Biomedical subjects

E Farah

Publications and source records attributed to E Farah.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

[Prognosis of reoperation for prosthesis dysfunction].

Between 1969 and 1990, 75 adults living in mainland France underwent reoperation for bioprosthetic valve dysfunction. The average time between the initial operation and reoperation was 65 +/- 41 months. The average age was 44 years and half of the patients were severely symptomatic (NYHA Stages III or IV in half the cases). Dysfunction of an aortic valve prosthesis was observed in 65% of cases (N = 49) and of a mitral valve prosthesis in 35% of cases (N = 26). The causes of reoperation were: 50 primary degenerations (67%), 19 infectious endocarditis (25%) and 6 perivalvular leaks (8%). Valve replacement was performed in 74 cases and suture of the sewing ring in 1 case. An associated procedure was performed in 24 cases: 12 drainage of abscess, 10 double valve replacements and 2 tricuspid valvuloplasties. The operative mortality was 9.3% and early morbidity was 46%. Univariate and multivariate analysis identified two factors predictive of operative mortality: the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass and the cardiothoracic ratio. During follow-up, which lasted 36 +/- 31 months, there were 12 deaths, 4 of cardiac failure; 4 sudden deaths, 3 deaths related to the prosthesis and 1 extracardiac death. The 6 year actuarial survival rate was 71%. The cardiothoracic ratio, the preoperative ejection fraction and the bypass time were factors predictive of global showed bypass time and the cardiothoracic ratio to be prognostic factors. The 6 year survival without cardiac events was 40%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Diagnosis of left atrial thrombi in mitral stenosis--usefulness of ultrasound techniques compared with other methods.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate various methods of diagnosis of left atrial thrombi (LAT) in patients (pts) with mitral stenosis (MS). From 1980 to 1990, 581 pts with MS have undergone open mitral commissurotomy (n = 169) or valve replacement (n = 412). All pts had transthoracic 2D echocardiography (TTE), 101 transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE), 192 a left atrial angiography (A) (from a left ventricular injection if associated mitral regurgitation grade 3 (n = 154) or from an injection in the pulmonary artery (n = 38) and 229 a coronary angiography (CA). Tomodensitometry (TD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and 111 Indium platelet imaging (IPI) were performed in some cases, 2, 8 and 5 respectively. All these examinations were carried out in the month before surgery. LAT was found by the surgeon in 43 pts (7%). The site was left atrial appendage in 26 cases (60%) and left atrial cavity in 17 cases. Sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp) of TTE/TEE/A/CA were the following: TTE, Se% 28, Sp% 99; TEE, Se% 83, Sp% 97; A, Se% 28, Sp% 99; CA, Se% 14, Sp% 100. Specificity was high with all methods but sensitivity was high only with TEE and poor with other methods because of difficulty in detecting thrombi of the left atrial appendage. Specificity and sensitivity of TD, NMR and IPI require more information. False-negative cases are possible with NMR (1 case) and IPI (1 case) in well established LAT. We conclude: TEE is the easiest way to detect LAT, particularly when located in the left atrial appendage. It should be carried out systematically before percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty or surgery.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1988

Treatment of calcified aortic stenosis: surgery or percutaneous transluminal aortic valvuloplasty?

A total of 546 patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) were retrospectively reviewed to assess the efficacy of percutaneous transluminal valvuloplasty (PTV) and valve replacement (VR). Of these, 490 underwent VR between 1968 and 1986 (mean age 62 +/- 12 years, 71.7% were in NYHA class III or IV), 68.8% received mechanical prostheses, and in 11.8% a bypass graft was associated. The operative mortality was 6.9% (4% since 1983). The mean follow-up was 57.6 months. The actuarial survival rate was 77% at five years, 60% at 10 years, and 40% at 15 years. Over 70 years of age, operative mortality was 6.2% since 1983, and the actuarial survival rate was 67.5% at five years. From February 1986 to May 1987, PTV was attempted in 56 patients and was effective in 52 patients (mean age 79 +/- 5 years, 93% in Class III or IV). Immediate mortality was 7.1%. The morbidity was due to tamponade (1.8%), myocardial infarction (3.6%), vascular trauma (5.3%), or cerebrovascular accident (9%). Forty three patients were followed after PTV (mean value 4.2 +/- 3, range 1-14 months): 12 patients (28%) died and 46% were functionally improved in NYHA Class II. PTV significantly improved the aortic valve area as shown by haemodynamics (0.49-0.75 cm2; P less than 0.0001) and these findings were corroborated by Doppler study (0.46-0.70 cm2, P less than 0.001). In conclusion, this series shows that surgery provides satisfactory results in AS with a low mortality and good long-term results, even in the elderly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

PubMed1979

[Late thrombosis of mitral valve prosthesis in 27 cases].

Twenty seven cases of late thrombosis of ball and floating or tilting disc prostheses were studied. All patients were on anticoagulant therapy which appeared to be well adapted in 33% patients. Signs suggestive of thrombosis were inconsistant and the diagnosis was made on the association of severl of the following features: -- systemic embolism (44%); -- radiographic signs of left ventricular failure (51%); -- absence of opening click, variable A2 -- opening click intervals, apparition or aggravation of a systolic regurgitant murmur or a distolic murmur suggestive of obstruction on the phonocardiogramme; -- delayed opening of the mobile component or the presence of abnormal echos between the ball and anterior cage echo on the echocardiogramme; -- a gradient of over 12 mmHg across the prosthesis. An isolated episode of systemic embolism when the rest of the work-up is negative may be managed by the addition of a platelet antiaggregant and reinforcement of the anticoagulant therapy; further investigaton is advisable in the face of progressive symptoms. Fibrinolytic treatment and/or surgery is justified when systemic emboli recur or if the work-up is positive.

Adult↗

PubMed1979

[Triple-valve replacements].

34 patients aged between 17 and 62 years underwent triple valve replacement, 14 of whom exclusively with Starr-Edwards prosthesis; 25 patients were operated at Stage III and 4 at Stage IV of the NYHA classification; the operative mortality was 14%, the late mortality 21%. The actuarial survival curve shows 66% survival at 5 years; in all, 21 good results were obtained with a follow-up ranging from 3 months to 11 years (average 41 months). A notable late complication specific to these patients was dysfunction of the tricuspid prosthesis; a gradient across the tricuspid prosthesis was observed in 14 postoperative catheter studies; one of these patients had to be reoperated for thrombosis of a Starr-Edwards tricuspid prosthesis. Analysis of the results of this series suggests that surgery is beneficial, especially when the very precarious preoperative state of these patients is taken into consideration.

Adolescent↗