Biomedical subjects

Mirko Doss

Publications and source records attributed to Mirko Doss.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2003

Minimally invasive versus conventional aortic valve replacement: a prospective randomized trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: A prospective randomized study was performed to compare conventional with minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (AVR). METHODS: Forty consecutive patients scheduled for elective aortic valve surgery were prospectively randomized either to the conventional group (group A, complete median sternotomy) or minimally invasive group (group B, partial upper sternotomy). Intraoperative and postoperative clinical data, and markers of myocardial and cerebral protection were determined. Neuropsychological tests were carried out to quantify psychological disorders. RESULTS: Operative time and cardiopulmonary bypass time were slightly longer in group B, but not significantly so. No significant inter-group differences were found for postoperative pain scores and respiratory function. Chest tube drainage was significantly less in group B (495 +/- 165 versus 240 +/- 69 ml, p = 0.008). Creatine kinase (CK), CK-MB and troponin T levels were similar in both groups. Neither S-100B protein nor neuron-specific enolase levels differed significantly between groups at all sampling times. There were no strokes in the entire cohort. None of the neuropsychological tests yielded significant inter-group differences between conventional and minimally invasive surgery. CONCLUSION: The safety and reliability of AVR via a partial upper sternotomy is reported. Minimally invasive AVR can be performed with only slightly longer operative times, good cosmetic results and significantly less blood loss. A limited surgical access affected neither the patients' neurological outcome nor the efficacy of myocardial protection.

Aortic Valve Insufficiency↗

PubMed2003

Emergent endovascular interventions for contained rupture of thoracic aortic aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of our study was to assess in an emergency setting the feasibility of endovascular stent graft treatment of contained ruptures of thoracic aortic aneurysms. METHODS: Seven patients with contained ruptures of thoracic aortic aneurysms from a series of 54 endovascular interventions were treated by the deployment of an aortic stent graft. In all cases, hemothorax was present. Acute deployment was performed with the patient under general anesthesia, and access was gained via the common femoral or iliac arteries. After a follow-up o f 12 months, the patients were evaluated by computed tomography. RESULTS: One patient died perioperatively. The procedure was technically successful in 5 patients. Perioperatively and at follow-up, there were no cases of paraplegia, stent graft migration, or endoleaks. There were, however, 2 cases of access failure, 1 case of temporary renal failure, and 2 patients who required prolonged mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSION: The acute treatment of contained ruptures of thoracic aortic aneurysms is feasible. This form of treatment seems to be a promising option in the treatment of these high-risk patients.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

Ultrafast computed tomography for quality control of automated proximal anastomoses.

BACKGROUND: The Symmetry aortic connector uses a nitinol implant to create proximal anastomoses with saphenous vein grafts. Multiple detector-row cardiac computed tomography (MDCT) is used as a noninvasive method of quality control at our institution. METHODS: In 50 elective coronary artery bypass grafting patients who participated in a randomized trial comparing automated with conventionally hand-sewn proximal anastomoses, MDC T was performed on postoperative day 5. Fifty-three automated Symmetry anastomoses were created in 34 patients (group 1). Twenty-five conventionally hand-sewn anastomoses created in 16 patients served as controls (group 2). Graft patency and the presence or absence of high-grade stenosis at the proximal anastomotic site were evaluated. RESULTS: In group 1, 2 (3.8%) of the grafts were found occluded at MDCT or coronary angiography, and no further relevant stenosis was observed. In group 2, at postoperative MDCT all grafts were found patent without significant narrowing of the proximal anastomotic site. CONCLUSIONS: The feasibility of proximal anastomoses using the Symmetry device has been reported. Patency control with invasive angiography has been performed by other groups. With MDCT, noninvasive evaluation of proximal anastomotic quality and graft patency is possible, even if nitinol is implanted.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Biventricular pacing for weaning from extracorporeal circulation in heart failure.

Resynchronization of the intra- and interventricular conduction by biventricular pacing has been suggested in patients with end-stage heart failure. We present a case in which extracorporeal circulation could only be weaned after placement of an additional left ventricular pacing wire. Biventricular stimulation led to normal motion of the anterior wall and a previously bulging interventricular septum; this improved the hemodynamic situation significantly.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

The Heartflo device for distal coronary anastomoses: clinical experiences in 60 patients.

BACKGROUND: The Heartflo anastomotic device automates the suturing process with simultaneous delivery of 10 standard polypropylene sutures through the graft and the coronary vessel wall to construct the anastomosis. We performed clinical testing in 60 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: One automated distal coronary anastomosis was initially placed in each patient, the other anastomoses were created with standard running sutures. After a "flat foot"-shaped prototype was deployed in 30 patients (group I), the design of the foot was modified and deployment of the new device performed in the next 30 patients (group II). RESULTS: In group I, automated anastomoses were completed in 16 patients (53%) using 1.7 +/- 1 additional stitches. In 26 group II patients (86%), a hemostatic anastomosis using 1.2 +/- 1 additional stitches was achieved. Anastomoses were completed in 19.0 +/- 3 minutes in group I and in 15.6 +/- 2 minutes in group II. CONCLUSIONS: We have shown the feasability of coronary anastomoses using the Heartflo device. The modified version improved tissue capture, resulting in a higher rate of completed anastomoses. Because anastomotic time is still prolonged, an easier suture management is mandatory in the next developmental step.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Vacuum-assisted suction drainage versus conventional treatment in the management of poststernotomy osteomyelitis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to compare vacuum-assisted suction drainage (VASD) to conventional wound management, in the treatment of poststernotomy osteomyelitis (SOM). METHODS: We included a total of 42 patients that developed poststernotomy osteomyelitis and required open wound management, between 1998 and 2000, in this study. Twenty of these patients were treated by VASD and the other 22 by conventional wound management. The patients were well comparable with regards to age, presenting postoperative day, infecting organism and risk factors for osteomyelitis. This was a retrospective study. RESULTS: The patients treated by VASD had a significantly reduced treatment duration (mean 17.2+/-5.8 vs. 22.9+/-10.8 days, P=0.009) and total hospital stay (mean 27.2+/-6.5 vs. 33.0+/-11.0 days, P=0.03). Perioperative mortality was similar, with one early death in each group. CONCLUSION: We conclude from our experience in the treatment of 42 patients with poststernotomy osteomyelitis that VASD shortened wound healing and hospital stay and thus proved to be an excellent alternative to conventional open management of these wounds.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Emergency endovascular interventions for ruptured thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of our study was to show the effectiveness of endovascular stent grafts in the treatment of acutely ruptured abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms as an alternative to the conventional surgical approach in an emergency setting. METHODS: From October 1996 to October 1998 we deployed 9 emergent endovascular stent grafts--6 in the abdominal aorta and 3 in the thoracic aorta. Aortic rupture was confirmed before surgery with spiral-computed tomographic scan. The average interval from onset of symptoms to treatment was 4.5 hours. We used commercially manufactured stent grafts: 4 Corvita (Corvita Inc/Schneider Corp/Boston Scientific Corp, Natick, Mass), 3 Talent (World Medical Inc, Surise, Fla/Medtronic, Sunnyvale, Calif), and 2 Vanguard (Boston Scientific Corp, Natick, Mass). RESULTS: Deployment of the stent grafts was successful in all cases. Two patients died in the follow-up period (120 months) from myocardial infarction. No cases were seen of paraplegia or stent migration. However, 2 endoleaks, 1 in-stent stenosis, 1 temporary renal failure, and 1 brief episode of myocardial ischemia occurred. CONCLUSION: Our experiences with emergency endovascular stent grafting show that the procedure is technically feasible, with less morbidity and mortality than conventional open surgery, in selected patients.

Adult↗