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Biomedical subjects

Enio Buffolo

Publications and source records attributed to Enio Buffolo.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The effect of completeness of revascularization on event-free survival at one year in the ARTS trial.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess the relationship between completeness of revascularization and adverse events at one year in the ARTS (Arterial Revascularization Therapies Study) trial. BACKGROUND: There is uncertainty to what extent degree of completeness of revascularization, using up-to-date techniques, influences medium-term outcome. METHODS: After consensus between surgeon and cardiologist regarding the potential for equivalence in the completeness of revascularization, 1,205 patients with multivessel disease were randomly assigned to either bypass surgery or stent implantation. All baseline and procedural angiograms and surgical case-record forms were centrally assessed for completeness of revascularization. RESULTS: Of 1,205 patients randomized, 1,172 underwent the assigned treatment. Complete data for review were available in 1,143 patients (97.5%). Complete revascularization was achieved in 84.1% of the surgically treated patients and 70.5% of the angioplasty patients (p < 0.001). After one year, the stented angioplasty patients with incomplete revascularization showed a significantly lower event-free survival than stented patients with complete revascularization (i.e., freedom from death, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident and repeat revascularization) (69.4% vs. 76.6%; p < 0.05). This difference was due to a higher incidence of subsequent bypass procedures (10.0% vs. 2.0%; p < 0.05). Conversely, at one year, bypass surgery patients with incomplete revascularization showed only a marginally lower event-free survival rate than those with complete revascularization (87.8% vs. 89.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Complete revascularization was more frequently accomplished by bypass surgery than by stent implantation. One year after bypass, there was no significant difference in event-free survival between surgically treated patients with complete revascularization and those with incomplete revascularization, but patients randomized to stenting with incomplete revascularization had a greater need for subsequent bypass surgery.

Aged↗

Endovascular treatment of thoracic disease: patient selection and a proposal of a risk score.

BACKGROUND: Although selection criteria and subgroup analysis are still in the early developmental stages, endovascular treatment of aortic disease has become an alternative to surgery for many patients. METHODS: From November 1996 to November 1999, 49 patients were treated with a self-expandable endoprosthesis at our institution. Most patients had acute aortic dissections. Thirteen of these patients did not follow the anatomic selection protocol. We retrospectively analyzed these patients to compare our numerical risk score (which includes clinical and anatomic criteria) between groups with or without success and between groups that followed the anatomic protocol (P) or did not follow the anatomic protocol (E [exception]). RESULTS: Success rates were similar in groups P and E, although mortality rates were higher in group E. Patients from group E had longer procedures and required multiple stents more frequently. The proposed risk score was able to differentiate between groups with or without success, as well as between groups P and E. CONCLUSIONS: In order to reduce mortality and morbidity rates, careful selection criteria must be followed when treating patients endovascularly. Although it is time-consuming, using objective criteria can help select patients for endovascular treatment. We propose that patients with a risk score higher than 11 should only undergo percutaneous treatment when they have an unacceptably high surgical risk, and even so only after a detailed discussion of the risks.

Adolescent↗

Self-expandable aortic stent-grafts for treatment of descending aortic dissections.

BACKGROUND: Acute aortic dissection is a life-threatening medical condition that is associated with high morbidity and mortality. METHODS: Of 198 patients treated with a self-expanding polyester-covered stent-graft for various pathologic aortic conditions in our institution, we selected 70 consecutive patients with type B aortic dissection who were undergoing treatment. The stent-graft was introduced through the femoral artery in the angiography suite, under general anesthesia with systemic heparinization and induced hypotension. RESULTS: The procedure was performed in 70 patients; of these, 58 had descending aortic dissection and 12 had atypical dissections. The procedure was successful in 65 patients (92.9%), as documented by exclusion of the false lumen of the thoracic aorta. Eleven patients (18.9%) had persistent blood flow in the false lumen of the abdominal aorta due to distal reentries. Five patients (7.1%) underwent conversion to surgery. Insertion of additional stent-grafts was required in 34 patients (48.6%). At 29 months of follow-up, 91.4% of the patients were alive. CONCLUSIONS: Stent-grafts are an important means of treating aortic dissections, which may replace conventional medical treatment of this condition for the majority of patients.

Acute Disease↗

Repair of damaged internal mammary artery.

The use of the internal mammary artery (IMA) in coronary artery bypass graft surgery is an independent predictor of late survival in all subsets of patients and should not be denied to any subgroup. Therefore damage to the IMA during harvesting is a catastrophic complication after which the graft is usually discarded. We present here a simple and safe technique for repair of a damaged left IMA that allowed its rescue for grafting to the left anterior descending artery.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

Treatment of thoracoabdominal aneurysm with self-expandable aortic stent grafts.

A 67-year-old man with a large thoracoabdominal aneurysm was treated utilizing the endovascular approach with multiple stent graft implantation. The proximal thoracic and distal abdominal necks of the aneurysm had favorable anatomy for insertion of multiple endovascular stents. The proximal end was located just distal to the left subclavian artery, and stents were placed to the region of the celiac axis. The infrarenal aneurysm was treated with a bifurcated stent graft to the iliac arteries. The patient has had a smooth post-stent insertion course and remains well after 3 months of follow-up.

Aged↗

Revolutionary treatment of aneurysms and dissections of descending aorta: the endovascular approach.

BACKGROUND: Acute aortic dissection is a life-threatening medical condition. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Type B dissections are usually managed clinically during the acute phase. Conventional surgery carries high mortality rates due to the presence of serious complications. We herein present treatment of this condition with a less invasive endovascular approach. Other clinical situations such as penetrating ulcers, intramural hematomas, and true aneurysms of descending aorta were similarly treated. METHODS: From December 1996 to March 2002, 191 patients with type B dissections were treated with self-expandable, polyester-covered stents. There were 120 patients (62.8%) with type B dissections, 61 patients (31.9%) with true aneurysms, 6 patients (3.1%) with penetrating ulcers or intramural hematomas, and 4 patients (2.1%) with trauma. Patients with abdominal aneurysms (44) and stents introduced under direct vision through the aortic arch (70) were excluded. The stent graft was delivered in the catheterization laboratory under general anesthesia, with induced hypotension and heparinization. All stents used were made in Brazil (Braile Biomedics, Sao Jose do Rio Preto, SP). RESULTS: The procedure was performed in 191 consecutive cases. The success rate was 91.1% (174/191). Success was defined as occlusion of the thoracic intimal tear, or exclusion of the aneurysm without leaks. Hospital mortality was 10.4% (20/191 patients), due to preoperative comorbidities. Six patients required conversion to surgery. No case of paraplegia was observed. An actuarial survival curve showed 87.4% +/- 29% survival in the late follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Stent grafts are an important development in the treatment of descending aortic aneurysms or dissections. This novel approach may replace conventional surgical treatment of these conditions, with earlier intervention and less morbidity.

Aortic Dissection↗

Myocardial revascularization in renal transplant patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the results of surgical myocardial revascularization in renal transplant patients. METHODS: From 1991 to 2000, 11 renal transplant patients, whose ages ranged from 36 to 59 (47.5+/-8) years, 8 males and 3 females, underwent myocardial revascularization. The time interval between renal transplantation and myocardial revascularization ranged from 25 to 120 (mean of 63.8+/-32.7) months. RESULTS: The in-hospital mortality rate was 9%. One patient died on the 4th postoperative day from septicemia and respiratory failure. The mean graft/patient ratio was 2.7+/-0.8. Only 1 patient required slow hemodialysis during 24 hours in the postoperative period, and no patient had a definitive renal lesion or lost the transplanted kidney. The actuarial survival curves after 1, 2, and 3 years were, respectively, 90.9%, 56.8%, and 56.8%. CONCLUSION: Renal transplant patients may undergo myocardial revascularization with no lesion in or loss of the transplanted kidney.

Adult↗

Why is "off-pump" coronary artery bypass grafting better?

The objective of this contribution is to review the results of operations we have performed upon patients using the off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) technique. The OPCAB technique was examined as a cause of death in 2495 cases from September 1981 to September 1999. Our results indicated four deaths due to stroke and a total hospital mortality of 1.9% (48/2495). When myocardial revascularization without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is appropriately chosen, it is a treatment to be highly recommended for patients with coronary insufficiency.

Blood Transfusion↗

Myocardial Revascularization in Patients 70 Years of Age and Older Without the Use of Extracorporeal Circulation.

Myocardial revascularization in elderly patients (i.e., over 70 years of age) is associated with higher incidence of morbidity and mortality compared with younger patients. We herein report our experience on myocardial revascularization in the elderly comparing the results between 2 groups; one operated on with the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass and the other group in whom extracorporeal circulation was not used. The records of 265 elderly patients ( at or above 70 yrs) undergoing myocardial revascularization were prospectively analyzed between January 1994 and December 1995. Mean age was 74 Â+/- 6 years (range 70-95 yrs), with 83 (31.3%) females and 182 (68.7%) males. The following were the preoperative diagnoses: chronic ischemia and angina (186 patients), reoperation (28 patients), unstable angina (26 patients), failed angioplasty (13 patients), post-thrombolytic therapy (7 patients), cardiogenic shock (2 patients), evolving myocardial infarction (2 patients), and aortic dissection (1 patient). Extracorporeal circulation was used in 204 (76.9%) patients (Group I) and no extracorporeal circulation was used in 61 (23.1%) patients (Group II). The overall mortality was 6.4%, with 7.8% (16/204) in Group I and 1.6% (1/61) in Group II. Hospital stay was 11.4 days in Group I and 7.1 in Group II. Transfusion requirements were 1.4 and 0.6 units for Groups I and II, respectively. The use of extracorporeal circulation in the elderly is a major cause of morbidity and mortality following myocardial revascularization. Whenever possible, myocardial revascularization in the elderly should be performed without the use of extracorporeal circulation.

Journal Article↗

End-stage cardiomyopathy and secondary mitral insufficiency surgical alternative with prosthesis implant and left ventricular remodeling.

Secondary mitral insufficiency is a strong risk factor for death in end-stage cardiomyopathies. The possible correction of mitral regurgitation is now being accepted as an alternative to cardiac transplantation in a special subset of patients. We proposed a new surgical approach that consisted of implantation of a mitral prosthesis smaller than the annulus, as well as preservation and traction of the papillary muscles to reduce sphericity of the left ventricle. Between December 1995 and August 2001, 71 cases were operated on including the following etiologies: ischemic (38), idiopathic (29), Chaga's disease (2), viral (1), and postpartum (1). All patients were in an end-stage phase with more than two hospital admissions in the last three months; seven were in intensive care units receiving drugs and intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation, and one was in cardiogenic shock. The patients were analyzed according to clinical criteria, echocardiographic findings, and morphology of the left ventricle. Hospital mortality was 16.9% (12/71) and mid-term follow-up showed evidence of improvement in clinical status and some echocardiographic parameters. This technique, despite a high mortality rate (due to other clinical conditions at the time of surgery), offers a promising therapeutic alternative for the treatment of patients in refractory heart failure with cardiomyopathy associated with secondary mitral regurgitation.

Adult↗