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L Saraiva

Publications and source records attributed to L Saraiva.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Phonomechanocardiographic findings in endomyocardial fibrosis.

Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) is a severe restrictive cardiomyopathy characterized by the formation of fibrous tissue on the endocardium and to a lesser extent in the myocardium of one or both ventricles. The disease results in endocardial rigidity, atrioventricular valve dysfunction and progressive obliteration of the ventricular cavity. The clinical and pathological findings of EMF have been well established and definitive diagnosis can be made by selective cineangiocardiography. However, there are few reports concerning the phonomechanocardiographic (PMCG) patterns in this condition. In this paper we describe the PMCG findings in 12 patients with EMF which is now recognized with increasing frequency in the Northeast of Brazil.

Adult

Surgical treatment of endomyocardial fibrosis.

Thirty patients with endomyocardial fibrosis were submitted to endocardial decortication and atrioventricular valve replacement between December, 1977, and October, 1981. There were 26 female and four male patients, ranging in age from 14 to 48 years (mean 32). Thirteen patients had biventricular disease, 14 had the right-sided form, and three had endomyocardial fibrosis confined to the left ventricle. All were in Functional Class III or IV (New York Heart Association classification). The hospital mortality was 20% (six cases). Among the survivors (mean follow-up 13 months), 23 of 24 were improved clinically. Postoperative hemodynamic and angiographic studies were performed in 15 patients. Two (6.6%) have definitive atrioventricular heart block. There were five (16.6%) late deaths. Operation for endomyocardial fibrosis should be considered a palliative procedure. Possible limitations include the need for a valve prosthesis, cardiac conduction disturbances secondary to endocardiectomy of the right ventricle, and the possibility of recurrence of the endocardial fibrosis. However, at present, operation seems to be the treatment of choice for this condition because (1) endomyocardial fibrosis is characterized by a grave prognosis and medical therapy is ineffective; (2) endomyocardial fibrosis is a disease in which only the heart is affected, lesions in other organs being the result of passive congestion; (3) systolic performance of the heart is usually only slightly depressed; and (4) the surgical procedure is easily performed, so that the mortality is acceptable.

Adolescent

[Diuretics].

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Diuretics