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Gunnar Norgård

Publications and source records attributed to Gunnar Norgård.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Do patients with ventricular septal defect need endocarditis prophylaxis?].

BACKGROUND: Patients with ventricle septal defect are considered at higher risk of infectious endocarditis than the population in general. According to guidelines, these patients should receive prophylactic antibiotics prior to invasive procedures. Recently, several studies have been published that challenge this view. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Based on searches in Medline, we discuss the risk of endocarditis and indication for antibiotic prophylaxis in patients with this defect. RESULTS: Patients with perimembranous and subvalvular defects have higher risk of endocarditis than the population in general. The proportion of patients developing endocarditis in relation to invasive procedures is low. Prophylactic antibiotics are only partially effective. INTERPRETATION: The proportion of preventable cases of endocarditis is low, and the prophylaxis does not give sufficient protection. Studies suggest that only patients at the highest risk should receive prophylactics.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis↗
PubMed2005

[Referral practice and clinical assessment of heart murmurs in children].

BACKGROUND: Heart murmurs in infants and children are common, and in most cases these are physiological murmurs. In a few cases they represent congenital heart disease; it is important to detect those few children by referral to paediatric cardiologists. MATERIAL: 220 consecutive children with heart murmur were investigated prospectively as outpatients in the Children's clinic, Haukeland University Hospital from January through December 2001. Referrals were from general practitioners (n = 157), paediatricians or residents at the Children's clinic (n = 51), and from one community-based paediatrician (n = 12). The purpose was to assess the referrals for completeness and judgment before cardiological assessment. Our second goal was to see if the paediatric cardiologist could differentiate between innocent and pathological murmurs by history and clinical assessment only. RESULTS: 22 (10%) of the referred patients had congenital heart defects. They had been through a complete clinical assessment by 38.9% of the general practitioners and 83.3% by the community-based paediatrician (p = 0.0001). A conclusion regarding diagnosis before hospital evaluation was reached in only 17.8% of the patients by the general practitioners and in 50% by the paediatricians (p < 0.0001). The diagnostic accuracy of the clinical evaluation by the paediatric cardiologists had a sensitivity of 81.5%, specificity of 98.5%, positive and negative predictive values of 88 and 97.5%, respectively. Two patients with significant atrial septum defect would have been missed by clinical assessment only. INTERPRETATION: Skills in clinical assessment of heart murmurs in infants and children can be improved among general practitioners and paediatricians in training. Paediatric cardiologists can differentiate between physiological and pathologic murmurs by clinical evaluation only.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Evaluation of cardiac murmurs in children].

BACKGROUND: Many normal children have heart murmurs, but most children do not have heart disease. Differentiation of innocent murmurs from those due to structural heart disease, pathological murmurs, is largely clinical. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This review is based upon the authors' own studies and PubMed searches. RESULTS: An appropriate history and a properly conducted physical examination can identify children at risk of significant heart disease. INTERPRETATION: If a murmur cannot clearly be labelled as innocent based on characteristics like sound quality, intensity, location and response to posture, then referral to a paediatric cardiologist is indicated. Other indications for referral are any sign or symptom of cardiovascular disease such as shortness of breath, cyanosis or decreased exercise tolerance. In addition, children with syndromes should, because of their high risk of congenital heart disease, be referred to a paediatric cardiologist for further evaluation.

Child↗
PubMed2004

Exercise capacity in young adults with hypertension and systolic blood pressure difference between right arm and leg after repair of coarctation of the aorta.

Coarctation of the aorta represents 5-7% of congenital heart defects. Symptoms and prognosis depend on the degree of stenosis, age at surgery, surgical method and the presence of other heart defects. Postoperative complications are hypertension, restenosis and an abnormal blood pressure response during exercise. This study includes 41 patients, 15-40 years old, operated in the period 1975-1996. All were exercised on a treadmill until maximal oxygen consumption was achieved. Blood pressure was measured in the right arm and leg before and immediately after exercise, and in the right arm during exercise. Oxygen consumption was monitored and we defined an aerobic phase, an isocapnic buffering phase and a hypocapnic hyperventilation phase. The resting systolic blood pressure correlates with the resting systolic blood pressure difference between right arm and leg. A resting systolic blood pressure difference between the right arm and leg of 0.13 kPa (1 mmHg) to 2.67 kPa (20 mmHg) corresponds with a slight increase in resting systolic blood pressure. This rise in blood pressure increases the aerobic phase of the exercise test, helping the patients to achieve higher maximal oxygen consumption. A resting systolic blood pressure difference of more than 2.67 kPa (20 mmHg) corresponds with severe hypertension and causes reduction in the aerobic phase and maximal oxygen consumption. Resting systolic blood pressure and resting systolic blood pressure difference between the right arm and leg are not indicators for blood pressure response during exercise. Exercise testing is important to reveal exercise-induced hypertension and to monitor changes in transition from aerobic to anaerobic exercise and limitation to exercise capacity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

[Risk factors in Kawasaki's syndrome].

BACKGROUND: Few patients with Kawasaki's syndrome have been described in Norway. Different aspects of diagnosis and treatment are assessed in this article. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 26 cases of Kawasaki's syndrome at Haukeland University Hospital 1985-1999. RESULTS: 85% of the patients fulfilled all criteria for diagnosis and were treated as recommended; yet we found a high frequency of coronary aneurysms (22%). Children with aneurysms had delayed onset of treatment compared to patients without complications. Infants were treated later and had a higher incidence of aneurysms. Laboratory findings differed among infants and older children, and in patients with or without aneurysms. INTERPRETATION: Kawasaki's syndrome is still a clinical diagnosis. Laboratory tests may, however, help to identify patients with high risk of complications. Infants should be followed carefully in the acute phase of febrile illness and be treated early, even when the presentation is atypical. Early adequate treatment is of vital importance to avoid complications and reduce short and longterm morbidity.

Child↗
PubMed2003

Magnetic resonance imaging of patients with increased blood pressure and altered blood pressure response to exercise after coarctation repair.

OBJECTIVE: Patients successfully operated for coarctation of the aorta are frequently subjected to altered blood pressure (BP) at rest and BP response during exercise. The relationship between these variables and blood flow, peak velocity, restenosis and other morphological features of the thoracic aorta as revealed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was evaluated. DESIGN: Fifty-one patients subjected to coarctectomy of the aorta were examined by MRI. In addition, a control group of 23 healthy volunteers was evaluated. Morphology of the aorta was demonstrated with both ECG-triggered SE imaging and gadolinium-enhanced MR aortography. Flow-weighted MRI was applied for quantitative flow and velocity measurements. RESULTS: Structural alteration of the aorta was more commonly seen in those patients having increased BP at rest or altered BP response during exercise than those with a normal BP profile. The luminal diameter of the narrowest site of the aorta was decreased in all patient groups. Accordingly, the peak velocity at the corresponding site was significantly (p < 0.01) increased. However, blood flow was significantly (p < 0.01) decreased among those patients with normal BP profile compared with the other patient groups as well as the controls. CONCLUSION: Other structural changes than restenosis may contribute as well to the altered BP profile of patients subjected to coarctectomy. Reduced blood flow appears to correlate with normal BP profile, whereas the peak velocity measurements that are obtained by MRI are not able to differentiate between the patient groups. The comprehensive and reliable data obtained by non-invasive techniques, i.e. MRI and Doppler, may replace catheterization when deciding the need for intervention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Haemoptysis as a late complication of a Mustard operation treated by balloon dilation of a superior caval venous obstruction.

Haemoptysis was the presenting symptom in a 27-year-old male. He had undergone a Mustard operation for connection of complete transposition at the age of 2 years. For 6 months prior to admission, he had complained of dyspnoea without chestpain, and swelling of the fingers during hard physical work. Chest radiography and computer tomographic scans showed normal features of the pulmonary parenchyma, and no sign of cardiomegaly or vascular stasis. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy demonstrated a blood clot in the upper right bronchus, without any associated abnormalities of the bronchial tree. Doppler echocardiography showed obstruction of the superior caval vein, which was verified by cardiac catheterization. Balloon dilation at the site of obstruction increased the diameter of the vein from 0.5 to 1.7 cm, and the mean pressure in the superior caval vein was reduced significantly from 18 to 10 mmHg. The haemoptysis did not recur, and no complaints of dyspnoea or swelling of fingers during physical activity was reported 2 years later. Transthoracic echocardiography undertaken at this time revealed no obstruction of the superior caval vein. We conclude that hemoptysis is a rare complication of increased venous pressure in the upper body of patients with superior caval venous obstruction, which can be treated by balloon dilation or stenting.

Adult↗