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Biomedical subjects

C J Zeebregts

Publications and source records attributed to C J Zeebregts.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Combined surgical and medical approach to intravenous leiomyomatosis with cardiac extension.

Intravenous leiomyomatosis with cardiac extension is a rare entity. The case of a 49-year-old patient is described: she was operated on for intracaval intra-atrial leiomyomatosis. After an incomplete procedure (the tumour appeared not totally resectable), the patient was treated for a period of three years with a GnRH-analogue, whereafter the patient was doing clinically well and the tumour, although it regained some growth, was in a stable situation. This new strategy seems of certain importance to the surgeon, as it carries an alternative to a high-risk reoperation. To our knowledge, this is the first description of such a combined therapeutical approach.

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal↗

Extended vertical transatrial septal approach for the removal of left atrial myxoma.

OBJECTIVE: Optimal exposure greatly facilitates left atrial myxomectomy and is mandatory for safe and efficacious tumour removal. The purpose of this study was to evaluate one institutions experience, with an alternative to the classical approach, for the removal of left atrial myxoma. METHODS: In an eight-year period, eight patients underwent surgical removal of left atrial myxoma at our institution using the extended vertical transatrial septal approach, slightly modified compared to the original method of Guiraudon and associates, as the septum was initially incised superiorly instead of through the fossa ovalis. RESULTS: One patient with poor left ventricular function died shortly after the surgical procedure because of low cardiac output. Postoperative course of the other patients was uneventful. No rethoracotomy for bleeding was carried out and no permanent arrhythmias were seen. There was one late death at 4.5 months after operation, for which no clear reason was found. Mean follow-up was 55 months (range 1 to 79 months) and revealed six asymptomatic healthy patients. CONCLUSIONS: We feel that the extended vertical transatrial septal approach provides good exposure of left atrial tumours and facilitates complete surgical removal without inherent complications such as tumour cell dissemination or fragmentation.

Aged↗

[Chronic central cyanosis in children; always an indication for further diagnosis].

A girl and a boy, both aged 4 years, had displayed a blue discolouration of the skin for several years. In the girl, electrocardiography and roentgenography of the chest revealed no abnormalities; in the boy, the cardiac murmur was attributed to an insignificant ventricular septal defect. Further examinations were performed only when the children developed sleeping problems and decrease of exercise tolerance, respectively. In both, a right-left shunt was discovered caused by a direct communication between the right pulmonary artery and the left atrium, and tetralogy of Fallot, respectively. Both patients' condition improved after operation. Chronic central cyanosis in a child constitutes an indication for consultation of a paediatric cardiologist.

Arteriovenous Fistula↗

Acute aortic dissection complicating pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Acute aortic dissection occurring during pregnancy represents a lethal risk to both the mother and fetus. Our purpose was to study the prevalence, treatments, and outcome of this rare problem and to suggest therapeutic guidelines. METHODS: During the past 12 years, 6 pregnant women were admitted with an acute aortic dissection. Four had a type A and 2 had a type B dissection (Stanford classification). RESULTS: Two of the 4 patients with a type A dissection underwent a combined emergency operation consisting of first cesarean section and then ascending aortic repair. Cesarean section was carried out 5 days after the emergency procedure on the aorta in the third patient, and 16 weeks later in the fourth patient. All 4 fetuses were delivered alive. One fetus died 6 days later, but the other 3 are alive and well at long-term follow-up. Of the 2 patients with a type B dissection, 1 was operated on for celiac ischemia; the other was treated medically. In both cases the fetus died in utero. There were no maternal deaths in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Cesarean section with concomitant aortic repair is recommended for pregnant women with a type A dissection, depending on the gestational age. The maternal hemodynamic status will determine the sequence of the two procedures. Medical treatment is advised for patients with a type B dissection, but surgical repair is indicated if complications such as bleeding or malperfusion of major side branches occur.

Acute Disease↗

Asymptomatic right atrial aneurysm: fortuitous finding and resection.

A rare right atrial aneurysm is described in a 36-year-old man. After median sternotomy for coronary bypass, a thin-walled aneurysmal dilatation of the right atrium was seen by chance. The patient was in sinus rhythm. The aneurysm was surgically resected. The postoperative course was uneventful.

Adult↗

Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum: indication for surgery?

A fortuitous finding during open heart surgery of lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum is described in a 65-year old man with ischaemic heart complaints due to coronary artery disease and with premature ventricular contractions. An incision biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. The choice of treatment of lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum is controversial. Indications for surgery and surgical techniques are discussed.

Aged↗

Spontaneous resolution late after aortic dissection.

A 50-year-old man was operated on for acute type I (DeBakey classification) aortic dissection. The supracoronary ascending aorta was replaced with an interposition graft. Postoperative computed tomography and angiography clearly revealed a double-barrelled aortic arch, left common carotid artery and descending thoracoabdominal aorta with contrast filling of both true and false lumen starting from the distal anastomosis. The same finding was noted at 1 year follow-up with severe compression of the true lumen by the false lumen. At this time, anticoagulation therapy was stopped. One year later, computed tomography showed spontaneous resolution of the dissection in the aortic arch, left common carotid artery and descending aorta over its full length. This was confirmed by angiography. This case reports illustrates that spontaneous resolution of a dissected descending aorta can occur late after surgery from type 1 dissection, but it remains very rare.

Aortic Dissection↗

Surgical treatment of a fistula between the right pulmonary artery and the left atrium: presentation of two cases and review of literature.

OBJECTIVE: A direct communication between the pulmonary artery and the left atrium is a rare anomaly. On the basis of two cases of our own and a literature review of 49 cases, we focus on clinical presentation, anatomy, diagnosis, and the role of surgery. METHODS: Two cases of a fistula between the right pulmonary artery and the left atrium are described in a girl of 4 years and a boy of 15 years. Both presented with unexplained cyanosis. Diagnosis was made on echocardiography and angiography. The fistula was ligated using extracorporeal circulation in the first case and not in the second case. RESULTS: The surgical results were successful with resolution of the cyanosis. CONCLUSIONS: In newborns, urgent surgery may be necessary. In other patients, early elective surgical correction should be performed to prevent complications, especially systemic and cerebral emboli, cerebral abscesses, and rupture of aneurysmal fistulas. Complete cure can be achieved by ligation and possible division or by intracardiac repair.

Adolescent↗

Aortitis, aortic valve incompetence, and left coronary ostium stenosis in a patient with C-ANCA-associated necrotizing vasculitis.

Aortitis with involvement of the aortic valve is rarely associated with vasculitis syndromes. We present a patient with antibodies to a neutrophil cytoplasmic antigen-associated (ANCA) vasculitis with renal failure who developed aortic incompetence as a result of aortitis which involved the aortic valve. Thickening of the aortic wall also caused stenosis of the left coronary ostium.

Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic↗

Complete arterial revascularization using the mammary Y-graft.

The recent trend is to revascularize the entire heart with arterial grafts. Five selected patients were operated using the mammary Y-graft for complete arterial revascularization. The immediate postoperative courses were uneventful. One patient presented five months later with atypical angina and a string phenomenon at the distal part of the Y-graft on catheterization, without ischemic changes on stress test. The four other patients had no complaints and no ischemic changes on stress test nine months to 4.5 years later. Using the mammary Y-graft a complete arterial revascularization can be accomplished.

Adult↗

Transphrenic dissemination of actinomycosis.

Thoracic actinomycosis is an uncommon disease and often presents difficulty in diagnosis. Two cases are presented in which thoracic actinomycosis produced fistulae between the thoracic and abdominal cavities. Surgical drainage and high dose penicillin for at least 4-6 months was the treatment of choice.

Actinomycosis↗

Echo-Doppler diagnosis of renal allograft artery stenosis.

For the diagnosis of allograft artery stenosis in recipients of a renal transplant with hypertension a noninvasive investigation such as echo-Doppler is preferable to invasive methods such as angiography. Therefore we analyzed our experience with echo-Doppler diagnosis of renal allograft artery stenosis. In 131 renal transplant recipients with hypertension echo-Doppler examinations were performed. During the examinations several features indicative of stenosis were measured, and intrarenal Doppler spectra were quantitatively analyzed with a user-written program. Four patients showed signs of iliac artery stenosis. In 12 patients a renal allograft artery stenosis was suspected on echo-Doppler examination. In 8 of these 12 patients angiography was performed. All these showed a stenosis, 6 of which had more than > 75% stenosis. In 8 patients with normal echo-Doppler findings angiography was performed because of highly suggestive clinical signs of stenosis. In 7 of these no stenosis was found and in one a 50% stenosis was found. Comparison of quantitative Doppler spectrum features from patients with (n = 6) and without severe (> 75%) stenosis on angiography (n = 10) showed significant differences in several Doppler parameters. Subsequently an analysis of the best differentiation between these to groups on the basis of quantitative Doppler criteria was performed. In conclusion, echo-Doppler examinations with quantitative analysis of Doppler spectra enables reliable identification of renal allograft artery stenosis.

Angiography↗

High incidence of arteriovenous fistula after biopsy of kidney allografts.

Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is a well known but rarely diagnosed complication of percutaneous biopsy of kidney allografts. In the past diagnosis was usually made when clinical signs of an AVF occurred but Doppler ultrasonography has now enabled non-invasive diagnosis. Doppler examination of kidney allografts was performed after 100 biopsies. A total of ten AVFs were diagnosed within 2 weeks of biopsy. On repeated examination 2 months later, no additional fistula was detected. All fistulas were detected by abnormal colour shading of the artery and vein of the fistula caused by high blood velocity. Quantification in the artery supplying the fistula showed a higher systolic velocity compared with that in a normal artery of comparable size and location in the graft (mean (range) 64 (25-150) versus 36 (20-65) cm/s, P < 0.05). Diastolic velocity was also higher in the artery supplying the fistula than in a normal artery (mean (range) 34 (9-72) versus 7 (0-13) cm/s, P < 0.05). In the group with an AVF the proportion with a prolonged bleeding time (> 3 min) was higher (80 versus 47 per cent, P < 0.05), as was the prevalence of a platelet count < 200 x 10(9)/l (60 versus 22 per cent, P < 0.05). After detection of the fistula, four of the grafts were lost because of rejection and two patients died from sepsis during antirejection treatment. During follow-up of the remaining four AVFs, three disappeared spontaneously and one persisted. None of the fistulas has had an impact on renal function requiring intervention. In conclusion, AVF is a complication observed frequently after kidney allograft biopsy that can be detected and monitored by Doppler ultrasonography.

Arteriovenous Fistula↗

Fenestrated and branched stent-grafting: a 5-years experience.

Fenestrated stent-grafts aim at treating short-necked aneurysms. As a result of customized fenestrations, patency of vital side branches such as the renal arteries and the superior mesenteric artery can be maintained, whilst positioning the graft over these aortic side branches. Over the years, the technique has been refined. Results in a few experienced centers are good, with excellent patency rates of targeted side branches. Suprarenal and thoraco-abdominal aneurysms can only be treated by endovascular means with branched grafts. This can be achieved with fenestrated grafts, but with the use of covered stents through the fenestrations, or by fully branched grafts. Both options are feasible and present with specific advantages and disadvantages. This report gives an overview of our 5-years experience with fenestrated and branched grafts, and discusses the following aspects of the technique: indications, technical principles, results, and limitations.

Aortic Aneurysm↗

Surgical repair of subacute left ventricular free wall rupture.

BACKGROUND: The natural course of subacute ventricular free wall rupture (FWR) as a complication of acute myocardial infarction (MI) is usually lethal. The aim of this study was to investigate the curability of this entity and to report on five patients successfully treated by rapid diagnosis, hemodynamic stabilization, and emergency surgical repair. METHODS: Five patients with subacute FWR of the left ventricle after previous MI were operated on. Infarctectomy with subsequent closure of the ruptured area was carried out in two patients with anterolateral infarction. Three other patients (two with posterior and one with lateral infarction) were treated by direct closure and the application of a patch. Furthermore, in two patients, concomitant myocardial revascularization was performed. RESULTS: All patients survived the procedure and were alive and well at long-term follow-up (mean 36.4 months). None of the patients suffered recurrent MI. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience and a review of the literature shows that prompt diagnosis and emergency surgical intervention may save the patient. Anterior rupture (with a moderate sized infarcted area) is best treated by infarctectomy and subsequent closure of the ventriculotomy with sutures buttressed with felt, whereas posterior rupture may be treated by direct closure and the application of an epicardial patch. Considering our results, we cannot conclude whether additional coronary artery bypass grafting is beneficial or not. Our suggestion is to perform additional myocardial revascularization only if indicated.

Aged↗

Percutaneous drainage of emphysematous cholecystitis associated with pneumoperitoneum.

Emphysematous cholecystitis, a relatively rare variant of acute cholecystitis, is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. In the presence of a concomitant pneumoperitoneum, these rates may be considered even higher, approaching those of perforation of the gallbladder. The first choice of treatment in cases presenting with pneumoperitoneum is emergency laparotomy. We performed a staged procedure as a second best alternative. In a 65 year-old female patient, initial percutaneous cholecystostomy with a strict intravenous antibiotics regimen, and subsequent cholecystectomy 6 months, later was carried out with successful outcome. A review of the literature revealed 13 other cases of this combination. Treatment modalities and outcome of these patients are discussed.

Acute Disease↗