure. Fourteen patients left the operating room in sinus rhythm and 1 had a pacemaker implanted. There were no complications resulting from the IRF ablation. All 15 patients survived over the average follow-up period of 24 months. Thirteen patients were still in sinus rhythm, 1 had pacemaker rhythm, and only 1 (1 of 15; 6.5%) suffered a recurrence of atrial fibrillation 3 months after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest adding intraoperative IRF ablation during surgical closure of an ASD in all adult ASD patients with arrhythmias. The IRF ablation is easy to perform, safe, and effective.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Doubly committed subarterial ventricular septal defect with severe aortic regurgitation: the "two-patch" technique.

Doubly committed subarterial ventricular septal defect complicated by severe aortic regurgitation caused by a prolapsed aortic cusp still represents a challenging surgical problem. We report on our "two-patch" technique, were the ventricular septal defect is closed through the aortic valve by a patch anchored to another patch through the prolapsed cusp. This second patch is pulled up with the prolapsed cusp and is then fixed to the aortic wall. Since May 1990, 15 patients with a mean age of 12 years underwent repair of this cardiac malformation with the "two-patch" technique. The aortic regurgitation was severe in all patients. All patients survived. In a mean follow-up of 10 years, two patients were successfully reoperated for progression of the aortic regurgitation. All the remaining patients were in NYHA functional class I. In conclusion, the "two-patch" technique is simple, easily reproducible, and can be a valid surgical option for this complex cardiac malformation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Interventricular septal hematoma in ventricular septal defect patch closure.

We report a case of interventricular septal hematoma after patch closure of a perimembranous ventricular septal defect in a 4-month-old infant. On postoperative day 1, echocardiography showed a voluminous intramural hematoma causing severe thickening of the ventricular septum. Surgical revision was necessary immediately to drain the hematoma.

Echocardiography↗
PubMed2005

Pulmonary autograft for mitral valve replacement in infants: the Ross-Kabbani operation.

We describe the cases of 2 infants aged 6 and 2 1/2 months, respectively, affected by mitral valve dysplasia that caused severe valvular insufficiency and heart failure in which a surgical correction was indicated because of critical general conditions. In both patients the anatomic characteristics of the valves were not suitable for repair, and an implant of a mechanical prosthesis was excluded because of the very young age of the infants and the impossibility of maintaining an adequate anticoagulant therapy. Therefore a Ross-Kabbani intervention was performed with an implant of a pulmonary autograft (in the mitral position) and an insertion of a pulmonary homograft. The postoperative course was free of major complications and good function of the autograft was present at short-term follow-up in both cases.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed2005

Contemporary results of surgery in acute type A aortic dissection: The International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection experience.

BACKGROUND: Surgical mortality for acute type A aortic dissection reported in different experiences from single centers or surgeons varies from 7% to 30%. The International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection, collecting patients from 18 referral centers worldwide, identifies a preoperative risk stratification scheme and a real average surgical mortality for acute type A aortic dissection in the current era. METHODS: A comprehensive analysis was completed of 290 clinical variables and their relationship to surgical outcomes in 526 of 1032 patients enrolled in the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection from 1996 through 2001. Extracted cases, categorized according to risk profile, were defined as unstable (group I) in the presence of cardiac tamponade; shock; congestive heart failure; cerebrovascular accident; stroke; coma; myocardial ischemia, infarction, or both; electrocardiograms with new Q waves or ST elevation; acute renal failure; or mesenteric ischemia-infarction at the time of the operation. Outside of an unstable condition, patients were categorized as stable (group II). RESULTS: The overall in-hospital mortality was 25.1%. Mortality in group I was 31.4% compared with 16.7% in group II ( P < .001). Independent preoperative predictors of operative mortality were history of aortic valve replacement (odds ratio = 3.12), migrating chest pain (odds ratio = 2.77), hypotension as sign of acute type A aortic dissection (odds ratio = 1.95), shock or tamponade (odds ratio = 2.69), preoperative cardiac tamponade (odds ratio = 2.22), and preoperative limb ischemia (odds ratio = 2.10). CONCLUSIONS: The International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection experience confirms that patient selection plays an important role in determining surgical outcomes in patients with acute type A aortic dissection. Knowledge of significant risk factors for operative mortality can contribute to better management and a more defined risk assessment in patients affected by acute type A aortic dissection.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2005

Postoperative antithrombin levels and outcome in cardiac operations.

OBJECTIVE: During cardiac operations with cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, antithrombin is consumed and low levels of antithrombin activity are commonly observed at admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). This study investigates the association between antithrombin activity at admission to the ICU (ICU-antithrombin activity) and various outcome variables. DESIGN: The authors conducted a prospective, observational cohort study. SETTING: The study was conducted at a university hospital. PATIENTS: The study consisted of 647 consecutive patients who had undergone cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: ICU-antithrombin activity significantly (p < .001) decreased with respect to preoperative values. As seen with univariate analysis, low levels of ICU-antithrombin activity were significantly associated with higher blood loss, prolonged mechanical ventilation time and ICU stay, a higher incidence of allogeneic blood products use, surgical reexploration, low cardiac output syndrome, adverse neurologic events, thromboembolic events, renal dysfunction, and hospital mortality. When corrected for the other explanatory variables, low levels of ICU-antithrombin activity remained independently associated with a prolonged ICU stay (p = .003) and with a higher incidence of surgical reexploration (p = .023), adverse neurologic events (p = .001), and thromboembolic events (p = .036). An ICU-antithrombin activity value of <58% was found to be predictive of prolonged ICU stay, with a sensitivity of 67% and a specificity of 83%. CONCLUSIONS: Low levels of ICU-antithrombin activity are associated with a poor outcome in cardiac surgery; ICU-antithrombin activity is predictive of prolonged ICU stay.

Antithrombins↗
PubMed2004

Safety and efficacy of surgical ventricular restoration in unstable patients with recent anterior myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The effects and efficacy of surgical ventricular restoration (SVR) in ischemic cardiomiopathy caused by chronic anterior myocardial infarction (MI) are well established. Normally, SVR is delayed at least 3 months after MI to allow the healing of infarcted tissue. Some patients have instability <30 days after anterior MI, with increased risk for morbidity and mortality.Objectives- This study tests the safety and efficacy of SVR in the setting of subacute complicated anterior MI, in terms of early and late outcome. METHODS AND RESULTS: 74 patients (62+/-10 years) were submitted to SVR at < or =30 days after anterior MI for clinical instability and were retrospectively selected from a series of 430 patients undergoing SVR at our center, between 1998 and 2001. The surgical indications included: angina (60%); New York Heart Association class 4 (62%); clinical signs of heart failure (18%); life-threatening arrhythmias (12%); and cardiogenic shock in 4% (or 3) patients. Follow-up is available for 93% of patients. All patients had coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) (3.1+/-1.2) with internal mammary artery (IMA) utilization. An endoventricular patch was used in 17 patients (23%); direct ventriculotomy closure was used in the remaining patients. Operative mortality was 5.4% (4/74). Hemodynamic parameters improved significantly in patients with dilated hearts and reduced ejection fraction. Mitral regurgitation that resulted was significantly reduced. Survival at 3 years was 87% in the overall population and 85% in patients 70 years or older. CONCLUSIONS: This study reports the largest series of patients with complicated, recent anterior MI treated with SVR. The results show that SVR is feasible, has acceptable in-hospital mortality, and has good early and late outcome. Further experience is needed to establish whether SVR, which excludes the infarcted region, can prevent the long-term adverse remodeling of LV dilated hearts after anterior infarction.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

CardioSEAL/STARflex versus Amplatzer devices for percutaneous closure of small to moderate (up to 18 mm) atrial septal defects.

BACKGROUND: The Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO) allows the percutaneous closure of small to very large atrial septal defects (ASDs). The CardioSEAL/STARflex (CS/SF) can be used only for closure of small to moderate ASDs (stretch size up to 18 mm). These 2 devices are widely used in clinical practice. Therefore, a comparison of their use in the closure of small to moderate ASDs is needed. METHODS: From December 1996 to September 2002, 274 consecutive patients (mean age 20.3 +/- 17 years) underwent percutaneous closure of small to moderate ostium secundum ASDs. The CS/SF device was used in 121 patients, and the ASO was used in 153. RESULTS: There were no differences in age, sex ratio, or pulmonary/systemic flow ratio. Stretch size of the defect was higher in the ASO group (13.6 +/- 3.5 mm vs 15.5 +/- 3.2 mm, P <.001). Procedure time and fluoroscopy time were shorter in patients treated with the ASO (61 +/- 21 vs 75 +/- 32 min, P <.0003, and 11.6 +/- 9 vs 23.8 +/- 17.4 min, P <.0001, respectively). Residual shunt at procedure and discharge was significantly more frequent in the CS/SF group (P <.0001). There were no differences in the complication rate for the 2 groups (CS/SF 4/121 vs ASO 6/153). Length of follow-up was longer in the CS/SF group (24 +/- 14 vs 16 +/- 9 months, P =.0001). Residual shunting was significantly more frequent in the CS/SF group during follow-up, while closure rate reached 100% after 1 month in ASO group. CONCLUSIONS: The 2 devices are clinically safe and effective in ASD closure. However, percutaneous closure of small to moderate ASDs with ASO is quicker and provides an higher rate of complete occlusion.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Surgical treatment of tricuspid valve dysplasia in the neonatal period.

Tricuspid valve dysplasia, other than Ebstein's anomaly, is a very rare congenital heart defect. During the prenatal and/or the neonatal periods the clinical picture is very critical. We here report on a newborn infant with severe tricuspid valve dysplasia and 4/4 tricuspid regurgitation, giant right atriomegaly, functional pulmonary atresia with ductal-dependent pulmonary blood flow. The child was successfully submitted to implantation of a 15 mm pulmonary stentless heterograft valve using the top-hat technique.

Cardiopulmonary Bypass↗