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Biomedical subjects

K Forfang

Publications and source records attributed to K Forfang.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Coronary risk factors and physical fitness in healthy middle-aged men.

In 1832 healthy men aged 40-59 years subjected to a near maximal bicycle exercise test, physical fitness decline with age. Higher levels of physical fitness were in all age groups associated with lower cigarette consumption, blood pressure, serum triglycerides, hemoglobin and with better pulmonary function. Serum cholesterol, however, was independent of changes in physical fitness. In view of the beneficial effect of high physical activity on the well-known coronary risk factors, it is surprising that it has proved so difficult to show a protective effect of increased physical fitness and activity in coronary heart disease and its manifestations.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Surgical treatment of bacterial endocarditis. A review and follow-up of 36 patients.

Prosthetic valve implantation was performed in 36 patients with bacterial endocarditis. Thirty-two of them were in functional class III or IV (NYHA). The early mortality rate was 16.7%. In six patients perivalvular fistulas occurred and were of haemodynamic significance in three of them. At follow-up after 44 months on average, the clinical condition was excellent (functional class I or II) in 20 of the 26 survivors. The results encourage an active attitude towards surgical intervention in patients with valvular insufficiency due to bacterial endocarditis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Coarctation of the aorta. A follow-up study after surgical treatment in infancy and childhood.

Between 1951 and 1973, 138 patients aged 0 to 12 years were operated on for coarctation of the aorta. Ten of 18 infants died early. There were 3 late deaths, 2 occurred suddenly and 1 after reoperation. Three of the 125 late survivors had severe, 19 had slight symptoms, while 103 had no complaints, 3 of whom refused examination. The remaining 122 cases were examined between 2 and 24 years (mean 10.9 years) after the operation. Two patients had sequelae from an operative spinal cord injury and 2 had late hemipareses (traumatic in one). Recoarctation, defined as arm/leg pressure gradient exceeding mmHg, totally occurred in 18.7%, and in 4 of 7 cases operated on in infancy. Hypertension without recoarctation was observed in 17.2% and associated cardiovascular anomalies in 18% of the late survivors. It is suggested that the optimal age for surgical repair of coarctation of the aorta is between 4 and 6 years of age. A long-term follow-up is recommended in all patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Blood pressure responses to bicycle exercise testing in apparently healthy middle-aged men.

1,678 normal males between 40 and 60 years of age were subjected to a near maximal bicycle exercise test. 1,309 reached 90% of the maximal predicted heart rate. Data given for blood pressure, pulse responses and work capacity. The group which did not reach 90% of the maximal predicted heart rate had lower resting pulse and blood pressure, lower work capacity and showed a smaller rise in systolic blood pressure during work. The results may be used as a standard for normal blood pressure response during near maximal exercise.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Arrhythmias and conduction disturbances following aortic valve implantation.

In the first postoperative week following aortic valve implantation, arrhythmias and conduction disturbances were seen in 37 of 44 patients studied. Sixty-seven episodes of arrhythmias occurred, atrial fibrillation and accelerated junctional rhythms accounted for more than 75% of these episodes. Episodes of atrial fibrillation were most common after the age of sixty.l When atrial premature contractions were observed, episodes of atrial fibrillation followed shortly afterwards. Accelerated junctional rhythms were seen in 17 patients and affected the patients haemodynamically when this dysrhythmia occurred early in the postoperative course, but improvements were seen promptly following atrial overpacing. Lidocaine was infused prophylactically for 2 days in patients with severe aortic stenosis or marked left ventricular hypertrophy. One episode of ventricular fibrillation and few incidents of ventricular extrasystoles were seen. Most conduction disturbances were transient, but bundle branch block persisted in 3 patients, and there was complete A-V block in a fourth. No causal relationship between the use of digitoxin and the frequency of arrhythmias could be established.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Late sudden death after surgical correction of coarctation of the aorta. Importance of aneurysm of the ascending aorta.

Follow-up studies averaging 12 years postcorrective surgery of 343 patients with coarctation of the aorta disclosed 38 late deaths, 15 of which were sudden, unexpected and probably cardiovascular. All but two patients were normotensive postoperatively, and in 4 of these the cause of death was proven dissecting aneurysm of ascending aorta. In another patient this aneurysm was repaired surgically and in 3 other patients chest X-ray had shown a dilated ascending aorta before death. At follow-up the ascending aorta was dilated angiographically in 4 survivors, who had moderate systolic hypertension and aortic valve disease. The high incidence of aneurysm of ascending aorta in patients with coarctation is probably due to hypertension during the growth period, possibly in combination with congenital weakness of the aortic wall, and to concomitant aortic valve lesion.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Significance of P wave terminal force in presumably healthy middle-aged men.

In a material comprising 695 males aged 40 to 60 years without cardiovascular disease, the prevalence of abnormal P wave terminal force in V1 (V1Ptf) (less than or equal to - 0.03 mm. second) at rest was 7.1 per cent, whereas the prevalence five minutes after a near-maximal exercise test was 25.4 per cent. Abnormal V1Ptf was associated with a slightly higher systolic and diagstolic blood pressure, maximal rise of systolic blood pressure, and maximal rate-pressure product during the exercise test. The prevalence of abnormal V1Ptf was not significantly higher in another group of 95 individuals who were angiographied because of strong suspicion of latent coronary heart disease (CHD) according to exercise electrocardiogram. An abnormal V1Ptf may be considered as a possibly clinically unimportant anomaly in otherwise healthy middle-aged men. V1Ptf is not suitable as a tool for the diagnosis of latent CHD.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Hemodynamic findings before and after surgery for atrial septal defect of the secundum type in middle-aged patients.

84 patients without concomitant pulmonary or cardiac disease, underwent surgery for atrial septal defect of the secundum type (ASD II) at the age of 40 years or more. Hemodynamics were studied preoperatively at rest, and postoperatively at rest and during exercise during a follow-up investigation which took place 74 months (range 22-174) after surgery. Preoperatively, the pulmonary artery mean pressure (PAMP) exceeded 20 mm Hg in 24 patients (30%). In the patients aged 50 years or more PAMP was significantly higher than in the younger patients, whereas the shunt ratio did not show any increase with age. After surgery, the pressures in right atrium, right ventricle and PA showed significant changes towards normalization. During exercise, a considerable increase of the PA pressures appeared, and this increase correlated significantly with the PA pressures obtained preoperatively at rest.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Natural history of atrial septal defect of secundum type in the middle-aged. Medical versus surgical therapy.

10 middle-aged patients with atrial septal defect of the secundum type (ASD II) were referred to surgery, but for several noncardiological reasons the operation was not performed. 5 patients were reexamined after an interval from 6 1/2 to 15 years. During the follow-up period only relatively minor changes in pulmonary arteriolar resistance had occurred and all patients were still acceptable candidates for surgical treatment. The other 5 patients died after a period of time ranging from 2 weeks to 16 1/2 years from conditions directly or indirectly related to the cardiac malformation. During the same period of time, 84 ASD II patients underwent surgery with a mortality rate of 8.3% after 74 months, including 2 hospital deaths. These results suggest that middle-aged patients with ASD II without obstructive pulmonary hypertension should be operated on without delay, but that in a significant number of cases, long-term conservative treatment is not associated with an increase in pulmonary arteriolar resistance.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1978

Electrocardiographic findings before and after surgery for atrial septal defect of the secundum type in middle-aged patients.

Surgery for atrial septal defect of the secundum type was performed in 84 patients over 40 years of age. Electrocardiograms were studied preoperatively and at a follow-up visit 74 months (range 22-174 months) after surgery. Preoperatively, atrial fibrillation was observed in 13% of the patients, complete right bundle branch block in 30%, and a secondary R wave (R') in lead V1 in 72%. A significant correlation was found between the amplitudes of SV6 and R'V1 and the right ventricular systolic pressure, whereas no significant correlation could be demonstrated between the shunt ratio and any of the QRS parameters. After successful surgery, the mean QRS axis in the frontal plane shifted from +99 degrees to +47 degrees (p less than 0.01), and the following highly significant (p less than 0.001) changes were noticed: increase of the amplitude of SV1, shortening of the QRS duration in V1, increase of the ratio QR'/QRS V1, shortening of the duration of SV6, and diminution of the initial forces of the P wave in V1.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Radiological findings in atrial septal defect in the middle-aged.

This study comprises 83 patients who underwent surgery for atrial septal defect of secundum type (ASD II) after 40 yr of age. A follow-up study was performed on average 74 mth after surgery. Before surgery enlarged heart volume was found in 72% of the patients. Increased pulmonary vascularity was the most characteristic finding (96%), followed by enlarged central hilar vessels. The heart volumes showed best correlation with the right ventricular systolic pressure, whereas correlation with the shunt ratio was much poorer. After surgery the mean heart volume was reduced by 22% in patients who were without a residual shunt. In only one of these the volume was increased. The pulmonary vascularity remained increased in 30% after surgery. In patients with a residual shunt, the frequency of still enlarged or increased heart volume, and increased pulmonary vascularity, was considerably large than in patients with completely closed ASD.

Adolescent↗