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Giuseppe Bruschi

Publications and source records attributed to Giuseppe Bruschi.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

An unusual cause of pulmonary edema: acute rupture of noncoronary sinus of valsalva aneurysm into the left atrium.

We present the case of a patient admitted to hospital with pulmonary edema and atrial fibrillation. The transthoracic echocardiogram showed noncoronary sinus of Valsalva aneurysm ruptured into the left atrium, with a turbulent flow directed toward the left atrium floor and the pulmonary vein, which explained the clinical presentation. Echocardiography played a crucial role in identification of the cause and correct therapeutic approach.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2006

Left ventricular mechanical support with the Impella Recover left direct microaxial blood pump: a single-center experience.

The Impella Recover left direct (LD) is a new intravascular microaxial blood pump, intended as a short-term mechanical support especially in case of acutely reduced left ventricular function. From September 2002 to October 2004, Impella was used to support 12 patients: six patients were supported as bridge-to-heart transplant (HTx); three patients were treated for fulminant acute myocarditis, and three patients for postcardiotomy low-output syndrome. Mean support time was 8.8 +/- 2.3 days. Overall mortality was 50%. Four patients were successfully HTxed; two patients supported as bridge-to-HTx died on left ventricular assist device. Two patients with myocarditis died of septic shock; two patients in the group of postcardiotomy died of multiorgan failure. The latter two patients were slowly weaned from the device, and at 3-months follow-up showed good improvement of the left ventricular function. Our initial experience with Impella Recover LD as mechanical support for patients in cardiogenic shock of various etiology is promising, yielding a good survival in a population of particularly compromised patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Bridge to transplantation with the MicroMed DeBakey ventricular assist device axial pump: a single centre report.

OBJECTIVE: Left ventricular assist devices (VADs) are an accepted therapy to bridge patients with end-stage heart failure to heart transplantation. The DeBakey VAD, a continuous axial flow pump weighing 93 g, has been introduced into clinical practice as a bridge to transplant. METHODS: Starting from April 2000,17 patients (12 males, five females, mean age 44.3 +/- 12.8 years; 11 dilated idiopathic cardiomyopathy, five ischaemic cardiomyopathy, one pulsatile device failure) with end-stage heart failure were implanted with a DeBakey VAD as a bridge to transplantation at our institution. Before implant, all patients suffered from severe heart failure (New York Heart Association functional class IV) despite optimal medical therapy and were put on the waiting list for heart transplantation. Mean cardiac index was 1.59 +/- 0.51 l/min/m2. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were successfully transplanted after 99 +/- 117 days of assistance (range 11-443 days). Two patients died during assistance of multiorgan failure, one patient is still on VAD. No patient needed additional right ventricular mechanical support. Left ventricular/left VAD thrombosis occurred in one patient who was successfully treated conservatively. No clinical elevation of plasma free haemoglobin was detected. Neither device, driveline, abdominal pocket infection nor device failure occurred. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience with the continuous axial flow DeBakey VAD, a high success rate was obtained associated with a low risk of complications. All the patients tolerated continuous blood flow for extended periods that makes this device a valuable alternative to pulsatile VADs as a bridge to transplantation.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[Mechanical assist devices in advanced heart failure. Indications and perspectives].

Congestive heart failure is recognized as a major public health issue and is the leading cause of death in western countries. Heart transplantation currently remains the gold standard option for end-stage heart failure patients. Heart transplantation is also one of the most limited therapies, not only with regard to the lack of donor hearts but also because of the surgical limitations inherent to the clinical aspects of this severely ill patient population. Mechanical circulatory support systems have been developed as effective adjuvant therapeutic options in these terminally ill patients. Over the past two decades, mechanical circulatory support devices have steadily evolved in the clinical management of end-stage heart failure, and have emerged as a standard of care for the treatment of acute and chronic heart failure refractory to conventional medical therapy. Future blood pumps should be smaller and totally implantable, as well as more efficient, biocompatible, and reliable.

Heart Failure↗
PubMed2005

Different clinical scenarios for circulatory mechanical support in acute and chronic heart failure.

Chronic heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of death in developed countries. Over the last 2 decades, mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices have steadily evolved in the clinical management of end-stage HF and have emerged as a standard of care for the treatment of acute and chronic HF refractory to conventional medical therapy. Possible indications for using MCS are acute cardiogenic shock, as a bridge to transplantation, as a bridge to recovery, and more recently, as destination therapy in dilated cardiomyopathy, of either ischemic or idiopathic etiology. We reviewed the different clinical scenarios in which we think there are currently indications to implant different kinds of MCS systems.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2005

Left ventricular support by axial flow pump: the echocardiographic approach to device malfunction.

Axial flow pumps have gained increased acceptance in recent years as a bridge to heart transplantation and, more recently, as destination therapy. As left ventricular (LV) assist device dysfunction will be increasingly prevalent, the aim of our work was to introduce an echocardiographic management protocol as a guide to recognize the causes of pump failure. In this article we describe the echocardiographic approach to 5 episodes of malfunction of an axial flow pump (DeBakey, MicroMed Technology Inc, Houston, Tex) in 4 patients: 4 episodes caused by thrombosis of LV assist device and one caused by abnormal increase of systemic vascular resistance. In our experience, echocardiography played a pivotal role in clinical management of LV assist device failure. It allowed us to: assess patency and position of inflow and outflow cannulae; research the source of thromboembolic material; assess adequate LV filling and unloading; and optimize right ventricular function, volume replacement therapy, and pharmacologic support.

Echocardiography↗
PubMed2005

Interfacial biology of in-stent restenosis.

Percutaneous angioplasty is a nonsurgical method able to restore patency in atherosclerotic blood vessels through the expansion of a balloon. The clinical outcome of this technique has been significantly enhanced by the combined deployment of a stent. Although stents are successful in the majority of cases, a large percentage of patients (20-30%) still suffer a second vessel lumen reduction known as in-stent restenosis. In-stent restenosis is recognized to be caused by the mechanical and foreign body challenges elicited by the device. Drug-eluting stents have been recently made available to tackle restenosis, but their short clinical history and high costs may limit their future use. The present review links the most recent biologic findings related to in-stent restenosis to the devices' phyisico-chemical features in an attempt to demonstrate that a new generation of stents may be developed without the need of drug elution.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗
PubMed2004

[Comorbidity in surgical myocardial revascularization: risk factors or contraindications for surgery].

BACKGROUND: The worsening evolution of patients undergoing surgical myocardial revascularization makes it difficult the stratification of the preoperative mortality risk, a correct evaluation of results and the comparison of results of different centers. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prognostic weight of comorbidity in surgical myocardial revascularization. METHODS: We evaluated the characteristics of preoperative morbidity in 4999 patients who underwent surgical myocardial revascularization during four different periods (1979-1980, 1991-1992, 1994-1998, 1999-2002). We also evaluated the in-hospital results. RESULTS: By comparing the four different periods, an increase in older age, female sex, comorbidity, three-vessel disease, and severe left ventricular dysfunction was observed. Surgical mortality decreased to 2.3%. Multivariate analysis of the 1999-2002 period showed that only renal insufficiency was a risk factor for in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Although the preoperative risk is higher, nowadays hospital mortality is reduced thanks to new cardiac-surgical techniques and approaches that increasing the capacity of controlling comorbidity in the pre-, intra- and postoperative course. For a correct decision-making process it is crucial to assess how much comorbidity may influence the long-term follow-up in these patients independently of surgical myocardial revascularization.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Surgical treatment of acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The role of surgical revascularization in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has changed considerably over the last 30 years along with improvement in intraoperative management and techniques of myocardial protection. The aim of this work was to analyze the long-term results of our experience of emergency myocardial surgical revascularization for AMI. METHODS: Between January 1986 and October 2003, 237 patients (85.3% males; mean age 59.6 +/- 9.6 years) underwent emergency coronary artery bypass graft for severe AMI. At admission 82 patients (34.6%) were in cardiogenic shock, while 124 patients (52.3%) presented major preoperative complications (acute pulmonary edema, mechanical ventilation, intra-aortic counterpulsation, cardiac arrest). Preoperative intra-aortic counterpulsation was performed in 125 patients (52.7%). The mean time interval between symptom onset and surgery was 9.4 hours. Three-vessel disease was detected in 107 patients (45%), with main left stenosis in 12.9%. RESULTS: There were overall 50 hospital deaths (21.1%). Amongst patients with major preoperative complications, mortality was 36.2% (45 cases out of 124); mortality for cardiogenic shock was 40.2% (33 patients out of 82). Survival of the first 140 patients undergoing operation and then discharged was 97.8% at 1 year and 79.6% at 5 years. The survival rate of the first 60 patients in cardiogenic shock operated on and then discharged is 98.8% at 1 year and 81.2% at 5 years. The ejection fraction in 102 echocardiographically controlled patients was 37.2 +/- 8.5% preoperatively and 44.0 +/- 10.1% at pre-discharge (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical revascularization for AMI, especially if complicated by cardiogenic shock, is a valid therapeutic option that carries a high periprocedural risk but that is balanced by a satisfactory late survival. A more precise patient's risk assessment at admission, improvement of surgical and myocardial protection techniques, extensive use of intra-aortic counterpulsation, and new circulatory support when needed, can improve outcomes and late survival.

Coronary Circulation↗
PubMed2003

Surgical therapy in advanced heart failure.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) affects about 1% of adults in the United States and is a contributing factor in >250,000 deaths per year. In an increasingly elderly population, the surgical treatment of CHF made great progress during the past 3 decades, consuming enormous health care resources. Heart transplantation is still the most effective therapy for end-stage heart disease, with the 10-year survival rate after transplantation approaching 50%. Efforts to increase the supply of donor organs have failed to improve the shortage, underscoring the crucial need for alternatives to cardiac allotransplantation. Alternative surgical options to end-stage heart transplantation are rapidly evolving. Left ventricular assist devices have been used as a bridge to heart transplantation for patients who otherwise might die awaiting a new heart. There is also continued interest in the use of these devices either to bridge patients to full recovery or to destination therapy, without the need for heart replacement. Left ventricular reconstruction, including the Batista and Dor procedures, along with mitral valve repair, cardiomyoplasty, and extreme coronary artery bypass graft surgery, are now being increasingly performed as alternative options. The history, status, and personal experience of surgical treatment of end-stage heart disease are discussed.

Heart Failure↗
PubMed2003

Successful experience in bridging patients to heart transplantation with the MicroMed DeBakey ventricular assist device.

BACKGROUND: Pulsatile left ventricular assist devices are used with increasing frequency to bridge patients with end-stage heart failure to heart transplantation (HTx). Implantation of pulsatile devices is a cumbersome surgical procedure that is associated with major complications, such as bleeding, thromboembolism, and infection. Recently, a continuous axial flow left ventricular assist device (DeBakey ventricular assist device) has been introduced with the goal of reducing the incidence of major complications. METHODS: We reviewed our experience with 11 patients who received a DeBakey ventricular assist device axial flow pump for bridge to HTx from April 2000 through November 2001. RESULTS: Two patients (18.2%) died of multiple-organ failure while on left ventricular assist device support. Bleeding requiring thoracotomy occurred in 2 patients (18.2%). One patient had a minor neurologic event, and one patient developed left ventricular assist device thrombosis, which was successfully treated without pump exchange. Renal failure developed in 1 patient and hepatic dysfunction in 2 patients. There were no instances of right heart failure. No device, pocket, or drive-line infections occurred. Nine patients (9 of 11, 81.8%) had HTx within 51 +/- 49 days (range, 11 to 141 days) after left ventricular assist device implant. One patient died 29 days after HTx because of acute rejection. CONCLUSIONS: The continuous axial flow DeBakey ventricular assist device had reliable features, including a high rate of bridge to HTx. This device had low complication and system failure rates. We consider the DeBakey ventricular assist device a favorable alternative to pulsatile heart assist devices as a bridge to HTx.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

First successful bridge to recovery with the Impella Recover 100 left ventricular assist device for fulminant acute myocarditis.

A patient with septic and cardiogenic shock secondary to acute fulminant myocarditis was successfully treated by mechanical offloading of the left ventricle using the Impella Recover 100, a new implantable micro-axial blood pump designed for short-term circulatory support (for a maximum of 7 days). The possibility of implanting this device without using cardiopulmonary bypass allowed as to manage the septic shock, to reverse cardiac and hepatorenal failure and to wean the patient off treatment after 18 days of support. At 3 months the left and right ventricular function was satisfactory. The widespread application of this kind of support depends on the availability of an inexpensive "mini-invasive" blood pump, appropriate weaning protocols and emerging strategies to promote sustainable myocardial recovery.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2002

Successful intraventricular thrombolysis during ventricular assist device support.

Different types of mechanical ventricular assist devices are available for treating end stage congestive heart failure. Despite technical improvements, however, various complications are still reported for patients during mechanical support. We report our experience with intraventricular thrombolysis as a treatment for possible thrombosis of a continuous flow device that had been implanted as a bridge to heart transplantation. This approach has been demonstrated to be both effective and safe.

Blood Coagulation Tests↗
PubMed2002

Aortic complications after bicuspid aortic valve replacement: long-term results.

BACKGROUND: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a risk factor for aortic dissection and aneurysm. We studied patients with BAV and tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) to evaluate long-term changes in the ascending aorta after aortic valve replacement (AVR). PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred consecutive patients were allocated into two groups according to the presence of BAV (group A, 50 patients) or TAV (group B, 50 patients). Mean age was 51 +/- 12 years in group A, and 50 +/- years 12 in group B. No patients had hypertension or Marfan's syndrome. Until July 2001, mean follow-up was 234 +/- 47 months in group A and 241 +/- 43 months in group B. RESULTS: Five patients (10%, CL 5.7 to 13.9) in group A suffered late acute aortic dissection. Acute aortic dissection (5 vs 0, p = 0.0001) and sudden death (7 vs 0, p = 0.0001) occurred more frequently in patients with BAV. All survivors were assessed by echocardiogram. The mean diameter of the ascending aorta was 48.4 mm in group A and 36.8 mm in group B. Three patients in group A were operated on because of ascending aorta aneurysm more than 6 cm in diameter. CONCLUSIONS: As a result of our experience, we recommend a policy of prophylactic replacement of even a seemingly normal and definitely a mildly enlarged ascending aorta in cases of BAV at the moment of AVR, and consideration of a similar approach for any other cardiac surgical procedure in patients with BAV.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Left ventricular assist devices as bridge to heart transplantation: The Niguarda Experience.

BACKGROUND: Congestive heart failure is the leading cause of death in Western countries. Heart transplantation currently is the only accepted therapy for patients with end-stage heart failure, but the supply of donor hearts is inadequate, and different mechanical circulatory support systems have been investigated as bridges to heart transplant. METHODS: Since April 1992, 53 patients (47 men, 6 women, aged 12 to 61 years) received left ventricle mechanical circulatory support as bridge to heart transplant. The two principal devices used were: the Novacor LVAS in 31 patients and the DeBakey VAD in 11 patients. RESULTS: All patients survived the operation. Mean duration of LVAD support was 2.8 +/- 5.6 months. Thirty-seven patients (71.1%) underwent heart transplantation. Twelve major bleeding episodes occurred in nine patients (16.9%). Globally, major and minor neurologic events occurred in 13 patients (24.5%). Ten patients (19.9%) assisted with the Novacor Wearable LVAS device were discharged at home while waiting for heart transplant (HTx). The mean follow-up of the 34 discharged transplanted patients was 45.3 +/- 37 months. Actuarial survival of transplanted patients while on LVAD was 91.0 +/- 4.9% and 83.4 +/- 8.5% at 1 and 5 years, respectively. No differences in post-transplant long-term survival and rejection and allograft vasculopathy occurred between patients transplanted with or without LVAD implanted. CONCLUSIONS: LVAD therapy proved to be effective in bridging patients with end-stage heart failure to HTx. While on LVAD support, patients assisted with implantable wearable devices could be discharged at home, ameliorating their quality of life. The excellent survival rate after HTx is concomitant with a low incidence of rejection and cardiac allograft vasculopathy.

Adolescent↗