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Biomedical subjects

E Ovrum

Publications and source records attributed to E Ovrum.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Is cold, cardioplegic solution harmful to the lungs?

The effects of pulmonary flush with cold cardioplegic solution were investigated in 55 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Extracorporeal circulation with bicaval cannulation was used in all cases, and single-dose cardioplegic solution was injected into the aortic root. In one of two randomly selected groups (n = 27) the cardioplegic solution was allowed to pass through the lungs and then evacuated via a left ventricular vent. In a second group (n = 28) the vent was first temporarily placed in the right atrium for evacuation of the cardioplegic solution, and the aortic root was vented later. Hemodynamic, metabolic, hematologic and radiographic changes were studied during the early postoperative period. No harmful effects of the pulmonary passage could be demonstrated. On the contrary, a protective effect was indicated, as the pulmonary vascular resistance index was reduced immediately and for 2 hours postoperatively. The ratio of left ventricular to right ventricular stroke work in the early postoperative period gave the same indication.

Cardioplegic Solutions↗

Risk factors in surgically treated mitral valve disease.

Risk factors for operative mortality and long term survival were identified in 144 patients undergoing mitral valve replacement (MVR). The 3-year survival was 77% at a median follow-up time of 3.01 years, including an early mortality of 7.6%. Nineteen preoperative and perioperative variables were analysed by univariate and multivariate methods. The sole risk factor independently predictive of postoperative death was a poor functional class with a relative risk (RR) of 3.17 compared to patients with a better functional class. Independent risk factors of long term survival were; prior heart operation, presence of mitral regurgitation, age at operation and poor functional class. Estimation of the parameters of the Cox's model gave a predicted 3-year survival ranging from 95% to 11% for the most favourable and the less favourable risk factor combinations. Risk factors that affected late death were the presence of ischemic coronary etiology and poor functional class. Two modes of late death were identified each with its prognostic factor. The most common mode was cardiac-related death, its sole risk factor was the presence of ischemic coronary etiology. The RR ratio was 3.2 for patients with ischemic coronary etiology, compared to patients with other etiologies. Sudden cardiac death was the next, its independent risk factor was the age at operation with increasing hazard for younger patients. The RR ratio was 8.55 for a 35-year-old patient compared to a 60-year-old patient.

Age Factors↗

Risk factors in surgically treated aortic and mitral valve disease.

Risk factors in simultaneous aortic and mitral valve replacement were studied in 78 patients. Risk factors for early mortality, according to a stepwise logistic regression model, were male sex, concomitant heart surgery and prior valve replacement. For low-output syndrome, the major morbid event, the risk factors were endocarditic etiology, concomitant heart surgery and prior valve replacement. Survival curves were used to estimate univariate risk factors for total mortality. With a multivariate procedure, using the Cox regression model, two covariates were pin-pointed as independent prognostic factors in total mortality, viz. mitral regurgitation and concomitant heart surgery. The Cox model also showed the two covariates ischemic heart disease and endocarditic etiology to be risk factors in late mortality. Predicted 3-year survival was estimated with different combinations of these risk factors. The results were compared with earlier reports.

Aged↗

Surgical repair of aortico-left ventricular tunnel (ALVT).

ALVT is a very rare congenital malformation. Until 1983 a collective review reported only 37 cases published. A 5-month-old girl with a body weight of 5.5 kg was referred for cardiomegaly and cardiac murmur. 2D-echo revealed the diagnosis which was later confirmed by angiography. The child was then operated upon with extracorporeal circulation using deep hypothermia (20 degrees C). The aortic orifice of the tunnel was closed with 3 pledget reinforced sutures. Cross-clamp time was 17 min. Electromagnetic flowmetry suggested an insufficiency of 78% preoperatively, and postoperatively this was reduced to 6%. Angiography was performed two weeks postoperatively, revealing mild valvular aortic insufficiency. She was discharged from the hospital 15 days postoperatively. ALVT should be corrected surgically as soon as the diagnosis is made.

Aorta↗

Human heart transplantation. Rejection risk factors.

The present analysis of risk factors in human cardiac transplantation is based on a review of 682 endomyocardial biopsies from 52 grafts in 51 recipients. Acute rejection was diagnosed in 149 biopsies (21.8%). The cumulative 1-year graft survival was 91.5 4%. Four out of seven patients died of irreversible rejection. An univariate analysis using the linearized rate of total rejection showed significantly higher frequency of acute rejection when donor and recipient differed for two HLA-DR antigens compared to zero or one HLA antigen disparity (p less than 0.01), as well as in patients treated with low dose steroids, Cyclosporine (CyA) and Azathioprine (p less than 0.01), compared to treatment with CyA high dose steroids. Other risk factors were graft ischemia extending 60 minutes (p less than 0.05) and patient age exceeding 40 years (p less than 0.05). A multivariate analysis using the competing risk hazard model for irreversible (= lethal) rejection was performed. The presence of two HLA-DR mismatches between donor and recipient was found to be an independent risk factor (relative risk = 8.9), and immunosuppression with CyA and high dose steroids without Azathioprine another (relative risk = 15.3). Potential risk factors such as donor and recipient sex, donor age, prior surgery and time on extracorporeal circulation were not of significant prognostic value neither in regard to rejection nor irreversible rejection.

Azathioprine↗

Spontaneous pneumothorax in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: complications, treatment and recurrences.

Data from 303 patients with 389 admissions for spontaneous pneumothorax from 1970 to 1980 at Ullevaal Hospital, Oslo, Norway, were reviewed. Spontaneous pneumothorax carried a significantly higher complication and mortality rate in patients suffering chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Their higher median age compared to non-COPD patients contributed to this, but did not account for the increased mortality. The risk of developing wound infection and/or pneumonia was significantly higher after 7 days of chest tube treatment in both patient groups, independent of age. There was no association between recurrence rate and COPD/non-COPD, age or duration of chest tube treatment (1-7 days, 8 days or more). Complications were not more frequent after thoracotomies performed in COPD patients. Therefore operative treatment for both primary and COPD-related spontaneous pneumothorax should be considered if tube treatment is not successful after 1 week and there are no contraindications.

Adolescent↗

Prognostic factors for survival in surgically treated aortic regurgitation.

Aortic valve replacement was performed for 'pure' aortic regurgitation on 118 patients in a 5 1/2-year period ending in January 1983. In an analysis of prognostic factors, 12 variables were considered. The long-term survival rate was significantly greater in men than in women. Other significant factors were the relative heart volume, left ventricular systolic pressure and size of the implanted valve. A multivariate analysis with the Cox regression model, using the pool of variables simultaneously, showed primary predictive factors independently affecting survival to be left ventricular systolic pressure and size of the implanted valve. Based on this model, a patient-specific survival forecast was constructed.

Adult↗

Prognostic factors in aortic valve replacement associated with narrow aortic roots. An analysis using the proportional hazard model.

In 80 patients who underwent aortic valve replacement with implantation of a small (21 mm) Medtronic-Hall prosthesis over a period of c. 7 1/2 years, beginning in 1977, prognostic factors were evaluated with use of the proportional hazard model. Twelve variables were considered. Four of them entered the regression model in a time-independent mode. These were preoperative NYHA function class, aetiology (endocarditis), diagnosis ("pure" aortic regurgitation) and aortic cross-clamping time. None of the parameters entered the model in time-related mode. Another multifactorial approach to the proportional hazard model, using a stepwise regression analysis, showed the variables with prognostic value to be aortic cross-clamp time and preoperative NYHA class. Based on this model, predicted 3-year survival ranged from 92% to 45% from the most to the least favourable combination of these prognostic variables. A patient-specific prediction of 3-year survival was formulated.

Aortic Valve↗

Heart transplantation in Norway. One-year experience.

Eight patients underwent orthotopic heart transplantation in Norway during 1984, with retransplantation in one case. The age range of the 5 men and 3 women was 19-53 years. The preoperative diagnosis was cardiomyopathy in 6 patients, ischaemic heart disease in one, and a combination of the two disorders in one patient. The immunosuppressive regimen, with cyclosporin A and low-dose prednisolone, and the treatment of graft rejection, followed the Stanford University protocol. There was no operative mortality. Three patients died shortly after the transplantation, 2 of them after about a week from acute rejection; in one of these 2 cases a second transplant was made, but was followed by pulmonary and renal complications. The third death occurred about 10 weeks postoperatively, from donor heart failure due to Toxoplasma myocarditis. The 5 survivors are clinically in good condition.

Adult↗