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Biomedical subjects

John Alfred Carr

Publications and source records attributed to John Alfred Carr.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

The results of catheter-based therapy compared with surgical repair of adult aortic coarctation.

A review was performed to compare the results of endovascular therapy (stenting and angioplasty) with surgical techniques to repair adult aortic coarctation. The immediate improvement in hypertension and the morbidity were similar across all groups. Surgical therapy was associated with a very low risk of restenosis and recurrence, whereas endovascular therapy had a much higher incidence of restenosis and the need for repeat interventions. The long-term outcome of endovascular approaches will need to be assessed in the future.

Adolescent↗

Long-term results of surgical coarctectomy in the adolescent and young adult with 18-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus in the literature regarding the optimal method for repair of coarctation of the aorta in the adolescent and young adult. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed operations in 45 patients treated between 1978 and 2003. RESULTS: From 1978 to 2001, there were 45 adolescents or adults between the ages of 11 and 53 years (mean 21, SD +/- 10) who underwent surgical correction. The perioperative mortality rate was 0% and the morbidity rate was 18%. All patients had improved blood pressure before discharge after a mean of 7 days, which ranged from 160/90 mm Hg to 90/50 mm Hg (mean 128/73 mm Hg, SD +/- 17/12 mm Hg). This was an average improvement of 35 mm Hg (SD +/- 26) compared with the preoperative pressure (p < 0.0005). Long-term results (defined as 5 years or more) were documented for 30 (71%) with a mean follow-up of 18.2 years (range, 67 to 293 months; SD +/- 70 months). At the time of last follow-up, the blood pressure was documented and averaged 122/73 mm Hg (SD +/- 11/10 mm Hg), which was a decrease of 36 mm Hg (SD +/- 29) compared with the preoperative pressure (p < 0.0005). Seventy-six percent of patients were on no medications for hypertension. None of the 30 patients available for long-term follow-up has required a second operation for recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical repair of coarctation in the adolescent and adult is safe and durable, with a high success rate in curing patients of hypertension and making them medication-free for life. The recurrence rate is low, and most patients will not require any further intervention.

Adolescent↗

Aortic valve repair for aortic insufficiency in adults: a contemporary review and comparison with replacement techniques.

In evaluating the goal of aortic valve preservation, there have been 11 reports of large series of aortic valve repair for aortic insufficiency in adults published in recent years. We sought to analyze the validity of these methods and compare them to published results for bioprosthetic valves, pulmonary autografts, and aortic homografts. From 1990 to 2002, 761 adult aortic valve repairs were reported. Perioperative morbidity ranged from 3.6 to 23% (mean 14%), early mortality 0-8% (mean 3.6%), and late mortality 0-8% (mean 2.8%). The 5- and 10-year freedom from reoperation rates for repair were 89 and 64%. Although early results are good, long-term analysis suggests that, as a group, the durability of repair is unclear. Patients with rheumatic valvular disease appear to have an increased incidence of recurrence and repair failure. Although suture line dehiscence continues to be both an early and late complication with repair, the long-term morbidity and mortality is low and valve repair may be an option in carefully selected patients. However, the inability to break down the results by techniques does not allow for a definitive conclusion. Further subanalysis is necessary as larger series are reported. Proponents must attempt to separate successful from unsuccessful techniques. Aortic valve repair is a technique in evolution.

Adult↗

Surgical indications in idiopathic splenomegaly.

HYPOTHESIS: The incidence of primary lymphoma of the spleen in patients with idiopathic splenomegaly is significant. DESIGN: Retrospective review of all patients referred to a general surgical service for splenectomy. SETTING: A large tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: Between 1994 and 2001, 86 nontrauma patients were referred for splenectomy. Of these, 18 had idiopathic splenomegaly despite prior workup with computed tomography, peripheral smear, bone marrow biopsy, and laboratory testing. All patients were symptomatic and displayed varying degrees of cytopenia. INTERVENTION: All 18 patients underwent open splenectomy for diagnosis and treatment of their cytopenias. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Incidence of lymphoma in the pathologic specimens. RESULTS: The mean size of the spleens was 21 cm (range, 14-34 cm) and mean weight was 996 g (range, 320-1840 g). In all 18 patients, the surgical specimen provided a diagnosis. Sarcoidosis was discovered in 4 patients, and 1 patient had Castleman disease. Six patients with the benign diagnosis of hypersplenism received no further interventions, and the cytopenias resolved in all 6 cases. The 7 remaining patients (39%) were diagnosed with lymphoma. Five had marginal zone lymphoma, and 2 had a more aggressive B-cell lymphoma. Three patients required chemotherapy, but 4 are still in remission since their splenectomies and show no evidence of active disease. The mean follow-up was 20 months. CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of patients with splenomegaly of unknown etiology will have primary lymphoma of the spleen. Splenectomy is both diagnostic and therapeutic and should be considered for all patients with idiopathic splenomegaly.

Adult↗

Long-term outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to define the potential for long-term survival with severe left ventricular dysfunction after coronary bypass and to quantify any improvement in overall functional status. METHODS: Left ventricular dysfunction was confirmed preoperatively and the long-term survival and functional outcome after bypass was determined by follow-up studies obtained during the span of a decade. RESULTS: From 1/1990 to 12/1999, 86 patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction (mean ejection fraction, 0.18 +/- 0.03; range, 0.10 to 0.20) underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. There were 10 perioperative deaths (11% mortality). The mean survival was 55 months (standard deviation +/- 34 months; range, 2 to 141 months) with an actual 5-year survival rate of 59% (actuarial 5-year 65%, 10-year 33%). Echocardiography obtained between 1 and 6 months, 6 months and 1 year, 1 and 2 years, 2 and 4 years, 4 and 6 years, and 6 and 11 years showed the ejection fraction improved to 0.29 +/- 0.08 (p < 0.001), 0.31 +/- 0.14 (p < 0.002), 0.35 +/- 0.08 (p < 0.001), 0.27 +/- 0.10 (p = 0.002), 0.36 +/- 0.14 (p = 0.004), and 0.30 +/- 0.11 (p = 0.004), respectively. At 1 to 6 months, 6 months to 1 year, and 1 to 2 years, the diastolic left ventricular dimension was unchanged, but the systolic left ventricular dimension decreased significantly from 5.02 +/- 0.77 cm to 4.26 +/- 0.91 cm (p = 0.046), 3.98 +/- 1.43 cm (p = 0.08), and 4.10 +/- 1.14 cm (p = 0.07). The preoperative New York Heart Association classification for all patients improved from 2.8 +/- 0.8 to 1.6 +/- 0.7 (p < 0.001) after a mean of 53 months (standard deviation +/- 34 months). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction can derive long-term benefit from coronary bypass through improved left ventricular contractility as documented by a significantly decreased systolic left ventricular dimension and increased ejection fraction. Successful bypass is associated with a 59% actual 5-year survival rate and significantly improved New York Heart Association functional class.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Anomalous coronary to pulmonary artery fistula and aneurysm in an 86-year-old female.

An anomalous coronary artery to pulmonary artery fistula with concomitant aneurysmal dilation is quite rare, especially in the elderly. We present a case report of an 86-year-old female who presented with congestive heart failure from severe mitral regurgitation and was found to have such a coronary anomaly on preoperative angiography. The natural history, diagnosis, and treatment options are discussed.

Aged, 80 and over↗