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D H Harpole

Publications and source records attributed to D H Harpole.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Extrapleural pneumonectomy in the multimodality therapy of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Results in 120 consecutive patients.

OBJECTIVE: The authors examine the feasibility and efficacy of trimodality therapy in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma and identify prognostic factors. BACKGROUND: Mesothelioma is a rare, uniformly fatal disease that has increased in incidence in recent decades. Single and bimodality therapies do not improve survival. METHODS: From 1980 to 1995, 120 patients underwent treatment for pathologically confirmed malignant mesothelioma at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Boston, MA). Initial patient evaluation was performed by a multimodality team. Patients meeting selection criteria and with resectable disease identified by computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging underwent extrapleural pneumonectomy followed by combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy. RESULTS: The cohort included 27 women and 93 men with a mean age of 56 years. Operative mortality rate was 5.0%, with a major morbidity rate of 22%. Overall survival rates were 45% at 2 years and 22% at 5 years. Two and 5-year survival rates were 65% and 27%, respectively, for patients with epithelial cell type, and 20% and 0%, respectively, for patients with sarcomatous or mixed histology tumors. Nodal involvement was a significant negative prognostic factor. Patients who were node negative with epithelial histology had 2- and 5-year survival rates of 74% and 39%, respectively. Involvement of margins at time of resection did not affect survival, except in the case of full-thickness, transdiaphragmatic invasion. Classification on the basis of a revised staging system stratified median survivals, which were 22, 17, and 11 months for stages I, II, and III, respectively (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Extrapleural pneumonectomy with adjuvant therapy is appropriate treatment for selected patients with malignant mesothelioma selected using a revised staging system.

Combined Modality Therapy↗

Video-assisted thoracic surgery in the elderly. A review of 307 cases.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to investigate the impact of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) on age-related morbidity and mortality for thoracic surgical procedures. DESIGN: Prospective data were collected on 896 consecutive VATS procedures from July 1991 to June 1994. Daily in-hospital, postoperative data collection by a full-time thoracic surgical nurse and postdischarge follow-up in a thoracic surgery clinic at 1 and 6 weeks were done. PATIENTS: On 296 patients aged 65 or older, 307 procedures were performed. One hundred nine procedures were performed on patients between 65 and 69 years, 110 on patients between 70 and 74 years, 55 on patients between 75 and 79 years, and 33 on those between 80 and 90 years. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The population was divided into four cohorts of 5-year age spans for analysis. Comparison was made with Fisher's Exact Test. Overall, 61% of the 307 procedures were for pulmonary disease. There were 32 anatomic lung resections (VATS lobectomies or segmentectomies), 156 extra-anatomic lung resections (thoracoscopic wedge or bullectomy), 78 procedures for pleural disease (25%), 27 mediastinal dissections (9%), and 14 pericardial windows (5%). There was a trend toward a lower mean FEV1 with increasing age. There were 3 deaths; overall mortality was less than 1%. There were 4 conversions to open thoracotomy (1%). Complications occurred with 45 procedures (15% morbidity). Twenty-two operations (7%) were associated with major complications adding to the length of stay and 27 procedures (9%) had minor complications. Median length of stay after VATS was 4 days for patients aged 65 to 79 years and 5 days for those aged 80 to 90 years. Morbidity and mortality were unrelated to age. CONCLUSIONS: The 30-day operative mortality is superior to previous reports of standard thoracotomy. Morbidity is low and length of hospital stay appears improved. VATS techniques may be safer than open thoracotomy in the aged. Age alone should not be a contraindication to operative intervention.

Aged↗

Stage I nonsmall cell lung cancer. A multivariate analysis of treatment methods and patterns of recurrence.

BACKGROUND: Nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women and men in the United States, with more than 157,000 estimated deaths in 1995. Surgical resection remains the mainstay of therapy in Stage I and II disease. However, local and distant recurrence account for the disappointing survival rates after resection. Appropriate selection of surgical procedures and effective use of adjuvant therapies will depend upon the elucidation of prognostic factors that predict for recurrence. METHODS: A detailed analysis was undertaken to evaluate surgical therapy and to define risk factors associated with recurrence and cancer death in 289 consecutive patients with NSCLC who were diagnosed, resected and followed at the Duke University Medical Center from January 1, 1980, until December 31, 1988. These patients had no evidence of metastases on head and chest/abdominal computed tomograms and radionuclide bone scans before resection. Resected specimens from these patients pathologic verification of Stage I disease. Follow-up was complete in all cases through 8/1/94 (median, 61 months). Variables analyzed included age, sex, smoking history, presenting signs and symptoms, operative procedure, histopathology, hospital course including complications, and the time and location of any recurrence or cancer death. RESULTS: The 30-day mortality rate was 5 of 289 (1.7%), with minor and major morbidity rates of 17% and 9%, respectively. Statistical comparison of lobectomy (193) wedge resection (75) and pneumonectomy (21) revealed significantly (P < 0.04) smaller tumors (T1), more comorbidity, and fewer complications for wedge resection patients. A trend (P < 0.09) toward an increased rate of local/regional recurrence and no difference in survival was also observed for wedge resection. One hundred five patients died of cancer (13-month median time to recurrence) for an actual 5-year survival of 63%. Significant univariate predictors of early recurrence and decreased survival (P < 0.01) were: male sex, the presence of symptoms, hemoptysis, chest pain, type of cough, tumor size in cm and by T-classification, visceral pleural invasion, high mitotic index, and vascular invasion. Significant (P < 0.05) multivariate independent variables for early recurrence and cancer death were the presence of symptoms, vascular invasion, pleural invasion, high mitotic index, and tumor size greater than 3 cm. CONCLUSION: Current surgical therapy for stage I NSCLC has an acceptable morbidity and mortality rate. The current data also stratify patients with Stage I NSCLC into high and low risk populations that can be used in future randomized trials of adjuvant therapy.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung↗

A prognostic model of recurrence and death in stage I non-small cell lung cancer utilizing presentation, histopathology, and oncoprotein expression.

In order to construct a multivariate model for predicting early recurrence and cancer death for patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer, 271 consecutive patients (mean age, 63 +/- 8 years) who were diagnosed, treated, and followed at one institution were studied. All patients were clinical stage I with head and chest/abdominal computed tomograms and radionuclide bone scans without evidence of metastatic disease. Pathological material after resection was reviewed to verify histological staging. Follow-up documented the time and location of any recurrence, was a median 56 months in duration, and was complete in all cases. Data recorded included age, sex, smoking history, presenting symptoms, pathological description, and oncoprotein staining for erbB-2 (HER-2/neu), p53, and KI-67 proliferation protein. Immunohistochemistry of oncogene expression was performed on two separate archived paraffin tumor blocks for each patient, with normal lung as control. All analyses were blinded and included Kaplan-Meier survival estimates with Cox proportional hazards regression modeling. Data, including immunohistochemistry, were complete for all 271 patients. Actual 5-year survival was 63% and actuarial 10-year survival was 58%. Significant univariate predictors (P < 0.05) of early recurrence and cancer-death were: male sex; the presence of symptoms; chest pain; type of cough; hemoptysis; tumor size > 3 cm diameter (T2); poor differentiation; vascular invasion; erbB-2 expression; p53 expression; and a higher KI-67 proliferation index (> 5%). An additive oncogene expression curve demonstrated a 5-year survival of 72% for 136 patients without p53 or erbB-2, 58% for 108 patients who expressed either oncogene, and 38% for 27 who expressed both (P < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Molecular and pathologic markers in stage I non-small-cell carcinoma of the lung.

PURPOSE: Although standard treatment of stage I non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) consists of surgical resection alone, approximately 50% of clinical stage I and 30% to 40% of pathologic stage I patients have disease recurrence and die following curative resection. A large number of traditional pathologic and newer molecular markers have been identified, which appear to have important prognostic significance in this population. This review attempts to summarize these data comprehensively. METHODS: Criteria for study selection were English-language reports, identified using Medline and Cancerline, through the fall of 1994. Abstracts from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLG) were also reviewed. RESULTS: Molecular markers are classified as molecular genetic markers, differentiation markers, proliferation markers, and markers of metastatic propensity. A number of these markers have been reported to be highly predictive of outcome in stage I NSCLC, and several reports conclude that a specific biomarker may be, aside from clinical stage, the most powerful determinant of prognosis in NSCLC. However, little has been done to clarify the relationships between these newer biologic markers, classic clinicopathologic variables, and clinical outcome. CONCLUSION: At present, a firm conclusion regarding which biomarkers are most important in predicting outcome is not possible, and a model that reliably integrates all independent prognostic variables cannot be developed. A prospective trial is mandatory to address this issue, and a study design is suggested that would facilitate the development of a prognostic index, while simultaneously asking a therapeutic question. The development of a prognostic index would facilitate future trials in which only high-risk stage I patients could be targeted for investigation of postresection adjuvant treatment strategies.

Biomarkers↗

Thoracoscopy and video-assisted thoracic surgery in the treatment of lung cancer.

The contemporary surgical repertoire for the evaluation and treatment of patients with lung cancer includes the bronchoscope, mediastinoscope, thoracoscope, and standard surgical instrumentation. The recent advances in video optics and the development of endoscopic instruments have significantly expanded the surgical options for patients with lung cancer. Thoracoscopy, or the more inclusive term of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), has been characterized as "minimally invasive" surgery. Thoracoscopy and VATS have decreased operative trauma and facilitated surgical staging prior to neoadjuvant therapy. An ancillary benefit to diminished surgical morbidity is shorter hospital stays with a concomitant reduction in costs to the patient and health-care system. These advantages make VATS ideal for elderly patients or patients with significant comorbidity.

Humans↗

The safety and versatility of video-thoracoscopy: a prospective analysis of 895 consecutive cases.

BACKGROUND: The application of video-endoscopy to general thoracic surgery is radically changing the approach to many benign and malignant diseases of the chest. Since July 1991, we have performed 794 purely thoracoscopic and 101 video-assisted thoracic surgical (VATS) procedures on 860 patients. STUDY DESIGN: Comprehensive, prospectively acquired data examining the specific indications for and outcomes of this new technique were prospectively entered into a thoracic surgical database. Preoperative, intraoperative, postoperative, and outcome variables were studied for the entire group as well as three high-risk cohorts: age over 70 years (n = 198), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) of less than 1 L (n = 46), and Karnofsky performance index of less than 8 (n = 61). RESULTS: The 895 cases involved 449 men and 446 women of ages 15 to 89 years (mean 56 +/- 16 years standard deviation). The indications for surgery were diagnostic in 501 cases (56 percent), therapeutic in 244 cases (27 percent), and both diagnostic and therapeutic in an additional 150 cases (17 percent). The specific procedures performed were operations on the lung (569 cases), pleura (196 cases), esophagus (42 cases), mediastinum (51 cases), and pericardium (37 cases). Fifty-seven percent of the procedures were for a malignant process and 43 percent were for benign or infectious pathology. There were nine deaths for a series operative mortality rate of 1.0 percent. Thirteen patients (1.4 percent) required conversion to a limited thoracotomy for technical reasons. There were 127 complications in 121 patients yielding a morbidity rate in all patients of 14 percent. Mortality rates in the elderly, poor lung function, and depressed performance index cohorts were 1.5, 2.1, and 9.8 percent, respectively. Morbidity rates in these high-risk populations were 19, 30, and 18 percent, respectively. The median postoperative length of stay was three days after closed thoracoscopy and five days after VATS resection. CONCLUSIONS: These data underscore the flexibility, safety, efficacy, and potential for cost savings of videoscopic surgery in patients with thoracic diseases. The ability to perform excisional biopsy improves diagnostic specificity and sensitivity to nearly 100 percent. Video-assisted thoracic surgical techniques also offer a minimally invasive procedure with acceptable risk to patients heretofore inoperable by standard thoracotomy.

Adolescent↗

Localized adenocarcinoma of the lung: oncogene expression of erbB-2 and p53 in 150 patients.

Historical information and pathological material from 150 consecutive patients with localized adenocarcinoma of the lung was collected to evaluate oncogene expression of erbB-2 and p53, and erbB-2 gene amplification. Pathological material after resection was reviewed to verify histological staging, and patient follow-up was complete in all cases for at least 68 months. Immunohistochemistry of erbB-2 (HER-2/neu) and p53 oncogene expression was performed on two separate paraffin tumor blocks for each patient with normal lung as control. Gene amplification of erbB-2 was measured after DNA extraction from 20-micrometer sections of erbB-2-positive and -negative tumors. All analyses were blinded and included Kaplan-Meier survival estimates with Cox proportional hazards regression modeling. Two adequate blocks of tumor and normal lung were available for 138 (92%) patients. Immunohistochemical identification of expression of p53 was observed in 49 (37%) patients and erbB-2 in 17 (13%) patients. DNA dot blot analyses were performed on 17 erbB-2-positive and 13 randomly selected erbB-2-negative tumors. There was 1 (6%) of 17 erbB-2-positve tumors with 4-fold erbB-2 gene amplification. Actual 5-year survival was 63% and actuarial 10-year survival was 59% for the entire population of 150 patients. Significant univariate predictors (P < 0.05) of cancer death were the presence of symptoms, tumor size >3 cm, poor differentiation, visceral pleural invasion, and p53 expression. Multivariate analysis associated symptoms and p53 expression as independent factors with decreased survival. Thus, this project examined p53 and erbB-2 expression in patients with localized adenocarcinoma and associated p53 status with survival. Multicenter collection of data should allow the development of a model of cancer recurrence in this most common lung cancer.

Adult↗

Left ventricular function under stress before and after myocardial revascularization.

To compare left ventricular responses to stress during exercise-induced myocardial ischemia and after myocardial revascularization, 35 patients (mean age 55 +/- 7 years, class III angina) with three-vessel coronary artery disease underwent a rest and exercise initial-transit radionuclide angiocardiography before aortocoronary bypass grafting. Left ventricular ejection fraction decreased during exercise (p less than 0.01), but cardiac output was augmented with an increased heart rate (p less than 0.0001) and left ventricular end-diastolic volume (p less than 0.001). Group A (n = 15) underwent six serial resting studies at different volume loads during the first 24 hours after operation while heart rate and blood pressure were held constant. These data revealed no significant change in left ventricular ejection fraction, but preload varied in all patients because of bleeding and fluid administration, with a mean end-diastolic volume change of 115 to 176 ml. This range of end-diastolic volume was similar to that defined with rest and exercise testing before operation. Group B (n = 20) underwent a repeat rest and exercise test 3 months after operation that demonstrated no change in resting function. However, exercise ejection fraction and peak systolic pressure/end-systolic volume ratio increased (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.05, respectively) while end-diastolic volume decreased (p less than 0.05) compared with the values before operation. These data indicate that patients with coronary artery disease have chronically adapted cardiac function that makes use of both rapid heart rate and a wide range in preload to augment cardiac function under stress.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Bronchial carcinoid tumors: a retrospective analysis of 126 patients.

From 1970 until 1990, 8,958 cases of primary carcinoma of the lung were diagnosed at the Duke University Medical Center. During the same period, 126 patients (mean age, 53 +/- 13 years) were diagnosed with bronchial carcinoid. The overall survival was 78% for 5 years and 71% for 10 years. Surgical treatment in 106 patients included pneumonectomy (15), lobectomy (63 with 9 bronchoplastic procedures), stapled wedge resection (22), and bronchoscopic laser resection (6). The method of diagnosis was chest roentgenography (121), chest computed tomography (77), mediastinal tomography (31), bronchoscopy (81), bronchoscopic brushing and washing (50), bronchoscopic biopsy (40), transthoracic needle biopsy (27), thoracotomy (100), and autopsy (5). Univariate analysis of the medical history, presenting signs and symptoms, diagnostic test results, and pathologic data predicted improved survival (p less than 0.001) for: female sex (n = 58), asymptomatic presentation (n = 47), normal serum serotonin or urinary hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels (n = 76), peripheral location of the primary tumor (n = 50), pathologic stage I or II (n = 91), negative lymph nodes (n = 80), primary tumor 2 cm or less in diameter (n = 67), and typical histology (n = 80). No significance (p greater than 0.1) was observed for age, smoking history, race, family history of carcinoid, environmental exposure, or hemoptysis. The most important factors affecting survival defined by multivariate analysis were (p less than 0.01) pathologic stage, atypical histology, and asymptomatic presentation. Bronchial carcinoid tumors are unique, making up 1% to 2% of primary lung neoplasms and having an excellent prognosis after resection with a 95% 5-year and 93% 10-year survival for pathologic stage I disease.

Analysis of Variance↗

Analysis of 945 cases of pulmonary metastatic melanoma.

From 1970 to 1990, 7564 patients with melanoma were seen at Duke University Cancer Center. Complete follow-up data were available in all patients. The estimated probability of a pulmonary metastasis developing 5, 10, or 20 years after initial diagnosis was 0.13, 0.19, and 0.30, respectively. Pulmonary metastases were documented in 945 patients (12%), these having 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates of 30%, 9%, and 4%, respectively. The methods of diagnosis were chest radiograph (n = 544), computed tomography (n = 157), transthoracic needle biopsy (n = 121), bronchoscopy (n = 14), thoracotomy (n = 112), and autopsy (n = 7). Evidence of advanced pulmonic spread included bilateral disease in 543 and more than two nodules in 595. Univariate predictors for early formation of pulmonary metastases (p less than 0.001) were male sex, black race, increased primary thickness (millimeters), higher Clark's level, nodular or acral lentiginous histology, location on trunk or head and neck, and regional lymph nodes positive for metastasis. Multivariate predictors of improved survival (p less than 0.001) in order of importance were complete resection of pulmonary disease, longer time for formation of metastases, treatment with chemotherapy, one or two pulmonary nodules, lymph nodes negative for metastasis lymph nodes (p less than 0.005), and histologic type (p less than 0.04). Additionally, survival in patients with one nodule and resection (n = 84) was better than in those with similar disease and no resection (n = 142 months, p less than 0.001). These data comprise the largest series to date and emphasize the importance of long-term follow-up, as well as supporting the selective use of resection for isolated pulmonary metastases, increasing the 5-year survival rate from 4% to 20%.

Adult↗

Early and late changes in left ventricular systolic performance after percutaneous aortic balloon valvuloplasty.

To evaluate early and late hemodynamics after aortic valvuloplasty, 17 patients underwent first-pass radionuclide angiocardiography with simultaneous high-fidelity micromanometer pressure before, 10 minutes after and 6 months after aortic valvuloplasty. Pressure-volume and stress data were assessed. Immediately after the procedure, no significant change was observed in heart rate, systemic blood pressure, cardiac output or aortic insufficiency (as measured by visual or quantitative aortography). The mean and peak transvalvular gradient decreased from 64 to 36 mm Hg (p less than 0.001) and 76 to 38 mm Hg (p less than 0.001), respectively. The mean aortic valve area increased from 0.5 to 0.8 cm2 (p less than 0.001). Using echocardiography, meridional end-systolic wall stress decreased from 81 to 63 x 10(3) dynes/cm2 (p less than 0.001). Left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 0.48 to 0.54 (p less than 0.01), end-diastolic volume decreased from 161 to 143 ml (p less than 0.001) and end-diastolic pressure decreased from 18 to 13 mm Hg (p less than 0.01). Left ventricular stroke work (the area of the pressure-volume loop) also decreased from 17.5 to 14.7 x 10(6) ergs (p less than 0.001). The loop shifted to the left and downward. At the 6-month study, the mean and peak aortic valve gradient increased from 36 to 56 mm Hg (p less than 0.001) and 38 to 61 mm Hg (p less than 0.001), respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Changes in left ventricular systolic performance immediately after percutaneous aortic balloon valvuloplasty.

To evaluate the acute changes in left ventricular (LV) performance before and immediately after percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty, 25 patients underwent first-pass radionuclide angiocardiography for construction of pressure-volume loops. Simultaneously, high-fidelity micromanometric aortic and LV pressures were recorded. Echocardiographic wall thickness was used to define wall stress. After valvuloplasty, no acute changes were observed in the heart rate, aortic systolic pressure, cardiac output or degree of aortic insufficiency. Valvuloplasty decreased the peak aortic valve gradient from 73 to 40 mm Hg (p less than 0.001) and the mean gradient from 61 to 30 mm Hg (p less than 0.001); aortic valve area increased from 0.55 to 0.80 cm2 (p less than 0.001). Meridional end-systolic wall stress decreased from 83 to 55 X 10(3) dynes/cm2 (p less than 0.01). LV ejection fraction increased from 0.41 to 0.48 (p less than 0.01). LV end-diastolic volume decreased from 186 to 160 ml (p less than 0.001), end-systolic volume decreased from 115 to 87 ml (p less than 0.001) and end-diastolic pressure decreased from 22 to 17 mm Hg (p less than 0.01). LV stroke work decreased from 16.0 to 14.0 X 10(6) erg (p less than 0.001). No change was observed in peak positive LV dP/dt or the end-systolic pressure-volume ratio. This study documents variable and complex changes in the measures of cardiac function after aortic valvuloplasty. A decrease in the amount of LV outflow obstruction with maintenance of the cardiac output at a decreased level of LV filling occurs.

Aged↗

Effects of standard mitral valve replacement on left ventricular function.

Recent studies have suggested that excision of the mitral valve apparatus during mitral valve replacement impairs left ventricular performance. However, functional measurements in humans have been difficult to obtain in a load-independent fashion. To investigate this concept, 12 patients (mean age, 65 +/- 8 years; mean New York Heart Association functional class, 3.3 +/- 0.7) with 4+ mitral regurgitation (n = 8) or mitral stenosis (valve area, 1.2 +/- 0.2 cm2) (n = 4) underwent prosthetic valve replacement using crystalloid cardioplegia. No patient required therapeutic inotropic support, every patient had at least the anterior mitral leaflet excised, and paced heart rate was maintained constant throughout. Left ventricular volume was measured with radionuclide angiocardiography, left ventricular pressure with a 3F micromanometer, and left ventricular wall volume with two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography. Left ventricular preload was varied over a mean end-diastolic pressure range of 9 to 20 mm Hg and an end-diastolic volume range of 134 to 170 mL to generate four to five steady-state pressure-volume loops before and ten minutes after cardiopulmonary bypass. Left ventricular performance was estimated with the stroke work/end-diastolic volume relationship, which is insensitive to load. After bypass, no significant change (p greater than 0.1) was noted in wall volume for patients with mitral regurgitation or mitral stenosis (175 +/- 68 to 189 +/- 63 mL/m2 and 130 +/- 22 to 127 +/- 19 mL/m2, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Serial evaluation of ventricular function after percutaneous aortic balloon valvuloplasty.

To evaluate the serial changes in right and left ventricular performance after percutaneous aortic balloon valvuloplasty, 15 patients, mean age 75 +/- 18 years, and in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III, were studied with first-pass radionuclide angiocardiography (RNA) immediately before, then 5 minutes, 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, and 3 days after valvuloplasty. No change was observed in heart rate, aortic root systolic pressure, Fick, or RNA cardiac output, amount of aortic insufficiency measured either angiographically or with the regurgitant fraction determination immediately after valvuloplasty. However, significant changes were observed in the peak-to-peak aortic valve gradient (63 to 35 mm Hg; p less than 0.001), mean aortic valve gradient (54 to 33 mm Hg; p less than 0.001), aortic valve area (0.60 to 0.90 cm2; p less than 0.001), and meridional wall stress (79 to 50 10(3) dynes/cm2; p less than 0.01) immediately following valvuloplasty. In addition, left ventricular end-diastolic volume decreased from 186 to 153 ml (p less than 0.001), end-systolic volume decreased from 114 to 86 ml (p less than 0.001), micromanometric left ventricular end-diastolic pressure decreased from 20 to 14 mm Hg (p less than 0.02), and left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 0.39 to 0.45 (p less than 0.001). Peak positive left ventricular dP/dt and end-systolic pressure-volume ratio did not change after valvuloplasty (1700 to 1550 mm Hg/sec, 2.1 to 2.5 mm Hg/ml, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Estimation of left ventricular volume and ejection fraction by two-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography: comparison of short axis imaging and simultaneous radionuclide angiography.

We have compared short axis images of the left ventricle (LV) obtained with transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) to assess LV size and function with those obtained by radionuclide angiography (RNA). Simultaneous TOE and RNA images were attempted in 14 patients and results obtained in 12 patients undergoing repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms. The area of the LV cavity seen in the short axis images at a mid-papillary muscle level at end-systole (ESA) and end-diastole (EDA) were compared with volumes measured by RNA at end-systole (ESV) and end-diastole (EDV). An area ejection fraction (AEF) calculated from the TOE images (AEF = EDA-ESA/EDA) was compared with the RNA ejection fraction (EF) where EF = EDV-ESV/EDV. Good correlations were found between TOE log EDA and RNA log EDV (r = 0.86), TOE log ESA and RNA log ESV (r = 0.92) and TOE AEF and RNA EF (r = 0.96). This suggests that TOE short axis imaging at a mid-papillary muscle level is generally adequate for monitoring LV function during operation.

Echocardiography↗

Serial assessment of ventricular performance after valve replacement for aortic stenosis.

The purpose of this investigation was to examine changes in cardiac function after aortic valve replacement in patients with chronic aortic stenosis. Eleven consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis were studied by radionuclide angiocardiography before; after 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 18 to 24 hours; and late after operation. Measurements of cardiac output, mean systemic blood pressure, heart rate, and left ventricular ejection fraction were similar before and immediately after operation. Significant early changes were observed in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (27 to 13 mm Hg; p less than 0.001), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (214 to 166 ml; p less than 0.01), pulmonary blood volume (700 to 462 ml/m2; p less than 0.01), and right ventricular ejection fraction (0.54 to 0.68; p less than 0.001). A radionuclide angiocardiogram acquired a mean of 3.5 months after operation revealed increased resting left ventricular ejection fraction (0.49 to 0.58; p = 0.05), decreased end-systolic volume (91 to 59 ml; p less than 0.05), and decreased end-diastolic volume (166 to 135 ml; p less than 0.02) compared with measurements before operation. Improved exercise tolerance occurred in nine patients. The significant change in function during the early period after valve replacement was a maintenance of baseline cardiac output at a reduced level of left ventricular filling. Several months after operation, left ventricular volumes decreased further, resting ventricular performance was improved, and improved maximal exercise function was demonstrated. These changes probably reflected morphologic normalization after aortic valve replacement.

Aortic Valve↗