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Biomedical subjects

U Gleichmann

Publications and source records attributed to U Gleichmann.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

[Nonselective angiography of the internal mammary artery--improved imaging by simultaneous compression of the ipsilateral brachial artery].

Because of the increasing use of the internal mammaria artery (IMA) in bypass grafting pre- and postoperative angiography of the artery is more often necessary. Selective IMA angiography is frequently difficult and time- and fluoroscopy-consuming. Therefore, different procedures of nonselective angiography have been developed. We report on the improved nonselective visualization of the IMA by manual injection in the subclavian artery and simultaneous ipsilateral compression of the brachial artery by inflating a blood pressure cuff above systolic blood pressure. Thereby a reduction of fluoroscopy time is possible without significant loss of diagnostic information.

Angiography↗

[Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in coronary multivessel disease: clinical course in relation to degree of functional revascularization].

In this prospective nonrandomized study, we analyzed the influence of the degree of revascularization--determined by anatomic, morphologic, and functional criterias--on clinical follow-up after PTCA in patients with multivessel disease. 283 patients (74% with double vessel disease, 26% with triple vessel disease; mean age 59.2 +/- 8.2 years; 250 (88%) men) were treated. Clinical successful PTCA was achieved in 247 patients (87.2%): in 239 patients (84.4%) all attempted lesions and in 8 patients (2.8%) at least the culprit lesions were successfully dilated. Complications were seen in 15 patients (5.3%): seven patients underwent emergency bypass surgery, one patient had bypass surgery 8h after PTCA because of an early re-occlusion, five patients suffered an acute myocardial infarction during PTCA, and two patients, who had PTCA because of cardiogenic shock, died during PTCA. Post PTCA, 39 patients (13.8%) had anatomic complete (AK), 35 patients (12.4%) anatomic incomplete but functional complete (FK), 148 patients (52.3%) anatomic incomplete but functional adequate (FA), and 46 patients (16.2%) anatomic and functional incomplete (IR) revascularization. All patients had follow-up after 30.5 +/- 5.5 months. Fifteen patients (5.3%) died, 15 patients (5.3%) suffered a myocardial infarction, and 39 patients (13.8%) underwent an elective bypass operation during follow-up. Cumulative 2-year survival and cumulative 2-year infarct-free survival were not influenced by the degree of revascularization. In contrast to that, the cumulative 2-year bypass-free survival was significant lower in patients with IR (71.0%) compared to patients with AK (92.5%; p < 0.01), FK (89.3%; p < 0.05), and FA (92.7%; p < 0.001). Patients with IR were more likely to have PTCA of previous untreated lesions and were often less likely to have clinical improvement compared to the other subgroups. Thus, in patients with multivessel disease PTCA is a therapeutic option if AK, FK, and FA revascularization can be achieved. Provided that just an IR revascularization can be achieved by PTCA, angioplasty should be performed only for treatment of acute ischemic syndromes in order to improve clinical symptoms. Otherwise, an increased incidence of further revascularization procedures and a reduced clinical improvement can be expected.

Adult↗

Long term follow-up of Mitroflow pericardial valve prostheses in the small aortic annulus.

Between January 1985 and April 1992 we implanted 477 Mitroflow pericardial bioprostheses in 476 patients in our clinic. All except one valve prostheses were implanted in the aortic position. There were 160 male and 316 female patients, with a mean age of 74.1 years (range 30-89 years). Combined cardiac procedures were performed concomitantly with aortic valve replacement in 45 patients (9.5%): coronary artery revascularisation (n = 38), endarterectomy of the internal carotid artery (n = 4) and multiple valve replacement (n = 3). The sizes of the implanted Mitroflow prostheses were 100% in 19 mm, 70% in 21 mm, 60% in 23 mm and 8% in more than 25 mm. The hospital mortality was 1.3% (n = 5). During the mean follow-up period of 47.6 months valve failure requiring reoperation occurred in 7 patients (1.2%). The actuarial freedom from tissue failure is 89.9 +/- 2.5% and the actuarial survival rate is 90.3 +/- 1.7% (27 deaths) at 7 years. These findings corroborate our policy to continue to implant a pericardial prosthesis in the aortic position, especially in elderly patients with a smaller aortic annulus.

Adult↗

[Recanalization of occluded coronary arteries using the Magnum system].

Recanalization procedures with the "Magnum" system were undertaken in 137 patients (113 men, 24 women; mean age 57.1 +/- 8.1 years) with complete occlusion of a coronary artery. The system consists of a 0.021 inch guidewire with a flexible 1 mm diameter olive tip, a double-lumen probing catheter and a Magnarail balloon catheter. Chronic coronary artery occlusion of maximally 3 months was present in 51 patients (37%), for over 3 months in 52 (38%), while the duration of occlusion was unknown in 18 (13%). An acute coronary occlusion was successfully recanalized in 7 patients (5%), while in 9 (7%) it was accomplished when it had occurred during or shortly after a percutaneous coronary artery angioplasty (PCTA). The occlusion was successfully passed in 87 patients (64%); in 15 of them recanalization with another system had failed. The highest success rates were obtained with an acute occlusion (5 of 7; 71%), occlusion of 3 months' duration or less (39 of 51; 76%), and occlusion during PTCA (8 of 9; 89%). The success rates were lower for occlusions over 3 months' duration (25 of 52; 48%; P < 0.05) and of unknown duration (10 of 18; 56%; n.s.). Recanalization after failed recanalization was successfully accomplished by rotation-angioplasty (n = 2) or a standard system (n = 4).--These results indicate that the Magnum system is suitable for recanalizing chronic or acute coronary occlusion. But cardiologists should be capable of using several systems to increase the chances of successful recanalization.

Adult↗

[The percutaneous extraction of an embolized Pudenz-Heyer catheter fragment from the pulmonary artery].

A ventriculoatrial shunt had been placed 3 years previously in a now 17-year-old boy because of obstructive hydrocephalus of unknown cause. He presented with symptoms of elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressure and computed tomography demonstrated a dilated ventricular system. The chest X-ray film revealed a break in the shunt catheter at the level of the right clavicle with embolization of its 13 cm long distal part into the main stem and right branch of the pulmonary artery. The fragment was retrieved without complication with a percutaneously and transvenously introduced basket catheter. Centrally embolized catheter fragments should be removed as soon as possible. The percutaneous route is well tolerated by and of low risk for the patient. It should always be attempted before any surgical intervention.

Adolescent↗

Therapy for acute vascular complications in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty with the autoperfusion balloon catheter.

Prolonged dilatation with an autoperfusion balloon catheter (APBC) (High-Flow-CPC-Mainz (Schneider) in 23 cases and Stack Perfusion (ACS) in 50 cases) was carried out in 73 patients (60 men, 13 women, mean age 59.3 +/- 8.8 years) with acute vascular complications occurring during PTCA (25 occlusive dissections (34%), five thrombotic occlusions (7%), 42 non-occlusive dissections (58%) and one non-occlusive thrombus with reduction of flow (1%)) in order to avoid stent implantation or emergency bypass surgery. On average 1.5 +/- 0.8 inflations were carried out per patient with a mean maximum inflation time of 14.1 +/- 8.4 min and a mean total inflation time of 16.8 +/- 12.3 min. In 61 patients (83.5%), the vascular complication could be controlled successfully with APBC, but in 12 APBC was not successful. Eight patients (11%) had emergency surgery. A stent was implanted in three patients (4.1%), and one suffered an acute myocardial infarction. Out of the 61 patients with positive result after prolonged dilatation, the hospital phase was uncomplicated in 53 (86.9%), five (8.2%) suffered an infarct with a maximum rise in CK of 350 U.l-1, two with multivessel disease had elective operations and one was dilated a second time because of a subacute reocclusion. Our experience indicates that when an acute vascular complication occurs, prolonged dilatation with an APBC is good interventional therapy avoiding stent implantation or emergency bypass surgery. However, new techniques cannot always replace surgery so an emergency bypass operation may still be necessary.

Adult↗

Aortic valve replacement in octogenarians.

In a consecutive series of 1109 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) between January 1988 and December 1990, there were 48 patients (33 female, 15 male) over 80 years of age (mean age 83.5 years, median 82.9 years). Of those, 33 had aortic stenosis and 15 combined aortic valve disease, with additional coronary artery disease being present in 36. Isolated AVR was performed in 25 patients, and it was combined with coronary venous bypass grafting, with 1-4 (mean 1.8) peripheral anastomoses in 23. Two patients died within 30 days (early mortality 4.2%). Non-fatal complications included one hemiparesis, four transient cerebral disorders, two cases of pneumonia which led to ventilatory assistance, three rethoracotomies because of postoperative bleeding, 15 tachycardias and one transient AV block. Late results were obtained after a median follow up time of 22 months. There were eight late deaths (four cardiac related, four not related) and a low incidence of non-fatal complications (two episodes of gastrointestinal bleeding while on oral anticoagulation, one cerebral transient ischemic attack and one acute left ventricular failure). Nine patients are in NYHA Class I, 12 in Class I-II, 11 in Class II, three in Class II-III and three in Class III. Of the surviving 38 patients, four are currently living in a home for the aged or a nursing home, while all the others are living in their own homes and are able to sustain a relatively independent life-style. We conclude that in very old patients with aortic valve disease, AVR can be performed with low mortality and few non-fatal complications.

Aged↗

[Metastasizing round-cell sarcoma of the right atrium].

The chest roentgenogram in a 46-year-old woman with dyspnoea for several months revealed global cardiac enlargement. Echocardiography demonstrated a tumour in the right atrium, about 4 x 5 cm, as well as circular pericardial effusion. Septic temperatures occurred in the further course, and blood cultures grew Staphylococcus aureus. Recurrent pulmonary emboli and cerebral emboli with hemiparesis, especially of the brachiofacial region, occurred despite heparinization. Shortly after hospitalization a chest roentgenogram revealed a round shadow, about 1 cm in diameter, in the left upper lobe. The patient died in cardiogenic shock on the 16th hospital day. Autopsy showed the tumour to be a poorly differentiated round-cell sarcoma, originating from the wall of the right atrium, infiltrating the myocardium through to the epicardium and extending to the tricuspid orifice. The foramen ovale was open, making paradoxical emboli at atrial level possible.

Dyspnea↗

Fatty acid uptake in normal human myocardium.

Fatty acid binding protein has been found in rat aortic endothelial cell membrane. It has been identified to be a 40-kDa protein that corresponds to a 40-kDa fatty acid binding protein with high affinity for a variety of long chain fatty acids isolated from rat heart myocytes. It is proposed that this endothelial membrane fatty acid binding protein might mediate the myocardial uptake of fatty acids. For evaluation of this hypothesis in vivo, influx kinetics of tracer-labeled fatty acids was examined in 15 normal subjects by scintigraphic techniques. Variation of the plasma fatty acid concentration and plasma perfusion rate has been achieved by modulation of nutrition state and exercise conditions. The clinical results suggest that the myocardial fatty acid influx rate is saturable by increasing fatty acid plasma concentration as well as by increasing plasma flow. For analysis of these data, functional relations describing fatty acid transport from plasma into myocardial tissue in the presence and absence of an "unstirred layer" were developed. The fitting of these relations to experimental data indicate that the free fatty acid influx into myocardial tissue reveals the criteria of a reaction on a capillary surface in the vicinity of flowing plasma but not of a reaction in extravascular space or in an unstirred layer and that the fatty acid influx into normal myocardium is a saturable process that is characterized by the quantity corresponding to the Michaelis-Menten constant, Km, and the maximal velocity, Vmax, 0.24 +/- 0.024 mumol/g and 0.37 +/- 0.013 mumol/g(g.min), respectively. These data are compatible with a nondiffusional uptake process mediated by the initial interaction of fatty acids with the 40-kDa membrane fatty acid binding protein of cardiac endothelial cells.

Animals↗

[Results of myocardial scintigraphy in patients with left bundle-branch block using Tl-201 and Tc-99m-MIBI].

Tl-201 myocardial scintigrams in patients with left bundle-branch block (LBBB) are frequently non-diagnostic with respect to presence or absence of coronary artery disease (CAD). The new myocardial perfusion tracer Tc-99m-MIBI requires a different protocol due to its insignificant redistribution. Therefore, scintigraphic patterns in LBBB cannot be deduced from experiences with Tl-201. In a total of 132 patients with LBBB, 81 studies were carried out with Tl-201, another 81 studies with Tc-99m-MIBI. In 30 patients both radiopharmaceuticals were employed. 72% of the Tl-201 scintigraphies in constant LBBB resulted in a reversible septal deficit and 9% in a constant septal deficit. In contrast, 70% of the Tc-99m-MIBI scintigraphies resulted in a constant septal deficit and only 19% in a reversible septal deficit. Similar "discrepancies" were found in LBBB patients in whom CAD has been angiographically excluded (N = 17). All patients, however, with LAD or RCA stenoses and constant LBBB showed reversible septal deficits with either tracer, Tl-201 (N = 12) or Tc-99m-MIBI (N = 10). It is concluded: 1) that the majority of patients with LBBB has reduced septal perfusion, 2) that this reduction is typically stress-independent in absence of CAD, and 3) that this stress-independent perfusion deficit is, in general, only differentiated from stress-induced ischemia (in case of CAD) with using the Tc-99m-MIBI protocol.

Adult↗

[Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in unstable angina pectoris: results and complications with reference to a new classification].

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) of patients with unstable angina pectoris is an established therapy, although the rate of major complications (death, myocardial infarction, emergency coronary artery bypass operation) is higher than in patients with stable angina. This study analyzes the results of PTCA in 168 patients (136 men, 32 women, mean age 60.6 +/- 9.6 years) treated between January 1989 and June 1990 for unstable angina pectoris. Unstable angina was classified according to the criteria proposed by Braunwald in 1989. PTCA was successful in 141 patients (83.9%) and failed in 27 patients (16.1%). No patient died. One patient (0.6%) suffered an acute myocardial infarction related to PTCA. After failed PTCA 16 patients (9.5%) underwent emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), 10 patients had no complication. In patients of unstable angina class III (angina at rest within the last 48 h before PTCA) emergency CABG was needed in 20.3% compared to 3.6% (p less than 0.01) in patients with unstable angina class II (last attack of angina at rest more than 48 h before PTCA). Also 30% of patients with unstable angina within 2 weeks after myocardial infarction (clinical subgroup C) needed emergency CABG after failed PTCA as compared to only 6.9% (p less than 0.01) of patients with primary unstable angina pectoris without previous infarction (clinical subgroup B). The highest frequency (66.6%/6 of 9 patients) of emergency CABG was observed in patients with class III and subgroup C. We conclude that the classification of unstable angina pectoris proposed by Braunwald might be helpful to identify patients with risk in PTCA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[Right ventricular outflow obstruction due to accessory tricuspid valve tissue in corrected transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect].

A 27-year-old man known to have corrected transposition of the great arteries (CTGA) associated with a ventricular septal defect (VSD) was admitted to our hospital with a suspected increase of the shunt volume. The patient is a first class bodybuilder. Heart catheterization confirmed the diagnosis of a "right-ventricular" mass obstructing the "right-ventricular" outflow tract, which had already been seen at echocardiography. The intraoperative finding showed the tumor to be accessory tissue of the anterior tricuspid leaflet prolapsing through the VSD into the subvalvular outflow tract of the right ventricle. The accessory tricuspid valve tissue was removed by transatrial access. The VSD was closed by a dacron patch using the same route. The postoperative course was uneventful.

Adult↗

[Multivessel PTCA as an alternative to bypass operation: effect of complete revascularization on long-term follow-up].

In this study we examine the influence of the initial grade of revascularisation on clinical follow-up in patients with multivessel PTCA instead of CABG. Between I/85 and VII/89 multivessel PTCA was performed in 231 patients (202 m, 29 w; age 57 +/- 9 years). 71% of the patients had 2-vessel disease (VD), 14% 3-VD. 15% had angioplasty of one major and at least one important side branch. Clinical follow-up was achieved by a questionnaire 19.8 +/- 10.1 months after PTCA. 473 of 508 (93.1%) treated stenoses were successfully (residual stenosis less than 50%). 198 patients (86%) had successful angioplasty of all treated lesions. 31 patients (13%) had failed PTCA of one stenosis, 1 patient of both treated lesions. 1 patient underwent emergency CABG. A complete revascularisation (group A) - no residual stenosis greater than 50% in any coronary artery - was achieved in 164 patients (71%). 65 patients (28%) had incomplete revascularisation [group B]. 206 patients (89.1%) had clinical follow-up by questionnaire, 144 patients in group A (87.8%) and 60 patients in group B (92.3%) [n.s.]. 3 patients had died by noncardiac reasons (two in group A and one in group B), 1 patient of group A by cardiac reason. 70% in group A and 68% in group B had continuous clinical improvement (n.s.). Total amount of cardiac events (PTCA, CABG, cardiac death, MI) showed no significance between both groups - 35 (24%) vs 23 (38%). Patients in group B had more CABG (12% vs 3%) and angioplasty of further lesions (7% vs 1%) [p less than 0.05] during follow-up. We conclude multivessel PTCA shows good primary results with low risk.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angina Pectoris↗