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Biomedical subjects

J Ostermeyer

Publications and source records attributed to J Ostermeyer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Permanent atrial fibrillation ablation surgery in CABG and aortic valve patients is at least as effective as in mitral valve disease.

BACKGROUND: Data on combined permanent atrial fibrillation (pAF) surgery and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and/or aortic valve replacement (AVR) are scarce, and the mid- and long-term effects on survival and cardiac rhythm are unknown. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a prospective analysis 125 patients (Group I: CABG and/or AVR, n = 50; Group II: mitral valve [MV] surgery, n = 75) with pAF (> or = 6 months) underwent either concomitant monopolar (Group I: n = 20; Group II: n = 75) or bipolar (Group I: n = 30) radiofrequency (RF) ablation procedures. Group I patients had a significantly smaller left atrial (LA) size than Group II patients (LA-diameter: 47.7 +/- 4.6 vs. 58.2 +/- 6.1 mm; p < 0.01). Regular follow-up was performed from 3 to 36 months after surgery to assess survival, NYHA-class, and conversion rate to stable sinus rhythm (SR). RESULTS: Early mortality (< 30 days) of Group I patients was 0% (Group II: 2.7%), cumulative survival at long-term follow-up was 0.95 vs. 0.82 (p = 0.31) and NYHA-class improved significantly in both groups, particularly in cases with stable SR. At follow-up 80% of Group I patients had SR (Group II: 70%). In Group I patients the bipolar approach was associated with significantly shorter ablation procedure times compared to the monopolar procedure (12.1 +/- 3.4 vs. 18.9 +/- 1.6 min; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant pAF ablation surgery in CABG and/or AVR is safe and at least as effective as in MV surgery, presumably because severe LA enlargement is exceptionally rare in this group.

Aortic Valve↗

Proximal aortic dissection late after aortic valve surgery: 119 cases of a distinct clinical entity.

BACKGROUND: Besides systemic hypertension and Marfan syndrome, only previous aortic valve replacement (AVR) is independently associated with proximal (type A) aortic dissection. Little, however, is known to date about the characteristic features of this clinical entity. METHODS: Clinical, prognostic and predisposing profiles in 119 cases of dissection and/or aneurysm occuring 1 month to 16 years after routine AVR were analyzed comprising 62 cases from our database and 57 reported cases. RESULTS: Dissection after AVR has been observed in 0.6% of all routine AVR procedures in the past four decades. With clinical signs, symptoms and anatomical features different from classic aortic dissection post-AVR dissection is a distinct clinical entity with a high intraoperative mortality of 44% and a 30-day and 5-year survival of 62% and 43%, respectively. Aortic regurgitation and a thin and/or fragile aortic wall at AVR, however, predict late dissection. Using a prediction model, the risk of late dissection can be stratified based on information obtained during AVR surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic dissection following AVR is likely to represent a distinct clinical entity which can be predicted and possibly prevented at AVR.

Aged↗

Predictors of proximal aortic dissection at the time of aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: Type I aortic dissection develops in 0.6% of patients late after aortic valve replacement (AVR), and 13% of patients with type I aortic dissections have a history of AVR. Predictors of aortic dissection at AVR, however, have not been characterized. METHODS AND RESULTS: A study group of 33 patients with type I aortic dissection had aortic surgery 49+/-55 months after routine AVR. A group of 101 controls, who did not have morphological progression of aortic diameters >/=6 years after AVR, was used to identify predictors of postsurgical dissection. Multivariate analysis identified aortic regurgitation (P<0.002) and fragility (P<0.001) or thinning of the aortic wall (P<0.007) at AVR as predictors, associated with a 14%, 22%, and 7% probability of late aortic dissection, respectively. Clamping times, types of valve prostheses, concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting, and mean ascending aortic diameters of 43+/-10 mm at AVR did not predict late dissection. A separate analysis of 29 nondissecting aneurysms of the ascending aorta developing 104+/-64 months after routine AVR revealed younger age at AVR (P<0.003) and congenitally bicuspid aortic valves (P<0.03) as predictors of late aneurysm formation. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic regurgitation combined with fragile and thinned aortic walls in patients with moderate aortic dilation may reflect aortic root disease, with a high risk for postsurgical aortic sequelae if it is treated incompletely by isolated valve replacement.

Adult↗

Incidence and prognosis of abdominal complications after cardiopulmonary bypass.

The incidence of abdominal complications after cardiopulmonary bypass is low but associated with a high mortality. From January 1991 to October 1996, 4288 patients, of a mean age of 62.5 years, underwent open-heart surgery. Fifty-nine (1 of 4) of these patients developed early abdominal complications. These included 36% with a paralytic ileus, 21% with erosive gastritis, 18% with upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage, 12% with intestinal ischaemia, 5% with pseudo-obstruction of the colon, 6% with acute cholecystitis and 2% with acute pancreatitis. After coronary artery bypass grafting mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 94.4 min. There were abdominal complications in 1.0% and one hospital death. After valve surgery and combined surgery the mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 129 min. There were abdominal complications in 2.4% (alpha = 0.01) and seven deaths. Fourteen patients (24%) underwent abdominal operations: three had caecostomies for pseudo-obstruction of the colon, seven had a hemicolectomy, two had a cholecystectomy and two had resection of the ventricle. The hospital mortality rate was 13.5%. Abdominal complications were significantly more frequent after valve or combined operations of the coronaries and valves in comparison with isolated coronary artery bypass grafting. Cardiac operations with extended cardiovascular bypass time were more likely to produce abdominal complications.

Abdomen, Acute↗

Re-graft patency and clinical efficacy of aprotinin in elective bypass surgery.

To investigate possible influence of aprotinin on graft patency, a randomized, double-blind group comparative study was carried out in male patients selected for primary bypass surgery. One hundred and ten patients received either placebo treatment or aprotinin according to the Hammersmith Hospital regimen(n = 55 per group). Graft patency was evaluated by angiography in 44 aprotinin and 35 placebo patients between the 18th and 35th day postoperatively. There was no difference in overall graft occlusion. Among the aprotinin patients, 73% (32/44) hsd grafts patent compared with 71% (25/35) of the placebo group. Graft occlusion was not accompanied by signs of myocardial infarction in any case. Blood loss within 6 h postoperatively was reduced by 58.5% in the aprotinin group (P < 0.001). of these patients 51% (26/51) did not need donor blood compared with 21% (10/47) of the placebo patients (P = 0.003). Mean transfusion requirements per patient were 1.1 and 2.7 units in the aprotinin and placebo groups, respectively.

Aged↗

[Personal experiences with emergency coronary artery revascularization after failed PTCA--early and late results].

In recent years the equipment and techniques for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) have been improved and today complex and distal stenoses are also treated in this way. Subsequent to failed PTCA some patients undergo emergency CABG. Between January 1991 and March 1995 3,520 patients have been treated by PTCA in our hospital. 61 patients (1.7%), mean age 61.1 years, underwent subsequent emergency CABG after PTCA. 46% had single-, 33% double and 21% had triple-vessel-disease, the mean left ventricular function (LVEF) was 65%. The mean number of bypass grafts was 1.9. The internal mammary arteries were never used under these emergency conditions. 9 patients (15%) developed perioperative myocardial infarction and in two of them the LVEF decreased under 30%. The hospital mortality was 6.6% (= 4 perioperative deaths). 6 of 61 patients were lost for follow-up; 90% of the hospitals survivors were followed for 244 months (mean 17). During this period there were 4 late deaths (3 cardiac and 1 non-cardiac). Actuarial survival at one year was 90%. 80% of the long-term survivors were in the NYHA functional classes I and II. In patients with double- or triple-vessel-disease PTCA almost always effects an incomplete revascularisation. Emergency CABG following failed PTCA is associated with an increased mortality and morbidity. The long-term prognosis is similar to that of an age-sex matched general population.

Adult↗

[Abdominal complications after heart surgery interventions].

OBJECTIVE: Risk factors of abdominal complications after cardiac surgery are largely unknown. We undertook this study to determine different types of abdominal complications after cardiac surgery and to identify patients at risk. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 3312 adult patients were operated between Jan. 91 and Oct. 95 (2352 males, 960 females, 62.6 +/- 0.18y). We included all patients who suffered from abdominal complications within 30 days postoperatively. RESULTS: Abdominal complications are rare after cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (1.4%), but they are associated with high mortality (14.5%) in our department. Abdominal complications like paralytic ileus (43.8%), erosive gastritis (22.9%) and gastrointestinal bleeding (18.8%) are more often, compared with acute cholecystitis (14.5%), acute pancreatitis (8.3%) and intestinal ischemia (19.5%). Patients with intestinal ischemia are at high risk and do have a high mortality (83%). Abdominal complications can be found more often in connection with prolonged myocardial ischemia and valve replacement or combined operations. Prediction of complications on the basis of anamnestic data alone was not possible. CONCLUSION: Abdominal complications after cardiac surgery, especially intestinal ischaemia, are life-threatening. Prediction of abdominal complications is impossible. We have to concentrate on an early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention to lower mortality. A close cooperation between cardiac and general surgeons is mandatory for a successful treatment of life-threatening abdominal complications such as intestinal ischemia.

Adult↗

Abdominal complications following cardiac surgery.

Type and frequency of abdominal complications after open heart surgery are described. Out of 3,312 patients, 48 patients (1.4%) developed early postoperative abdominal complications with a mortality rate of 14.5%. Paralytic ileus, erosive gastritis and gastrointestinal hemorrhage were the most frequent complications, whilst intestinal ischemia, acute cholecystitis and acute pancreatitis were less frequently observed. The comparison of the frequency of abdominal complications in cardiac surgery patients with the same complications in other operated patients showed no significant difference (hi-square test), with the exception of COLD which was more frequent in the group with abdominal complications. No association was found between perioperative treatment with aprotinine and the development of abdominal complications.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗

Simultaneous measurement of pulmonary venous flow by intravascular catheter Doppler velocimetry and transesophageal Doppler echocardiography: relation to left atrial pressure and left atrial and left ventricular function.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to compare measurements of pulmonary venous flow velocity obtained either by transesophageal Doppler echocardiography or by intravascular catheter Doppler velocimetry. Furthermore, the relation among pulmonary venous flow velocity, left atrial compliance and left atrial pressure was evaluated. BACKGROUND: Data about the relation between left atrial pressure and pulmonary venous flow velocity are controversial. METHODS: A total of 32 patients undergoing elective open heart surgery for coronary artery bypass grafting were included prospectively in the study. Pulmonary venous flow velocity (Doppler catheter) and left atrial pressure (microtip pressure transducer) were recorded simultaneously with recordings of pulmonary venous flow velocity obtained by transesophageal Doppler echocardiography. RESULTS: Agreement between Doppler catheter and Doppler echocardiographic measurements of pulmonary venous flow velocity (n = 18 patients) was analyzed using the Bland-Altmann technique. The 95% limits of agreement were -0.16 to +0.11 m/s for systolic peak velocity, -0.14 to +0.09 m/s for diastolic peak velocity and -0.12 to +0.10 m/s for atrial peak velocity. The closest agreement between both methods was found for the ratio of systolic to diastolic peak velocity, the ratio of systolic to diastolic flow duration and the time from Q deflection on the electrocardiogram to maximal flow velocity. Mean left atrial pressure was strongly correlated with the ratio of systolic to diastolic peak velocity (r = -0.829), systolic velocity-time integral (r = -0.653), time to maximal flow velocity (r = 0.844) and the ratio of systolic to diastolic flow duration (r = -0.556). The ratio of systolic to diastolic peak velocity and the time to maximal flow velocity were identified as strong independent predictors of mean left atrial pressure. Left atrial compliance was not found to be an independent predictor of mean left atrial pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Flow velocity in the left upper pulmonary vein can be reliably recorded by transesophageal pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography. Our data reveal further evidence that mean left atrial pressure can be estimated by the pattern of pulmonary venous flow velocity.

Aged↗

Intermediate-term clinical and hemodynamic results of the neonatal arterial switch operation for complete transposition of the great arteries.

We prospectively evaluated 49 consecutive hospital survivors of the arterial switch operation for complete transposition and intact ventricular septum by clinical examination, echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, 12-lead and 24-h Holter ECG. The mean length of follow-up was 40 +/- 18 months. Forty-six children are clinically asymptomatic without medication, 2 died due to coronary related left ventricular dysfunction 3 and 12 months after surgery, and 1 required reoperation because of severe bilateral pulmonary branch stenoses. Except for this case, cardiac catheterization (n = 23) revealed a mean gradient of only 17 +/- 8 mmHg between the right ventricle and distal pulmonary arteries. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume was within normal limits except for 2 cases with volumes slightly below normal, the mean ejection fraction was 78 +/- 5%, and end-diastolic and end-systolic ventricular shapes were normal. The mean cardiac index was 4.14 +/- 0.69 l/min/m2. Left ventricular end-systolic wall stress to velocity of fiber shortening relation was normal in all cases examined (n = 15), indicating normal myocardial contractility. Significant neoaortic valve insufficiency was never observed despite considerably enlarged aortic roots. Twenty-four-hour Holter ECG records (n = 46) provided no evidence of serious atrial arrhythmias, especially sinus node dysfunction. These encouraging intermediate-term results make the arterial switch operation the treatment of choice at present, for neonates with simple transposition.

Child, Preschool↗

Strut fracture with Björk-Shiley 70 degrees convexo-concave valve. An international multi-institutional follow-up study.

Between 1980 and 1983, 831 Björk-Shiley 70 degrees convexo-concave prosthetic heart valves were implanted at five institutions in Sweden, Germany. The Netherlands, and Canada. As of January 1991, there were 34 outlet strut fractures occurring from 0.2 to 10.1 years (median = 4.6 years) after implantation. In addition, there were 28 sudden, unexplained deaths. The mortality after strut fracture was 84%. The mortality after emergency valve replacement for strut fracture was 50%. The 10-year actuarial fracture rate (standard error) was 10.5 (2.4)% for large (29-33 mm) valves vs. 3.3 (1.2)% for 21-27 mm valves (P less than 0.001). Within valve size groups, fracture rates for aortic and mitral valves were similar. Cox regression analysis found only valve size to be significantly associated with strut fracture. There is a further subgrouping of the valves according to the manufacturer: group I are the earlier large 29-33 mm) valves; group II are the later large valves; group III are the small size (21-27 mm) valves. The risk of strut fracture was highest in group I (12.3% at 10 years) with an approximatively constant hazard (1.4% per year). A comparison was made with a statistical model incorporating all cases reported to the manufacturer. This model estimates fracture rates approximately 63%-73% of those found in the present study. These findings lead us to recommend that group I patients should be considered for elective reoperation on an individual basis, giving careful attention to risk factors and contraindications.

Adolescent↗

[Surgery of tachycardic cardiac arrhythmias. Surgical treatment of life threatening tachycardias: indications, surgical possibilities, results].

Electrophysiologic operations for surgical treatment of malignant tachyarrhythmias include a preoperative electrophysiologic study (EPS) to assess the characteristics and dignity of the arrhythmia, intraoperative electrophysiologic mapping to identify and localize the arrhythmogenic morphologic substrate, surgical ablation of the arrhythmogenic tissues, and early postoperative EPS to evaluate the result of the operation and the post-surgical prognosis. The majority of patients undergoing an electrophysiologic operation suffer from supraventricular tachyarrhythmias due to accessory atrioventricular bypass tracts (Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome) and malignant ventricular tachycardias in the setting of coronary artery disease. In comparison of the natural (non-surgical) history of those rhythm problems their prognosis as regards mortality and morbidity is significantly improved by operation. Possibly the spectrum and the role of electrophysiologic antiarrhythmic surgery will be changed during the next decade by the increasing application of interventional cardiologic measures as catheter ablation (PTCA) thrombolysis.

Electrocardiography↗

[Electrophysiologic operations. Surgical treatment of life-threatening tachycardia: indications, surgical possibilities, results].

Electrophysiologic operations, which mean electrophysiologically (= mapping)-guided direct operations for life-threatening tachyarrhythmias have been elaborated and popularized during the decade of 1980-1990. They are predominantly related to patients with supraventricular tachycardias on the basis of accessory atrioventricular bypass tracts (Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome) and individuals with malignant ventricular tachycardias in the setting of coronary artery disease. The concept of these operations is to identify the tachycardia underlying morphologic substrates at time of surgery utilizing intraoperative electrophysiologic mapping techniques and to ablate those arrhythmogenic tissues surgically. In comparison to the natural (= non-surgical) history of the mentioned disorders their mortality and morbidity prognosis is significantly improved through direct antitachycardiac operations. Possibly the spectrum, indications and applications of those electrophysiologic operations will change through the next decade since the meantime a variety of rhythm disorders are successfully approached by interventional cardiologic measures.

Coronary Disease↗

Myocardial beta-adrenoceptor density and the distribution of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor subpopulations in children with congenital heart disease.

Twenty-six infants and children with congenital heart disease (CHD) undergoing cardiac surgery were investigated for alterations in myocardial beta-adrenoceptor density. The patients were divided into three groups according to type and severity of CHD: group I consisted of 6 patients with acyanotic shunt lesions of moderate severity; group II comprised 13 children with severe acyanotic shunt and valve lesions and group III included 7 children with cyanotic CHD. The myocardial beta-adrenoceptor density was determined using (-)3-[125I]Iodocyanopindolol [( 125I]ICYP) and was reduced by approximately 50% in severe acyanotic CHD (33.6 fmol/mg protein) and cyanotic CHD (35.3 fmol/mg protein) in comparison with the group with less severe acyanotic shunt defects (64.4 fmol/mg protein). The affinity dissociation constant (Kd.ICYP) did not differ statistically between the groups. The proportion of beta 1- and beta 2-subpopulations was evaluated by ICI 118,551-[125I]ICYP competition studies. In group II (61.5%) and group III (69.1%) significant lower portions of beta 1-adrenoceptors were found compared with group I (78.2%). This shift of subpopulations was due to a decreased beta 1-receptor density while beta 2-receptor density was unchanged in all groups. While the plasma noradrenaline levels of group I were similar to those of a control group of 13 healthy children, respective values of group II and III were significantly elevated. A significant negative correlation was found between plasma noradrenaline levels and myocardial beta-adrenoceptor density. It is concluded that exposure of these receptors to increased circulating catecholamines, due to an enhanced sympathetic tone, leads to a reduction of their density.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗