PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Fontan

Publications and source records attributed to F Fontan.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Long-term results (6 to 17 years) of 372 mitral valve replacements using the Björk-Shiley prosthesis].

From November 1970 to December 1981, an isolated mitral valve replacement was performed in 372 patients (166 males - 206 females), ranging in age from 2 months to 76 years (mean age 49 years). Eighty-nine patients (24%) had previously undergone one or two cardiac operations. Only one of the 24 hospital deaths (6.4%) was related to the prosthesis (early thrombosis). Three hundred and fourty-eight patients were discharged from the hospital, 35 were lost to follow-up, and 313 were observed with a mean follow-up of 8 years 8 months (ranging from 5 years 2 months to 16 years 3 months). Ninety-two patients (29.4%) died from 2 months to 16 years post-operatively. Thirteen late deaths were from extra cardiac causes. Cardiac failure and thromboembolic or haemorrhagic complications represent the main causes of late mortality, respectively 10 and 6.7%. Twenty-one deaths were related to the prosthesis (10 thrombo-embolic accidents, 7 haemorrhagic complications and prosthesis could be discussed in 11 cases of sudden deaths and in 12 cases of death of undetermined causes. Among the 34 thrombo-embolic complications and the 13 perivalvular leakages (6 of them related to infection), 23 patients required reoperation, for valve thrombosis (14 cases with 2 deaths) or perivalvular leakage (9 cases with 2 deaths). Four other cases of valve thrombosis were treated with fibrinolytic agents with 1 death. The actuarial survival rate, hospital mortality excluded, is 69% at 10 years and 55% at 15 years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Actuarial Analysis↗

The size of the pulmonary arteries and the results of the Fontan operation.

All patients (n = 334) undergoing the Fontan operation at the University of Bordeaux, France, and the University of Alabama Medical Center, Birmingham, were entered into a single data base to examine the relation, if any, between size of the pulmonary arteries and outcome. Recent follow-up was made of all patients. The time-related freedom from death or takedown of the Fontan operation was 78% at 1 month, 73% at 6 months, and 72%, 68%, 61%, and 50% at 1, 5, 10, and 15 years after the operation. The hazard function (instantaneous risk of the combined event at each moment in time after the operation) had a rapidly declining early phase that gave way at about 6 months to a late phase of hazard, which began slowly to rise about 8 years after the operation. One of the most powerful risk factors for death or takedown of the Fontan operation was the dimensions of the right and left pulmonary arteries, expressed as a McGoon ratio. By multivariate analysis, the risk of the combined event increased sharply when the McGoon ratio was less than about 1.8, and when the ratio was as low as 1.2 the probability of death or takedown within 30 days of the operation was predicted to be 55% when the right atrium was connected to the pulmonary artery and 34% when connected to the right ventricle. Other risk factors identified were age at operation, the presence of mitral atresia, the degree of main chamber hypertrophy, elevated pulmonary artery pressure, non-use of cardioplegia, global myocardial ischemic time, and attachment of the right atrium to the pulmonary artery rather than to the right ventricle.

Blood Vessel Prosthesis↗

Accuracy of M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography in the diagnosis of aortic dissection: an experience with 128 cases.

The accuracy of combined M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography in the diagnosis of aortic dissection was evaluated in 673 patients with a clinical suspicion of aortic dissection, over a six-year period. In 128 cases, the diagnosis of aortic dissection was confirmed by angiographic, tomographic (CT scan), or autopsy findings, or during surgery. Two echocardiographic features were found to support a diagnosis of aortic dissection: a dilation of at least one segment of the aorta (sensitivity 95%, specificity 51%) and a typical abnormal linear intraluminal echo corresponding to the intimal flap (sensitivity 67%, specificity 100%). This pathognomonic intimal flap was observed in 86 cases, of which three types could be distinguished: (1) a long oscillating flap (n = 15), (2) a long but minimally mobile linear echo which was duplicated and parallel to one or two aortic walls (n = 64), (3) a short, double linear image with a rapid systolic motion and high frequency oscillations. These features were found to have a high sensitivity in type I aortic dissection (88%), although in types II and III the sensitivity was much lower. In some cases, a fourth type of abnormal image could be detected: a small intraluminal echo moving in parallel to the aortic wall. This feature should be interpreted with caution since its predictive value for a positive examination was low (48%). Out of 23 cases in which the diagnosis of aortic dissection was suspected on the basis of this doubtful abnormal echo, it was confirmed in only 11 patients. The results in these 128 cases of aortic dissection indicate that two-dimensional echocardiography, which is easily performed at the patient's bedside, could take priority in investigations of this condition. It is extremely sensitive in the diagnosis of ascending aortic dissection, but much less so in the diagnosis of descending aortic dissection.

Aortic Dissection↗

Exclusive double outlet right ventricle with atrioventricular concordance and pulmonary stenosis. Results of reconstructive surgery.

Double outlet right ventricle associated with atrioventricular concordance, pulmonary stenosis and situs solitus of the atria is a subset of double outlet right ventricle related through the surgical treatment. From 1974 to 1985, 14 patients, 5 males, 9 females (mean age 8.9 years, range 13 months-22 years) were operated upon. All patients had infundibular stenosis and normal or large pulmonary arteries. The apex of the heart was to the right in 2 patients, the right and left ventricles were superior and inferior in 2 patients and 1 patient had both anomalies. The ventricular septal defect was subaortic in 11 patients (aorto-mitral discontinuity in 5) and non-committed in 3 patients. Three patients had 2 ventricular septal defects. The aorta was anterior in 3 patients and to the right of the pulmonary artery in 11 patients. All patients, through a transventricular and transatrial approach, had a reconstructive surgery. In 3 patients, an aortic homograft valved conduit was used. One patient had the ventricular septal defect enlarged. There was one early death (7.1%) from high residual right ventricle pressure and no late death. One patient had a transient atrioventricular block. One patient was reoperated upon for a residual ventricular septal defect. All survivors had a good clinical result. Re-evaluation in 8 patients confirmed excellent haemodynamics: the right ventricle to pulmonary artery pressure gradient decreased from 80 mm Hg (range 60-95) preoperatively to 24 mm Hg (range 3-32) postoperatively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Should circulatory arrest with deep hypothermia be revised in aortic arch surgery?

Our experience (January 1982-May 1987) concerns 41 patients, operated upon for aortic dissection (30 patients) or aneurysm (11 patients) using circulatory arrest with deep hypothermia. There were 24 male and 17 female patients (mean age: 55 years 9 months, range 32-73 years). The mean circulatory arrest time in minutes was 41 +/- 3 (mean rectal temperature before circulatory arrest was 18.4 degrees C +/- 0.3 degrees C). Total (24 patients) or partial (16 patients) replacement of the aortic arch was performed. One patient with a sacciform aneurysm had the aortic wall defect closed. Hospital mortality was 22% +/- 7% (9 patients): 8 of 30 patients with aortic dissection (26.6%) and 1 of 11 patients with aortic aneurysm (9%). Neurological complications occurred in 3 patients. These data lead us to prefer circulatory arrest with deep hypothermia as the method of choice for aortic arch surgery. However, when a short circulatory arrest time (less than 30 min) for the repair is foreseeable, mild hypothermia (20 degrees C-24 degrees C) may be preferred. In patients who will not tolerate excessive cardiopulmonary bypass times, expected difficulties with the repair should suggest mild hypothermia and short circulatory arrest in easier cases or moderate hypothermia with brachiocephalic perfusion in the others.

Adult↗

[Treatment of renovascular arterial hypertension: angioplasty versus surgery].

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is being more and more performed as the first choice treatment of renovascular hypertension. However, very few studies are devoted to the comparison of angioplasty versus surgery in treating renovascular hypertension and no one is prospective. A group of 25 patients with renovascular hypertension who underwent surgical treatment in the years 78-82 was compared to a group of 32 patients who underwent transluminal angioplasty in the years 82-86. Age, sex, etiology and severity of the arterial stenosis, blood pressure before treatment were similar in both groups. Average follow up was 44 +/- 33 months in the surgical group (S), 18 +/- 15 months in the angioplasty group (A). In the surgical group, we noticed one death, 20 p. 100 of major complications (thrombosis or stenosis of bypass grafts). In the angioplasty group, there was no death, 82 p. 100 of initial success, 12 p. 100 of major complications which needed surgery, 22 p. 100 of restenosis which were treated with a second angioplasty. Patients were classified as cured (BP less than 140/90 without treatment and perfect renal vascularisation) improved (BP less than 160/100 without treatment or with treatment if reduced and renal artery stenosis less than 50 p. 100), unchanged (BP greater than 160/100 and/or renal artery stenosis greater than 50 p. 100 or thrombosis). (Table: see text). Results are similar in both groups. The simplicity of the procedure, a lower cost and the absence of lethal complications are in favour of the transluminal angioplasty as the first choice treatment of renovascular hypertension.

Adult↗

[Apropos of a case of rupture of a posterobasal aneurysm of the left ventricle studied by echocardiography].

A 40-year old male patient developed inferior myocardial infarction followed by two rare mechanical complications: rupture of the posterior papillary muscle of the mitral valve, which was successfully repaired, and, a few months later, rupture of an early postero-basal aneurysm which proved lethal. On both occasions the diagnosis was provided by echocardiography. The broken aneurysmal area was visualized as being abnormally mobile. This case offers several interesting points. To our knowledge, the association of these two uncommon complications has not yet been reported; the early development of the aneurysm, its location and its course are unusual, and direct echocardiographic visualization of rupture of the heart is exceptional, hence the value of this exploratory method.

Adult↗

Detection of anomalous systemic venous return and intraatrial baffle leakage by radionuclide angiocardiography.

The case presented here is a 27-year-old patient who was born with common atrium and left superior vena cava (LSVC). Construction of interatrial septum and intraatrial baffle with pericardium was performed 16 years ago. Radionuclide angiocardiography (RAC) showed that a substantial amount of blood flow from the LSVC was directed to the inferior vena cava through the hemiazygos vein (HAV). It also detected a baffle leak and a left to right shunt at the atrial level. Subsequent RAC after reoperation initially showed insignificant flow through the atrial baffle, major flow through the HAV, and no shunt. Repeat RAC one year after surgery showed increased flow through the baffle and diminished flow through the HAV, without a satisfying explanation. This case illustrates the value of RAC in detecting various types of cardiovascular abnormality and subtle hemodynamic changes.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Long-term results after the Fontan operation for tricuspid atresia.

Between 1968 and 1977, 32 patients who underwent the Fontan operation for tricuspid atresia at Bordeaux, France, or Leiden, The Netherlands, survived at least 1 year after surgery. These patients were evaluated clinically 7 to 16 years (mean 8.9 years) after surgery by review of clinical records, questionnaire, or direct examination. There were five deaths: one during arrhythmia, the second sudden and unexplained, and three others after reoperation. Four of the five patients had evidence of obstruction of the atriopulmonary or atrioventricular conduit. There were eight reoperations. Two were for residual atrial septal defects, one for an atrial septal defect and an intrapulmonary arteriovenous fistula, and one for a residual ventricular septal defect. The other four were reoperated for severe conduit or homograft obstruction. One of these four also had a residual shunt, severe mitral regurgitation, and reduced left ventricular function. One patient was found to have left ventricular dysfunction 3 months after surgery, which persisted. Another patient had left ventricular dysfunction unmasked after successful mitral annuloplasty for severe mitral regurgitation. No other patients had clinical evidence of left ventricular dysfunction. Recurrent supraventricular tachycardia occurred in four patients and was eventually fatal in one patient with associated conduit obstruction. Of the 27 survivors, 13 are in NYHA class I, 13 are in class II, and one is in class III. We conclude that clinical results of the Fontan operation remain good in most patients 7 to 16 years after surgery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Cancer of the kidney invading the vena cava and heart. Results after 11 years of treatment.

Between October, 1973, and October, 1983, 18 patients with cancer of the kidney or adrenal gland that had invaded the vena cava, and in 11 cases had reached the heart, were operated on by seven surgical teams. The surgical excision in all patients was performed with extracorporeal circulation, circulatory arrest and deep hypothermia. No deaths occurred. If there are no detectable metastases before operation, the 5 year survival rate is 75% as compared to 6 months with medical treatment. This clinical situation is not uncommon, as 3% to 10% of cancers of the kidney invade the inferior vena cava and 40% of them reach the heart. The possibility of curing the cancers with minimal operative risk should prompt a systematic search for venous invasion with any cancer of the kidney.

Adolescent↗

Tricuspid atresia. Morphology of the outlet chamber with special emphasis on surgical implications.

An anatomic study of 28 heart specimens with tricuspid atresia showed 15 hearts with ventriculoarterial concordance and a right-sided anterior outlet chamber. Of these 15 hearts, 12 showed evidence of restricted pulmonary blood flow. In eight of these 12 specimens, an anterior deviation of the outlet septum, relative to the primary septum, was present. This deviation caused a narrowing inside the outlet chamber and functioned as infundibular pulmonary stenosis. The outlet chambers of the 15 hearts with ventriculoarterial concordance were compared with those of 13 hearts with tricuspid atresia and ventriculoarterial discordance and also a right-sided anterior outlet chamber. In the latter group of 13 hearts, five showed evidence of restricted pulmonary blood flow, at least partially caused by posterior deviation of the outlet septum relative to the primary septum. A clear difference in outlet chamber morphology was found without exception between specimens with and without ventriculoarterial concordance. Clinical data in three long-term survivors of the Fontan procedure demonstrate that the special morphology of the outlet chamber can pose surgical problems. Especially in patients with ventriculoarterial concordance, when the outlet chamber is incorporated into the pulmonary circuit, the surgeon must give special attention to the specific morphology to prevent undesirable sequelae.

Adolescent↗

Unsuccessful lung scan due to major right-to-left shunt through a sinus venosus septal defect.

In a patient with a prior history of cerebral abscess and cerebral ischemia, an unsuccessful perfusion lung scan led to a radionuclide angiocardiogram using an arm vein injection. This showed a total right-to-left (R-L) shunt from the superior vena cava (SVC) to the left atrium. Repeat radionuclide study, through a leg vein, demonstrated a moderate R-L shunt and an interpretable lung scan could be obtained. Catheterization and contrast cineangiogram did not provide the exact diagnosis, the preoperative conclusion being anomalous drainage of the SVC into the left atrium, with atrial septal defect (ASD) and partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection to the SVC. The operative diagnosis was high atrial (sinus venosus) septal defect. This example of major but clinically unsuspected R-L shunt emphasizes the value of performing a perfusion lung scan, preferably in conjunction with radionuclide angiocardiography in patients with a prior history of unexplained cerebral abscess or systemic ischemia. Implications of the site of an ASD on quantitation of L-R shunts by radionuclide methods are also discussed.

Brain Abscess↗

The surgical significance of the atrial branches of the coronary arteries.

The great number of open heart operations now performed via the right atrium, makes knowledge of the arrangement of the atrial arteries, particularly the sinus node artery, every important for the surgeon. Although studied by anatomists, little attention has been paid to the surgical significance of these arteries. We have therefore examined the distribution of the right atrial arteries and the course of the sinus node artery in 50 normal adult hearts by classic dissection following, in 30 cases, postmortem angiographic studies. Two major arteries of the right atrium were found to be nearly constant. The anterior artery was present in 96% of the cases and supplied the sinus node artery in 32 cases. Of most surgical significance was the lateral artery found in 90% of the cases. This lateral artery was the principal artery to the free atrial wall and in one case gave rise to the sinus node artery. The well-established preponderance of origin of the sinus node artery from the right coronary system (66%) as opposed to the left (30%) was confirmed. Infrequently, a double supply (4%) was seen. Variability was found in the course of the nodal artery relative to the cavoatrial junction - precaval (58%), retrocaval (36%) or encircling (6%).

Adult↗

Radionuclide studies in postoperative evaluation of the Fontan procedure.

Radionuclide studies were performed on 12 patients who had had a Fontan operation for cyanotic congenital heart disease, six of whom had undergone a prior palliative Glenn procedure. The patients without prior Glenn anastomoses were studied by radionuclide first-pass angiocardiography, using a right antecubital vein injection of 99mTc pertechnetate. The patients with Glenn anastomoses required two injections, one by femoral vein to study the Fontan procedure, using bolus injection of 99mTc pertechnetate or microspheres, and the second by right antecubital vein to study the Glenn anastomosis and right lung, using a bolus of microspheres. Gated cardiac blood-pool scintigraphy was used to measure right atrial and left ventricular ejection fraction in three patients. In nine patients, contrast angiography confirmed that these techniques allowed recognition of residual right-to-left shunts, right atrial stasis, right atrial outflow obstructions, left ventricular dysfunction, and right lung arteriovenous fistulas. Noninvasive radionuclide methods seem to be dependable in the postoperative evaluation of patients after the Fontan procedure. First-pass angiocardiography is most helpful in evaluating the dynamics and distribution of blood flow, especially the right atrial output, and gated blood-pool scintigraphy offers a better evaluation of right atrial and left ventricular contraction, so both supply complementary information.

Adolescent↗

Aortic valve homografts in the surgical treatment of complex cardiac malformations.

From April of 1968 to March of 1983, the surgical treatment of complex congenital cardiac malformations requiring an extracardiac conduit for their correction was performed with aortic valve homografts or aortic valved homograft conduits sterilized and preserved in our hospital. Our experience concerns 93 patients in whom a total of 103 aortic valve homografts were implanted. Ages of the patients ranged from 7 months to 36 years (mean 11.6 years). The aortic valve homografts were used from the right atrium to the pulmonary arteries or right ventricle (right atrium-dependent conduit), from the venous ventricle to the pulmonary arteries (ventricle-dependent conduit), or in the pulmonary orifice and in the superior and/or inferior venae cavae. There were 25 early and nine late deaths (36.5%), none of them related to the aortic valve homograft. The clinical follow-up of the 59 survivors (1 month to 15 years, mean 4.3 years) evidenced neither dysfunction of the aortic valve homograft nor thromboembolism or hemolysis; 93% of the patients are in New York Heart Association Class I or II. Control cardiac catheterization in 53 patients evidenced a pressure gradient in only 14 ventricle-dependent conduits. In seven patients with serial control catheterizations after 5 to 10 years, the pressure gradient had not increased.

Adolescent↗