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Biomedical subjects

F C Spencer

Publications and source records attributed to F C Spencer.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

A comparison of mitral valve reconstruction with mitral valve replacement: intermediate-term results.

The continued good results after mitral valve reconstruction prompted this retrospective study to compare operative and late results from our institutional experience since 1976 with 975 porcine mitral valve replacements (MVRs) (1976 to December 1987), 169 mechanical MVRs (1976 to December 1987), and 280 Carpentier-type mitral valve reconstructions (CVRs) (1980 to mid-1988). The operative mortality was 2.0% for isolated CVR, 6.6% for isolated mechanical MVR, and 8.5% for isolated porcine MVR. The overall operative mortality was 5.0% for CVR, 16.6% for mechanical MVR, and 10.6% for porcine MVR. The overall 5-year survival including hospital deaths was 76% for CVR, 72% for mechanical MVR, and 69% for porcine MVR. By multivariate analysis, the predictors of increased operative risk and of decreased survival were age, New York Heart Association functional class IV status, previous cardiac operation, and performance of concomitant cardiac surgical procedures. The type of valvular procedure was not predictive of operative risk or overall survival. The 5-year freedom from reoperation was 94.4% for nonrheumatic patients having CVR, 77.4% for rheumatic patients having CVR, 96.4% for mechanical MVR, and 96.6% for porcine MVR (p less than 0.05, rheumatic patients with CVR versus both MVR groups). The 5-year freedom from all valve-related morbidity and mortality was significantly better for valve reconstruction compared with both types of valve replacement. Thus, the operative risk and late survival obtained after mitral valve reconstruction were at least equivalent to those obtained after MVR. In addition, patients receiving mitral valve reconstruction had less valve-related combined morbidity than patients receiving valve replacement, thus making mitral valve reconstruction preferable in some patients with mitral insufficiency.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Technique and results with a roller pump left and right heart assist device.

During the last 10 years we have inserted a roller pump-driven left heart assist device in 72 patients and a right heart assist device in 7 patients for profound heart failure after a variety of cardiac surgical procedures. In addition a percutaneous left heart assist device (transseptal insertion of left atrial cannula via a femoral vein) was employed in 5 patients with profound cardiogenic shock after acute myocardial infarction. Thirty patients (41.7%) were weaned from the left heart assist device and 21 (29.2%) were discharged from the hospital. Two patients (40.0%) were weaned from the right heart assist device, but both later died during the postoperative period. Of the 5 patients in whom a percutaneous left heart assist device was inserted, 4 underwent successful emergency percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, but all 5 patients died. Causes of death included severe coagulopathy, irreversible extensive myocardial infarction and cardiac failure, refractory arrhythmias, severe "shock" lung, and multisystem failure. In summary, satisfactory results can be achieved with a roller pump-driven left and right heart assist device for severe postoperative heart failure. Further experience should be obtained with the percutaneous technique to assess its efficacy in treating patients with acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock.

Assisted Circulation↗
PubMed1989

Experience with the Grillo pleural wrap procedure in 18 patients with perforation of the thoracic esophagus.

Perforation of the thoracic esophagus may be fatal unless diagnosed promptly and treated with an effective operation. The wide mortality range in different reports reflects the importance of these two factors. This range spans from as low as 11%, if operation is within 24 hours, to greater than 50% after two to three days. The high mortality with delayed treatment is principally due to inability to surgically close the perforation. Eighteen patients (aged from 31 to 78 years) were treated four hours to 14 days after thoracic esophageal perforation (less than 24 hours: 7 patients; 24 to 72 hours: 7 patients; greater than 72 hours: 4 patients). In 14 patients the perforation was sutured, after which the suture line was buttressed with a circumferential wrap of parietal pleura, originally described by Grillo. Underlying esophageal pathology was corrected and wide mediastinal drainage was instituted. All 14 patients recovered and were discharged from the hospital after a median stay of 20 days. Two patients had minor leaks at the suture line that soon closed. Four patients had perforations too extensive to close. Of these, one was resected, the Urschel procedure was used in two, and the Abbott T-tube drainage was used in one. Three of the four patients died. It was quite significant that the pleural wrap was equally effective with both early (6 patients) and delayed perforations (8 patients). These data indicate that the pleural wrap should be used routinely. Extensive perforations that cannot be closed should probably be treated by resection and drainage, followed by esophageal reconstruction at a later time.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Ten-year operative experience with 165 aneurysms of the ascending aorta and aortic arch.

Results of surgery in 165 patients with aneurysms of the ascending aorta and aortic arch during 1978-1988 were analyzed retrospectively. Etiology included 29% dissection, 22% atherosclerosis, 22% cystic-medial necrosis, and 27% other causes. Concomitant procedures on the aortic valve were performed in 65% of patients (valvular replacement in 37%, valve-conduit in 23%, and valvular resuspension in 5%), and 13% underwent concomitant coronary artery bypass surgery. Major changes in our operative technique for such aneurysms have been introduced during the last 5 years, especially use of a continuous suture-graft-inclusion technique in 99% of patients, use of circulatory arrest in 59%, and use of an open hemiarch repair in 32%. Hospital mortality dropped from 17.9% during the first 5 years of the study period to 12.3% in the last 5 years despite increasing complexity of the cases encountered. Operative mortality was 7.6% for ascending aortic aneurysmal repair; 5.3% for valve-conduit procedure; 8.8% for open hemiarch repair; and 30.8% for repair of extensive aneurysms involving the aortic arch and significant portions of the descending aorta. Multivariate analysis showed that, of the variables examined, significant predictors of increased operative risk were age (p less than 0.05) and extension of an ascending aortic aneurysm to the descending aorta or involvement of the aortic arch (p less than 0.001). The incidence of stroke was 2.4%, with only one stroke since 1983 despite more extensive use of circulatory arrest since that time. Follow-up was 94% complete, with a mean (+/- SD) follow-up interval of 28 +/- 24 months.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Current concepts of mitral valve reconstruction for mitral insufficiency.

In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in surgical reconstruction of the insufficient mitral valve because of reconfirmation of the limitations of existing prosthetic and bioprosthetic valves. A follow-up study, including late functional data, of 148 patients who underwent mitral valve reconstruction at our institution was combined with a review of the literature to assess the current status of mitral reconstruction. The results indicate that mitral reconstruction by Carpentier techniques is widely applicable, durable, and relatively free of complication. Freedom from late thromboembolic and anticoagulant complications is particularly notable. These factors could prove to justify earlier operative intervention in patients with mitral insufficiency before permanent myocardial damage evolves. As mitral valve reconstruction techniques become more familiar and widely used, mitral reconstruction may become the operative procedure of choice for mitral insufficiency, especially insufficiency due to degenerative disease.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1988

Percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass limits myocardial injury from ischemic fibrillation and reperfusion.

Percutaneous implementation of cardiopulmonary bypass (PCPB) with a synchronous pulsatile pump has been shown to be an efficient means of unloading the heart. Therefore, this technique may provide a practical and effective method for treating patients undergoing a major cardiac catastrophe who are unresponsive to the usual resuscitative efforts. We tested whether PCPB could effectively unload the heart and provide myocardial salvage during left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery occlusion complicated by ventricular fibrillation in the canine model (n = 13). All 13 dogs fibrillated within 20 minutes of LAD occlusion, and none could be successfully resuscitated by manual cardiac compression, sodium bicarbonate administration, antiarrhythmic agent administration, and electrical defibrillation. All 13 dogs were then placed on PCPB by way of the right jugular vein and right femoral artery; in seven, we used a synchronous pulsatile pump and in six a standard roller pump. No vent was placed in the left ventricle. All animals returned to normal sinus rhythm within 20 minutes of institution of PCPB. The LAD snare was released after 2 hours, and all animals were maintained on PCPB during 3 hours of reperfusion. At sacrifice, the area of infarction was determined by staining with triphenyltetrazolium chloride and was expressed as a percentage of the left ventricular area-at-risk for infarction. The tension time index was also measured and expressed as percent change from baseline. The left ventricular area-at-risk for infarction was similar in both groups (31.5% for roller pump vs. 29.2% for pulsatile pump; p greater than 0.05), but the area of infarction as a percentage of the area at risk was significantly smaller in the pulsatile-pump group (22.0%) than in the roller-pump group (35.4%; p less than 0.02).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Surgical treatment for aneurysm of aberrant subclavian artery based on a case report and a review of the literature.

Experiences with the recent successful treatment of a patient with an aneurysm arising from an aberrant subclavian artery are described. The reported experiences with surgical treatment by others were reviewed in detail: Only 16 such patients were found, with a surprising frequency of serious complications. These data led to the conclusion that a two-stage approach, through right cervical and left thoracotomy incisions, seems to offer the ideal method of treatment for this unusual problem.

Aneurysm↗
PubMed1988

Long-term results of mitral valve reconstruction with Carpentier techniques in 148 patients with mitral insufficiency.

There have been few relatively complete follow-up studies of long-term mitral valve function after Carpentier-type surgical reconstruction. Between January 1980 and May 1986, 148 patients underwent Carpentier reconstruction for mitral valve disease (43% degenerative and 30% rheumatic). Operative mortality was 5.4% overall (1.2% for isolated mitral reconstruction), and follow-up (mean, 26 months) was completed for all survivors. Five-year survival from late cardiac death was 90.0%, as was 5-year freedom from postreconstruction mitral valve replacement. Postreconstruction mitral replacement was needed in eight patients, in only five for failure of repair. Follow-up echocardiographic studies on 83.2% (104 of 125) of eligible patients showed 92.3% were free of significant (3+ or 4+) mitral regurgitation. Freedom from mitral valve replacement or recurrent severe (4+) insufficiency was 84.4% at 5 years overall, but was lower for the rheumatic type of mitral disease than for the degenerative type (71.6% vs. 88.3%). At 5 years, 95.2% of patients were free from thromboembolism without the necessity for long-term warfarin (Coumadin) therapy. At follow-up, 95.3% of survivors had improved to New York Heart Association Class I or II. The functional durability of mitral reconstruction and consistently high level of freedom from late endocarditis and thromboembolic and anticoagulant complications support the value of the Carpentier method of mitral reconstruction for mitral insufficiency, especially insufficiency due to degenerative disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

The effect of pericardial insulation on hypothermic phrenic nerve injury during open-heart surgery.

Phrenic nerve injury was evaluated prospectively in 133 patients undergoing open-heart surgery using iced saline slush for topical hypothermia. In the control group of 70 patients no attempt was made to shield the phrenic nerves from direct exposure to ice. Phrenic nerve damage occurred in 73% of these patients, as assessed by persistent diaphragm paralysis evident on inspiratory chest roentgenogram. In 2 patients the paralysis was bilateral. In the second group of 63 patients a pericardial insulation pad was used to prevent contact of the iced slush to the phrenic nerve. Diaphragm paralysis was observed in 17% of these patients. This difference was highly significant (p less than .001). Diaphragm paralysis in the control group was clinically significant; life-threatening respiratory complications developed in 7 patients (14%), frequently resulting in multiple reintubations, tracheostomy, and prolonged mechanical ventilation. In addition, 4 patients with phrenic nerve injury exhibited a clinical syndrome consistent with gastric ileus, which may possibly represent hypothermic injury to the thoracic vagi. The likelihood of phrenic nerve injury when iced saline slush is used for topical myocardial cooling and the possibility of developing serious respiratory disability would support the routine use of pericardial insulation when this method of hypothermia is used.

Heart Arrest, Induced↗
PubMed1987

Improved results from a standardized approach in treating patients with necrotizing fasciitis.

Necrotizing fasciitis has been associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Thirty-three patients were studied over a 3-year period. Predisposing factors included intravenous drug abuse (30%), diabetes (21%), and obesity (18%). Severe pain (94%) and abnormal temperature (88%) were present, whereas laboratory data and x-ray were nonspecific. Gram-positive organisms were most frequently recovered (B-hemolytic streptococcus 45%). Treatment consisted of antibiotics, surgical debridement, re-exploration 24 hours before surgery, nutritional support, and early soft tissue coverage as needed. Mean duration from admission to operation was 43 hours. The average number of operative debridements was three and the average length of hospitalization was 47 days. Patients operated on less than 12 hours from admission or greater than 48 hours had shorter hospital stays (36 and 38 days). The critical time period was 12-48 hours after admission; all deaths and amputations were in this group and the average hospital stay was 62 days (p less than 0.05). The number of operations did not correlate to hospital stay. Despite antibiotics and aggressive debridement, significant morbidity exists if operation is delayed more than 12 hours. Methods of early detection such as local bedside diagnostic incision and fascial inspection may be needed in high risk patients to further reduce the morbidity and mortality.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Monitoring of somatosensory evoked potentials during surgical procedures on the thoracoabdominal aorta. I. Relationship of aortic cross-clamp duration, changes in somatosensory evoked potentials, and incidence of neurologic dysfunction.

To determine if intraoperative monitoring of somatosensory evoked potentials detects spinal cord ischemia, we subjected 21 dogs to aortic cross-clamping distal to the left subclavian artery. Group I animals (short-term studies, n = 6) demonstrated decay and loss of somatosensory evoked potentials at 8.5 +/- 1.1 minutes after aortic cross-clamping. During loss of somatosensory evoked potentials, significant decreases in spinal cord blood flow occurred in cord segments below T6. Significant reactive hyperemia occurred without normalization of somatosensory evoked potentials after reperfusion. Fifteen Group II animals (long-term studies) were studied to determine the relationship between duration of spinal cord ischemia (evoked potential loss) and subsequent incidence of paraplegia. Extension of aortic cross-clamping for 5 minutes after loss of somatosensory evoked potentials in six dogs resulted in no paraplegia (mean cross-clamp time 12.7 +/- 0.6 minutes). Prolongation of aortic cross-clamping for 10 minutes after evoked potential loss in nine dogs (mean cross-clamp time 17.6 +/- 0.6 minutes) resulted in a 67% (6/9) incidence of paraplegia 7 days postoperatively (p = 0.02 versus 10 minutes of aortic cross-clamping). These findings demonstrate that simple aortic cross-clamping uniformly results in spinal cord ischemia and that such ischemia is detectable by monitoring of somatosensory evoked potentials. Duration of ischemia, as measured by the time of evoked potential loss during the cross-clamp interval, is related to the incidence of postoperative neurologic injury.

Animals↗