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Biomedical subjects

O Pachinger

Publications and source records attributed to O Pachinger.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

[Diagnostic possibilities and therapy in the acute phase of myocardial infarct].

An analysis is given for the differential therapeutical drug treatment in the acute phase of myocardial infarction. In first line the correction of hemodynamic disorders is taken into consideration following an exact diagnosis of hemodynamic dysfunction. On that basis different subgroups can be identified. In 5% of the patients exists a hypoperfusion. The therapy of choice is a substitution of volume. 25% of the patients with an acute myocardial infarction develop acute left ventricular failure, with a mortality of 40 to 50%. The treatment of choice in patients with clinical signs of congestion of the lungs but normal cardiac output will be diuretics and vasodilators. In patients with global insufficiency afterload reduction with vasodilators and/or stimulation with positive inotropic substances such as catecholamines has proven successful. Cardiac glycosides have lost their place in the treatment of acute but not of chronic cardiac failure. The use of intraaortic counterpulsation will be reserved for patients with mechanical complications.

Digitalis Glycosides↗

Reduction of infarct size induced by pressure-controlled intermittent coronary sinus occlusion.

The effect of pressure-controlled intermittent coronary sinus (CS) occlusion on myocardial infarction (MI) size was evaluated. A device for this purpose was developed that consisted of a balloon catheter and pump system that produced controlled, intermittent occlusion of the CS and used CS pressure as a feedback to determine the duration of occlusion. It was hypothesized that proper selection of occlusion and non-occlusion times would both facilitate improved retrograde flow to ischemic areas and allow for more complete venous washout of metabolites. In 13 treated dogs and 12 control dogs before treatment, myocardium at risk of MI was estimated by injection of technetium-labeled microspheres. Intermittent CS occlusion was then begun, 15 minutes after coronary artery occlusion, and continued until termination of the experiment 6 hours later. Postmortem determination of infarct size was performed using the triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining technique. Intermittent CS occlusion begun 15 minutes after coronary artery occlusion and continued for 6 hours resulted in a 45% average reduction in MI size (p less than 0.001). During CS occlusion, the sinus systolic mean pressure increased from 10 to 44 mm Hg, while the distal coronary artery mean pressure increased by an average of 36% (from 22 to 30 mm Hg, p less than 0.05). These results suggest intermittent occlusion may be an effective treatment for evolving MI. This therapy, used alone or combined with other therapies (e.g., administration of pharmacologic agents), appears to have great clinical potential.

Animals↗

Radionuclide imaging after coronary vasodilation: myocardial scintigraphy with thallium-201 and radionuclide angiography after administration of dipyridamole.

Tl-201 imaging was performed in 194 patients who had undergone coronary angiography which had demonstrated coronary artery disease in 149 and normal coronary vessels in 45.91 patients had had previous myocardial infarction. Sensitivity for dipyridamole stress imaging was 92% for all 149 patients. 79% for the patients without previous infarction. Specificity was 81%. In a subgroup of 40 patients (32 patients with reversible Tl-201 defects and 8 normals), an additional dipyridamole wall motion study was performed in order to evaluate the correlation of Tl-201 perfusion abnormalities and ventricular function after dipyridamole. Only 19% of the patients had a dipyridamole-induced drop of global left ventricular ejection fraction, 31% showed dipyridamole-induced wall motion abnormalities; the predictability of specific vessel involvement by regional wall motion and regional ejection fraction assessment was 26% as compared with 70% for thallium imaging. Tl-201 perfusion defects after dipyridamole administration can also occur independent of ischaemia-induced changes in global and regional ventricular function. Coronary vasodilation with dipyridamole using Tl-201 imaging is a reliable alternative method in patients with coronary artery disease with an accuracy comparable to exercise studies with the advantage of not necessarily needing ischaemia as an endpoint of the test.

Cineangiography↗

Chylopericardium: a rare cause of pericardial effusion.

A 21 year old man presented with asymptomatic, isolated chylopericardium. Despite echocardiography, radionuclide-angiography, computer tomography, and chemical analysis of the chylous effusion, the etiology remained obscure. After patent blue dye infusion into peripheral soft tissues, the appearance of coloring material in the effusion at 4 hours suggested direct communication of the pericardium with an apparently large thoracic duct. Fifteen months later, cardiomegaly persists in site of medium-chain triglyceride dietary restriction.

Adult↗

[Diagnosis and effective therapy with plasmapheresis in a patient with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia].

The case of a 17-year-old boy with the homozygous form of familial hypercholesterolaemia is reported. The patient presented tuberous and tendinous xanthomas, arcus lipoides, complete occlusion of the LAD of the coronary arteries, a characteristic family history, and total cholesterol levels greater than 600 mg/dl. Among the available therapeutic regimens we decided to perform plasma exchange treatment, which was introduced by Thompson in 1973 as therapy of this metabolic disorder. After each plasmapheresis, performed so far 7 times, the cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations dropped to normal levels; they increased again within the next 3 weeks, without, however, reaching the pretreatment levels. Undergoing this treatment, the xanthomas decreased markedly; there are reasons to assume that atherosclerotic lesions might also decrease during this treatment.

Adolescent↗

[Value of sonography in cardiologic diagnosis].

Echocardiography offers a non-invasive method ideal for the patient and the observer. It improved the diagnostic possibilities during the past few years significantly and reached highest diagnostic sensitivity in certain cardiovascular diseases. It is ideally suited for follow-up examinations and for the evaluation of medical or surgical interventions. In addition it can be helpful as screening method for invasive diagnostic procedures. Despite all advantages one has to keep in mind that it is only one single diagnostic step within the whole diagnostic framework. For the management of patients it is decisive to know the information which can be gained and to know the possibilities and limitations of the method.

Echocardiography↗

Electrophysiologic findings in carotid sinus massage.

Thirty patients with carotid sinus syndrome were electrophysiologically studied. In 14 patients carotid sinus massage was performed during atrial and ventricular stimulation, and the conduction times were measured. The AH-time was prolonged by more than 120 ms in 6 patients (20%); the HV-time was prolonged in 6 patients by more than 55 ms (20%); 5 patients had bundle branch block (16.7%); The sinus node recovery time was prolonged in 7 out of 27 patients (26%). Ten patients (33%) did not have additional electrophysiologic abnormalities. There was a predominance of carotid sinus syndrome on the right side. During carotid sinus massage there was a significant increase of the AH-time, but there were no significant changes of the HV-time or the width of the QRS-complexes. Twenty-one patients developed an atrial asystole and 9 patients an atrial bradycardia and an additional AV-block. There was a longer AH-time and a longer prolongation of the AH-time in the patients who developed an AV-block. Twelve out of 14 patients (85.7%) developed an AV-block during carotid sinus massage and atrial pacing. During ventricular pacing 5 of 14 patients (35.7%) revealed a complete retrograde block before carotid sinus massage and 5 of the remaining 9 patients developed a total retrograde block during carotid sinus massage. Consequently, in 71.4% of the patients with carotid sinus syndrome complete retrograde conduction block and atrial asystole can be expected during attacks of ventricular asystole and simultaneous ventricular pacing. In conclusion, there is a high incidence of additional disturbances of the sinus node function and AV-conduction in patients with carotid sinus syndrome. AAI pacemakers are contraindicated due to the common development of additional AV-block during carotid sinus massage. Physiologic pacing might contribute to better hemodynamics, particularly in patients with the mixed type of carotid sinus syndrome.

Adult↗

[Emission-computed tomography of the myocardium with the 7-pinhole collimator].

89 patients (78 with coronary artery disease, 11 normals) were studied comparatively with T1-201 planar myocardial scintigraphy and 7-pinhole emission tomography with a mobile gamma-camera. In 46 patients stress studies were performed, the other studies were performed as resting protocols. In 13 patients a correlation of scintigraphically determined infarct size calculated from the T1-201 tomograms with CK and CK-MB values (maximum values) in the acute infarction period was performed. 17 patients having undergone intracoronary streptolysis were studied to investigate the effect of this intervention. In patients without previous myocardial infarction (n = 35) sensitivity of 7-pinhole tomography was significantly superior over planar reading of images (83% for qualitative evaluation, 91% for quantitative analysis). In patients with previous myocardial infarction (n = 26) comparative sensitivities were not significantly different, although slightly higher, nevertheless the fraction of questionable findings was reduced from 9 to 4%, furthermore in 31% an additional information concerning size or localization could be obtained from the tomograms. Predictive diagnostic accuracy was highest for quantitative 7-pinhole tomography (91%) but not significantly different from qualitative tomography but higher than for planar imaging. Specificities of all methods were comparable. In patients during the acute phase of myocardial infarction a significant correlation (r = 0.76 for CK, r = 0.78 for CK-MB, p less than 0.01) was obtained with enzymatic markers of infarct size. In the group after intracoronary streptolysis 7-pinhole tomography was able to demonstrate a quantitative reduction of thallium infarct size in patients after successful lysis (23.5% vs 48.7%, p less than 0.01) although absolute quantitation is not possible with thallium-201 due to inherent biological limitations. Emission tomography using 7-pinhole collimation leads to an improvement of diagnostic accuracy in all patients with reversible ischemia and helps for better delineation of size and localization of infarct areas and could help in the assessment of interventional effects, as after intracoronary streptolysis.

Adult↗

[Hemodynamics of congestive cardiomyopathy].

202 patients with congestive cardiomyopathy have been classified according to their hemodynamic, angiographic, echocardiographic and scintigraphic findings: 72 patients were in the late stage (LS), 103 patients in an early stage (ES) and 17 patients showed a latent form of the disease. 48% of the hemodynamic ES were found to be clinically in stage IV NYHA and 53% of ES fell in class III. 40% of the patients with LS showed a stationary clinical course whereas 46% could improve their classification by one grade. The mortality in hemodynamic LS was 46% within an interval of 18 +/- 14 months after the diagnosis. In ES 64% showed a stable clinical course, where a 22% were deteriorating. Mortality in this group was 10%. Sensitivity and specificity of echocardiography (93 vs 80%) and radionuclide methods (80 vs 71%) were quite good in the late stage whereas in ES specificity was only 71% vs 80%. There was a discrepancy between the degree of myocardial impairment and clinical symptoms in the late stage whereas in the early stage there was no correlation between exercise capacity and LV-hemodynamics. Non-invasive methods allow the hemodynamic evaluation of the disease; invasive methods are required for clarification of diagnosis or establishing prognosis.

Adult↗

[Selective thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction: evaluation of functional result by metabolic studies and perfusion imaging (author's transl)].

The effects of selective thrombolysis with intra-coronary streptokinase in regard to myocardial protection are still debated. In 25 patients with acute myocardial infarction we evaluated regional metabolism with 123 radio-iodinated heptadecanoic acid and segmental 201 thallium scintigraphy in the distribution of the recanalized coronary vessel. Lysis was successful in 11/16 occlusions of LAD-, 4/7 RCA- and 1/2 CX-vessels. In this group (A) the average defect size on TI-scintigrams was 19 +/- 6% 24 hours after the intervention, whereas unsuccessful recanalisation (group B) resulted in a defect size of 38 +/- 7% (p less than 0.01). There was good concordance between thallium defect size and fatty acid metabolism in group B. However, in group A 6 of 11 patients showed significantly smaller fatty aid accumulation than the thallium defect size reflected. These data suggest that successful reperfusion does result in protection of myocardium in the majority of infarct patients reflected in the smaller TI infarct size. Successful reperfusion, however, does not always immediately restore metabolic dysfunction. This discrepancy will have to be analyzed by further follow-up studies of these patients.

Coronary Vessels↗

[A new method for quantification of 2-dimensional echocardiographic images of the left ventricle (author's transl)].

A computer-supported system was designed for processing of 2-dimensional echocardiographic images of the left ventricle. The purpose of the method is to improve quantitative analysis of regional contraction patterns of the ventricle, using a 3-dimensional reconstruction technique. The definition of the spatial position of the transducer and a computer assisted outlining of the ventricle are the main features of the system. The usefulness of this method was demonstrated in a preliminary study.

Computers↗

[Follow-up studies in 64 patients with WPW syndrome after electrostimulation].

In 65 out of 79 patients with WPW syndrome who had extensive electrostimulation studies, a follow-up evaluation (mean follow-up period 2.5 years) was performed. The patients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1: No therapy or therapy only during tachycardia. Group 2: Continuous oral drug therapy. There was no difference of antegrade and retrograde refractory periods, but there was a significant difference in the initiation of tachycardias. In group 1, the typical reentry tachycardia using the AV node antegradely and the accessory pathway retrogradely was predominant, while in group 2, complex arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation + reentry tachycardia, tachycardias using the accessory pathway in both directions, reentry tachycardia + AV-nodal tachycardia, isolated atrial fibrillation) during electrostimulation could be induced. all except 1 patient in whom no tachycardia could be initiated were in group 1 (statistically significant difference). Thus the type of tachycardia which can be initiated during electrostimulation is a better predictor for the condition in the follow-up period than the refractory period. As concomitant disease there were 4 cases with Ebstein disease (2 had additional mitral valve prolapse syndrome) and 3 cases with mitral valve prolapse syndrome. 3 of the 4 patients with Ebstein disease were in group 2. 1 of the 64 patients died during the follow-up period suddenly, but the cause of death is not known and possibly due to medical therapy. The mortality in a non-selected group of patients with WPW syndrome seems to be very low.

Adolescent↗

Value of platelet sensitivity to antiaggregatory prostaglandins (PGI2, PGE1, PGD2) in 50 patients with myocardial infarction at young age.

Based upon earlier findings of our group that not only the synthesis of antiaggregatory prostaglandins by the vessel wall is altered in atherosclerotic vascular tissue of patients, but also the sensitivity of their platelets to these prostaglandins is changed, we examined a well defined group of 50 patients with myocardial infarction before the age of 40 years. In all patients the coronary heart disease was verified by angiography. The sensitivity of the platelets was examined in relation ot the smoking habit, the type and presence of hyperlipoproteinemia, one, two and three vessel disease and familial history. Except for hyperlipoproteinemia and smoking, all the patients were free of any additional risk factor. It is demonstrated that the platelet sensitivity to the antiaggregatory prostaglandins is significantly diminished in hyperlipoproteinemics in comparison to a control group.

Adult↗

[Myocardial revascularization in threatening extension of myocardial infarction (author's transl)].

Myocardial revascularization was performed in 13 patients between two and 14 days following initial infarction because of impending re-infarction. The diagnosis of impending re-infarction was made on the basis of the following criteria: myocardial infarction; repeated stenocardia despite medical treatment; renewed ST-T changes in the ECG. The intra-aortic balloon pump was installed in 7 patients for haemodynamic reasons (shock, massively raised pressure in the pulmonary artery). 12 patients survived the surgical intervention and were eventually discharged free of stenocardia. The presented findings suggest that surgical intervention in impending re-infarction appears of value in those cases which have not been satisfactorily controlled by conventional medical treatment.

Adult↗