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Biomedical subjects

J O Defraigne

Publications and source records attributed to J O Defraigne.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Acute diverticulitis in heart transplant recipients.

Immunosuppressed patients are susceptible to complicated diverticulitis, but reports of this complication are scarce in heart graft recipients. To estimate the prevalence of acute diverticulitis in heart graft recipients, we retrospectively reviewed the cases of diverticulitis in a series of 143 patients who underwent orthotopic heart transplantation in a period of 10 years. Six (4%) of these developed acute diverticulitis and required colectomy. All of them were male patients and were older than 50 years. Four patients underwent urgent laparotomy and colon resection with end colostomy (Hartmann procedure). The two other patients suffered from diverticulitis without generalized peritonitis and underwent laparoscopic sigmoidectomy with direct transanal end-to-end anastomosis. The postoperative outcomes of these six patients were satisfactory. As are other immunosuppressed patients, heart graft recipients are susceptible to diverticulitis. Early surgical management may be safe in well-compensated patients.

Abscess↗

Laparoscopic-assisted colectomy in heart transplant recipients.

Reports of laparoscopy in heart graft recipients are scarce and, to our knowledge, laparoscopic colectomy has not yet been reported in heart transplant patients. The magnitude and the tolerance of the hemodynamic changes induced by pneumoperitoneum are unknown in heart graft recipients, who have a denervated heart and are "preload-dependent". The authors report the clinical courses of 2 heart graft recipients who developed acute diverticulitis without perforation or peritonitis and who underwent laparoscopic-assisted colectomy without complications.

Abscess↗

Proximal migration of vena caval filters: report of two cases with operative retrieval.

Operative retrieval of two proximally migrated vena caval filters was performed in two patients, ages 42 and 45 years, respectively. In the first patient the filter was encrusted in the right ventricle, and in the second one the filter was found in the pulmonary artery. Both filters were retrieved under cardiopulmonary bypass via an incision in the right atrium and the pulmonary artery, respectively. These two observations underscore the risk of increased unwarranted indications and consequent higher complication rates of vena caval filters.

Adult↗

Diaspirin crosslinked hemoglobin (DCLHb): absence of increased free radical generation following administration in a rabbit model of renal ischemia and reperfusion.

In control rabbits, a renal ischemia of 60 min followed by 10 min of reperfusion resulted in an enhanced free radical production in cortical tissue, as assessed by a significant decrease of free glutathione (42%), protein-bound GSH (17%), and vitamin E (49%). In contrast, catalase or glutathione peroxidase activities were not affected by these experimental conditions. Free radical production in this model was also measured directly using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy associated with a PBN (alpha-phenyl N-tert-butyl-nitrone) spin trap agent in the venous blood arising from the ischemic kidney. The signal consisted of a triplet of doublets. In contrast, no signal could be detected in control blood samples taken prior to inducing ischemia. The burst of free radical production occurred in the early phase after restoration of flow in the kidneys rendered ischemic, as evidenced by a signal of weak intensity which generally appeared within the third minute after reperfusion and progressively increased to form a well-defined asymmetric signal following 10 min of reperfusion. The precise nature of free radicals trapped by the PBN agent remains, however, to be elucidated, but analysis of the coupling constants (aN = 14.5-15 G; a beta H = 2.5-3 G) and asymmetry of the central doublets suggests that the ESR signal may arise from a nitorxy-radical adduct resulting from the spin trapping by PBN of both oxygen- or carbon-centered radicals of lipid origin. As evidenced by both direct and indirect measurements, exchange of rabbit blood immediately after inducing renal ischemia with 30 ml/kg of Diaspirin Crosslinked Hemoglobin (7.5 g/dl in lactated electrolyte) or human serum albumin (7.5 g/dl in lactated electrolyte) did not exacerbate free radical production mediated by an ischemia reperfusion phenomenon, a typical situation found in a resuscitation setting.

Animals↗

Successful abdominal aortic aneurysm resection in long-term survivors of cardiac transplantation.

With the improvement of survival rates following cardiac transplantation, the probability of recipients developing extracardiac disease is increased. Three cases are reported of abdominal aortic aneurysm successfully operated on in cardiac allograft recipients 1 to 4 years after transplantation. Indications for transplantation were valvular, idiopathic and ischaemic cardiomyopathy. Post-transplant hypertension and hyperlipidaemia may have played a role in the rapid growth of the aneurysms. Cardiac function and the incidence of graft atherosclerosis were assessed before surgery by coronary angiography. All three patients were discharged from hospital. Abdominal aortic aneurysm resection may be a safe procedure in cardiac transplant patients. In view of the rapid increase in the size of the aneurysms in transplanted patients, careful screening should be performed during follow-up.

Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal↗

Valve replacement for acute left heart endocarditis.

Between January 1982 and June 1993, 66 patients (48 men and 18 women of mean (range) age 50 (21-77) years) underwent valve replacement for acute infective endocarditis. There were 45 aortic valve and 17 mitral valve infections. Four patients had bivalvular involvement. Fifty-three patients suffered from native valve endocarditis, with underlying valvular lesions documented for 31 patients. Staphylococci and Streptococci spp. were responsible for 68% of infection, and 20% of blood and valve cultures were negative. Refractory congestive heart failure was the leading surgical indication in 86% of patients. The mean follow-up period was 44 months. The perioperative mortality rate was 6%. Actuarial survival rates were 88.5% at 1 year and 83% at 3 years. No early recurrence of infection was noted. Six patients (9%) needed reoperation. Satisfactory results confirm that early surgical management should be considered in patients with complicated infective endocarditis.

Acute Disease↗

Isolated atherosclerotic aneurysms of the iliac arteries.

Atherosclerotic aneurysms limited to the iliac arteries are rare and entail a high risk of rupture. To evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic surgery, we retrospectively studied 15 patients (13 men and two women; mean age 69 years) treated for isolated iliac aneurysms in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at the University Hospital of Liège over a period of 18 years. They had a total of 25 aneurysms (20 common iliac and five internal iliac). Six patients were treated electively and nine on an emergency basis for rupture. Five of the emergency patients (33%) died in the early postoperative period (< 30 days); in each case the aneurysm had ruptured and an emergency operation was performed (55.5% mortality in the ruptured iliac aneurysm group). On the other hand, all patients treated electively survived. Our study is comparable to other recent series in the literature, which also reported a high incidence of rupture and death in emergency operations. Prophylactic elective surgery is recommended for iliac aneurysms.

Aged↗

The impact of renal revascularisation on renal dysfunction.

AIM: To determine the value of kidney revascularisation in patients with impaired renal function and correctable renal artery stenosis, the authors reviewed their surgical experience from 1978 to 1990. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study population included 23 patients with ischaemic nephropathy whose preoperative baseline creatinine level exceeded 20 mg/l (range 21-65 mg/l). This represents 20% of all patients operated on for renal artery disease during the same time interval. Preoperative risk profile, operative mortality, impact on hypertension and on renal function, and late survival were analysed. Renal function response to kidney revascularisation was defined as favourable (20% or more reduction of serum creatinine), moderate (stabilised serum creatinine values) or bad (further deterioration of renal function). All patients had atherosclerotic renal artery disease, involving a solitary kidney in five, both kidneys in 15 and one of the two kidneys in three patients. Hypertension was present in 74%. Revascularisation was unilateral in 10, bilateral in nine and associated with controlateral nephrectomy in four patients. RESULTS: Four patients died postoperatively (three myocardial infarctions, one stroke). Four patients needed postoperative short-term dialysis. After operation, renal function improved in 13, stabilised in six and deteriorated in four patients (of whom two died). Follow-up among the survivors averaged 46 months. The mean serum creatinine value at last follow-up visit was 26.2 mg/l, a decrease of 7.7 mg/l compared to preoperative values (p < 0.05). Overall, 69% of azotemic patients submitted to renal revascularisation manifested a favourable response (45% improved and 24% stabilised). Three patients required long-term dialysis. The 5-year survival rate was 48%. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that kidney revascularisation in patients with ischaemic nephropathy can restore or stabilise renal function, preventing evolution and end-stage renal disease and dialysis dependency.

Chronic Disease↗