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J Algar

Publications and source records attributed to J Algar.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Airway complications after lung transplantation: a review of 151 anastomoses.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the incidence, treatment and follow up of airway complications after lung transplantation. METHODS: From October 1993 to April 2000, 104 lung transplants were performed in 101 patients. One hundred and fifty one bronchial anastomoses at risk were included in the study (29 single lung and 61 sequential double lung). Donor lungs were flushed both antegradely and retrogradely with Eurocollins. In the recipients, either a single or a sequential bilateral lung transplantation was performed when indicated. The bronchial anastomosis was telescoped and covered with peribronchial tissue in all cases. Postoperative fiberoptic bronchoscopic examinations were dictated by clinical grounds. Recipient variables were recorded and analyzed to assess possible differences between both complicated and non-complicated groups. RESULTS: Eight bronchial anastomotic complications (5.3%) occurred in six patients (6.8%). All complicated cases developed in sequential bilateral lung recipients (P=0.08): stenosis (n=5), granulation tissue (n=2), and bronchial dehiscence (n=1). Treatment consisted of lobectomy and subsequent completion pneumonectomy in one patient, rigid bronchoscopy dilation in two, balloon bronchodilation in two, laser debridement and stenting in one, and conservative therapy in two cases. One patient with severe sepsis and bronchial dehiscence died on day +30. The rest of the patients remain well so far. Airway complications were related to longer intubation periods (P<0.01). Other perioperative donor and recipient factors including the incidence of infections and acute rejection episodes, and actuarial survival, did not differ between groups. CONCLUSION: In our experience, the incidence of airway complications after lung transplantation is 5.3%. The careful surgical technique and organ preservation, the close surveillance of rejection and infection, and early postoperative extubation might play a role in reducing this incidence. Either surgical therapy or bronchoscopic dilation and stenting methods may contribute to resolve these complications.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Percutaneous interventions on severe coarctation of the aorta: a 21-year experience.

Different percutaneous interventions can be used to treat coarctation of the aorta. However, a great amount of information is still needed regarding the long-term course. This article reviews our experience spanning 21 years in the percutaneous treatment of aortic coarctation. Four different conditions for treatment were considered. The first condition 1 (group 1) was balloon angioplasty in neonates and infants with untractable heart failure (n = 54; mean age, 1.2 +/- 1.4 months). After balloon angioplasty, most infants sustained significant clinical improvement. However, 9 patients died in the hospital (17%). As a result, we monitored the course of the 45 survivors during a mean period of 10 +/- 6 years (range, 1-19). During this follow-up period, 17 patients needed a single additional intervention on coarctation (8 underwent surgery and 9 were treated percutaneously). After this second treatment, 11 patients needed one or more further interventions. The actuarial survival probability was 83% at 19 years, with 43% of patients remaining surgery free and 23% reintervention free. The second condition (group 2) was balloon angioplasty in children and adults with coarctation of the aorta before the stenting era (n = 28; mean age, 13 +/- 8 years). After treatment, serial hemodynamic and angiographic studies were performed. The long-term relief was higher in patients with a discrete type of coarctation. The rate of late aneurysm formation was 6%. The third condition (group 3) was stent palliation in infants and children younger than the age of 6 years (n = 17; mean age, 2.1 +/- 1.7 years). The stent was implanted for nondilatable stenoses, as a nondefinitive procedure. Stent palliation provides complete initial relief in hypoplastic coarctations or life-threatening conditions. However, further stent expansion is required to ensure adequate stent diameter in the growing aortic wall. In addition, late intrastent proliferation may occur in small stent diameters (18%) and aneurysm formation in hypoplastic coarctations (18%). Both late complications can be managed percutaneously. The fourth condition (group 4) was stent repair of severe aortic coarctation in adults, adolescents, and children older than the age of 6 years (n = 73; mean age, 20 +/- 12 years). Significant relief was observed after treatment, which persisted at follow-up. One patient died at treatment (1.3%). After a mean follow-up of 5 +/- 3 years, all 72 patients remained symptom free and no restenosis or late aneurysm were detected.

Adolescent↗