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Biomedical subjects

A Cribier

Publications and source records attributed to A Cribier.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Exercise-induced ST-elevation is related to left ventricular dysfunction but not to myocardial viability in patients with healed myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Exercise-induced ST-segment elevation was proposed as a marker of myocardial viability after a recent myocardial infarction. AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether exercise-induced ST segment elevation is related to viability or to left ventricular dysfunction in patients with history of old Q wave myocardial infarction. METHODS: Fifty patients (43 men, age 57+/-11 years) were studied 31+/-49 months after a Q wave myocardial infarction. They all underwent stress, reinjection-redistribution, and late redistribution Tl-201 SPECT, completed by equilibrium radionuclide angiography. Viability was defined by defect reversibility or significant (>60%) persistent Tl-201 uptake in dyssinergic segments on late redistribution SPECT. Relative post-exercise and reinjection-redistribution LV volumes were calculated using validated software (QGS). RESULTS: Twenty-one out of 50 patients (42%, G1) had significant stress-induced ST-elevation (>1 mm 80 ms after J point in at least 2 ECG leads with Q wave), and 29/50 (58%, G2) did not. Seventeen out of 50 patients (34%) demonstrated myocardial viability on late redistribution scan. The diagnostic accuracy of exercise-induced ST-elevation was only 52% for viability assessment. Significant LVEF reduction and increased relative LV volumes were observed in G1 compared to G2 (LVEF: 39+/-10% vs. 49+/-11%, P=0.003; post-stress LV volume: 134+/-98 ml vs. 81+/-41 ml, P<0.02; reinjection-redistribution LV volume: 123+/-86 ml vs. 79+/-40 ml; P<0.02). Perfusion defects were similar in G1 and G2 (post-exercise: 38+/-12% vs. 37+/-14%, ns; reinjection-redistribution: 31+/-11% vs. 30+/-11%, ns; late redistribution: 30+/-10% vs. 28+/-11%, ns). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that, in patients with history of myocardial infarction, exercise-induced ST-segment elevation is not related to persistent myocardial viability but is associated to left ventricular dysfunction.

Aged↗

[Evaluation of the ejection fraction tomoscintigraphy synchronised with an electrocardiogram].

Electrocardiographic gated myocardial scintigraphy (gated SPECT) allows simultaneous evaluation of left ventricular perfusion and contractility. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the type of tracer and temporal sampling on the measurement of the ejection fraction by gated SPECT. Eighty-six consecutive patients (59 men, 27 women, average age 62 +/- 11 years) with a history of myocardial infarction (anterior N = 50--inferior N = 36) were studied. All had measurement of the isotopic ejection fraction by equilibrium angioscintigraphy and by gated SPECT sampled at 8 (N = 45, 52%) or 16 images/cycle RR (N = 41, 48%). After filtered retroprojection, the ejection fraction was calculated by a validated method (QGS). A better correlation between gated SPECT and equilibrium angioscintigraphy was observed at 16 images/cycle (r = 0.90) compared with 8 (r = 0.80). The Bland-Altman curves showed improved accuracy of the measurement of the ejection fraction by gated SPECT with 16 compared with 8 images/cycles sampling (mean differences of 0.37 +/- 6.06% and 4.3 +/- 7.71%, respectively). Multivariable analysis showed that temporary sampling was the only parameter to significantly affect the difference between the two methods. There was no difference between the use of Thallium and that of 99mTc-sestamibi. Gated SPECT, therefore, provides an accurate measurement of the ejection fraction for routine clinical usage, providing the acquisition is made at 16 images/cycle.

Electrocardiography↗

[Percutaneous revascularization of multivessel coronary disease with systematic stent implantation. Immediate results and clinical follow-up and middle term angiography].

The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the immediate and medium-term clinical and angiographic results of multiple angioplasty with stenting in 100 consecutive patients with multivessel coronary artery disease. The mean age of the population was 62 +/- 11 years. Two hundred and eight lesions were treated (2.5 +/- 0.7 per patient) with implantation of 1.14 +/- 0.4 stents per lesion. The angiographic success rate was 98.7%. There were 5 major complications in the hospital period: 3 deaths, including 2 of cardiac causes, one coronary bypass procedure and one Q wave myocardial infarction. During follow-up (17 +/- 6 months), eight patients died (5 of cardiac causes) and secondary revascularisation procedures were required in 22 patients. At 6 months, the angiographic restenosis rate was 32% per lesion, 28.8% per stent and 33 patients had at least one restenosis.

Adult↗

[Acute changes in load: effects of myocardial velocities measured by doppler tissue imaging].

The value of measuring the velocities of myocardial motion in the analysis of regional contractility has been demonstrated. The effects of changes in load on myocardial velocities has not been extensively studied. The aim of this study was to increase the change in myocardial velocities during haemodialysis. The velocities of longitudinal myocardial motion of the posterior wall and mitral annulus were measured by Doppler tissue imaging in 33 chronic haemodialysis patients (16 men: ages 64 +/- 14 years). Using the apical 2 chamber view: systolic (S), diastolic (D) and late (A) velocities were measured before and immediately after haemodialysis. The weight loss and decrease in mean blood pressure was 2.6 +/- 1.2 Kg and 10 +/- 17% respectively. Before dialysis, the systolic and diastolic velocities were maximal at the mitral annulus and decreased from the base to the apical region of the posterior wall. After dialysis, the velocities of the basal, median and apical segments of the posterior wall increased in systole but decreased in early diastole. Conversely, diastolic velocities of the mitral annulus did not change after dialysis. The authors conclude that the systolic and diastolic velocities of myocardial motion are affected by acute changes in left ventricular load induced by haemodialysis whereas those of the mitral annulus are little affected.

Aged↗

Randomized comparison of two targets in typical atrial flutter ablation.

Typical atrial flutter ablation has become anatomically guided to 2 separate sites within the isthmus at the inferior right atrium: (1) between the inferior vena cava and the tricuspid annulus (anterior side of the isthmus [A]), (2) between the eustachian crest, the coronary sinus ostium and tricuspid annulus (posterior side of the isthmus [P]). We prospectively compared ablation results at these sites in 72 consecutive patients. Patients were randomized in group P or A according to the initial target site. If ablation failed at 1 site after 15 radiofrequency (RF) pulses, the other side of the isthmus was targeted. Before 15 RF pulses, complete bidirectional isthmus block was achieved in 30 of 36 group A patients and in 25 of 36 group P patients, with similar mean RF pulses number, procedure time, and fluoroscopy time. After shifting to the other target, success was finally obtained at P in 2 of 6 group A patients, and at A in 8 of 11 group P patients before a maximum of 30 RF pulses. Among successful patients, number of RF pulses, procedure time, and fluoroscopy time were significantly lower in group A (7.2 +/- 5.4 vs 11.0 +/- 8.1 pulses, p = 0.03; 131 +/- 44 vs 163 +/- 66 minutes, p = 0.03; 31 +/- 19 vs 46 +/- 24 minutes, p = 0.01, respectively). Impairment of atrioventricular (AV) nodal conduction occurred in 5 patients only during ablation at P. AV block was transient in 4 patients and permanent in 1. Although atrial flutter ablation is equally effective at P and A, success seems easier to obtain when A is first targeted. Ablation at P is associated with a significant risk of AV block.

Adult↗

Assessment of nonuniformity of transmural myocardial velocities by color-coded tissue Doppler imaging: characterization of normal, ischemic, and stunned myocardium.

BACKGROUND: Transmural myocardial contractile performance is nonuniform across the different layers of the left ventricular wall. We evaluated the accuracy of color M-mode tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) to assess the transmural distribution of myocardial velocities and to quantify the severity of dysfunction induced by acute ischemia and reperfusion in the inner and outer myocardial layers. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirteen open-chest dogs underwent 15 minutes of left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion followed by 120 minutes of reperfusion. M-mode TDI was obtained from an epicardial short-axis view. Systolic velocities were calculated within endocardium and epicardium of the anterior and posterior walls. Regional myocardial blood flow was assessed by radioactive microspheres. Segment shortening was measured by sonomicrometry in endocardium and epicardium of both the anterior and posterior walls. At baseline, endocardial velocities were higher than epicardial velocities, resulting in an inner/outer myocardial velocity gradient. Ischemia caused a significant and comparable reduction in endocardial and epicardial systolic velocities in the anterior wall with the disappearance of the velocity gradient. Systolic velocities significantly correlated with segment shortening in both endocardium and epicardium during ischemia and reperfusion. In the first minutes after reflow, endocardial velocities showed a greater improvement than epicardial velocities, and the velocity gradient resumed although to a limited extent, indicative of stunning. CONCLUSIONS: TDI is an accurate method to assess the nonuniformity of transmural velocities and may be a promising new tool for quantifying ischemia-induced regional myocardial dysfunction.

Animals↗

Effect of temporal sampling on evaluation of left ventricular ejection fraction by means of thallium-201 gated SPET: comparison of 16- and 8-interval gating, with reference to equilibrium radionuclide angiography.

Gated myocardial single-photon emission tomography (SPET) allows the evaluation of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), but temporal undersampling may lead to systolic truncation and ejection fraction underestimation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of temporal sampling on thallium gated SPET LVEF measurements. Fifty-five consecutive patients (46 men, mean age 62+/-12 years) with a history of myocardial infarction (anterior 31, inferior 24) were studied. All patients underwent equilibrium radionuclide angiography (ERNA) and gated SPET 4 h after a rest injection of 185 MBq (5 mCi) of thallium-201 using either 8-interval (group 1, n=25) or 16-interval gating (group 2, n=30). In group 2, gated SPET acquisitions were automatically resampled to an 8-interval data set. Projection data were reconstructed using filtered back-projection (Butterworth filter, order 5, cut-off 0.20). LVEF was then calculated using commercially available software (QGS). A higher correlation between gated SPET and ERNA was obtained with 16-interval gating (r=0.94) compared with the resampled data set (r=0.84) and 8-interval gating (r=0.71). Bland-Altman plots showed a dramatic improvement in the agreement between gated SPET and ERNA with 16-interval gating (mean difference: -0.10%+/-5%). Using multiple ANOVA, temporal sampling was the only parameter to influence the difference between the two methods. When using 8-interval gating, gated SPET LVEF was overestimated in women and underestimated in men (ERNA minus gated SPET = -4.0%+/-9.6% in women and 3.6%+/-7.6% in men, P=0.01). In conclusion, 16-interval thallium gated SPET offered the best correlation and agreement with ERNA, and should be preferred to 8-interval gated acquisition for LVEF measurement.

Adult↗

Pacing in prevention of atrial fibrillation: the PIPAF studies.

The PIPAF trials are a set of randomized multicenter studies which seeks to evaluate the potential preventive effect of different modes of pacing in patients with drug refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation by means of a permanent pacemaker. The objective of the studies are (1) to significantly prolong the time to first recurrence of atrial arrhythmia and (2) to significantly reduce the cumulative arrhythmia duration. The role of the atrial pacing site (left or right), the overdriving of the sinus rate, and the suppression of the post extrasystolic compensatory pause are evaluated alone or in association, giving rise to four distinct pacing protocols. Over a period of 2 years, 220 patients will be included in 35 centers from 5 different countries.

Atrial Fibrillation↗

[New invasive cartography techniques in electrophysiology].

Fulguration, a widely used technique in the 80s, has been replaced by radiofrequency ablation. The limited and better controlled intra-cardiac lesions obtained by this method allowed the elimination of a large number of tachycardias with a high success rate. However, there are many arrhythmias, particularly at the atrial level, which are so complex that a limited analysis at a number of points of endocardial recording is inadequate. Recently, a number of systems has been introduced which considerably increased the acuity of observation of arrhythmias and the efficacy of their ablation. First of all, there are improved techniques of classical electrophysiological recording. Then, new systems of temporo-spatial recordings were developed and are described in this article. These use computer systems and enable particularly reliable and detailed approaches to cardiac anatomy and electrophysiology. However, the optimal use of these techniques can only be in specialised centres, by highly trained cardiologists in classical electrophysiology, for which they are complementary to rather than substitute for.

Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena↗

[Percutaneous mitral commissurotomy by metallic dilator. Multicenter experience with 500 patients].

A clinical investigation has been conducted since January 1996 with a new valve dilator for percutaneous treatment of mitral stenosis: metallic commissurotome. This new technique is based on the principle of surgical commissurotome but, in its mechanism of action, differs from the usual techniques with balloon catheters. It also offers the unique possibility for multiple utilizations of the same device after resterilization. This article reports a multicenter international investigation involving 500 patients, mean age of 34 +/- 13 years, with a isolated mitral stenosis and an echography score of 7.7 +/- 1.9. Our technique has been feasible in 489 cases (98%) with a success rate (mitral area > 1.5 cm2 without MR > grade 2) of 93%. The transmitral gradient has diminished from 20 +/- 8 mmHg to 4 +/- 3 mm Hg and the mitral area (assessed by planimetry at 24 hrs) has increased from 0.91 +/- 0.20 to 2.12 +/- 0.34 cm2. Complications were uncommon (13 patients: 2.6%) and consisted in 6 tamponades, 5 mitral insufficiencies (one patient required an emergency valve replacement) and 2 neurological transient accidents. The outcomes of this clinical investigation appear most encouraging and at least comparable to those being reported with the commonly used techniques. The most serious complications appear to be closely related to the level of experience with this technique. Considering the possibility to reutilize the metal segments of the apparatus, this technique notably reduces the cost of the procedure per patient and it represents a significant benefit in countries with limited resources.

Adult↗

How smart should pacemakers Be?

The concept of the "smart" pacemaker has been continuously changing during 40 years of progress in technology. When we talk today about smart pacemakers, it means optimal treatment, diagnosis, and follow-up for patients fitting the current indications for pacemakers. So what is smart today becomes accepted as "state of the art" tomorrow. Originally, implantable pacemakers were developed to save lives from prolonged episodes of bradycardia and/or complete heart block. Now, in addition, they improve quality of life via numerous different functions acting under specific conditions, thanks to the introduction of microprocessors. The devices have become smaller, with the miniaturization of the electrical components, without compromising longevity. Nevertheless, there are still some unmatched objectives for these devices, for example, the optimization of cardiac output and the management of atrial arrhythmias in dual-chamber devices. Furthermore, indications continue to evolve, which in turn require new, additional functions. These functions are often very complex, necessitating computerized programming to simplify application. In addition, the follow-up of these devices is time-consuming, as appropriate system performance has to be regularly monitored. A great many of these functions could be automatically performed and documented, thus enabling physicians and paramedical staff to avoid losing time with routine control procedures. In addition, modern pacemakers offer extensive diagnostic functions to help diagnose patient symptoms and pacemaker system problems. Different types of data are available, and their presentation differs from one company to the other. This huge amount of data can only be managed with automatic diagnostic functions. Thus, the smart pacemaker of the near future should offer high flexibility to permit easy programming of available therapies and follow-up, and extensive, easily comprehensible diagnostic functions.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗

Percutaneous mechanical mitral commissurotomy with a newly designed metallic valvulotome: immediate results of the initial experience in 153 patients.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous balloon valvotomy has become a common treatment of mitral stenosis, but the cost of the procedure remains a limitation in countries with restricted financial resources, leading to a frequent reuse of the disposable catheters. To overcome this limitation, a reusable metallic valvotomy device has been developed with the goals of both improving the mitral valvotomy results and decreasing the cost of the procedure. METHODS AND RESULTS: The device consists of a detachable metallic cylinder with 2 articulated bars screwed onto the distal end of a disposable catheter whose proximal end is connected to an activating pliers. By the transseptal route, the device is advanced across the valve over a traction guidewire. Squeezing the pliers opens the bars up to a maximum extent of 40 mm. The clinical experience consisted of 153 patients with a broad spectrum of mitral valve deformities. The procedure was successful in 92% of cases and resulted in a significant increase in mitral valve area, from 0.95+/-0.2 to 2. 16+/-0.4 cm2. No increase in mitral regurgitation was noted in 80% of cases. Bilateral splitting of the commissures was observed in 87%. Complications were 2 cases of severe mitral regurgitation (1 requiring surgery), 1 pericardial tamponade, and 1 transient cerebrovascular embolic event. In this series, the maximum number of consecutive patients treated with the same device was 35. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained with this new device are encouraging and at least comparable to those of current balloon techniques. Multiple uses after sterilization should markedly decrease the procedural cost, a major advantage in countries with limited resources and high incidence of mitral stenosis.

Adolescent↗

Radiofrequency catheter ablation of common atrial flutter: significance of palpitations and quality-of-life evaluation in patients with proven isthmus block.

BACKGROUND: Creation of a complete bidirectional inferior vena cava-tricuspid annulus isthmus block (CBIB) by radiofrequency catheter ablation is now a well-accepted criterion for prevention of common atrial flutter (AFl) recurrences. However, some patients still complain of palpitations after ablation, and it is not known whether these are related to AFl recurrences or to other arrhythmias. METHODS AND RESULTS: Among 100 consecutive patients referred to our institution for AFl ablation, CBIB was created in 83. There were 54 patients (group A) in whom AFl was the only documented arrhythmia before ablation and 29 patients (group B) in whom atrial fibrillation (AFib) had been documented in addition to AFl. An electrophysiological control study was performed in 40 patients 1 to 3 months after ablation. Arrhythmic events, medications, and functional status were evaluated at midterm follow-up (n=77; 14. 7+/-8.4 months; range, 4 to 34 months). The SF-36 questionnaire and the Symptom Checklist--Frequency and Severity Scale specific for cardiac arrhythmia were used to assess quality of life in 63 patients at long-term follow-up (27.1+/-8.5 months). Recurrence of AFl was documented in only 1 patient 6 months after ablation. AFib was recorded in 28 patients (36.4%), and atypical AFl was found in 3 patients. Thirty-two group A patients (66.7%) and 17 group B patients (58.6%) were still arrhythmia free at midterm follow-up. Even at long-term follow-up and in group B patients, AFl ablation was followed by a clear improvement in quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Palpitations after creation of CBIB are due mostly to AFib but not to AFl recurrence. This technique provides a significant and persistent clinical benefit and may suppress all atrial arrhythmia in a subset of patients suffering from both AFl and AFib.

Aged↗

Value and limitations of the Duke criteria for the diagnosis of infective endocarditis.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the value and limitations of Duke criteria for the diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE). BACKGROUND: Duke criteria have been shown to be more sensitive in diagnosing IE than the von Reyn criteria, but the diagnosis of IE remains difficult in some patients. METHODS: Both classifications were applied in 93 consecutive patients with pathologically proven IE. Blood cultures, and transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography were performed in all patients. RESULTS: Sensitivities for the diagnosis of IE were 56% and 76% for von Reyn and Duke criteria, respectively. Fifty-two patients were correctly classified as "probable IE" by von Reyn and "definite IE" by Duke criteria (group 1). However, discrepancies were observed in 41 patients. Eleven patients (group 2) were misclassified as "rejected" by von Reyn, but were "definite IE" by Duke criteria; this difference could be explained by negative blood cultures and positive echocardiogram in all patients. In eight patients (group 3), the diagnosis of IE was "possible" by von Reyn but "definite" by Duke criteria. This difference was essentially explained by the failure of the von Reyn classification to consider echocardiographic abnormalities as major criteria. Twenty-two patients (group 4) were misclassified as possible IE using Duke criteria, being false negative of this classification. Echocardiographic major criteria were present in 19 patients, but blood cultures were negative in 21 patients. The cause of negative blood cultures was prior antibiotic therapy in 11 patients and Q-fever endocarditis diagnosed by positive serology in three cases. CONCLUSIONS: Twenty-four percent of patients with proved IE remain misclassified as "possible IE" despite the use of Duke criteria, especially in cases of culture-negative and Q-fever IE. Increasing the diagnostic value of echographic criteria in patients with prior antibiotic therapy and typical echocardiographic findings and considering the serologic diagnosis of Q fever as a major criterion would further improve the clinical diagnosis of IE.

Bacteria↗