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Biomedical subjects

P Ketonen

Publications and source records attributed to P Ketonen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Stanol ester margarine alone and with simvastatin lowers serum cholesterol in families with familial hypercholesterolemia caused by the FH-North Karelia mutation.

In heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels are already elevated at birth. Premature coronary heart disease occurs in approximately 30% of heterozygous untreated adult patients. Accordingly, to retard development of atherosclerosis, preventive measures for lowering cholesterol should be started even in childhood. To this end, 19 FH families consumed dietary stanol ester for 3 months. Stanol ester margarine lowers the serum cholesterol level by inhibiting cholesterol absorption. Each individual in the study replaced part of his or her daily dietary fat with 25 g of 80% rapeseed oil margarine containing stanol esters (2.24 g/d stanols, mainly sitostanol). The families who consumed this margarine for 12 weeks included 24 children, aged 3 to 13 years, with the North Karelia variant of FH (FH-NK), 4 FH-NK parents, and 16 healthy family members, and a separate group of 12 FH-NK adults who consumed the margarine for 6 weeks and who were on simvastatin therapy (20 or 40 mg/d). Fat-soluble vitamins were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography, and cholesterol precursor sterols (indexes of cholesterol synthesis) and cholestanol and plant sterols (indexes of cholesterol absorption efficiency) were assayed by gas-liquid chromatography. No side effects occurred. Serum LDL cholesterol levels were reduced by 18% (P<0.001), 11%, 12% (P<0.001), and 20% (P<0.001) in the 4 groups, respectively. The serum campesterol-to-cholesterol ratios fell by 31% (P<0.001), 29%, 23% (P<0.001), and 36% (P<0.001), respectively, suggesting that cholesterol absorption efficiency was inhibited. Serum lathosterol ratios were elevated by 38% (P<0.001), 11%, 15% (P<0.001), and 19% (P<0.001), respectively, suggesting that cholesterol synthesis was compensatorily upregulated. The FH-NK children increased their serum lathosterol ratio more than did the FH-NK adults treated with stanol ester margarine and simvastatin (P<0.01). In the FH-NK children, serum retinol concentration and alpha-tocopherol-to-cholesterol ratios were unchanged by stanol ester margarine, but alpha- and beta-carotene concentrations and ratios were decreased. As assayed in a genetically defined population of FH patients, a dietary regimen with stanol ester margarine proved to be a safe and effective hypolipidemic treatment for children and adults. In FH-NK adults on simvastatin therapy, serum LDL cholesterol levels could be reduced even further by including a stanol ester margarine in the regimen.

Adolescent↗

Heart transplantation in Finland 1985-1995.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Since improved immunosuppression in the 1980's, heart transplantation is a well established procedure to treat patients with end-stage heart failure. The first heart transplantation in Finland was performed in 1985. Since then the activity has gradually increased to a level of about 25 annual transplants. The aim of this report is to sum up the clinical experience during the first 11 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 1985 till the end of 1995, 190 heart transplantations were performed in our institution. There were 176 males and 14 females ranging from 15 to 62 (mean 42.2) years of age. End-stage preoperative cardiac disease was dilating cardiomyopathy in 108 cases, coronary artery disease in 65 cases, valvular disease in 12 cases and congenital heart disease in five cases. RESULTS: The 30-day hospital mortality was 29 out of 190 (15.2%). The actuarial survival was 77% at one year, 75% at two years and 73% at 10 years. The most common causes of death were rejection (11 cases), graft failure (11 cases), abdominal complications (six cases) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (four cases). A total of 87 rejection episodes occurred in 53 patients consisting 28 per cent of patients. 44 rejections occurred within three months post transplantation. Significant infections were noted in 198 instances in 97 patients. These were of bacterial origin in 92, viral in 48, fungal in 12 and protozoal in 10 cases, and 36 such infections which responded to antibiotics favourably but in which the microbe remained unidentified. 138 infections (i.e. 80%) occurred within 6 months post transplantation. In viral infections cytomegalovirus (CMV) predominated (29 out of 48). The CMV infection was significantly milder in patients who were seropositive preoperatively than in preoperatively seronegative patients with seropositive donors. CMV infection was associated with increased risk of post-transplant coronary artery disease. Three years after transplantation some restoration of sympathetic nervous response was observed at orthostatic test in heart rate and blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that 1) if a patient survives the three immediate postoperative months, his prognosis is good for the forthcoming years, 2) clinically significant rejections occur in less than one third of the patients, 3) cytomegalovirus is the most harmful agent post transplantation and a risk factor for post-transplant coronary artery disease and that 4) some restoration of sympathetic nervous control of the heart occurs within three years after transplantation.

Adult↗

Diagnosis and treatment of subclavian artery aneurysms.

The diagnostic features and operative results in 13 patients with subclavian artery aneurysms were analysed. Symptoms related to subclavian artery aneurysms were present in seven patients, whereas six patients were asymptomatic and the aneurysm was discovered incidentally on chest X-ray. Angiography was the most valuable diagnostic examination and was also necessary in planning the operation. A correct preoperative diagnosis was made in five of six patients with computed tomography. Resection of the aneurysm was performed in nine and aneurysmal exclusion in the latest four patients. Direct reconstruction was used in nine and in four cases an extra-anatomic carotico-subclavian bypass was performed. Postoperative complications arose in two symptomatic and in four asymptomatic patients (46%: two strokes, two wound infections demanding extirpation of the prosthesis in one patient, two pareses of the recurrent nerve and one postoperative haemorrhage). Operative mortality was one patient. Follow-up data was available for all patients for periods of 6 months to 14 years. The vascular graft was patent in all patients. The authors conclude that subclavian artery aneurysm must be included in the differential diagnosis of all obscure upper mediastinal masses as seen on the chest X-ray and examined with CT and angiography. Exclusion of the aneurysm with extra-anatomical reconstruction is technically easier and gives the same postoperative long-term results as resection of the aneurysm and direct reconstruction. A relatively high complication rate after operation on asymptomatic subclavian aneurysms indicates a need for re-evaluation of operative indications in asymptomatic patients.

Aneurysm↗

Indications for and risks in reoperation for coronary artery disease.

Seventy-one coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) reoperations were performed during a 17-year period, comprising 2.7% of all CABG operations. The main indication (in 87%) was vein graft failure alone or combined with other causes. Progression of disease in native coronary arteries was the sole indication in only 4 of the 71 cases. There were seven perioperative deaths, mainly due to myocardial infarction. Significant perioperative complications arose in 36 cases, including intraoperative lesion of a previous left internal mammary graft (16.2%) or of the right ventricle or anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery (2.8%). Postoperative low output syndrome appeared in 13 patients (18.3%), in seven of whom myocardial infarction was verified. Postoperative bleeding required resternotomy in six cases (9.1%). Because of the heightened operative mortality and morbidity risks, indications for redo CABG should be individualized. A well functioning internal mammary artery graft may be a relative contraindication. Accurate knowledge of the previous operation is essential and, especially in young patients, the possibility of reoperation should be taken into consideration at initial CABG.

Adult↗

Surgical technique and operative mortality in coronary artery bypass. A postmortem analysis with castangiography.

Post-mortem analysis with castangiography was performed on 54 patients who died within 30 days of coronary artery bypass surgery. Myocardial failure was the cause of 85% of the deaths. There were 215 coronary anastomoses (4.0 +/- 1.1/patient), 24% of which were non-functioning. Most of the occlusions were due to various technical failures. The most striking features were 1) high occlusion rate (25%) in sequential vein grafts and 2) disastrous complications of coronary endarterectomies. Compared with preoperative angiographic data, only 15 (28%) of the 54 patients were found to have 'complete' revascularization, with patent grafts and all stenosed coronary arteries bypassed. The need for recognition and avoidance of technical complications is stressed: Failures of surgical technique constitute a major risk factor in coronary artery surgery.

Adult↗

Primary tumours of the sternum.

In 1966-1986, two men and four women (mean age 47.5 years) underwent surgery for primary sternal tumour. Three of the tumours were benign (two condromata, one osteochondroma) and three were malignant (two chrondrosarcomata, one reticulum cell sarcoma). Inflammatory or degenerative lesions impeded differential diagnosis in three additional cases (without tumour). The tumours were treated with radical resection of the affected part of the sternum, including the relevant attached structures. Marlex-mesh reconstruction of the defect was necessary in four cases. There was no operative mortality. One Marlex graft became infected. At follow-up (average 11.1 years, range 9.0-14.7 years), five patients were alive without recurrence of tumour and the sixth had died of unrelated cause.

Adult↗

Results of reoperations for coronary artery disease.

Seventy-one patients undergoing reoperation for coronary artery disease were examined on average 2.5 years postoperatively. Operative mortality was 9.9% and late mortality 6.3%. 88% of the patients improved subjectively, and although only 7.8% were angina-free, 79.9% were in NYHA Class I or II. All patients who had been working before reoperation returned to work, and either patients who were on sick-leave before resumed their activities. A follow-up examination was performed in 21 patients with a follow-up time of more than three years. The mean peak work capacity did not change after reoperation and also the ST changes during the bicycle ergometer exercise test were the same after reoperation. The mean ejection fraction diminished from 54 +/- 15.5% to 44.7 +/- 15.2%. In thallium perfusion studies areas of hypoperfusion were observed in 14 cases (67%). Coronary angiograms showed 3.0 +/- 1.0 patent anastomoses at the follow-up examination; 76% of the anastomoses performed in the reoperations were patent. It can be concluded that although the objective results of repeat myocardial revascularisation in this material are not optimal, the subjective improvement of the patients was satisfactory, and in the majority of cases reoperation ensures an acceptable quality of life for years.

Coronary Artery Bypass↗

Popliteal artery entrapment.

External compression of the popliteal artery is probably still underdiagnosed. Young patients with atypical claudication, with isolated popliteal changes, deserve thorough investigation. Subdividing the entrapment syndrome into three subgroups (I-III) highlights the clinically important characteristics of the different types. Delayed diagnosis leads to arterial occlusion with clinical and radiological resemblance to arteriosclerotic occlusive disease. At this stage a medial approach with reversed saphenous vein bypass is recommended. If the artery is still patent, a posterior S-shape approach offers good exposure for arterial decompression, rerouting and possible ancillary measures. In addition to reviewing the literature and outlining the classification criteria and surgical treatment, five cases of our own are presented including two rarities. In one both type I and type III existed simultaneously. In the other the popliteal artery entrapment was combined with cystic adventitial disease.

Adult↗

Femoral-tibial bypass for limb salvage.

From 1967 to 1982, 305 femoral tibial bypasses were performed. Of these 180 (59%) were performed on limb salvage indication. A reversed autogenous saphenous vein was used in 134 instances, among 46 vein substitutes there were 15 vein allografts, 13 human umbilical cord vein grafts, 12 PTFE grafts and six dacron grafts. Hospital mortality was six patients. An additional 37 patients died during the follow-up period. The patency rates for saphenous vein bypass grafts were 62.5%, 48%, and 25% at one, five, and ten years, respectively, and 33% and 25% at one and five years, respectively, for the vascular substitutes. The mean +/- SD follow-up time was 62.27 +/- 5.7 months. During the early postoperative period 23 legs (12.7%) had to be amputated. During the follow-up period an additional 14 legs (7.8%) were lost giving a limb salvage rate of 79.5%.

Adult↗

Primary tumours of the ribs.

Thirty-four primary rib tumours (24 benign, 10 malignant) were surgically treated in 1966-1985. The mean age was higher and the tumour diameter was greater in the patients with malignant, than in those with benign neoplasm. The benign tumours were excised without operative death. At follow-up after a mean of 12.3 years there was no recurrence of benign growth, but in two cases with initial diagnosis of chondroma a regrowth at the same site proved to be chondrosarcoma. Among the cases of malignant tumour there was one operative death from pulmonary embolism, after radical resection of sarcoma. None of the four patients with chondrosarcoma had recurrence 6-13 years after surgery. There was no long-term survival among the patients with other forms of sarcoma or malignant tumour of the reticuloendothelial system.

Chondroma↗

Traumatic rupture of the right hemidiaphragm.

Sixteen cases of traumatic disruption of the right hemidiaphragm are presented. Six tears were treated in the acute post-trauma phase and ten were detected from late manifestations. The causal trauma was penetrating in 11 cases and blunt in five. Rupture of the right hemidiaphragm not uncommonly occurs without serious associated injuries. Bowel often herniates through such tears, unhindered by the liver, though the liver is the most commonly herniating organ. No recurrence of hernia was found after standard repair techniques (mean follow-up 5.2 years). Three of the 16 patients died, one from associated injury, one from strangulation of herniated bowel and one from postoperative myocardial infarction. To demonstrate diaphragmatic tearing and subsequent organ herniation, serial chest radiographs and computed tomography are useful, and exploratory laporotomy should be done without delay after penetrating injury to the trunk. The treatment of diaphragmatic tear is surgical, with better results from early than from late repair.

Adult↗

Surgical treatment of occlusion of the infrarenal abdominal aorta. Experience with 55 patients.

A series of 55 patients with occlusion of the infrarenal abdominal aorta operated on in the 15-year period 1966-1980 is presented. The type of operation was an extra-anatomic reconstruction in four cases and some type of anatomic repair in 51 cases. The operative mortality was 5.4%. The cause of death was myocardial infarction in two out of three cases. After a follow-up period of 90.4 months on average 25 patients were alive and were reached to a follow-up examination. Nineteen out of these 25 patients (76%) were symptom-free and six patients (24%) complained of mild to moderate symptoms related to obstructive arteriosclerotic lesions of the lower extremities. During the follow-up 27 patients expired. The most common causes of late deaths were myocardial infarction (13 out of 27 patients) and CVA (5 out of 27 patients).

Adult↗

Ruptured coronary artery aneurysm--a rare cause of hemopericardium.

Large coronary artery aneurysms may interfere with coronary flow, cause compression, and/or may rupture. Circulatory shock from thrombosis and rupture of an aneurysm of the right coronary artery in a patient is reported here. This formation, 7 cm in diameter, was visible by computed tomogram but the diagnosis was revealed only during surgery. The successful treatment, using aneurysmectomy and reconstruction with an interposed saphenous vein graft, is described.

Aneurysm↗

Epicardial lipoma.

A case of epicardial lipoma is presented. Coexisting coronary artery disease partly masked the symptoms by pointing to myocardial failure caused by compression from the tumor. An unexpectedly good result was achieved by combining excision of the lipoma with the planned coronary bypass procedure.

Heart Neoplasms↗

Isolated renal artery and combined aortic and renal artery reconstruction for renovascular hypertension. Late results of surgical treatment.

Fifty consecutive patients with renal artery occlusive disease underwent surgery for renovascular hypertension. The etiology was arteriosclerosis; only three patients had fibromuscular hyperplasia. Isolated renal artery stenosis was operated on in 22 patients while 28 patients underwent combined renal and aortoiliac/femoral procedures. Four of the patients required re-operation because of unsuccessful primary results. There was no operative mortality. Renin was determined in 29 patients and postoperative angiography was carried out in 22 cases. The patency rate of the aorto-renal grafts was 94%; 2 aneurysmal vein graft dilatations occurred. Preoperative renin assays were positive in 90% of the patients with isolated renal artery stenosis but in only 45% of those having renal and aortoiliac/femoral arteriosclerosis. Postoperatively, the renin values had returned to normal limits in 95% of the patients. Long-term (2-11 years) successful treatment of hypertension was achieved in 79% of the cases with isolated stenosis and in 59% of the cases with aorto-iliac/femoral arteriosclerosis. The patients having a preoperative ipsilateral/contralateral renin ratio greater than or equal to 1.5 showed a success rate of 69%. Normal levels of renin were found in 85% of the successful cases.

Adult↗

Postoperative disc entrapment following cardiac valve replacement--a report of ten cases.

The sudden jamming of a prosthetic valve disc is one cause for postoperative hemodynamic deterioration. This complication occurred in 10 instances (2% of disc valves implanted), resulting in 4 fatalities. In 6 patients the disc entrapment was a complication following mitral valve replacement, and in 4 others the malfunction followed aortic valve surgery. The entrapment of the disc occurred on the second postoperative day in 3 patients. Two of these were due to an unresected chordal strand becoming wedged between the disc and valve rim of a Björk-Shiley mitral prosthesis and resulted in death. In the third patient, the aortic valve disc became attached to the Björk-Shiley composite aortic graft following the repair of an aortic dissection. A firm blood clot had formed between the graft and the oversewn aortic wall. This patient recovered after cardiopulmonary resuscitation and subsequent reoperation. The remaining cases developed while the patients were still either on the operating table or in the recovery room. The mechanisms of the disc entrapments are presented and the significance of an early correct diagnosis and urgent surgical correction is underlined.

Adult↗