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Biomedical subjects

B Rigler

Publications and source records attributed to B Rigler.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Prolonged extracorporeal organ support in a 2-year-old boy after cardiac surgery.

A case report of a 2-year-old boy who developed severe post-operative low cardiac output, sudden cardiac arrest and consecutive multiple organ system failure after open heart surgery is described. Initially the hemodynamic situation was stabilized by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) combined with continuous hemofiltration (CHF) carried out for 7 days. Continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) was necessary for further 17 days. One episode of plasmapheresis restored transiently a severe post-operative coagulopathy and enabled the removal of the pulmonary artery catheter and the chest tubes.

Cardiac Output, Low↗
PubMed1994

Preoperative myocardial cell damage in patients with unstable angina undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

BACKGROUND: Troponin-T is one of the contractile proteins of the myocardium. Its release into the circulation indicates various degrees of myocardial cell damage. Troponin-T may be measured in serum with a recently developed enzyme immunoassay. This immunoassay was used to evaluate the preoperative myocardial cell damage in patients with stable and unstable angina undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and it was compared with conventional assays of creatine kinase (CK) MB isoenzyme activity and mass. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with unstable angina and 31 with stable angina were studied. Troponin-T, CK-MB activity, and CK-MB mass were measured 24 h before anesthesia and surgery, immediately before induction of anesthesia, before and after cardiopulmonary bypass, at the end of surgery, and 24 h afterward. RESULTS: In 90% (19 of 21) of the patients with unstable angina, troponin-T was increased 24 h before anesthesia (median 0.33 microgram/l, range 0.15-5.2 micrograms/l), whereas only 3% (1 of 31) of the patients with stable angina had increased values (median 0.0 microgram/l, range 0.0-0.53 microgram/l). The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The same profile was found in patients with and without unstable angina immediately before induction of anesthesia (86% [18 of 21] and 0%, respectively) and before cardiopulmonary bypass (62% [13 of 21] and 0%, respectively). In contrast to troponin-T, CK-MB activity was increased in only 0-14% of patients with unstable angina, and CK-MB mass was increased in only 9-24%. After bypass troponin-T increased in both groups (P < 0.01), but there was no longer a statistically significant difference between the groups. Twelve percent (4 of 31) of the patients in the stable angina group and 28% (6 of 21) in the unstable group had major cardiac events (P not significant). CONCLUSIONS: The study data suggest that many patients with unstable angina undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery have already increased troponin-T levels preoperatively, although conventional biochemical markers such as CK-MB activity and mass are at a normal range. Increased troponin-T and normal CK-MB concentrations may reflect some degree of ischemic myocardial cell damage. Because of the small number of patients in the study, the influence of preoperative myocardial injury on perioperative outcome could not be clarified.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Total cavopulmonary connection in complex heart defects with a single functional ventricle].

Nineteen children aged between 1.5 and 9.8 years (10 patients younger than 4 years) underwent total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) for complex congenital heart defects other than tricuspid atresia. Diagnoses included double inlet left ventricle (n = 11), transposition of the great arteries with a large ventricular septal defect (n = 4), double outlet right ventricle (n = 2), congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries with a large ventricular septal defect (n = 1) and criss-cross heart (n = 1). Two patients had situs ambiguous with polysplenia syndrome and four patients had anomalous systemic venous return. Thirty-six palliative procedures were performed in 15 patients before TCPC. The patients were selected according to the selection criteria of Choussat and Fontan. Four patients (21%) died between the 1st and 12th postoperative day because of low cardiac output syndrome (n = 2), supraventricular tachycardia unresponsive to treatment (n = 1), and cerebral edema (n = 1). In one patient take down of TCPC was performed for persistent low cardiac output syndrome. Four of these five patients were younger than 4 years old and had one or more additional risk factors. Postoperative complications were persistent pleural or pericardial effusions (n = 4), transient supraventricular tachycardia (n = 2), and low cardiac output syndrome (n = 1). There was no late death. Follow-up was available in 12 patients. At a mean follow-up of 15 +/- 9 months, nine patients are in NYHA-functional class I, two patients in class II, and one patient in class III. Postoperative cardiac catheterization revealed satisfactory results in seven of eight patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMed1993

Twenty-four years' implant duration of the aortic Starr-Edwards Silastic ball prosthesis: a valve of the past?

Six years after the first aortic valve replacement with the Starr-Edwards Silastic ball prosthesis at Oregon Health Sciences University, the model 1260 was implanted in a 44-year-old patient at our department. During 24 years no signs of dysfunction, thromboembolism, thrombosis, periprosthetic leaks or hemolysis were observed. Material test showed no signs of fatigue. The dimension of the Silastic poppet was found to be one millimeter less than the original specifications of these poppets and there were some lipid infiltrations. Functionally the poppet was found to be nonvariant. Histologic findings detected focal hyalinization and giant cells without signs of acute inflammation or ulceration. With regard to its reliability and durability, the Starr-Edwards valve prosthesis should not be viewed with disfavor.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Brain magnetic resonance imaging in coronary artery bypass grafts: a pre- and postoperative assessment.

We undertook a study to determine (1) the frequency and prognostic significance of preexisting MRI brain abnormalities in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) and (2) whether MRI can detect surgery-related brain damage in 31 neurologically asymptomatic CABG patients (mean age, 61.0 +/- 6.6 years). MRIs were performed within 7 days before and 8 to 17 days after surgery. When we compared the preoperative images with those of 31 age- and risk factor-matched neurologically asymptomatic controls free of cardiac disease (mean age, 60.3 +/- 6.1 years), higher rates of thromboembolic infarcts (16% versus 0%), lacunes (58.1% versus 32.3%), and brainstem lesions (22.6% versus 3.8%) were noted. Subjective rating demonstrated significantly larger ventricles in patients than in controls (p = 0.002). CABG candidates also had significantly increased ventricular-to-intracranial cavity ratios (VICR) as determined by semiquantitative volumetric measurements (6.9 +/- 2.5% versus 4.9 +/- 1.6%; p = 0.0004). Eleven patients had postsurgical complications, with eight having symptoms consistent with diffuse encephalopathy. The only MRI finding that separated encephalopathic from complication-free patients was ventricular size (VICR 9.0 +/- 2.5% versus 4.9 +/- 1.6%; p = 0.006). This difference remained statistically significant after adjustment for the effects of age (p = 0.04). Postoperative MRI consistently failed to demonstrate surgery-related brain damage responsible for the encephalopathy.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Prospective evaluation of clinical scoring systems in infants and children with cardiopulmonary insufficiency after cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To document severity of illness and to evaluate the predictive value of clinical scoring systems in infants and children with cardiopulmonary insufficiency after cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Prospective study with follow up to hospital discharge. SETTING: A multidisciplinary pediatric ICU in a University Hospital. PATIENTS: Between 1/1989 and 4/1992 441 infants and children with congenital heart disease underwent open heart surgery. 128 of these patients developed postoperative cardiopulmonary insufficiency and were entered into this study. METHODS: Data relevant to the Acute Physiologic Score for Children (APSC), Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM), Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System (TISS) and Organ System Failure (OSF) score were collected in all patients during the first 4 days of postoperative intensive care. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 1.5 +/- 0.2 years. The mean duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU care was 6.2 +/- 0.6 and 8.1 +/- 0.7 days, respectively. On the first postoperative day the mean APSC and PRISM scores of survivors and nonsurvivors were 13.9 +/- 1.3 vs 24.5 +/- 1.3 (p < 0.001) and 6.1 +/- 0.5 vs 19.6 +/- 1.9 (p < 0.001), respectively. The mean TISS and OSF scores of survivors and nonsurvivors were 46 +/- 0.8 vs 57.8 +/- 1.4 (p < 0.001), and 2.2 +/- 0.2 vs 3.4 +/- 0.2 (p < 0.001), respectively. The overall hospital mortality rate was 9.9%, the hospital mortality rate of patients with postoperative cardiopulmonary insufficiency 34%. Patients with an APSC score < 10 and a PRISM score < 5 had a survival rate of 100%, whereas patients with an APSC score > 30 and a PRISM score > 25 had a mortality rate of 100%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for APSC, PRISM and TISS was 0.847, 0.826 and 0.793, respectively. CONCLUSION: APSC, PRISM and TISS describe accurately severity of illness in infants and children with cardiopulmonary insufficiency after cardiac surgery and all scores identify those patients at increased risk for mortality.

Cardiac Output, Low↗
PubMed1992

Scimitar syndrome with absence of the right pulmonary artery: a case with volume-induced, reversible, left-sided pulmonary hypertension.

An infant with scimitar syndrome, absent right pulmonary artery, and systemic blood supply to the right lung presented in severe cardiac failure. Cardiac catheterization revealed suprasystemic pressure of the left pulmonary artery and a high pulmonary vascular resistance. Right-sided pneumonectomy abolished cardiac failure and normalized both pulmonary artery pressure and resistance. Pure volume load affecting one lung--as in this case through absence of the right pulmonary artery plus additional left-to-right shunt from a systemic collateral--can lead to pulmonary hypertension. Early operative intervention can reverse this process and prevent pulmonary vascular disease.

Angiocardiography↗
PubMed1992

Transoesophageal echocardiography during removal of a caval filter in a patient at high risk of massive pulmonary thromboembolism.

A new type of vena caval filter was to be removed from a woman who had a high risk of massive pulmonary thromboembolism because of extensive thrombus in the iliac vein incorporating the filter. The removal was performed under general anaesthesia in the cardiac operating theatre using transoesophageal echocardiography to monitor the right heart and the pulmonary artery during the critical phase of removal. The manoeuvre succeeded with only insignificant embolisation occurring, and that was identified by transoesophageal echocardiography.

Echocardiography↗
PubMed1992

Mechanical support of the left ventricle in ischemia induced left ventricular failure: an experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: this study compares the hemodynamic effects of intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP), left ventricular assist device (LVAD), and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in left ventricular failure in pigs. METHODS: In 29 pigs weighing 12 +/- 0.7 kg left ventricular failure was induced by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. Eight animals served as controls. Eight pigs were treated by IABP, seven by LVAD, and six by ECMO. The study period lasted four hours. Hemodynamic and oxygen transport/uptake parameters were measured continuously or intermittently. RESULTS: Six animals of the ECMO and LVAD groups survived the 4 hour period, but only 3 and 4 animals of the IABP and control groups survived (p less than 0.05). Cardiac index decreased about 48% and 22% in the control and IABP groups (p less than 0.05), whereas there was only a slight decrease in the ECMO (9%) and LVAD (14%) groups. Oxygen delivery fell significantly in the control and IABP groups (p less than 0.05), compared with only a slight change in the LVAD and ECMO groups. CONCLUSION: ECMO is the most effective system for temporary circulatory support in severe ventricular failure. LVAD maintains cardiac output when pulmonary blood flow is provided. IABP is less efficient in supporting the failing heart, especially in the presence of severe ventricular arrhythmias.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Perforated ventricular aneurysm in a male suffering from pneumonia.

In a 49-year-old male with fever, dyspnea, and chest pain, thoracic x-ray revealed pneumonia with enlarged heart silhouette. Antibiotics were successful, pneumonia healed and complaints disappeared. Yet, during the following 3 months, echocardiography showed mild persistent pericardial effusion while in ECG both sinus tachycardia and ST-T changes were found suggesting chronic pericarditis. Magnetic resonance imaging, however, revealed an extensive posterobasal aneurysm with pericardial effusion substantiated by ventriculography. Coronary angiography showed diffuse three-vessel disease. Surgery revealed aneurysm with distinct perforation of the left ventricle and pericardial thrombi, thus aneurysmectomy as well as bypass grafts were performed. One year postoperatively, magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the absence of aneurysm with only a small irreversible posterobasal perfusion defect remaining as shown by thallium scintigraphy.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Open heart surgery in children of Jehovah's Witnesses: extreme hemodilution on cardiopulmonary bypass.

Between January 1979 and July 1989, 15 children of Jehovah's Witnesses underwent corrective open surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD) on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Ages ranged from 1.5-17 years and body weight from 9.1-63 kg, with five patients weighing less than 15 kg. Eight children were cyanotic, and two of them had had previous thoracic operations. All operations were performed in moderate to deep hypothermia using a modified version of isovolemic hemodilution with bloodless priming technique of extracorporeal circulation. Mean hematocrit levels decreased from 47.3% (36.9-70%) to 34.6% (27.2-49.1%) after hemodilution, and then to 17.9% (10.5-25.6%) during bypass. They increased again to 34.1% (24.4-50%) at the end of the operation and to 33.4% (25.1-40%) on day 12. All intra- and postoperative hematocrit levels were significantly lower (p less than 0.001). There was one postoperative death, not related to the technique. Our results demonstrate that bloodless cardiac surgery on bypass is feasible in children as shown in this special group of children of Jehovah's Witnesses. Knowing the risks of homologous blood transfusion this technique should be used more extensively in the future.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Continuous extracorporeal fluid removal in children with low cardiac output after cardiac operations.

Eleven hypervolemic and oliguric children with low cardiac output after cardiac operations were treated by slow continuous ultrafiltration or continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration. A mean negative fluid balance of 1.63 +/- 0.37 ml/kg/hr (standard error of the mean [SEM]) significantly improved the hemodynamic status within 59 +/- 6.1 hours (SEM). Although the central venous pressure decreased significantly from 15.2 +/- 0.84 to 8.8 +/- 0.92 mm Hg (p less than 0.0001), the mean arterial pressure increased significantly from 41.5 +/- 2.54 to 53.5 +/- 2.21 mm Hg (p less than 0.001). In addition, pH increased significantly from 7.31 +/- 0.01 (SEM) to 7.43 +/- 0.001 (SEM) (p less than 0.001) and oxygenation index (arterial oxygen tension/inspired oxygen fraction) from 119 +/- 15.2 (SEM) to 214 +/- 27.0 (SEM) (p less than 0.001). Hemodynamic improvement during slow continuous extracorporeal fluid removal allowed a significant decrease of the catecholamine infusion rate. After normovolemia had been achieved, continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration had to be continued in four children because of persistent anuria. Eight patients could be weaned from artificial ventilation and vasopressor support. Two patients died without recovery of renal function and one with restored renal function. Slow continuous ultrafiltration and continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration improve the cardiovascular function in children with low cardiac output by optimizing the preload conditions of the failing heart. In addition, they improve acid-base balance and pulmonary gas exchange.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1990

[Early and late results following total correction of Fallot's tetralogy in childhood].

127 patients aged 0.9 to 18 years (mean 4.0 +/- 2.6 years) underwent total correction for Fallot's tetralogy from March 1975 to November 1989. 118 survivors (early mortality 7.0%) were reinvestigated between 0.2 and 15.3 years (mean 5.1 +/- 4.1 years) after operation by means of clinical investigation, ECG, X-ray, echocardiography (98%) and by recatheterization (48%). 97% are in NYHA-class I and only 3% are in NYHA-class II. Continuous wave (CW)-Doppler and colour-coded Doppler echocardiography allows good localization and evaluation of residual defects and gradients on CW-Doppler investigation correlate well with those measured at recatheterization. 38% of all patients have an enlarged heart and 95% show intraventricular conduction disturbances on ECG with 18% of bifascicular and 3% of trifascicular block. 2 patients need a permanent pace-maker. 10 patients (8.4%) underwent reoperation for residual lesions. 3 patients died late, 2 of which were due to cardiac causes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Coronary revascularization: influence on ventricular arrhythmias.

Myocardial ischemia may cause severe cardiac arrhythmias. In the present study, the influence of revascularization on ventricular arrhythmias was investigated. A total of 68 patients (61 male, 7 female; mean age 53 years) with coronary artery disease was divided into three groups: Group A (21 patients) underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA); Group B (37 patients) had coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG); and Group C were 10 patients who served as controls, who had simple coronary angiography. All patients had a Holter ECG on the day before angiography. PTCA patients and controls were restudied on the day after the procedure, while in Group B, Holter ECG was repeated three weeks after surgery. Groups A and B were again studied 18 months after the first Holter ECG. The PTCA group showed a slight reduction in complex arrhythmias immediately following PTCA, which increased again after 18 months; the CABG group, however, revealed a significant increase in complex arrhythmias three weeks after bypass surgery, but a decrease after 18 months. There was no significant change in the control group before or after angiography. Thus, successful revascularization has no influence on ventricular arrhythmias after 18 months.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

False passage in the interventricular septum. Echocardiography in diagnosis and management of a rare complication after closed transventricular valvotomy for critical aortic stenosis.

A case of a false passage causing an aneurysm of the interventricular septum is reported. Two-dimensional echocardiography facilitates the correct preoperative diagnosis of critical aortic stenosis and is helpful in the postoperative management to assess the outcome and detect complications. Surgical intervention for a false passage was prevented by serial echocardiographic follow-up studies showing resolution of the aneurysm.

Aortic Valve Stenosis↗
PubMed1989

[Management of acute intrathoracic aortic dissection].

At the intensive care station of the Internal Medicine Department, University Clinic Graz, all patients admitted were promptly and carefully examined in case of suspected acute intrathoracic aortic dissection and immediately treated. In 1987 a total of 4446 patients were referred to this CCU, 893 suffered from acute thoracic pain. In 21 patients of the latter a clinical suspicion of aortic dissection was observed. In 9 patients of these, diagnosis could be established within 5 hours by echocardiography, CT and angiography. 11 patients had no dissection while one positive finding could only be determined by postmortem exam. Retrospectively, these figures for 1982 were 3908 admitted patients, 790 suffering from acute thoracic pain of which only 5 showed suspected dissection. In 3 cases dissection could be confirmed using the same diagnostic procedures, but 2 were without finding. Further 3 patients out of the total series were affected with dissection which could only be determined postmortem. Out of the 9 patients with positive diagnosis, 6 showed Typ I, 1 Typ II and 2 Typ III dissection according to DeBakey (8m, 1f, range 46-78 years). 2 patients underwent surgery immediately after diagnosis, 1 after 12 hours, while 4 cases were conservatively treated. These 7 patients have survived by controlled hypotension up to now (10 to 22 months). Two patients died 2 and 10 hours, respectively, after admission with positive diagnosis. In spite of the severity of this disease prompt and efficient diagnosis and rapid therapeutic management are the key to survival.

Aged↗