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Biomedical subjects

C L Tommaso

Publications and source records attributed to C L Tommaso.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

National Registry for Supported Angioplasty: results and follow-up of three years of supported and standby supported angioplasty in high-risk patients.

The National Registry of Supported Angioplasty was formed in 1988 to collect data on patients undergoing supported angioplasty. The Registry was expanded to include patients also undergoing standby supported angioplasty. In 3 years the Registry collected data on 801 patients undergoing supported or standby supported angioplasty. The data indicate that in patients with low ejection fractions and/or > or = 50% of jeopardized myocardium at risk can have an interventional procedure performed with a 6.9% risk of mortality with prophylactic or standby support, but patients with < or = 20% ejection fraction do better with prophylactic support. In addition, patients with LMCA stenosis and age > or = 70 years are at higher risk. The Registry also demonstrates good long-term results for patients who have undergone the procedure.

Adult↗

Coronary angioplasty in high-risk patients with left main coronary stenosis: results from the National Registry of Elective Supported Angioplasty.

To assess the outcome of PTCA in circulatory supported patients with left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenosis, the National Registry of Elective Supported Angioplasty data bank was searched. Patients entered in the registry were considered high-risk PTCA and the PTCA was performed using percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass (PCPB). Criteria for high risk was left ventricular ejection fraction less than or equal to 25% or a target lesion supplying greater than or equal to 50% of functioning myocardium. Of 455 patients entered in the registry, 61 (13.3%) had LMCA stenosis greater than or equal to 60%. There were 42 patients in whom the PTCA target vessel was the LMCA (PTCA-LMCA) and 19 in whom it was vessel(s) other than the LMCA (PTCA-OTHER). The mean age was similar in the 2 groups (65 +/- 10 vs. 68 +/- 9 yrs, p = ns). The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was higher in PTCA-LMCA than in PTCA-other (38 +/- 16% vs. 27 +/- 16%, p less than 0.05). The number of vessels dilated/patient was higher in PTCA-LMCA than in PTCA-OTHER (2.1 +/- 1.0 vs. 1.1 +/- 0.3, p less than 0.001). There were a total of 10 in-hospital deaths (16%) in patients with LMCA greater than or equal to 60% stenosis. This exceeds the mortality of the patients with less than 60% LMCA stenosis entered in the registry (4.5%, p less than 0.001). There were 6 in-hospital deaths (14%) in PTCA-LMCA and 4 (21%) in PTCA-OTHER (p = ns).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Elective supported angioplasty: initial report of the National Registry.

A National Registry of 14 centers performing elective supported angioplasty was formed to collate the initial experience with high-risk patients. Suggested indications were ejection fraction less than 25% and/or target vessels supplying greater than half of the viable myocardium. The data from 105 patients were entered into the Registry during 1988. This group included 30 patients who had dilation of their only patent coronary vessel and 20 patients whose disease was deemed too severe to undergo bypass surgery. Chest pain and ECG changes were uncommonly experienced during balloon inflation. The group experienced a high angioplasty success rate (95%) with an average of 1.7 dilatations per patient. Morbidity was frequently experienced, the majority of which was associated with cannula (18-20F) placement and/or removal. The overall hospital mortality was 7.6%, although half of the deaths occurred in patients who were both over 75 years of age and had left main coronary artery stenosis. Patients under the age of 75 years without left main coronary artery stenosis experienced a hospital mortality rate of 2.6%. Symptomatic improvement occurred in 91% of the patients surviving hospitalization. During the follow-up period of 1-12 months, three patients died of cardiac complications. This multicenter experience suggests that supported angioplasty can be performed safely in high-risk patients in several high-risk subgroups with the expectation of good symptomatic improvement and short-term survival.

Adult↗

Use of percutaneously inserted cardiopulmonary bypass in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.

A cardiopulmonary bypass system that can be percutaneously inserted is available. In addition to its use in stabilization of severely hemodynamically compromised patients, it has many uses in cardiology including use as an adjunct to high-risk interventional procedures. The purpose of this report is to communicate our experience with cardiopulmonary bypass in the Catheterization Laboratory and discuss technique, indications, and potential complications.

Cardiac Catheterization↗

Management of high-risk coronary angioplasty.

Many advances have been made in the decade since Dr. Andreas Gruentzig performed the first percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. The technique, which started out as a nonsurgical revascularization procedure for 1-vessel disease, has spread to use in multivessel disease and acute myocardial infarction. Over the last several years, a number of refinements have made angioplasty safer. These techniques/devices have been applied to high-risk patients to allow angioplasty to be performed safely. High-risk patients include those with large amounts of myocardium at jeopardy from a single target lesion and those patients with reduced left ventricular function. The techniques/devices that enhance safety include: (1) the use of a perfusion balloon catheter, (2) infusion of oxygen-carrying substances to the distal coronary artery, (3) coronary sinus retroperfusion, (4) intraaortic balloon pump support, and (5) supported angioplasty.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗

Primary esophageal motor disorders: clinical response to nifedipine.

The effect of nifedipine on esophageal symptoms was evaluated in 20 patients with primary esophageal motor disorders. The patients were randomized to receive nifedipine (10 mg t.i.d.) or placebo for two weeks, and then crossed over to receive the other medication. Ten patients had hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter, four had diffuse esophageal spasm, three had vigorous achalasia, two had "nutcracker esophagus," and one patient had achalasia. The score of chest pain or dysphagia was recorded on a scale of 0 to 10 during each study. The patients who received nifedipine improved significantly compared to those who received placebo. This improvement was most marked in patients with hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter. No significant side effects or changes in blood pressure were encountered in any of the study groups. Our results indicate that patients with primary esophageal motor disorders have a good clinical response to nifedipine therapy.

Adult↗

Echographic early systolic partial closure (notching) of the aortic valve in congestive cardiomyopathy.

We investigated the prevalence and significance of aortic valve early systolic partial closure (notching) in congestive cardiomyopathy by reviewing clinical and M-mode echocardiographic findings in 33 patients. We also compared their echocardiographic aortic root and valve findings to those in 17 aortic regurgitation patients and 24 normal subjects. Thirteen cardiomyopathy patients (39%) exhibited aortic valve partial closure--similar to the prevalence in the aortic regurgitation (41%) and normal (33%) groups. However, patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and aortic valve notching exhibited a higher mean percentage of partial closure (18% +/- 10) than those with notching in either the aortic regurgitation (8% +/- 9) or normal (5% +/- 2) group. There was no significant difference in age, body surface area, left ventricular dimension, systolic function, or presence of mitral regurgitation between cardiomyopathy patients with and without aortic valve notching, but the former had slightly greater aortic root dimensions and maximal aortic leaflet separation. Although the reason for this difference is unknown, a wider aortic root may result in low-pressure areas bordering the aortic flow stream during early systole, which may favor partial aortic valve closure.

Adult↗

A new double coronary artery anomaly: the right coronary artery originating above the coronary sinus giving off the circumflex artery.

This is the first reported case of a coronary artery anomaly in which the right coronary artery originates above the left sinus of Valsalva and also gives off the circumflex system. Use of the aortogram and careful inspection of the ventriculogram in the right anterior oblique view were most helpful in recognizing the anomaly. The potential pathologic significance of the anomaly and pitfalls of misdiagnosis are discussed.

Coronary Angiography↗

Operative therapy of malignant ventricular rhythm disturbances.

Pre- and postoperative electrophysiologic study (EPS), intraoperative cardiac mapping, and extended endocardial resection of scar (EER) has enabled us to identify subgroups among 94 patients who have had operation to control or prevent malignant ventricular arrhythmia. Operative mortality was 8.5% and cure or prevention of ventricular arrhythmia was accomplished in 92% of survivors. Group 1: 13 patients were resuscitated from "sudden death" due to ventricular fibrillation (VF). All had exercise-induced VF and/or ventricular tachycardia (VT). Preoperative EPS revealed no inducible VT/VF. All had coronary artery disease, without evidence of myocardial infarction (MI) or ventricular wall motion abnormality; all were cured with conventional myocardial revascularization. Group 2: 65 patients had MI with residual left ventricular wall motion abnormality, usually aneurysm. The malignant arrhythmia, either sustained VT (38 patients) or VF (27 patients), was inducible by EPS but not usually by exercise, and all were refractory to medical therapy. Treatment was operative mapping, aneurysmectomy, EER, and coronary revascularization. Operative mortality was 11.9%; 90% of survivors are arrhythmia free, off drugs; 10% are now drug responsive. Group 3: 3 patients without coronary disease had VT or VF caused by endocardial sarcoidosis or operative scar from a previous congenital heart operation. Treatment was EPS, operative mapping, and excision of abnormal endocardial scar with no operative mortality. Group 4: 13 patients underwent aneurysmectomy for indication other than arrhythmia, but had preoperative ventricular irritability which was not life-threatening. Operation was aneurysmectomy, prophylactic EER, and revascularization with no mortality and no postoperative arrhythmic events. After many years of unpredictable and unsatisfactory results from various empirical surgical approaches, the operative treatment of malignant ventricular arrhythmia is now based on sound electrophysiologic principles.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗