PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C R Hatcher

Publications and source records attributed to C R Hatcher.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Late hemodynamic evaluation of Hancock Modified orifice aortic bioprosthesis.

Nineteen patients with Hancock Modified Orifice prosthesis (HMO-250), size 19 to 23 mm, were recatheterized 6 to 16 months following aortic valve replacement (AVR). Although hemodynamic characteristics varied widely, HMO-250 compared favorably to the standard model 243 (less than 0.05). Mean peak resting gradient across HMO-250 was 14.8 torr at rest and rose to 26.8 torr with exercise. Systolic gradients for HMO-250, both resting and exercise, were improved for 21 mm (p less than 0.01), but not for 23 mm. Increasing the patient's body surface area (BSA) correlated with increasing gradients for 23 mm (p less than 0.05), but was unrelated to 21 mm. Effective orifice areas were similarly found to be improved with 21 mm HMO-250 but unchanged for 23 mm. Use of the 21 or 23 mm size HMO for AVR is supported only when the patient's body surface area is less than 1.8 m2. If the body surface area is greater than 1.8 m2, annulus enlargement and a larger size bioprosthesis should be employed. Use of 19 mm porcine xenograft for AVR is not supported.

Aortic Valve Insufficiency↗
PubMed1979

Further evaluation of the sutureless, screw-in electrode for cardiac pacing. Experience with first 300 implantations.

This report details our experience with 300 sutureless epicardial electrode implantations performed in the past 6 years. Indications for pacing, surgical approaches, implantation sites and complications are presented. The subxiphoid approach was valuable in obtaining safe, reliable, and long-term impulse generation. Complications have been few and of short duration. In general, pacing thresholds have been lower and sensitivity thresholds higher with left ventricular implantation than with right ventricular implantation. Endocarcial pacing is reserved for the very aged and debilitated patients, patients requiring implantation within 4 to 6 weeks of acute myocardial infarction, and for atrial or atrioventricular sequential pacing.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Aortic root dissection complicating coronary bypass surgery.

Four cases are presented of aortic root dissection after aortocoronary bypass surgery in which the origin of the intimal tear was at or very near the aortic site of saphenous vein anastomosis. Two cases were documented at autopsy. In one of two cases diagnosed with aortography, the patient underwent surgical correction and survived. All patients had long-standing severe hypertensive cardiovascular disease or severe generalized atherosclerotic disease, or both. Clinical awareness of aortic dissection after coronary bypass surgery in this group of patients should make early diagnosis with successful surgical correction feasible.

Aged↗
PubMed1978

Value of coronary bypass surgery. Controversies in cardiology: Part I.

The value of coronary bypass surgery has been studied carefully during the last decade. Four methods, none perfect, have been used to compare the results of such surgery with the results of medical therapy. New data are likely to be merely supportive rather than the outcome of a definitive study with a new and a acceptable experimental design. It is therefore time to analyze the available data in light of the treacherousness of the disease and to determine if a clear trend is evident. There appears to be sufficient evidence to state that properly performed coronary bypass surgery will increase coronary blood flow and relieve angina pectoris in 90 percent of patients; total relief of angina can be expected in 60 percent and partial relief in 30 percent. Compared with modern medical therapy, properly performed coronary bypass surgery appears to prolong the life of patients who have obstruction of the left main coronary artery or triple or double vessel disease. There is not adequate evidence to state that the procedure will prolong the life of patients with single vessel obstruction. However, patients with single vessel obstruction and unacceptable angina pectoris should be considered for bypass surgery (especially patients with obstruction of the left anterior descending coronary artery). In practice, at Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, bypass surgery is recommended for young people with few symptoms if compelling obstructing lesions are present and in older patients only if their symptoms require it. Medical therapy is given before and after bypass surgery. When bypass surgery is performed in an excellent fashion (operative risk 1 percent) a great deal of "controversy" about this problem vanishes.

Angina Pectoris↗
PubMed1978

Criteria for operability and reduction of surgical mortality in patients with severe left ventricular ischemia and dysfunction.

A series of 188 patients who were operated on for left ventricular ischemia and dysfunction is presented. Angina was a prominent symptom in all patients, and a history of congestive heart failure could be elicited in 20%. Mean ejection fraction for the series was 0.35, with 67% having an ejection fraction of 0.35 or less 24%, 0.20 or less. Complete revascularization was accomplished whenever possible; more than 70% of the patients had triple-vessel disease, and single bypass was performed infrequently (5%). Factors thought to be important in achieving a low operative mortality (2.1%) were: precise prebypass monitoring, particularly with the V5 precordial lead; maintaining a low rate-pressure product (less than 12,000) prior to bypass; myocardial preservation with cold hyperkalemic or hyperkalemic-hyperosmolar solution; and careful titration of inotropic and vasodilator drugs. Inotropic drugs and intraaortic balloon pumping were used frequently in this series. The late mortality was 4.3%. Angina was completely relieved or improved in 94% of the patients. Those having a history of congestive heart failure had an increased late mortality rate, four times that of the entire series.

Angina Pectoris↗
PubMed1978

Thoracoscopy: a useful tool in the diagnosis of thoracic disease.

During a 12-month period, 11 patients underwent diagnostic thoracoscopy for previously undiagnosed thoracic disease. In all patients, the diagnosis had been unobtainable by the usual diagnostic modalities of bronchoscopy, scalene node biopsy, mediastinoscopy, thoracentesis, or closed pleural biopsy. Thoracoscopy was diagnostic in 10 of the 11 patients. There was no morbidity or mortality. In all patients the indication for thoracoscopy was suspected malignancy. The majority of patients had recurrent pleural effusions in which routine cytological studies and tissue biopsies had been nondiagnostic. Pathological findings were mesothelioma in 3 patients, primary carcinoma of the lung in 4, congestive heart failure with pleural effusion in 1, metastatic carcinoma in 2, and inflammatory disease in 1 patient. Indications, techniques, and results are discussed. Thoracoscopy is a valuable tool in the diagnosis of thoracic disease; with it, unneccessary thoracotomy can often be avoided.

Aged↗
PubMed1978

Spontaneous rupture of the esophagus.

Spontaneous rupture of the esophagus remains a medical and surgical challenge. Its diagnosis is often missed or delayed resulting in increased morbidity and mortality, and controversy exists as to the mode of therapy for the cases seen later than 12 hours after rupture. During the last seven years, nine patients were treated at Grady Memorial Hospital. Four patients, "early group," were operated upon within 12 hours from the onset of their symptoms and five, "late group," were operated upon between 20-76 hours (average 41) after rupture. All four patients in the "early group" had primary repair of the rupture and two had, in addition, fundoplication. From the two patients with primary repair alone, one developed postoperative leakage at the esophageal suture line, which closed spontaneously; whereas, in the two patients with fundoplication, no leakage occurred. Three of the four patients recovered and one died from renal failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, and gastric perforation. In the "late group" one patient had T-tube drainage of the esophagus and died. Two had primary repair alone with one death and the other two had primary repair with fundoplication 20 and 76 hours postrupture and both recovered. The two deaths in the "late group" were due to leakage at the site of the rupture. This study suggests that even in patients diagnosed late as having rupture of the esophagus, primary repair can be implemented with reasonable success. Good mediastinal, pleural and gastric drainage, high levels of appropriate antibiotics, and provision of good nourishment are of paramount importance for the successful management of these desperately ill patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Physicians' assistants on a university cardiothoracic surgical service. A five-year update.

In 1973 two physicans' assistants (P.A.'s) were employed on a cardiothoracic surgical service at Emory University Hospital. In 1974 our initial experience with these paramedical personnel was presented to this Association. Since that time eight additional P.A.'s have been added to our service. They are now employed in four hospitals of the Emory University Woodruff Medical Center. New guidelines and regulations have been imposed at both the state and federal levels regarding P.A.'s, and their role in our center has become rather well defined. With over 1,700 cardiac cases and 600 thoracic cases per year to cover on our service, the P.A. has assumed a position of increasing importance both in operating room assistance and in preoperative and postoperative care. Since the university has maintained a constant number of residents and fellows during this interval, P.A.'s have filled needs of expanded clinical service in the various hospitals. In the pediatric and community hospitals associated with a university, the P.A. now functions as a junior house officer. In our university center, with a large resident staff, their role has become narrowed with definite guidelines. A Credentials Committee now governs the hiring of all P.A.'s by the University. When properly utilized and supervised, the P.A. can be a vital member of the cardiothoracic team. This report details our experience with P.A.'s for the past 5 years--culminating in a staff of ten P.A.'s working on our service in four types of hospitals within our university medical center.

Georgia↗
PubMed1978

Potassium-induced cardioplegia. Additive protection against ischemic myocardial injury during coronary revascularization.

Potassium-induced cardioplegia during anoxic arrest was utilized in a study of 190 consecutive patients undergoing revascularization (average 2.8 grafts per patient) from August, 1975, through August, 1976. Surgical technique, moderate systemic hypothermia with intermittent anoxic arrest, and the surgeon were the same for all patients. One hundred thirty-five patients (KC1-treated) received a bolus (150 ml.) of potassium solution injected into the proximal aortic root whenever the aortic cross-clamp was applied; 55 others served as control subjects. The mortality rate was 2.2% (three of 135) in the KCl-treated group and one of 55 in the control group. New Q waves appeared in 5.9% (eight of 135) of the KCl-treated patients and 11% (6 of 55) of control subjects (p = N.S.). Catecholamine drips were required after bypass in 4.4% (six of 135) of patients given potassium and 18% (10 of 55) of control patients (p less than 0.05). Profound myocardial relaxation was of added technical value with potassium. It is our impression that hearts treated with potassium exhibited more prompt cardioversion, separated from cardiopulmonary bypass with less need for inotropic support, and exhibited less myocardial injury during the revascularization procedure.

Cardiopulmonary Bypass↗
PubMed1978

Hemodynamic and clinical evaluation of the Hancock xenograft bioprosthesis of aortic valve replacement (with emphasis on management of the small aortic root).

One hundred twenty-nine consecutive patients underwent isolated aortic valve replacement with the Hancock porcine xenograft between July, 1974, and December, 1976. The hospital mortality rate was 3.9 percent. No patient was treated with anticoagulants, and valve-related complications were extremely rare. The smaller prosthetic sizes (19 and 21 mm. stent diameter) should be used with extreme caution, and the 19 mm. prosthesis should probably never be used in the audult patient. Two methods of managing the small aortic root are emphasized: one to avoid using the smaller prosthetic size in adults and the other to alter greatly the root size in children who have a hypoplastic aortic annulus. Acceptable calculated orifice sizes and left ventricular--aortic (LV-Ao) pressure gradients may be obtained with the 23 mm. or larger prostheses. Actuarial survival curves show 92 percent of patients alive and well at 24 months' follow-up.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Diaphragmatic eventration in infancy and childhood.

Eventration of the diaphragm, although a relatively rare clinical entity, should be considered in all patients with respiratory distress during the neonatal period, particularly in babies born after difficult delivery by breech presentation or forceps extraction. The diagnosis can be made in the majority of spontaneously breathing patients by chest roentgenography or by fluoroscopy. The treatment initially should be supportive, including assisted ventilation if needed. If the infant cannot be weaned off the respirator after a week to ten days of respiratory support, surgical correction of the elevated diaphragm should be carried out. The results of surgical treatment in these desperately sick infants is usually most gratifying.

Child↗
PubMed1977

Concomitant aortic valve replacement and myocardial revascularization.

Twenty-six consecutive patients underwent combined aortic valve replacement and myocardial revascularization at the Emory University Affiliated Hospitals between May, 1973 and March, 1976. Acute myocardial infarction resulted in two operative deaths (8%). There have been four late deaths, all Class IV preoperative. The age range was 37 to 79 years with an average age of 60. Preoperatively all patients were Class IV or late Class III. Twenty-three patients had symptoms of angina pectoris; congestive heart failure was evident in 56%. Postoperatively, 70% are now Class 1 or II. Single coronary bypass was performed in 16 patients, double in 6, and triple in three. Double bypass plus mitral valve replacement was required in two with aneurysmectomy in one. The rate of intraoperative infarction was 27% for the series but only 7% in the last year. The methods of intraoperative myocardial preservation and the technical approach for the operative procedures were variable. Results with each method are correlated, and currently preferred techniques are presented and discussed. Best results were obtained in patients who presented early in their symptomatic course with isolated proximal coronary lesions and good renoff vessels. Excellent results could be achieved despite advanced age of patients, requirement for multiple bypass grafts, and correction of other associated cardiac lesions. Poorest results were obtained when long-standing ventricular failure was combined with poor vessels distal to coronary stenoses.

Adult↗