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Biomedical subjects

J J Lamberti

Publications and source records attributed to J J Lamberti.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

The cryopreserved homograft valve in the pulmonary position: mid-term results and technical considerations.

Since September 1985, 60 cryopreserved homograft valves (12 aortic and 48 pulmonary) have been implanted in the pulmonary position in 56 patients. There were 34 primary operations and 26 reoperations. The ages ranged from 15 days to 22 years; the follow-up ranged from 1 month to 5 1/2 years. The operative mortality was 3.3% (2/56). There were two late deaths (not valve related). Five patients underwent replacement of the homograft; in one patient the homograft was replaced with a heterograft valve. Pathological analysis of the explanted homografts revealed calcification of the wall with satisfactory leaflet function. The leaflets were relatively acellular. No evidence of inflammation or rejection was detected. Four explants were performed for nonvalve-related indications. There are 51 long-term survivors with a homograft in place. Forty-eight are in excellent condition; three are mildly symptomatic (not valve related). Benign pulmonary insufficiency murmurs are present in 29 patients. The presence of trivial or mild insufficiency was independent of the technique of implantation. In general, cryopreserved homograft valves function well in the right ventricular outflow tract. Longer term follow-up is necessary to confirm the superiority of the cryopreserved homograft when compared to the porcine heterograft in the right ventricular outflow tract.

Adolescent↗

The bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt.

The bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt improves systemic arterial oxygen saturation without increasing ventricular work or pulmonary vascular resistance. Since 1983, 17 patients have undergone a cavopulmonary shunt procedure (five primary operations, 12 secondary operations). Diagnoses were single ventricle complex (n = 4), hypoplastic right heart syndrome (n = 10), and hypoplastic left ventricle (n = 3). Age at primary operation ranged from 3 1/2 to 30 months (median 6 months). Weight ranged from 3.5 to 9.7 kg. Age at secondary operation ranged from 10 months to 14 years (median 15 months). Seven cavopulmonary shunt operations were performed without cardiopulmonary bypass (six via thoracotomy and one via sternotomy) and 10, with cardiopulmonary bypass. All patients in the bypass group had additional procedures: takedown of modified Blalock-Taussig shunt, seven patients; revision of right ventricular outflow tract, four patients; reconstruction of pulmonary arteries, four patients; tricuspid valvuloplasty, one patient; and Damus procedure, one patient. There was one (1/17) operative death (Damus procedure). One patient required early revision. Follow-up ranges from 1 to 53 months (median 23 months). Twelve of 16 had a good to excellent late result, with a rise in mean arterial oxygen saturation from 69% to 83%. Three patients died late (4 to 53 months) (pulmonary vascular disease, pulmonary arteriovenous malformations, and pneumonia, one patient each). There was one late failure (converted to Glenn shunt). The cavopulmonary shunt is an excellent palliative procedure when right atrium-pulmonary artery connection (modified Fontan) must be deferred because of age, weight, or anatomic considerations. Five patients have undergone right atrium-pulmonary artery connection later. In addition, at the time of the modified Fontan operation, the cavopulmonary shunt approach may optimize the anatomic connection (eight additional patients).

Adolescent↗

Late reoperation for systemic atrioventricular valve regurgitation after repair of congenital heart defects.

Since 1979, 17 infants and children have undergone reoperation for systemic atrioventricular (AV) valve regurgitation 6 weeks to 7 years after repair of congenital heart defects. Prior operations were repair of incomplete or complete AV canal (14 patients), Mustard repair of complex transposition of the great arteries including ventricular septal defect closure (2 patients), or first-stage operation for hypoplastic left heart (1 patient). Age ranged from 6 months to 11 years. In 12 of the 17 patients (10, AV canal; 1, transposition; 1, hypoplastic left heart), valve reconstruction was possible. Operative techniques included a combination of septal cleft approximation, leaflet resection, commissural annuloplasty, or ring annuloplasty. There were no operative deaths, and there were no reoperations in the repair group. The condition of these patients has improved. Follow-up ranges from 1 month to 9 years (mean follow-up, 4.1 years). Five of the 17 patients (4, AV canal; 1, transposition) underwent valve replacement. There were no operative deaths. Follow-up ranges from 3 to 8 years. Three patients later underwent re-replacement of the prosthetic valve; there was 1 late death. The condition of all 4 survivors is improved. Substantial AV valve regurgitation can occur months or years after repair of congenital heart defects. A combination of reconstructive techniques may be useful in preserving native valve function and avoiding systemic AV valve replacement.

Child↗

Durability of the viable aortic allograft.

Of 581 aortic allografts implanted since 1967, 421 were analyzed for structural deterioration. This series is unique in that it includes patients from the early allograft experience. All allografts were cleanly procured, antibiotic sterilized, and either stored at 4 degrees C for up to 8 weeks or frozen to liquid nitrogen temperatures with cryopreservation to preserve the viable cusp fibroblasts. There were 25 frozen mounted aortic valves with a median time to valve failure of 12.1 years, which was not significantly different from the 12.5-year period for 114 fresh free-sewn aortic valves. The median time to valve failure was 6.6 years for 90 fresh-mounted aortic valves and 8.6 years for 192 fresh-mounted mitral valves (p = 0.05). The difference between all mounted and unmounted grafts was significant (p = 0.0001). In all groups, viable fibroblasts were present in specimens explanted up to 5 years after the operation. All specimens returned after more than 10 years were almost totally acellular. Evidence of increased collagen, suggesting that the fibroblasts survive implantation and then gradually die, was present in all specimens. This series suggests that durability of the unmounted viable allograft for aortic valve replacement is greater than for other types of tissue valves. Pre-mounted allografts for aortic or mitral valve replacement have a median survival of 8 years and are not more durable than other tissue valves.

Aortic Valve↗

The cryopreserved homograft valve in the pulmonary position: early results and technical considerations.

Since September, 1985, 20 patients have undergone implantation of a homograft valve in the pulmonary position (16 pulmonary, 4 aortic). There were 11 primary operations and 9 reoperations. In 7 of 11 primary operations the homograft valve was utilized as a composite conduit with a short Dacron extension. In four of five reoperations for a failed porcine valved conduit, a composite homograft conduit was used. Four patients underwent implantation of a free homograft in a previously repaired right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). Age ranged from 15 days to 22 years. There was one operative death (5%), a seven-week-old infant with truncus arteriosus. Long-term follow-up ranges from 1 to 30 months. Clinical performance has been satisfactory in 18 of 19 patients. One patient undergoing free implantation of a pulmonary valve in the RVOT required replacement at 18 months with a porcine valve. In this patient, pulmonary insufficiency was caused by distortion of the annulus secondary to dilatation and pulmonary hypertension. Nine of 18 survivors do not require medication. Eleven of 18 have trivial to mild pulmonary insufficiency murmurs without symptomatology. The homograft valve is extremely useful in reconstruction of the right heart, however, early insufficiency murmurs have been noted. Distortion of the valve annulus may contribute to the early onset of a benign insufficiency murmur. Residual distal obstruction or pulmonary hypertension may be a contraindication to the use of a free homograft in the orthotopic position.

Adolescent↗

Balloon dilatation of stenotic right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery conduits.

In seven children with obstructed right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery conduits, balloon dilatation (BD) was performed 10-58 months after insertion of the conduit. Average valve gradient was reduced from 69 to 32 mmHg. Obstruction at the conduit-branch pulmonary artery connection became apparent after dilatation of the valve; these distal stenoses also were dilated. It is concluded that the useful lifetime of a right ventricle (RV) to pulmonary artery (PA) conduit may be extended by BD of an obstructed biological valve and/or BD of a stenotic conduit-pulmonary artery anastomosis.

California↗

Experience with Damus procedure.

Sixteen patients with complex cyanotic congenital heart disease underwent an operation involving the use of the aorta and the main pulmonary artery as the egress for systemic arterial blood flow (the Damus-Kaye-Stansell operation, modified as discussed). The indication for this approach was either preoperative aortic outlet obstruction or likelihood that the repair would produce such obstruction. A modification of the original technique is introduced that involves transection of both great arteries, anastomosis of the contiguous aortic and pulmonic walls, and connection of the distal aorta to the perimeter of the new (bivalved) great artery. Eleven of the 16 patients survived operation: six of six who underwent a concurrent Fontan operation, four of six who underwent a concurrent right-ventricle-to-pulmonary-artery-conduit procedure, and one of four who underwent a concurrent systemic-pulmonary shunt procedure. Postoperative status in the 11 survivors is good: one patient has a gradient from the left ventricle to the aorta, 10 of 11 have little or no aortic regurgitation, and the remaining patients have a normal physiological status. We conclude that the Damus procedure is a useful addition to the surgical armamentarium for treatment of certain types of cyanotic congenital heart disease.

Angiography↗

The conus with no great artery.

In three patients with complex cyanotic congenital heart disease, the conus was found to have no arterial outlet. The semilunar valves were at similar, caudad levels, and there was malposition of the great arteries. The aorta was related to the body--not the outflow portion--of the right ventricle in two patients with transposition and to the body of the left ventricle in one child with single ventricle. These cases confirm the independent embryological segregation of the conus and the truncus. Failure to recognize this condition can lead to erroneous relationship diagnoses and may adversely influence surgical decisions.

Arteries↗

Balloon dilatation of porcine bioprosthetic valves in the pulmonary position.

Balloon dilatation (BD) of bioprosthetic valves was investigated in vivo and in vitro. Four children with stenotic bioprosthetic porcine valves in the pulmonary position underwent BD of the valve 10 to 24 months after its insertion. Average valve gradient was reduced from 47.5 to 27 mm Hg. Obstruction at the conduit-branch pulmonary artery connection became apparent after dilatation of the valve. These distal stenoses were also dilated. BD technique was tested in vitro with the use of nonstenotic valves in fresh conduits. No damage to the valve or to the conduit was found when oversized balloons were used in a standard fashion or intentionally inflated until rupture. It is concluded that conduit replacement may be deferred by balloon dilatation of obstructed biological valves and/or a stenotic conduit-pulmonary artery anastomosis.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗

Long-term follow-up of viable frozen aortic homografts. A viable homograft valve bank.

There is currently a renewed interest in the use of both fresh and commercially available frozen homograft valves for children and young adults. This has prompted us to review a series of 32 patients who received frozen homograft valves for aortic replacement between 1973 and 1975. The cryogenic technique evolved to include the use of selected antibiotics and equilibrated dimethyl sulfoxide solution to freeze homografts at a rate of 1 degrees C per minute to liquid nitrogen temperatures of -196 degrees C. Histologic sections of experimental frozen valves explanted 6 months postoperatively revealed the presence of viable donor cells, and tissue culture demonstrated the reproductive capacity of cusp fibroblasts. Of the 32 frozen viable homografts implanted in this series, 23 were inserted as free-sewn aortic replacements and nine were premounted on stents before implantation in the aortic position. There were two operative deaths, and three valves failed as a result of the technical problems of mounting in one patient and surgical insertion of a free graft in two patients. Of the 22 patients who remained at long-term risk, 13% with free-sewn grafts and 57% with premounted valves underwent reoperation for valve failure. After 10 years of follow-up, 15 (68%) of these patients, 12 (80%) with free-sewn and three (43%) with premounted valves, are alive with their original valve in place. Actuarial analysis shows that 58% of the 32 valves implanted are functional at the beginning of the eleventh year. There have been six late deaths resulting in an overall actuarial patient survival rate of 79% at 10 years and 69% after 13 years. These clinical results are believed to add support to our current application of the frozen homograft in selected patients.

Adult↗

Anastomosis of systemic veins to pulmonary arteries for physiologic repair of asplenia syndrome.

In a patient with single ventricle, mitral atresia, common atrium, pulmonary stenosis, azygos continuation of the inferior vena cava and bilateral systemic artery--pulmonary artery anastomoses, the systemic veins were connected directly to the pulmonary arteries to achieve physiologic repair; the child was discharged five days after surgery and is asymptomatic three years postoperatively. This case illustrates the usefulness of azygos continuation of the inferior vena cava and emphasizes the need for low pulmonary artery pressure when a cavopulmonary anastomosis is done.

Angiography↗

Early extubation after surgical repair of congenital heart disease.

Of 220 pediatric patients recovering from surgical repair of congenital heart disease, 147 (67%) met our criteria for early extubation and were extubated either in the operating room or within 6 h after admission to the surgical ICU. The duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation correlated with the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass during surgical repair. In patients undergoing repair of ventricular septal defect, preoperative measures of pulmonary vascular status (PPA/PAO and RP/RS) also correlated with the duration of mechanical ventilation.

Adolescent↗

The obstructive subaortic conus.

Eleven children are reported who had stenosis under a malposed aorta with gradients of 20 to 76 mm Hg between the right ventricle and aorta. The subaortic obstruction was caused by hypertrophy of the foreshortened infundibulum and malalignment of the infundibular septum relative to the remainder of the ventricular septum. Of these 11 patients, nine had a ventricular septal defect and seven had coarctation of the aorta. Rightward deviation of the infundibulum and aorta produced an unusually long left main coronary artery that was compressed by the stent of a bioprosthetic conduit valve in one patient. Serial cardiac catheterization studies in four patients showed progressive stenosis in each. Subaortic stenosis can develop in patients with malposition of the aorta and the frequency may be greater than 5% since milder forms are likely to occur. The obstruction can be progressive. The left coronary artery may be particularly vulnerable to compression after operative repair with an extracardiac conduit.

Angiocardiography↗

Systemic-pulmonary shunts in infants and children. Early and late results.

From September, 1978, to January, 1983, 44 cyanotic infants and children underwent a systemic-pulmonary artery shunt for the treatment of reduced pulmonary blood flow. Age ranged from 18 hours to 4 years (mean age = 0.49 years). Weight ranged from 1.7 kg to 13.2 kg (mean weight = 4.9 kg). There were 12 classic Blalock-Taussig shunts, five central polytetrafluoroethylene shunts, six interposition modified Blalock-Taussig shunts, and 21 Great Ormond Street type of modified Blalock-Taussig shunts. No direct aorta-pulmonary artery anastomoses were performed. There was one postoperative death (1/44 = 2.3%) in a 1,700 gm neonate born with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum (shunt patent). Four shunts required early revision: one thrombosed central shunt, a kinked patent interposition Blalock-Taussig shunt, a small but patent Blalock-Taussig shunt, and one excessive Great Ormond Street type of Blalock-Taussig shunt. Two late deaths were probably shunt-related: one Blalock-Taussig and one central. All four types of shunts provided good palliation, but the Great Ormond Street type of Blalock-Taussig shunt is our preferred shunt because of (1) low operative risk, (2) predictable patency (100% in our series), (3) lack of distortion of pulmonary arterial anatomy, and (4) technical ease of insertion as well as takedown.

Birth Weight↗

Containing costs in the treatment of congenital heart disease.

In the Congenital Heart Program at San Diego Children's Hospital, alterations in medical practice have reduced costs without impairing quality or access. Pediatric cardiac catheterization was done in 483 consecutive elective patients without overnight hospital stay. Hospital readmission was required in one patient for psoas tendinitis. Avoiding overnight hospital stay minimized attendant risks of hospital care, lessened psychosocial trauma and reduced the average hospital bill by $493 (29%). Hospital stay was also reduced for elective surgical correction of congenital heart disease on a case-by-case basis. Review of 151 consecutive cases (1978 through 1982) showed a decrease in both preoperative days in hospital and postoperative days in an intensive care unit. The duration of the postoperative stay was shortened from 6.8 days in 1978-1979 to 4.4 days in 1982 (P <.05). No increase in morbidity and no mortality resulted from the shortened perioperative hospital stay. Financial savings from this process averaged $991 per procedure.Diagnostic tests were reassessed and many precatheterization laboratory tests were eliminated. Without change in new patients seen or surgical volume, the use of cardiac catheterization decreased from 241 procedures in 1981 to 161 in 1982 and the number of operations without catheterization increased (11 to 22, 1981 to 1982). No increase in surgical morbidity or mortality was found comparing those diagnosed only by echocardiography with those who had preoperative cardiac catheterization. The decrease of 80 catheterizations in one year resulted in a savings of $188,800.True cost containment (reducing cost without reducing quality) can be accomplished in congenital heart programs. Similar cost containments in other disciplines may also be achieved.

California↗

Repair of subdiaphragmatic total anomalous pulmonary venous connection without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Two neonates with asplenia syndrome, subdiaphragmatic total anomalous pulmonary venous connection, and pulmonary stenosis underwent a palliative operation without cardiopulmonary bypass. With the use of a side-biting clamp, and anastomosis was created between the pulmonary venous confluence and the right atrium. (Since children with asplenia syndrome have common mixing lesions, pulmonary venous drainage to the right atrium is not physiologically detrimental.) The descending vertical vein was ligated. A systemic-pulmonary shunt was performed. Both infants were discharged from the hospital less than 1 week after the operation. Both infants subsequently died, at 4 months and at 16 months of age. At autopsy, pulmonary venous drainage was unobstructed, with a surgical orifice 86% to 90% of the aortic anulus. We conclude that, in infants with asplenia syndrome and obstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage, relief of pulmonary venous obstruction can be accomplished without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Cardiopulmonary Bypass↗