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Cor triatriatum (CTT) sinistrum is a rare, congenital left ventricular inflow anomaly. Previous reports have used cardiac angiography, two-dimensional echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging to establish the diagnosis prior to surgery. We report a case of CTT diagnosed by echocardiography whose hemodynamic significance was established by the use of pulsed wave and color Doppler techniques. Immediate surgery was recommended based on anatomical and hemodynamic parameters.

Acquired left ventricle-to-right atrium communications are a known complication of valvular heart surgery. Previous reports have described the clinical features and diagnosis using cardiac catheterization. We report two cases of acquired left ventricle-to-right atrium fistula following mitral valve replacement. Particular emphasis is placed on the diagnosis using transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, obviating the need for cardiac catheterization before repair.

The beneficial effect of aprotinin, a naturally occurring protease inhibitor, on preservation of organs such as the liver, kidney and lung has been documented.To explore the effects of hepatic ischemia and reperfusion on both liver and myocardial function, using a dual isolated perfused organ model with and without aprotinin.Isolated rat livers were stabilized for 30 minutes with oxygenated modified Krebs-Henseleit solution at 37 degrees C. Livers were then perfused continuously with KH or KH + aprotinin 10(6) KIU/L for an additional 135 min. Livers of two other groups were made globally ischemic for 120 min, then perfused for 15 min with KH or with KH + aprotinin. Isolated hearts (Langendorff preparation) were stabilized for 30 min and then reperfused with KH or KH + aprotinin exiting the liver for 15 min. The liver's circuit was disconnected, and hearts were re-circulated with the accumulated liver + heart effluent for an additional 50 min.In the ischemia and ischemia + aprotinin groups, portal vein pressure (1 and 15 min reperfusion) was 331 +/- 99% and 339 +/- 61% vs. 308 +/- 81% and 193 +/- 35% of baseline, respectively (P0.03 vs. ischemia). There were no other differences in the enzyme leakage between aprotinin-treated or untreated ischemic livers. Left ventricular pressure was stable in the controls. However, LV pressure in groups perfused with ischemic liver effluent declined within 65 min reperfusion, whether aprotinin treated or not (84 +/- 8% and 73 +/- 5% of baseline, respectively, P0.004 only for ischemia vs. control).When aprotinin was used, LV pressure was inclined to be higher while liver portal vein pressure was lower, thus providing protection against liver and heart reperfusion injury.

Debate continues regarding tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) with a mechanical prosthesis. Experience with bileaflet prostheses is limited; hence the study aim was to explore early and mid-term outcome and hemodynamic data in patients with bileaflet CarboMedics prosthetic valves in the tricuspid position.The study population included 25 patients (21 females, four males; mean age 50.5 +/- 13.4 years) who underwent TVR with a CarboMedics valve over a six-year period. Routine clinical examinations and details of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) were reviewed. Additional TTE, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and fluoroscopy were performed as indicated. The number of previous cardiac operations was zero, one and two in 36%, 32% and 32% of patients, respectively. Previous tricuspid surgery was performed in eight cases (32%); concurrent mitral valve replacement was performed in 17 (68%). The hospital mortality rate was 24% and late mortality rate 12%. Seventeen early survivors (13 females, four males) were followed up for 46 +/- 28 months (range: 4-96 months).Among early survivors, the mean and peak transvalvular gradients were 4.0 +/- 1.7 and 7.9 +/- 3.3 mmHg, respectively. Commonly observed INR levels were2.5 in seven patients (41%), and3.0 in only three (18%). Five patients (29% of mid-term survivors) experienced a total of 13 episodes of obstructive valve thrombosis, mostly with inappropriate anticoagulation. One patient required emergency re-do surgery; the others responded initially to thrombolysis or intensified antithrombotic treatment, but experienced at least two additional relapses. Aside from thrombotic episodes, all patients but two were in NYHA functional class II-III, and all but four required diuretics.TVR with bileaflet mechanical valves carries a high perioperative mortality and mid-term morbidity. Among patients with poor or fair anticoagulation, these valves were associated with a high incidence of obstructive valve thrombosis. If poor patient compliance is anticipated, insertion of a bioprosthesis should be encouraged.

Thrombolysis is an emerging method to open thrombosed prosthetic heart valves. However, its applicability and safety in multiple recurrent thrombotic episodes is unclear.Among 16 patients with thrombosed prosthetic valves treated with thrombolysis during a 33-month period, three patients (one mitral and two tricuspid) experienced four episodes each, and these were treated with repeated thrombolytic therapy. Data on patient demographics, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment and outcome are presented.Thrombolysis was successful in 10/12 episodes (83%); there was delayed response in one episode (8%), and partial response in one episode (8%). There were no major complications. However, a fifth thrombotic episode occurred in two patients with tricuspid prostheses, mandating re-do surgery.Thrombolysis in re-thrombosed prosthetic heart valves is feasible, highly successful and safe, and may therefore be used judiciously in selected patients who could not, or would not, undergo redo surgery. A high recurrence rate in the tricuspid position may implicate earlier surgical intervention, which should be individualized.

In the past 10 years there has been a growing preference for early, complete correction of congenital heart disease. The first year of operation of this cardiac unit is described. 216 operations were performed: 15% in the neonatal age group and 35% in the newborn to 1-year-old groups; 2% were palliative procedures. Mortality was 4.9%. Average stay in the ICU was 3.2 days, with a median of 2.25. Average length of ventilation was 35 hours, with a median of 17.5. Complications were: diaphragm paralysis in 13 (6%), 2/3 of which were recurrent operations; in 2 patients (0.9%) we had to plicate the diaphragm. There was severe neurological damage in 2 which deteriorated to brain death in 1. There was peripheral, reversible neurological damage in 4 (1.8%), and acute renal failure in 3%, with half of them requiring dialysis. 75% of these children died and there was superficial infection in 4.1%, deep wound infection in 1.3%, bacteremia in 4.1%, superior vena cava syndrome in 3 (1.3%) and chylothorax in 2 of them (0.9%). 1 patient (0.45%) required a ventricle-peritoneal shunt after acute viral meningitis. We are encouraged by our results to offer early complete correction to all children with congenital heart disease.

A series of 12 patients with 16 episodes of prosthetic heart-valve thrombosis over 3 years is presented. Most episodes affected mitral or tricuspid bileaflet prostheses. All patients were inadequately anticoagulated at the time of thrombosis. The clinical presentation was acute and severe in 6 patients, and subacute or chronic in the rest. Physical examination was suggestive of stuck valves in most cases. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed increased transvalvular gradients in most. However, clearer evidence of valve thrombosis was obtained from transesophageal echocardiography or fluoroscopy. 9 patients eventually had their valves re-replaced successfully, and the preoperative diagnosis was confirmed in all. 5 patients were operated as soon as the diagnosis was established. and an additional 4 were operated after failure of anticoagulation. In 4 patients the valve leaflets became completely mobile after a course of thrombolysis. Prosthetic valve thrombosis is a severe and potentially fatal complication in patients with mechanical heart valves. Alertness of physicians at all levels- the general practitioner, the internist and the cardiologist- to the possibility of valve thrombosis and to its clinical presentation may lead to prompt and earlier diagnosis and to comprehensive therapy.

The effect of acetylcholine on cardiac muscle contractility and hemodynamics was investigated in human atrial strips and in isolated working rat heart. Activation of the muscarinic receptor in the heart muscle is generally known to result in negative chronotropic and inotropic effects. In our study, positive inotropic effects of acetylcholine (ACh) were observed in both human right atrial strips and in the working rat heart. Exposure of the human right atrial strips to ACh (10(-7)-10(-4) M) produced a dose dependent tri-phasic (positive-negative-positive) inotropic effect in approximately 40% of the strips. In muscle strips that exhibited only a negative inotropic effect, a positive response was observed following washout of ACh. Both positive and negative effects were antagonized by atropine. Exposure of the paced working rat heart to ACh (10(-7) - 10(-5) M) resulted in a dose dependent decrease in mean coronary flow followed by depression in cardiac function. When the heart was initially treated with the vasodilator adenosine (2 x 10(-6) M), exposure to ACh (10(-7) - 10(-5) M) had no effect on coronary flow and produced a dose dependent augmentation of all cardiodynamic indices: left ventricular pressure, isovolumic pressure, cardiac output, maximal aortic flow and stroke work. This positive response was antagonized by atropine. Exposure of the rat ventricular strips increased the formation of [3H]phosphoinositide breakdown products (e.g. inositol phosphates IP, IP2, IP3). These observations demonstrate that cholinergic muscarinic stimulation may produce positive inotropic effects in both human and rat cardiac muscle. Furthermore, our results suggest that IP3 may be a mediator in this process.

The direct cardiac effects of volatile anesthetics following cardioplegic ischemia were investigated in isolated, paced rat hearts. In one series of experiments, the hearts were perfused with oxygenated Krebs Henseleit solution for a 15-minute stabilization period and then the effect of the volatile anesthetic was tested. In another series of experiments, after the stabilization period, the hearts were subjected to cardioplegic (KCl 20mEq/L) ischemia at 30 degrees C for 30 minutes and then the effect of the volatile anesthetic was tested. Halothane, enflurane or isoflurane was introduced to the Krebs Henseleit solution at 0.7 and 1.4 minimal alveolar concentration. All the volatile anesthetics decreased myocardial contractility in a dose dependent manner both before and after cardioplegic arrest. Halothane decreased coronary flow, while isoflurane and enflurane increased coronary flow in both the cardioplegic and non-cardioplegic hearts. The influence of the anesthetics was transient and ceased once they were withdrawn. Ischemic cardioplegia did not affect the response to volatile anesthetics.

The velocity distribution of a suspension of red blood cell ghosts in an idealized model of the coronary artery-saphenous vein bypass has been investigated with the aid of laser Doppler anemometry. Pulsatile flow simulated pressure variations in the ascending aorta and ghost cell velocities were determined by the Doppler shift of scattered laser light. Using four different model bypasses it was demonstrated that turbulent flow at the graft-coronary intersection can be delayed by decreasing the discontinuity in diameter between the bypass vein and coronary artery, and also by reducing the bypass vein and host coronary artery intersection angle.

The case of a two year old girl with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery is described. She was never in heart failure but had cardiomegaly and anginal pain. The ECG showed a typical infarct pattern with left ventricular hypertrophy. An unusual finding was a prolonged QTc of 0.52. During cardiac catheterization and twice 24 hours later she developed ventricular fibrillation treated with electroshock and prevented later with propranolol. The QTc returned to normal after surgery. Echocardiography showed diastolic flutter and early systolic closure of the pulmonary valve. This disappeared after surgical correction. Transverse 2D echo of the aortic root showed a large right coronary artery which decreased in size after surgery. The left coronary artery was not seen on echocardiography. At cardiac catheterization the diagnosis of an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery was established, with a large shunt to the pulmonary artery through the anomalous artery. Mild pulmonary hypertension and mild mitral regurgitation were present. At surgery, since direct implantation was technically impossible, the left coronary artery was successfully connected to the aorta via a 6 mm expanded Poly-Tetra-Fluoro-Ethylene (P.T.F.E.) graft.

Experimental substitution of a long segment of ureter by a fallopian tube was performed in dogs. Three different techniques of proximal and distal anastomosis for reconstruction of the urinary tract were used in three groups of animals. Based on this, it is believed that the fallopian tube, as a pedicle graft, could serve in female dogs as the most approximate ideal substitute for ureter because of (a) anatomic proximity to the ureter permitting blood supply to the tube, (b) the fallopian tube's mucosa lining is not affected by urinary excretions, (c) does not allow absorption of electrocytes, (d) has a muscular wall with peristaltic activity, and (e) avoids the problems of antigenicity and/or foreign body reaction.Experimental replacement of a long ureter segment in female dogs was done, using the animal's fallopian tube as a pedicle graft. 3 different techniques of proximal and distal anastomosis for urinary tract reconstruction were performed on 3 groups of dogs. The findings suggest that the fallopian tube is a good ureteral substitute, because of its: 1) host compatibility, 2) anatomic proximity to the ureter, permitting blood supply to the tube, 3) mucosa lining which is unaffected by contact with urine and which does not absorb urinary electrolytes, and 4) muscular wall with peristaltic activity.

An analysis of 37 patients surgically treated for left ventricular aneurysms provides preoperative clinical information regarding surgical risk. Operative mortality can be correlated with clinical and cardiac functional data as well as with the extent of coronary artery disease. Review of operative mortality in relation to the surgical procedure and the functional status of survivors indicates that aorto-coronary bypass grafting, complementary to aneurysmectomy, not only relieves angina pectoris, but also improves the functional status of the residual myocardium.

Forty-two patients were treated for combat injuries of the chest, caused by shrapnel fragments, bullet wounds, blunt trauma and blast injury. Twenty-three required only intercostal tube drainage, while 19 underwent thoracotomy. There were two deaths, both unrelated to the thoracic injury. Our indications for emergency thoracotomy were hemorrhage of 1,000 ml with the initial insertion of the chest tube or 500 ml of fresh bleeding during the first 2 hr after insertion of the chest tube, massive air leak, extensive chest wall injury, the location of metal fragments in the mediastinum, evidence of cardiac tamponade or significant mediastinal shift. The positive results obtained in this series of cases were due to the effective first aid treatment on the battlefield and in field hospitals, and to an aggressive policy of operative intervention where indicated, together with intensive postoperative care.

An atypical clinical presentation, the diagnostic procedures and a novel surgical approach are described in a 67-year-old woman with a patent ductus arteriosus.

This is the eighth reported case of successful repair of tetralogy of Fallot associated with complete atrioventricular canal, Type C. The high surgical mortality rate in this combination is in part due to failure to recognise the associated anomaly pre-operatively, and in part to not closing the ventricular septal defect completely. In our case the atrial and ventricular septal defects were closed with two separate patches. The undivided hemivalves were attached to the septal patches by interrupted mattress sutures. The right ventricular outflow tract obstruction was relieved by infundibulectomy, pulmonary valvotomy and the placement of a Dacron patch over the infundibulum. One year postoperatively, the condition of the patient is satisfactory without the need for diuretics or digitalis.

In a period of two years, 202 kidneys were transplanted in 162 patients at the Downstate Medical Center. On hundred twenty-nine patients had primary transplantations, twenty-nine second transplantations, and five third transplantations. Urologic complications occurred in twenty-four of the patients (12%). There were eight complications involving the urinary bladder and fifteen ureteric complications. In twenty-one patients the complications appeared within six weeks after surgery. Surgical correction immediately upon diagnosis of the urinary complications resulted in a high degree of early restoration of the urinary tract continuity and preservation of renal function. Leakage from the bladder was frequently associated with previous surgery. In five of eight patients, bladder leakage occurred after the second or third transplantations. Complications of the urinary bladder in general had a significantly favorable prognosis as compared with ureteric complications. Although all the patients with bladder complications fully recovered and maintained good renal function, four patients with ureteric complications either died or lost the graft.

During the last 10 years, 14 patients (7 males and 7 females) with discrete type subaortic stenosis (Type I), were operated upon at our hospital. Their ages ranged between 9–38 years. The preoperative clinical findings, echocardiograms and catheterization results were compared to those found postoperatively. The time lapse between the surgery and the echocardiographic examination ranged between 5 to 120 months, with a mean time of 49±6 months. The ECG in most of the patients did not change significantly; only one patient developed postoperative LBBB.

The clinical and pathological features in three cases of false aneurysm of the left ventricle are reported. In two instances the condition developed after myocardial infarction, and in the third case a mycotic pseudoaneurysm developed after purulent pericarditis. All three patients were in intractable heart failure before urgent operation. The correct diagnosis was established preoperatively by angiography. In all three cases the aneurysms were successfully resected and the left ventricle reconstructed. An aggressive surgical approach is warranted in the management of this lesion.

Endocarditis due to Haemophilus is uncommon. This is the first reported case caused by Haemophilus aegyptius. The course of the disease was complicated by pericarditis, congestive heart failure, and myocardial abscess formation. Surgical removal of the damaged aortic valve was not beneficial. The biologic properties of the organism included urea degradation, absence of indole metabolism, and absence of the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase.

The occurrence of late complications in implanted cardiac prosthetic valves has emphasized the need for the development of an animal model in which these complications are reproducible. Sheep constitute an excellent model for chronical and pathological studies of prosthetic devices. In our experience, survival of sheep following implantation of prosthetic valves is closely related to postoperative serum colloid osmotic pressure (C.O.P.). The normal range as measured in 28 healthy sheep was 16.67 +/- 0.55 mm Hg. A protocol was developed to maintain the colloid hydrostatic pressure gradient (C.H.P.G.) as close as possible to the normal physiological range, and to delay the extubation until the C.O.P. was within this range, and the C.H.P.G. greater than 7 mm Hg. Using the above protocol, a new tri-leaflet polyurethane valve was inserted into eight, five to seven month old sheep in place of the mitral and tricuspidal valves. One hour after terminating the extacorporeal circuit, the C.O.P. was measured at 13.10 +/- 0.96; but within five to six hours, it rose to 17.1 +/- 1.1. During the same period, the C.H.P.G. increased from 3.02 +/- 0.96 to 7.6 +/- 0.50 mm Hg. The postoperative period was uneventful, and all animals survived. We have thus concluded that the routine measurement and monitoring of C.O.P. constitutes a guide of great clinical importance.

A 24-year-old woman with a history of syncope and recurrent hemopericardium was urgently hospitalized with signs of severe right-sided heart failure. Two-dimensional echocardiography demonstrated a largedechogenic mass that compressed the right ventricle. The patient was referred for emergency surgery. A large angiosarcoma originating in the right atrium was excised, and the patient was treated with chemotherapy. The role of echocardiography in the detection of cardiac tumors is discussed.