Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J G Talbert.
A method to expose the circumflex coronary artery in its course in the atrioventricular groove is introduced. No special equipment or assistance is required. This method also can be applied to expose the obtuse marginal branches of the circumflex coronary artery. Adverse effects have not been observed.
Six cases of treatment of severe accidental hypothermia using cardiopulmonary bypass for core rewarming are reported and eleven cases from the literature are analyzed. Thirteen patients survived. Overall survival was more likely in patients who had vital signs initially. Initial mean core temperatures in the new cases was 22.8 C. Surface and conventional core rewarming methods resulted in an average temperature increase of 2.4 C per hr. Electrical defibrillation was generally without success until the core temperature had been raised to above 30 C. Between one and six hours after admission, partial femoral-femoral cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for core rewarming was started, causing a mean temperature increase of 9.5 C per hr. Four patients required a thoracotomy. Two patients had a massively dilated heart with contusions, and could not be weaned off bypass. None of the four long-term survivors had a demonstrable central nervous system (CNS) deficit. All patients developed temporary pulmonary problems; two developed wound infections. The average hospital stay was 21 days. CPB for core rewarming allows circulatory support while avoiding myocardial damage from prolonged external cardiac massage; rapidly increases the myocardial temperature and counteracts myocardial temperature gradients so that DC electroversion is successful; avoids "rewarming shock"; and improves microcirculatory flow. A prospective randomized trial to compare rapid surface rewarming and CPB rewarming is suggested. Immediate CPB for rewarming is recommended for patients in ventricular fibrillation with core temperatures below 30 C. Prolonged external cardiac massage (ECM) should not be used. The value of surface rewarming and non-CPB core rewarming methods remains undefined.
A 23-year-old woman was involved in an automobile accident and sustained a double traumatic rupture of the aorta, at the isthmus distal to the left subclavian artery and at the base of the innominate artery. A successful repair was accomplished within 4 hours of the injury using profound hypothermia and total circulatory arrest. To our knowledge, this case represents the first successful surgical repair of a double traumatic rupture of the aorta. Followup at 2 years showed an excellent postoperative recovery and the patient gainfully employed.
During a consecutive 17 month period, 15 trauma patients were diagnosed as having a myocardial contusion on the basis of abnormal ECG in 14 patients, elevated creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) in 13 patients, and elevated CPK-Muscle Brain (CPK-MB) isoenzyme determination in 11 patients. Using these screening modalities, the incidence of myocardial contusion in patients with blunt chest trauma increased from 7% when viewed retrospectively to 15% when viewed prospectively. Five patients had determinations of cardiac index of which 4 were less than 2.9 L/min . M2. An additional 9 patients underwent a standard fluid challenge of 500 ml of 5% plasma protein faction infused over 30 min allowing construction of a Starling myocardial performance curve. Of these patients, 6 had biventricular dysfunction, 1 had isolated abnormal left ventricular function, and 2 had isolated abnormal right ventricular function in the absence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or preexisting heart disease. Multiple gated acquisition scans (MUGA) were abnormal in 6 patients and normal in 4 patients. Of the latter group, 3 had biventricular dysfunction and 1 had depressed cardiac index. Morbidity and mortality for myocardial contusion occurred in 40% (6 of 15) of patients in this series. Direct hemodynamic measurement with construction of a Starling curve was useful in monitoring the degree of impairment and subsequent recovery of myocardial function. This information was important in delaying semiurgent operations or in determining the best alternative of otherwise equally acceptable methods of patient management.
In order to assess the relative utility and reliability of peritoneal lavage as an aid in the management of patients with penetrating trauma, 709 patients (353 penetrating; 356 blunt) with trauma to the lower chest and/or abdomen were evaluated prospectively during 23 consecutive months. There were 144 true-positive, 14 false-positive, 524 true-negative, and 27 false-negative lavages for an error rate of 5.8 per cent (41/709). Intra-abdominal injury was present in 27 per cent of 15 patients with shotgun injuries, 54 per cent of 141 patients with gunshot injuries, and 24 per cent of 197 patients with stab wounds. The sensitivity, specificity, and test value of peritoneal lavage in this series was high and comparable in both penetrating and blunt trauma during the initial diagnostic evaluation of the trauma patient. The error rates were comparable in penetrating and blunt trauma; however, false-positive lavages occurred more frequently in blunt trauma and false-negative lavages occurred more frequently in penetrating trauma (p = .0022). Peritoneal lavage can be extremely useful in the initial evaluation of penetrating trauma of all types.