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Biomedical subjects

D Kimbiris

Publications and source records attributed to D Kimbiris.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Retrograde catheterisation of left atrium.

Retrograde catheterisation of the left atrium using a no. 8 F pigtail catheter introduced percutaneously via a femoral artery was successfully accomplished in 48 out of 50 patients undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterisation. There was one episode of ventricular fibrillation requiring cardioversion (without sequelae), and one episode of ventricular tachycardia which was self-terminating, but no other complications and no deaths. The average fluoroscopy time was four minutes.

Blood Pressure↗

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva.

We present the clinical, angiographic and surgical findings in a 63-year-old man with anomalous origin of the left main coronary artery from the right sinus of valsalva. The course of the left main artery was abnormal in that it passed between the aorta and the pulmonary artery; in addition, there was obstructive disease involving the left main coronary artery. The association of these two entities in this age group is unusual.

Coronary Disease↗

Sudden death in severe aortic stenosis following cardiac catheterization.

Five patients with critical aortic stenosis (aortic valve area 0.6 cm2 or less) died 2 days to 21 days following cardiac catheterization performed in anticipation of cardiac surgery. A sixth patient was successfully resuscitated for spontaneous ventricular fibrillation, and successful aortic valve replacement was accomplished. Two patients had prior history of syncope; one patient, of ventricular tachycardia; three patients, of pulmonary edema; and three patients, of crescendo angina. One patient had severe hypotension during maintenance hemodialysis for chronic renal failure. The mode of death was sudden but not witnessed in two patients. The terminal cardiac rhythms were slow junctional in one patient, idioventricular in one, ventricular tachycardia in one, and ventricular fibrillation in the fourth patient. We conclude that symptomatic patients with critical aortic stenosis should be monitored after cardiac catheterization, and surgery should be performed as soon as possible since sudden death is not unusual.

Aged↗

Coronary artery to pulmonary artery fistulas.

Twelve patients with a total of 14 coronary artery to pulmonary artery fistulas were discovered at the time of diagnostic coronary angiography. Six patients had severe coronary artery disease, five patients had normal coronary arteriography, one patient had insignificant coronary artery disease, and one patient had rheumatic heart disease. Only two patients had characteristic continuous murmurs; one patient had a normal coronary angiogram, and the second patient had severe coronary artery disease. Ten fistulas originated from the left anterior descending artery, three from the right coronary artery, and one from the left circumflex artery. The fistulas were either composed of one large (five fistulas) or one or more small channels (seven fistulas) or poorly defined plexiform channels (two fistulas). Hydrogen studies performed in two patients were negative and dye dilution curves performed in all patients were normal. In only four out of the six patients with severe coronary artery disease, the fistulas originated from a diseased vessel and in each case the origin was proximal to the narrowing. The pathogenesis and functional role of these fistulas is largely unknown.

Adult↗

Prolapse of the mitral valve: clinical, hemodynamic, angiographic and echocardiographic correlations.

Among 1,519 patients undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization over a 2-year period, angiographically unequivocal mitral valve prolapse was identified in 79 cases (5.2%). Mitral valve prolapse was clinically unsuspected in 30 of these 79 patients. Echocardiographic studies were available in 44 cases, but only 55% of the patients with prolapse of the mitral valve documented by angiography had positive echocardiographic findings. One third of the patients had associated coronary artery disease, aortic valve disease or atrial septal defects. 14 patients (18%) had moderate or severe mitral regurgitation. There was a wide spectrum of hemodynamic and ventriculographic abnormalities that could not entirely be explained by the degree of prolapse, by the severity of mitral regurgitation or by the presence of associated diseases.

Adolescent↗

Significance of collateral circulation in patients with left main coronary artery disease.

Fifty patients with left main coronary artery disease were studied to evaluate the functional role of collateral circulation. The left main was narrowed 50-70% in 22 patients (group I), and more than 70% in 28 patients (group II). Significant disease in the other vessels was equally common in each group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of inter- and intracoronary collaterals in the two groups. Fifteen patients with no collaterals were compared with 35 patients with collaterals, and to a subset of 11 patients with very rich right-to-left collaterals, and there was no significant difference in historic or ECG evidence of old infarction, duration of angina, incidence of unstable angina, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, cardiac index, ejection fraction, or segmental contraction abnormalities. We conclude that there is no evidence of protective effect of collateral vessels in patients with left main disease.

Adult↗

Unsuspected left-to-right shunt: is routine use of hydrogen platinum electrode system indicated in shunt detection?

Unsuspected left-to-right shunt was found in 6 of 1,500 adult patients undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization. In 3 patients were found unsuspected secundum atrial septal defects (1 associated with mitral stenosis and 2 with coronary artery disease). In 3 patients, unsuspected partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage was found (1 associated with aortic valve disease and 2 with severe coronary artery disease). It is concluded that the incidence of unsuspected left-to-right shunt diagnosed during routine cardiac catheterization is very low. Careful physical examination and the application of conventional techniques during cardiac catheterization should suggest the possibility of such a shunt. Hydrogen platinum electrode system (HPES) should be reserved for patients in whom the right heart catheter takes an abnormal course or when the pulmonary artery oxygen saturation is high and the arteriovenous oxygen difference is small.

Adult↗

Right heart failure secondary to compression of the right pulmonary artery by a syphilitic aortic aneurysm.

A 68-year-old man presented with right heart failure due to compression of the right pulmonary artery by a syphilitic aneurysm of the ascending aorta. The diagnosis was made by cardiac catheterization and angiography and it was proven by autopsy. This complication is unusual and supports the experimental evidence that unilateral pulmonary obstruction may be responsible for the development of pulmonary hypertension.

Aged↗

A comparison of formulas used to estimate mixed venous saturations.

True mixing of venous blood in the absence of shunt occurs in the pulmonary artery. In the presence of left to right shunt at a level proximal to the pulmonary artery, mixed venous blood for oxygen saturation (MVO2) is estimated by using an average of blood samples taken from the chamber proximal to the shunt. In atrial septal defect, the determination of MVO2 is calculated by using blood samples from the superior vena cava (SVC) and the inferior vena cava (IVC). Several formulas have been proposed, utilizing varying combinations of blood samples taken from the SVC and IVC. In the present investigation, 100 patients without evidence of shunt were studied during routine cardiac catheterization. Duplicate blood samples were taken from the pulmonary artery (PA), the SVC, and the IVC, and were analyzed for oxygen-saturation. If one assumes that the PA blood sample represents true venous blood mixing (TMVO2), the following formulas were used for comparison: 1)PA = SVC; 2) PA = IVC; 3) PA = (SVC + IVC)/2; 4) PA = (2SVC + IVC)/3; 5) PA = (3SVC + IVC)/4; and 6) PA = (2IVC + SVC)/3. When one uses the standard two variable regression equations, this study shows that the 90% confidence limits are wide. The correlation, however, is somewhat better if one uses the formulas 3)-6). Therefore, the error that may be introduced in calculating the TMVO2 may be substantial and can critically alter the estimation of the shunted blood volume.

Adult↗

Sinus bradycardia and atrial fibrillation associated with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

Thirty-three patients with atrial fibrillation associated with the Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome were studied to determine the relation of sinus bradycardia and atrial fibrillation. In seven patients the sinus rate was less than 40 beats/min and sinus nodal disease was considered a cause of the periods of bradycardia. Ventricular fibrillation of functional cardiac arrest was documented in four instances. Twenty-six patients demonstrated a type A and seven a type B WPW pattern during periods of sinus rhythm. Male patients predominated. The average age was 38.5 years among patients with a type A pattern compared with 25.3 years among those with a type B pattern. The shortest R-R cycle length in this group was 130 msec during a period of atrial fibrillation. Five thousand serial microscopic sections were studied in one patient who demonstrated ventricular fibrillation. Three anomalous pathways were located in this patient with the widest tract, 380 mu, containing about 400 muscle cells. Most of the sinoatrial node was replaced by collagen elastic fibers, and there was widespread destruction of the atria with a marked increase in fibrous connective tissue. Ventricular fibrillation or functional cardiac arrest is not a rare arrhythmia in patients with atrial fibrillation associated with the WPW syndrome and may be responsible for sudden death in patients with these arrhythmias. Hence, precise electrophysiologic studies and pharmacologic or surgical management, or both, are suggested to prevent sudden death in patients with short refractory periods associated with atrial fibrillation and the WPW syndrome.

Adolescent↗

Sequential atrioventricular pacing as a stress test. Evaluation of left ventricular function in second-degree AV heart block developing during atrial pacing.

Advanced or second-degree atrioventricular (AV) heart block pre-existing or developing during atrial pacing (AP) at low heart rates of smaller than 130 per minute, limits the value of AP to stress the left ventricle. When Wenkebach type AV block is present, the heart rate can be increased by administration of atropine before atrial pacing or by right ventricular pacing. Atropine, however, occasionally may cause serious supraventricular or ventricular arrhythmias, and high rate right ventricular pacing is not tolerated by many patients with left ventricular dysfunction because of the absence of the atrial contribution. Twenty-eight out of 101 patients with angina pectoris (27.7 percent) developed second degree AV heart block during atrial pacing studies performed for evaluation of left ventricular function. In 8 of the 28 patients, sequential AV pacing (SP) was performed successfully, with the heart rate being increased to 150-167 per minute. In 4 of the 8 patients, left ventricular dysnfunction was demonstrated during and immediately after SP. Typical angina pectoris developed in two of the four patients during SP, one of whom proved to have normal coronary arteriogram. Sequential AV pacing is an alternative method to increase the heart rate for the purpose of stressing the left ventricle when advanced degree or second-degree AV heart block pre-exists or develops during right atrial pacing. In some patients the method of SP might be preferable to administration of atropine or to ventricular pacing.

Adult↗

Dissection and rupture of the ascending aorta. Unusual complications of aortocoronary bypass surgery.

This is a report concerning two cases of unusual complications, dissection and rupture of the ascending aorta, secondary to saphenous vein bypass surgery. We recommend that evaluation of patients undergoing saphenous vein bypass surgery include careful image-intensifier fluoroscopic examination during coronary arteriography. If aneurysmal dilatation of the aorta or calcification is observed, ascending aortography should be performed to better evaluate the aorta, and surgeons should be alerted to use appropriate maneuvers and techniques to minimize the risk of complications in the aortic site of the vein anastomosis. Internal mammary coronary-artery bypass should be the procedure of choice in such conditions.

Aortic Aneurysm↗