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Biomedical subjects

S B Pollock

Publications and source records attributed to S B Pollock.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

The role of neuromonitoring in cardiovascular surgery.

This review describes the techniques currently used for quantitative neurophysiologic measurement during cardiac surgery and their potential impact on clinical outcome. Electroencephalography (EEG) characterizes cerebrocortical neuronal electrical activity and was part of some of the earliest cardiopulmonary bypass procedures, yet today it is not widespread use. Each of the common misunderstandings regarding a supposed limitation of this technology is explained. Its major genuine shortcoming, a lack of selectivity, may now be overcome with the combined use of additional monitoring modalities. The influence of intracranial hemodynamics on observed EEG changes may be determined continuously and noninvasively with transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound. TCD provides an indication of sudden change in either blood flow or vascular resistance as well as the detection of emboli. In addition, the metabolic status of cortical neurons can be monitored by regional cerebral venous oxygen saturation (rCVOS) using noninvasive transcranial near-infrared spectroscopy. The % rCVOS tends to remain remarkably stable over a wide range of temperatures, perfusion pressures, and anesthetic states. Marked change in either direction signifies a serious imbalance between oxygen delivery and consumption. Measurement of rCVOS does not require blood flow, pulsatile or otherwise, so that it offers the only means of monitoring during circulatory arrest. By characterizing the dynamic interplay among cerebral hemodynamics, metabolism, and electrogenesis, these technologies permit the rapid detection and correction of potentially hazardous conditions.

Brain

The experimental relationship between leaflet clearance and orientation of the St. Jude Medical valve in the mitral position.

The optimal orientation of the St. Jude Medical mechanical prosthesis in the mitral position has not yet been determined. While in the majority of cases the valve can perform satisfactorily regardless of valve orientation, certain circumstances can increase the risk of leaflet impingement. These valves are commonly implanted with their leaflets oriented parallel to the anatomic axis of the native leaflets (anatomic orientation) or with their prosthetic leaflets perpendicular to the axis of the native leaflets (antianatomic orientation). To determine the influence of valve orientation on the clearance from the prosthetic leaflet to the posterior ventricular wall, we calculated the clearances on all available models of the St. Jude Medical mitral valve. Clearances were computed from measurements of valve dimensions with use of an electronic caliper. In all cases the clearance in antianatomic orientation was at least 49.5% greater (mean 59%, range 49.5% to 77.5%) than in anatomic orientation.

Heart Valve Prosthesis

Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm with hemoptysis.

A 53-year-old man who had previously undergone resection of a left ventricular aneurysm was admitted because of hemoptysis. Preoperative evaluation with computed tomographic scan and cardiac catheterization demonstrated a pseudoaneurysm of the inferior ventricular wall measuring 16 cm in diameter with protrusion into the left hemithorax. The neck of the pseudoaneurysm was a defect in the ventricular wall extending from the base of the mitral valve annulus to the insertion of the posterior papillary muscle. Operative repair was performed using an albumin-coated, low-porosity Dacron patch.

Heart Aneurysm

Permanent transfemoral pacemaker insertion after repair of congenital heart disease.

In certain patients with anomalies of systemic venous connection, traditional transvenous pacemaker lead insertion may not be technically feasible. We report the use of the femoral venous approach to insert a permanent pacemaker in a patient with congenital heart disease who had undergone two previous cardiac operations and had persistent anomalies of the superior systemic venous circulation. We recommend that the femoral venous approach be considered in select patients requiring permanent pacing.

Adult

Actuarial survival and other events following valve surgery in octogenarians: comparison with an age-, sex-, and race-matched population.

From January 1973 to December 1989, 54 patients over 80 years of age underwent an intracardiac repair which included a cardiac valve operation. There were 21 males and 33 females. Mean age at operation was 82 years, range 80-89 years. Fifty-two patients (96%) were in New York Heart Association functional class III or IV preoperatively. Six patients had undergone previous valve surgery (11%). There were eight hospital deaths (14.8%). Risk factors for hospital death included older age at repair (p = 0.008), increased total cardiopulmonary bypass time (p = 0.06), and, possibly, smaller aortic valve prosthesis (p = 0.10). All 46 hospital survivors were followed up at a mean of 28.8 months after hospital discharge. There were 11 late deaths (23.9%), occurring at a mean of 32.3 months postoperatively. Survival analysis indicated that increased age (p = 0.06) and increased pulmonary artery diastolic pressure preoperatively (p less than 0.07) were multivariate risk factors for overall mortality. Actuarial survival at 5 years was 44%, with no difference from survival in an age-, sex-, and race-matched population. We conclude that octogenarians in the modern era have good chance for survival following valvular surgery. As hazards for full anticoagulation were low in this series, if valve repair is not feasible, we presently recommend the use of mechanical valves in the elderly to reduce the requirement for late reoperation due to bioprosthesis degeneration.

Actuarial Analysis

Feasibility of intraoperative aortic root angiography in the identification of critical coronary lesions.

Early revascularization is critical for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) because the ischemic myocardium begins to suffer irreversible damage after 4 h from the onset of symptoms. However, to make a diagnosis, perform coronary angiography, and prepare for operative revascularization usually takes longer than 4 h. Also, once a patient develops severe cardiogenic shock, coronary angiography is often impossible. Without angiography, the patient is no longer a candidate for surgical repair. To circumvent this problem, we designed this experiment to determine whether intraoperative aortic root angiography after cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic arrest could satisfactorily substitute for angiographic examination in the identification of critical coronary lesions. The feasibility of this approach was tested in dog hearts in which one or tow of the major coronary arteries were ligated. The ascending aorta was then clamped, contrast material was injected, and continuous real-time fluoroscopic images were obtained and recorded on videotape. The videotape was then analyzed by three physicians independently, each without prior knowledge of the lesion locations. Lesions of the left anterior descending artery, the circumflex coronary artery, and the right coronary artery were identified with 94, 91, and 94% accuracy, respectively, for an overall identification rate of 92%. We conclude that aortic root angiography reliably demonstrates coronary artery lesions, and refinements in this technique may allow certain patients to undergo coronary operations without preoperative catheterization.

Angiocardiography

Novel system for percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass.

Percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass (PCPB) has recently come to the forefront of medicine as a technique for resuscitating and supporting patients in various clinical situations. Current systems utilize small-diameter cannulas to aspirate blood under high suction into the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit. Aspiration-based systems have several disadvantages including risk of air embolism, blood hemolysis, and cavitation. Additionally, they are suboptimal for use during open-heart surgical procedures. A system with a venous cannula that employs gravity drainage has been evaluated. Once advanced into position over a guide-wire, the stylet is removed, causing the basket near the end of the cannula to expand. Blood flows into the cannula from side holes and the basket region, which prevents the vessel wall or atrium from collapsing around the catheter and impeding venous drainage. Hemodynamic, hematologic, and histologic examinations were performed on eight anesthetized mongrel dogs during 2 h of PCPB. All animals exhibited adequate tissue perfusion and right and left heart decompression. All animals were successfully weaned from PCPB and after 30 min exhibited normal myocardial function. No ischemic changes were observed in the heart, lung, kidney, or liver by light and electron microscopy. We conclude that full PCPB can be satisfactorily achieved by using a novel percutaneous venous cannula and gravity drainage.

Animals

Improvement in thoracic aortic pressure after proximal aortic cross-clamping by balloon occlusion of the distal aorta.

Spinal cord hypoperfusion injury is a devastating complication of cross-clamping the proximal thoracic aorta. The collateral circulation around the cross-clamp is generally poorly developed, and the run-off is immense, resulting in extremely low thoracic aortic and spinal cord perfusion pressures. The authors postulated that balloon occlusion of the abdominal aorta might confine this reduced collateral flow around the cross-clamp to the thoracic aorta. In 8 of 16 dogs subjected to aortic cross-clamping of the aorta just beyond the arch vessels, the abdominal aorta was also occluded by a balloon. Thoracic aortic pressure and spinal cord perfusion pressure were significantly higher in the animals with aortic balloon occlusion than in those without balloon occlusion (77 +/- 8 mm Hg versus 26 +/- 1 mm Hg, p less than 0.01, and 67 +/- 8 mm Hg versus 18 +/- 2 mm Hg, p less than 0.01, at 10 minutes after cross-clamping). Abdominal aortic balloon occlusion increases thoracic aortic pressure after the aorta is cross-clamped proximally. Further studies are necessary in primates to assess the effect of this procedure in spinal cord perfusion and the rate of paraplegia.

Animals

Early results of valve replacement with the Björk-Shiley convexoconcave prosthesis.

The Björk-Shiley convexoconcave prosthetic valve has design characteristics that may result in a lower incidence of thromboembolic complications than the conventional spherical Björk-Shiley prosthesis. We evaluated the results of valve replacement with the convexoconcave prosthesis in 248 patients receiving 301 prosthetic valves between March, 1979, and June, 1981. One hundred thirteen patients had aortic valve replacement (AVR), 73 had mitral valve replacement (MVR), and 62 had multiple valve replacement. Two hundred nine (84%) were in New York Heart Association Class III or IV. The median duration of follow-up was 13 months, and follow-up information was available for 246 (99%) of the patients. The actuarial incidence of freedom from thromboembolism at two years was 98% in the AVR group, 97% in the MVR group, and 87% in the group having multiple valve replacement. There were no documented episodes of valve thrombosis or mechanical failure and no fatal thromboembolic complications. The absence of valve thrombosis is in marked contrast to the results reported with the spherical disc valve. Although longer follow-up is necessary, it appears that the convexoconcave design represents a major improvement in the Björk-Shiley prosthesis.

Adolescent

Use of Doppler pressure measurements in predicting success in amputation of the leg.

Fifty-five patients underwent amputation of the leg. Fifty-eight percent of the amputations were above-knee and 32 percent below-knee. Preoperative Doppler ankle blood pressure measurements and ankle/brachial ratios were compared and correlated with wound healing in patients with below-knee amputation. Statistical analysis documented that such measurements were significant in predicting wound healing. If blood pressure greater than 55 mm Hg at the knee, greater than 70 mm Hg at the incision site or greater than 70 mm Hg at the ankle or an ankle/brachial ratio of at least 0.3 is documented, satisfactory healing will follow amputation.

Aged

Events associated with rupture of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation devices.

Nineteen intra-aortic balloon (IAB) ruptures occurred in sixteen patients during a three-year period. Perforation occurred secondary to abrasion with material failure or mishandling of the device during insertion. To avoid serious sequelae, it is important to be aware of the possibility of IAB rupture and to remove any defective device immediately upon recognition of an event.

Aged

Events following implantation of an intraluminal ringed prosthesis in the ascending, transverse, and descending thoracic aorta.

From March 1978 through July 1985, 23 patients underwent implantation of 24 intraluminal ringed prostheses (IRP). There were 18 men and 5 women, with a mean age of 54.7 years, range 15-74 years. Eleven IRP were placed in the ascending aorta, two in the transverse arch, and 11 in the descending aorta. Pathology included acute aortic dissection in four patients, chronic dissection in four, and aortic aneurysm in 16. There were eight hospital deaths (35%). Causes of death included acute cardiac failure in seven patients, and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm in one. IRP complications requiring revision included right coronary artery occlusion in three of 11 patients (27%) with an IRP in the ascending aorta. Graft revision was also required in three of 11 IRP implanted in the descending aorta (27%), due to graft occlusion in one and graft stenosis in two. Of the six patients with IRP complications, there were three hospital deaths (50%). All 15 hospital survivors were followed for a mean of 68.5 months, range 5-112 months. There were four late deaths (26.7%). Causes of late death included hemoptysis in one, cardiomyopathy in one, and aortic redissection and rupture in two. We conclude that patients undergoing repair of aortic pathology with IRP have an important risk of early phase events, as technical problems can occur due to malposition and slippage of the securing rings.

Adolescent