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Biomedical subjects

B Siassi

Publications and source records attributed to B Siassi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Central venous pressure in preterm infants.

Right atrial A-wave, mean and inspiratory pressures were measured serially every 6 h in 36 preterm infants--24 healthy and 12 with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)--from the 2nd until 24th h of age. In healthy preterm infants, the right atrial A-wave averaged + 4.91 mm Hg with a range of + 2 and + 8 mm Hg and the right atrial mean pressure averaged + 1.62 with a range of -3 to + 4 mm Hg. Preterm infants developed RDS had significantly lower right atrial pressure (RAP) during the first 6 h of life than healthy preterm infants. RAP in preterm infants with RDS subsequently increased to normal range. RAP did not have any correlation with either birth weight or gestational age.

Birth Weight↗

Effect of verapamil on retrograde ventriculo-atrial conduction in children.

The effects of verapamil, a slow channel blocker and a potent antiarrhythmic drug, on retrograde V-A conduction were investigated following diagnostic cardiac catheterization in 12 children premedicated with lytic cocktail. Surface EKG, intra-atrial and His bundle electrograms, as well as right ventricular pacing with use of extra stimulus technique were obtained before and after a single intravenous dose of verapamil (0.15 mg/Kg, max 5 mg). Verapamil prolonged the AH interval in 9/12 and abolished or prolonged the retrograde V-A conduction whenever present (abolition in 5/12 and prolongation in 1/12). The duration of retrograde V-A conduction exceeded the antegrade conduction time in all. It is concluded that verapamil abolishes retrograde V-A conduction whenever present and this phenomenon may further explain the antiarrhythmic effects of the drug on retrograde conduction dependent (reentrant) arrhythmias.

Adolescent↗

Electrophysiologic effects of disopyramide in children.

Disopyramide has been successfully used to treat a variety of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. The electrophysiologic effects of this drug were studied following diagnostic cardiac catheterization in 14 children aged 7 months to 14 years, suffering from congential heart disease. Surface EKG, intra-atrial, and His bundle electrogram as well as right atrial pacing with the use of extrastimulus technique were obtained before and after a single intravenous dose of disopyramide (2 mg/Kg, max 50 mg). The drug significantly prolonged the HV interval, effective and functional refractory periods of the atrium and the AV node. The most consistent change was the prolongation of the atrial refractory periods. The electrophysiologic effects of this drug on the conduction system have been variable and this variability has been attributed to the degree of vagal tone. The findings in this age group are similar to adults with simultaneous cholinergic blockade. This might be due to the direct depressant effects of disopyramide on the atrial and AV nodal tissue, and point to the potential usefulness of this drug in the pediatric age group.

Adolescent↗

Factors affecting heart rate variability in preterm infants.

Neonatal heart rate variability (NHRV) was studied in 92 preterm infants (birth weight, 750 to 2,500 gm; gestational age, 28 to 36 weeks). Each infant was monitored continuously during the first 6 hours and for one hour at 24, 48, and 168 hours of life. During each hour NHRV was quantified and related to the following parameters: sex, gestational age, postnatal age, heart rate, and the presence and severity of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). NHRV in healthy preterm infants was inversely related to heart rate level and directly related to the infant's postnatal age. In healthy babies with gestations of 30 to 36 weeks there was no significant correlation between NHRV and gestation. Decrease in NHRV was significantly related to the severity of RDS, and the reappearance of NHRV in infants with RDS was associated with a good prognosis. Decreased NHRV significantly differentiated the infants with RDS who survived after the fifth hour of life. The data reveal that NHRV (1) should be corrected for heart rate level and postnatal age; (2) is decreased in RDS; and (3) can be used as an indicator of morbidity and mortality in preterm infants with RDS.

Gestational Age↗

New endotracheal tube adaptor reducing cardiopulmonary effects of suctioning.

The continuous recordings of arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) and beat-to-beat heart rate before, during, and after tracheobronchial suctioning were studied in eight preterm infants with severe RDS receiving mechanical ventilation. Two suctioning procedures were alternatively performed in each infant; In procedure A, disconnection of the ventilator and preoxygenation preceded suctioning; in procedure B, a special suction adaptor was used without ventilatory interruption or preoxygenation; 128 suctionings were performed with each procedure and the changes in heart rate (HR) and SaO2 during suctioning were compared. Although in both procedures, HR and SaO2 decreased during suctioning, the degree of bradycardia and arterial blood oxygen desaturation were significantly smaller in magnitude and shorter in duration during procedure B. These data indicate advantages of the suction adaptor in minimizing bradycardia and hypoxia from airway suction.

Bronchi↗

Baroreceptor and chemoreceptor responses to umbilical cord occlusion in fetal lambs.

11 fetal lambs with gestational age of 116-135 days were studied while connected to a membrane-oxygenator replacing the ventilatory function of the placenta. Progressive increase in arterial oxygen tension from 20 to 220 mm Hg resulted in progressive decrease in baseline heart rate and baseline arterial blood pressure indicating presence of chemoreceptor activity over this wide range of arterial oxygen tension. The effect of 60 sec complete umbilical cord occlusion was studied at progressively higher arterial oxygen tension and it was concluded that the chemoreceptor activity at fetal normoxic condition is very brisk and is markedly attenuated at hyperoxic levels. Although it was not possible to completely separate baroreceptor and chemoreceptor reflexes involved in cardiovascular response to umbilical cord occlusion, it is postulated that the chemoreceptor and baroreceptor reflexes are complimentary during cardiovascular responses to umbilical cord occlusion.

Animals↗

Association of atrioventricular valve atresia with single ventricle, truncus arteriosus communis and transposition. A basic reorientation in the approach to the definition of congenital heart defects.

A heart specimen is presented which showed a rare combination of atrioventricular valve atresia with single ventricle, truncus arteriosus communis with an anteriorly placed trunk, ie transposition. Because of the problems involved in the classification of this heart, the types of single ventricle are revised with particular attention to the rare cases of atrioventricular valve atresia and single ventricle reported in the literature. Also the rare type of truncus arteriosus communis with truncoatrioventricular valve discontinuity is excluded from the so-called transposition complexes, and properly classified as a form of truncus. The literal meaning of transposition is stressed and it is urged to approach congenital heart defects in a purely anatomic sense with definition of each segment as accurately as possible. Thus the present confusion in terminology and further plethora of new terms are avoided.

Child↗

Isolated unilateral absence of the pulmonary artery. Review of the world literature and guidelines for surgical repair.

A 10-month-old boy is presented who had isolated unilateral absence of the right pulmonary artery. He suffered from hemoptysis and severe congestive heart failure. The patient underwent prosthetic anastomosis of the right to the main pulmonary artery. Although the hemodynamic response was favorable, his oxygenation did not improve due to diffuse pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae of the affected lung. The patient succumbed 3 months after operation due to massive uncontrollable hemoptysis from the right lung. Isolated unilateral absence of the pulmonary artery is a rare lesion. In our review of the world literature as of November 1976, 47 cases (including this report) of the unilateral absence of the pulmonary artery have been reported. Of these 25.5% had pulmonary hypertension and only 4 cases underwent successful repair of the lesion. Though repair of this defect can be carried out, the result may not be always gratifying. Our experience with this case has led us to consider a lung biopsy before proceeding to the surgical repair of the lesion. If the affected lung shows arteriovenous abnormalities the operation should not be recommended.

Blood Vessel Prosthesis↗

Cardiovascular emergencies in pediatrics.

This article dicusses emergencies of cardiovascular origin in infants and children. Particular attention is given to congestive heart failure, hypoxic states, arrhythmias, cardiac tamponade, perinatal cardaic emergencies and conditions simulating cardiac crises. An outline of etiologic and therapeutic approach is included, and guidelines are provided for the practitioner who is called to care for such emergency situations.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗

The vectorcardiogram as an aid to diagnosis in left ventricular-right atrial communication.

Frank vectorcardiograms (VCGs) in four patients with left ventricular-right atrial (LV-RA) communication were analyzed and compared with published values of VCGs of normal individuals and those from a group of patients with membranous ventricular septal defect. It was observed that the QRS-loops in the frontal and sagittal planes of the patients with LV-RA communication are shifted more superiorly than usual. Thus, almost 50% of the QRS-loop area was superior to the X- and Z-coordinates in the frontal and sagittal planes, whereas in the controls less than 10% of the frontal and sagittal plane QRS-loops were superior to the horizontal axes. The QRS-loops of patients with LV-RA communication thus seem to be halfway between normal and endocardial cushion defect loops. An unusual degree of superior orientation of the QRS-loop in a patient with clinical findings of a ventricular septal defect should arouse suspicion of a LV-RA communication. Also in patients with an isolated ventricular septal defect but with an exaggerated superior orientation of the QRS-loop in the frontal and sagittal planes, the interatrial septum should be examined at the time of operation to exclude the possibility of an associated LV-RA communication.

Child↗

Regression of pulmonary hypertension after mitral valve surgery in children. Operative management of rheumatic mitral valve disease.

Forty-one children with advanced chronic rheumatic disease of the mitral valve had preoperative and postoperative hemodynamic studies. Twenty-three cases had open mitral commissurotomy, and 20 had mitral valvular replacement. After surgery the average pulmonary arterial systolic pressure in the group with valve replacement decreased from 78 to 42 mm Hg, the pulmonary vascular resistance decreased from 974 to 313 dynes sec cm 5, and the cardiac index rose from 2.29 to 4.15 L/min sq m. In the group with mitral commissurotomy, the average pulmonary arterial systolic pressure decreased from 90 to 63 mm Hg, the pulmonary vascular resistance decreased from 1,201 to 616 dynes sec cm-5, and the cardiac index rose from 2.5 to 3.5 L/min sq m. While all patients with mitral valve replacement showed a drop in pulmonary arterial pressure, the postoperative pressures were higher after commissurotomy in four patients, two of whom required a second operation of valve replacement. The study shows that in children, even severe degrees of pulmonary hypertension secondary to mitral valve abnormality is corrected.

Adolescent↗

A morphometric study of the aortomitral valve apparatus in the embryonic and adult chicken heart. Implications on the developmental hypotheses of the transposition of the great arteries.

A comparative morphometric study was performed on the aortomitral valve apparatus of the embryonic and adult chicken hearts. It was found that the thickness of the aortic and mitral valve cusps diminishes dramatically as the embryo matures, however the relative length of the aortic valve, mitral valve and subaortic conus remains constant. A comparison of the aortomitral valve apparatus in chicken and man revealed that the subaortic conus is not completely resorbed in the fowl, whereas this process is well documented in the mammalian hearts. The implications of this observation on "the differential conal growth hypothesis" of transposition of the great arteries are discussed.

Animals↗

Surgical treatment of echinococcal cyst of the heart. Report of two cases and review of the world literature.

The case histories of two children with echinococcal cysts of the left ventricular myocardium are reported. Both patients underwent successful enucleation of the cysts, after initial local treatment with 0.5 percent silver nitrate solution. A previous review of the world literature on the surgical treatment of echinococcal cyst of the heart, published in 1971, is brought up to date by the addition of 60 new cases to the 118 cases then described. Instillation of 0.5 percent silver nitrate solution into the cyst cavity is now a routine procedure in our institution to sterilize the cyst and to kill the scolices. This substance is preferable to formalin and hypertonic sodium chloride solution, because it acts rapidly and is nontoxic and nonabsorbable. The two children in this report are the first in whom silver nitrate solution was used to sterilize the myocardial cysts.

Adolescent↗

"Agenesis" of ductus arteriosus associated with the syndrome of tetralogy of Fallot and absent pulmonary valve.

Four infants with the severe form of the syndrome of tetralogy of Fallot and absent pulmonary valve are described. All had severe respiratory distress due to bronchial compression from massively dilated pulmonary arteries. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by cardiac catheterization and angiocardiography. The infants died at age 3, 5, 30 and 90 days, respectively. Autopsy revealed, in addition to the usual components of the syndrome, absence of the ductus arteriosus or its remnants. The possible relation of "agenesis" of the ductus arteriosus to the pathogenesis of the severe form of this syndrome is discussed and pertinent studies are reviewed.

Cardiac Catheterization↗

Prediction of pulmonary arterial pressures from electrovectorcardiographic data in pediatric patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease.

The Frank vectorcardiogram (VCG) and the electrocardiogram (ECG) were used to predict pulmonary arterial pressures in 30 pediatric patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease. The patients' ages ranged from eight to 14 1/2 years. Eleven were male and 19 were female. Sixteen had mitral stenosis, eight had mitral regurgitation and six had mitral stenosis and regurgitation. Mean pulmonary arterial wedge pressure ranged from 5-32 mmHg. All patients underwent complete catheterization and angiocardiographic study. None had significant gradient across the right ventricular outflow tract. Right maximum spatial vector (Rmsv) was calculated using Frank VCG.R in V1 and S in V5 of ECG were also measured. Rmsv, RV1, and SV5 were correlated with pulmonary arterial pressures (systolic, diastolic and mean). Pulmonary artery systolic pressure and Rmsv bear the best correlation (r=0.773). The correlation coefficient for pulmonary artery diastolic pressure and Rmsv was 0.698. Rmsv as calculated from Frank VCG is useful in prediction of pulmonary arterial pressures (systolic and diastolic) in pediatric patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease.

Adolescent↗