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Biomedical subjects

T J Gardner

Publications and source records attributed to T J Gardner.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

The epidemiology of the postpericardiotomy syndrome: a common complication of cardiac surgery.

PPS is a major cause of morbidity after cardiac surgery and may cause bypass graft closure and fatal cardiac tamponade. Little is known about its incidence and cause. To better define this syndrome characterized by postoperative fever, pericardial friction rub, and pericardial pain, we used two out of three of the preceding criteria to diagnose PPS. In a prospective epidemiologic study we followed 944 consecutive patients undergoing open-heart surgery between November 1984 and November 1985. The overall incidence was 17.8%. The incidence was increased in younger patients, in those with a history of prednisone use in the past, in patients with a past history of pericarditis, those with aortic valve replacement, and in patients who received enflurane or halothane anesthesia. PPS is a common syndrome. Knowledge of risk factors associated with PPS may allow its prevention and identification of patients who warrant early and aggressive treatment.

Age Factors↗

Reducing intraoperative myocardial acidosis by continuous cardioplegic perfusion via the coronary sinus.

Continuous retrograde coronary sinus perfusion (RCSP) can deliver cardioplegic solution homogeneously to the myocardium via the disease-free venous system. However, administration of cardioplegic solution through the coronary venous system necessitates low pressure infusion which may limit the rate of cardioplegic delivery. In addition, infusion of the solution at low flow rates may not prevent the development of myocardial acidosis during arrest. To determine if RCSP is capable of limiting intraoperative myocardial acidosis, open-chest pigs, monitored by intramyocardial pH probes, underwent cardioplegic arrest with a single dose aortic root infusion followed by a 45-min period of no RCSP (Group 1), RCSP of 25 mEq/liter bicarbonate-buffered cardioplegic solution (Group 2), RCSP of blood-buffered cardioplegic solution (Group 3), and RCSP of histidine-buffered cardioplegic solution (Group 4). There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to baseline pH, with a range of 7.27 to 7.32. At the end of the 45-min arrest period, Group 2 had a statistically higher pH, 7.06 +/- 0.08, compared to Group 1, 6.74 +/- 0.08 (P less than 0.05). Hearts in Groups 3 and 4 demonstrated preservation of preischemic pH levels after 45 min of arrest, 7.29 +/- 0.07 and 7.37 +/- 0.10, respectively, significantly higher than either Group 1 or 2 (P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acidosis↗

Oxygen radicals in cardiac surgery.

Most cardiac surgical procedures require the use of prolonged induced myocardial ischemia. Experimental models of global myocardial ischemia which mimic cardiac surgical techniques have been developed to investigate the possibility of oxygen free radical development during prolonged myocardial ischemia or upon reperfusion. In such experiments, various free radical scavenging agents, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and mannitol, have been shown to improve the tolerance of the heart to protracted global ischemia. Use of these agents has improved cardiac functional recovery and has attenuated the biochemical and structural changes which occur due to prolonged ischemia and reflow. In a recently developed porcine experimental model, the effects of preexisting regional myocardial ischemia with superimposed global ischemia and reperfusion have been studied, with free radical scavenging agents administered in an attempt to reduce myocardial infarction and improve regional functional recovery. In most such studies completed to date, free radical scavenging agents have resulted in better myocardial preservation, suggesting, at least indirectly, that there may be an oxygen free radical-mediated component of the ischemia-reperfusion injury seen in such models. Techniques for directly measuring myocardial oxygen free radical levels may allow for early clarification of the development of such toxic species in the clinical cardiac surgical setting.

Animals↗

The long-term success of skeletal muscle in aortic repair.

To determine the efficacy of skeletal muscle for aortic repair, 23 swine underwent repair of descending thoracic aortic defects. In one group, a vascularized muscle flap was used to patch a 2- to 3-cm aortic defect. In two other groups, a short segment of aorta was removed and a 2-cm tube graft of freshly harvested but devascularized skeletal muscle or Vicryl mesh was used to repair the aorta. Swine were followed for up to sixteen months after implantation. There were no deaths or graft-related complications in the vascularized muscle patch group, and after sixteen months, there were no stenoses or aneurysmal dilatations of the flaps. Histologically, a mature pseudointimal layer had been deposited under the muscle flap and was grossly indistinguishable from normal arterial wall. In the group that received devascularized muscle tube grafts, however, suture line dehiscences occurred in 3 of 7 animals within two weeks of operation. There were no dehiscences in the 9 recipients of a Vicryl tube graft, a finding suggesting that deposition of pseudointimal elements was rapid enough to ensure vascular integrity as the Vicryl was absorbed. Postmortem examination of these animals demonstrated stenoses ranging from 30 to 50%, thereby indicating a lack of growth in the new pseudointimal wall. These results demonstrate the long-term reliability of vascularized skeletal muscle for use in major vascular reconstruction, and suggest the beneficial effects of avoiding prosthetic material and promoting optimal pseudointimal formation.

Animals↗

Aortic valve selection in the elderly patient.

To determine the influence of valve selection on valve-related morbidity and mortality and patient survival, comparative long-term performance characteristics of mechanical (N = 68) and bioprosthetic (N = 73) heart valves were analyzed for 141 patients more than 70 years old who underwent isolated aortic valve replacement between 1970 and 1985. Cumulative patient follow-up was 491 patient-years (average, 4.3 years per patient). Hospital mortality was 18% and 19% for patients with mechanical valves and bioprosthetic valves, respectively. Survival at 5 years was 61 +/- 7% (+/- the standard error) and 67 +/- 10% for recipients of mechanical valves and bioprosthetic valves, respectively. Male sex (p = 0.014) and urgency of operation (p = 0.006) were independent risk factors for hospital mortality. Atrial fibrillation increased valve-related mortality (p = 0.01). No patient required reoperation or experienced structural valve failure. While anticoagulant-related hemorrhage was increased in recipients of mechanical valves (9.2 +/- 2.1%/patient-year) compared with recipients of bioprosthetic valves (2.3 +/- 1.1%/patient-year), it did not result in a death or lead to permanent disability. There was no difference in freedom from any valve-related complication at 5 years. However, when all morbid events are considered, recipients of bioprosthetic valves experienced fewer valve-related complications than patients receiving mechanical valves (10.7 +/- 2.3%/patient-year versus 17.6 +/- 2.5%/patient-year, respectively; p less than 0.05). The reduced incidence of anticoagulant-related hemorrhage and the infrequent need for warfarin sodium anticoagulation favor selection of a bioprosthetic heart valve in patients older than 70 years.

Aged↗

Immediate enhancement of left ventricular relaxation by coronary artery bypass grafting: intraoperative assessment.

We investigated the effect of coronary artery bypass grafting on the rate of left ventricular relaxation as defined by the time constant for isovolumetric relaxation, T, measured in milliseconds. Completeness of relaxation at rapid heart rates was determined by comparison of the relationship between left ventricular pressure and echocardiographic left ventricular cross-sectional cavity area during rapid ventricular pacing with that obtained after a prolonged diastole when the ventricle was maximally relaxed. Twelve patients with coronary artery disease had significantly higher T values (94.5 +/- 6.2) than six patients without coronary artery disease who were undergoing other open heart procedures (39.5 +/- 5.0, p less than .001). T was significantly reduced after coronary artery bypass grafting (68.2 +/- 5.1, p = .007), but was unchanged in the six control patients after cardiopulmonary bypass (37.8 +/- 4.5, p = .54). Similar changes were found during rapid pacing to 100, 120, and 140/min. Incomplete relaxation was detected in three of 10 (heart rate 120 beats/min) and nine of 11 (heart rate 140 beats/min) patients with coronary artery disease and this decreased to 0 of 10 (heart rate 120 beats/min) and six of 11 (heart rate 140 beats/min) patients after coronary artery bypass. Incomplete relaxation before bypass at a heart rate of 120 beats/min averaged 0.9 +/- 0.3 mm Hg. At a heart rate of 140 beats/min, incomplete relaxation averaged 5.6 +/- 1.6 mm Hg before and 1.4 +/- 0.5 mm Hg after bypass. Intake of beta-blockers or calcium-channel blockers, body temperature, and systolic blood pressure were not found to be related to these changes. We conclude that immediately after coronary artery bypass relaxation of left ventricular muscle is enhanced and incomplete relaxation at rapid heart rates is less likely. The most probable cause of this improvement in ventricular relaxation after coronary artery bypass grafting is relief of ischemia.

Blood Vessel Prosthesis↗

Long-term valvular function after total repair of tetralogy of Fallot. Relation to ventricular arrhythmias.

Patients with total repair of tetralogy of Fallot may have residual valvular dysfunction, the long-term effect of which is poorly defined. We prospectively studied 59 patients for 18 +/- 5 (mean +/- SD) years postoperatively by Doppler echocardiography and by 24-hour electrocardiographic monitoring. Right ventricular outflow gradients were estimated from the peak continuous-wave Doppler pulmonary artery velocity. The severity of valvular regurgitation was determined by mapping the proximal chamber by pulsed Doppler methods. Right ventricular diastolic cavity area was measured by planimetry of the apical image. The right ventricular outflow tract gradient had a mean value of 9.4 +/- 9.0 mm Hg (range, 0-58 mm Hg; median, 6.6 mm Hg). Pulmonary regurgitation was present in 78% of patients, with 59% of patients graded as mild and 19% as moderate. Tricuspid regurgitation was found in 65% of patients, with 56% of patients graded as mild, 7% as moderate, and 2% as severe. The severity of pulmonary regurgitation correlated with right ventricular cavity area (p less than 0.05). The severity of tricuspid regurgitation was not related to pulmonary stenosis or to the severity of pulmonary regurgitation. Aortic regurgitation is unusual (n = 11) and correlates with aortic root size. The frequency and type of ventricular arrhythmia were not related to the severity of pulmonary stenosis; however, ventricular bigeminy and couplets were related to the severity of pulmonary regurgitation (p less than 0.025). The majority of patients with total repair of tetralogy of Fallot have remarkably good long-term valvular function. For the minority with moderate or severe valvular dysfunction, pulmonary regurgitation is the best marker for ventricular arrhythmias.

Adult↗

New pluronic-free perfluorocarbon cardioplegia improves myocardial oxygenation.

Cardioplegic protection with oxygenated lecithin-emulsified methyl adamantane, a perfluorocarbon with high oxygen solubility, was compared with oxygenated crystalloid cardioplegic solution in an ischemic rabbit heart model. The cardioplegic solutions had identical salt compositions with a potassium concentration of 15 meq/l. Eighteen isolated rabbit hearts underwent 180 minutes of global ischemia at 30 degrees C, followed by a 45-minute period of reperfusion at 37 degrees C. During the ischemic period, cardioplegic solution was infused every 30 minutes, and myocardial oxygen extraction was calculated. Left ventricular function was assessed before and after ischemia by measuring left ventricular isovolumic developed pressure and the first derivative of pressure (dP/dt). Cardioplegia oxygen extraction for the methyl adamantane hearts was 230 +/- 11 ml of O2/100 g heart wt and 150 +/- 25 ml O2/100 g heart wt for the crystalloid hearts (p less than 0.05). Recovery of dP/dt at 30 minutes of reperfusion, expressed as a percentage of preischemic control, was 80% +/- 3% for the methyl adamantane hearts and 61% +/- 3% for the crystalloid hearts (p less than 0.05). The developed pressure for the methyl adamantane hearts was 73% +/- 3% and for the crystalloid hearts, 62% +/- 2% (p less than 0.05). In this global ischemia model, perfluorocarbon emulsified with egg-yolk phospholipid improved oxygen delivery and postischemic myocardial performance compared with an oxygenated crystalloid cardioplegic solution.

Animals↗

Predictors of perioperative mortality in patients with unstable postinfarction angina.

Factors associated with increased operative mortality in patients with postinfarction angina have not been defined. Two hundred twenty-five patients underwent urgent coronary artery bypass grafting from 1982 through 1986. One hundred sixty-two men and 63 women averaged 62 years of age (range, 35-87 years). Operative mortality was 5.3%. To assess the predictors of perioperative mortality, 16 variables were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. Significant independent predictors of perioperative mortality were the presence of a transmural anterior myocardial infarction (p less than 0.0005) and the need for preoperative intra-aortic balloon pumping for angina or congestive heart failure (p = 0.009). All perioperative mortalities (12 patients) occurred in this subset (anterior myocardial infarction, intra-aortic balloon pumping, or both) that included 101 patients. The mean follow-up period was 27.8 months (range, 1-69 months). There were 11 late deaths, resulting in an actuarial survival of 92 +/- 2%, 91 +/- 2%, 88 +/- 2.6%, and 88 +/- 4% at 1,2,3, and 4 years, respectively. Ninety-six percent of survivors were assigned to New York Heart Association Class I or II for congestive heart failure, and 96% were assigned to Class I or II for angina. Urgent coronary artery bypass grafting can be performed in patients with unstable postinfarction angina with acceptable mortality, although a significant increase in risk exists for patients with preoperative transmural anterior myocardial infarction, intra-aortic balloon pumping, or both.

Adult↗

Ten-year analysis of the Björk-Shiley standard aortic valve.

Long-term performance characteristics of the Björk-Shiley standard aortic valve were determined by analyzing the follow-up of 514 patients undergoing operation between 1971 and 1981. Cumulative follow-up was 2,601 patient-years (average, 5.3 +/- 3.8 years); 53% (238/452) of hospital survivors have been followed more than 5 years. Valve-related complications expressed as both actuarial event-free percents (+/- standard error at 10 years) and first-event linearized determinations (percent per patient-year) occurred at the following rates: thromboembolism, 82 +/- 3 and 2.3 +/- 0.3, respectively; anticoagulant-related hemorrhage, 60 +/- 4 and 5.6 +/- 0.5; prosthetic valve endocarditis, 94 +/- 2 and 0.8 +/- 0.2; valve thrombosis, 97 +/- 1 and 0.4 +/- 0.1; reoperation, 94 +/- 2 and 0.6 +/- 0.2; valve failure, 82 +/- 4 and 1.6 +/- 0.2; and composite valve-related morbidity and mortality, 46 +/- 4 and 8.8 +/- 0.2. Overall survival was 72 +/- 2% at 5 years and 55 +/- 3% at 10 years; valve-related complications accounted for 22% of the late deaths. Although no instance of structural valve failure could be identified, 25% of valve-related complications resulted from valve failure, of which 67% were fatal. By 10 years, 54% of patients had experienced at least one form of major valve-related complication, 16% of which proved fatal. The Björk-Shiley standard aortic valve has late valve-related complications similar to other existing mechanical prostheses that have been subjected to long-term analysis.

Adult↗

Present expectations in cardiac transplantation.

The clinical introduction of cyclosporine has resulted in increased enthusiasm for cardiac transplantation. Since July, 1983, 61 patients (50 male and 11 female) have undergone orthotopic cardiac transplantation for cardiomyopathy (48 patients), ischemic heart disease (11), or congenital heart disease (2). Mean age was 39 years (range, 1.5 to 57 years). Median hospital stay was 26 days (range, 4 to 60 days). Maintenance immunosuppression consisted primarily of prednisone and cyclosporine; it was modified in 9 patients because of a pre-existing clinical condition. The incidence of rejection was 0.44 episode/patient-month within 3 months of cardiac transplantation and 0.10 episode/patient-month subsequently. The incidence of infection was 0.05 episode/patient-month. Major side effects of cyclosporine included renal dysfunction (63%) and hypertension (61%). No recipient required dialysis for renal dysfunction. Ten patients died (rejection, 4; infection, 3; carcinoma, 1; lymphoma, 1; and pulmonary hemorrhage, 1); actuarial survival at 1 and 2 years was 84 +/- 6% and 76 +/- 8%, respectively. Patient follow-up (cumulative, 719 patient-months) revealed that 96% of recipients were rehabilitated and 50% had returned to work. With increasing understanding of cyclosporine immunosuppression, recipients can continue to look forward to an extended life with nearly complete rehabilitation.

Adolescent↗

The effects of age on outcome after coronary bypass surgery.

To study the effects of increasing age on outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), 684 patients who underwent CABG from 1980 to 1985 were entered into a noncurrent prospective study. Patients were matched by date of operation and placed into three groups according to age: (1) 70 and older, (2) 55 to 69, or (3) less than 55. In addition to intraoperative and postoperative data collected on all patients, follow-up was obtained on 97% of the patients at a mean of 30 +/- 16 months. Older patients were more often female (p less than .002), and white (p less than .001) and had more preexisting cerebrovascular disease (p less than .0001), peripheral vascular disease (p less than .001), unstable angina (p less than .0001), and longer mean bypass pump times (p less than .001). Older patients had a higher hospital mortality (9.3% vs 2.2%), suffered more complications, including stroke, wound infection, reoperation for bleeding, need for intropic drug support, and prolonged ventilation, and had longer mean postoperative hospital stays (14 vs 9 days, p less than .0001). After discharge, mortality rates were similar in all groups, as was recurrence of symptoms and degree of rehabilitation. While patient age at operation significantly influenced hospital mortality and morbidity, this appeared to be a consequence of the greater frequency of risk factors in patients over 70 years of age. In addition, late follow-up failed to demonstrate any significant differences based on age alone in survival or functional status among patients undergoing CABG.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Comparative analysis of mechanical and bioprosthetic valves after aortic valve replacement.

Comparative long-term performance characteristics of Björk-Shiley mechanical and bioprosthetic valves were analyzed for patients undergoing aortic valve replacement between 1976 and 1981. A total of 419 patients received either a standard Björk-Shiley (n = 266) or bioprosthetic (porcine, n = 126, or pericardial, n = 27) aortic valve. Cumulative patient follow-up was 1,705 patient-years; the average patient follow-up was 4.1 +/- 2.7 years. Survival data were obtained for all but 11 patients (97% complete follow-up) up to 9 years after operation. Survival at 5 years was 81% +/- 4% (+/- standard error) for Björk-Shiley and for bioprosthetic valve recipients. Valve failure in the Björk-Shiley group was predominantly due to valve-related mortality and did not result from structural failure. Patients with bioprosthetic valves experienced valve failure as a result of prosthetic valve endocarditis and intrinsic valve degeneration. Although patients with bioprostheses experienced a lower incidence of valve-related morbidity than Björk-Shiley valve recipients (p less than 0.03), no difference could be demonstrated in the incidence of valve-related mortality or valve failure at 5 years between bioprosthetic and Björk-Shiley valves. Mortality rate from valve failure was higher for Björk-Shiley (86%, 12/14) than bioprosthetic valves (36%, 5/14) (p less than 0.01).

Actuarial Analysis↗

Free radical scavengers improve functional recovery of stunned myocardium in a model of surgical coronary revascularization.

This study examined whether treatment with the oxygen free radical scavengers, superoxide dismutase and catalase, could improve functional recovery in hearts subjected to regional ischemia and global cardioplegic arrest. Regional left ventricular (LV) function was assessed in open chest pigs with sonomicrometry and micromanometry to calculate an index of regional work from the LV pressure-segment length relationship. After measuring baseline preischemic function, the left anterior descending artery was occluded, creating a region-at-risk in 20% of the LV mass. Cardiopulmonary bypass was begun 15 minutes after initiation of regional ischemia and was followed immediately by cardioplegic arrest for 45 minutes, after which time the coronary artery occluder was removed to simulate coronary revascularization. Starting just before removal of the aortic cross-clamp and continuing for the first 30 minutes of reflow, animals received an aortic root infusion of either superoxide dismutase (3600 U/kg) and catalase (20,000 U/kg) or a control saline solution infusion. In each group, seven animals were successfully weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass without inotropic support. After 2 hour of reperfusion, the recovery of baseline function in the region-at-risk was 44% +/- 7% in the treated animals and 4% +/- 13% in the untreated animals (p less than 0.05). In this experimental model, oxygen free radical scavengers were effective in preserving functional recovery in regionally ischemic myocardium reperfused under conditions simulating surgical revascularization in the setting of acute myocardial ischemia.

Animals↗

The rapid evolution of a myocardial infarction in an end-artery coronary preparation.

The potential for salvaging infarcting myocardium depends on the time course of the infarction process. To determine the rate of infarct evolution in an end-artery coronary preparation similar to the coronary arterial system of the human heart, each of 84 swine underwent a reversible occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery for varying lengths of time, after which flow was reestablished into the occluded region for either 2 or 48 hr. Infarct size was assessed by nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) staining and confirmed by histologic examination in the 48 hr animals. The region at risk of ischemic injury was determined by injection of monastral blue dye. Infarction progressed rapidly, with a mean of 1.9 +/- 1.5% of the risk region infarcting after 15 min of occlusion, 20.3 +/- 5.7% at 30 min, 43.3 +/- 4.8% at 45 min, 59.9 +/- 2.4% at 60 min, 70.6 +/- 1.7% at 90 min, 84 +/- 2.0% at 180 min, and 88.6 +/- 2.0% after 48 hr. Although there was good correlation in infarct sizing between NBT and histologic techniques at 2 and 48 hr of reperfusion, NBT underestimated infarct size at 15 and 30 min. These data suggest that in the setting of an end-artery coronary anatomy, reperfusion must be carried out within 90 min of coronary occlusion to achieve significant salvage of infarcting myocardium, a period of time much shorter than previously suspected.

Animals↗

Retrograde coronary sinus perfusion prevents infarct extension during intraoperative global ischemic arrest.

To determine whether continuous infusion of cardioplegia retrograde through the coronary sinus could improve the salvage of infarcting myocardium, 54 pigs were utilized in a region at risk model. All hearts underwent 30 minutes of reversible coronary artery occlusion, and were divided into six groups. Group 1 served as controls and underwent two hours of coronary reflow without global ischemic arrest. The remaining five groups were subjected to 45 minutes of cardioplegia-induced hypothermic arrest followed by two hours of normothermic reflow. Group 2 had a single infusion of crystalloid cardioplegia, and Group 3 received an oxygenated perfluorocarbon cardioplegic solution initially and again after 20 minutes of ischemia. After initial cardiac arrest with crystalloid cardioplegia, all hearts in Groups 4, 5, and 6 underwent a continuous infusion of a cardioplegic solution retrograde through the coronary sinus. Group 4 received a nonoxygenated crystalloid cardioplegic solution, Group 5 received an oxygenated crystalloid cardioplegic solution, and Group 6 received an oxygenated perfluorocarbon cardioplegic solution. With results expressed as the percent of infarcted myocardium within the region at risk, Group 2 hearts, which received only antegrade cardioplegia, had a mean infarct size of 44.8 +/- 6.3%, a 2.2-fold increase over controls (p less than 0.05). While antegrade delivery of oxygenated perfluorocarbon cardioplegia (Group 3) and coronary sinus perfusion with nonoxygenated crystalloid cardioplegia (Group 4) limited infarct size to 33.6 +/- 4.7% and 35.3 +/- 5.4%, respectively, only oxygenated cardioplegia delivered retrograde through the coronary sinus (Groups 5 and 6) completely prevented infarct extension during global ischemic arrest.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗