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Biomedical subjects

M S Gotsman

Publications and source records attributed to M S Gotsman.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Coronary pathology predicts conduction disturbances after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Conduction disturbances after coronary artery bypass grafting may result from compromised septal blood flow. To examine this hypothesis we reviewed the preoperative coronary angiography of 55 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Thirty-five patients had either no lesion or a discrete lesion in the left anterior descending coronary artery that did not include the septal perforator (type I anatomy). Twenty patients had a lesion of the left anterior descending coronary artery at the origin of the first septal branch, a lesion of the first septal artery, or a pair of lesions in the left anterior descending coronary artery that straddled the origin of the first septal artery; all lesions were proximal to the graft site (type II anatomy). None of the patients with type I anatomy had a major conduction disturbance after coronary artery bypass grafting. Eleven of the patients with type II anatomy had major conduction disturbances after coronary artery bypass grafting; right bundle-branch block in 1, right bundle-branch block and left anterior hemiblock in 2, left bundle-branch block in 5, and complete atrioventricular block that required pacemaker implantation in 3 (p less than 0.001). In the 20 patients with type II anatomy, the appearance of conduction disturbances correlated well with the absence of retrograde flow to the septal branches from the right coronary artery (p less than 0.01). Pathological lesions in the left anterior descending coronary artery that compromise flow in the first perforator and that do not provide an adequate circulation produce localized damage and conduction disturbances after coronary artery bypass grafting. This can be predicted from the preoperative angiographic anatomy.

Aged↗

Clinical, psychological and thallium stress studies in patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteries.

The clinical and psychological profiles of 36 consecutive patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteries (study group) were compared to those of 34 patients with chest pain and significant coronary arterial disease (control group). All 70 patients were hospitalized for chest pain at least once prior to coronary angiography. The features of a typical episode of chest pain were similar in the normal coronary arteries and coronary arterial disease groups, but the female patients with normal coronary arteries had a shorter duration of a typical episode of chest pain, and the male patients with normal coronary arteries had a lower frequency of positive effort tests. Psychological testing showed the women with normal coronary arteries to have a tendency to increased somatization, anxiety, and a lower ability to identify origin of difficulties. The patients in the normal coronary and coronary arterial disease groups had psychological profiles typical of patients with chronic somatic disease. A psychiatric interview demonstrated an increased frequency of depressive trait (score 0-2) in the normal women (0.6 +/- 0.8 vs 0, P less than 0.05), and a tendency to increased somatization, anxiety, and sleeping disorders. Increased somatization was found in the normal coronary men (1.1 +/- 0.7 vs 0.5 +/- 0.7, P less than 0.05). Twenty-five patients of the normal coronary group underwent quantitative thallium stress studies, and 13 patients (52%) had evidence of stress-induced myocardial perfusion defect. There were no differences in the clinical and psychological profiles of the patients with normal and those with pathological thallium stress tests.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Chest Pain↗

Coronary capillaries in patients with congestive cardiomyopathy or angina pectoris with patent main coronary arteries. Ultrastructural morphometry of endomyocardial biopsy samples.

BACKGROUND: The coronary microvasculature may be abnormal even in the presence of angiographically normal epicardial arteries. Abnormalities of small coronary vessels have been invoked as a cause of angina. METHODS AND RESULTS: To quantitatively evaluate the morphology of capillaries in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) or the syndrome of angina and small vessel disease (SVD), we performed electron microscopic morphometry of capillaries in right ventricular biopsy samples taken from 32 patients. Ten had angina, normal epicardial coronary arteries, and evidence for SVD; 12 had DCM; and 10 had normal hearts. In patients with DCM, the ratio of microvessels to myocytes was not different than that of controls (0.49 +/- 0.06 versus 0.51 +/- 0.05). Mean cross-sectional areas of the capillaries (lumen plus wall) and lumen were significantly greater than those of controls (45.3 +/- 15.1 versus 22.7 +/- 8.3 micron 2, p less than 0.001; 17.6 +/- 6.9 versus 11.6 +/- 6.2 micron 2, p less than 0.05, respectively). Fibrous content of the myocardium, as assessed by quantitative light microscopy, was significantly increased (16.3 +/- 3.3% versus 5.0 +/- 2.4%, p less than 0.001). In contrast, in patients with SVD, the capillary-to-myocyte ratio was reduced (0.33 +/- 0.08, p less than 0.001). Although mean cross-sectional areas of the entire capillary (32.4 +/- 19.7 micron 2) and the lumen (8.9 +/- 7.8 micron 2) were not statistically different than those of controls, there was an absence of capillaries less than 15 micron 2 in cross-sectional area, and the frequency distribution of the lumen area was skewed to the left. Swollen endothelial cells frequently encroached upon the lumen. There was a mild increase in fibrous content (9.5 +/- 3.7%, p less than 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Enlarged capillaries and a normal ratio of capillaries to myocytes appear to be features of DCM. Of the patients with SVD, there was both a relative lack of capillaries and capillary lumen narrowing from swollen endothelium. These changes may induce ischemia and angina and may result in mild fibrosis.

Adult↗

Partial resistance to anticoagulation after streptokinase treatment for acute myocardial infarction.

This study examines the response of 3 different groups of patients to anticoagulants: 50 patients previously treated with streptokinase for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (group 1), 24 patients with AMI who had received anticoagulants without prior thrombolysis (group 2) and 11 subjects who received anticoagulants for noncoronary indications (group 3). No significant differences were detected between groups 2 and 3; therefore, they were combined for analysis. After streptokinase, patients required 37,755 +/- 1,516 (mean +/- standard error of the mean) U of heparin per day to achieve the desired activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). The dosage was 30,294 +/- 1,089 U/day in patients without antecedent thrombolysis (p less than 0.001). Group 1 patients required 5 +/- 0.4 days until adequate anticoagulation was achieved, compared with 3 +/- 0.2 days in the control group (p = 0.01). Despite higher heparin requirements, group 1 patients had a lower APTT value than the other subjects (87 +/- 5 vs 101 +/- 6 seconds, p = 0.08). Group 1 patients required 5 +/- 0.3 days to reach anticoagulation with warfarin versus 4 +/- 0.2 days in groups 2 + 3 (p = 0.05). Comparison of groups 1 and 2 yielded similar, although smaller, differences. Patients treated with streptokinase for AMI seem to be partially resistant to anticoagulation, which may increase the risk of reocclusion.

Anticoagulants↗

Thrombolytic therapy of a stenosed coronary vein bypass graft with continuous intragraft streptokinase drip.

A patient with newly onset angina due to recent thrombotic occlusion of a saphenous vein graft to the left anterior descending coronary artery is described. The patient was successfully treated by a direct intragraft infusion of streptokinase (STK) followed by a continuous intragraft infusion of an additional 1.5 million units of STK during the next 20 h through a regular diagnostic catheter. The patient was discharged on oral anticoagulant treatment with remarkable relief of the angina. Repeat angiography showed complete dissolution of the graft thrombus. This patient demonstrates that continuous infusion of STK into a saphenous vein graft is an effective treatment for recently formed thrombi.

Acute Disease↗

Percutaneous angioplasty of totally occluded coronary vein bypass grafts: case histories.

Seven patients with totally occluded coronary artery bypass vein grafts underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. All patients had either acute or recent occlusion of the graft itself. In 2 patients the proximal and in 3 the distal anastomosis were also narrowed. The vein graft was successfully dilated in all the patients. Six patients also received direct intragraft thrombolytic therapy during the procedure. Five uncomplicated patients improved clinically. One patient was studied routinely as part of a myocardial infarction-streptokinase protocol and had no symptoms. This patient had a no-reflow phenomenon. One patient did not receive intragraft thrombolytic therapy and the procedure was complicated by embolization with myocardial infarction and a cerebral embolus. In 2 patients, a routine angiogram was performed two to six months after graft dilatation and in both the grafts were patent. Another patient, initially successfully dilated, had recurrent angina and restenosis of the proximal anastomosis ten months after angioplasty; this was successfully redilated. Angioplasty of acutely or recently totally occluded coronary vein grafts is feasible and improves angina when present. Additional thrombolytic therapy prevents embolization.

Aged↗

[Follow-up of heart transplants].

6 patients, 37-55 years old, who underwent heart transplantation in Belgium, have been followed in our clinic for the past 2 years. All had suffered for 6-12 months from congestive heart failure which had not responded to intensive medical treatment and were considered terminal. 5 had had ischemic heart disease and 1 idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. After transplantation all patients were again in good physical condition and 5 of them had resumed a productive lifestyle. In 3, follow-up endomyocardial biopsies revealed episodes of "moderate rejection" of the transplant, all of which were successfully treated with pulse courses of corticosteroids and increased cyclosporine dosage. Mild renal failure developed in 3, and in 3 systemic hypertension, controlled by antihypertensive drugs. 4 patients examined in our department and found suitable for transplantation died before a compatible donor was found. In 2 other patients heart transplantation was not possible due to severe pulmonary hypertension. Heart transplantation is recommended for patients with terminal congestive heart failure unresponsive to medical treatment. Early transplantation prevents irreversible changes in the pulmonary vessels which would make operation impossible, and lowers operative risk.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

[Long-term follow-up of acute myocardial infarction after early intravenous streptokinase].

In a series of 30 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) intravenous streptokinase was given within 4 hours of the onset of chest pain. Cardiac catheterization and angiography were performed on the 6th day, and again 4 months after the acute episode. Residual coronary artery stenosis increased significantly (from 84 +/- 3% to 95 +/- 7%, p less than 0.05) in those who had stenosis of more than 80% in infarct-related arteries. In this subgroup, a higher incidence of complete occlusion was found at the second investigation than in the other patients (p less than 0.002). Those who had received early treatment with streptokinase or had residual stenosis of less than 75% showed improvement in regional function of the infarct area, confirmed at the second angiography. End-systolic volume, regarded as a sensitive prognostic marker after myocardial infarction, correlated at the second investigation with residual coronary artery stenosis determined on day 6 (p less than 0.0016). Significant improvement in global ventricular function and return of regional function to normal was found in those who had received streptokinase within 2 hours of onset of pain, and in whom residual coronary artery stenosis was less than 75%. Early fibrinolytic treatment at the time of infarction is crucial for preservation of ventricular function and its later restoration. Coronary angiography 1 week after infarction detects high-risk patients who need early revascularization.

Acute Disease↗

The significance and importance of prenatal diagnosis of fetal cardiac malformations by Doppler echocardiography.

Pulsed Doppler echocardiography is an excellent technique for cardiac diagnosis and assessment of cardiac performance in combination with M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography. Its exact role in fetal cardiac diagnosis has not been established. We examined 67 high-risk fetuses for cardiac malformations and found cardiac abnormalities or malfunction in 15. In four fetuses pulsed Doppler echocardiography played a primary or a definitive diagnostic role: One fetus had a complete atrioventricular canal, another lacked the pulmonary valve, the third had transposition of the great vessels without ventricular septal defect, and the fourth had high cardiac output failure caused by placental chorioangioma. Pulsed Doppler echocardiography is an integral part of the ultrasonic cardiac examination in high-risk fetuses and should be used in combination with two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography. It has an important place in the diagnosis of high-risk fetuses and may have a primary role in the diagnosis of fetuses when ultrasound resolution is poor, where cardiac circulatory hemodynamics are essential for diagnosis, and in complicated cardiac malformations in which a comprehensive and accurate diagnosis can be achieved only with pulsed Doppler echocardiography.

Echocardiography↗

Early prediction of left ventricular function in streptokinase-treated acute myocardial infarction.

We administered 750,000 units of intravenous streptokinase to 121 consecutive patients experiencing their first acute myocardial infarction within 4 h of pain onset. The following information was collected: hours between pain onset and streptokinase administration (TS), hours of pain after streptokinase administration (DP), initial and peak creatine phosphokinase levels (ICK and PCK), time to peak creatine phosphokinase, time to electrocardiographic ST segment resolution. Six days after the infarction, catheterization was performed to calculate ejection fraction, infarct-related regional ejection fraction, and dysfunction index. Data was analyzed using stepwise multiple regression. In patients experiencing anterior infarctions, the following equation was obtained predicting the ejection fraction (EF) with a correlation coefficient of 0.86: EF = 69 - 0.0050(PCK) - 3.7(TS) - 1.8(DP). In anterior infarctions the infarct-related ejection fraction and dysfunction index were similarly predictable. We were slightly less accurate in forecasting the outcome of inferior infarctions. The outcome of intravenous streptokinase therapy can be predicted early in the evolution of acute myocardial infarction using routinely available information.

Adult↗

Changes in ventricular function and coronary stenosis after successful intravenous thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction.

Temporal changes in residual stenosis in the infarct-related coronary artery and ventricular function were studied in 30 consecutive patients with an acute myocardial infarction who received rapid, high dose intravenous infusions of streptokinase within 4 h of pain onset. Patients were studied 6 days and 3.9 +/- 1.3 months after the acute episode. Inferior infarction, early thrombolysis (less than 1.5 h after pain onset) and adequate reperfusion (less than 75% residual stenosis in the infarct-related coronary artery) were associated with smaller left ventricular infarcts, smaller ventricular volumes and better ventricular function. Residual stenosis tended to increase with time and in 6 patients the artery closed completely (1 with an overt clinical episode). Ventricular function and volumes improved progressively in patients with good initial function and less residual stenosis in the infarct-related coronary artery.

Aged↗

Right ventricular infarction: unusual electrocardiographic and electrophysiological manifestations.

Right ventricular infarction occurs in 19-43% of patients with acute inferior wall infarction (Lorell et al., 1979). Its clinical, hemodynamic, and anatomic features are well known and include associated inferior wall infarction, distended neck veins, clear lung fields, hypotension, and heart block (Cintron et al., 1981; Coma-Canella et al., 1979; Lloyd et al., 1981; Lopez-Sendon et al., 1981; Raabe and Chester, 1978; Rotman et al., 1974). Isolated right ventricular infarction is less frequent and occurs in 2.5-4.6% of autopsy studies of myocardial infarction (Cohn et al., 1974; Erhardt et al., 1976; Wartman and Hellerstein, 1948). This report describes a patient with isolated right ventricular infarction with unusual electrophysiological findings. Her initial electrocardiogram showed atrial escape rhythm with incomplete right bundle-branch block and left posterior hemiblock. Later, she developed atrioventricular (AV) block with supra- and infra-Hisian, "phase 4," conduction defects. The sinus malfunction and high degree AV block persisted over 2 weeks and an atrioventricular sequential pacemaker was implanted. Hymodynamic study showed that her cardiac output was highly dependent on the heart rate and properly timed AV interval, and the pacemaker was programmed accordingly.

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