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Biomedical subjects

C Pernot

Publications and source records attributed to C Pernot.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

[Prognostic value of ventricular tachycardia induced by stimulation in patients without documented tachycardia].

In order to determine the cause of syncopes or disorders of conduction, 584 programmed stimulations using 2 ventricular extrastimuli delivered during an imposed rhythm were performed, between 1981 and 1985, in patients without ventricular tachycardia (VT) proven by Holter recordings. Eighty-seven non-sustained VT (NSVT) (15%), 8 ventricular fibrillations (VF) (1%), 16 ventricular flutters (VF1) (3%) and 23 sustained VT (SVT) (4%) were induced. To appraise the significance of these responses the patients were followed up for a mean period of 2 +/- 1 years. Among the NSVT patients the first 47 were followed up until 1984 and the others, less numerous, until 1985. Patients who responded to stimulation with NSVT had (4.4%) or did not have an underlying cardiopathy; their mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 53.5 +/- 17% (n = 10); 17% died of heart disease, but the disease was related to VT in only one case; 36% of these patients had cardiac symptoms, but only one presented with episodes of NSVT. Patients who responded with VF had a normal (50%) or abnormal heart; their mean LVEF was 52 +/- 19%; one died of heart failure, the others were asymptomatic. All but one of the patients who responded with VF1 had an underlying cardiopathy and a mean LVEF of 38 +/- 19%; 3 died, 2 of heart failure and 1 of sudden death; 13 were asymptomatic. All patients who responded with SVT had an underlying cardiopathy and a mean LVEF of 37 +/- 13%; 7 (30%) died, including 2 sudden deaths; 2 had episodes of VT and 12 were asymptomatic. In summary, an underlying cardiopathy was present in one-half of the patients who responded with NSVT or VF and in all patients who responded with VF1 or SVT. The risk of VT was low (5%) in patients who responded with NSVT, VF or VF1 and was higher (17%) in those who responded with SVT.

Adolescent↗

[Factors predicting the response to an antiarrhythmic during an electrophysiologic study for ventricular tachycardia].

The purpose of this study was to search for factors correlated with the absence of reinduction of a clinical ventricular tachycardia (VT) by stimulation in patients under anti-arrhythmic treatment. Repeated stimulations were performed in 41 patients with spontaneous VT and sustained, monomorphous ventricular arrhythmia induced by stimulation. The stimulation included 1 or 2 extrastimuli delivered into the right ventricle in sinus rhythm, then in imposed ventricular rhythm (600-400 ms). At least 4 anti-arrhythmic drugs were tested. In 16 patients (group I) of mean age 51 +/- 11 years VT was no longer reinducible under anti-arrhythmic treatment. In 25 patients (group II) of mean age 57 +/- 12 years no anti-arrhythmic drug was able to prevent VT induction. The characteristics of spontaneous and induced VT and of isotopic left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were compared in both groups. The absence of reinduction of VT was obtained more easily in patients with: spontaneous, frequently unsustained VT; VT requiring 2 ventricular extrastimuli delivered in imposed rhythm to be induced; rapid initial induced VT (cycle 233 +/- ms vs 297 +/- 63 ms); less advanced underlying heart disease (LVEF 38 +/- 18 vs 27 +/- 13%). The subsequent history of the patients showed that the absence of reinduction of VT was correlated with a low risk of recurrence of VT (12.5 vs 48%) and with a lower risk of mortality (6% vs 32%) than in patients whose VT was always inducible under anti-arrhythmic treatment.

Adult↗

[Syndrome of vagal hypertonia in a newborn infant manifested during the surgical repair of aortic coarctation associated with banding of the pulmonary artery].

We report a case of vagal hypertonia syndrome in a newborn infant, developed after surgical repair of an aortic coarctation combined with banding of the pulmonary artery trunk. The parasympathetic activity had adverse repercussions on haemodynamics. The diagnosis was confirmed by prolonged asystole on the oculocardiac reflex and by concomitant arrhythmia and disorders of conduction demonstrated by Holter recordings. To our knowledge, no other case of vagal hypertonia associated with a congenital cardiopathy has yet been reported. Infants with this syndrome are at a high risk of sudden death. Treatment with vagolytic drugs is of questionable value, and prolonged supervision of the patient is mandatory.

Bradycardia↗

Pulsed Doppler flow characteristics of ductus arteriosus in infants with associated congenital anomalies of the heart or great arteries.

Pulsed Doppler echocardiography (PDE) from the suprasternal approach was used to assess flow characteristics of ductus arteriosus (DA) in 145 infants (aged 1 day to 6 months) with major congenital heart disease. Direct ductal Doppler interrogation was possible in 138 patients and serial studies before and after medical treatment were performed in 28 infants. According to pulmonary artery pressure and associated heart lesions, 3 ductal shunting patterns were identified. An isolated left-to-right shunt, observed in isolated DA or in right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, was characterized by a continuous flow with a peak velocity in late systole. An isolated right-to-left shunt, observed in persistent fetal circulation and aortic arch abnormalities, was characterized by a continuous flow with a peak velocity in early systole. In patients with a bidirectional ductal shunt, the right-to-left shunt always occurred in systole and the left-to-right shunt began in late systole and extended into diastole. A systolic right-to-left shunt always corresponded to the presence of significant pulmonary hypertension. Ductal flow changes could be documented after prostaglandin E1 therapy in patients with ductus-dependent heart disease or after tolazoline therapy in patients with persistent fetal circulation. Thus, PDE with direct ductal Doppler interrogation is an important complement to the echocardiographic evaluation of DA. It is a safe noninvasive approach to ductal shunt and permits convenient evaluation of the effects of drugs on pulmonary artery resistance (tolazoline) and ductal patency (prostaglandin E1).

Arteries↗

Sensitivity and specificity of radionuclide equilibrium angiocardiography for detection of hemodynamically significant secundum atrial septal defect.

To determine the value of gated equilibrium angiography in secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) in children, the first pass pulmonic/systemic flow ratio (Qp/Qs) was compared with diastolic count ratio (DCR) and stroke count ratio (SCR) of the two ventricles. In 50 children we have found a correlation between Qp/Qs and DCR (r = 0.71) and between Qp/Qs and SCR (r = 0.66). For detection of significant atrial shunt (QP/Qs greater than 1.5) the sensitivity of DCR greater than 2 was 0.81 and the specificity 0.75. For SCR greater than 1.5 we sensitivity and specificity values of 0.87 and 0.71 respectively. Left and right ventricular ejection fractions were normal (0.67 +/- 0.08 and 0.50 +/- 0.07).

Adolescent↗

Pulmonary sequestrations of the upper lobe in children: three presentations.

Pulmonary sequestrations are congenital abnormalities where nonfunctioning lung tissue receives its vascular supply from the systemic circulation (thoracic or abdominal aorta). It is necessary to establish the diagnosis in childhood when the lesions are uncomplicated. The authors present three cases of sequestration of the apex (2 extralobar and 1 atypical) with the main clinical and radiological features. Sequestrations in the upper lobe are rare, and the usual site is the left lower lobe. Plain x-rays show a dense opacity, sometimes air-filled and sometimes with an air-fluid level: angiography is currently the best mean for definitive diagnosis; however, computed tomography will probably be very useful in the future. Differential diagnosis includes tumours of the superior mediastinum (neurogenic tumours, digestive duplication, bronchogenic cysts, pheochromocytoma and hydatid cysts).

Angiography↗

Wall thickness, cavity dimensions, and myocardial contractility of the left ventricle in patients with simple transposition of the great arteries. A multicenter study of patients from 10 to 20 years of age.

Fifty-one patients with uncomplicated transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and normal pulmonary pressure who were 10 to 20 years old and 69 normal subjects matched for age were studied by M mode echocardiography. Left ventricular internal dimensions and posterior wall thickness showed positive correlation with the body surface area in the TGA as well as in the control groups. Values for these parameters in the TGA group were generally smaller than those in the normal population. Septal thickness of patients with TGA (5.9 +/- 1 mm) was also smaller than that in the control group (6.6 +/- 1 mm) (p less than .01). Septal motion was normal in 11 patients with TGA and paradoxical in 19 patients in this group. In the other 21 patients the septum was flat. The following systolic time intervals of the left ventricle were found for patients with TGA: preejection period (PEP) 64 +/- 11 msec, ejection time (ET) 310 +/- 37 msec, and PEP/ET 0.21 +/- 0.04. These values were significantly different from those of the right ventricle for the normal population: PEP 77 +/- 12 (p less than .01), ET 327 +/- 25 (p less than .05), and PEP/ET 0.24 +/- 0.03 (p less than .01). Shortening fraction and mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (49 +/- 7% and 1.6 +/- 0.3 circ/sec, respectively) were also significantly higher (p less than .01) in patients with TGA than in the control group (33 +/- 4% and 1.1 +/- 0.2 circ/sec). These data should help achieve reliable quantitative and qualitative interpretations of echocardiograms of patients with TGA.

Adolescent↗

Is the aorta truly dextroposed in tetralogy of Fallot? A two-dimensional echocardiographic answer.

The embryogenesis of tetralogy of Fallot is still much debated. In particular, the dextroposition of the aorta is not considered by all pathologists as a genuine abnormality in this congenital heart disease but rather as a false impression due to an exaggeration of the normal overriding caused by dilatation of the aorta secondary to abnormal hemodynamics. We used two-dimensional echocardiography to examine the spatial position of the aortic root in 22 patients with tetralogy of Fallot (aged 5 days to 24 years, mean 6.4 years) and in 23 normal subjects (aged 1 month to 27 years, mean 7.6 years). Using the parasternal short-axis view, we determined the percent rightward displacement of the aortic root in relation to the plane of the atrial septum, and the relationship between the aortic cusps and the atrial septum. We measured the value of the angle luminal diameter, which was defined as the angle between the plane of the atrial septum and the plane of the left coronary-noncoronary commissure and leaflet appositional plane. In the control group, the aortic root was displaced to the right by only 23.6 +/- 7.6%; the atrial septum crossed the posterior aspect of the aortic root at the middle (n = 19) or at the right half of the posterior cusp (n = 4), and the angle luminal diameter had a value of 43.3 +/- 8.8 degrees. In the 22 patients with tetralogy, the percent rightward shift of the aortic root was augmented to 55.5 +/- 9% (p less than .001) and the atrial septum was related to the posterior commissure in 14 patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

[10-year outcome of patients with isolated anterior interventricular stenosis technically accessible to coronary angioplasty].

Between April 1972 and March 1976, 70 patients were found to have an isolated stenosis of the left anterior descending artery at coronary angiography which could have been treated by coronary angioplasty, had the technique been available at that time. A questionnaire was sent to these patients and 65 (93 p. 100) replies were received 9 to 13 years after initial coronary angiography. They provided information about 61 men and 4 women with an average age of 48.1 +/- 8.4 years. Thirty eight patients had undergone surgery and 27 were treated medically, each group having distinct clinical characteristics. The 10 year survival rate was excellent (91 p. 100) and was high in both groups. The quality of life was good: 56 p. 100 claimed to be in good or very good health and 67 p. 100 were improved with respect to their functional state at the time of coronary angiography; only one quarter of these patients had been readmitted to hospital for cardiac problems during the follow up period, and 76 p. 100 of patients in work before the coronary angiography had returned to work. This date illustrates the excellent results of classical medical and surgical management of potential candidates for coronary angioplasty for isolated left anterior descending artery stenosis.

Adult↗

[Diagnostic value of the isoproterenol test in effort tachycardia].

An isoproterenol test was performed in 69 patients during electrophysiological investigation to assess its diagnostic value in adrenergic supraventricular or ventricular tachycardia. Sixteen control subjects had no symptoms on exercise and routine exercise stress testing did not trigger any hyperexcitability. Sixteen patients had reproducible documented supraventricular tachycardia induced by exercise (13 paroxysmal junctional tachycardias, 3 focal atrial tachycardias). Eight patients had ventricular hyperexcitability related to effort. Twenty-nine patients had supraventricular and/or ventricular hyperexcitability only at rest. Electrophysiological investigations included paired atrial stimulation during sinus rhythm and paced rhythm followed by programmed ventricular stimulation using one and then two extrastimuli delivered during sinus rhythm and paced ventricular rhythm. These stimulation studies were carried out under basal conditions and then during low dose isoproterenol infusion (10 to 40 micrograms) which accelerated the heart rate to 130/mn. Electrophysiological and conduction parameters and the mode of induction of the tachycardia (defined as at least 5 successive echos with a configuration similar to the clinical tachycardia) were studied. We observed an acceleration of anterograde and retrograde conduction and a shortening of the effective atrial and ventricular refractory periods but these changes were found equally in the different groups of patients and were not related to the induction of tachycardias. The induction of paroxysmal junctional tachycardia by isoproterenol was a very sensitive (92%) and specific (100%) diagnostic method. Its diagnostic value was much greater than Holter monitoring (25%) and exercise stress testing (12.5%). Induction of ventricular tachycardia by isoproterenol was also very sensitive (75%) and specific (95%). The diagnostic value was higher than exercise stress testing (71%) and Holter monitoring (62%). Isoproterenol did not affect the induction of spontaneous tachyarrythmias unrelated to effort and even suppressed the triggering of some episodes. In conclusion, the induction by atrial or ventricular pacing or spontaneous supraventricular or ventricular tachycardia during isoproterenol infusion was very specific and correlated with the concept of tachycardia induced by exercise and therefore of adrenergic nature. The sensitivity of this test was excellent in patients with supraventricular tachycardia (95%) and very good in ventricular tachycardia (75%). On the other hand, the changes in the electrophysiological parameters were not specific for a group of patients.

Adolescent↗

[Congenital subclavian steal syndrome. Apropos of 14 cases. Review of the literature].

Fourteen cases of the congenital subclavian steal syndrome are presented with a review of 99 cases in the literature. This abnormality is usually asymptomatic and a fortuitous finding (clinical: asymmetric blood pressure; radiological: investigation of an associated cardiovascular malformation). The possible malformations are numerous and may be diagnosed by angiography: however, they can be suspected from three simple investigations, clinical examination indicating the side of lower blood pressure, chest X-ray and barium swallow. Seventy one per cent congenital subclavian steal syndromes are associated with a right-sided aortic arch, the steal being then almost always left-sided via a left subclavian artery anomaly. In this group, a left subclavian artery isolated from the aorta represents about a half of the cases. A cardiac malformation is present in one out of two cases and a patent ductus arteriosus uniting the left subclavian artery and the left pulmonary artery is observed in one out of four cases. Twenty nine per cent of congenital subclavian steal syndromes are associated with a left-sided aortic arch. In these cases the abnormalities usually involve the aortic arch (57% of cases) or a right or left subclavian artery. Therefore, in this group, there is no preferential side for the subclavian steal which can be right, left or bilateral. These abnormalities usually only require medical surveillance. When they become symptomatic, vertebro-subclavian revascularisation is justified. The presence of a subclavian steal may have surgical implications: it is important to exclude a subclavian steal before performing a Blalock anastomosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Child↗

[Hemodynamic effects of an alpha-blocking vasodilator in cardiac insufficiency caused by left-right shunt in children].

The acute haemodynamic effects of an alpha-blocking vasodilator, nicergoline, observed during cardiac catheterisation were studied in 9 babies and 1 infant (mean age 11 months) with severe cardiac failure due to a large left-to-right interventricular shunt. Nicergoline was administered intravenously at a dose of 0.05 mg/kg/mn to 0.2 mg/kg/mn to lower mean systemic blood pressure by at least 10 mmHg. No significant changes in heart rate or in right and left atrial pressures were observed. On the other hand, mean systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures fell by 16% (p less than 0.001) and 13% (p less than 0.01) respectively. The ratio of pulmonary and systemic flow (Qp/Qs) decreased in 8 patients by an average of 21% (p less than 0.002). This fall was accompanied by a parallel reduction in oxygen concentrations of pulmonary arterial blood (16%) compared with mixed venous blood. However, the Qp/Qs ratio increased in the other 2 patients by over 50%. In the group of 8 patients in which the left-to-right shunt decreased, the ratio of pulmonary to systemic resistance (Rp/Rs) increased by 33% (p less than 0.002) whilst this value fell by 36% in the 2 patients in whom the volume of the shunt increased. There were no discriminatory parameters between the two groups with regards to age, pulmonary artery pressures, the volume of the shunt (Qp/Qs) or level of pulmonary resistances (Rp/Rs) to explain the variability of the therapeutic response on the left-to-right shunt.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cardiac Catheterization↗

[Measurement by Doppler echocardiography of the pulmonary arterial pressure in children with ductus arteriosus. Simultaneous Doppler and hemodynamic study].

The aim of this study was to evaluate Doppler echocardiography in the non invasive assessment of pulmonary artery pressures in children with patent ductus arteriosus. Systolic pulmonary artery pressure was measured simultaneously at cardiac catheterisation and by pulsed Doppler in 11 children (mean age 1.8 +/- 2 years) with patent ductus arteriosus alone (6 cases) or associated with a malformation of the heart or great arteries (5 cases). Doppler assessment of systolic pulmonary artery pressure was performed by subtracting the value of the maximal pressure gradient between the aorta and pulmonary artery from the systolic systemic pressure measured simultaneously by sphygmomanometry. The maximal pressure gradient between the aorta and pulmonary artery was calculated using the modified Bernouilli formula and the maximal velocity (v) of the shunt flow (gradient = 4 v2). Ductal flow was recorded from the suprasternal approach by direct interrogation of the patent ductus visualised by 2D echocardiography. The systolic pulmonary arterial pressure measured by catheterisation ranged from 21 to 82 mmHg (mean 58 +/- 21 mm Hg) and by pulsed Doppler from 20 to 89 mm Hg (mean 56 +/- 24 mm Hg) (correlation r = 0.94). This study illustrates the value of Doppler echocardiography in the assessment of systolic pulmonary artery pressures in children with patent ductus arteriosus.

Blood Pressure Determination↗

[Aneurysm of the sinistro-anterior sinus of Valsalva causing coronary insufficiency. Apropos of a case].

The aneurysm of the sinistro-anterior sinus of Valsalva (ASASV) can very rarely be disclosed by symptoms of coronary insufficiency. The authors report the case of a 73 old man suffering from unstable angina pectoris, in whom the diagnosis of ASASV was evoked by two-dimensional echocardiography and confirmed by aortography. Coronary angiography revealed an external compression of IVA by the ASASV and allowed to exclude the presence of associated autonomous coronaropathy. The interest of this observation lies in the fact that the preoperative diagnosis was made after the two-dimensional echocardiography allowing the evaluation of the importance and volume of the ASASV. Aortography and coronary angiography are indispensable procedures in the presence of chest pain suspect of coronary insufficiency. These investigations will guide the surgical treatment which should always associate a closure of the aneurysmal neck, an aortic valvular replacement and a bypass of the compressed coronary artery.

Aged↗

Roentgen aspects of isolated pulmonary valvular stenosis on chest plain films.

Isolated pulmonary valvular stenosis shows a typical radiological pattern in 70% of the cases, including bulging of the left middle and the right inferior segments, a convex left inferior segment and an upwards shift of the apex. In quite a lot of cases (28%), only one of the four above mentioned criteria, are found, mainly the bulging of the left middle segment. There is a small percentage (6%) of cases with an atypical radiological pattern or showing total normality (5%). There is a clear connection between the cardio-thoracic index and the degree of the stenosis but there is no connection between the severity of the stenosis and the degree of bulging of the left middle segment. However the plain chest film has no value for prognosis (evaluation of the degree of the stenosis) nor to follow the post operative course of this frequent congenital abnormality.

Adolescent↗

Assessment of right ventricular outflow tract in children by two-dimensional echocardiography using a new subcostal view. Angiocardiographic and morphologic correlative study.

Evaluation of the right ventricular (RV) outflow tract in congenital heart disease is extremely important for surgical management. Therefore, the value of 2-dimensional echocardiography (2-D echo) to assess the RV outflow tract was studied using a new approach: the subcostal elongated right oblique view. Twenty normal children and 49 children with congenital heart disease, aged 1 day to 11 years, were studied. Significant pulmonary infundibular obstruction was present in 22 patients with conotruncal malformations. To obtain the subcostal elongated right oblique view from the short-axis view at the aortic valve level, the transducer was slightly rotated clockwise with an anterior angulation of about 30 degrees so that the ascending aorta was seen in its long axis, providing an image similar to that obtained by a right ventriculogram in the elongated right anterior oblique view. The deviation of infundibular septum was appreciated by measurement of the angle alpha, defined by the long axis of the infundibular septum and the plane of aortic cusps. This view could be obtained in 64 patients (92%). In correlation with angiographic or anatomic data, the subcostal elongated right oblique view permitted recognition of several types of RV outflow tract: type I--normally formed RV outflow tract; type II--disorganized RV outflow tract with obstruction (alpha less than 90 degrees); type III and IV--disorganized RV outflow tract with obstruction (alpha greater than 90 degrees). This view could visualize the crista supraventricularis in type I, but also the anatomic components of RV outflow tract that may contribute to obstruction in the other types: infundibular septum, septoparietal trabeculations and trabecula septomarginalis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angiocardiography↗

Loss of efficacy of flecainide in the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome after isoproterenol administration.

Although anterograde conduction through a Kent bundle with a short refractory period was suppressed by 300 mg of flecainide acetate, the infusion of small amounts of isoproterenol caused the reappearance of WPW and permitted the induction of an atrial tachycardia with 1/1 conduction through the accessory pathway at a rate of 260 beats min-1. This case shows that the effect of isoproterenol may be maintained after apparently successful flecainide therapy.

Adult↗