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Biomedical subjects

C Mavroudis

Publications and source records attributed to C Mavroudis.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Misconduct and fraud in research: social and legislative issues symposium of the Society of University Surgeons.

The symposium was concluded with a question and answer period, which served to clarify and further emphasize the aforementioned issues. Many concerns of coauthorship responsibilities, due process, and potential sanctions were discussed. Moral and ethical issues reflecting the extent of punishment, reporting of misconduct to hospitals and specialty boards, and the almost assured litigation and counter-litigation were approached with considerable apprehension and concern. Misconduct in science will clearly be monitored more closely than in the past. Increasing coauthorship responsibility, conscientious senior investigator supervision, and institutional cooperation will provide the framework to discourage dishonesty in science and encourage proper educational development of both young and established investigators in a milieu of scientific integrity.

Biomedical Research↗

Intermediate term results of infant orthotopic cardiac transplantation from two centers.

Orthotopic cardiac transplantation has become established for selected infants with severe forms of congenital heart disease. This study reviews the combined experience and intermediate term results of infants undergoing orthotopic cardiac transplantation from Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, and Kosair Children's Hospital, Louisville. From June 1986 through December 1989, 20 orthotopic cardiac transplantations were performed in 19 patients. Sixteen patients had variants of hypoplastic left heart syndrome. One infant had anomalous origin of the left coronary artery with severe ischemic cardiomyopathy. Two infants had aortic stenosis with endocardial fibroelastosis, and one had extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to transplantation. Immunosuppression included cyclosporine, azathioprine (Imuran), and corticosteroids with an effort to wean the patients from steroids by 6 months to 2 years. Three early deaths resulted--from technical errors in two patients and from hyperacute rejection in one patient at 3 days. Four late deaths have occurred. Two patients died at 2 and 13 months of acute rejection. One patient died at 15 months of acute rejection after retransplantation. One patient died at 7 months of respiratory syncytial viral pneumonia. The remaining 12 patients are surviving 5 to 47 months (means 20 months) after orthotopic cardiac transplantation. Rejection surveillance in the first 6 months is by clinical signs supplemented by echocardiography, electrocardiography, and cell cycle analysis; endomyocardial biopsy is used after 6 months of age. For the cumulative series, 24 episodes of suspected rejection have been treated during 277 at-risk patient months with intravenous methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol) (n = 18) and monoclonal antibody (OKT3) (n = 6), for an incidence of 1.04 episodes of rejection per patient per year. Serious posttransplantation infections including endocarditis, catheter sepsis, meningitis, and colonic perforation were successfully treated in four patients. Subjectively, their quality of life is excellent as shown by normal growth and developmental milestones and a low hospital readmission rate (1.4 episodes per patient per year). These encouraging intermediate term results warrant continued application of infant orthotopic cardiac transplantation for severe forms of congenital heart disease.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Physicians and the Navy Cross: a treatise on courage.

Heroism among military physicians has been heralded throughout our history. Four Navy trauma surgeons who received the Navy Cross for extraordinary service during the Vietnam War were studied with reference to their early lives, the events leading to the act for which they received the Navy Cross, and their later lives. Their heroic feats dramatize the corporeal and intellectual courage that has been displayed by generations of physicians.

Awards and Prizes↗

Shock, transfusion, and pneumonectomy. Death is due to right heart failure and increased pulmonary vascular resistance.

To determine the physiologic cardiopulmonary abnormalities leading to death when pneumonectomy is required to stop bleeding in patients in hemorrhagic shock, we compared cardiopulmonary responses to resuscitation in pigs undergoing hemorrhagic shock alone, pneumonectomy alone, and hemorrhagic shock plus pneumonectomy. Four shock-plus-pneumonectomy pigs died acutely from right heart failure. When the five remaining shock-plus-pneumonectomy pigs were compared to the two control groups, pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) increased to significantly higher levels than would be expected from the increase in PVR noted with resuscitation from shock alone and pneumonectomy alone. Right ventricular compensation maintained cardiac index in the hemorrhage-alone group and the pneumonectomy-alone group but could not maintain cardiac index in the shock-plus-pneumonectomy group, despite maximal increases in right ventricular systolic pressure, heart rate, and right ventricular end diastolic volume. These data indicated that resuscitation from shock plus pneumonectomy cannot be effectively accomplished because increased PVR leads to right ventricular failure, which limits left ventricular preload to levels that are insufficient to maintain cardiac index.

Animals↗

Surgical approach to atrial septal defect in the female. Right thoracotomy versus sternotomy.

Repair of atrial septal defect (ASD) remains a high-benefit, low-risk procedure due to technologic improvements. From July 1981 to December 1986, 35 females (age, 7 months to 28 years) had repair of ASD; 20 by right thoracotomy and aortic cannulation (group 1) and fifteen by median sternotomy (group 2). In general, right thoracotomy was applied to patients with secundum ASD two years or older and without associated lesions, while median sternotomy was applied to patients with ostium primum lesions and/or associated lesions. Patients or their families perceived the cosmetic results superior to the right thoracotomy approach over the median sternotomy. We feel that a right thoracotomy and aortic cannulation is effective in females (2 years and older) with secundum ASD for a superior cosmetic result over median sternotomy. However, females with ostium primum and/or associated lesions should undergo median sternotomy for better cardiac access and safety.

Adolescent↗

Surgical repair of atypical coarctation of the abdominal aorta in an infant.

A seven-week-old infant with multiple areas of coarctation of the abdominal aorta and renal artery pathology underwent staged surgical repair of his malformations in our medical center. The clinical and routine echocardiographic evaluations suggested the diagnosis of atypical coarctation of the aorta. The exact anatomical characteristics of his vascular malformations were established by repeated angiocardiographic studies, which should be performed in any patient in which the diagnosis of atypical coarctation of the aorta is suspected.

Aorta, Abdominal↗

The Pierce-Donachy ventricular assist device as a bridge to cardiac transplantation.

The Pierce-Donachy ventricular assist device (VAD) was used as an attempted bridge to orthotopic cardiac transplantation in 12 patients aged 13 to 55 years. Ischemic (4 patients), dilated (4 patients), acute viral (1 patient), postpartum (1 patient), and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (1 patient), along with a failed transplant (1 patient), were the causative factors of end-stage cardiomyopathy in these patients. All patients were candidates for orthotopic cardiac transplantation but sustained refractory cardiogenic shock (cardiac index less than 2 L/min/m2). Left VADs were placed in all patients; 7 also required right VADs. Four patients died of hemorrhagic complications less than 24 hours after VAD insertion. Ventricular assist device stabilization was successful in 8 patients and support ranged from eight hours to 64 days. Seven patients successfully underwent orthotopic cardiac transplantation. One died postoperatively of hemorrhagic complications, 6 were discharged from the hospital, and 1 patient died at 3 months of cytomegalovirus infection. Five patients are long-term survivors. The Pierce-Donachy VAD is an effective means for supporting critically ill patients with end-stage cardiomyopathy and cardiogenic shock before orthotopic cardiac transplantation. Death is related to hemorrhagic, rather than infectious or thromboembolic, complications. Patients successfully stabilized with the VAD can undergo orthotopic cardiac transplantation with acceptable mortality and morbidity rates.

Adolescent↗

Surgical techniques for the implantation of heterotopic prosthetic ventricles.

Mechanical support of the failing heart is becoming an increasingly useful tool for bridging to cardiac transplantation and for recovery of the natural heart. Several options exist for cannulation sites during the implantation of the heterotopic prosthetic ventricles. These options include the left atrial appendage, the left ventricular apex, the interatrial groove, and the left atrial roof. The indications, contraindications, advantages, disadvantages, and surgical technique for each option are described. Operation of the drive console and postoperative care are also discussed.

Assisted Circulation↗

Treatment of malignant ventricular arrhythmias with the automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Twenty-eight patients with malignant ventricular arrhythmias were treated with the automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD) in a 14-month period. Thirteen patients were resuscitated from a ventricular fibrillation (VF) episode. Fifteen patients presented with ventricular tachycardia (VT) refractory to medical therapy. The etiology was coronary artery disease in 23 of 28 patients (82%), dilated cardiomyopathy in 2 of 28 patients (7%), sarcoidosis in 2 of 28 patients, and 1 patient in 28 had lupus erythmatosis. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 29%. A total of 27 of 28 patients (96%) patients had inducible ventricular tachycardia using programmed stimulation. The patients considered for AICD implant failed a mean of 3.6 antiarrhythmic drugs. Rate counting and defibrillating leads were inserted through a lateral thoracotomy in 17 patients and a mediansternotomy incision in 11 patients in conjunction with another cardiac procedure in 10 patients. The generators were positioned in a subcutaneous pocket beneath the left costal margin. There were no operative deaths. The mean follow-up was 6.7 months (range 1 to 14) with no VT/VF deaths in patients with defibrillators. The study demonstrated that AICD is an effective device for prevention of sudden cardiac death.

Adult↗

Orthotopic cardiac transplantation for the neonate. The dilemma of the anencephalic donor.

From 1981 to 1985, a total of 46 cases of hypoplastic left heart syndrome were diagnosed in Kentucky hospitals. During the same period, there were 64 live births of anencephalic neonates in Kentucky, half of whom were of adequate size for organ donation. Philosophic and pragmatic discussions among physicians, ethicists, and legislators must take place if organ donation by anencephalic subjects is to be used to ease the growing demand.

Anencephaly↗

A mediastinal liposarcoma: an illustrative approach to mediastinal tumors.

Mediastinal masses remain an interesting diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for clinicians because of the low incidence of the tumors, frequent lack of symptoms, and the inaccessibility of the tumors for biopsy. An unusual mediastinal liposarcoma with intracavitary cardiac extension is presented to illustrate the approach to mediastinal tumors in general.

Humans↗

The comparative clearance rates of the pleural and peritoneal cavities.

We compared the rates of bacterial clearance from the pleural and peritoneal cavities of rats after contamination with 1 x 10(6) live Escherichia coli. Pleural clearance was enhanced beginning at 30 minutes after injection and extended to at least six hours. At 24 hours, the clearance was similar for both the pleural and peritoneal groups. Blood and organ bacterial cultures were similar between these two groups. White blood cell populations were similar at rest, but there was a greater increase in the leukocyte population in the pleural cavity six hours after E coli stimulation. We postulate that the increased clearance of E coli from the pleural cavity may be due to differences in lymphatic absorption, recruitment of leukocytes, or fibrin trapping of bacteria.

Animals↗

Successful treatment of empyema thoracis with polymethylmethacrylate antibiotic-impregnated beads in the guinea pig.

Two hundred nine Duncan-Harley guinea pigs had intrathoracic inoculation with 10(8) Staphylococcus aureus, accompanied by blood and umbilical tape. One hundred fifty-two animals were excluded because of clinical recovery, early death, or complications related to intrathoracic polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bead placement. The remaining 57 animals had clinical signs of empyema thoracis and were the subjects of this study. Group I animals (N = 24) served as the controls and had no therapy. Group II animals (N = 14) were treated by intrathoracic placement of placebo PMMA beads. Group III animals (N = 19) were treated by intrathoracic placement of tobramycin sulfate-impregnated PMMA beads. There were no differences between the groups in pleural reaction or pneumonia scores. These findings demonstrate a similar host response to the established infection. Group III, however, had a higher sterilization rate than Groups I and II (p less than 0.05), a finding underlining the therapeutic effect of tobramycin-treated PMMA beads. We conclude that intrathoracic local antimicrobial therapy with slow-release tobramycin-impregnated PMMA beads may enhance empyema treatment by increasing the rate of local sterilization. More experiments are necessary to assess the efficacy of this potentially important therapeutic arm for the treatment of thoracic empyema.

Animals↗

Infant orthotopic cardiac transplantation.

Infant orthotopic cardiac transplantation has been recently applied to various forms of congenital heart disease with encouraging short-term results. Between June 1986 and September 1987 we evaluated 16 infants for orthotopic cardiac transplantation. Fourteen had hypoplastic left heart syndrome, one had endocardial fibroelastosis with aortic atresia, and one had anomalous pulmonary arterial origin of the left main coronary. Eight families accepted the treatment program and eight families refused (two because of associated anomalies and six on philosophical grounds). Of the eight patients who were candidates for orthotopic cardiac transplantation, one died 6 hours after diagnosis, one was allowed to die after 60 days because of acquired neurologic complications, and another had congenital cytomegalic virus infection. The remaining five patients (four with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, one with anomalous pulmonary arterial origin of the left main coronary) had orthotopic cardiac transplantation. The operation was performed with absorbable polydioxanone suture with deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest in four neonates for hypoplastic left heart syndrome (average time 47 minutes) and bicaval cannulation and continuous bypass in one 11-month-old infant for anomalous origin of the left main coronary. In-house retrieval was used in all. One neonate died of complications as a result of pretransplant donor heart dysfunction and size discrepancy, whereas the remaining three neonates and one infant survived and are home 23 months, 12 months, and 8 months (the patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome) and 17 months (the patient with anomalous origin of the left main coronary) postoperatively. Triple-drug immunosuppression included cyclosporine, azathioprine, and prednisone. Rejection was diagnosed by clinical evaluation of child activity and monocyte cell cycle analysis from peripheral blood samples without myocardial biopsies. Routine echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, and chest x-ray films were not helpful. Six episodes of rejection were successfully treated in four patients. Twelve-month postoperative catherization in one patient (hypoplastic left heart syndrome) showed appropriate graft growth, no aortic or pulmonary anastomotic strictures, normal right and left ventricular function, and no coronary artery disease. We conclude that infant orthotopic cardiac transplantation is an acceptable procedure for severe forms of untreatable congenital heart disease. The excellent short-term results warrant continued application of orthotopic cardiac transplantation.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Myocardial preservation in the neonate. Beneficial effects of cardioplegia and systemic hypothermia on piglets undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass and myocardial ischemia.

This study examined anatomic differences between the adult and the newborn heart as they relate to myocardial preservation and compared standard techniques of myocardial preservation used in operations for congenital heart disease. The biventricular endocardial surface area/ventricular mass ratios were calculated in 10 neonatal (2.5 +/- 0.2:1) and 10 adult (0.6 +/- 0.1:1) pigs (p less than 0.001). Three groups of neonatal pigs underwent 1 hour of global myocardial ischemia while being supported by cardiopulmonary bypass. Myocardial protection was by deep systemic hypothermia (group 1), moderate systemic hypothermia and cardioplegia (group 2), or by deep systemic hypothermia and cardioplegia (group 3). Left ventricular end-systolic pressure-dimension and end-diastolic pressure-dimension relationships were measured before and after cardiopulmonary bypass. Septal temperatures remained below 20 degrees C in groups 1 and 3 but rose above 20 degrees C in group 2. Groups 1 and 2 had moderate and mild ventricular stiffening, respectively, whereas group 3 showed no diastolic dysfunction. Ventricular contractility was increased (p less than 0.05) in group 3. Techniques for myocardial preservation used during operations for congenital heart disease must consider the large endocardial surface area/mass ratio and the rewarming effects of systemic blood. The combination of deep systemic hypothermia and cardioplegia provided superior myocardial protection compared with the other techniques tested.

Animals↗

Anatomical repair of transposition of the great arteries with intact ventricular septum in the neonate: guidelines to avoid complications.

Anatomical repair of transposition of the great arteries (TGA) seems more attractive than the more conventional atrial baffle procedures because of resultant left ventricular-aortic continuity. The results of anatomical repair in 16 consecutive neonates with TGA and intact ventricular septum were reviewed; special consideration was given to technique and guidelines to avoid complications. Infants underwent repair within 6 days of life (average weight, 3.3 kg). Survival was 88% (14 of 16 patients). One death occurred from pulmonary hypertension and atrial shunt reversal causing cyanosis after an uncomplicated procedure; the other was due to myocardial ischemia caused by kinking of an anomalous coronary artery after attempted repair. Complications of ventricular swelling and coronary tension or kinking were successfully treated by Silastic skin patches in 2 patients and pericardial aortic patches in 2, respectively. One patient had successful repair of supravalvular pulmonary stenosis. Because anatomical repair of TGA must be performed in the first week of life, special consideration must be given to meticulous anatomical dissection, careful coronary transfer, and optimal myocardial preservation. The excellent short-term results favor the continued application of anatomical repair of TGA with intact ventricular septum in infancy.

Aorta↗