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Biomedical subjects

F H Levine

Publications and source records attributed to F H Levine.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Congenital coronary arteriovenous fistula. Report of 13 patients, review of the literature and delineation of management.

Thirteen new patients and 174 patients previously reported with coronary arteriovenous fistula (CAVF) were reviewed to delineate the course and management of CAVF and to clarify the role of surgical ligation in the young asymptomatic patient. Patients were grouped according to age: 99 patients (four new and 95 reported) were less than 20 years old and 88 (nine new and 79 reported) were greater than or equal to 20 years old. Of those under 20 years of age, 19% had preoperative symptoms or CAVF-related complications, including congestive heart failure (CHF) in 6%, subacute bacterial endocarditis in 3% and death in one patient. Seventy-six patients younger than 20 years old had CAVF ligation with only one significant complication. In contrast, 63% of the older group and all of our nine older patients had preoperative symptoms or complications, including CHF in 19%, SBE in 4%, myocardial infarction (MI) in 9%, death in 14% and fistula rupture in one patient. Of the 43 ligated older patients, 23% had surgical complications, including MI in three and death in three. Mean pulmonic-to-systemic flow in the entire group was 1.6:1 and did not differ significantly in those with or without symptoms or complications. One of our patients and one previously reported had spontaneous CAVF closure. In summary, early elective ligation of CAVF is indicated in all patients because of the high incidence of late symptoms and complications and the increased morbidity and mortality associated with ligation in older patients.

Adolescent↗

Safe early revascularization for continuing ischemia after acute myocardial infarction.

Early revascularization following myocardial infarction (MI) is reported to have a high risk of extension of and hemorrhage into infarction with resulting high mortality and morbidity. To evaluate this issue, 80 post-MI patients (aged 32-74 years) with unstable angina pectoris resistant to maximal medical therapy were reviewed. All patients underwent early uncomplicated angiography and subsequent revascularization; 55 (69%) were less than 10 days post-MI, and 25 (31%) were 10-30 days post-MI. Intraaortic balloon pumping was required in 72% for relief of intractable angina or hemodynamic instability. Of the 80 patients, 19% had single vessel disease (VD), 31% double VD, and 50% triple VD. The mortality rate from coronary bypass surgery was 7/80 (8.8%), with four cardiac and three noncardiac deaths. Two patients suffered a perioperative MI (2.5%). At a mean follow-up period of 33 months, there had been only one late death and one recurrent nonfatal MI; 96% of the patients had no significant angina. In patients with continuing ischemia immediately after MI, myocardial revascularization can be safely performed without further injury to the myocardium, and with excellent long-term results.

Adult↗

Plasma vasopressin levels and urinary flow during cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with valvular heart disease: effect of pulsatile flow.

The effect of pulsatile flow on plasma vasopressin levels during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was studied in 20 patients undergoing open valve replacement. Routine bypass was used in 10 patients and the AVCO pulsatile bypass pump was utilized in the other 10. In Group I (nonpulsatile) during CPB, the vasopressin level was markedly elevated (3.1 +/- 2 to 80 +/- 22 pg/ml) as was urine flow (0.6 +/- 0.2 to 5.9 +/- 2 ml/min) and urine Na+ concentration (69 +/- 19 to 116 +/- 7 mEq/L). In Group II (pulsatile) during CPB, the vasopressin level (3.8 +/- 3 to 54 +/- 14 pg/ml), urine flow (0.6 +/- 0.1 to 16.2 +/- 4.8 ml/min), and urine Na+ concentrations (61 +/- 13 to 97 +/- 10 mEq/L) were also elevated. The rise in vasopressin and urine Na+ was less in the pulsatile group (p less than 0.05) whereas the urine flow was higher (p less than 0.05). To maintain comparable blood pressure, the pulsatile flow group required significantly higher flows (4.5 +/- 0.2 compared to 3.8 +/- 0.2; p less than 0.05). These data suggest that CPB produces a marked vasopressin stress response which is beyond the physiological range for an antidiuretic effect on the kidney. At these levels vasopressin can exert a vasopressor effect to maintain resistance and affect renal blood flow, as well as producing an Na+ diuresis. The addition of pulsatile flow creates a more physiological situation attenuating the vasopressin response and producing a decrease in systemic resistance and a less pronounced Na+ diuresis.

Arginine Vasopressin↗

Management of acute myocardial ischemia with intraaortic balloon pumping and coronary bypass surgery.

Ninety-three patients with unstable angina pectoris resistant to maximum medical therapy were treated with intraaortic balloon pumping (IABP), early angiography, and myocardial revascularization. Sixty patients had no recent infarction: 42 with typical angina (ST depression > 0.1 mV) and 18 with variant angina (ST elevation > 0.2 mV). Thirty-three patients were post infarction (< 10 days), 25 with typical angina and eight with variant angina. IABP interrupted ischemic attacks in 75/93 (81%) and reduced frequency and intensity of attacks in the remaining patients. Mortality from revascularization was 5/93 (5.4%) with two deaths in the preinfarction group (3.3%) and three deaths in the postinfarction group (9.1%). Incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction was 2.2%. With an average follow-up of 38 months there have been four late deaths (4.5%), three secondary to myocardial infarction, and only one other symptomatic infarction. After operation, 93% have no significant angina, and 70% are fully active. When IABP is used to control recurrent ischemia, patients with refractory angina pectoris can be safely revascularized and have a favorable long-term prognosis.

Adult↗

Effect of cross-clamp time, temperature, and cardioplegic agents on myocardial function after induced arrest.

To evaluate the importance of time, temperature, and cardioplegia on the ability of the canine myocardium to maintain functional and ultrastructural integrity following induced arrest, we studied 220 dogs by varying myocardial temperature (34 degrees, 24 degrees, and 11 degrees C.), arrest time (0 to 120 minutes), and cardioplegic agents. Change in left ventricular function (LVF) was defined as the arithmetic difference in the center of mass between prearrest and postarrest LVF curves and was expressed as percent recovery of left ventricular stroke work. Left ventricular biopsies were obtained for semiquantitative electron microscopic analysis. After 90 minutes of cross-clamping, only hearts protected with combined hypothermia (H) and potassium-induced cardioplegia (K) significantly recovered prearrest function (24 degrees C.--80 percent, 11 degrees C.--99 percent). Hypothermia (H) alone for 90 minutes was less protective (24 degrees C.--49 percent, 11 degrees C.--59 percent). H preserved 84 percent of function after 60 minutes and 91 percent after 45 minutes. Normothermic arrest resulted in only 39 percent return of function at 45 minutes but could be extended with potassium-induced cardioplegia(K) to 78 percent at 60 minutes and 54 percent at 90 minutes. The addition of procaine plus HK improved protection over HK alone (95 percent versus 80 percent) but by itself was not effective. Neither hydrocortisone nor pretreatment with glucose-insulin-potassium, branched chain amino acids, or propranolol increased the protective effect of HK plus procaine. Inadequately protected groups (normothermia or H without K) showed more myocytic and capillary endothelial damage than the HK groups. No technique of myocardial protection studied completely preserved LVF, but the combination of HK plus procaine resulted in maximal recovery of LVF following cross-clamping for up to 120 minutes.

Animals↗

Gastrointestinal hemorrhage from adhesion-related mesenteric varices.

As a result of this retrospective analysis of hemorrhage from a porta-systemic venous shunt occurring within the small intestine, we believe that the early diagnosis of the syndrome is strongly suggested by the presence of varices in unusual locations demonstrated by the venous phase of mesenteric arteriography. In all patients portal hypertension was present, and in all the affected bowel was adherent to postoperative adhesions on old suture lines. The syndrome was treated variously with lysis of adhesions, bowel resection, or portal-systemic shunt. Those patients with excellent hepatic reserve survived and had no further gastrointestinal bleeding.

Adult↗