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Biomedical subjects

E Kieffer

Publications and source records attributed to E Kieffer.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Inflammatory aneurysms of the thoracic aorta. Surgical aspects].

In the Western world, inflammatory aneurysms account for only 1 to 5%, of all operated thoracic aorta aneurysms. Takayasu's disease is by far the commonest cause although all forms of aortitis may result in aneurysm formation. Usually observed in young patients, these aneurysms are suitable for often major surgery with results that are globally better than in degenerative or dissecting aneurysms. However, they pose, two specific problems: the progression of the inflammatory disease which may require pre- and/or post-operative steroid therapy and that of the risk, at least in theory, of a late pseudo-aneurysm, which justifies regular long-term follow-up after surgery.

Aneurysm, False↗
PubMed1996

[Medical treatment of aortic abdominal aneurysms. Outstanding questions].

The low mortality of programmed surgical treatment of aortic abdominal aneurysms (2-4%) contrasts with a high mortality of surgical treatment in case of rupture (70-90%). These data underline the benefit of a "prophylactic" surgical treatment of aortic abdominal aneurysms, even those of small size or in older patients. Recently, experimental models and results of a few clinical studies suggest that medical treatment with beta-adrenergic blocking agents may reduce the expansion rate of aortic abdominal aneurysms and thus lower the risk of rupture. Several questions remains open. Should beta-blocking agents be reserved for aneurysms more than 5 cm in diameter in patients with a contraindication for surgery, or on the contrary proposed for aneurysms less than 4 cm in diameter in patients still free of contraindications? What is the mode and delay of action for beta-blockers, their effect on modulating blood pressure and their contribution to the use of endoluminal prostheses? Controlled prospective trials enrolling a large number of patients are required to answer these questions.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1996

[Value of an extensive biological study in venous or arterial thromboses].

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this work is to study the signification of an extensive biological evaluation in patients with "unexplained" thrombosis. We studied 78 patients with more than one arterial and/or venous thromboembolic event. METHODS: Fifty-four patients were admitted for unexplained deep venous thrombosis (group I, n = 19, 9 men and 10 women) and/or arterial thrombosis (group II, n = 35, 21 men and 14 women). A third group (group III) included 24 patients (13 men, 11 women) known to have a pathologic state which can lead to a thrombotic event. RESULTS: The patients in both groups I and II had, more often than normal subjects, a high level of homocysteinemia (26% vs 3%, p < 0.001), anti-beta 2 glycoprotein 1 (18.5% vs 3%, p < 0.001) and antiphospholipid antibodies (13% vs 3%, p < 0.02). We also found a significant association between an increase of erythrocytic aggregation and arterial thrombosis (group II). In the third group, for both arterial (n = 14) and venous (n = 10) thrombosis, we found a high level of anticardiolipin antibodies (25% vs 3%, p < 0.001), anti-beta 2 glycoprotein 1 antibodies (12.5% vs 3%, p < 0.05) and abnormal erythrocytic aggregation (16.5% vs 3%, p < 0.01). In these 3 groups the other studied parameters (Lp(a), platelet aggregation, cryoglobulin, cryofibrinogen, antinuclear antibodies, anticytoplasm antibodies, plasma and urine immunoelectrophoresis, protein C, protein S, antithrombin III, plasminogen) were not different from levels observed in normal subjects. CONCLUSION: An extensive biological analysis, including plasma homocystein level, anticardiolipin antibodies, anti-beta 2 glycoprotein 1 antibodies and a study of the erythrocytic aggregation would appear to be of value in patients presenting recurrent arterial or venous thromboembolic events. Specific therapy can be applied in case of abnormal results continued anticoagulant therapy for anticardiolipin and anti-beta 2 glycoprotein 1 antibodies, and a vitamin therapy for increased homocysteinemia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Popliteal aneurysm due to fibromuscular dysplasia.

We report herein the case of an asymptomatic popliteal aneurysm due to fibromuscular dysplasia in a 39-year-old woman. The aneurysm was resected and arterial continuity restored by direct end-to-end anastomosis. Pathologic findings were consistent with fibromuscular dysplasia of the media. To the best of our knowledge, this is the fourth case documented by pathologic findings in the literature.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Decrease in internal jugular endothelin levels after carotid cross-clamping during human carotid revascularization procedures.

Endothelin-1 (ETL-1), a peptide recently isolated from vascular endothelial cells, acts in cerebral arteries in vitro as a potent and long-lasting vasoconstrictor and has been implicated in the development of cerebral vasospasm. To ascertain whether this new vasoconstrictor has any effect on regulation of the cerebral circulation, we measured plasma ETL-1 concentrations in patients undergoing carotid revascularization and attempted to correlate the variations of venous and arterial plasma ETL-1 with the characteristics of the procedure, including cerebral vasospasm. We prospectively studied 11 patients undergoing a total of 14 carotid surgical revascularization procedures (12 endarterectomies, 2 polytetrafluoroethylene bypass grafts from the common to the internal carotid arteries). Before carotid cross-clamping, blood samples were drawn from the internal jugular vein and the healthy common carotid artery proximal to the occlusive lesion to be treated. After endarterectomy, blood samples were withdrawn from the internal, external, and common carotid arteries. After the release of the last clamp, a final aliquot of blood was withdrawn from the internal jugular vein. After plasma extraction on a C2-ethyl microcolumn, plasma endothelin-like immunoreactivity was measured by means of radioimmunoassay with a polyclonal antibody. In 9 of the 11 patients, internal jugular vein ETL-1 concentration decreased statistically significantly after carotid artery cross-clamping (4.2 +/- 1.4 pg/ml vs. 3.9 +/- 1.1 pg/ml; p < 0.05). In the 2 patients in whom ETL-1 levels failed to drop, a shunt was used during the procedure in 1, and the other was the only patient who had an ipsilateral ischemic postoperative stroke. The decrease in internal jugular vein ETL-1 concentration failed to correlate with any of the cross-clamping times. The level of arterial blood ETL-1 remained steady in the common carotid artery before and after cross-clamping (4.5 +/- 1.5 pg/ml vs. 4.6 +/- 0.9 pg/ml). A small, nonsignificant decrease in ETL-1 level was noted in the external and internal carotid arteries after cross-clamping. The decrease in internal jugular vein ETL-1 levels may in part reflect a compensatory response to carotid artery cross-clamping, which could limit the reduction of local cerebral blood flow.

Blood Vessel Prosthesis↗
PubMed1996

In situ arterial allografting for aortoiliac graft infection: a 6-year experience.

Between October 1988 and May 1994, all aortoiliac graft infections seen in the authors' service were treated by in situ arterial allografting after resection of any infected graft or tissue. Some 83 consecutive cases were treated; there were 68 isolated primary prosthetic infections (82%) and 15 aortoenteric fistulae (18%). Emergency arterial allografting was performed in five cases (6%), elective allografting in 64 cases (77%) and elective allografting after emergency palliative revascularization using a temporary prosthetic graft in 14 cases (17%). Arterial allografts were harvested from cadavers as part of a programme to retrieve multiorgan transplant tissue. Fifteen patients (18%) died either intra- or postoperatively. Three died during the operation, one from septic shock and two from uncontrollable coagulopathy. Twelve patients died in the early postoperative period, from from septic shock, two from myocardial infarction, two from pneumonia, one from a pulmonary embolism, one from an intestinal infarction, one from recurrence of a duodenal fistula and one from disruption of the native aorta at the suture line. Three patients presented with an early complication directly related to the use of the allograft. Eleven early survivors of the series died during follow-up. Among these late deaths, only one could likely be allograft-related. In four patients, the aortic segment of the allograft was mildly dilated on late computed tomography scan; three were reoperated on for disruption of the extra-abdominal segment of their allograft. All four cases were managed with simple suture of the allograft or with the use of a new allograft. Fifteen patients exhibited 19 late occlusive lesions of their allograft; 17 of these lesions had to be treated either with transluminal angioplasty or with surgery using autogenous or allograft material. In all but one case, secondary patency could be achieved through these additional procedures. Late occlusive disease was more prevalent in the femoral segment of the allograft than in the iliac or, moreover, the aortic segment. There were no late amputations in this series.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Arteries from human beings are less infectible by Staphylococcus aureus than polytetrafluoroethylene in an aortic dog model.

PURPOSE: Treatment of aortoiliac prosthetic graft infections includes the removal of the infected material and repeat revascularization if necessary. The risk of infection of the graft material used for the repeat revascularization has been the drawback of its use in situ except with autografts. Good results were obtained in this setting by use of in situ arterial allografts. The purpose of our study was to compare in vivo the infectibility of arteries used as allografts to the infectibility of commercially available prostheses. METHODS: Twelve dogs underwent thoracoabdominal aortic bypass with use of either an artery from a human being (n=6) or an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) graft (n=6). One month later, bacteremia was produced with Staphylococcus aureus. One week after bacterial challenge, the animals were killed to recover the grafts. Each graft then underwent bacterial study. RESULTS: None of the arterial grafts grew bacteria, whereas four of the six ePTFE grafts (p < 0.05) did. In addition, none of the fragments of the arterial grafts grew bacteria, whereas 24 of the 60 ePTFE fragments (p < 0.01) did. CONCLUSION: Nonautologous arteries are less infectible than ePTFE in vivo. This decreased infectibility makes the arterial allograft an appealing material when revascularization must be performed in a contaminated field.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Pregnancy outcomes of US-born and foreign-born Japanese Americans.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the birth outcomes of Japanese Americans, focusing on the role of the mother's place of birth. METHODS: Single live births to US-resident Japanese American mothers (n = 37,941) were selected from the 1983 through 1987 US linked live birth-infant death files. RESULTS: US-born mothers were more likely than foreign-born mothers to be less than 18 years old and not married, to start prenatal care early, and to more adequately use prenatal care. Infants of foreign-born Japanese Americans had a slightly lower risk of low birthweight.No significant differences were found between nativity groups for very low birthweight or neonatal, postneonatal, and infant mortality. The mortality rates of infants of US-born (6.2) and foreign-born (5.4) Japanese American women were below the US Year 2000 objective but still exceeded Japan's 1990 rate (4.6). However, low-birthweight percentages of the US-born group (5.7%) and the foreign-born group (5.0%) were similar to that of Japan (5.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The infants of foreign-born Japanese-American women exhibited modestly better low-birthweight percentages than those of US-born Japanese Americans. This finding supports theories of the healthy immigrant.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Treatment of prostheto-digestive using arterial allograft].

From October 1988 to March 1995, we operated 22 patients for fistulization between the prosthesis and the digestive tract to remove the in situ allograft. The delay between the initial operation and treatment for fistulization was 7.3 +/- 4 years. In these patients who had undergone multiple operations (2.5 +/- 1.9 operations per patient), the infected prosthesis was made of Dacron in 21 cases and polytetrafluoroethylene in one. The procedure was planned beforehand in 21 cases who benefited from a complete preoperative work-up and was required in an emergency situation in 6 for digestive bleeding (5 cases) or an abscess of the Scarpa (1 case). Among the patients with an emergency operation, three of the procedures were conducted within a single operative time and three with two separate procedures. The allografts were aorto-aortic tubes (n = 3), aortobifemoral bypasses (n = 14), aorto-iliac bypasses (n = 4) and one aorto-femoral-iliac bypass. Organ revascularization was associated in 8 patients. Seven patients (32%) died post-operatively. Five of them had undergone an emergency procedure. An amputation was required in 2 patients, one at the time the allograft was implanted and the second due to ischaemia despite a permeable allograft. None of the patients had to be amputated due to failure of the allograft. Mean follow-up was 36.6 +/- 20 months. There were 4 deaths post-operatively due to digestive bleeding in 2. The aortic allograft was dilated in 4 patients without re-operation. Thrombosis of the allograft branch occurred in 4 patients, including 3 who had been re-operated successfully. Despite these still perfectable results, treatment of secondary digestive-prosthesis fistulae with an in situ allograft constitutes a real progress in terms of patient survival and preservation of the limb in high-risk patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[Technical advances in the surgical management of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms].

Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysmectomy ranks among the major cardiovascular surgical procedures. During the last two decades perioperative results have improved to the point that surgery should be discussed in the vast majority of patients seen with a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. This progress is largely attributable to a variety of technical improvements including: aortic reconstruction using the graft inclusion technique, usually with direct reattachment of aortic branches to the prosthetic graft; distal aortic perfusion; selective use of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in anatomically complex situations; preoperative visualization of arterial blood supply to the spinal cord using selective arteriography of intercostal and lumbar arteries. Current perioperative mortality is around 10% whereas the spinal cord complication rate is between 5% and 20% according to clinical and anatomical conditions. Future efforts should concentrate on the prevention of spinal cord complications.

Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal↗
PubMed1995

Carotid eversion endarterectomy: short- and long-term results.

From January 1979 to December 1993, of 2723 carotid revascularizations performed on our service, 168 (6.2%) were isolated carotid eversion endarterectomies (CEEs) for atherosclerotic occlusive disease. Since 10 of these procedures were bilateral, there were 158 patients total (88 men and 70 women). Twenty-six (16.5%) had diabetes, 54 (34.2%) had coronary disease, and 107 (67.7%) had hypertension. The mean age was 68.9 +/- 8.9 years (range 38 and 85 years). Preoperative ischemic symptoms were hemispheric in 93 (55.4%) patients, retinal in 31 (18.4%), and vertebrobasilar in 37 (22%). They consisted of one or more strokes in 44 (26.2%) patients and one or more transient ischemic attacks in 99 (58.9%); 25 (14.9%) patients were asymptomatic. The operated lesion contained atherosclerotic stenotic plaque in all cases. The lesion was tightly stenotic (> 75%) and hemodynamically significant in 93 (55.4%) cases and irregular or ulcerated in all others. In 86 (51.2%) patients a coil or kink of the distal internal carotid artery was also present. The contralateral carotid artery was totally occluded in eight (4.7%) patients and tightly stenotic in seven (4.2%). All patients were operated on under deep general anesthesia; they were given systemic heparin and normal blood pressure was maintained. After freeing and cross-clamping of the carotid bifurcation, the end of the common carotid artery or the ostium of the internal carotid artery was sectioned. The section allowed a deep-plane endarterectomy through eversion and excellent control over the endarterectomized surface and its extremities. Since January 1989 completion arteriography has been routinely performed after CEE.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Direct transposition of the distal cervical vertebral artery into the internal carotid artery.

From January 1979 to December 1991, 92 revascularizations of the V3 segment of the vertebral artery were performed in 91 patients through a direct transposition of this artery into the internal carotid artery (ICA). These cases represented 15.1% of 610 vertebral revascularizations and 38.8% of 280 distal vertebral revascularizations performed during this period at our institution. The sex ratio of this population was 0.59, and the mean age was 59.4 +/- 13.2 years (range 14 to 82 years). Preoperative ischemic symptoms were vertebrobasilar in 87 (94.6%) cases, exclusively hemispheric in one (1.1%), and absent in the remaining four (4.3%). One of these four patients had asymptomatic severe multivessel occlusive disease and three others underwent resection of a spinal tumor involving the vertebral foraminal canal. In 31 (33.7%) cases significant carotid occlusive disease was also present. The distal V3 segment of the artery was directly transposed into the ICA in all cases in this series. In 24 (26.1%) cases the ICA was endarterectomized during the same operation. There were no deaths or strokes in this series but there were two (2.2%) transient ischemic attacks-one vertebrobasilar and the other hemispheric. However, eight (8.7%) transposed vertebral arteries were totally occluded at early follow-up. At 1 month, among the 87 patients with vertebrobasilar insufficiency, 44 (50.6%) were cured, 31 (35.6%) were improved, and 12 (13.8%) remained unchanged. Among the 12 who were unchanged, eight (66.7%) had occlusion or stenosis of the distal transposition at the time of discharge. At 5 years, the primary patency rate in the series was 89.1% +/- 7.2%. At the time of the last follow-up, among the 87 patients with vertebrobasilar insufficiency, 50 (57.5%) were cured, 25 (28.7%) were improved, two (2.3%) had remained unchanged since the operation, two (2.3%) suffered a relapse, and eight (9.2%) exhibited vertebrobasilar symptoms of varying severity and therefore could not be considered improved. Direct transposition of the V3 segment of the vertebral artery into the ICA is a simple, safe, and reliable technique for revascularization of the distal cervical vertebral artery.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Atherosclerotic innominate artery occlusive disease: early and long-term results of surgical reconstruction.

PURPOSE: Few articles have dealt specifically with surgical management of innominate artery (IA) atherosclerotic occlusive disease. We herein present our early and long-term results in a large series of patients. METHODS: During a 20-year period (1974 to 1993) we operated on 148 patients with IA atherosclerotic occlusive disease. The mean age was 55.8 +/- 9.4 years. Approach was through a median sternotomy in 135 (91%) patients. Endarterectomy was performed in 32 (22%) patients, whereas 116 (78%) patients underwent bypass. RESULTS: Eight (5.4%) patients died in the perioperative period (four of heart-related causes, two of hemorrhage, one each of pulmonary infection and multiorgan failure). There were five (3.4%) perioperative strokes (three ipsilateral, two contralateral) and three (2.0%) ipsilateral perioperative transient ischemic attacks. Ten (7%) patients were lost to follow-up. Mean follow-up was 77 (2 to 193) months. Thirty-three (24%) patients were monitored 10 or more years. There were 45 (35%) late deaths (19 from cardiovascular-related causes, 15 from cancer, 7 from other known causes, and 4 from unknown causes). Although 11 (8.5%) patients had late neurologic events, only one late stroke occurred in the contralateral hemisphere and no ipsilateral late strokes occurred. Sixteen (11%) patients had late myocardial infarctions, nine of which were lethal. Life-table analysis and perioperative events were used to calculate the probability of survival, which was 77.5% +/- 9.5% and 51.9% +/- 20.8% at 5 and 10 years, respectively, with a 4.4% annual mortality rate. The overall probability of freedom from any neurologic/ocular event was 88.8% +/- 6.2% and 80.4% +/- 11.9% at 5 and 10 years, respectively, with a 1.6% annual occurrence rate. The probability of freedom from ipsilateral neurologic/ocular event was 92.7% +/- 4.8% and 84.0% +/- 11.2% at 5 and 10 years, respectively, with a 1.4% annual occurrence rate. The probability of freedom from ipsilateral stroke was 98.6% +/- 1.9% at 5 and 10 years. The primary patency rate was 98.4% +/- 2.1% and 96.3% +/- 4.7% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. The probability of freedom from reoperation was 95.6% +/- 3.9% and 93.5% +/- 5.9% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical reconstruction of IA atherosclerotic occlusive disease yields acceptable rates of perioperative complications and late mortality and excellent long-term patency and freedom from neurologic events and reoperation.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Effects of platelet-rich plasma on hemostasis and transfusion requirement in vascular surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of intraoperative autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) transfusion on haemostasis, blood loss and blood requirements during vascular surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. PATIENTS: Twenty patients undergoing elective abdominal infrarenal aortic aneurysmectomy, using autologous transfusion techniques (predonation programme and/or preoperative normovolaemic haemodilution and/or intraoperative use of a cell-saver), were randomly allocated either into the PRP group (n = 10) or the Control group (n = 10). METHOD: In patients of PRP group, 10 mL.kg-1 of PRP were obtained over 40 to 50 min, prior to induction of anaesthesia, and compensated simultaneously with an equivalent amount of hydroxyethyl starch. Each PRP unit was transfused to its donor after aortic declamping. Blood samples were obtained before induction, before incision, at wound closing and at the end of PRP unit transfusion for determination of biological variables. RESULTS: The PRP units transfused in the patients of PRP group contained 755 +/- 117 mL of plasma with a platelet count of 62 +/- 31 G.L-1. The intra and postoperative blood losses were similar in both groups (1622 +/- 758 and 233 +/- 322 mL respectively in PRP group vs 1890 +/- 1331 and 291 +/- 303 mL respectively in Control group). In both groups, three patients required an additional transfusion of homologous blood. The results of biological tests (haematocrit, platelet and white cell counts, prothrombin time, aPTT, thrombin time, fibrinogen, D-dimers, proteins, calcium) were also similar between groups at the various times of sampling. The reinfusion of the PRP unit did not increase the platelet count. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that intraoperative infusion of autologous PRP does not decrease blood loss and homologous transfusion requirements in patients undergoing elective abdominal infrarenal aortic aneurysmectomy. This result can be related to the relatively moderate enrichment in platelets obtained with the centrifugation speed used in this study.

Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal↗