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Biomedical subjects

E Quaini

Publications and source records attributed to E Quaini.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Evaluation and treatment of secondary tricuspid insufficiency.

To define the role of functional tricuspid insufficiency and right ventricular (RV) failure in patients with mitral disease, the data of 121 patients with secondary tricuspid insufficiency that underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR) from January 1982 to December 1987 were analyzed. The mitral hemodynamic lesion was: stenosis in 41 patients (33.9%); insufficiency in 11 (9.1%) and mixed stenosis and insufficiency in 69 (57.0%). NYHA functional class was: II in 4 patients (3.3%), III in 78 (64.5%) and IV in 39 (32.2%). In 100 cases (group 1) with tricuspid insufficiency defined as moderate or severe, a De Vega annuloplasty was performed while in 21 (group 2) with mild tricuspid insufficiency, no tricuspid surgical procedure was performed. Hospital deaths occurred in 17 of 121 patients [14% (CL 10.8-17.0)]. There was no significant difference in hospital mortality between group 1 and group 2 (15% vs 9.5%; P = 0.75). Incremental risk factors for hospital mortality as determined by multivariate analysis, include: cardiothoracic ratio (P = 0.0016), total aortic cross-clamp time (P = 0.006), associated cardiac disease (P = 0.0209) and emergency operations (P = 0.0318). Mean follow-up of surviving patients was 50.1 +/- 28.1 months. Late deaths occurred in 16 patients [15.4% (CL 11.7-18.7)]. The actuarial survival rate was 85.6% and 73.8% at 5 and 9 years, respectively. Nine patients [8.6% (CL 5.9-11.3)] required reoperation. There was no significant difference between group 1 and group 2 in the rate of late cardiac related deaths (5.9% vs 5.3%, P = 0.66) and of tricuspid reoperations (4.7% vs 5.3%, P = 0.62).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent

[Repeat myocardial revascularization].

Eighty-two consecutive patients undergoing reoperation for coronary revascularization from January 1980 to November 1990 were reviewed to determine early and late results and predictors of survival. Seventy patients were male and 12 female; age ranged from 36 to 75 years (mean 56.4 +/- 8.1). All were symptomatic for angina. The mean interval between first and second operation was 62.8 +/- 47.8 months (range 1 to 220 months). Angiographic indications for reoperation were: graft failure (34.1%), progression of atherosclerosis in the native coronary circulation (6.1%) and combination of the two (59.8%). Mean ejection fraction was 45.9 +/- 10.2 (range 11 to 67). Surgical indication was elective in 79.3%, urgent in 14.6% and emergent in 6.1%; 199 grafts were performed (2.4 +/- 1 grafts/patient). Hospital mortality was 6.1% (5 cases). Late mortality was 5.2% (4 cases). Actuarial survival rate (including hospital mortality) was 87.9% at 3, 5 and 10 years. Multivariate analysis identified left main stenosis (p = 0.00001), family history of coronary disease (p = 0.003), urgent/emergency operation (p = 0.015) as predictors of increased in-hospital mortality; postoperative myocardial infarction (p = 0.002) and preoperative heart failure (p = 0.01) as predictors of increased late mortality. Follow-up of in-hospital survivors (mean interval 42.7 +/- 25.8 months, range 3 to 120 months) documented 27 cardiac major events (other than death) in 24 patients (32.9%). Actuarial rates of freedom from major cardiac events were 70%, 52.9% and 48.1% at 3, 5 and 10 years respectively. Multivariate analysis identified preoperative ejection fraction (p = 0.01) as predictor of recurrence of angina and preoperative heart failure (p = 0.02) as predictor of occurrence of cardiac major events.

Adult

[Surgical revascularization in acute myocardial infarct].

To determine the potential role of emergency surgical revascularization as treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), results in 79 patients undergoing operation for myocardial revascularization during AMI from January 1986 to January 1991 were reviewed. Clinical characteristics for inclusion in the study were: 1) emergency operation; 2) persistent angina not controlled by medical therapy; 3) fixed ST segment elevation until surgical procedure, independently from magnitude of enzymatic levels. The 79 patients were divided in 2 groups: 27 with AMI or evolving AMI (Group 1); 52 with AMI due to complications during PTCA (Group 2). Twenty-eight patients had extremely severe clinical conditions. Mean interval between the beginning of AMI and operation was 4.2 +/- 6.7 hours, with a statistically significant difference between Group 1 (8.7 +/- 10.0) and Group 2 (1.9 +/- 1.0). One hundred ninety-two grafts were performed (2.4 +/- 1.1 grafts/patient). Overall hospital mortality was 10.1% (CL 6.7-13.3) (8 deaths) with a difference between Group 1 [18.5% (CL 10.7-25.3)] and Group 2 [5.8% (CL 4.7-6.6)] (p = 0.074). The incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction was 30.4% (CL 24.9-35.1) for that one in the area of ischemic muscle and 2.6% (CL 0.8-4.1) for infarction in remote muscle. Multivariate analysis for the entire series (79 patients) identified as independent predictors of increased in-hospital mortality: preoperative cardiogenic shock (p = 1.000E-4) and hyperlipidemia (p = 0.008). In Group 1 multivariate analysis identified as independent predictors of increased in-hospital mortality: the attempt of revascularization by PTCA and hyperlipidemia; in Group 2: preoperative need of mechanical ventilatory support.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Chi-Square Distribution

Usefulness of color Doppler in the diagnosis of ventricular septal rupture after myocardial infarction.

Ten consecutive patients with ventricular septal rupture complicating acute myocardial infarction were studied by means of Doppler echocardiography (including two-dimensional, conventional and color Doppler techniques) and bedside right heart catheterization using a Swan-Ganz catheter. One patient died before an operation could be performed. Seven critically ill patients underwent emergency cardiac surgery without preoperative cardiac catheterization, while in two patients it was also possible to undertake coronary angiography before surgery. Two-dimensional echocardiography diagnosed post-infarction ventricular septal rupture in 6 out of 10 patients. Color Doppler revealed the presence and the location of septal rupture in all 10 patients. The color Doppler diagnosis was confirmed either by surgery or necropsy. The estimates of pulmonary artery pressure, obtained by color Doppler-guided continuous wave Doppler beam, were very close to those measured by simultaneous right heart catheterization. In 3 patients, patch leakage occurred 3 days, 15 days and 1 year after the operation. Two-dimensional echocardiography revealed the patch leakage in only one of 3 patients while its location was visualized by color Doppler in all 3 patients. In one patient the color Doppler diagnosis was confirmed at necropsy. In the remaining 2 patients, a small left-to-right shunt was demonstrated by radionuclide studies. Color Doppler echocardiography is a highly sensitive and rapid technique in the diagnosis of postinfarction ventricular septal rupture. In critically ill patients it offers relevant information and may obviate the need for any invasive preoperate investigation.

Aged

Synchronous brain metastasis from lung cancer. Result of surgical treatment in combined resection.

The results of combined surgical resection of brain metastasis and primary lung cancer from January 1976 to April 1986 were evaluated. In all cases the brain metastasis was single and synchronous and was resected first. There were 20 men and one woman, with an average age of 53 years. All patients initially had neurologic symptoms related to an intracranial mass. In 19 patients the primary lung cancer was roentgenologically visible, but in two the lesion was recognizable only by bronchoscopy. There were no operative deaths. Nine of 21 patients had a poor postoperative course and died during the first 6 months. The combined surgical approach improved the short-term survival rate in four patients, who died 11, 12, 18, and 21 months after the thoracic operation. In six patients (28.5%) survival for more than 2 years was obtained (three died after 27, 30, and 40 months, three are alive after 25, 28, and 48 months). Two others patients are alive and well 4 and 16 months after the thoracic operation. Synchronous onset of brain metastasis from lung cancer does not necessarily contraindicate combined operations, which can provide long-term survival in selected patients. The absence of mediastinal node metastasis is a favorable prognostic factor. Computed tomographic screening of the brain improves patient selection.

Adenocarcinoma

Combined open-heart valve surgery and elective abdominal operations.

From January 1970 to December 1984, at the "A. De Gasperis" Division of cardiac surgery in 73 patients an open-heart valvular operation and an elective abdominal surgical procedure were simultaneously performed. Abdominal surgery was indicated for: cholelithiasis (41 cases), hernia (22 cases), uterine fibroleiomyomas (7 cases), pregnancy (1 case), marginal ulcer after gastric resection (1 case), association of cholelithiasis and hernia (1 case). The etiology of valvular disease was: previous rheumatic fever (69 cases) and acute bacterial endocarditis (1 case); there were 3 cases of periprosthetic leak. All patients were classified in NYHA class III or IV. In all patients the abdominal procedure was carried out first. No significant differences were noted between this group of patients and patients with isolated open-heart operations regarding: postoperative bleeding, stay in Postoperative Intensive Care Unit, overall postoperative hospital stay. There were 5 hospital deaths, all related to cardiac causes. There were no infectious complications, nor early or late abdominal wound complications. The rationale for the combined approach to abdominal and cardiac diseases includes: risk of non cardiac surgery in patients with critical heart disease, risk of non cardiac surgery in patients with previous cardiac valve operations and anticoagulant therapy and risk of abdominal complications after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Simultaneous abdominal and cardiac surgery is suggested on clinical, psychological and social grounds.

Abdomen

[Echocardiographic diagnosis of infectious endocarditis on patent ductus arteriosus with involvement of the pulmonary artery and the pulmonary and aortic semilunar valves. Description of a case].

Infective endocarditis is one of the most rare complications of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Usually vegetations are localised at the level of the patent ductus and can involve the left branch and the trunk of the pulmonary artery. We report the case of a young woman with PDA, who was admitted to the hospital in severe congestive heart failure due to infective endocarditis. A 2D echocardiographic examination revealed vegetations into the ductus with extension to the pulmonary artery, pulmonary valve and aortic valve. The results of the echocardiographic study enabled us to evaluate the extension of the lesions, to avoid heart catheterization and to decide the most suitable surgical approach for repairing all the damage in one surgical operation.

Adult

[Reinterventions on cardiac valve prosthesis].

From January 1978 to December 1984, 214 patients underwent a total of 243 reoperations for repair or replacement of a prosthetic heart valve. On the basis of the number of valve reoperations in the same anatomic position within the heart, the patients were divided into three groups. Overall hospital mortality was 23.4% (CL 20.3-26.7) in Group I (214 patients), 48% (CL 36.1-60.1) in Group II (25 patients), 25% (CL 3.3-62.6) in Group III (4 patients). Hospital mortality appeared to be related to urgency of reoperation (p less than 0.001 in Group I; p = 0.037 in Group II), primary indication for reoperation (p = 0.034 in Group I; p = 0.022 in Group II), association with other cardiac surgical procedures (p = 0.00253 in Group I). Hospital mortality in Group I was significantly higher (p = 0.0056) when reoperation was performed within one year after valve replacement. No significant differences in urgency and emergency rate were noted between reoperations on mechanical heart valves and bioprostheses. No significant differences in bleeding complications were noted between reoperations and initial valve replacement. Mean follow-up is 37.4 +/- 21.8 months (range 2 to 85 months). Actuarial survival rate is 82.8 +/- 3.1% at 1 year, 78.7 +/- 3.5% at 2 years and 71.5 +/- 5.1% at 5 years; 90.9% (CL 87.4-93.6) of the followed patients are in I or II NYHA class. The results appear to suggest that when significant (on clinical or instrumental criteria) prosthetic disfunction is diagnosed, reoperation should be undertaken early to minimize operative risk. The Authors point out that surgery in such patients also ensures satisfying long-term results.

Follow-Up Studies

Intrapericardial hydatid cyst. Report of a case successfully operated.

Hydatid disease of the pericardium is rarely observed. The case of a 42-year-old man with intrapericardial hydatid cyst is presented. The first symptom of the disease was severe chest pain with electrocardiographic evidence of Q waves and T negative waves suggestive of myocardial necrosis. The two-dimensional echocardiography revealed large cystic image localized in the lateral-inferior wall of the left ventricle. Surgical treatment was carried out without the aid of cardiopulmonary by-pass, although this had been contemplated. The patient is asymptomatic and all electrocardiographic abnormalities regressed three months after the operation. The development, natural history, complications, diagnosis and surgical therapy of intrapericardial echinococcosis are discussed.

Adult

Pregnancy in patients with mechanical prosthetic heart valves. Our experience regarding 98 pregnancies in 57 patients.

Ninety-eight pregnancies in 57 patients with mechanical (ball or tilting disc) prosthetic heart valves are described. Sixty-one pregnancies developed in 36 patients with a mitral prosthesis, 12 pregnancies in 9 patients with an aortic prosthesis, 17 pregnancies in 10 patients with both mitral and aortic prostheses and 8 pregnancies in 2 patients with mitral and tricuspid prostheses. All patients were in I or in II NYHA class at conception and no significative change was noted during pregnancy. All the patients were treated with oral anticoagulant therapy at conception. Different kinds of antithrombotic and antiembolic prophylaxis were employed. There were 13 voluntary interruptions of pregnancy and 37 spontaneous abortions. In the 47 newborn 2 malformation complications (1 warfarin syndrome, 1 cleft palate) and 4 haemorrhagic complications (without sequelae) were noted. Two fatal thromboses of a mitral prosthesis occurred; systemic embolic complications were noted in 7 cases. These observations suggested different incidences of complications regarding the antithrombotic and anti-embolic prophylaxis. The authors point out the high risk of thrombotic and embolic complications and the low rate of successful outcome of pregnancy in these patients.

Abortion, Spontaneous