Biomedical subjects

Thomas J Takach

Publications and source records attributed to Thomas J Takach.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Myocardial thievery: the coronary-subclavian steal syndrome.

Coronary-subclavian steal syndrome entails the reversal of blood flow in a previously constructed internal mammary artery coronary conduit, which produces myocardial ischemia. The most frequent cause of the syndrome is atherosclerotic disease in the ipsilateral, proximal subclavian artery. Although coronary-subclavian steal was initially reported to be rare, the increasing documentation of this phenomenon and its potentially catastrophic consequences in recent series suggests that the incidence of the problem has been underreported and that its clinical impact has been underestimated. We review the causes and background of coronary-subclavian steal; methods of preventing, diagnosing, and treating it; and the potential influence of various treatment regimens on long-term survival and the likelihood of late adverse events in patients with coronary-subclavian steal syndrome.

Anticoagulants↗

PubMed2006

Arteriopathy in the high-performance athlete.

Pain occurs frequently in high-performance athletes and is most often due to musculoskeletal injury or strain. However, athletes who participate in sports that require highly frequent, repetitive limb motion can also experience pain from an underlying arteriopathy, which causes exercise-induced ischemia. We reviewed the clinical records and follow-up care of 3 high-performance athletes (mean age, 29.3 yr; range, 16-47 yr) who were admitted consecutively to our institution from January 2002 through May 2003, each with a diagnosis of limb ischemia due to arteriopathy. The study group comprised 3 males: 2 active in competitive baseball (ages, 16 and 19 yr) and a cyclist (age, 47 yr). Provocative testing and radiologic evaluation established the diagnoses. Treatment goals included targeted resection of compressive structures, arterial reconstruction to eliminate stenosis and possible emboli, and improvement of distal perfusion. Our successful reconstructive techniques included thoracic outlet decompression and interpositional bypass of the subclavian artery in the 16-year-old patient, pectoralis muscle and tendon decompression to relieve compression of the axillary artery in the 19-year-old, and patch angioplasty for endofibrosis affecting the external iliac artery in the 47-year-old. Each patient was asymptomatic on follow-up and had resumed participation in competitive athletics. The recognition and anatomic definition of an arteriopathy that produces exercise-induced ischemia enables the application of precise therapy that can produce a symptom-free outcome and the ability to resume competitive athletics.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Concomitant brachiocephalic and coronary artery disease: outcome and decision analysis.

BACKGROUND: In patients with coronary artery disease, concomitant brachiocephalic disease may affect outcome and influence decision making regarding operative staging, technique, and choice of conduit. METHODS: Eighty consecutive patients (mean age, 59.3 years; 60.0% male) with concomitant brachiocephalic and coronary artery disease were identified either before (group A, n = 48) or after (group B, n = 32) coronary artery bypass grafting. Patients who had symptomatic brachiocephalic and coronary artery disease before surgery underwent concomitant brachiocephalic reconstruction and coronary artery bypass grafting using either all-vein coronary conduits (n = 41) or vein-and-internal mammary artery conduits (n = 7). Patients who had coronary-subclavian steal syndrome after coronary artery bypass (group B, n = 32) underwent either surgical (n = 5) or endovascular (n = 27) brachiocephalic reconstruction only. RESULTS: All patients were asymptomatic after intervention. Operative mortality was 4.2% for group A and 3.1% for group B. The perioperative stroke rate was 2.1% for group A and 0% for group B. Actuarial 10-year freedom from specific events for group A was as follows: death 59.9 +/- 12.8%, brachiocephalic restenosis 100%, coronary-subclavian steal syndrome 100%, myocardial infarction 83.5 +/- 10.5%, stroke 82.1 +/- 9.9%, redo coronary artery bypass grafting 95.8 +/- 4.1%, other vascular operation 82.2 +/- 8.9%, and adverse cardiac outcome (death, redo coronary artery bypass grafting, or myocardial infarction) 52.9% +/- 13.2% (for patients with all-vein conduits) or 100% (for patients with vein-and-internal mammary artery conduits). At midterm follow-up (mean, 2.92 years), both the surgical and the endovascular treatment subgroups of group B had 100% brachiocephalic patency. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term results in a limited population support continued evaluation of concomitant brachiocephalic reconstruction and coronary artery bypass grafting with use of the internal mammary artery conduit in an attempt to improve late survival in patients with concomitant disease. The excellent midterm brachiocephalic patency after either surgical or endovascular treatment of patients with coronary-subclavian steal syndrome supports continued evaluation of both methods.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Brachiocephalic reconstruction II: operative and endovascular management of single-vessel disease.

OBJECTIVE: Although the surgical management of brachiocephalic disease is well established, evolving endovascular techniques present new options for treatment. We explored the potential benefits and drawbacks of these interventions in terms of outcome. METHODS: From 1966 to 2004, 391 consecutive patients (43.7% male; mean age, 61.9 years) with single-vessel brachiocephalic disease were treated with either operative bypass (group A; n = 229) or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (group B; n = 162). RESULTS: All patients were asymptomatic after surgery or endovascular intervention. Group A and group B had similar operative mortality (0.9% vs 0.6%) and stroke (1.3% vs 0%) rates. However, 5 years after the procedure, group A had significantly better freedom from graft or intervention failure (92.7% +/- 2.1%) than did group B (83.9% +/- 3.7%; P = .03, Kaplan-Meier analysis; P = .001, Cox regression analysis). At 10 years, group A had the following rates of actuarial freedom from specific events: death, 73.7% +/- 4.6%; myocardial infarction, 84.2% +/- 3.6%; stroke, 91.4% +/- 3.4%; graft failure, 88.1% +/- 3.3%; coronary revascularization, 69.8% +/- 5.1%; and other vascular operation, 70.7% +/- 4.6%. Endovascular intervention involved less initial cost (mean savings, $8787 per procedure), was less invasive, and did not necessitate general anesthesia. On satisfaction questionnaires, 96.5% of patients receiving an endovascular intervention and 95.1% of patients receiving operative bypass for single-vessel brachiocephalic disease subjectively rated their treatment as "good" or "very good." CONCLUSIONS: Operative bypass and endovascular intervention for single-vessel brachiocephalic disease are both associated with acceptably low operative morbidity and mortality. Operative bypass produces significantly better mid-term freedom from graft or intervention failure than endovascular intervention and produces excellent long-term freedom from failure. Endovascular intervention offers tangible benefits regarding cost, level of invasiveness, and subjective patient satisfaction. Undetermined are the differences between the procedures regarding long-term durability, patterns of failure, efficacy as an adjunct to coronary artery bypass grafting, need for anticoagulation, efficacy as treatment for complex (multivessel) disease, and long-term cost.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Brachiocephalic reconstruction I: operative and long-term results for complex disease.

OBJECTIVES: Complex brachiocephalic disease involves multiple vessels and is frequently associated with multisystem atherosclerosis. We reviewed surgical outcome and examined the impact of this problem on decision making regarding operative staging, technique, and choice of conduit. METHODS: Between 1966 and 2000, 157 consecutive patients (mean age, 54.0 years; 48.4% male) with innominate artery or multivessel brachiocephalic disease underwent operative reconstruction using either a transthoracic approach (group A, n = 113) or a less invasive, extrathoracic approach (group B, n = 44). Reconstruction required multiple distal anastomoses in 70 patients (44.6%), concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in 37 patients (23.6%), and concomitant carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in 26 patients (16.6%). RESULTS: No significant differences were found between group A and group B when operative mortality (2.7% vs 2.3%) and stroke rates (2.7% vs 6.8%) were analyzed. However, 10 years after surgery, freedom from graft failure was significantly better in group A (94.4% +/- 4.4%) than in group B (60.3% +/- 13.4%) ( P = .002). Freedom from graft failure was adversely affected by nonaortic inflow ( P = .002) and axillo-axillary cervical grafts ( P = .0001). Mortality and stroke rates for subgroups having multiple distal anastomoses (2.9%, 2/70 and 4.3%, 3/70), concomitant CABG (5.4%, 2/37 and 0, 0/37), and concomitant CEA (3.8%, 1/26 and 3.8%, 1/26) were similar to those of other patients. For the entire patient group, 10-year rates of actuarial freedom from specific events were death, 68.8% +/- 6.0%; myocardial infarction, 86.7% +/- 4.5%; stroke, 87.0% +/- 4.4%; coronary revascularization, 88.0% +/- 3.6%, and other vascular operation, 79.9% +/- 4.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Transthoracic arch reconstruction for complex brachiocephalic disease can be done with acceptably low morbidity and mortality similar to those of a less invasive, extrathoracic approach. Furthermore, the transthoracic approach is associated with significantly better long-term freedom from graft failure, possibly because it preserves aortic inflow to the great vessels. Nonetheless, the high frequency of late events in this relatively young patient population reflects the presence of multisystem atherosclerosis and suggests the need for close follow-up and lifestyle modification.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Pediatric aortic disruption.

Although trauma is the primary cause of death in children, few reports or series exist regarding the management of traumatic aortic disruption in the pediatric age group. The clinical outcome in children diagnosed with acute aortic disruption may be directly influenced by diagnostic and therapeutic management decisions. We reviewed the clinical course of 3 consecutive pediatric patients (mean age, 10.0 years; range, 4-16 years) admitted to our institution from January 2002 through May 2003 with the diagnosis of acute aortic disruption due to blunt trauma. In each case, the cause was a motor vehicle accident. Major, concomitant injuries involving other organ systems were present in each patient. Our operative goals were to use primary repair techniques, avoid the use of endovascular stent grafts, and use partial left heart bypass during aortic cross-clamping whenever possible. Each patient underwent successful operative repair. Aortic reconstruction techniques included primary suture repair in the 4-year-old patient, patch angioplasty in the 16-year-old, and placement of an interposition conduit in the 10-year-old for a blow-out type aortic injury. All patients received partial left heart bypass during aortic cross-clamping (mean, 36.6 min; range, 27-50 min), via a centrifugal pump, and anticoagulation. All patients recovered without evidence of adverse neurologic sequelae. Operative repair of acute aortic disruption in pediatric patients using circulatory support can provide good outcomes. Although not always feasible, the preferential use of primary aortic repair techniques in lieu of interposition conduits and endovascular aortic stents may decrease the potential for late pseudocoarctation.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMed2005

Aortic pseudoaneurysm.

Reoperative aortic surgery is a therapeutic challenge. We examine a case of reoperative aortic surgery involving a pseudoaneurysm that occurred after surgical treatment of an abdominal aneurysm. A systematic approach to diagnosis, followed by treatment tailored to diagnostic findings, can minimize morbidity.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Ovarian vein and caval thrombosis.

We present an illustrative case of postpartum ovarian vein thrombosis and describe its clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and management. This pathologic process may produce clinical complications or a catastrophic outcome. These adverse events may be avoided if an expeditious diagnosis is made and appropriate treatment is instituted. This mandates a high index of suspicion, the ability to rule out the presence of other processes that may produce similar symptoms in the postpartum patient, and the appropriate triage of specific patients to either medical or surgical management.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Remote complications of spilled gallstones during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: causes, prevention, and management.

In the last 11 years (November 1989-December 2000), 5526 laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed in a community residency training program. Two cases (0.04%) of remote complications secondary to spilled gallstones were identified. A 75-year-old woman presented with a sterile abscess in the abdominal wall containing gallstones 4 years and 4 months after an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The second patient, a 43-year-old woman, presented with a subdiaphragmatic/subhepatic abscess containing gallstones. The abscess grew the same bacteria that were present 2 years and 3 months previously during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute gangrenous cholecystitis. In both cases, pigmented gallstones were identified. Causes of gallstone spillage, means of prevention, and ways of managing this complication are discussed.

Abdominal Abscess↗