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Biomedical subjects

H Oelert

Publications and source records attributed to H Oelert.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Long-term follow-up of thrombolytic treatment of acute infarct in combination with acute and elective revascularization].

From March 1983 to June 1986 in 206 patients with acute transmural myocardial infarction, combined intravenous and intracoronary therapy with streptokinase was initiated. After intravenous thrombolysis and randomization in two groups we performed a coronary angiography with selective intracoronary lysis. Infarct related vessels still occluded after intracoronary streptokinase application were opened mechanically in group I. In group II we performed additionally a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) after mechanical recanalisation (occluded vessels) or after thrombolysis (open vessels). In 85 of 87 cases in group II, PTCA could be performed in the acute phase. Elective PTCA was performed in 22 patients of group I (21%) and in nine patients of group II (9%). Up to five years after myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was necessary in 22 patients (21%) of group I and in 23 patients (22%) of group II. Within four weeks after infarction CABG was performed in 32% and 17% of group I and II respectively. The six-year survival rate was 78% in group I and 82% in group II. Taken all patients together, the six-year survival rate was significantly higher (p = 0.002) for those with early reperfusion (less than or equal to 3.5 h). The survival rates of CABG-patients, PTCA-patients and patients without reperfusion were 91%, 74% and 65% respectively. Streptokinase thrombolysis results, combined with acute or elective PTCA and/or coronary bypass surgery, in a high six-year survival rate after acute transmural myocardial infarction. This rate is about 20% higher than ten years ago.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary

[Pulmonary thrombendarterectomy in thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. The indications and early results].

Pulmonary thrombendarterectomy was performed in 32 patients (14 men and 18 women; mean age 38 +/- 15 years) with thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (New York Heart Association stage III: n = 22; stage IV: n = 10). The preoperative arterial pO2 averaged 59 +/- 11 mm Hg; pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and mean pressure (MPAP) were increased to 1,045 +/- 430 dyn.s.cm-5 and 53 +/- 12 mm Hg, respectively. The perioperative death rate was 22% (7 of 32). In the 25 survivors the pulmonary hypertension was reduced to a PVR of 194 +/- 75 dys.s.cm-5, MPAP of 28 +/- 6 mm Hg. Subsequent re-examination in 15 patients (NYHA stage I: n = 14, stage II: n = 1) after a mean of 17 +/- 5 months demonstrated an arterial pO2 averaging 92 +/- 6 mm Hg and, in 14 patients, echocardiographically normal right-ventricular volumes and function. The primary success was confirmed in eight patients by haemodynamic measurements. These data indicate that thrombendarterectomy can effectively treat the increased PVR in most patients at all stages of the disease.

Angiography, Digital Subtraction

CD59 (homologous restriction factor 20), a plasma membrane protein that protects against complement C5b-9 attack, in human atherosclerotic lesions.

Blood cells express a cell membrane protein, termed homologous restriction factor 20 (HRF20) and identical to CD59, that can inhibit complement C5b-9 insertion into their membranes. In this report, we investigated by immunohistochemistry whether CD59 was present on cells in human atherosclerotic lesions since membranous C5b-9(m) has been found in lesions. Using a monoclonal anti-CD59 antibody, a cellular CD59 staining pattern was apparent in nearly all lesion specimens. CD59 stain co-localised with macrophage (CD14), T lymphocyte (CD7), endothelial cell (anti-factor VIII related antigen) and smooth muscle cell cytoskeletal-specific antigens (anti-alpha actin and muscle myosin). Endothelial cells always exhibited a more intense stain than the other cell types. CD59 antigen was not localised to any one area of the lesions. Usually CD59-positive cells occurred in clusters rather than as randomly spaced individual cells. CD59 did not stain all cells of the lesion and in particular did not appear to stain all smooth muscle cells. Areas of CD59-negative cells were sometimes observed to exhibit a cellular C5b-9 staining pattern. C5b-9 deposits were also observed in CD59-positive regions. Normal saphenous vein stained strongly for CD59 at the endothelial lining and weakly in the media. Capillaries in atherosclerotic intima always stained strongly for CD59. We conclude that HRF20 is constitutively expressed on endothelium and is under regulatory control in smooth muscle cells. Cellular C5b-9 attack in atherosclerotic lesions is therefore most likely to occur on smooth muscle cells.

Actins

Determination of cardiac output by an angle and diameter independent dual beam Doppler technique in critically ill infants.

OBJECTIVE: To compare cardiac output measurements in critically ill infants by the dual beam Doppler and thermodilution techniques. DESIGN: Prospective direct comparison of the two techniques. For statistical evaluation one randomly assigned paired measurement of every patient was used. SETTING: Paediatric intensive care unit in a university hospital. PATIENTS: 18 infants after open heart surgery aged 4-25 months (weight 4-10 kg). INTERVENTIONS: Cardiac output measurements by dual beam Doppler and thermodilution techniques were performed within 10 minutes of each other and without knowledge of the results of the other methods. Multiple measurements were performed on some patients with a pharmacological or electrophysiological intervention or with a minimum of six hours between each pair of measurements. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Three patients were excluded because of an inadequate Doppler signal or a significant residual shunt. Cardiac output measurements ranged from 0.4 to 2.2 l/min for the thermodilution technique and from 0.5 to 2.1 l/min for the dual beam Doppler technique. Agreement between both methods was acceptable. The mean difference between the two methods was 0.026 l/min with two standard deviations ranging from -0.20 to 0.26 l/min. CONCLUSION: The dual beam Doppler technique was shown to have promise for the non-invasive determination of cardiac output in critically ill infants.

Cardiac Output

Surgical treatment of myocardial bridging causing coronary artery obstruction.

Nine patients with obstruction of coronary artery blood flow caused by myocardial bridging underwent surgery after failure of medical treatment. The diagnoses were made angiographically at rest or during beta-stimulation. Impaired blood flow was found only in the left anterior descending artery in seven patients and additionally in the diagonal branch in two. The operations, performed with cardiopulmonary bypass consisted of complete dissection of the overlying myocardium. All patients survived the operation. Major intraoperative complications were accidental opening of the right ventricle in two patients. Postoperative scintigraphic and angiographic studies demonstrated restoration of coronary flow and myocardial perfusion without residual myocardial bridges under beta-stimulation. Surgical relief of myocardial ischemia due to systolic compression of intramyocardial coronary arteries can be accomplished with low operative risk and with excellent functional results.

Adult

Efficacy of phosphodiesterase inhibitor enoximone in management of postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock.

The efficacy of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor enoximone for reversal of severe postcardiotomy low cardiac output syndrome was investigated in 13 cases of cardiogenic shock refractory to conventional treatment consisting of beta-adrenergic agonists (n = 13) combined with vasodilators (n = 7), and intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (n = 5). Following a bolus of 1 mg/kg enoximone, cardiac and stroke volume indices increased from 1.56 +/- 0.27 l/min/m2 and 16.3 +/- 3.3 ml/m2, respectively, to 2.72 +/- 0.67 and 27.8 +/- 7.1 (both p < 0.001). Mean arterial pressure fell, from 77 +/- 11 to 68 +/- 9 mmHg (p < 0.05), as did atrial filling pressures (LAP and RAP), LAP from 21.3 +/- 5.5 to 15.9 +/- 2.9 and RAP from 16.6 +/- 2.3 to 13.7 +/- 2.1 mmHg (both p < 0.01). The heart rate rose by only 5%. Enoximone therapy was maintained by a continuous infusion (5-7.5 micrograms/kg/min) for 40.6 +/- 8.6 hours (range 14-92). All hemodynamic parameters remained stable throughout treatment. Six patients died of sepsis and/or multiorgan failure but seven were discharged from hospital. Enoximone thus improved hemodynamic performance significantly in cardiogenic shock after open-heart surgery. It also has proved valuable in cardiac failure when conventional therapy was unsuccessful.

Aged

Reoperation and the centrifugal pump?

Postperfusion syndrome is still a problem in long cardiac operations using extracorporeal circulation (ECC). To evaluate whether or not centrifugal blood pumping during open heart surgery is beneficial, a randomized, prospective study was undertaken of 50 consecutive patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting. The patients were divided into two groups of 25 each. In group 1 a centrifugal pump (Biomedicus) was used as arterial blood pump, while in group 2 a roller pump (Stöckert) was used. The two groups did not differ significantly and the number of variables during surgery was kept low (identical perfusion set, two surgeons, minimal cardiotomy suction). The parameters studied included the cellular elements of the blood and components indicating their functional integrity, such as PMN-elastase, plasma hemoglobin, beta-thromboglobulin, and thrombin-antithrombin III complex and D-dimer as representatives for activated coagulation and secondary fibrinolysis. Blood and urine samples were taken every 15 min during ECC, on arrival in the intensive care unit, and 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h thereafter. No difference between the groups was found in regard to bypass time, ECC flow and volume, fluid balance, and clinical outcome. Significant differences in favor of group 1 were found in plasma hemoglobin (P less than 0.05), beta-thromboglobulin (P less than 0.01), D-dimer (P less than 0.05), and platelet counts (P less than 0.5). These differences were clearly ECC-time-dependent and became statistically significant after 90 min bypass. We conclude that roller pumps still can be safely used for standard cardiac procedures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged

[Diagnostic goals in aortic dissection. Value of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography].

The combination of different ultrasound techniques like transthoracic, suprasternal, subcostal and transesophageal echocardiography have a high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of aortic dissection. The limitation of this combined ultrasound technique is related to the visualization of the ascending part of the aortic arch which, cause of the interposition of the trachea, can not be visualized completely. The beginning or the end of a dissection in this part of the aorta may be misinterpreted. False negative results are rare. False positive results due to artefacts resulting from reverberations in an ectatic ascending aorta have to be taken into account. The most important diagnostic aims in acute or chronic aortic dissection can be described: 1. confirmation of the diagnosis by visualization of the intima membrane, 2. the differentiation of the true and false lumen depending on visualization of spontaneous echocardiographic contrast thrombus formation, slow or reduced reversed flow, systolic diameter reduction and signs of entry jet into the false lumen, 3. detection of intimal tear, demonstrating communication by two-dimensional or color Doppler echocardiography, 4. determination of the extent of the dissection with classification according to DeBakey type I, II and III or Stanford A and B with differentiation to communicating or non-communicating dissection, antegrade or retrograde dissection limited to the descending aorta or expanding to the ascending aorta, 5. detection of wall motion abnormalities as a sign of preexisting coronary artery disease or myocardial ischemia due to ostium occlusion by an intimal flap, coronary artery rupture or collapse of the true lumen during diastole, 6. detection and grading of aortic insufficiency, 7. detection of side branch involvement by suprasternal, subcostal and abdominal sonography, which will gain the information which side can be chosen for cannulation or catheterization at the femoral artery, 8. detection of pericardial pleural effusion and mediastinal hematoma as a sign of emergency as rupture can occur within minutes. Without surgical intervention have be performed. Based on these informations, surgery can be performed in all acute situations in type A dissection without further investigations. This decision is particularly important in patients with signs of emergency like pericardial or pleural effusion or mediastinal hematoma.

Aortic Dissection

[Surgical therapy of thoracic aortic dissection].

Considerable surgical progress of treating aortic dissection has been achieved during the past decade. The emergency indication for acute dissection of the ascending aorta (type A according to the Stanford classification) is unquestioned while surgical treatment for acute dissection of the descending aorta (type B dissection) is mainly reserved for complicated cases. The major complication of acute operations--fatal hemorrhage from the suture line and secondary multi-organ failure--have been successfully reduced by a progress of cardiopulmonary bypass techniques, the introduction of cold cardioplegic myocardial protection, the development of modern suture materials and glues and last not least by a continuous intensive monitoring. Especially the introduction of the so-called french glue safely enabled both the closure of the false lumen as well as the strong reinforcement of the diseased aortic wall and seems to offer a reliable alternative to the application of multi-layered teflon strips. Since the principle of all reconstructive approaches in case of dissection consists of closure of dissected layers and the limited replacement of the segment that is susceptible to a rupture the exact readaptation and reinforcement of the diseased aortic wall represents a fundamental operative step. In type A operations the supracoronary aortic prosthetic replacement or the combined replacement of ascending aorta plus aortic valve followed by the reattachment of coronary arteries has become the standard operative technique. In fact, independently from the location of the primary intimal tear the operation has been traditionally limited to replace the ascending aorta in order to remove an aortic segment that is most likely to rupture. Yet an increasing number of follow-up investigations has demonstrated recurrence of dissection or an aneurysmatical dilatation of the false lumen in about 20% of patients treated with ascending aortic replacement. Consequently, repair of the aortic transverse arch and the radical elimination of the intimal entry is now favoured by an increasing number of surgeons. In addition to these various perioperative and intraoperative adjuncts the introduction of new imaging techniques, especially computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and transesophageal echocardiography allowed to establish adequate therapeutical concepts on a more rational basis. Transesophageal echocardiography as a mobile diagnostic device enables investigators to perform a bed-side dynamic visualization of both the location and extent of a dissection, the evaluation of ventricular performance and aortic competence. Treatment of acute type B dissection is mainly conservative unless complications like intractable pain, aneurysmatic enlargement of the false lumen, ischemia of visceral organs or even rupture occur.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Anastomosis, Surgical

Effects of tolazoline and prostacyclin on pulmonary hypertension in infants after cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the hemodynamic effects of tolazoline and prostacyclin in infants with pulmonary vasospasm after cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Pediatric ICU. PATIENTS: The cohort consisted of 42 infants and children with congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension who underwent corrective surgery and were monitored postoperatively using pulmonary artery catheters. Fourteen infants (2 to 12 months old) in this group required postoperative treatment with tolazoline or prostacyclin. INTERVENTIONS: Tolazoline was administered as a bolus of 0.5 mg/kg for treatment of persistent pulmonary hypertension or acute pulmonary hypertensive crisis. If its effectiveness was proved after 30 mins by hemodynamic measurements, a continuous iv infusion of 0.5 mg/kg/hr was established. Higher doses of tolazoline were avoided. If tolazoline treatment did not fulfill the criteria for pulmonary vasodilation, prostacyclin was given by continuous iv infusion at a starting rate of 5 ng/kg/min, followed by 10 ng/kg/min. In three patients, the infusion rate was increased to 15 ng/kg/min. RESULTS: Bolus administration of tolazoline resulted in a distinct pulmonary vasodilation in seven infants: mean pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance decreased by an average of 35% and 45%, respectively. In these patients, tolazoline was infused over the following 12 to 72 hrs. One infant who received tolazoline for 72 hrs developed a clinically important gastrointestinal hemorrhage. In seven nonresponders to tolazoline, prostacyclin (PGI2) at an infusion rate of 5 ng/kg/min led to pulmonary vasodilation in five patients, at an iv infusion rate of 10 ng/kg/min in all seven infants studied. The latter dose of PGI2 reduced the mean pulmonary artery pressure by an average of 37%, and pulmonary vascular resistance by 43%. Transient withdrawal of prostacyclin in five infants demonstrated its short half-life and clinical effectiveness. Apart from a facial flush, no side-effects were encountered using PGI2 as an infusion over durations ranging from 12 to 504 hrs. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that, if tolazoline in a relatively low dose proves to be inefficient, prostacyclin can still be used as a safe and effective drug for treatment of pulmonary vasospasm. Prostacyclin offers more than a pharmacologic alternative to increased tolazoline dosages.

Drug Evaluation

[Revascularization of heterotopic isotransplants of the rat trachea using an omentum flap].

Donor airway ischemia remains a significant problem following lung transplantation. An acceleration of local bronchial revascularization would be advantageous for bronchial healing. In the present study, the quantitative effects of omentopexy on tracheal revascularization and epithelial regeneration were investigated in a heterotopic rat tracheal isograft model. Tracheal segments were harvested from donor rats and heterotopically implanted into the omentum of syngeneic recipient rats. Tracheal segments were wrapped for 2 days (group 2), 7 days (group 3) or 14 days (group 4). Tracheal segments in group 1 were harvested and not re-implanted. Following sacrifice of the animals after 2, 7 or 14 days, the vascularity of the tracheas and the tracheal epithelial morphology were assessed histologically using morphometric image analysis. The vascularity of tracheal segments was significantly higher in group 1 (native tracheas) compared to all other groups. Vascularity in group 4 segments (omental wrap for 14 days) was significantly greater than in group 3 segments (omental wrap for 7 days). Tracheal epithelial morphology was characterized by non-confluent single epithelial cells at day 2, a confluent multilayered nonciliated epithelium after 7 days of omental wrap and a morphologically normal epithelium after 14 days of omental wrap. Our new heterotopic rat tracheal isograft model allows histologic assessment and quantification of local revascularization and epithelial regeneration of tracheal segments by omentopexy.

Anastomosis, Surgical

Evaluation of the healing of precoated vascular dacron prostheses.

Knitted and woven Dacron grafts commercially coated with bovine collagen, gelatin and human albumin were implanted end-to-side between the infrarenal aorta and the bifurcation in 35 growing pigs. Grafts were explanted after 4, 8 and 12 weeks and compared to 6 uncoated knitted prostheses preclotted with blood that served as a control. Uncoated grafts rapidly developed a firmly attached neointima lined with endothelium. Compared with coated grafts the thrombus-free area of uncoated grafts was significantly larger (P less than 0.05). The slow resorption of albumin resulted in a delayed and incomplete neointimal healing and failing graft incorporation. Although the bovine collagen was only minimally cross-linked by formaldehyde, healing of the neointima was compromised in a thin woven graft that demonstrated peeling of the inner capsule even after 12 weeks. The identical collagen as well as bovine gelatin were quickly degraded in knitted grafts and both types showed transprosthetic infiltration at 4 weeks. All knitted grafts coated with either collagen or gelatin, however, were occluded after 8 and 12 weeks. Light microscopy revealed hyperplasia of smooth-muscle cells within the thickened distal anastomotic region. These results demonstrate that a timely return of porosity is mandatory for the development and maintenance of an intact neointima. Both the structure of the fabric as well as the method of preparing the coating are crucial variables to determine the rate of biodegradation.

Animals

PTCA of the left main stem following protective coronary artery bypass grafting.

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was performed in 14 patients with significant left main stem stenosis following protective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The procedure was successful in 13/14 patients (93%), achieving a decrease in mean diameter stenosis from 74% +/- 7% to 31% +/- 12% (P less than 0.01). Accordingly, the absolute stenosis diameter increased from 0.9 mm +/- 0.3 mm to 2.4 mm +/- 0.5 mm (P less than 0.01). Dissection of the left main stem artery and a transient significant fall of blood pressure each occurred in one patient. No other serious complications were noted. Eight of 13 patients (62%) with successful PTCA underwent control angiography. Restenosis had occurred in 3 of 8 patients (38%) with total occlusion of the left main stem in 1 patient. All bypass grafts were found to be patent at follow-up. Clinical evaluation in all 14 patients revealed no serious events (death, myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization procedure) during a mean follow-up period of 27 months (range 6-39 months). PTCA of the left main stem following CABG can be considered a relatively safe and effective procedure with a marked restenosis-rate but beyond that, an uncomplicated long-term follow-up.

Adult

Resection of central primary pulmonary artery sarcoma.

Primary sarcomas of the pulmonary arteries are rare, and the diagnosis is in the majority of the reported cases established postmortem. Surgical resection of these centrally located tumors has been performed either by pneumonectomy and/or local tumor resection. We report on two patients with sarcomas of the central pulmonary arteries who underwent successful resection of the tumor and prosthetic replacement of the arteries under cardiopulmonary bypass. One patient required additional thromboendarterectomy of the right pulmonary artery branches because of secondary thrombus formation. As primary pulmonary artery sarcomas are refractory to both chemotherapy and radiation, surgical resection remains the only means of treatment. The prognosis depends entirely upon resectability, which, if necessary, should be performed with the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass. In this way, lung resection may be avoided.

Adult

Identification of abscess formation in native-valve infective endocarditis using transesophageal echocardiography: implications for surgical treatment.

The object of the study was to follow patients with endocarditis-associated abscesses in order to evaluate the clinical outcome with and without surgical intervention. Transesophageal echocardiography successfully displayed the location and extent of abscess cavities in 14 patients (group A) with aortic valve endocarditis. The infective process was limited to the perivalvular tissue in two, extended into the ascending aorta in six, and included the interventricular septum, the right ventricular outflow tract, interatrial septum, and/or mitral valve annulus in six patients. The complication rate was significantly higher in group A than in group B, which consisted of 27 patients with proven signs of endocarditis but without endocarditis-associated abscesses. The complication rates were embolic events 64.3% in group A vs 29.6% in group B, need for surgery in 64.3% vs 18.5%, and death in 50.0% vs 3.7%, respectively. The duration of fever--as a marker of an active infective process--before diagnosis and the onset of adequate treatment was significantly higher in group A than in group B (46.7 +/- 8.4 days vs 7.7 +/- 2.6 days). Organisms were isolated in 71.4% in group A and in all patients of group B. Streptococcal infections were noted in A in 54.5% vs 44.4% in B., staphylococcal in 27.3% vs 40.7%. Initial surgical repair in 9 of 14 patients in A (64.3%) included nine aortic valve and one mitral valve prosthesis implantations, two aortic valve-annulus reconstructive procedures, one dacron patch closure, and three partial resections of the aorta ascendens with end-to-end anastomosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abscess

Healing parameters of a new albumin-coated knitted Dacron graft.

Knitted dacron grafts commercially coated with human albumin were implanted end-to-side between the infrarenal aorta and the bifurcation in 9 growing pigs. Uncoated knitted dacron grafts implanted in 6 pigs served as a control. Grafts were explanted after 4, 8, and 12 weeks and evaluated for neointimal healing, peeling of the inner and outer capsule, extent of neoendothelialization, absorption of the sealant, interstitial infiltration, and perigraft inflammation. Toxicological in-vitro analysis included the evaluation of residual aldehydes and plasticizers. In contrast to the uncoated knitted prosthesis, which rapidly developed a layered neointima with complete neoendothelialization, only islands of neointima were found in albumin-coated grafts after 4 weeks. The neointima remained incomplete at 8 and 12 weeks with scanning electron microscopic evidence of sharply demarcated endothelial areas. No transprosthetic bridging was detectable even after 12 weeks and peeling of the inner and outer capsule was easily provocable. These results outline that the cellular and connective infiltration of the prosthetic wall is compromised unless degradation of the sealant is completed within four weeks: the neointimal development is delayed and graft incorporation fails, leaving the outer capsule unattached.

Albumins