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Biomedical subjects

Vinay Badhwar

Publications and source records attributed to Vinay Badhwar.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Totally endoscopic ablation of lone atrial fibrillation: initial clinical experience.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation is the most common form of arrhythmia leading to hospital admission. Over 2.2 million Americans are affected by atrial fibrillation and approximately 160,000 new cases are identified annually. As the population continues to age, the number of patients will increase. AF is an incremental risk factor for death and stroke, and consumes billions of dollars in health care expenditures. METHODS: Between August 2003 and October 2004, 50 drug-resistant, symptomatic atrial fibrillation patients underwent thoracoscopic or robotic-assisted off-pump epicardial microwave ablation with the FLEX 10 device (Guidant, Indianapolis, IN). There were 35 men (70.0%) and 15 women (30.0%), mean age 59.1 years +/- 10.0 (range, 37-75 years). Mean duration of atrial fibrillation was 73.5 months +/- 82.3 (range, 5-480 months). Thirty-three patients (66.0%) had intermittent atrial fibrillation and 17 (34.0%) continuous. Intermittent patients had pulmonary vein isolation whereas continuous patients had additional right and left atrial lesions performed. Forty-six patients (92.0%) had endoscopic stapling of the left atrial appendage. RESULTS: There were no hospital deaths. Postoperative in-hospital complications were minimal with 2 patients (4.0%) experiencing diaphragmatic dysfunction. No patient required a permanent pacemaker implant. Mean postoperative length of stay was 3.7 +/- 2.2 days. Cumulative follow-up was 335.8 patient months, mean 7.6 months (range, 2.0-15.9 months). There was 1 late death (2.0%). In 5 patients (10.0%) the MicroMaze operation and subsequent electrophysiology intervention failed and a Cox-Maze III operation was performed. Follow-up was 100% complete with 79.5% (35 of 44) patients in normal sinus rhythm. CONCLUSIONS: Totally endoscopic closed-chest microwave ablation for treatment of intermittent and continuous atrial fibrillation is technically feasible and presents minimal risk to the patient. Initial results are impressive and demonstrate an enhanced quality of life and freedom from atrial fibrillation in drug-resistant symptomatic patients.

Adult↗

Left atrial reduction enhances outcomes of modified maze procedure for permanent atrial fibrillation during concomitant mitral surgery.

BACKGROUND: Success of the maze procedure after mitral operations with large left atria and permanent atrial fibrillation remains suboptimal. Current technique variations tend to obscure the decision-making algorithm in these patients. A single energy-source approach for the surgical management of patients with large left atria and permanent atrial fibrillation is presented. METHODS: From January 2003 to July 2005, 71 consecutive drug-resistant patients with permanent atrial fibrillation and left atrial enlargement who required mitral valve surgery underwent aggressive left atrial reduction combined with left-sided only irrigated radiofrequency unipolar maze. Left atrial dimensions were measured by transesophageal echo anterior-to-posterior leading edge-to-edge standardized protocol. There were 39 men (54.9%) and 32 women (45.1%), and their mean age was 71.9 +/- 9.5 years. Mean duration of atrial fibrillation was 49.3 +/- 58.0 months. RESULTS: All patients underwent left atrial reduction with identical Cox-maze III pulmonary vein and appendage isolation including mitral annular connection, followed by appendage suture closure. Left atrial size was reduced from 6.7 +/- 1.2 cm to 4.3 +/- 0.6 cm (p = 0.001). Mitral valve repair was performed in 55 patients (76.1%) and replacement in 17 (23.9%). The 30-day mortality was 4.2% (3/71). Postoperative length of stay was 8.8 +/- 5.7 days, with 56 (82.4%) of 68 patients discharged in normal sinus rhythm. P-wave sinus rhythm was 93.8% between 7 and 12 months and 92.0% for patients with 1 year or more of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Left atrial reduction combined with a left atrial only single energy-source radiofrequency maze procedure is an effective treatment for patients with permanent atrial fibrillation undergoing concomitant mitral operations.

Aged↗

Pediatric cardiac transplantation in children with high panel reactive antibody.

BACKGROUND: Elevated panel reactive antibody (PRA) may be considered a risk factor precluding pediatric orthotopic heart transplantation. We retrospectively reviewed our management strategy and outcome data for children undergoing heart transplantation with high PRA (> 10%). METHODS: Sixty consecutive children (median age = 130.5 days) underwent heart transplantation. Diagnoses included hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) (30 patients), cardiomyopathy (18 patients), and postoperative complex congenital heart disease (CCHD) (12 patients). Standard induction immunosuppressive therapy included pulse steroids, gamma globulin, and polyclonal rabbit antithymocyte globulin. Initial immunosuppression is a calcinurin inhibitor and an antiproliferative agent. Eight children exhibited elevated PRA (group P). Fifty-two exhibited nonelevated PRA (group N). Immunosuppression was modified in group P as follows: preoperative intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIG) and/or cyclophosphamide or mycophenolate mofetil and preoperative and postoperative exchange transfusions or plasmapheresis. In group P, cyclophosphamide was the initial antiproliferative agent. RESULTS: Group P = 4 HLHS patients (all status post [s/p] prior cardiac surgery) and 4 postoperative CCHD patients. Group N = 26 HLHS patients (4 patients s/p prior cardiac surgery), 18 cardiomyopathy patients, and 8 postoperative CCHD patients. Group P patients were older and weighed more than group N patients. Waiting time for donor heart, cardiac ischemic time, and length of hospital stay were similar in both groups. Thirty-day mortality for group P was 25% and for group N it was 7.9% (p = 0.178). Overall mortality for group P was 50% and for group N it was 15.4% (p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Although heart transplantation can offer children with end-stage heart failure and elevated PRA their only chance of survival, these patients remain high risk despite aggressive immunosuppression.

Adolescent↗

The modern approach to patent ductus arteriosus treatment: complementary roles of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and interventional cardiology coil occlusion.

BACKGROUND: In an effort to analyze our experience and develop treatment guidelines, we reviewed all our patients with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) treated with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) or interventional cardiology coil occlusion. METHODS: One hundred patients underwent 102 cardiac catheterizations. Forty-five children underwent VATS. The entire cohort of patients is 141 because 4 patients underwent both catheterization and VATS. RESULTS: Successful PDA coil occlusion occurred in 91 patients (91 of 100; 91%); 8 had unsuccessful attempts at coil occlusion and 1 was referred for surgical ligation after catheterization without any attempt at coil placement. Thirty-nine children had successful VATS PDA closure. Six children required conversion to thoracotomy because of inadequate exposure during VATS. Hospital stay for children more than 45 days of age was as follows: VATS median stay, 1 day, mean, 1.4 days; thoracotomy median stay, 4 days, mean, 4.6 days. One patient treated with PDA coil occlusion developed a recurrent PDA and required reembolization. Three children underwent initial catheterization without successful coil placement with subsequent successful VATS. All VATS patients left the operating theater with echocardiography documenting no residual PDA. Two children who underwent successful VATS with no residual PDA at hospital discharge were found on outpatient follow-up to have developed tiny recurrent PDAs and both were successfully coil occluded; 1 of these 2 children is 1 of the 3 children initially evaluated by catheterization and then referred for VATS. CONCLUSIONS: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and coil occlusion represent complementary techniques for PDA treatment. A rationale for selection of the appropriate treatment modality can be based upon the size and age of the patient and the size and morphology of the PDA.

Adolescent↗

Mitral valve surgery in the patient with left ventricular dysfunction.

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is a frequent complication of end-stage cardiomyopathy. Historically, these patients were managed either medically or with mitral valve replacement, both associated with poor outcomes. We studied 125 patients with cardiomyopathy and severe MR who were managed with mitral reconstruction. One hundred twenty-five patients with 4+ MR, left ventricular ejection fractions from 8% to 24% (mean 14%), and New York Heart Association class III or IV symptoms were prospectively studied. All patients underwent mitral valve repair with an undersized flexible annuloplasty ring. There was one intraoperative death and five 30-day mortalities. Intraoperative echocardiography showed mild to trivial MR in seven patients, and no residual MR in the majority of patients. There were 26 late deaths; three of these patients had progression of the disease and underwent transplantation. One- and 2-year actuarial survival has been 80% and 70%, respectively. New York Heart Association class has improved for all the patients from a preoperative mean of 3.2 +/- 0.2 to 1.8 +/- 0.4 postoperatively. At 24-month follow-up, all patients showed an improvement of ejection fraction, cardiac output, and end-diastolic volumes, along with a reduction in sphericity index and regurgitant volume. Mitral valve repair with an undersized flexible annuloplasty ring is a safe and effective approach to correct MR in cardiomyopathy patients. All observed changes contribute to reverse remodeling and the restoration of the normal left ventricular geometric relationship. Mitral reconstruction offers a new treatment strategy for patients with MR and end-stage heart failure.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗

Mitral valve surgery: when is it appropriate?

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is a frequent complication of end-stage cardiomyopathy. Historically, these patients were managed either medically or with mitral valve replacement, both associated with poor outcomes. We studied 150 patients with cardiomyopathy and severe MR who were managed with mitral reconstruction. One hundred fifty patients with 4+ MR, left ventricular ejection fractions of 8%-24% (mean, 14%), and New York Heart Association class III or IV symptoms were prospectively studied. All patients underwent mitral valve repair with an undersized, flexible annuloplasty ring. There was one intraoperative death and seven 30-day mortalities. Intraoperative echocardiography revealed no residual MR in the majority of patients and mild to trivial MR in seven patients. There were 27 late deaths; three of these patients had progression of the disease and underwent transplantation. The 1-, 2-, and 5-year actuarial survival rates are 82%, 71%, and 57%, respectively. New York Heart Association class has improved for all patients, from a preoperative mean of 3.2+/-0.2 to 1.8+/-0.4 postoperatively. At 24-month follow-up, all patients showed improvement in ejection fraction, cardiac output, and end-diastolic volumes, along with a reduction in the sphericity index and regurgitant volume. Mitral valve repair with an undersized, flexible annuloplasty ring is a safe and effective approach to correction of MR, even in cardiomyopathy patients. All observed changes contribute to reverse remodeling and the restoration of the normal left ventricular geometric relationship. Mitral reconstruction provides a new first-line management strategy for patients with MR and end-stage heart failure.

Cardiomyopathy, Dilated↗