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Biomedical subjects

G Ducloux

Publications and source records attributed to G Ducloux.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Malignant pericardial effusions: usefulness of pericardioscopy.

In cases of malignant pericardial effusion, surgical subxiphoid biopsy sometimes fails to prove malignancy. To assess the usefulness of pericardioscopy, which allows an endoscopic investigation of the pericardial cavity, this technique was systematically performed during surgical drainage procedures that were performed on 40 patients who had pericardial effusions of suspected malignant origin. Twenty-six patients had a history of neoplasm, 10 had a history of hematologic malignancy, and four had recent tumors or lymphadenopathies that were suspected to be of malignant origin. Classical tests that are usually performed during a conventional surgical drainage procedure (fluid studies and subxiphoid biopsy) were combined with direct visualization of the pericardial surfaces and guided biopsies of suspicious areas. The follow-up period after pericardioscopy was at least 12 months. Two early deaths occurred after pericardioscopy, but no death was directly related to the endoscopy. According to all of the tests that were performed, diagnoses were malignant pericardial effusion in 15 of 40 patients (group I, 37%) and nonmalignant pericardial effusion in 25 of 40 patients (group II, 73%). In 3 of 13 patients (23%) in group I, the diagnosis was obtained only by pericardioscopy (results of cytologic studies and subxiphoid biopsy were negative). In two patients in group I, pericardioscopy could not be completed, but the diagnosis of malignant pericardial effusion was obtained by pericardiocentesis. In group II, effusion was considered to be postradiation pericarditis in five cases, infectious pericarditis in three cases (bacterial in one and tuberculous in two), hemopericardium induced by coagulation disturbances in three cases, and idiopathic pericarditis in 14 cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biopsy↗
PubMed1992

[Left intraventricular gradients measured by Doppler echocardiography at rest, during exercise and during isoproterenol test in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].

Doppler echocardiography has been shown to be an accurate method of assessing left ventricular outflow obstruction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). One of the characteristics of this pressure gradient is its variability and, therefore, we measured this parameter during dynamic exercise testing in 33 patients. The results were compared with those recorded during isoproterenol infusion, the reference stress test for patients with HCM. Submaximal exercise in the recumbent position is usually well tolerated and resulted in a 43% increase in heart rate and a 47% increase in pressure gradient. There was a significant correlation between resting and exercise outflow obstruction (r = 0.90; p = 0.001). Moreover, exercise echo revealed obstruction in 26% of patients without resting pressure gradients (latent obstruction). The interpretation of results obtained with isoproterenol infusion is more difficult: this test resulted in an important increase in the left ventricular pressure gradient (231%) and "revealed" obstruction in 84% of cases. Therefore, we believe that exercise is more physiological and better tolerated than isoproterenol stress infusion and should be adopted as the investigation of choice in HCM even without obstruction at rest. If it is not possible to perform the exercise or no outflow tract obstruction can be demonstrated, an isoproterenol infusion may be used but this is not always well tolerated and the results should be interpreted with caution.

Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic↗
PubMed1992

Congenital high flow coronary cameral fistula in an 81-year-old woman: management problems.

An 81-year-old woman presenting with severe congestive heart failure was found to have a congenital right coronary fistula draining into the superior vena cava. The diagnosis was suspected on transthoracic two-dimensional echo-Doppler study and confirmed with coronary angiography. Transesophageal echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging were nondiagnostic. An attempt to close the fistula with transcatheter embolization using a detachable latex balloon was unsuccessful because of the very large size of the fistula. Follow-up showed a favorable outcome with medical therapy. Despite the advent of more recent diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, management of such large fistulae remains unresolved.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

[Pericardioscopy: techniques, indications and results. Apropos of an experience with 70 cases].

Pericardoscopy (PCS) is an original method of examination of the pericardial cavity. Its principle is derived from pleuroscopy and the apparatus is derived from mediastinoscopy. The main indication for this technique is the diagnosis of pericardial effusions. Sixty-five PCS were performed for this purpose, allowing an accurate etiological diagnosis in 35 cases. The etiological diagnosis was based on the clinical and paraclinical context in 4 other effusions, considered to be idiopathic after PCS. In 23 cases, the etiology remained uncertain, but a tuberculous or neoplastic etiology was ruled out after PCS. Three false negative results were obtained. Complete cleaning of the pericardial cavity allowed favorable immediate and mid a term outcome, avoiding possible constriction. Finally, PCS established the operability of two bronchial cancers, located in the hilar area and suspected of intrapericardial extension (PCS was performed in these cases in absence of pericardial effusion).

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

[Dissecting aneurysm of the left iliac artery disclosing Marfan's disease].

Marfan's syndrome only very rarely presents as a peripheral arterial complication. In the case described, dissection of the left iliac artery in a 52-year-old man presented as intermittent claudication of sudden onset and enabled the diagnosis of previously unrecognised Marfan's syndrome on the basis of great height, a dorsal kyphoscoliosis, a positive family history and aortic abnormalities. Treatment based upon vasodilators and platelet antiaggregation enabled a favourable outcome with frequent monitoring.

Aortic Dissection↗
PubMed1991

[Painful left bundle-branch block during exertion].

Two new cases of exercise related left-bundle branch block are reported in this study. They should be added to the twenty established and published cases. Comparison opens the way to discussion of the mechanism of onset. Ischemia is often accused, although no exploration has been able to demonstrate its responsibility in the origin of the problem. These two cases have novel features, particularly in describing the first case of painful exercise related bundle branch block in a subject twenty-three years of age. Ischemia linked to epicardial coronary lesions cannot be held responsible, but the possibility of micro-circulatory ischemia is suggested.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Isolated tricuspid endocarditis. Apropos of a case caused by Streptococcus D bovis and faecalis occurring after coloscopy].

A 59-year-old chronic alcoholic male, with no cardiac past history, was hospitalised with septicemia 5 months after the endoscopic removal of 2 benign intestinal polyps. The diagnosis of tricuspid endocarditis was possible only 2 months later on the basis of echocardiography requested because of the onset of a tricuspid systolic murmur. Blood cultures revealed the presence in succession of streptococcus D fecalis then bovis. Antibiotics, changed several times because of the onset of complications (allergy, agranulocytosis), failed to deal with the problem of infection as shown by the development of several septic pulmonary emboli which finally resulted in total tricuspidectomy with neither immediate nor secondary valve replacement. The authors use this clinical case to review the characteristics of tricuspid endocarditis, the incidence of which is on the increase in certain etiological contexts (staphylococcal endocarditis in drug addicts or secondary to central vascular lines). They stress that the clinical picture is often confusing since the murmur of tricuspid incompetence is absent in 2/3 of cases. Echocardiography must therefore be requested routinely in all septicemias, thus enabling earlier diagnosis and assessment of the risk of pulmonary embolism (risk if vegetation greater than 10 mm). The nature of the organism responsible may be suggestive of certain etiologies. Thus malignant disease of the colon should be sought if the bacterium is a streptococcus D bovis. Apart from antibiotics, treatment must include effective anticoagulation to decrease the risk of embolic recurrence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia induced by deglutition].

The authors report the case of a 43-year-old man with runs of tachycardia, sometimes atrial and sometimes by reentry, induced by atrial extrasystoles provoked by ewallowing. This rare condition, 21 descriptions of which are referred to, raises the problem of the inducing mechanism, with discussion of the role of mechanical stimulus played by the alimentary bolus or of a reflex of ortho- or parasympathetic origin. The discussion includes a detailed review of this condition and its treatment. The prognosis is always excellent but symptomatic discomfort may be considerable. Spontaneous recovery is possible, as in the case described here.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Refsum's disease. Apropos of 2 cases disclosed by myocardiopathy].

Refsum's disease is a polyneuropathy due to a hereditary error in the metabolism of a fatty acid, phytanic acid, usually leading to cardiac failure only at an advanced stage of the disease. The authors report the case of two brothers with Refsum's disease revealed by a heart failure before the clinical stage of the peripheral neuropathy. In the younger brother, the affection started at the age of 22 years by an acute pulmonary oedema which revealed a dilated, hypokinetic myocardiopathy, associated with retinitis pigmentosa, ptosis, anosmia and biological myolysis. The normal plasma concentration of phytanic acid measured several times led to the conclusion of Kearns-Sayre syndrome even if certain aspects were atypical (moderate conduction disorders, no characteristic aspect in the muscle biopsy). Five years later, the older brother, aged 28, presents a dyspnea on effort which leads to the discovery of a hypokinetic, hypertrophic myocardiopathy, slightly dilated, associated with cardiac conduction disorders, retinitis pigmentosa, anosmia and biological myolysis. The plasma concentration of phytanic acid being very high. Refsum's disease was diagnosed and the diagnosis of younger brother was corrected. From the study of these two cases, the characteristics of the cardiac disorders can be specified: the cardiopathy can reveal the disease and correspond to a dilated or hypertrophic myocardiopathy. The diagnosis of the disease can be difficult because the plasma phytanic acid may remain at normal level, thus requiring the assay of the activity of phytanate oxydase. The existence of ophthalmologic signs (retinitis pigmentosa or progressive ophthalmoplegia externa) associated with a myocardiopathy must systematically lead to a search for Refsum's disease, this diagnosis having fundamental therapeutic implications (died, even plasmapheresis).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗