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Biomedical subjects

J Berning

Publications and source records attributed to J Berning.

70 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Effect of amiodarone in the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. A clinical and electrophysiological study.

Six patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome were given long-term treatment with amiodarone. Symptomatic relief was obtained in all. Tolerance to the drug was good. Reversible corneal changes appeared after some weeks' treatment in five patients. No thyroid side-effects were noticed. Prior to treatment, dual atrioventricular (AV) conduction was demonstrated on His bundle electrograms in all six patients. Recordings were made at varied heart rates, using atrial and ventricular pacing. Reciprocating tachycardia was readily provoked by properly timed extra stimuli in all patients. When amiodarone treatment had become clinically effective, a second comparative study was made in four patients after 26--85 days' treatment. Amiodarone reduced heart rate and second degree AV block appeared at a lower atrial pacing rate. It increased the refractory periods of right atrium, AV node, and the accessory pathway in proportion to the duration of treatment. Induction of tachycardia was effectively prevented by the drug. It appears that amiodarone in chronic treatment has a predictable and unique depressant action on cardiac conduction, supporting the opinion that this compound, despite side-effects, has an important role to play in the treatment of refractory arrhythmias in patients with the WPW syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

The diagnostic challenge of left atrial myxoma. Importance of echocardiographic screening.

Left atrial myxomas are extremely difficult to diagnose since their variable manifestations mimic a host of clinical entities more commonly seen, e.g. mitral stenosis, endocarditis, rheumatic fever, cardiomyopathy or mesenchymosis. At the same time, early diagnosis followed by prompt surgical removal are mandatory to prevent mutilating or lethal complications of the tumor. Six cases of left atrial myxoma were diagnosed in our hospital during 2 1/2 years. We present the case histories, diagnostic procedures and surgical findings, consolidating the unique role of echocardiography in detecting left atrial myxomas. We propose the use of echocardiography as a screening examination for atrial myxomas in the following settings: suspected mitral obstructive disease, suspected endocarditis with negative blood cultures, peripheral embolism or thrombosis in young patients, unexplained cardiac failure and mesenchymosis with uncharacteristic presentation.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Mitral valve replacement in infective endocarditis as prophylaxis against embolism. Identification of patients at risk by 2-dimensional echocardiography.

A 36-yr-old woman and a 46-yr-old man had infective endocarditis of the mitral valve. Examination by 2-dimensional dynamic echocardiography demonstrated large mobile vegetations in both patients, and the display pointed to an ominous risk of embolism. Heart surgery with valve replacement was performed, the main indication being prophylaxis against embolism; the operative findings seemed to justify the assumption of imminent risk of embolism. It is suggested that the display of dynamic morphology of valvular vegetations by 2-dimensional echocardiography can be useful in identifying a subset of patients at high risk of embolism during infective endocarditis. However, more experience is needed before definite conclusions can be drawn regarding the role of early operation as prophylaxis against impending embolism.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Single and multiple beam echocardiography in aortic valve endocarditis. Report of three cases.

Three patients with aortic valve endocarditis were studied. The single beam M-mode echocardiographic findings comprised the appearance in diastole of a cluster of shaggy echoes at the aortic valve in all three patients. Mitral flutter was seen in two patients and premature closure of the mitral valve in one patient. At multiple beam two-dimensional echocardiography, the echo cluster could in all three patients be seen to move perpendicular to the sound beams, ascending into the aorta in systole and descending in diastole. At valve replacement, vegetations were found that explained the abnormal echo cluster. The multiple beam echocardiography facilitated the interpretation of the single beam findings and increased the confidence therein. By applying the non-invasive modality of echocardiography in these patients with their high risk of embolism, cardiac catheterization may possibly be avoided.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Permanent pacemaker treatment at Gentofte hospital. A follow-up study with special reference to transvenous electrode complications, generator longevity and control procedures.

Results of a follow-up study of 125 patients treated with permanent pacemakers at Gentofte Hospital during the years 1962--1973 are presented. Complications with endocardial electrodes are reported and longevity curves of pacemaker units are given. The series shows a high frequency of electrode displacement in the first three months and battery exhaustion from the 18th to the 42nd month. The appearance of complications correlates with the frequences of check-up intervals. In order to predict pacing failure due to battery exhaustion, there would seem to be some merit in carrying out an oscilloscopic display of the pulse artifact in addition to the usual measurement of pulse frequency. The aim of this retrospective report is, by analysing a pacemaker series for sudden eletrode failures and battery longevity, to comment on the value of check-up procedures in an outpatient pacemaker clinic.

Adult↗