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Biomedical subjects

C Minale

Publications and source records attributed to C Minale.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement without sternotomy. Experience with the first 50 cases.

OBJECTIVE: The method of replacing the aortic valve via a mini-thoracotomy has been reported in the recent literature. Although this strategy has clear advantages, further refinements of the process make the procedure even less invasive. METHODS: Aortic valve replacement was performed in 50 patients whose age ranged between 49 and 82 years, averaging 68+/-8.3 years. As access route, a right parasternal mini-thoracotomy of about 8 cm, without rib resection was used. Cardiopulmonary bypass was connected through the same access. Standard surgical techniques and equipment were employed. In all patients a mechanical prosthesis was implanted. RESULTS: There were neither intraoperative complications nor hospital death. All patients could be discharged home at an average of 10+/-3 days postoperatively. Cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamp time, total operation time averaged 118+/-32, 70+/-21, 180+/-45 min, respectively. Four patients could be extubated in the operative theater, the others on the intensive care units at an average of 12+/-6 h, postoperatively. One patient with a very thin aortic wall sustained a severe bleeding from the aortic cannulation site during an hypertensive crisis, just after extubation. He had to be re-entered immediately via a median sternotomy. A second patient, who was initially operated on because of a floride aortitis, had a limited periprosthetic leak 2 months postoperatively. The leak was repaired via a median sternotomy. Drainage lost and blood substitution averaged 751+/-400 and 274+/-390, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The advantages of the present method include further reduction of hospital trauma, preservation of chest wall integrity, early mobilization and rehabilitation of the patient. Surgical technical improvements include avoidance of groin cannulation, simpler equipment, and an easy access in case of reoperation.

Aged↗

Single access for minimally invasive aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: The method of replacing the aortic valve via a minithoracotomy has been reported in the recent literature. Although this strategy has clear advantages, further refinements of the process make the procedure even less invasive. METHODS: Aortic valve replacement was performed in 27 patients via a right parasternal minithoracotomy without rib resection. Cardiopulmonary bypass was connected through the same access site. Standard surgical technique and equipment were employed. RESULTS: There were no intraoperative complications. All patients survived and could be discharged home within 1 week, except 1. Cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamp time, and total operating time averaged 114 +/- 26, 76 +/- 19, and 190 +/- 40 minutes, respectively. Three patients could be extubated in the operative theater, the others in the intensive care unit at an average of 10 +/- 7 hours postoperatively. Chest drainage lost averaged 430 +/- 380 mL. CONCLUSIONS: The advantages of this method include further reduction of surgical trauma, early mobilization, and rehabilitation of the patient. Surgical technical improvements include avoidance of groin cannulation, simpler equipment, safe venting of the left ventricle, and preservation of chest wall integrity.

Aged↗

Early results of minimally invasive aortic valve replacement. Experience with the first 34 cases.

BACKGROUND: The method of replacing the aortic valve via a minithoracotomy has been reported in the recent literature. This strategy has clear advantages. However, further refinements of the process make the procedure even less invasive. METHODS: Aortic valve replacement was performed in 34 patients whose age ranged from 49 to 82 years, averaging 69 +/- 8 years. As access route, a right parasternal minithoracotomy about eight cm long and without rib resection was used. Cardiopulmonary bypass was connected through the same access. The standard surgical technique and equipment were employed. RESULTS: There were neither intraoperative complications nor hospital death. All patients, except two could be discharged home within one week. Cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamp time, and total operation time averaged 110 +/- 25, 73 +/- 19, and 183 +/- 38 minutes, respectively. Three patients could be extubated in the operating theater, and the others on the intensive care units at an average of 9 +/- 7 hours postoperatively. One patient had to be re-entered immediately after extubation because of a bleeding from the aortic cannulation site. A second patient, who was initially operated because of a florid aortitis, had a limited periprosthetic leak two months postoperatively which was repaired thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: The advantages of the present method include further reduction of surgical trauma, preservation of chest wall integrity, early mobilization, recovery and rehabilitation of the patient. Improvements in the surgical technique include avoidance of groin cannulation, simpler equipment, and an easy access through a mid-sternotomy in case of reoperation.

Aged↗

[A rare form of heart metastasis: hypernephroma. Successful surgical treatment].

An unusual cardiac metastasis, occurring in a 63-year-old man 19 years after nephrectomy because of renal cell carcinoma, is reported. The tumor extended from the right ventricle apex to the mid-portion of the interventricular septum. A complete excision could be achieved. To our knowledge, this is the third case of a renal cell carcinoma metastasis to the right ventricle which could be detected during a patient's lifetime and treated surgically. A review of the literature is also reported.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗

Postoperative disruption of an internal prong-type caval filter--a case report.

A prong-type caval filter fractured and disintegrated within 4 months after its implantation in a 21-year-old woman. The fragments and the disrupted filter were removed surgically and the vena cava was plicated. Seven similar cases were found in the literature. Possible etiologic factors and measures to avoid this complication are discussed.

Adult↗

Replacement of the entire thoracic aorta in a single stage.

Aneurysms of the entire thoracic aorta are usually approached in two to three stages. From 1990 to 1992, we performed one-stage aortic replacement from the root to the diaphragm in 12 patients (7 men, 5 women; median age, 51 years; range, 49 to 73 years). There were 9 type A dissections, 5 of which were acute. Five patients underwent aortic valve reconstruction, and 5 had aortic root replacement by Bentall or Cabrol techniques. In 2 patients the innominate artery had to be replaced by a vascular graft separately, in addition to reimplantation of the supraaortic branches as an island flap into the arch prosthesis. In 5 patients a mid-sternotomy was used; in 7 a bilateral transverse thoracotomy. The procedure was performed under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in all cases (median, 45 minutes). Two patients, both operated on for an acute dissection, died perioperatively: 1 due to a bronchopneumonia, 1 because of a thrombosed Cabrol graft to the right coronary artery. No bleeding or neurologic complications developed. At a median follow-up of 14 months (range, 1 to 33 months), all patients discharged from the hospital were still alive. Four patients underwent subsequent thoracoabdominal aortic replacement. This experience suggests that complete thoracic aortic replacement can be performed in a single session, with an operative risk comparable with that of the conventional two-stage approach. The bilateral transverse thoracotomy affords an excellent exposure. The lack of spinal cord ischemia may be the result of spinal cord protection with hypothermic circulatory arrest and the open clamp technique.

Acute Disease↗

One-stage intrathoracic repair of extended aortic aneurysms.

Aneurysms of the entire thoracic aorta are usually approached in two to three stages. From 1990 to 1994, we performed one-stage aortic replacement from the root to the diaphragm in 16 patients (8 men and 8 women with a mean age of 55.7 years, range 49 to 73). There were 11 type A dissections, 7 of which were acute. Six patients underwent aortic valve reconstruction; seven had aortic root replacement by Bentall or Cabrol techniques. In two cases, the innominate artery had to be replaced by a vascular graft separately in addition to reimplantation of the supraaortic branches as an island flap into the arch prosthesis. In eight cases, a median sternotomy was used; eight had a bilateral transverse thoracotomy. The procedure was performed under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in all cases (mean duration 50.5 min, range 38 to 62 min). Two patients, both operated upon for an acute dissection, expired perioperatively: one due to a bronchopneumonia, and one because of a thrombosed Cabrol graft to the right coronary artery. No patient developed bleeding or neurological complications. At a mean follow-up of 26.9 months (1 to 50 months), all patients discharged from the hospital were still alive. Four patients underwent subsequent thoracoabdominal aortic replacement. This experience suggests that complete thoracic aortic replacement can be performed in a single session with an operative risk comparable to that of the conventional two-stage approach. The bilateral transverse thoracotomy affords excellent exposure. The lack of spinal cord ischemia may be the result of spinal cord protection with hypothermic circulatory arrest and use of the open-clamp technique.

Acute Disease↗

Left ventricular malposition of a transvenous cardioverter defibrillator lead: a case report.

A case of left ventricular endocardial malposition of a transvenous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) lead through a patent foramen ovale is presented. Diagnostic modalities include lateral chest radiography, echocardiography, and electrocardiographic analysis during lead placement. The operative therapy consists of open lead replacement. Measures to avoid lead misplacement are suggested.

Defibrillators, Implantable↗

[Left atrial myxoma].

Left-atrial myxomas produce a broad array of clinical symptoms depending on their location, size, and morphology. The clinical presentation is characterized by obstruction of blood flow, systemic embolism, and unspecific systemic effects. Within 6 weeks, three patients presented in our clinic with left-atrial myxomas. Primary differential diagnoses were infective endocarditis, circulatory collapse, and transient ischemic attack of unknown origin. In all cases diagnosis was made with echocardiography (m-mode, 2D, TEE). In this review the etiology, epidemiology, and pathology are reported briefly. The variety of clinical symptoms with the corresponding differential diagnosis is presented systematically and discussed with our patients. Diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic aspects are summarized.

Adult↗

[Superior vena cava syndrome after pacemaker implantation. Increased risk with DDD-systems? Case report].

Superior vena cava syndrome due to transvenous pacing leads is a rare event. Local infection as well as multiple leads are important predisposing factors. The case of a patient with superior caval syndrome after multiple complicated permanent pacemaker insertions is presented. Medical treatment was unsuccessful. At operation a fibrous narrowing of the vena cava superior was found. The two leads (DDD-pacemaker) were left in place. A Goretex patch was used for enlargement of the anterior wall of the vein. Postoperatively, the patient remained free of symptoms and the vein was patent angiographically. In case of failure of medical management surgical correction should be attempted without delay.

Blood Vessel Prosthesis↗

Surgical correction of coarctation in early infancy: does surgical technique influence the result?

Between 1979 and 1988, a total of 53 infants less than 1 year of age underwent repair of coarctation. Thirty-seven patients (70%) were younger than 3 months. Median age was 0.9 month. Four different surgical techniques were used: resection with end-to-end anastomosis, patch enlargement, subclavian flap aortoplasty, and subclavian displacement aortoplasty (Meier-Mendonca technique). Hospital mortality was 7.5% and was limited to patients with additional complex intracardiac defects. Neither age nor surgical technique had an influence on the operative risk. Follow-up averaged 15 to 43 months for the four different groups. Restenosis developed in 9 (19%) of 47 patients regularly followed up, 5 (11%) of whom have had reoperation. Age at operation was not a predictor for restenosis, which occurred in 17.4% of patients less than 1 month and 20.8% of those greater than 1 month of age at operation. Patch enlargement and the subclavian displacement technique demonstrated the highest restenosis rates (42% and 43%, respectively). However, patients who underwent patch enlargement had less favorable pathological conditions. It is concluded that results of coarctation repair in early infancy do not depend as much on the operative method itself as on the specific pathological aspect, which largely determines the method of treatment. Some reservation must be made in regard to the subclavian displacement technique.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

New site for pacemaker generators in children.

Bipolar pacemaker implantation was performed in three children, aged 5, 6 and 9 years. The two epimyocardial fishhook pacing electrodes were inserted through different incisions. After resection of the anterior part of the 5th and 6th rib, the generator was placed into a pocket with the posterior wall resulting from the remaining periostium/perichondrium and the anterior wall consisting of the isolated intercostal and pectoral muscle. The leads were brought in extrapleurally and connected to the generator. The operations were conducted without perioperative and late postoperative complications.

Child↗

Carpentier ring.

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Heart Valve Prosthesis↗

Selective annuloplasty of the tricuspid valve. Two-year experience.

Between July 1986 and March 1989, 48 patients whose ages averaged 60 +/- 6 years were subjected to a new technique for tricuspid valve annuloplasty. The preoperative New York Heart Association functional class averaged 3.7. There were 32 mitral-tricuspid procedures, 13 aortic-mitral-tricuspid procedures, and three repeat tricuspid annuloplasties. The hospital mortality rate was 6.3% with three deaths resulting from cardiac or respiratory failure, or both. Follow-up averaged 14 +/- 8 months. One patient (2.2%) died suddenly, 7 months postoperatively. All patients whose follow-up period lasted 6 months or more improved to class I or II. Twenty-six patients were reinvestigated by catheter or echocardiographic methods, or both. The gradient over the tricuspid valve averaged 1.4 +/- 0.6 mm Hg, and a moderate regurgitant murmur (2/3) was detected in four cases. The diameter of the tricuspidal anulus in the apical four-chamber view decreased from 23.7 +/- 3.9 mm/m2 body surface area preoperatively to 15.7 +/- 1.9 mm/m2 body surface area at late follow-up examination. The present technique allows an anatomic and functional reconstruction of the tricuspid valve with a good compromise between stenosis and regurgitation. The overall mortality rate is low and functional improvement is striking.

Adult↗

Computed tomographic patterns of proven embolic brain infarctions.

To define patterns of infarction on computed tomography that are characteristic of embolism, as opposed to hemodynamically or microangiopathically induced brain lesions, a consecutive series of 60 patients with acute brain embolism were studied. Strokes were embolic in origin; that is, hemodynamic and in situ thrombotic stroke mechanisms had been excluded. Embolically active, cardiac disease was proved in 42 and was clinically evident in 13 patients. Five patients had suffered a stroke due to catheter-related embolism. Computed tomography revealed pial artery territorial infarction in 55 patients (92%). In 5, the infarction had the size or location (or both) characteristic of lacunes, although shape and lack of multiplicity raised questions about this interpretation. No patient showed a low-flow type of infarction pattern. These findings strongly support the view that (1) except for in situ thrombosis, pial artery territorial infarctions are indicative of an embolic mechanism, and (2) that the mechanism underlying lacunes is hardly, if ever, embolic.

Adolescent↗