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Biomedical subjects

A Torbicki

Publications and source records attributed to A Torbicki.

71 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Right atrial mobile thrombi: two-dimensional echocardiographic diagnosis and clinical outcome.

Four patients with pulmonary embolism and right atrial mobile thrombi (RAMT) are described. One patient died during intravenous heparin treatment because of a "saddle" pulmonary artery embolus, another died from surgical complications after successful embolectomy. One of the two survivors was treated with intravenous streptokinase and the other with intravenous heparin. Echocardiographically detected RAMT seems a reliable sign of impending massive pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary angiography is unnecessary and may be dangerous. Surgical removal of RAMT, fibrinolytic treatment or intravenous heparin introduced promptly may be lifesaving.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Left atrial appendage dysfunction: a cause of thrombosis? Evidence by transesophageal echocardiography-Doppler studies.

The blood flow velocity patterns within the left atrial appendage were studied by transesophageal color flow imaging and pulsed Doppler in 84 patients. At the time of the study, 57 of the patients were in sinus rhythm, 25 were in atrial fibrillation, and two were in atrial flutter. The relationships between atrial rhythm, blood flow pattern and the presence/absence of spontaneous echocardiographic contrast or thrombus within the appendage were investigated. Transesophageal echocardiography allowed recording of blood flow velocities in 81 of the 84 patients studied. In 51 of the 55 patients in sinus rhythm the pulsed Doppler study showed a biphasic blood flow pattern, whereas a multiphasic pattern was found in the two patients with atrial flutter and in 14 patients with atrial fibrillation. In four patients with sinus rhythm and 10 patients with atrial fibrillation, no significant blood flow velocity could be detected. Thrombus or spontaneous echocardiographic contrast were found within the left atrial appendage in 20 patients, and in all these patients blood flow was either absent or significantly reduced. Our findings indicate that an absent or low blood flow velocity within the left atrial appendage represents a predisposing factor for thrombosis. Isolated left atrial appendage dysfunction has been documented in four patients during sinus rhythm, which may lead to thrombosis. This observation may offer an explanation for cardioembolic events that occur occasionally in patients without apparent heart disease and sinus rhythm.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Changes in bone density during long-term administration of low-molecular-weight heparins or acenocoumarol for secondary prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism.

BACKGROUND: Indications for long-term anticoagulation are expanding. Osteoporosis is a complication which can develop after prolonged treatment with unfractionated heparin and is probably multifactorial. Data on osteoporosis associated with low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH) are contradictory. Vitamin K participates in bone metabolism and since oral anticoagulants antagonize vitamin K, their use may also increase the risk of osteoporosis. AIM: To assess and compare the effects of long-term secondary venous thromboembolic prophylaxis with LMWH or acenocoumarol on bone structure. METHODS: We assessed bone mineral density (BMD) by densitometry in 86 patients receiving LMWH or acenocoumarol for 3-24 months. The initial BMD was compared to the final result expressed as the percentage difference. The Z-score was also assessed and defined for individual patients as the number of standard deviations of BMD from its ideal value calculated for age and sex groups. RESULTS: Excessive decrease in BMD was evidenced, which seemed to relate to the duration as well as type of treatment. At 1 and 2 years of follow-up, the mean decrease in BMD of the femur was 1.8% and 2.6% in patients on acenocoumarol and 3.1 and 4.8% in patients on enoxaparin, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term exposure to treatment and prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism cause a modest but progressive decrease in BMD, more evident in patients on LMWH than on acenocoumarol. It might be advisable to perform densitometry before starting long-term anticoagulation and to repeat it every 12 months, especially in patients with concomitant risk factors for osteoporosis in order to identify patients in need of its prophylaxis.

Acenocoumarol↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Efficacy of sequential antiarrhythmic treatment in sinus rhythm maintenance after successful electrocardioversion in patients with chronic non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Sequential use of antiarrhythmic drugs may improve prognosis in chronic atrial fibrillation (AF). We conducted a prospective study of the efficacy of sequential antiarrhythmic drug therapy in sinus rhythm (SR) maintenance after a successful electrocardioversion (CV) in pts with chronic AF. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 58 pts (64.3 +/- 4.3 years old) with chronic AF underwent CV. After SR restoration (Group I) pts received one of the following antiarrhythmic drugs (Drug I): propafenone, sotalol or disopyramide. In case of arrhythmia recurrence, second CV was performed and pts received another drug from those mentioned above (Drug II). If treatment proved to be unsuccessful pts received amiodarone (Drug III) and third CV was attempted. After first unsuccessful CV (Group II) pts received a loading dose of amiodarone and another CV was attempted. In case of SR restoration amiodarone was administered continuously. RESULTS: After 12 months 81% pts were on SR; 85% pts received amiodarone continuously. After 1 year 6 (10%) pts presented with SR treated with Drug I (median 71 days); Drug II proved to be ineffective in all patients (median 27 days). 28 pts continued to receive amiodarone (no median). CONCLUSIONS: Sequential antiarrhythmic drug therapy improves arrhythmia prognosis in AF within a 12-month observation period. Amiodarone seems to be the most effective antiarrhythmic drug also in pts who required second CV proceeded by amiodarone treatment to restore SR.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Diagnostic utility of CYFRA 21-1 and CEA assays in pericardial fluid for the recognition of neoplastic pericarditis.

A positive cytology result in pericardial fluid is the gold standard for recognition of malignant pericardial effusion. Unfortunately, in 30-50% of patients with malignant pericardial effusion cytological examination of the pericardial fluid is negative. Tumor marker assessment in pericardial fluid may help to recognize malignant pericardial effusion. The aim of our study was to estimate the value of CYFRA 21-1 and CEA measurement in pericardial fluid for the recognition of malignant pericardial effusion. To our knowledge this is the first study on CYFRA 21-1 assessment in pericardial effusion. The examined group consisted of 50 patients with malignant pericardial effusion and 34 patients with non-malignant pericardial effusion. Median CEA concentrations in malignant pericardial effusion and non-malignant pericardial effusion were 80 ng/mL (0-317) and 0.5 ng/mL (0-18.4), respectively (p<0.001). Median CYFRA 21-1 concentrations in malignant pericardial effusion and non-malignant pericardial effusion were 260 ng/mL (5.3-10080) and 22.4 ng/mL (1.87-317.6), respectively (p<0.001). The optimal cutoff value for CYFRA 21-1 in pericardial effusion was 100 ng/mL. CYFRA 21-1 >100 ng/mL or CEA >5 ng/mL were found in 14/15 patients with malignant pericardial effusion and negative pericardial fluid cytology. We therefore strongly recommend the use of CYFRA 21-1 and/or CEA in addition to pericardial fluid cytology for the recognition of malignant pericardial effusion.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Value of M-mode echocardiography in assessing pulmonary arterial pressure in patients with chronic lung disease.

Pulmonary valve echography was technically possible in 44 of 120 patients with chronic lung disease (CLD). Mean pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa) was significantly correlated with right ventricular isovolumetric relaxation ratio (RVIRT/RVET) as derived from the movement of cusps in valves of the right heart (r = 0.842; p less than 0.001). Prolonged RVIRT was found in 52% of patients with Ppa greater than 20 mmHg and in all ten patients with Ppa greater than 35 mmHg. Other echographic signs, including abnormal right ventricular systolic time intervals (STI), 'a' wave amplitude, right to left ventricular ratio (RV/LV) and interventricular septum diastolic bulging (IVS-B), were less sensitive, but found more often; when higher Ppa was recorded at catheterization in a given patient (r = 0.869; p less than 0.001). Approximate echographic estimation of Ppa in patients with chronic lung disease is possible if right ventricular systolic and diastolic time intervals can be measured and if abnormalities in right ventricular dimensions, interventricular septum motion and pulmonary valve echogram are considered. In contrast to pulmonary fibrosis, technical problems in adequate visualization of right heart valves in chronic obstructive lung disease limit the use of M-mode echo assessment of Ppa to a clinically unacceptable 22% of subjects.

Adolescent↗