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Biomedical subjects

Emmanuel Villa

Publications and source records attributed to Emmanuel Villa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

A new shape for an old function: lasting effect of a physiologic surgical restoration of the left ventricle.

BACKGROUND: Long-term morphofunctional outcome may vary widely in surgical anterior left ventricular wall restoration, suggesting variability in post-surgical remodeling similar to that observed following acute myocardial infarction. The aim of this pilot study was to demonstrate that surgical restoration obtained with a particular shape of endoventricular patch leads to steady morphofunctional ventricular improvement when geometry, volume and residual akinesia can be restored as normal as possible. METHODS: This study involved 12 consecutive patients with previous anterior myocardial infarction, dilated cardiomyopathy and no mitral procedures, who underwent left ventricular reconstruction and coronary revascularization between May 2002 and May 2003 using a small, narrow, oval patch aiming at a volume <or= 45 mL/m2 with elliptical shape. Eleven geometric parameters were examined preoperatively and at least 3, 12 and 24 months after the operation by serial echocardiographic studies and evaluated by paired t test taking the time of surgery as a starting point for remodeling. RESULTS: All patients were in NYHA class 1 at follow-up. Patch geometry obtained a conical shape of the ventricle with new apex, physiologic rearrangement of functioning myocardial wall and small residual akinesia. Ventricular changes at the four time-points showed that all parameters improved significantly compared to preoperative values (end-diastolic volume = 184.2 +/- 23.9 vs 139.9 +/- 22.0, p = 0.001; vs 151.0 +/- 33.8, p = 0.06; vs 144.9 +/- 34.0, p = 0.38; end-systolic volume = 125.7 +/- 20.6 vs 75.2 +/- 14.1, p = 0.001; vs 82.1 +/- 23.9, p = 0,18; vs 77.1 +/- 19.4, p = 0.41) without further changes during follow-up except for wall motion score index (2.0 +/- 0.2 to 1.7 +/- 0.2, to 1.4 +/- 0.2, to 1.3 +/- 0.2) and percentage of akinesia (30.4 +/- 7.5 to 29.3 +/- 4.2, to 19.8 +/- 11.6, to 14.5 +/- 7.2) which slowly and significantly improved suggesting a positive post-surgery remodeling. CONCLUSION: Ventricular reconstruction caring of physiological shape, volume, revascularization and residual akinesia obtained a steady geometry. Positive remodeling and equalization of geometrical outcome may persistently prevent long-term redilation.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Factors affecting left ventricular remodeling after valve replacement for aortic stenosis. An overview.

Although a small percentage of patients with critical aortic stenosis do not develop left ventricle hypertrophy, increased ventricular mass is widely observed in conditions of increased afterload. There is growing epidemiological evidence that hypertrophy is associated with excess cardiac mortality and morbidity not only in patients with arterial hypertension, but also in those undergoing aortic valve replacement. Valve replacement surgery relieves the aortic obstruction and prolongs the life of many patients, but favorable or adverse left ventricular remodeling is affected by a large number of factors whose specific roles are still a subject of debate. Age, gender, hemodynamic factors, prosthetic valve types, myocyte alterations, interstitial structures, blood pressure control and ethnicity can all influence the process of left ventricle mass regression, and myocardial metabolism and coronary artery circulation are also involved in the changes occurring after aortic valve replacement. The aim of this overview is to analyze these factors in the light of our experience, elucidate the important question of prosthesis-patient mismatch by considering the method of effective orifice area, and discuss surgical timings and techniques that can improve the management of patients with aortic valve stenosis and maximize the probability of mass regression.

Aortic Valve Stenosis↗
PubMed2006

Video-assisted thoracoscopic clipping of patent ductus arteriosus: close to the gold standard and minimally invasive competitor of percutaneous techniques.

OBJECTIVE: To review our 12-year experience in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for patent ductus arteriosus. METHODS: VATS was performed in 743 patients. Three groups were compared: 24 low-birth-weight infants (LBWIs), 676 children between 2.5-25 kg and 43 boys > 25 kg. A diameter of > 8 mm was the main contraindication. For 85 consecutive patients, hospital stay underwent cost analysis. RESULTS: Median age was 1.6 years (range 5 days-33 years) and median weight 9.0 kg (range 1.2-65 kg). Mortality was nil. Median operative time was 20 min and hospital stay 2 days. Residual patency at discharge was 0% in LBWIs, 0.7% in children, and 4.7% in boys (P = NS) and 0, 0.3, and 4.7% at follow-up (P = 0.001). Persistent recurrent laryngeal nerve dysfunction was recorded in 4.2% of LBWIs, 0.3% of children and 0% of boys (P = 0.012). Total mean cost was Euro 5954 +/- 2110. CONCLUSIONS: The success rate of VATS clipping compares favorably with the thoracotomic approach but without chest wall trauma and it may have a very favorable cost-effective therapeutic balance compared to transcatheter techniques.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

[Surgical therapy of coronary artery disease in the Italian cardiac surgery centers].

BACKGROUND: We conducted a national survey on surgical therapy for coronary artery disease and its complications, with the aim to eventually identify differences in the processes of care adopted in the Italian cardiac surgery centers. METHODS: Eighty-seven Italian cardiac surgery units received a questionnaire about their general activity profile and the following interest areas: (a) surgical myocardial revascularization techniques; (b) ischemic mitral regurgitation treatment; (c) left ventricular reconstruction procedures; (d) mechanical circulatory support and heart transplantation in ischemic cardiomyopathy. RESULTS: Forty-one Centers (47.1%) returned a completely filled questionnaire. The analysis of the answers showed differences in the therapeutic approaches adopted in the various centers regarding: choice of surgical technique and grafts for myocardial revascularization; propensity to treat moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation in the setting of severe left ventricular dysfunction; propensity to treat extended myocardial scars; treatment options in ischemic cardiomyopathy with advanced heart failure. The specific center profile (volume of activity, availability of heart transplantation) seems to influence the choice among the different treatment options. CONCLUSIONS: This study may contribute to show and analyze existing differences in clinical practice between different centers. Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches (processes of care) should be frequently monitored in order to promptly single out critical areas necessitating review or further researches, to standardize decision making criteria, and to improve care appropriateness.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Long-term results after primary one-stage repair of transposition of the great arteries and aortic arch obstruction.

OBJECTIVES: The study was designed to evaluate perioperative and late results after primary, single-stage arterial switch operation (ASO) associated with aortic arch obstruction repair. Outcome of patients with more than five years of follow-up were analyzed. BACKGROUND: The treatment of patients with transposition of the great arteries, or other forms of ventriculoarterial discordance suitable for an ASO, with coexisting arch obstruction is a difficult task. Single-stage repair has become the treatment of choice at many institutions, but large series with long-term results are seldom reported. METHODS: Between 1990 and 1998, a primary operation including aortic arch repair through a midline sternotomy was performed in 38 patients. The relief of arch obstruction was accomplished during a period of hypothermic circulatory arrest, employing a wide pericardial patch to enlarge the inner curvature of the entire arch in most patients. RESULTS: There were nine (24%) hospital deaths. None could be directly related to aortic arch repair, but additional risk factors for an ASO were common (right ventricular hypoplasia, complex coronary anatomy, uncommon relationship between the great vessels or severe pulmonary hypertension). There were no late deaths. Four patients required cardiac reoperation, whereas three underwent successful treatment of recurrent coarctation with balloon angioplasty. CONCLUSIONS: Infants with ventriculoarterial discordance and aortic arch obstruction represent a high-risk subgroup of candidates for an ASO. Despite a non-negligible operative mortality, single-stage primary repair represents the treatment of choice, and follow-up of operative survivors is favorable. Pericardial patch enlargement is a reliable technique for arch obstruction repair.

Aorta, Thoracic↗
PubMed2005

Aortic root substitution after aortic valve replacement: a prosthesis-sparing operation.

Patients who underwent isolated aortic valve replacement could come to attention for new onset aortic disease or progression of borderline alterations not corrected at the first operation, especially in the subset of bicuspid valve disease. We describe our technique in redo operations for aortic root disease, using only a vascular graft and sparing the previously implanted valve prosthesis. In case of normally functioning mechanical prosthesis, we always left the valve in situ and substituted the aortic root with a Dacron conduit, extending the replacement if necessary to the other diseased portions of the thoracic aorta.

Aortic Valve↗
PubMed2005

Inflammatory cytokines in pediatric cardiac surgery and variable effect of the hemofiltration process.

Cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) elicits an inflammatory response and has a multitude of biological consequences, ranging from subclinical organ dysfunction to severe multiorgan failure. Pediatric patients are more prone to have a reaction that can jeopardize their outcome. Cytokines are supposed to be important mediators in this response: limiting their circulating levels is, therefore, appealing. We investigated the pattern of cytokine release during pediatric operation for congenital heart anomalies in 20 patients, and the effect of hemofiltration. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) was elevated after anesthesia induction and showed significant decrease during CPB. Hemofiltration reduced its concentration, but the effect disappeared on the following day. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) increased slowly at the end of CPB and hemofiltration had no effect. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) showed a tendency toward augmentation during rewarming and hemofiltration did not significantly affect the course. Soluble interleukin-6 receptor (sIL-6r) had a pattern similar to TNF-alpha, but hemofiltration had no effect. On the other hand, interleukin-8 (IL-8) behaved like IL-6. Our findings suggest that baseline clinical status, anesthetic drugs, and maneuvers before incision may elicit a cytokine response, whereas rewarming is a critical phase of CPB. Hemofiltration is effective in removal of TNF-alpha, but its role is debatable for the control of IL-1, IL-6, sIL-6r and IL-8 levels.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Paediatric video-assisted thoracoscopic clipping of patent ductus arteriosus: experience in more than 700 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To overcome drawbacks of thoracotomy and percutaneous techniques, we have performed video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) since 1991 to treat patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). This retrospective study aims to analyse morbidity and outcome in order to add data in the evaluation of minimally invasive operations. METHODS: From September 1991 to March 2003, 703 patients underwent PDA clipping by VATS. The indications for operation were clinically significant patency or failure to close in older children. Diameter >8 mm, previous thoracotomy, calcifications, infection, or aneurysm were contraindications to VATS. In right decubitus, only two thoracostomy incisions (for 5-mm trocars) and a smaller one (for direct hook insertion) were required. In the post-operative stay two echocardiographic controls were scheduled, the first before extubation and the second before discharge. Referring cardiologists assured follow-up. RESULTS: Mean age was 3.0+/-3.8 years (5 days-33 years), mean weight 10.7+/-8.0 kg (1.2-65 kg), and 3.1% of our activity were low birth-weight infants (LBWIs) weighting < or =2.5 kg. Operative and 30-day mortality was nil. Median operative time was 20 min and median stay 2 days. Unfavourable events globally occurred in 6.8% of cases (13.6% of the LBWIs, RR 4.0, CL 95% 1.5-10.4). Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury was noted in 3% (13.6% of the LBWI, RR 5.1, CL 95% 1.6-15), but only 0.4% had long lasting dysfunction. Incidence of chylothorax was 0.6%, thoracotomy 1%, transfusion for bleeding 0.1%, pneumothorax 1.3%. LBWIs were at increased risk for the latter two events. Residual patency was detected immediately in 1.4% (all non-LBWI) and underwent additional surgery. Incidence of residual patency at follow-up was 0.6% (0% LBWI, 0.6% in 2.5-25 kg group, 5.0% in >25 kg group, P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study records a long experience of PDA treatment in a wide range of body size and age. VATS clipping is safe, but LBWIs are at augmented risk of complication. It may be carried out with a high degree of efficacy in all the ductus diameters <9 mm. VATS clipping requires minimal operating time and avoids morbidity related to chest wall trauma, percutaneous vascular access, and intravascular foreign bodies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Obstructed right pulmonary venous drainage and ipsilateral lung hypoplasia.

A case of right lung hypoplasia and dyspnea, presented at our institution for cardiac evaluation, is described. Clinical evaluation and instrumental findings of normally connected but completely obstructed right pulmonary venous drainage have led us to diagnose an exceptional variant of subtotal cor triatriatum. Differential diagnosis was mainly carried out between pulmonary venous anomalies and drainage obstructions. Symptom relief was obtained with surgical excision of the atrial dividing membrane.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed2004

Immune hemolytic anemia associated with teicoplanin.

BACKGROUND: Several drugs can cause immune hemolytic anemia. Here a patient who developed hemolytic anemia after treatment with teicoplanin is described. CASE REPORT: Owing to a two-vessel disease, a 68-year-old white man underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. He was readmitted for superficial sternal wound infection and sternal instability. Rewiring was required and worsening anemia characterized the course after the reoperation. Drugs used in the second admission were gentamycin, teicoplanin, paracetamol, and codeine. They were considered as a possible cause of drug-induced hemolytic anemia. RESULTS: The DAT was positive for complement and IgG. Autoanti-e was identified in the patient's undiluted serum sample. The eluate was reactive with all RBCs tested only after adding teicoplanin; when diluted 1:4, anti-e specificity was observed in the presence of teicoplanin. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first report of immune hemolytic anemia owing to teicoplanin.

Aged↗