[Exercise-induced asthma as an objective criterion for assessing response to disodium cromoglycate].
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to P Koenig.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects is an established practice. The imaging method best suited for guidance of this procedure is under debate. This review highlights the areas of disagreement and presents available evidence supporting the contention that intracardiac echocardiography is at least as good, if not a superior imaging method to guide the procedure. Points of discussion include comparisons of imaging capability, complications or discomfort, and the relative costs of these procedures. It is concluded that intracardiac echocardiography is the superior imaging method.
Hybrid procedures are becoming increasingly important, especially in the management of congenital heart lesions for which there are no ideal surgical or interventional options. This report describes a multicenter experience with perventricular muscular venticular septal defect (VSD) device closure. Three groups of patients (n = 12) were identified: infants with isolated muscular VSDs (n = 2), neonates with aortic coarctation and muscular VSDs (n = 3) or patients with muscular VSDs and other complex cardiac lesions (n = 2), and patients with muscular VSDs and pulmonary artery bands (n = 5). Via a sternotomy or a subxyphoid approach, the right ventricle (RV) free wall was punctured under transesophageal echocardiography guidance. A guidewire was introduced across the largest defect. A short delivery sheath was positioned in the left ventricle cavity. An Amplatzer muscular VSD occluding device was deployed across the VSD. Cardiopulmonary bypass was needed only for repair of concomitant lesions, such as double-outlet right ventricle, aortic coarctation, or pulmonary artery band removal. No complications were encountered using this technique. Discharge echocardiograms showed either mild or no significant shunting across the ventricular septum. At a median follow-up of 12 months, all patients were asymptomatic and 2 patients had mild residual ventricular level shunts. Perventricular closure of muscular VSDs is safe and effective for a variety of patients with muscular VSDs.
Minimally invasive strategies can be expanded by combining standard surgical and interventional techniques. We performed a longitudinal prospective study of all pediatric patients who have undergone hybrid cardiac surgery at the University of Chicago Children's Hospital. Hybrid cardiac surgery was defined as combined catheter-based and surgical interventions in either one setting or in a planned sequential fashion within 24 hours. Between June 2000 and June 2003, 25 patients were treated with hybrid approaches. Seventeen patients with muscular ventricular septal defects (mVSDs) (mean age, 4 months; range, 2 weeks-4 years) underwent either sequential Amplatzer device closure in the catheterization laboratory followed by surgical completion (group 1A, n = 9) or one-stage intraoperative off-pump device closure (group IB, n = 8) with subsequent repair of any concomitant heart lesions. Eight patients with branch pulmonary artery (PA) stenoses (group 2) underwent intraoperative PA stenting or stent balloon dilatation along with concomitant surgical procedures. All patients survived hospitalization. Complications from the hybrid approach were mostly confined to groups 1A and 2. At a mean follow-up of 18 months, 2 group 1A patients died suddenly several months after discharge. All other patients are doing well. Hybrid pediatric cardiac surgery performed in tandem by surgeons and cardiologists is safe and effective in reducing or eliminating cardiopulmonary bypass. Patients with mVSDs who are small, have poor vascular access, or have concomitant cardiac lesions are currently treated in one setting with the perventricular approach.
Reduced bone mineral density (BMD) increases risk of fractures, thus making it necessary to monitor patients suffering from chronic renal failure and consecutive disturbance of bone metabolism. In order to evaluate the reliability of available methods, bone mineral density of the lumbar spine assessed with single energy computed tomography (QCT) was compared with bone mineral density of the lumbar spine, femoral neck, Ward's triangle and trochanteric region measured by dual energy photon absorptiometry (DPA) in 45 hemodialyzed patients with a mean hemodialysis duration of 35 +/- 26 months (SD). Depending on the measurement site and method 4-34% of dialyzed patients suffered from reduced BMD (z-score < -2). The highest correlation (r = 0.61, p < 0.01) was found between QCT of the spine, trabecular bone, and DPA of Ward's triangle. One year after baseline measurement bone mineral density was reassessed after randomization to either QCT or DPA in 14 and 18 patients, respectively. Whereas lumbar spine and femoral neck did not change, mean BMD showed a decrease at the measurement sites of Ward's triangle (DPA), trochanteric region (DPA) and trabecular bone of the spine (QCT), which, however, was statistically not significant. Cortical BMD of the spine assessed with QCT showed an increase. Although there is some reduction in bone density at most sites in hemodialyzed patients, no significant bone loss could be demonstrated over the course of 1 year.